The Complete Guide to Universal Studios Hollywood Rides, Including the Best Touring Order

Harry Potter fans, your biggest stop at Universal Studios is definitely The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™. Stepping through the gates, I almost cried. Every path, every detail, feels so real, it brings to life a small childhood dream. No matter the version of the wizarding world you imagined, this place gives you what you dreamed of. Before Entering The Park Opening Hours: Universal Studios doesn't always have the same opening times, so check the hours before you visit. This will impact your itinerary as it will dictate the best order for the attractions. Tickets: You will likely have options available to you, including one-day admission, Universal Express tickets, or VIP Experience tickets. These tickets can be found on the Mafengwo website. We went on a Monday, April 24th, and purchased an off-season ticket for 618. The tickets were sent via email as e-tickets. I recommend using the app “PDF Converter.r” to download your e-tickets from the email to avoid any issues at the entrance if you have poor mobile service. No low-quality screenshots please. What to Bring

A lightweight or waterproof backpack

Sunscreen and a hat

Good walking shoes, do not wear something that is going to become a burden; sportswear is totally ok.

Childs and families should be especially prepared Los Angeles has a considerable temperature difference between day and night, so bring a light outer layer.

A portable phone charger

Portable Wi-Fi

As part of our international travels, I recommend making a reservation while in China and then picking it up and dropping it off at the airport. For our trip that included Los Angeles and Vancouver, our Wi-Fi device was able to connect across borders. It was even more convenient and a better option than purchasing a SIM card. Please Do Not Bring · Large coolers or oversize bags · Food or drink from outside the venue Tips The Studio Tour might finish before the park closes. Be sure to look at the times so you don't miss it. Make sure you see all of Universal's iconic shows including WaterWorld, the Special Effects Show, and Universal's Animal Actors. They are just as good as the rides. Try to eat your meals outside the busy times so you can get on more rides instead of wasting time in queues. You can bring food to the WaterWorld and Animal Actors shows. You can also leave items you have just bought at any of the shops. Plan for about 10 minutes to go up and down the escalators between the Upper and Lower Lots. The Wi-Fi in the park is free but can be a little unstable. It is really important for every one of your group to grab a guide in Chinese at the entrance. Because once you enter it, you won't get another chance. The map is also important. Planning Your Day Take time to look at the map and choose a good path before you arrive. As soon as you enter the park, stick to your plan while watching the wait times for the rides. If you do a good job with your timing, you should be able to do every ride and see every show. That’s how to really get your money’s worth from a Universal ticket. Proposed Tour Plan This was roughly our order. Heavy Potter fans would be happy to claim 3 rides on Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, and that is exactly what we did since it was low season and a Monday. The strategy is quite simple: avoid peak times for queues, time your shows the right way, and ensure you have time for the Studio Tour in Chinese. Plan your time properly when travelling. Universal Studios and Disney are major theme parks and not places most people get to go to repeatedly so don’t have preventable regrets. Check the park opening hours, get up early, have breakfast before, and don’t arrive later than opening. Even the best plans will still have you waiting a full day to get in so don’t arrive after noon. Tickets aren’t cheap to make sure you get your time worth it when you finally arrive. Do not stop at the shops before you enter the park. You can do that after the park closes. Go straight to the front of the line and get in. We figured the attraction by the Hogwarts castle was going to be busy, especially since it is the first ride right at the entrance, but we avoided all that and went all the way to Lower Lot first and did Transformers, Revenge of the Mummy, and Jurassic Park. Keep an eye on the attraction boards. Because the Studio Tour’s Mandarin commentary started at 10:30, we joined the line at 10:15 and boarded at the right time. The duration was one hour. After, we went to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ and the first wave of visitors had gone, so the crowds were a lot less. We stored our bags and waited about 15 minutes for the ride. After, we rode the smaller coaster, Flight of the Hippogriff, with a wait time of about five minutes, then went to The Simpsons, Minions, WaterWorld, The Walking Dead, etc. For WaterWorld, Animal Actors, and the Special Effects Show, just use the times shown in the schedule to plan your visit. We had our lunch at around 3pm and the line for food was practically nonexistent. With less than three hours remaining, the rest of the day was much more enjoyable. Since we appreciated Hogwarts Castle so much, we made good use of the more quiet wizarding area in the afternoon after the majority of visitors had done it in the morning. We enjoyed Three Broomsticks, Ollivanders, saw the Frog Choir performance and rode Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey twice more, all of which were under 10 minutes. After fully enjoying the area, we took pictures with classic characters around the park and made sure to visit the shops. It was a really complete day. Universal studios was much more manageable compared to the queues at Beijing Happy Valley during school holidays. Don’t forget to visit the photo collection counter near the entrance before leaving. Take the slip given to you during photo sessions to check photos, and pay to print the ones you like. It could cost around 100–200 RMB, but money can be earned back;

