Los Angeles Universal Studios Hollywood Tickets and Visits

Universal Studios Hollywood is a renowned studio and theme park that offers a range of attractions and shows to the thousands of people who visit annually. There you can have fun while learning about the world of cinema.

Without a doubt, visiting Universal Studios Hollywood is one of the best things to do in Los Angeles. Therefore, when planning your itinerary you should incorporate this activity and purchase tickets online to save time and money.

When you book tickets to Universal Studios Hollywood you will see themed areas of Jurassic Park, Harry Potter, The Simpsons, among others. In each one of them you will feel like you are part of the films or series. It is also possible to enjoy several mechanical games with 3D and 4D technology, which will give you a unique experience.

You will also find shows inspired by the film WaterWorld and others where you can learn about the special effects used in Hollywood. You can also have fun watching some of the favourite TV and movie mascots, buy souvenirs in the show shops and eat in the park's restaurants.

Recommended if... you want to spend a different kind of day, visiting several attractions and shows inspired by your favourite movies.

Buying tickets for Universal Studios Hollywood is not a complicated task. The best option is to do it online and in advance. This way you save time because you don't have to queue at the entrance.

You can choose between tickets or passes. It all depends on how long you intend to stay in the city and the budget you have available for this activity. In any case, whichever option you choose (ticket or pass), I recommend you avoid buying directly at the box office, as the price is usually a bit higher.

You can buy general admission tickets to Universal Studios Hollywood from around €102. There are also express tickets, which cost around €186, while the price of admission for the VIP experience is €344.

Annual passes, classified as silver, platinum and gold, are also available at Universal Studios Hollywood. These passes have an estimated price per month of between €139 and €269, depending on the services included.

At Universal Studios Hollywood you will find several types of general admission tickets, which give you access to the entire park. In addition, there are tickets that incorporate express passes, whose main benefit is to give you priority access so you can get on the rides and attend events without queuing.

Among the general admission tickets, you will find a full-day ticket and a two-day ticket for two consecutive days or staggered over the course of a week. Both tickets give you the chance to enjoy all the attractions, but they don't get you out of the queue.

When it comes to express pass tickets, you have a couple of options:

• Universal express: this is a ticket that gives you priority access to every show and attraction in the park.
• VIP Experience: with this ticket you will get unlimited priority access to all the shows and attractions in the park. You will also have valet parking, free refreshments and snacks, as well as access to Universal Studios Hollywood's VIP dining room to enjoy a gourmet lunch.

Yes, tickets to Universal Studios Hollywood are available as part of one of the city's tourist passes, the Go City Pass. This is an electronic card that allows you to save money and time when purchasing tickets. Plus, with this pass you don't have to plan your visit in advance, as you can enter any day.

When you arrive at Universal Studios Hollywood you can skip the queues, as this electronic pass gives you direct access to the attractions and shows. You only have to scan the QR code from your mobile phone to enjoy all the fun that the park has prepared for you.

In addition, you should know that when you buy the card you will not only enjoy Universal Studios Hollywood, because the pass also includes the entrance to Warner Bros Studio and the Hop On Hop Off bus tour, among others.

When you book tickets for Universal Studios Hollywood the park offers a tour of approximately 60 minutes which is really worthwhile. During the tour you will live a unique experience aboard a small bus that travels through the film sets of iconic big screen movies. You will also get to know the secrets behind the scenes.

The tour is accompanied by a specialised guide, who will tell you about the history of the studio. You're sure to be amazed when celebrities like "Jaws" make their shocking appearance just inches away from you, or when you come face to face with King Kong in 3D. You will also explore the set of "Fast and Furious and The War of the Worlds.

This guided tour is usually available at various times throughout the day in both English and Spanish. Therefore, my recommendation is to go to the digital screens located in some strategic points of the park to verify this information before going up.

Yes, Universal Studios Hollywood offers discounted tickets to:

• University students.
• Tour groups or local groups with a minimum of 10 participants.
• City educational programmes
• Active or retired military.

Of course, in each of the above cases it is necessary to prove the respective status.

How to get the discount for Universal Studios Hollywood

For example, if you are a college student, you must register for Student Beans on the official Universal Studios Hollywood website. After filling in the form you will immediately get the discount. In fact, for more information you can email college@nbcuni.com or call 818-622-1550.

