From Betsy Malloy,
Your Guide to California Travel.
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• 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, even if it's a little rainy (many attractions are inside)
• See It Now: Studio Tour and Theme Park

Universal Studios Hollywood Shows and Tours

Everything at Universal Studios Hollywood has a movie theme. These shows and tours feature Universal films:

• 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: Updated in 2006, the tour visits parts of the working studio, classic sets such as Jaws and Psycho and made-for-the-tour acts such as a face-to-face encounter with King Kong. If it makes you want to learn more about how films are made, try the Warner Bros. or Paramount studio tours.

• 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, Fear Factor Live and Universal's Animal Actors. You can visit Lucy (of I Love Lucy): A Tribute any time.

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

Universal Studios Hollywood Rides and Water Play

• Back to the Future...The Ride: After a long and fun-filled run, the DeLorean is now parked in the garage, and this attraction space is closed while Universal creates a new Simpsons ride that is scheduled to open in Summer, 2008.

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

• Nickelodeon Blast Zone: A playground-full of Nickelodeon characters also includes some interactive water effects.

• Revenge of the Mummy - The Ride: This indoor roller coaster goes forward and backward in the dark. Minimum height: 48 inches.

Every October, the theme park puts on a special Halloween Horror Nights event.

Universal Studios Hollywood Review

We rate Universal Studios Hollywood 4 stars out of 5. I know what to expect when I visit Universal Studios Hollywood: a studio tour and movie-themed shows and rides. I know it will be fun, but by the time I leave, I always find I've enjoyed it more than I expected.

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

Take the Universal Studios Boulevard exit off US 101 and follow the signs. The Metro Red Line stops near the park. Catch a shuttle bus from there.

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

Get tips about visiting Universal Studios Hollywood to help you have fun and stay comfortable.

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.