After watching all those American movies and cartoons, every person dreams to visit Universal Studios Hollywood at least once in their life, no matter their age. I feel pretty lucky because I got the opportunity to visit the Universal Studios Hollywood recently, and to see the places where all the magic happens.
Visiting this theme park is extremely fun, so make sure you reserved a day for it, because you have a lot of things to do and see there. I was surprised about it and all the cool rides, the very interesting tour, and the great shows with special effects. I really appreciated that the entire park is built in a different way than all the other Disney or Universal parks around the world, and you will see below what I am talking about.
Universal Studio Hollywood is not just a fun park with rides, but it offers you the possibility to visit the 50-year old studios during a train tour, to participate in very exciting shows with special effects and to understand how things actually work, and also to have fun on themed rides. Trust me, this park has everything it needs.
For those who are thinking to visit Universal Studios Hollywood in the future, I’ve made a top with my favorite attractions, you simply cannot miss:
The Universal Studio Globe and the Red Carpet
As any other person in the world, I always dreamed about walking on a red carpet. And at Universal Studios Hollywood, this dream comes true. Before entering the park, any guest has the possibility to walk on a VIP red carpet, and to enjoy the feeling of being a star! This is simply great, and it made my entire trip to the park start in a very excited way.
Entering Universal Studios Hollywood
The Studio Tour
Before heading to any rides or attractions, get your pass to the Studio Tour. The tour of the studios started 100 years ago, and it is very interesting. I really enjoyed spending about one hour in the small train that takes guests all around the studios. This tour offered me the possibility to experience the movie’s world, a storm and an earthquake, and to see Norman Bates, the plane crash from “War of the Worlds”, or the 3D world of King Kong. Our tour guide was lovely, giving us a lot of useful information about movies’ history; I didn’t feel how time flew.
The tour of the studios was interesting and fun
Revenge of the Mummy – The Ride
During time, I’ve tried many ride and roller coasters, but this is one of my favorites. First of all, the entrance is great: it is like a maze inside of a pyramid. Second, the roller coaster itself: it is in total darkness, which means you cannot see anything. You won’t see the falls, the turns, the upside-downs, anything. And because of it, it is way more intense. Last, because of the effects: I literally felt the spiders on my skin!
Transformers – The 3D Ride
It was quite hard to choose the best ride between The Mummy and Transformers. But Transformers, the 3D ride, was so cool, that I’ve been in it three times. It is almost real, you feel like fighting with the robots, and you simply don’t want it to stop. Bumblebee and Optimus Prime are flying next to you all the time, while the special effects are incredible!
Transformers at the Universal Studios Hollywood – The 3D Ride, feels almost real
Jurassic Park – The Ride
This is a rafting ride that will bring you face-to-face with the giant dinosaurs, like Tyrannosaurus Rex. But keep in mind that everything happens after an 84 feet down crazy waterfall, so be prepared for it. Even if I got wet, I have to admit, the ride worth it.
Getting wet in Jurassic Park at the Universal Studios Hollywood
The Waterworld
This show gives you the opportunity to see live wild jet ski tricks, air stunts, pyrotechnics, and many more. You could definitely get wet during this show, so avoid staying in the Soak Zone if you want to leave the stage dry.
The Simpsons Ride
I am not a big fan of the Simpsons, but this ride is amazing! It was one of my first simulators I ever tried, but it felt so real, that I definitely want to try one again. The journey through Krustyland is simply amazing, the animations are all in high definition, and the turn-overs are unexpected. It is the recipe for a family-fun ride.
Krustyland is a ride for the entire family
The Special Effects Stage
I’ve always wanted to go behind the scenes and see exactly how movies, and especially the effects, are made. At Stage 56, we all get the answer to the questions regarding how the magic, the accidents, or the disasters happen in movies. We got some live demonstrations of killing people, explosions, and catastrophes.
Tips to visit Universal Studios Hollywood
After spending an entire day in the park, I have some tips that will help you have an unforgettable visit at Universal Studios Hollywood:
- Buy your tickets online; this way, you will save a lot of time when you arrive at the park.
- Try to go as early as possible, if you want to catch the red carpet at the entrance.
- Try to go outside the season, when the park is not that crowded, and the waiting lines for the rides are very short.
- Start your visit with the Studio Tour. After that, you have time to enjoy the rides.
- End your visit with the Special Effects Stage, where you can enjoy a nice show. Make sure you check its schedule in advance, and be there 30 minutes early.
- Use the Universal Studio App that will show you the waiting times for each ride. It will help you plan your visit and avoid long lines.
- If you can afford, buy a VIP pass, and enjoy no waiting times.
- Have fun on the Universal Citywalk, where you can enjoy 30 stores, 30 restaurants, 6 night clubs, and a movie theater. Spend your evening and night here, for a complete Hollywood experience.
- Have fun!