But if you want to give your students (of any age) a truly educational experience to learn about the magic of special effects, technology and more, you'll need to email educational.programs@nbcuni.com or call 1-800-436-8802.

And if you want to take a group tour at a discount, you'll need to fill out the application form Finally, if you are active or retired military, you will need to go to one of the military ticket offices in the city. There, you will be able to purchase tickets in advance.

When booking tickets for Universal Studios Hollywood there are no tickets that are specifically aimed at children. Therefore, you will have to buy for them any of the general admission or VIP options.

On the other hand, if you have an annual pass, the little ones will be able to enjoy all its benefits.

Universal Studios Hollywood is certainly a park that the little ones will enjoy from the very first moment. Therefore, this visit should not be missing among the top 10 things to do in Los Angeles with kids.

Buying tickets online for Universal Studios Hollywood is worthwhile because it gives you a significant saving over the box office price. It is also a great way to plan your visit to Universal Studios Hollywood, as you can determine the exact day you want to visit the park.

You can save approximately £20 per person, depending on the day of your visit and the type of ticket purchased. This is quite convenient, especially if you buy, for example, five tickets. In this case, you will save €100.

At Universal Studios Hollywood opening hours vary depending on the dates.

• Opening: every day of the year from 8 or 9 am.
• Winter season closes: usually at 18:00 hours.
• Closing time for the summer season: until 22:00 hours.

But ideally you should check this information on the calendar on the official Universal Studios Hollywood website before purchasing your tickets.

In any case, keep in mind that a visit to this park is usually an activity that you can do at any time, regardless of the weather season. This way, you can include it among the things to do in Los Angeles in winter, summer, spring or autumn.

If you wish to visit the different attractions and shows offered at the park, you will have to dedicate a full day of your itinerary, as this park is quite large and has a high tourist influx, especially during the high season, i.e. between April and August.

When visiting Universal Studios Hollywood you should take into consideration that the waiting times to access any of the attractions will vary constantly. Typically, you will have to wait between 30 and 55 minutes.

Therefore, a good option is to buy a two-day Universal Studios Hollywood ticket and take your time to explore the park. Afterwards, you can fit other activities into your daily schedule such as joining one of the top Hollywood tours, seeing the celebrity homes, taking a boat ride in Los Angeles or enjoying the nightlife.

Universal Studios Hollywood has a wide variety of attractions to suit all tastes, ranging from roller coasters to interactive and themed experiences. The number and range of rides on offer can change depending on the time and season.

Here are my favourites:

• Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey: one of the park's favourite attractions, this is a motion simulator that allows you to experience your own adventure through the most iconic scenes of the saga, such as Hogwarts Castle.
• Flight of the Hippogriff: this is a roller coaster designed for the youngest members of the family.
• Jurassic World - The Ride: you will be immersed in a journey through the Jurassic World island where the dinosaurs come to life through animatronics and special effects. The ride will end with a showdown with the most terrifying T-Rex.
• Revenge of the Mummy - The Ride: a roller coaster with twists and turns inspired by the movie TheMummy.
• The Simpsons Ride: a virtual roller coaster that consists of a 3D simulator based on The Simpsons.
• Transformers: The Ride 3D: This 3D simulator, known for its visual effects, will immerse you in an epic battle set in the Transformers universe. You will ride alongside the Autobots and fight against the Decepticons.
• Studio Tour: aboard a tram, you will visit the sets of major film productions such as King Kong's Cave 360 3-D or the dinosaur attack in Jurassic Park.
• Despicable Me Minion Mayhem: in this 3D attraction you will join the Minions for a fun adventure, ideal for families and those who enjoy My Favourite Villain.
• WaterWorld: based on the movie WaterWorld, this spectacular live show with action scenes, aerial acrobatics and shoot-outs is one of the park's most popular attractions.
• Kung Fu Panda Adventure: an interactive 4D attraction that takes you into the world of Kung Fu Panda.
• Fast & Furious - Supercharged: a high-speed simulator with action scenes and special effects, inspired by Fast & Furious.

