If you’re going to visit Hollywood, you want to get the full Hollywood experience. While walking the boulevard can be a lot of fun, there’s very little to do beyond taking photos with characters and seeing your favorite stars on the Walk of Fame.
Instead, a better option is to book a trip to Universal Studios Hollywood, where you can experience the magic of the movies and take advantage of rides and attractions. Speaking of rides, we’ve compiled a list of the five best rides at Universal Studios so you can plan accordingly and get the most out of your trip.
And if you’re interested in saving big on your next Universal Studios trip, or even building a side business of your own, check out our article about how to become a Universal Studios travel agent with Boardwalk!
A Brief Overview of Universal Studios Hollywood
As with most theme parks, Universal Studios is broken up into different sections. One of the most famous is the Universal City Walk, which has some incredible stores, bars, and restaurants. However, you don’t need a ticket to the park to wander through City Walk, so we’re not including it in this breakdown.
Not all of the different areas have rides or attractions, either. For example, the Hollywood section is at the opening of the park, and it offers a few areas for photo opportunities and little else. Also, the park is divided into the upper and lower lot. You start on the upper lot and make your way down as you move throughout the park.
Here’s a quick overview of each section and what you can expect.
- Minion Land – Illumination Studios has titles like Despicable Me and the Secret Life of Pets, both of which are on full display in this corner of the park. If you’re visiting with smaller children, we recommend coming here to hang out with life-sized minions and to experience these kid-friendly rides.
- Wizarding World of Harry Potter – If you really want to dive into the world of Harry Potter, you have to book a trip to Universal Orlando. However, this “bite-sized” version is more than sufficient to scratch your Potter itch, complete with immersive set decorations and two unique rides. While you can’t spend the whole day here like you can in Orlando, it’s definitely a good way to spend a few hours.
- Hollywood – This is where you come into the park, complete with a red carpet and various statues. There’s not much to do here besides eat at Hollywood and Dine or buy Universal products from the gift shop.
- Jurassic World – Dinosaur lovers will want to visit this section because it’s the only place you can see a velociraptor up close! Jurassic World: The Ride is also here, and it’s one of the main attractions at Universal Studios. In fact, you may want to come here first to get in line because the wait for the ride can get pretty lengthy throughout the day.
- Production Plaza – If you want to feel like you’re strolling through the streets of different cities, Production Plaza is a must. This area replicates the feeling of being in Paris or New York, and you can even catch a show at the Dreamworks Theater. The main attraction there is Kung Fu Panda, which has multiple shows daily.
- Springfield – Are you a big fan of The Simpsons? Then you must come on down to Springfield. Not only can you get a Homer-sized donut (complete with giant sprinkles), but you can partake in The Simpsons Ride, which propels you through the fictional world of Krusty Land. There are multiple places to hang out in Springfield, and you can also take photos with your favorite Simpsons characters.
- Studio Tour Plaza – The Backlot Tour is what put Universal Studios on the map, and here is where you can experience the tour firsthand. However, this section also has some of the best virtual rides, including Fast and Furious: Supercharged and King Kong 360 3D. Movie lovers will want to spend the most time here.
- Super Nintendo World – The world of Super Mario has come to life! This area is a relatively new addition to Universal Studios, and it’s where you can meet your favorite characters, such as Mario, Luigi, and Princess Peach. There’s a pretty cool virtual ride, as well as Toadstool Cafe if you’re feeling hungry.
- Transformers: Metrobase – The Transformers movies have become a global franchise, and you can get up close and personal with all the Autobots and Decepticons. Be sure to take photos with your favorite characters, then strap in for a monumental 3D ride that takes you out of this world.
- Water World – Although Water World came out almost 30 years, the live show is still going strong at Universal Studios Hollywood. If you only take in one live show during your visit, you must make it this one! You don’t even need to be a fan of the movie to enjoy the dazzling sets, acrobatics, and animatronics!
At first, seeing that there are so many sections may seem overwhelming. However, it’s easy to move through all nine areas in a single day. While you may not get to every show or ride, you should be able to experience everything you want to without struggling to squeeze it all in.
The 5 Best Rides at Universal Studios Hollywood by Type
Compared to other theme parks in Southern California, Universal Studios Hollywood is relatively small. Case in point is the fact that there are only 11 official “rides” within the park. Most of these rides are also virtual, meaning you don’t move on a track. Instead, you’re in a motion simulator where the seats move along with what you see on a digital screen.
That said, out of the 11 rides within the park, here are our picks for the top five. We’ve ranked them based on type so you can plan your day accordingly.
Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash – Best for Kids
- Location: Minion Land
- Average Wait Time: 30+ min
Universal Studios doesn’t necessarily cater to little kids, although there are various attractions and zones where they can run around and have fun. One of the mildest rides is the Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash. This is a physical ride where you move through the world of the Secret Life of Pets movies. It’s great for toddlers and kids who may be too scared by virtual rides or roller coasters.
Jurassic World: The Ride – Most Thrilling Ride
- Location: Jurassic World
- Average Wait Time: 45+ min
The Jurassic World ride is a relatively new replacement, coming into the park in 2018. Before that, it was Jurassic Park: The Ride, which was designed by the director himself, Steven Spielberg. While this version doesn’t quite capture the magic of the original, it’s still pretty intense. Also, it kept the massive 85-foot drop of the original, which is just as adrenaline-inducing as it sounds.
Overall, if you can only fit a few rides into your itinerary, we highly recommend starting with this one. While the wait time isn’t insanely long, it’s one of the more popular rides in the park.
Flight of the Hippogriff – Best Roller Coaster
- Location: Wizarding World of Harry Potter
- Average Wait Time: 45+ min
As we mentioned, Universal Studios is relatively light on the roller coasters, as many of the rides in the park are virtual. However, if you want the feeling of flying through the air, the best option is the Flight of the Hippogriff at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. This is one of two main rides in the Harry Potter section, and it’s well worth the wait. Not only do you get to experience dips, twists, and turns, but you get a good view of the rest of the Wizarding World as you tear along the track.
King Kong 360 3D – Best Virtual Ride
- Location: Studio Tour Plaza
- Average Wait Time: 45+ min
Up until 2008, there used to be a physical King Kong ride at Universal Studios. This ride was based on the 1976 film, and it involved a seven-ton, 30-foot-tall animatronic of the ape himself. While the ride wasn’t the most thrilling option at the park, it was definitely one of the most famous. Unfortunately, a fire in 2008 destroyed the ride.
So, in 2010, an updated version was built in its ruins, and this one was based on the 2005 film by Peter Jackson. Jackson actually helped design and create the ride, making it more immersive and cinematic. While there’s something special about seeing a real-life animatronic, the 360 3D version is also pretty spectacular.
Backlot Studio Tour – Best for Families
- Location: Studio Tour Plaza
- Average Wait Time: 30+ min
If you’re going to visit Universal Studios Hollywood, you almost have to take the world-famous backlot tour. Even if you’ve taken it before, it’s still just as thrilling and enjoyable every time.
This backlot tour takes you through the magic of movies, showing off sets from actual films (e.g., King Kong, War of the Worlds, and Psycho) as well as illustrating how movie magic happens behind the scenes. However, the tour is far from just an educational ride through a working studio set. There are also some thrilling moments as you come face-to-face with Jaws and experience an earthquake in real time, complete with flooding and destruction of a subway station.
How to Ride Every Ride at Universal Studios Hollywood
We love talking about the best rides at Universal Studios Hollywood, but because there are only 11 rides at the park, it’s relatively easy to hit them all in a single day. That said, while it’s easier to do than at other parks, you must still be strategic about your planning. So, here are our tips and tricks for making the most of your Universal Studios visit.
- Get There Early – The park usually opens at 9 am, so it should be pretty easy to get there by eight or 8:30. There are always lines of people waiting to get in, but it’s not quite as intense as what you can expect at Disneyland. If you’re one of the first crowds in the park, you can often get on the first ride of your choice almost immediately (or within 10 minutes).
- Visit During the Off-Season – Theme parks like Disneyland are crowded 365 days a year, no matter the season. Fortunately, Universal Studios doesn’t attract as many families with small children, so the crowd sizes ebb and flow throughout the year. If you get a season pass, you can come and go as you please, riding a few rides at a time. Also, since many of them are indoors and virtual, it makes sense to come on a rainy day when most people stay home.
- Plan Your Route – Although Universal Studios is a relatively small park, it can still take a while to get from one end to the other. One of the best options is to head straight for the back of the park, then work your way toward the front. Also, plan your route based on wait times and popularity. Fortunately, you can use the Universal Studios app to see when specific rides are the most popular.
- Schedule Rides Around Shows – Since there are only so many rides, you’ll likely want to experience a few shows during your visit. Since these shows are on set schedules, you’ll have to work around them as you move through the park.
- Use the Express Pass System – If you happen to be at the park during a particularly busy day, you may want to take advantage of the Express Pass system. This system allows you to reserve seats and skip the main line. However, it can be pretty expensive (about $80 per person), so we only recommend it if the average wait time for each ride is 45 minutes to an hour or more.
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