The Ultimate Universal Studios Guide

Are you going to Universal Studios? A trip to LA that doesn’t involve theme parks is not a trip at all. Well, that’s how some people feel.

Whether you’ve travelling with the whole family, you’re a movie buff, or you’re just after a few thrills, Universal Studios Hollywood is a few fun-filled hours you won’t regret.

Here’s our guide to getting the most out of a trip to Universal Studios

Fast Track and VIP

A Front of Line Pass is definitely the way to go if you want to minimise wait time. Lines for rides, especially newer attractions like Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, can stretch up to an hour, and with children in tow, that can be tiresome. Front of Line passes allow you to go straight to a shorter queue but cost around $70 more and only provide priority once on each ride. The VIP experience will set you back $200 more than a normal ticket and includes lunch, a private guide, Fast Pass benefits and more time with special access in the Backlot.

When to visit

If you don’t want to spend extra to get a priority ticket don’t worry, there are still a few things you can do to get the most out of your day.

Try to visit the park at a quiet time – weekdays are still busy but there might be fewer kids than on weekends. Universal Studios is open from 9am seven days a week. It is open later in Summer and on weekends. September is the peak period for Expedia’s Aussie travellers and if you want just a few hours in the park, visiting towards the end of the day means you’ll avoid the heat and some of the crowds.

Pre-pay your ticket online so you don’t need to line up to purchase one on the day. There may also be buy one day, get the second day free promotions running.