Planning a trip to a theme park can definitely be stressful. You know upfront that it’s going to be a very busy day, especially since you’ll have to wake up early - and you might also have the tough job of waking up all your children as well. Not only that, but you’ll need to know well in advance which main rides to visit early in the morning, the best restaurants to try, and how to navigate the park to save time. Oh, and should you buy a Fast Pass option? Should you stop to take pictures with Mario and Luigi? Will you even have time to visit Hogwarts and buy a magic wand at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter!? Relax, friend, we’re here to help you out.
In this guide, we’re going to tell you what you need to do well before your visit to the theme park, which restaurants to try, what rides to prioritize, and much more. Universal Hollywood is packed with things to do, and it got even better with the introduction of Super Nintendo World. Now, you can not only visit the Mushroom Kingdom, but also ride an upgraded Jurassic Park, explore the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, enjoy the Minions, and much more. Yes, you’re going to need a whole day to see everything, and that’s where a ride strategy comes in clutch.
Step by Step Ride Strategy for Universal Studios Hollywood
Here, we’ll list what you need to do before visiting Universal Studios Hollywood, along with the restaurants and attractions to prioritize once the big day arrives. We’ll also highlight in green what you shouldn’t miss. Running out of time or wanting to relax and take things slow? You can skip some rides from the list, but be sure to visit what’s highlighted in green!
- Install the Universal Studios Hollywood app on your phone
- Buy your ticket and a Super Nintendo World Early Access Admission
- One the day of your visit, arrive one hour before the Early Access Admission for Super Nintendo World
- Once you're inside Super Nintendo World, visit the Toadstool Cafe to secure a reservation spot. You’ll receive a time slot, and you’ll need to return later to join the standard queue before being seated for lunch.
- Ride Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge
- Explore Super Nintendo World until you have to go to the Toadstool Cafe
- Have lunch at the Toadstool Cafe
- Ride Jurassic World - The Ride
- Ride Revenge of the Mummy
- Ride Transformers 3D
- Visit Springfield and ride The Simpsons Ride
- Ride the Studio Tour
- Visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and ride Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
- Visit Minion Land and try Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem
- Ride Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash (if you have children in your party)
Why is the Universal Studios Hollywood App important?
Good question, young padawan. There are many advantages to installing the Universal Studios Hollywood app on your phone. One of the most important is the ability to link your park ticket to your profile, making everything simpler and faster. You can also check park opening times, queue times, and more.
However, there’s a crucial detail about this app, and the main reason to have it on your phone: virtual lines. Sometimes, when Universal Studios is particularly crowded, they may close Super Nintendo World and open a virtual line for it. In such cases, you’ll need to access your phone to enter the virtual line and secure a time slot for entering Super Nintendo World. The virtual line may also be implemented for specific rides, like The Secret Life of Pets.
What is the Early Access Admission for Super Nintendo World?
This is one of the most important things to pay attention to. Early Access Admission is an add-on you need to purchase when getting your ticket to Super Nintendo World. This add-on allows you to enter the theme park one hour before everyone else and head straight to Super Nintendo World. Keep in mind that only Super Nintendo World will be open during this special time.
This add-on starts at $20 but can go up to $100 during the summer and on very crowded days. It’s an amazing option that almost everyone should consider. Entering one hour before the general public is a fantastic perk. All attractions are open, including Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge and the 1UP Store. The Toadstool Cafe isn’t open yet, but you can scan a QR code at the entrance to reserve a time slot and return later to join the standard queue for lunch.
That is the only way to get early access to the theme park, by the way. Universal Hollywood hotels do not offer any perks related to early entry or Super Nintendo World.
Here is an overview of the Super Nintendo World Early Access Admission:
- It is an add-on to your ticket that costs from $20 all the way to $100. Since it’s an add-on, you still need a standard ticket to enter Universal Studios Hollywood.
- You can’t get early access to Super Nintendo World by staying in a specific hotel
- Universal Studios Hollywood usually opens at 9am, which means that Early Access to Super Nintendo World is at 8am. Make sure to arrive by 7:00am.
Is Universal Express worth it at Universal Studios Hollywood?
Here, we’ll try to answer a tough question: is the Fast Pass option worth it at Universal Studios Hollywood? The Universal Express comes in two formats: the standard Universal Express and the Universal Express Unlimited. The difference is that the standard version gives you priority entrance to rides once, while the Unlimited version allows you to use it as many times as you like.
So, how much does a Universal Express cost? You can purchase it along with your ticket, starting at $199 per guest. A standard ticket without Express is around $109. The Universal Express Unlimited costs about $40 more, so you’d be paying around $240 per guest. Keep in mind that these prices vary depending on the day of your visit, with higher prices during peak times, such as around Christmas and Thanksgiving.
