How Many Days Do You Need at Universal Studios Hollywood?

I’m a Universal Studios Hollywood annual pass holder and visit the theme park often. Unlike Universal Orlando, Universal Studios Hollywood is a relatively small theme park.

In my opinion, you only need one day at Universal Studios Hollywood. This should be enough time to go on all rides and experience all the attractions.

However, you may want to consider upgrading to a two-day park ticket if:

• You’re travelling with young children who can’t do a full day
• You’re travelling in peak season
• You want to explore the theme park at a more casual pace

Upgrading from a one-day to a two-day park ticket costs between $50 and $80, depending on the time of year.

Based on my experience, there are a couple of things I recommend you do before your trip to Universal Studios Hollywood and on the day of your visit:

Get Breakfast Before You Arrive

The first hour after Universal Hollywood opens is the quietest. It’s the best chance of waiting 10 minutes for popular rides instead of 45 minutes later in the day.

You don’t want to be wasting that important time grabbing breakfast. Instead, get breakfast before you arrive at the theme park, leaving enough time to arrive before the park opens.

Arrive 1 Hour Early

I recommend arriving at Universal Hollywood one hour before the park is due to open. This gives you plenty of time to park your car and go through security.

In most cases, you should be able to have your tickets scanned and go through the turnstiles 30 minutes before the park is due to open.

Once inside the park, you’ll be held on Main Universal Way between the Hello Kitty Store and Starbucks until the park’s official opening time.

Go Straight to Super Nintendo World

The most popular area of Universal Studios Hollywood is Super Nintendo World, which is also the furthest from the park’s entrance.

To get to Super Nintendo World from the main entrance of the theme park, you will need to:

• Walk past the Wizarding World of Harry Potter on your right
• Follow the path round to the right into Springfield
• Walk towards The Simpsons Ride
• Turn left and take the escalators down to the Lower Lot
• Take a right off the escalators
• Walk towards Transformers: The Ride 3D
• Take a left at the ride entrance, and you’ll see the entrance to Super Nintendo World

If you have a wheelchair or a pushchair, you’ll be unable to take the escalators. Instead, staff will be available at the entrance to the Lower Lot to show you where to catch the shuttle bus.

Inside Super Nintendo World, there is:

• 1 Ride
• 2 Meet & Greet Locations
• 1 Store
• 1 Restaurant
• 5 Mini-Games (Super Nintendo World Power Up Band required)

If you want to eat at Toadstool Cafe, you’ll want to make a reservation as soon as you arrive. This way, you can begin virtually waiting in line for a table. While you wait, I recommend heading to Mario Kart: Bowsers Challenge.

Mario Kart: Bowsers Challenge is the only ride in Super Nintendo World at Universal Hollywood.

When this land first opened, the wait times for this ride were as high as 3 hours. Today, the wait time is often between 60 – 90 minutes, but if you’re first into Super Nintendo World, your wait should be less than 20 minutes.

Then, Explore The Lower Lot

Once you’ve finished inside Super Nintendo World, you’ll exit this land and go into the Lower Lot. By staying in the Lower Lot after Super Nintendo World, you’re ‘going against the grain’.

Most people enter the theme park and walk around the Upper Lot as that’s what’s in front of them. They then ultimately end up down in the Lower Lot in the afternoon.

However, you’ll be doing it in reverse. You’ll explore the Lower Lot in the morning and the Upper Lot in the afternoon. That way, you should experience both areas at their quietest times.

Single Rider Lines

The single-rider lines at Universal Studios Hollywood are the fastest way to get on a ride without having a Universal Express Pass.

However, a single rider line also means splitting up your party. As a result, the single-rider line isn’t for everyone, and depending on how long the standby line is, riding solo may not always be a worthwhile trade-off.

Rides at Universal Studios Hollywood have a single-rider line include:

• Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
• Flight of the Hippogriff
• Revenge of the Mummy: The Ride
• Transformers: The Ride 3D
• Jurassic World: The Ride
• Mario Kart: Bowsers Challenge