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We just got back from our annual trip to Universal Studios Hollywood and I have Ten Things You Must Do At Universal Studios.
1. Buy a Front of Line Pass.
Save time by skipping lines! Buy a Front Of Line pass online before your visit. They sell out at the gate so it’s best to buy it ahead of time. The Front Of Line pass offers one-time priority access to each ride, show & attraction and includes 1-Day Park admission. Unless you are going to Universal Studios for multiple days this is the only way you can see everything in one day. Plus it’s just better not to have to wait.
2. Visit and take pictures with all the characters in the park.
“Kids of all ages love meeting the characters in the park. Pick and choose from your favorites or see them all. While visiting, ask any Park employee about character appearance times and locations. Here are a few that are available! You never know who you will meet.” Most of the characters have very quick wait times and we had tons of fun seeing these guys in person!
Optimus Prime, Bumblebee and Megatron <—- My favorites! I love watching them move and talk!
The Minions from the hit movie Despicable Me 2
The Simpsons
SpongeBob SquarePants
Shrek, Donkey and Princess Fiona
Curious George
Scooby-Doo & Shaggy
3. Despicable Me Super Silly Fun Land WaterPlay Area
This is a re-creation of the first film’s memorable seaside carnival and a great place to cool off and let the kids get wet. Be sure to bring a change of clothes and a towel.
4. Go behind the scenes on a real working movie studio
This might be one of my favorite parts!!! “Explore where Hollywood movies are made on the legendary Studio Tour Come face to face with King Kong 360 3-D created by Peter Jackson. It’s the world’s largest, most intense 3-D experience! You can also see top celebrities interviewed in person! Universal Studios Hollywood is the home of EXTRA, a leading entertainment-news television show” and there are celebrities stopping by all the time!
5. Eat some food.
There are tons of dining options. Many of them are themed to the area of the park they are located in and that makes it just as much an experience as it is about the food. If you like hot dogs and classic theme park food they have that for you too at carts located throughout the park!
6. Special Effects Stage
The Special Effect Stage is where you’ll “learn the secrets behind the making of your favorite blockbuster movies. We go to this show every time we visit because the whole family loves it! You become an expert in Hollywood movie making as you learn about CGI, stop motion, motion capture, and 3-D technology. Plus, the Minions from the hit movie Despicable Me 2 make a special appearance to share clips and an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the movie.” With the Front Of Line pass you get priority seating and good seats too!
7. The Simpsons™ Ride
Another complete family favorite is The Simpsons™ Ride! You get to “visit Krustyland and you are there right alongside Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie as you enter through the carnival-like midway. State-of-the-art digital projectors cover an 80 ft. diameter dome surface with an image four times the standard High Definition found in most home theaters, and twice what you’d experience in a normal digital theater. Hilarious animation was created not just for the ride, but for the pre-show and queue areas as well. The Simpsons Ride employs energy conservation measures by incorporation of an “on demand” hydraulic power system and use of energy efficient LED lighting fixtures.”
8. Transformers: The Ride-3D
Pure Awesomeness! Not the ride for my Little One but everyone else LOVES it! It’s an “immersive, next generation thrill ride blurring the line between fiction and reality. Fusing HD 3D media and flight simulation technology, this epic ride creates an experience unlike anything this planet has ever seen. It’s based on the popular movie franchise, this mind-blowing Transformers adventure puts you in the middle of the ultimate war zone. Fight alongside Optimus and try to survive as you protect the AllSpark from Decepticons over four stories tall. Remember, the future of the human race is counting on you. Prepare for the greatest battle you’ll ever ride!”
9. Cool Off On Hot Days
This only really applies on hot days but it’s worth noting. There are cool zones throughout the park and they rock. Like, I want one in my own home.
10. Despicable Me Minion Mayhem
I might have saved the best for last. On “Despicable Me Minion Mayhem you join Gru, his daughters and the mischievous Minions on a heartwarming and hilarious 3-D ride. Start your adventure in Gru’s home, where you’re recruited for his latest scheme – one where you’ll become an actual Minion. After making it through “Minion training” things don’t go as planned! Within moments, you’re launched into an unforgettable trip through his super-villain laboratory. The laughs keep coming after the ride with an interactive, Minion-inspired dance party”. My daughter STILL is talking about the dance party and wants to go back for that everyday.
Two more bonus things you have to do!
CityWalk
Right next to the entrance to Universal Studios is Universal CityWalk. It is a “Three-Block Entertainment, Dining and Shopping Promenade, There is often live music, movies, clubs, great food and always something new to discover. More than 30 places to eat, 6 hot nightclubs, 19 screen theater with state of the art IMAX® and more than 30 unique shops. It’s LA’s favorite place to play. Check out 5 Towers on Universal CityWalk, state-of-the-art concert venue. Experience a jaw-dropping explosion of over 5,000 LED lights and a sound system that will blow you away.” If you like crepes there is a crepe restaurant you have to try! I recommend walking through it completely before deciding where to eat.
2016 Can not come quick enough for my 14 year old. This is her dream come true! We can’t wait for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter!
Learn more about Universal Studios Hollywood on their website.
We come out to san diego every year and were thinking about making a day trip up to Universal next summer when we are in CA again!
Great tips, I so want to go one day. Those front of the line passes seem like a must-get!
