Universal Studios Hollywood

Universal Studios Hollywood Introduction

• Hours: Open daily except Thanksgiving and December 25
• Reservations: Not required, but buy tickets in advance to save time in line
• Cost: Admission fee, see our money-saving hints. Extra parking fee
• Location: North of Hollywood off US 101
• How Long: About 8 hours
• Best Time to Visit: Busiest in summer (but hot and can be smoggy), spring and fall are best. So is winter and January is their least-busy month
• See It Now: Studio Tour and Theme Park

Universal Studios Hollywood Shows and Tours

• Backdraft: Intense, fire-based show recreates the film's final scene, a chemical warehouse fire with exploding barrels and falling catwalks. Stand in the back row to stay cooler.

• Shrek 4-D: The fourth "D" is your seat, which seems to be constantly moving. The story is cute, like the film. Use stationary seats in the back row if you'd rather not get jostled.

• Special Effects Stage: Learn how sound and visual effects are created and how monsters are made.

• Studio Tour: Operating as usual while the back lot rebuilds after a big fire in 2008, but without the classic Backto the Future courthouse and King Kong, the tour visits parts of the working studio, classic sets such as Jaws and Psycho and made-for-the-tour acts such stunt cars from the film Fast and the Furious. Studios don't work on the weekend, so you'll see more hustle and bustle during a weekday tour, but may get to drive through sets like Desperate Housewives' Wisteria Lane on weekends. If it makes you want to learn more about how films are made, try the Warner Bros. or Paramount studio tours.

• Creature from the Black Lagoon: A humorous, Broadway-style musical show featuring the classic film's love-struck creature.

• Terminator 2:3D: This action-packed, 3-D film depicts a battle at Cyberdyne Technologies and is full of loud noises, strobe lights, fog and effects.

• WaterWorld: Jet ski tricks and fire effects are just part of this stunt show. If you sit in the green seats, you'll get wet.

• House of Horrors: An old-fashioned, carnival fun house updated movie-style, this walk-through attraction (which has some stairs) is full of screams and surprises.

Billboards around the park give show schedules for The Blues Brothers and Universal's Animal Actors. You can visit The Universal Experience any time. It's an interactive exhibit featuring props, costumes and other memorabilia from Universal's long film-making history.

You'll also find favorite cartoon characters around the park. Daily schedules show where and when.

Universal Studios Hollywood Rides and Water Play

• The Simpsons Ride: The most entertaining attraction in the park combines a wild, cartoon ride through Krustyland with a motion simulator. The storyline pokes fun at most of the theme parks in the area. See how many you can recognize. Minimum height: 40 inches.

• Jurassic Park - The Ride: an indoor/outdoor ride that drops you down an 80-foot waterfall. Getting wet? Guaranteed. Minimum height: 46 inches.

• The Adventures of Curious George: A water play area for the kids.

• Revenge of the Mummy - The Ride: This indoor, dark roller coaster is short, but that may be a virtue - if it were longer, it could be over-stimulating. Besides the Mummy theming, it goes forward, treats you to a creepy effect and then gets you back in reverse. Minimum height: 48 inches.

Universal Studios Hollywood Review

Others may disagree. You can see what other people just like you think about it, then bookmark this page and after you've been there, come back and tell us what you think.

What do you think of Universal Studios Hollywood???

• 0 = Yuck! Just say no to this tourist trap
• 1 = So-So More fun than a night in jail, but you might enjoy a good nap more
• 2 = OK Some people find it interesting. I didn't
• 3 = Good Go if you have time, but it's not a big deal if you miss it
• 4 = Great I really liked it. I think you will, too
• 5 = Awesome! It's a must-see sight I recommend to everyone

Getting There

Universal Studios Hollywood
100 Universal City Plaza
Universal City, CA 91608
(800) 864-8377
website

From Anaheim: Universal offers a free shuttle from Anaheim if you buy a one-day admission ticket.

From San Diego: Some tour companies offer admission and transportation packages from San Diego, which can cost as much as $40 per person over full ticket price with no chance for discounts, and they limit your time at the park. Instead, rent a car from an inexpensive company like Fox Rent-a-Car.

More About Universal Studios Hollywood

Learn how to buy Universal Studios Hollywood tickets.

CityWalk, just outside the entrance is a lively shopping and dining complex open to the public. It's a good place to eat dinner or to do a little shopping, or even go to a movie after a day at Universal Studios Hollywood.

Find a hotel nearby.

As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided with complimentary admission for the purpose of reviewing Universal Studios Hollywood. While it has not influenced this review, About.com believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our ethics policy.

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