a great memory cannot be recreated. If you like the photo, get it.

1. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ opened on April 7, 2016, and many Potter fans came to visit. This new Hogwarts-themed area features two attractions: Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey and Flight of the Hippogriff. There are also dining and shopping options at Three Broomsticks and Ollivanders. Performances by the Frog Choir and the Triwizard Spirit Rally are also available at certain times.

Here is the entrance to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™.

Walking along this street, I can picture the novels. The story that accompanied my youth finally comes alive.

From a distance, the castle looks ancient like its cinematic counterpart.

While waiting in line, you can examine every little detail of the setting. The theme is perfectly recreated.

Waiting in line will not feel endless. You will be deeply immersed in the theme. You will want to examine every little detail to pass the time because you will be constantly surprised to see new things. This is where Universal excels: even the waiting line becomes part of the attraction, pulling the guests into the story and building anticipation with extraordinary accuracy.

This painting moves — and about 80% of the portrait in the queue seem to move as well.

By the ride entrance, we saw a 3D version of the beloved trio. That look was instantly recognizable.

The Sorting Hat is here. Where would it sort you? Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw or Slytherin? I shared a photo of the Sorting Hat on social media, and a friend commented that when I put it on, the Hat just said, “Get out!” That’s all I needed, really.

Then Harry takes you on an amazing adventure. You look to fly beside him on a broom around Hogwarts Castle, play a Quidditch match against Slytherin, encounter Dementors and win to the applause of Professor Dumbledore, the teachers and Gryffindor students. Three rides were not enough. Each ride told a different story. I won’t say much - you have to do it yourself. I wish your dream comes true.

2. Despicable Me Minion Mayhem

Important:

Guests must be taller than 40 inches (102 cm) to ride.

Children between 40 and 48 inches (102–122 cm) must be accompanied by someone aged 14 or older.

Within the Minions attraction, groups first go to a waiting area to watch a video that explains the story.

After you finish “Minion training”, you can go to Gru’s supervillain lab for a unique experience. After the ride there is a fun Minions dance party to join.

3. Transformers: The Ride-3D

In my opinion, this is one of the best attractions at the park. If you are a Transformers fan, or if you are a parent with young boys, you will want to ride this one multiple times! The effects are amazing and super immersive. You kind of feel like you are in a film rather than just watching it. Universal must have spent a ton of money on this one with all of the technology because you help fight in the battle alongside Optimus Prime and Bumblebee, and help secure the win. The experience is awesome, even though it is only a few minutes.

Check the info board outside after the ride. Don't miss your chance to meet and take photos with Bumblebee, Optimus Prime, and other Transformers. They appear at set times.

4. Studio Tour

• Experience a frightening plane crash and fire from the movie War of the Worlds

• Visit Wisteria Lane from the ABC soap opera Desperate Housewives

• Meet Norman Bates at the Psycho Bates Motel

• Gather your courage and look for Jaws in deep water

Every day there are Mandarin sessions for The Studio Tour. Once inside the park check the info board for the Chinese time and line up early.

Guests will be touring Universal Studios Hollywood with television host and comedian Jimmy Fallon.

The star of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon appears on high-definition trams that humorously guide guests along the tour.

During the tour, guests will also experience the award-winning 3-D attraction created by Peter Jackson, King Kong 360 3-D.

Due to the release of The Fate of the Furious, the world-famous Studio Tour finale added Fast & Furious—Supercharged. In this experience, guests become part of the film’s all-star cast, diving into an international crime ring and entering the perilous realm of underground street racing.

At the park and CityWalk, guests can also find lifelike wax figures of the Fast & Furious cast from Madame Tussauds alongside cars and costumes from the latest film.

