Disclosure: My family and I received complimentary admission tickets to Universal Studios Hollywood. However all opinions here are my own.
UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOLLYWOOD TIPS TO SAVE YOUR TIME AND MONEY
Last month we visited Universal Studios Hollywood in California for the first time. We did not know what to expect or if our kids would enjoy it but felt confident they were at the right age. Since I did read and gather some information before our visit I knew Universal Hollywood is a lot smaller than Universal in Florida, so you can definitely do this theme park in one visit only. Planning on visiting any time soon? I am all the details from our visit with tips below that can save you time foremost. Because like the saying says TIME IS MONEY.
Buy Your Tickets Online
Biggest way to save money is buying it on time and online and avoid the line at the ticket booth at the park. Right now on the website USH if you buy a day pass you will get a second day free. It is a Fall offer valid through 12/19/19, the return visit must occur on or before 12/19. (Blackout dates 11/29 and 11/30)
You can also get more discounts by booking a hotel package via the USH website.
Keep in mind when purchasing your tickets online in advance you will need to choose a specific date. The calendar shows you a range of prices depending if its a busy time or not. Or you can also purchase a set ticket that can be for any date but are quite more pricey.
Get the Universal Express Pass
If you are visiting during a busy season getting the Express Pass is worth it. If you are planning to go on school holidays (like we did) or weekends that could mean more large crowds and long exhausting lines. Save time by skipping the regular attraction lines.
This gets you a one time pass to each attraction and seated show. It works by getting you to the front of the line that lets you access the main attraction in a separate line that has little to no wait. The pass also allows you special seating opportunities and can also offer you opportunities like meeting the animals up close (after the Animal Actors Show)
Get the Universal Studios Hollywood App
Similar if you been to Disney you will want to get the App to navigate around Universal. It will be your guide to get around the park, give you wait times to rides and the most popular attractions, the location of rides, show times, and restaurants to eat. If you have young children there is also a section specifically just for them.
Go to the Busiest Ride First
We found heading to Jurassic World first was the best thing to do, the lines were extremely long but the Express Pass got us in within 3-5 min tops. And as an added bonus tip if you want to go back on this ride head there 10-15 min before the park closes and you will find no lines at all. We got to do this ride not once but twice but with no waits.
Another popular one in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey along with Flight of the Hippogriff. It is the only ride that is considered a roller coaster that is outdoors. The kids and I enjoyed it however it was extremely short, it seriously felt like 20 seconds and it was done. It can be disappointing to wait in a long line for something so short- so if the line is short or you have an Express Pass take advantage of it.
Stay Nearby
When we visited California we stayed at The Howard Johnson Hotel in Anaheim since we were going to Disneyland and a hotel right across was the perfect location for us. I definitely recommend it if you are staying at the Disney parks longer. However if you are in California only for Universal then staying a hotel nearby is the most ideal. There are hotels in walking distance that can save you a trip from LA traffic and also paying for parking at the park.
But if you are staying far away be prepared for that traffic. I believe it took us more than an hour to get there and more than an hour and half back because of the time.
I hope this post was helpful in some way when planning out your first visit. Let me know if there’s any questions I can answer down below.
