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Universal Studios Hollywood

Universal City, California, USA

“Authentic movie experience”

Universal is one of the world’s leading theme park chains. They currently operate resorts in Florida, Japan, Singapore and China, while new properties in Texas and the United Kingdom are being developed. Still, only one park can hold the title of being “the original” and that’s Universal Studios Hollywood. It’s located in the Hollywood Hills, just a short drive from the Hollywood Sign and Hollywood Boulevard. The park offers all the rides and shows you’d expect from a Universal theme park, but it’s much more than that. In fact, Universal Studios Hollywood was built right next to the company’s world-famous film studios, which have been in operation since 1912. The actual theme park opened in 1964 and it has become one of the premier tourist destinations in the Greater Los Angeles Area, attracting nearly 10 million visitors per year.

ROLLER COASTERS

Universal Studios Hollywood currently offers two family roller coasters and they may both be considered as classic Universal rides. The first one is Flight of the Hippogriff, a simple junior coaster that’s part of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. The attraction was manufactured by Mack Rides, but it feels very similar to the Vekoma versions in Orlando and Osaka. The second coaster is a west coast edition of Revenge of the Mummy – The Ride. That name sounds familiar, but the ride differs significantly from its counterparts in Asia and Florida. In Orlando, for example, you’ll find the attraction in the fictional Museum of Antiquities and the Singaporean version can be found behind a monumental Egyptian temple facade. California got the least attractive exterior, as the ride was integrated in a rather boring-looking soundstage. The actual ride experience is also a little underwhelming, when compared to its namesakes. The introductory dark ride is shorter and contains fewer animatronics and effects, while the roller coaster section feels rather tame. Besides, theming during the ride is quite weak, as riders don’t see much more than painted 2D panels. It all has a cheap look to it, so maybe it’s time for a decent upgrade?

If you purely consider yourself as a roller coaster enthusiast, Universal Studios Hollywood may not offer what you’re looking for… yet. The current lineup consists of only two family-friendly credits, but that’s about to change. Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift is expected to open in 2026 and it promises to become one of the west coast’s most impressive thrill rides. The coaster is characterised by multiple launches, stretched-out inversions, spinning cars and a prominent location on a steep mountain slope. I’m not a huge fan of the Fast & Furious theme, but it goes without saying that this ride will shake up the Californian roller coaster scene quite a bit.

STUDIO TOUR

It’s kind of difficult to declare one particular ride as the highlight at most Universal parks. Here in Hollywood, however, it’s very easy. If there’s one attraction that you shouldn’t miss during your visit, it’s the world-famous Studio Tour. It has been there since the opening day of the park and I’m guessing that it will be a part Universal Studios until the end of time. The biggest strength of this ride is its authenticity. While many other movie-themed parks once presented a similar tour, those attempts usually felt terribly forced. The problem? These tours often tried to make you believe you were driving past a movie set, when in reality, you weren’t. Universal’s Studio Tour, however, takes guests past real sets, backlots and soundstages. The chance of seeing a world-famous movie star is obviously small, but the fact that it’s not impossible does add a special vibe this tour.

Universal’s Studio Tour is quite time-consuming, as the entire ride takes about 50 minutes. We get to see the Bates Motel from Psycho, there’s a wreck of a Boeing 747 and we drive past the heavenly town from Netflix’s The Good Place. In addition, there are some scenes developed specifically for the tour. These include a King Kong scene in 3D and an old-fashioned Jaws scene. Honestly, not every part of the tour is equally impressive: an empty movie set doesn’t look too extraordinary and the outside of a soundstage is… well… boring. Still, an onboard host keeps things interesting with live narration and details about upcoming films.

DARK RIDES

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is one of the highlights at Universal Studios Hollywood. The main attraction in this area is Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. This dark ride is impressive in every way. It takes place inside the gigantic Hogwarts Castle, the indoor queue is absolutely stunning and the attraction boasts a rather unusual ride system. Guests don’t traverse the castle in a doom buggy or boat, but they take their seats in a flying bench that’s attached to a robotic arm. The movements are intense and some screen-based scenes even have a slightly nauseating effect. While I highly appreciate this original ride system, Forbidden Journey isn’t perfect. In fact, the attraction’s technology often seems too visible and this diminishes the feeling that you’re actually flying through a forbidden forest. Don’t get me wrong… Forbidden Journey is an excellent attraction, but there are some flaws in the details.