If you are planning to enjoy the most popular attractions, such as Harry Potter and Jurassic World, you should expect to spend 3-4 hours waiting and experiencing each of them. To make the most of the day:

• Arrive first thing in the morning: this way, you'll be able to avoid some of the long queues at the main attractions.
• Download the park's app: you will be able to see the waiting times in real time to make your visit as efficient as possible.

The best time to visit Universal Studios Hollywood is usually in the off-season, i.e. January, February and November. During this period you will find less crowds at the park.

This way, you can enter the different attractions and shows without spending a long time queuing. All in all, it is the best time to go to Los Angeles and visit Universal Studios Hollywood.

• April to August: it is usually the busiest time, both on weekdays and weekends.
• December: this is considered peak season, due to the Christmas season.
• September, October and March: considered mid-season, you will find fewer visitors inside the park.

Universal Studios Hollywood theme park is located at 100 Universal City Plaza and is easily accessible by either:

• Bus: you have the 240, 222 or 155 Cahuenga Universal Studios Hollywood lines available.
• Bus: you can hop on the B LINE (RED), as it will drop you off just a few minutes walk from the park.
• In your own car: if you are in Anaheim or San Diego, you will have to take the 5 Golden State Freeway North, while from LAX airport in Los Angeles, you will have to take the 105 motorway to the 110 Harbor Freeway North.

There are several options to save on parking at Universal Studios Hollywood. My recommendation is to book the VIP experience at Universal Studios Hollywood in Los Angeles which includes valet parking.

Another option is to arrive early in the morning to get a space in the cheapest and closest car parks or consider taking public transport. You can also consider reserving your parking space in advance to find a cheaper rate. Here are the different parking options available:

• General parking: located at the Universal City Garage, this is the cheapest option, but it fills up quickly, especially on weekends and during high season. Prices start at $30-$40 per day, around €28-38 depending on the exchange rate. I recommend arriving early to get a spot nearby.
• Preferential parking: an ideal option if you want to save time, as well as avoid a long walk or having to take the tram, as it is closer to the park. However, the price is higher, at around $50-$60 per day, or €46-55.
• VIP parking: this is the least expensive option, but it is the most convenient, as it is located next to the entrance to the park. A perfect option if you are looking for speed and convenience. The price is around $80-$100 per day, which at the exchange rate is approximately €74-92.
• Public transport: Another option, if you are staying in a nearby hotel or if you live in Los Angeles, is to take public transport. You can take the underground to Universal City station, which is next to the park and connects to Universal CityWalk. From there, you can walk or take a free shuttle train directly to the park.

In addition, some nearby hotels offer free shuttles to the park, which would allow you to park there and avoid paying for parking at Universal Studios Hollywood. If you stay at one of these hotels you can take advantage of guest parking rates.

Universal Studios Hollywood is one of the best things to do in Los Angeles. It has a series of attractions and shows divided into different themed areas with which you can enjoy different scenarios, set in major film productions, 3D simulators and 4D experiences, among other attractions.

The themed areas

• Springfield: there you will see cafés and shops decorated like in The Simpsons.
• The Mummy: you will ride a virtual roller coaster to see scary mummies and a gloomy atmosphere.
• Harry Potter: visit Hogwarts Castle thanks to 4G technology.
• Jurassic Park: a roller coaster that offers a very realistic experience. You will come out wet from head to toe.
• Walking Dead: you will enjoy a house of terror with the characteristic zombies of the TV series.
• Transformers: you will be in constant tension during the ride, as thanks to the 3D simulator you will see the autobots fight against the deceptions.

The different shows at Universal Studios Hollywood

• Special effects: you will see a series of tricks used in the big Hollywood productions.
• Animal actors: you will see a show of the iconic mascots that have shone on the big screen and in some series.
• Waterworld: this is a show inspired by the famous film.

• Buy tickets online. This way, you will save some money compared to the price available at the box office.
• Visit in low season and enjoy a less crowded park. This way, you won't have to wait more than 30 minutes to access each attraction or show, as is often the case in other months.
• Use the Single Rider to get on the rides without spending too much time queuing. Of course, if you don't mind being separated from your companion, as this mode is for filling empty seats.
• Always carry a bottle of water with you, especially in the summer season. While you will find places to buy drinks, be aware that they are expensive.
• Avoid bringing food, as this is forbidden to enter the park.