Los Angeles – Enjoy Universal Studios Hollywood

Universal Studios Hollywood is a very popular theme park located a short drive from Hollywood. Based on Universal's historic production studios, a theme park was also opened where all the fun and experiences of the films produced by the company come alive. The attractions include journeys through the sets of some of the world's most famous movies and TV shows like The Simpsons, Jurassic World, Harry Potter, and more.

How much time should you dedicate to Universal Studios Hollywood?

For a day full of fun with or without the kids at Universal Studios Resort, it’s worth dedicating an entire day to the adventure.

What are the must-see attractions at Universal Studios Hollywood?????

• The Flight of the Hippogriff roller coaster in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter????
• A splash to the face at Jurassic World: The Ride
• Join Harry Potter on Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride
• Hang out at the CityWalk Hollywood
• Meet all the characters from The Simpsons in Springfield
• Live Battles at WaterWorld: A Live Sea War Spectacular
• Exciting simulated adventure with the minions at Despicable Me Minion Mayhem
• A spine-chilling simulated journey in Transformers: The Ride 3D
• Sensory attack with 3D glasses on Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge
• Embark on a journey inside “The Mummy” on Revenge of the Mummy ride
• Playful fun with slides and a splash pad at Super Silly Fun Land????

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What is Universal Studios Hollywood?

Universal Studios Hollywood park is located adjacent to the historic Universal company studios. These are nestled on the northern slopes of the Santa Monica mountain range, on the southern bank of the Los Angeles River that flows through the valley.

The park is set in a separate urban area known as Universal City and technically functions as a completely independent municipal unit. The park and studios are adjacent to the west of Warner Bros. Studios, in the southern part of the city of Burbank.

• The Universal Studios began operations in this location in 1912 and were among the first to reach the Hollywood area (beyond the ridge). They established the area as the heart of the film industry.
• Over the years, studio executives realized that the glamour created a huge demand for tourists who wanted to come and actually touch the world of movies.
• The studios started guided tours, which are still part of the theme park today.
• With the visiting crowd, they also began to develop the idea of a theme park, and inspired by the tremendous success of Disneyland in Anaheim that opened in 1955, Universal also began to develop their own theme park near the studios.
• The theme park opened in 1964 and has since become one of the main attractions in the Greater Los Angeles area.
• Following the success (and the opening of Disney World in Orlando, Florida), Universal opened a massive resort in Orlando, Florida in the early 1990s.
• The Universal Studios Theme Park and Studios are located near the Hollywood Freeway, Highway 101 that crosses the Santa Monica Mountains from Hollywood to the San Fernando Valley.
• Near the entrance gate of the park, there's a massive parking lot, including multi-story parking buildings.

Map of Universal Studios Hollywood

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is a separate area within the Upper Lot, featuring attractions related to the Harry Potter films. The area includes a replica of Hogwarts Castle, which hosts the “Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey” ride. On the way to the castle, you can see the Hogwarts Express Train.

The attractions of the Wizarding World:

• Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey – A dark ride journey inside Hogwarts School.
• Flight of the Hippogriff – A medium-speed roller coaster inspired by the Harry Potter movie sets.

Attractions and Rides in the Upper Lot

The Upper Lot is the top area of the amusement park near the park's entrance gate. At the entrance gate, you'll find the iconic Universal Studios Globe Sign, and to the right, the park's main street—the Universal CityWalk Hollywood—that leads to the large round plaza.

The entire area is filled with restaurants, memorabilia shops, and places to sit, drink, and relax. From there, you can enter the Upper Lot attractions via the Main Way Universal. The Main Way leads to Universal Plaza, around which all the attractions are located.

Upper Lot Rides and Attractions:

• The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash! – An indoor ride that immerses you in the set of the popular movie
• Despicable Me Minion Mayhem – A simulation journey inside the movie Despicable Me, where the beloved yellow characters first appeared on screen
• Silly Swirly Fun Ride – A flying carousel
• Super Silly Fun Land – A water playground with loads of attractions for kids
• The Backlot Tour or Studio Tour – An adventure through Universal's film studios, exploring the sets of the company's famous movies.
• DreamWorks Theatre – A theatre showcasing Universal movie sets and shows.
• The Simpsons Ride – A journey in carts through the world of The Simpsons, chasing Sideshow Bob as he tries to ruin the ride.
• Waterworld: A Live Sea War Spectacular – A show featuring acrobats based on the Waterworld movie set.

Attractions and Rides of the Lower Lot

The lower part of the park is an extension on the northern side of the amusement park where, to be honest, all the cool rides are. The Lower Lot is connected to the Upper Lot by a series of escalators called the Starway, which also offers a great viewpoint of the San Fernando Valley.

The rides and attractions of the Lower Lot:

• Jurassic World: The Ride – A wet roller coaster with a 26-meter drop and splash
• Revenge of the Mummy: The Ride – An indoor roller coaster with a speed of 65 km/h following the set of The Mummy movies
• Transformers: The Ride 3D – An indoor journey following the Autobots in their battle against the Decepticons
• Raptor Encounter – A show and encounter with raptor puppets
• DinoPlay – A playground for kids with activities and dinosaur puppets
• Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge – A virtual reality journey inspired by the Mario video game, the Nintendo hero. Nearby, Power-Up Band Key Challenges