The Secret Life of Pets – Off The Leash was presented in 2021. The attraction is unique to the Hollywood park, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it eventually appears at other Universal properties. After all, I consider it as one of the very best dark rides Universal has ever created. The queue is full of super-cute animatronics and the actual ride features elaborately themed scenes. Off The Leash tells a simple story, but does so in a very effective way. And although the ride includes a few screens, the animatronics are the real eye-catchers. This dark ride instantly became one of my favourite Universal rides.

Universal Studios Hollywood can be divided in two separate parts: Upper Lot and Lower Lot. The former is a plot of land at the top of the hill, while the latter is located at the bottom. Both areas are connected with an enormous escalator, that’s appropriately named The Starway. Lower Lot is the smallest part of the park, but it’s home to the most popular dark ride. We are talking about Mario Kart – Bowser’s Challenge, the first big theme park attraction that uses augmented reality on a large scale. Passengers are equipped with translucent glasses, on which projections appear from inside. These AR projections include game instructions, which guest then have to carry out using an individual steering wheel. The system is innovative and special, but it unfortunately doesn’t lead to a superior experience. In my opinion, the ride creates a true sensory overload. The dark ride scenes in themselves are beautiful, but it’s hard to appreciate them if you have to pay attention to the virtual environments and the interactive game at the same time. This attraction feels much more chaotic than it should actually be.

OTHER EXPERIENCES

Jurassic Park River Adventure is a classic ride in several Universal parks. It’s one of those attractions in which the transportation system seamlessly fits into the story. After all, exploring a zoo aboard an expedition vessel feels very natural. It goes without saying that the animals here are slightly more aggressive than those in the San Diego Zoo, nor is it surprising that some of them don’t seem to appreciate our presence. The attraction has been a crowd favourite ever since it opened in 1996, yet Universal opted to modernise it. The result of this upgrade is Jurassic World – The Ride and, in my opinion, it is an improvement. Especially the first scene (in which riders discover the Mosasaur’s aquarium) and the grand finale (where the Indominus Rex and the T-Rex show up simultaneously) have undergone a noteworthy metamorphosis. Good to know: the wetness of this attraction is adjustable, so you don’t have to skip it even during chilly days.

It wouldn’t be a Universal theme park without screen-based attractions, right? Be sure to check out Transformers – The Ride, the DreamWorks Theatre, The Simpsons Ride and Despicable Me – Minion Mayhem, a 3D simulator you might recognise from Orlando or Osaka. Yet another ride with screens, that’s right. Still, I can’t hate Minion Mayhem, as the attraction still offers humorous, family-friendly fun. The preshows are hilarious and the actual ride also manages to put a smile on our faces. I would also like to compliment Universal Studios Hollywood for Super Silly Fun Land, an area located next to Minion Mayhem. This colourful children’s zone provides the kinetic energy that’s missing in some other parts of Universal Studios Hollywood and it contains some well-themed children’s attractions.

Entertainment is an indispensable part of the Universal experience. There are surprisingly many meet&greets with famous characters, but the highlight in the entertainment department is Waterworld. It’s no secret that the show has a stunning setting and that it features some spectacular special effects. However, I just can’t understand why Universal keeps investing in a performance that’s based on an old and rather unsuccessful film . Don’t get me wrong… This 30-minute show is visually pleasing and I enjoy watching the guests in the splash zone. But dear creatives of Universal, it’s time to create something new and modern.

WORTH A VISIT?

Although this park seems less attractive than the Florida resort, we had a fantastic day. It’s a high-quality park with great theming, friendly staff, good F&B offerings and an impressive ride lineup. I am particularly impressed by Jurassic World and the fantastic Secret Life of Pets attraction. Universal clearly went to the next level with both of these rides and it makes me excited for the quality of future expansions. The rest of the offerings are obviously fine too, but Universal Studios Hollywood (like the other Universal parks) uses a lot of screens in its attractions. Such screen-based experiences aren’t necessarily bad, but their repeat value is usually lower.

Do you consider Universal Studios Hollywood as a must-visit destination during a trip to California? What’s the best dark ride in this park? And what did you think about the Studio Tour? Share your opinion in the comments section at the bottom of this page.

This article reflects my personal experience at Universal Studios Hollywood during a visit in November 2024.