10 Tips for Visiting Universal Studios Hollywood

As the only major theme park situated on a working movie studio lot, Universal Studios Hollywood allows guests to step into familiar worlds and interact with beloved characters from their favorite films and television shows. Yet, because the expansive park offers a dizzying assortment of options to choose from, your visit will benefit from having an informed plan. Here’s an insider’s guide to help you skip lines, enhance your visit with worthwhile add-ons, save money, and maximize your fun.

Buy tickets in advance.

In addition to bypassing ticket window lines, you’ll usually find the best rates by booking online in advance. Plus, the park can sell out, including priority access options like Universal Express and Super Nintendo World™ Early Access. (More on those below.)

Research your date.

When considering dates, check the park’s operating hours, which include varying closing times throughout the year from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Hours are usually posted four weeks in advance on the park’s site.

Download the app.

The Universal Studios Hollywood app is essential for making the most of your visit. Keep it handy to check real-time wait times, book dining reservations, navigate interactive park maps, and join virtual lines for select attractions.

Take public transit.

You’ll save parking fees—typically $35–$75 during daytime visiting hours—by taking the Metro B Line (aka the red line) to the Universal City/Studio City station. From the station, catch a complimentary shuttle to CityWalk, an adjacent restaurant and shop-filled promenade that’s a five-minute stroll from the park’s entrance.

Minimize your time in line.

You can get a jump on the crowds by taking advantage of early admission and showing up as early as 60 minutes before the park opens. Once inside, join a virtual queue that provides a designated time slot for abbreviated lines at high-demand attractions such as Super Nintendo World™. Register via the Universal Studios Hollywood app, which shows availability. If you don’t mind separating from your group, certain rides such as Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey and Jurassic World - The Ride offer separate Single Rider lines with significantly shorter wait times. 

You can also circumvent lengthy lines with two paid add-ons:

• Super Nintendo World™ Early Access ($20–$30 per person) ushers you into the vibrant, themed land one hour before the park opens—a perfect time to hop on the hugely popular Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge before everyone else. 
• If you’re visiting the park during a historically busy time, consider Universal Express. It’s a sizable investment (from $199 per person), but in addition to park admission, you’ll gain one-time priority access to every ride, attraction, and show in the park.

Make an attraction game plan.

The biggest factor to consider is that the dual-level park is split into an Upper Lot and Lower Lot, each separated by six-story escalators dubbed the Starway. Rather than exhaust yourself scrambling between the two all day, make a plan that groups your top attractions by location. 

Lower Lot attractions such as Super Nintendo World™ and Jurassic World - The Ride tend to fill up fast, so you may want to head there first. Also, save the Studio Tour for later in the day. In addition to lending a entertaining, behind-the-scenes peek into film production, the hour-long tram ride provides a welcome opportunity to rest your feet. Check ride wait times in the days leading up to your trip to get a sense of which rides get the most crowded and when.

Spring for the extras.

Within the park, you’ll find numerous options to enhance your visit. A Power-Up Band™ (about $40) adds even more dazzle to the already vibrantly animated Super Nintendo World™. Purchased at the 1-UP Factory™ store or elsewhere at the park, the colorful devices allow guests to find hidden Easter eggs, punch cartoon-like “?” blocks to collect digital coins, and compete against others in a series of sequential, real-life games that culminate in a Bowser Jr. boss battle. The bands also extend to Mario Kart™: Bowser’s Challenge where your turtle shell-hurling skills will earn you more digital coins.

In The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, visitors can wave interactive wands to cast spells and bring to life various elements of Hogsmeade™. Armed with a magical baton purchased at Ollivanders™ wand shop, budding wizards can control water fountains, light lanterns, and levitate objects within a shop’s display window. Not everyone in your group needs one, and even if you decide not to splurge on a wand, you can often witness the many effects triggered by other visitors.

Plan for younger children.

While some experiences may not be appropriate for younger kids given height restrictions or the intensity of rides, there is plenty to delight the little ones in your party. 

Toddlers will enjoy The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash, a slow-paced dark ride that ambles through wacky, character-filled scenes, or DreamWorks Theatre featuring Kung Fu Panda, which includes pre-theater antics and an animated, wild river adventure with Po. 

At Super Nintendo World™, kiddos not tall enough for Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge (40-inch minimum) will still delight in Mario and Luigi’s immersive, interactive world. 

The Flight of the Hippogriff (39-inch minimum) is a family-friendly roller coaster set within The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and offers gentle thrills for the elementary grade set. 

For breaks between attractions, Production Plaza and the Minion-populated Super Silly Fun Land both offer opportunities to interact with characters and plenty of room to frolic.

Traveling with young children doesn’t mean everyone has to miss out on rides for older visitors: Take advantage of Child Switch, which allows adults to take turns riding attractions without having to wait in line twice. Let a ride team member know you’d like to use the service, and they’ll instruct you how to proceed.

Order meals in advance.

Skip the lengthy lines at popular restaurants by ordering meals in advance via the mobile food ordering feature in the Universal Studios Hollywood app. 

At one of the park’s busiest eateries, Toadstool Cafe™, you can brave a one-pound meatball dubbed Bowser’s Fireball Challenge. For your fill of Harry Potter fan food, try Three Broomsticks™, a rustic English-style tavern and dining hall with traditional pub fare such as fish and chips and frosty mugs of non-alcoholic Butterbeer™. Fans of The Simpsons shouldn’t pass up Krusty Burger which dishes up Homer-worthy hamburgers amidst food-themed clips from the animated show. If you aren’t able to nab a time slot in advance, try dining during showtimes for the popular WaterWorld show.

Bring your own provisions.

Universal Studios Hollywood allows for some outside food and beverages to be brought into the park. In addition to food required for special dietary needs and medical purposes, each guest is welcome to bring two liters of bottled water, small snacks, and soft-sided insulated bags (no larger than 8.5 by 6 by 6 inches). Pack those refillable water bottles, too. You’ll find water fountains and bottle refill stations throughout the park.