33 GUIDES
Universal Studios Hollywood is the original Universal park, set on the working studio backlot in Los Angeles. I cover the rides, the Studio Tour, seasonal events including Halloween Horror Nights and the Christmas season, the closest hotels, and how to fit a visit into a wider LA trip.
The World Famous Studio Tour is Universal Studios Hollywood’s best attraction. This one-hour tram tour takes you around the backlot of one of the oldest active movie studios in the world. This is a real, live, working movie studio. As such, you’ll see some of Hollywood’s most famous filming locations and sets from your favourite…
Universal Studios Hollywood has two official pick-up and drop-off points, the Frankenstein Parking Garage for the park and the ET Parking Garage for CityWalk, and neither charges for the stop. Pick carefully, because the two garages are a 20-minute walk apart, and there is a third option if you arrive by train. Ask for the…
Universal Studios Hollywood has 12 rides split between an Upper Lot and a Lower Lot. The newest is Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift, the park’s first outdoor roller coaster. Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift opens to the public on 16 September 2026. I went on it twice in preview, on 1 and 2 September 2026….
One of the worst things about visiting any theme park is having to wait in line for rides. To combat this, Universal Studios Hollywood introduced the Express Pass. In my experience, an Express Pass cuts your wait time for rides at Universal Hollywood by about 85%. That means, if the wait time for a ride…
I have been a Universal Studios Hollywood Annual Passholder on and off for eight years. In fact, the only time I’ve not been a Passholder is between my Annual Pass ending and my next visit to the theme park. There’s a misconception that a Universal Annual Pass is so expensive that it’s only worthwhile for…
Parking at Universal Studios Hollywood costs $40 for General, from $60 for Preferred and from $70 for Front Gate, and all three have gone up since I last wrote this guide. Every price here comes from Universal’s directions and parking page. Pay $40 for General and walk, unless you arrive after 5pm, when General drops…
One day is enough for Universal Studios Hollywood. The park has 12 rides split across two levels and one hour-long tram tour, and even with Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift now open you can do all of it between opening and close. Book one day, arrive an hour before opening, and ride Hollywood Drift or…
A trip to Universal Studios Hollywood can be expensive. But it doesn’t have to be. As someone who has visited Universal Studios more times than I can count, I’ve found several ways to save money. Not all of these money-saving hints and tips will be for everyone, but implementing just one or two could save…
Have you ever wondered if the refillable popcorn buckets at Universal Studios Hollywood are worth it? Depending on the design, a refillable popcorn bucket from Universal Studios Hollywood costs $24.99 to $39.99. You can then refill these popcorn buckets for free unlimited times at eligible locations. Meanwhile, a standard bag of popcorn at Universal Studios…