Universal Studios Hollywood One Day Itinerary (Hour by Hour)

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As a Universal Studios Hollywood annual passholder, I visit the theme park a lot. So, I figured it was worthwhile sharing my one-day itinerary.

After multiple visits, I’ve crafted this perfect one-day itinerary for the theme park covering all the rides and attractions (except for a couple of motion simulator ones that make me super sick).

However, just because this itinerary works for me doesn’t mean it will work for you. Instead, I suggest using this itinerary as a guide and adjusting it based on your needs.

Pro Tip: This one-day itinerary is only possible because I’ve planned my trip to Universal Studios Hollywood in advance.

7:00am – Breakfast

Arriving at Universal Studios Hollywood for ‘rope drop’ is the cheat code to short wait times. However, that means arriving at the theme park and going straight to the rides, not to breakfast.

As such, I always have a good breakfast before setting off to the theme park. I also pack some snacks to keep me energised during those first few hours.

8:00am – Parking & Security

I try to arrive at the theme park one hour before it opens. This gives me plenty of time to park my car in the Universal Studios Hollywood car park, grab a coffee from Starbucks, and head through security.

At 8:30am, Universal staff start scanning tickets, and I’m free to go through the turnstiles.

Guests are then held between the Hello Kitty Store and Starbucks until the theme park officially opens. In this case, I’ve assumed the opening time for Universal Studios Hollywood to be 9:00am.

9:00am – Super Nintendo World

The most popular area at Universal Studios Hollywood is Super Nintendo World. This is the newest area to open at the park and also furthest from the theme park entrance.

It takes 10 minutes to fast-paced walk from the theme park entrance to Super Nintendo World. Directions on how to get to this land are included in my Super Nintendo World guide.

When I arrive at Super Nintendo World, the first thing I do is go on Mario Kart: Bowsers Challenge. This is the best ride at Universal Studios Hollywood.

Mario Kart: Bowsers Challenge doesn’t currently accept the Universal Express Pass. Instead, the only way to skip the line on this ride is to go on a VIP Tour of the theme park.

As a result, wait times for Mario Kart: Bowsers Challenge during the peak season can reach three hours.

After Mario Kart: Bowsers Challenge, I play the mini-games inside Super Nintendo World. However, this is only possible with the investment of a Power-Up Band.

Pro Tip: Playing the mini-games in Super Nintendo World is one of my favourite things to do at Universal Studios Hollywood.

10:30am – Lower Lot

Once I’m finished in Super Nintendo World, I’ll exit the land and enter the Lower Lot. The Lower Lot of Universal Studios Hollywood includes:

• Transformers: The Ride 3D
• Revenge of the Mummy – The Ride
• Jurassic Park: The Ride

Pro Tip: There’s also the Raptor Encounter and a Transformers meet and greet here.

I skip Transformers: The Ride 3D due to motion sickness and instead go on Revenge of the Mummy – The Ride. The wait time for this ride is usually around 20 minutes.

After this, I sometimes go on Jurassic Park: The Ride. This is a water ride, so I tend to skip it in winter, but during the spring and summer, you can dry off in under 10 minutes.

12:30pm – Lunch

By 12:30pm, I usually finish in the Lower Lot and be ready for lunch.

The best place for lunch at Universal Studios Hollywood is Toadstool Cafe, which is inside Super Nintendo World. However, this is also the most popular restaurant at the theme park.

I’ll head to the Toadstool Cafe entrance and speak to the staff member to see if there’s a wait. If it’s under 30 minutes, I’ll get in the virtual queue and hang out in Super Nintendo World.

However, if it’s more than 30 minutes, I’ll head back to the Upper Lot and dine at either:

1. Three Broomsticks – Wizarding World of Harry Potter
2. Minion Cafe – Super Silly Fun Land
3. Bumblebee Man’s Taco Truck – Springfield, home of The Simpsons

1:30pm – The World Famous Studio Tour

Instead of going on rides straight after lunch, I go on The World Famous Studio Tour.

This one-hour tram tour goes around the backlot of one of the oldest film studios in Hollywood. It is suitable for the whole family and one of my favourite things to do at Universal Studios Hollywood.

2:30pm – Wizarding World of Harry Potter

After the World-Famous Studio Tour, I head to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. This theme park is located just off Main Way Universal in the Upper Lot.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter has two rides:

1. Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
2. Flight of the Hippogriff

If I visit Universal Studios Hollywood with my kids, I’ll go on both rides. However, if I visit with friends, I typically only go on Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey.

You’ll notice I’ve avoided several motion simulator rides in this itinerary, yet I still go on Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. That’s because I can somewhat stomach this ride, whereas I cannot stomach the other two (Transformers and The Simpsons).

Aside from rides, there are plenty of other things to do inside The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood. This includes:

• Drinking ButterBeer
• Watching ‘the wand choose the wizard’ at Ollivanders
• Using an interactive wand to cast spells

3:45pm – Upper Lot Rides & Shows

The final area left to explore at Universal Studios Hollywood is the Upper Lot. There are four ‘rides’ in the Upper Lot:

• Despicable Me Minion Mayhem
• Secret Life of Pets
• DreamWorks Theatre Featuring Kung Fu Panda
• Silly Swirly Ride

These rides target the younger demographic, roughly 12 and under. As such, if I visit with friends, I typically skip most of these rides. However, if I visit with my kids, I go on all of them.

The Upper Lot is also home to the WaterWorld show, the only attraction in the Upper Lot with a fixed run time. Typically, the last show of the day is at 4:30pm. However, I suggest double-checking, as this is subject to change.

Pro Tip: The Upper Lot is also home to Super Silly Fun Land, which has a playground and a splash pad, perfect for little kids.

There are also several character meet-and-greet opportunities in the Upper Lot. The characters that typically rotate here include:

• Hello Kitty
• Scooby-Doo & The Gang!
• Minions
• Gru
• Beetlejuice

5:30pm – CityWalk & Dinner

Universal Studios Hollywood typically doesn’t close until 7pm. So, depending on the day, I might use some of my remaining time to re-explore the theme park or pick-up some Universal Studios souvenirs.

Alternatively, I’ll head out to CityWalk for shopping and dinner. My favourite place to eat at CityWalk is Toothsome Chocolate Emporium and Savoury Feast Kitchen.

However, if I’m on a budget or tight on time, I sometimes opt for something more casual, like a Pinks hotdog.