You can also purchase the Universal Express once you’re inside Universal Studios Hollywood, but be aware that these Fast Pass options can sell out. If you’re visiting on a crowded day, it’s better to buy the Fast Pass in advance.
Phew, we are back to the original question! So, is the Universal Express worth it?
I’d say… it depends. Boring answer, I know. Let me just say that the Universal Express has improved significantly, as it now includes access to Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge. You can ride not only the most popular attraction in the theme park but also some of the best rides, like Jurassic World and Revenge of the Mummy. I’d say that if you’re short on time and visiting around a special date, the Universal Express could be a valuable purchase.
If you’re visiting during the low season - say, in early October or even late February - you might want to skip it. You might also consider skipping it if you plan to visit Universal Studios Hollywood twice during your vacation.
List of rides included with the Universal Express Pass for Universal Studios Hollywood
Here’s the list of rides included with the Universal Express Pass. As you can see, there are many great options that can save you valuable time and allow you to ride your favorite attractions twice (or even more times).
- Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge
- Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
- The Secret Life of Pets
- Jurassic World - the Ride
- Transformers 3D
- Revenge of the Mummy
- Despicable Me Minion Mayhem
- The Simpsons Ride
- Flight of the Hippogriff
- Silly Swirly
- DreamWorks Theatre Featuring Kung Fu Panda
- Studio Tour
- Waterworld Show (priority seating)
Single Rider at Universal Studios Hollywood
If you want to save some time, consider using the single rider lines at Universal Studios Hollywood. These lines often result in you being separated from the rest of your party, but you’ll likely save time as well. The single rider option is a great choice if you want to re-ride an attraction after experiencing it once with your family or friends.
Here are the rides with a single rider line at Universal Studios Hollywood:
- Jurassic World - The Ride
- Revenge of the Mummy - The Ride
- Transformers 3D
- Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
The Best Rides at Universal Studios Hollywood
Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge
Info: Guests must be at least 40”, motion simulator with AR technology, great for the entire family.
Everyone loves Mario Kart, right? I remember playing the original game on the SNES with my brother. This ride is essentially a motion simulator with a fun twist: you wear AR glasses and see CG versions of other racers zooming past you. Your objective is to shoot at them and collect points as you go.
I won’t say the execution is flawless, but this ride gives you a brief idea of what AR - and even VR - can do for theme park attractions. You should definitely check it out, as it’s a unique experience featuring one of the best video games of all time. Just keep in mind that queue times can easily reach 2 hours in the afternoon, which is why we recommend visiting Mario Kart first during the Early Access period, when queues should be around 30 minutes.
Jurassic World - The Ride
Info: Guests must be at least 42”, water ride with a drop at the end, great for thrill seekers, a bit scary near the end for the younglings.
This ride is very similar to the one at Islands of Adventure in Universal Orlando, but it’s a bit better, featuring great visuals and being more inspired by the newer Jurassic Park movies. The animatronics look fantastic, and you’ll come face to face with classic dinosaurs like velociraptors and those pesky little dinos whose names I can’t recall. The main drop isn’t that big, and the bulky vehicle makes it feel less intense than it actually is, which might be good news for young children. Just keep in mind that near the end of the ride, you enter dark tunnels filled with dinosaurs, which can be scary for younger guests.
Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash
Info: Guests must be at least 34”, dark ride featuring cute animatronics, great for young children.
This is a charming dark ride that matches the best ones at Disneyland and Disney World. The Secret Life of Pets reminds me of Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, using plenty of CG and animatronics to tell a story about cute animals doing… something. I’m not sure what they’re up to, but there’s a Dachshund animatronic, and that’s enough for me to forget about any storyline. This fun attraction is also new, having launched in 2021. A group of adults might want to skip this one, but families with children definitely shouldn’t miss it.
Waterworld
Info: show, takes about 20 minutes.
This is the longest-running show at Universal and one of the highest-rated attractions by guests. It’s a landmark at Universal that continues to impress. Waterworld is essentially a thrilling stunt show, similar to the Indiana Jones show at Disney World’s Hollywood Studios. You’ll see fighting, jet skis, explosions, and much more. The cast is outstanding - this is definitely one of the best shows you can find in a California theme park. Make sure to grab a seat in the middle rows for the best views!
Studio Tour
Info: tour, takes about 50 minutes.
This is a lengthy tour, so plan accordingly before your visit. The Studio Tour is essentially a tram ride that takes you backstage to see real sets used in some of our favorite movies and TV series. You’ll visit sets from many films, including Psycho, War of the Worlds, Jaws, Jurassic World, Back to the Future, and more. There may also be surprises, with characters like Norman Bates appearing and… interacting… with guests. I won’t say much more, but this is a fun and unique experience you should try at least once.
