From Hollywood to Hogwarts: A Beginner’s Guide to Universal Studios Hollywood

Universal Studios Hollywood is a world-renowned theme park that offers visitors a unique blend of Hollywood glamour and wizarding world magic. With thrilling rides, fascinating shows, and delicious dining options, this iconic destination has something for everyone. Whether you’re a die-hard Harry Potter fan or a movie buff, Universal Studios Hollywood has it all.

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In this blog post, we’ll take you through everything you need to know about Universal Studios Hollywood, including the best rides, shows, and attractions and tips for navigating the park and making the most of your time there.

Due to its location, Universal Studios Hollywood tickets can easily be added to a Disneyland trip for a single day, but with the amount of fun, you will find here, you may want to stay a couple.

Which Ticket Should I Buy?

Express Pass

Even though Universal Studios Hollywood is much smaller than its partner park in Orlando, it is just as busy.  With the addition of Super Nintendo World in the Spring of 2023 crowd levels to this park are expected to get much larger. 

Purchasing a ticket with Express Pass is one way to make the most of your day.  At Universal Studios Hollywood the Express pass ticket pricing starts at $199 per person and includes your admission to the park. It is not an add-on option to a regular park ticket like it is at Universal Studios Orlando.  This type of ticket will help you skip to the front of the line by using a separate entrance for each ride and seated show one time per day. 

Currently (Spring 2023) this ticket also guarantees admission to Super Nintendo World.  What this means is you can get into Super Nintendo World, by skipping around the stand-by line even if you don’t have a reservation for this area of the park.  This type of ticket does NOT guarantee that you will get onto the ride Super Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge.

You will want to keep your express pass handy with a lanyard for easy access.

VIP Experience

If Super Nintendo World is a must-see on your visit to Universal Studios Hollywood, then purchasing the VIP Experience is the best way to do it all. Pricing starts at $369 per person and includes one day of park admission, express access to each ride and seated show, an expertly guided tour including the backlot, light snacks and refreshments, an exclusive gourmet meal, and complimentary valet parking. 

Purchasing the VIP Experience is the ONLY way to guarantee riding Super Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge.  Because a meal and snacks are included for the day this ticket type is the best value for getting the biggest bang for your buck.

Navigating the Park

Unlike Universal Studios Orlando, Universal Studios Hollywood consists of only one theme park versus three.  This makes navigating the park much easier.  A lot can be done in a short amount of time.  This park consists of two sections:  the Upper Lot and the Lower Lot.

One of the unique, and somewhat terrifying things about Universal Studios Hollywood, is the use of escalators throughout the park.  This theme park is built in the hills of Hollywood. Therefore the engineers who designed and built the park had to get creative with the logistics. To get from the Upper Lot to the Lower Lot you must use three escalators and four connecting bridges.  Even the Studio Tour has an escalator to get to the ride. 

If you have a fear of escalators and heights as I do, these are not for the faint of heart.  They are extremely long and make up a total of 500 feet. We suggest putting the tallest person in the front with the kids in the middle to keep them safe.  The scaredy cat, or me, should stand in the back because the tall person can block the terrifying view when riding down. 

The Upper Lot

The Upper Lot is the main area you see when entering the park.  Some of our favorite attractions include the Studio Tour, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Water World, and the Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash. 

Shopping and dining are also available in the Upper Lot.  Guests can buy Harry Potter-themed merchandise at Zonko’s Joke Shop, Gladrags Wizardwear, Filch’s Emporium of Confiscated Goods as well as a few other unique themed stores.

*Pro Tip: Universal Studios is known for interesting character interactions.  Be on the lookout for Dracula lurking around the back alleys, especially at night.  We found him just before sunset around the French Street Bistro.

The Lower Lot

The Lower Lot Features rides such as Transformers: The Ride – 3D, Revenge of the Mummy – The Ride, Jurassic World – The Ride, and the all-new Super Nintendo World featuring Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge.

*Outside of Transformers: The Ride – 3D you can meet an actual transformer.  The transformers Bumblebee, Optimus Prime, and Megatron appear on a rotational basis, so don’t miss this unique meet, and greet.

The lower lot is also a place where you can experience dino interactions. Blue the Velociraptor, a friendly Triceratops, and a Baby Raptor can all be seen at Raptor Encounter.

Dining options available in the Lower Lot include the Toad Stool Café (Super Nintendo World), Jurassic Café, Mummy Eats, Panda Express, and the Studio Café.  All of these are quick-service restaurants. The Toad Stool Café may require reservations depending on how busy the park is during your stay.  We found a wide variety of grab-and-go choices to eat at the Studio Café during our visit. 

Universal City Walk

Universal City Walk is just to the right of the Universal Studios Hollywood Theme Park.  This area features over 30 restaurants, unique shopping experiences, a movie theater, and nightly entertainment options.  Reservations for dining are strongly encouraged, but the food options are limitless. 

Final Thoughts

In this blog post, we took you through everything you need to know about Universal Studios Hollywood, including the best rides, shows, attractions, and tips for navigating the park for making the most of your time there. Whether you are a movie buff, an adventurer, a foodie, or a gamer there is something for everyone.   We are sure you will be amazed at the fun your family can have together while creating memories to last a lifetime!

Looking for more theme park fun? Check out our other blog posts for a guide to Super Nintendo World and Universal Studios Orlando.

Ready to start planning your own trip to Universal Studios Hollywood? Contact us today at amberh@destinationsinflorida.com and remember Life’s Short… Take the Trip!