As someone who lives very close to Universal Studios, I'm writing some tips for all those going to the CLA annual meeting at the Sheraton at Universal City.
Universal Studios Hollywood is literally part of Hollywood history. The park started back in 1915 as a way for people to watch movies being made, with bleachers overlooking silent film sets. By the 1960s, it had transformed into the famous Studio Tour, where visitors rode trams through working backlots, past costumed guides, and into staged “accidents” with collapsing bridges or flash floods. That Studio Tour is still there today (King Kong, Jaws, and even Wisteria Lane from Desperate Housewives), but the park has grown into so much more — a mix of real Hollywood sets and full-blown themed lands.
And because it’s built into the side of a hill, tackling Universal requires strategy. There’s the Upper Lot (Harry Potter World, Minions, Secret Life of Pets, the Studio Tour) and the Lower Lot (Jurassic World, The Mummy, Transformers, and now Super Nintendo World). The two are connected by a series of escalators so long they deserve their own ride credit. If you don’t have a plan, you’ll spend half your day just moving between levels.
Start at the Lower Lot
If you’re there when the gates open, head straight to the Lower Lot. Don’t get distracted, don’t stop at Harry Potter World yet, and don’t waste time taking pictures in front of the globe. Go down the escalators and hit Jurassic World, The Mummy, and Transformers while the lines are short. Later in the day, this area gets clogged and wait times can be brutal.
A word of warning about Jurassic World – The Ride: you will get wet. Not maybe. Not “it depends where you sit.” You will. If you brought a laptop (CLE members), put it in a waterproof bag or toss it in the free lockers. Pretending you can just “shield it with your backpack” is how you end up explaining water damage to AppleCare.
The Mario Land Reality
The newest and flashiest part of Universal is Super Nintendo World, and it’s basically a guaranteed long wait. Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge is the main attraction, and it’s slower-loading than other rides, so lines build fast and stay that way. The interactive “Power-Up Bands” also keep people inside the land longer, having people punching blocks, playing mini-games, and exploring. If Mario is your must-do, either head there first thing (before the Lower Lot classics) or wait until the very end of the night. Just don’t expect a walk-on. Bowser's challenge does allow for lighting lane.
My personal food picks
If I'm getting food, I'm getting it from Harry Potter World. From butterbeer (which is a must) to sit-down meals at Three Broomsticks, the food is light enough to prevent upset a stomachs on Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. It’s also a nice mid-day break when the sun is beating down. If you bring the kids, the wands are a must. You can use them and cast spells in real life.
The Studio Tour (a.k.a. The Tram Ride)
No trip to Universal is complete without the Studio Tour. It’s the ride that started it all back in 1964, when Universal opened its doors to tourists who wanted to see Hollywood magic up close. Originally, guests rode through working sets and watched stuntmen demonstrate effects. Today, it’s still the park’s signature experience — part backstage pass, part ride, part crash course in movie history.
You board a long open-air tram that winds down into the Universal backlot. From there, it’s a mix of real working sets and staged experiences. One minute you’re passing Colonial Street (the filming location for Desperate Housewives), the next you’re watching a flash flood pour down a Mexican street, or Jaws lunging out of a pond that looks suspiciously like a swimming pool.
Of course, Universal has layered in more blockbuster-style attractions over the years. You’ll get shaken around by King Kong 360 3-D, where giant 3D screens put you in the middle of a Kong vs. T-Rex showdown, and then later find yourself escaping Fast & Furious: Supercharged, which is… well, a lot of Vin Diesel and a lot of car chases on very big screens.
The real fun, though, is that you never know what’s going to be filming. Sets like the Psycho house, the War of the Worldsairplane crash site, and the New York backlot streets are permanent, but Universal is still an active studio. You might roll by a soundstage with an actual production going on — sometimes the guides will tell you, sometimes they won’t. It keeps the tour feeling alive, like you’re sneaking behind the curtain of Hollywood.
At about an hour long, the Studio Tour is the park’s longest attraction, which makes it a great way to rest your feet in the middle of the day. Just remember it’s open-air, so on a hot afternoon, it can feel like you’re slowly roasting while Vin Diesel saves the day. Pro tip: grab a seat on the left side of the tram if you want the best view of the action sequences (Jaws, Bates Motel, the airplane crash).
The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash!
This ride flies under the radar because it doesn’t have the name recognition of Harry Potter or Jurassic World, but don’t sleep on it. The Secret Life of Pets ride is tucked away on the Upper Lot, and it’s one of Universal’s best family attractions.
