If Hollywood is the land of make-believe, then Universal Studios Hollywood is your chance to step into that fantasy world. On a sprawling complex in the Hollywood Hills, this movie-studio-meets-theme-park blends a studio tour—aboard trams, some of which have been converted to all-electric—with thrilling action rides that swoosh, dive, swoop, and astonish with dizzying special effects. Head to the Despicable Me Minion Mayhem ride, The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash, or the popular WaterWorld live show. Or immerse yourself in themed areas including The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™, complete with a recreation of Hogwarts Castle and Hogsmeade Village, or SUPER NINTENDO WORLD™, where you can play in a real-life video game on both a ride and in the area’s interactive games. Explore Springfield, home to the Simpsons, or battle the Transformers (don your 3D glasses for stunningly realistic visual effects). Jurassic World—The Ride delivers Mesozoic-era fun with a “Raptor Encounter” with the beloved velociraptor Blue, an interactive “DinoPlay” area, and a Jurassic-themed bar and restaurant.
Buying Your Tickets
It’s typically wise to buy your tickets ahead of time online—rates vary by day, based on the time of year or even the day of the week. Want to skip the longest lines? Upgrade to a Universal Express ticket, which includes express access to each ride, attraction, and seated show. Or splurge on the VIP Experience and you’ll feel like a movie star yourself with valet parking, a private entrance, and an expert guide who will grant you special access.
In response to January 2025 Los Angeles wildfires, the park is offering free theme park admission to first responders through April 10, 2025, including active U.S. firefighters, National Guard members, paramedics, emergency medical technicians, and more. The offer covers free park admission for first responders and a 50 percent discount on up to three one-day tickets for their guests. Just show a valid government-issued photo ID and a valid employee ID card at the front gate entrance on the same day of your visit.
Exploring the Park
Look for digital signs in the park that highlight the current wait times for all rides, as well as the schedule for daily shows, and download the Universal Studios Hollywood Mobile App to help you strategize your day. The app helps you track wait times, pings you when your favorite ride reaches an ideal timeframe, reminds you about show times, and even leads you back to your parked car at the end of the day. Want to skip the longest lines? Upgrade to a Universal Express ticket, which includes express access to each ride, attraction, and seated show. Or splurge on the VIP Experience and you’ll feel like a movie star yourself with valet parking, a private entrance, and an expert guide who will grant you special access.
No matter how you spend your day at Universal Studios, save time for Universal CityWalk. Adjacent to the park, this neon-lit complex offers an array of stores and dining options, such as outposts Pink’s Famous Hot Dogs, Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville, and the first California branch of VooDoo Doughnut, home of the ambrosial bacon-maple bar.
Staying Near Universal Studios Hollywood
There are several partner hotels within a few miles of the theme park and Universal CityWalk. Many of them offer shuttle rides to and from the park or value-added packages that bundle your admission tickets into your nightly hotel rate. Hotels in Burbank, Hollywood, and West Hollywood also offer easy access, and often feature their bundled packages.
Click here for schedule and hours of operation
Universal Studios Hollywood address
100 Universal City Plaza
Universal City, CA 91608
Phone: 800.864.8377
HARRY POTTER characters, names and related indicia are © & ™ Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Harry Potter Publishing Rights © JKR. (s17)