Universal studios was one of my favorite family vacations as a kid. I would love to go and take our teens.
I want to go back to Universal Studios when it is not a holiday. We always end up there during a holiday and it is jam packed. They have so many awesome things.
We went in May! It is fun but there is so much to see you definitely need a couple days.
Sounds like so much fun. I can’t wait to go there one day!
Universal Studios is just about the coolest theme park ever. Thanks for the guided tour! 😉
Oh what fun… I haven’t been in years but hope to go again soon. We are planning a trip hopefully in 2015 and this list really helps.
I would love to get my picture taken with a minion! Definitely on my to do list if I ever get to go back to Universal.
It’s been years since I’ve been there. Your post is making me want to go again..
So cool! I hope I can go there some day with my son!
I have never been to Universal Studios. If I ever get there I will certainly take your advice!
Minions would be a must-see on my list if we were ever to make it to Universal Studios. Looks like a fun family adventure.
We love right by Orlando so have done Dssney many times but I’d love to go to Universal! We are going next Summer so thank you for the tips 🙂
The front of the line passes are huge! I hate wasting time in line!!
I haven’t been to Universal in years and now you’re making me want to go back and do all of those things! Can’t wait for Harry Potter to open!
I can’t wait to go to Universal! We are planning a trip next October, my daughter is so excited about the Minions!
Oh, this would be such a great vacation for the family! Universal just has SO MUCH to see and do. I love it!
I love Harry Potter world!!! My mom and I went there back in 2011 after it opened for my graduation gift, and it was such a blast!
~Cathy~
OurMiniFamily.com
How awesome! We’ve never been but I really hope to make it there one day. My Kids and even myself would have such a blast I think!
Thanks for the great tips! I’d love to visit some day. That water play area looks like so much fun!
Some day I want to take my kids here, but I want my son to be tall enough for the rides/
This looks like such a fun place. I would love to get to Universal Studios some day. I will have to remember all these ideas when/if we do!
WE are going to Disney with the kids in a few week. I wanted to go to Universal but not enough time. My husband and I plan on making another trip just to go there probably next fall.
These are great tips! Especially that front-of-the-line pass LOL And we went one time JUST for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – of course, we only live 30 minutes away. You guys will have a fantastic time!
I would love to go see the Minions. I have only been to Universal once and it was for a learning field trip with 20 kids in our group alone. I do not recall much of anything – just rounding up kids. I would love to go back.
I have not been there in years. Wow they have added so much to the park, I will have to add it on my travel list.
Oh my goodness, how fun! I love the bypassing a line idea. And it’s good to know that those tickets sell out at the gate. Thanks for the tip about bringing an extra set of clothes and a towel. My kids would be super disappointed if they couldn’t play in the water just because I wasn’t prepared.
The front of the line pass is very ideal! Great idea!!
We are actually here visiting this week! Can’t wait to go! We will take your suggestion about “Go behind the scenes on a real working movie studio”
You had me at front of the line pass! That water park looks like a blast!
Great tips and suggestions. I remember the afternoon rain showers when we were at Disney. We took frequent water breaks too. 🙂
Looks and sounds like an awesome family adventure indeed. I so want to go there some day. It would be an amazing experience. Thanks for sharing.
We’ve never been to Universal before. We usually end up Disney, but it looks like such fun. My son would love the Transformers show. I had no idea that Harry Potter was coming to California! I much prefer the weather there than Florida. We might just have to wait til 2016 to make a trip.
Harry Potter is going to change your theme park so much! The one here in Orlando is a madhouse.
I have a choice of FL next year or the UK and if we choose FL then I am going to need this. Thanks for helping out with what to do once I get there.
What a fun and exciting time for you! I wish my family could visit there someday and visit the minions and the wizarding world of HP.
Amazing blog post! I love all your pics and I’m so happy to read about the front of the line pass. That sounds amazing! Especially if it’s your first time visiting.
Minion!! I would love to go to Universal Studios again I have to admit, so much fun! x
Everything looks like so much fun! I’ve never been to Universal Studios, hopefully next year we can make it for a family vacation. With front of the line passes of course.
I would love to visit Universal studios for a vacation with my family. Hopefully someday I can!
What an amazing place to see…especially with kids. Looks like you had a fascinating trip…thanks so much for sharing!
I have never been to Universal Studios Hollywood. It has been a dream of mine to go. I would visit the Harry Potter attraction first.
I need to go to Universal Studios and try out all of this!
We’ve been to a Universal several times and never get tired of it. What a fun place!
Wow, that looks like so much fun! I have not been to Universal Studios in many, many years. My kids have never been to the West Coast. I know we have to make plans to go to California. My kids being able to visit a real live working studio would be such a thrill for them. The whole concept of how shows and movies are made is still so foreign to them!
Everything looks so fun! I’d love to Universal Studios. It’s been a long, long time since I’ve been there.
This looks like a lot of fun! My kids would love to see the Transformers. I love your pictures — they make me feel like I am actually there.
I loved Universal in Orlando when I visited for my Honeymoon back in 2007, and I would love to take my children when they are old enough to appreciate everything! They would thrilled for all the Minions, and my eldest would adore the Transformers ride xx
Sounds like buying a Front of the Line Pass is the way to go. It can get you so much and so fast! I don’t know that we’ll ever make it to Hollywood, but I totally want to!