We found it—best of luck to you.

Another flagship experience of the Studio Tour is King Kong 360 3-D.

Highlights:

• It was the first theme park attraction to receive the International 3D Society Creative Arts Award for Outstanding Achievement.

• It was the first theme park attraction to win the Visual Effects Society Award for Outstanding Visual Effects in a Special Venue Project.

• If the 3-D King Kong was to emerge from the screen, he would be an astonishing 30 inches in height, 20 inches in width, 15 inches in thickness, and 6,000 pounds in weight.

• The Studio Tour tram is surrounded on all sides by two massively large, 40 feet high and 187 feet wide screens, equivalent to 16 cinema screens.

5. The Walking Dead Attraction

This Walking Dead haunted house, is a newer attraction, and parents with young children should probably avoid it. There was not much of a line when I went and it took around 2 minutes to get through the walkthrough, but for the experience, actors performed scenes from The Walking Dead by hiding in corners and jumping out to scare people. The level of detail in the setting was extremely realistic. I easily frighten, and I spent most of my time squinting and wishing I could leave. Because of that, I can't say I noticed very many details.

6. The Simpsons Ride

One of the longest waits in the park was for The Simpsons Ride, which is understandable considering how popular the ride is. The cartoon is part of the big 4, so it's really exciting to see them.

While we waited, we barely had time to watch the episode playing in the waiting area before it was our turn to go.

On both sides of the queue, patrons are greeted with large annoying screens which surely delight Simpson's fans as they see character after character appear.

The large Simpsons donut is famous and can be found in the dining area across from the virtual coaster. Many visitors from that side of the world seemed very happy to purchase one, as the Chinese palate may find a two-handed doughnut a little too sweet. Many Western visitors seemed delighted, enthusiastically eating one each or buying three or four to take away.

An explanation for all this dessert devotion eludes me.

To take a photo with some members of the Simpson family, look for a family member posing with guests by the entrance.

7. Jurassic Park—The Ride

Prepare to get wet on this ride, and make sure to bring rain ponchos for the kids.

After the ride, be sure to meet the very realistic animatronic dinosaur. The dinosaur poses for photos, and moves realistically with its zookeeper.

8. Revenge of the Mummy—The Ride

Everyone in the park gets in character, and they do an amazing job. They are all hilarious, some are even rude, and they all stay completely in character through the entire visit.

9. WaterWorld

All of the shows are fun, but this one is particularly important to plan for. Do not get in the first three rows, I was warned, since the warm up will get you wet. I ended up sitting in the second row, and I got soaked.

The stunts are incredible, and there is a lot of gunfire and explosions, as well as a realistic plane crash, and even some jet skiing right in front of you.

10. Universal’s Animal Actors

If you have time to see this show, it is fun to watch the animals perform some tricks and to learn about the work that goes into training them for movies. However, if you’re short on time, I think it’s best to skip this show because there are so many other things that are more entertaining. I would have preferred to use the time to go on a ride instead.

11 Shrek 4-D

Voices from the movie can be heard in the attraction.

Eager guests will appreciate a sensory experience and will don OgreVision sunglasses.

To enhance the themed fairy-tale environment, the ride incorporates air, smells, mists, sounds and special effects.

Thank You for Making a Dream Come True Walking into the park, we headed to the Harry Potter section first. I was so surprised to see so many people from different countries there. It was a large crowd of people from young children to even people in their 40s. Everyone was dressed in robes from their respective Harry Potter houses, and all had wands. Everyone was laughing, shouting and behaving like children again. That is what a dream come true looks like. Each of the four Universal attractions is a fever dream. There is no better way to spend a day then being at Universal. There is amazing detail and technology used to make each ride and attraction come to life. It becomes so immersive that you forget you are standing in a long line. You virtually fly your own broomstick around the Hogwarts castle, meet Hagrid, fight Dementors, and try to win a Quidditch game against the Slytherin team. When it's all over, you and the rest of your group get honored by Professor Dumbledore and the Gryffindor students for winning the game. I thought that I had outgrown the age of dreaming, but this place let me become a carefree three-year-old again. I saw people with dreams arriving, and the experience did live up to their expectations. Let us keep our hearts warm, hold onto love and freedom, and seize the opportunities to make our dreams come true.