Universal City

Universal City is 4 mi (6.4 km) south of Burbank's Bob Hope Airport (BUR ^IATA) and about a 45-minute drive to Los Angeles International Airport. Both airports have rental car centers and public transit connections; see the individual guides for airport transportation information.

Universal City has its own exit from the 101 Freeway traveling northbound from Downtown Los Angeles or Hollywood. The 134 freeway can also take you to the Universal City area by exiting Cahuenga or Lankershim Blvd and turning southbound. General parking at the theme park is a minimum $32 before 5PM and $10 after 5PM, progressively getting more expensive the closer you are to the park entrance.

Metro offers bus and rail service to Universal City. Of particular use to visitors is the Metro Rail Red Line subway, which stops at the 🌍 Universal City/Studio City Station on Lankershim Blvd on its way between Downtown L.A./Hollywood and North Hollywood. Universal Studios Hollywood provides a free shuttle between the subway station and the theme park. The shuttle stop at the bottom of the hill is accessible via a pedestrian overpass. Instead of the shuttle, you can walk up the hill to Universal in 10-15 min. Across the street from the subway station is a bus hub that serves Metro routes #150/240, #155, #224, and the (weekday only) Metro Rapid #750, which connect Universal City directly to various communities throughout the San Fernando Valley.

Universal Studios Hollywood is the main draw of Universal City and one of 6 Universal theme parks around the world. It was the first one to be built however opening in 1964 with just a tram tour around a working film studio giving the guests a behind-the-scenes look at ongoing and legacy productions (more than 9,000 movies and countless tv-shows have been filmed here). In the '60s and '70s the studio tour started adding staged events based on the films and from the '90s and onwards the theme park as it is known today started being built around it. It is now the 13th most visited theme park in the world with 8.4 million visitors in 2022. Before diving in, here is some important information:

1. Tickets start from $109 for a 1-day admission and $159 for the 2-day admission but their prices vary throughout the year and they are more expensive on spring break, summer, Christmas and other busy periods. For example a one-day ticket in July can sometimes cost $150.
2. Express Pass is a paid skip-the-line option that allows visitors to bypass the regular standby queues for rides and shows and be granted priority access to them. The passes are purchased on top of the tickets with an extra cost of about $100 and can be used only once on every ride. Aside from very busy days the Express Pass is not necessary to experience the park.
3. Child Switch is a system for the supervision of children that do not meet the height requirements for some rides. Both parents can enter the queue and when they reach its end, one goes on the ride while the other seats with the child in a designated area. Then when first one returns the other parent can go directly into the ride without having to queue all over again.
4. Due to its geography (it is built on a hill), the park is separated into two major areas: the Upper Lot and the Lower Lot, each with their own mini-areas themed after the movies. The Lots are connected via an outdoor walkway/escalator and the commute between them takes 10-15 minutes. The park's entrance is on the Upper Lot.

The heart and soul of the park is still the 🌍 Studio Tour, a tram tour of the backlot that lasts 45min to an hour and winds through many famous sets and past working sound stages. Among the highlights are actual sets from Back to the Future, Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho, and Stephen Spielberg's War of the Worlds, and simulated attractions based on the films Earthquake, Jaws, Peter Jackson's King Kong (King Kong 360 3D), and the Fast & Furious franchise (Fast & Furious Supercharged in 3D). International language tours are available in Spanish and Mandarin a few times a day.

Other film-based attractions include:

• 🌍 Springfield — A simulated Springfield filled with recreations of landmarks from the show The Simpsons, like the Kwik-E-Mart, Moe's Tavern, Krustyland and more.

• 🌍 The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Enter a recreation of Hogwarts and Hogsmeade, designed to resemble the world of the Harry Potter films. In Hogsmeade are many shops and eateries that replicate fictional places from the Harry Potter universe, such as Honeydukes sweet shop and Ollivanders wands. Numerous collectible shops, film props, and character performers can be found throughout this area.
  • Frog Choir - A presentation of songs by a small choir of Hogwarts students and their frogs that occurs multiple times randomly throughout the day. You can take pictures with them after each performance.
  • Triwizard Spirit Rally - A procession of Hogwarts, Beauxbatons and Durmstrang students that occurs multiple times randomly throughout the day. You can take pictures with them after each performance.
  • Shop Windows - Most of the windows throughout Hogsmeade have varying animations/animatronics/etc. Some can only be activated by the wands that are for sale. There are markers on the ground indicating where you should stand and what movement you need to make with the wand. There are a lot of people who buy the wands, so you don't have to buy one yourself to see the extra content.
  • Public toilets - The main (and only) restrooms within the Wizarding World are themed, complete with Moaning Myrtle. The men's bathroom is also 'haunted' by a recording of Moaning Myrtle.