The line here is part of the experience. You don’t just stand in a roped-off maze staring at concrete. You wind through full-scale apartment interiors that look like they were lifted straight out of the movie. Each room is staged with animatronic pets doing ridiculous things — barking, meowing, chasing, or just giving you side-eye — and the detail level is closer to something you’d expect at Disneyland. The queue is so elaborate that even if you didn’t ride, walking through it would feel like a mini attraction.
But here’s the catch: the line moves slow. This is a dark ride with small ride vehicles, so capacity isn’t huge. When the park is busy, the wait time can stretch way longer than you’d expect for a “kid ride.” If you don’t hit it early, you’ll be stuck inching through apartments full of barking dogs for an hour. That’s adorable for the first fifteen minutes, less so after the third loop of the same animatronic poodle.
The payoff, though, is worth it. Once you board, you’re transformed into a puppy being adopted, and the ride mixes screens, animatronics, and physical sets seamlessly. For younger kids, it’s a highlight of the park. For adults, it’s a reminder that Universal can do more than big-budget thrills — they can build heartwarming, detailed experiences too.
A Park Within a Park
Something odd about Universal is how much of what’s inside the park also exists just outside in CityWalk. Shops, restaurants, even some of the same snacks — it all repeats. That’s because Universal has always blurred the line between “theme park” and “Hollywood attraction.” CityWalk feels like the extended version of the park without the price of admission. If you just want the vibe, you can actually skip tickets and hang out there.
Do You Really Need a Fast Pass?
Here’s the truth: during peak summer and holidays, Universal Express (their version of Fast Pass) can feel like the only way to survive. But right now, with kids back in school, the crowds aren’t overwhelming. If you start early, watch the app for wait times, and time Mario Land smartly, you can get everything done without dropping extra cash.
The Heat
Universal is built into a hillside of concrete and blacktop, and it gets hot fast. By noon, the sun reflects off every surface and you’ll be melting no matter what. Sunscreen, hats, and water are not optional. Even the Studio Tour trams, which give you a nice seated break, can feel oven-like on the wrong day. The escalators between the Upper and Lower Lot are about the only breeze you’ll catch.
Why Universal Is Worth It
What makes Universal different from other parks is that it’s still tied to the movie industry. While you’re riding Jurassic World or waving a wand in Harry Potter World, there’s a decent chance an actual production is happening on the backlot just out of sight. It’s a theme park built into a studio, and that makes it unique.
The Short Version
-
Start at the Lower Lot.
-
Jurassic World = wet, no exceptions.
-
Mario Land = long lines, always.
-
Eat in Harry Potter World.
-
Fast Pass isn’t critical in the off-season.
-
The real enemy is the heat.
Go in with a plan, and Universal Studios Hollywood is more than just another theme park — it’s a mix of movie history, blockbuster rides, and the kind of day you’ll actually want to write about when it’s over.
Halloween Horror Nights Starting Sept 4
HHN in Hollywood started back in 1986 as a small experiment, disappeared for a while, and then came back bigger in the early 2000s. Today, it’s one of the most famous haunt events in the country, drawing horror fans from everywhere. And unlike a typical haunted house, HHN leans into Universal’s legacy with movie-quality sets, sound design that rattles your chest, and makeup so good you’ll forget half the monsters are just college kids in latex masks.
The Mazes
The heart of HHN are the mazes. These are walkthrough haunted houses themed after horror movies, TV shows, or original concepts. Past years have included The Exorcist, Stranger Things, The Last of Us, Killer Klowns from Outer Space, and plenty of Universal Monsters. Each maze is packed with set pieces, gore, jump scares, and — because this is Universal — film-level attention to detail. You’re not walking through plywood walls painted black; you’re walking through sets that feel like mini horror films brought to life.
The Scare Zones
As you move between mazes, you don’t get to relax. Whole sections of the park turn into scare zones — fogged-out walkways patrolled by chainsaw-wielding maniacs, zombies, and creatures you can barely see until they’re right in your face. The scare actors live for the jump, and yes, they will chase you if you run. No corner feels safe.
The Rides at Night
Some regular attractions stay open during HHN, like Jurassic World, Transformers, and The Mummy. Riding them at night adds to the chaos — imagine getting drenched on Jurassic World, stepping off, and immediately being stalked by someone with a chainsaw. It’s a very specific kind of fun.