• 🌍 Waterworld — An elaborate stunt show based on the film Waterworld. While the film has a reputation for being underwhelming, the show is much more highly regarded, with lots of stunt actors, pyrotechnics, and water effects, as well as an explosive plane crash. The arena seating is split up so that seats closest to the stage get soaked while those further away stay dry.
• 🌍 Special Effects Stage — A live show with demonstrations on how special effects are created, including sound effects, motion capture, and a fire stunt.
• 🌍 Universal's Animal Actors — A live show where a variety of animals perform stunts and tricks.
• Super Nintendo World — A smaller themed area, based on the Super Mario franchise and full of iconic elements of the Mushroom Kingdom.
• Meet Your Favorite Characters - In addition to the rides, numerous costumed characters can be found throughout the park; ask an employee for specific times and locations. Many classic characters such as Woody Woodpecker, Dracula, Frankenstein's monster, etc. appear near the Universal Plaza.
  • Raptor Encounter - Meet a live velociraptor and its handler in the lower lot near the Jurassic Park ride roughly on the half hour.
  • Transformers - Meet Megatron, Optimus Prime, or Bumblebee in the lower lot near the Transformers gift shop. Times are posted for when they will each be available for photos. Occasionally, Optimus and Bumblebee appear together.
  • Dora the Explorer - In Dino Play in the lower lot.
  • Shrek, Donkey, Fiona and Puss n Boots - They appear at Donkey's Waffle Cart near the former location of the Shrek 4D ride. They usually appear in groups of 2.
  • Despicable Me - There are 3 different minions (one eye, and 2 two eyes) that appear near the Minion Mayhem ride. The girls and Gru appear in groups of two near Ms Hattie's school between Minion Mayhem and Super Silly Fun Land.
  • The Simpsons - One or two of the Simpsons family (Homer, Marge, Lisa, Bart) appear in front of the Kwik-E-Mart throughout the day. Sideshow Bob or Krusty appear around the corner outside the Springfield DMV.
  • Madagascar - King Julien and Alex the lion appear near the animal show.

The park has also become the filming location for the tabloid television show Extra, with various celebrities sometimes interviewed in front of a live audience; check the website for times and guests.

🌍 Universal Studios Hollywood, 100 Universal City Plaza, toll-free: +1-800-UNIVERSAL (864837725). There are several film-based rides including: (updated Apr 2017)

• Upper Lot
  • 🌍 Despicable Me Minion Mayhem — A 3D motion simulator ride based on the animated film Despicable Me. Offers child switch area.
  • 🌍 Super Silly Fun Land — An elaborate children's play area based on the carnival from Despicable Me, with water play features, playground structures, and carnival rides and games. There is a spinning ride that is open to all ages above a certain height.
  • 🌍 The Simpsons Ride — A motion simulator attraction where the Simpsons visit "Krustyland," the Krusty the Clown-themed amusement park from the show. Offers child switch area. The ride is situated amidst a simulated Springfield filled with recreations of landmarks from the show, like the Kwik-E-Mart and Moe's Tavern.
  • 🌍 The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
    • Ollivanders Experience - Small groups of people can enter Ollivanders wand store and see a wand choose a wizard/witch (usually the youngest person in the group). It can get very backed up in the middle of day, but wait times are usually 5 min or less towards the end of the day.
    • Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey — A motion-simulator dark ride starring Harry, Ron, and Hermione leading you on a flight around Hogwarts. This is a very popular and well-received ride, with a queue that takes you through faithful recreations of Hogwarts sets. Wait times can be as high as 3 hours, but are usually 15 min or less at the start and end of the day or on weekdays. Lockers are available (free for 2 hr) since no bags are allowed on the ride. Offers a child switch area that can be crowded since children under 48 in are not allowed on this ride.
    • Flight of the Hippogriff — A junior roller coaster in which riders ride a "hippogriff" around Hagrid's hut.
  • Walking Dead Attraction — A haunted house style walk-through attraction with zombies and jump scares. With AC, it can get a little backed up in the middle of day, but wait times are usually 5 min.
• Lower Lot
  • 🌍 Transformers: The Ride — A 3D dark ride based on the Transformers film franchise. Offers child switch area.
  • 🌍 Jurassic Park: The Ride — A water thrill ride based on Jurassic Park where you float past various animatronic dinosaurs before making a steep waterfall plunge; you will likely get soaked on this ride. Offers child switch area.
  • Dino Play For Kids — A play area for children near the Jurassic Park ride.
  • 🌍 Revenge of the Mummy — A high speed indoor roller coaster based on the Mummy film franchise. Small bags can be brought on the ride, but there are lockers available for slightly larger items (free for 90 min). Offers child switch area.

• 🌍 Universal CityWalk, 100 Universal City Plaza. Located just outside the gates to the theme park, Universal CityWalk is an outdoor shopping mall and entertainment complex built to resemble an urban street, albeit with over-the-top colorful architecture and talented street performers. The mall has dozens of restaurants (all price points), shops, and a wide range of entertainment options, and is usually packed on weekends and summer nights, which adds to the energy and atmosphere. Free. (updated Jun 2015)
  • 🌍 CityWalk Cinemas. A 19-screen movie theater with stadium seating, surround sound, and digital projection, as well as an IMAX screen. 
  • 🌍 iFly Indoor Skydiving, ☏ +1 818 985-4359. A skydiving simulator attraction. Experience the thrill of falling from the sky without even leaving the ground! 
  • 🌍 Jillian's, ☏ +1 818 985-8234. M-W 11AM-9PM, Sa 11AM-1:30AM, Th F Su 11AM-midnight. A sports bar/restaurant with a bowling alley, arcade, and billiards lounge.