Let’s be honest, most Australians grow up thinking Movie World on the Gold Coast is the peak of cinematic theme parks. But landing in LA and heading to Universal Studios Hollywood is a different beast entirely. It is bigger, louder, and way more intense. For our recent trip, we dedicated a full day to the movies, and it was a proper marathon that required a solid game plan. This Universal Studios Hollywood guide breaks down exactly how we tackled the park, the rich history behind the gates, and every single ride you can jump on.
We started our morning at Home2 Suites by Hilton Montebello. If you are looking for a place to stay that offers a bit of extra room and a decent breakfast to fuel up before a big day of walking, this is a solid choice. It is about a 20 to 30 minute drive to the park, which is basically a quick run down the M1 back home, except with six lanes of legendary LA traffic. You can read my full Home2 Suites Montebello review for the lowdown on why it works for families.
LA Travel Tip: Do yourself a favour and lower your coffee expectations before you leave the hotel. Unless you find a specialty nook, you’re mostly looking at filtered brown water. Drink it for the caffeine hit, not the flavour, and save the real cravings for when you’re back in Australia.
Before the Park: Ticking off Movie History
Before we even stepped foot inside the Universal gates, we had already soaked up some movie magic the night before. We made a point to visit the actual Fast and Furious house in Angelino Heights. Standing on the street where Toretto and the crew had those iconic backyard BBQs makes the park experience feel much more real. You can see the house and our other Hollywood highlights in my One Day Los Angeles Guide.
Park Hours and Universal Studios Arrival Logistics
Universal Studios Hollywood generally opens between 9:00 AM and 10:00 AM, but for us Aussies, the early bird gets the worm rule is non-negotiable here.
We highly recommend pre-booking your Universal Studios Hollywood parking when you buy your tickets online. Not only does it save you a few bucks, but it also makes the morning entrance significantly less stressful. Traffic around the Hollywood hills is legendary (and not in a good way!), and US drivers can be a bit horn happy if you’re fumbling at the gate. Have your printed confirmation or digital QR code ready to go before you reach the toll booth so you can breeze through and avoid the impatient carry on from some of the locals behind you.
| Day of the Week | Opening Time | Closing Time |
| Monday to Thursday | 10:00 AM | 6:00 PM |
| Friday | 9:00 AM | 7:00 PM |
| Saturday | 9:00 AM | 9:00 PM |
| Sunday | 9:00 AM | 8:00 PM |
Parking Tip: The garages typically open 2 hours before the park, so if you’re aiming for that 9am start, try to be at the gates by 7:30am to secure a spot in the Jurassic or Frankenstein structures.
Admission Costs for Families
A big trap for families is the age definition for tickets. At Universal Studios Hollywood, anyone aged 10 and older requires an Adult ticket. If you have teenagers, you’ll find yourself paying for a full house of adults very quickly. They don’t offer a specific Family Pass discount, so you pay per head.
For a family of five (all 10+), the costs can definitely bite into the holiday fund. Here is the breakdown for this year at time of writing.
| Ticket Type | Age / Definition | Cost (USD) | Cost (AUD approx.)* |
| Adult Ticket | Ages 10+ | $109.00 | $153.15 |
| Child Ticket | Ages 3–9 | $103.00 | $144.75 |
| General Parking | Pre-booked online | $35.00 | $49.15 |
| Family of 5 Total | 5 Adult Tickets + Parking | $580.00 | $814.90 |
Exchange Rate Note: Converted at a rate of $1 USD = $1.405 AUD. These are online only prices; buying at the gate can cost up to $159 USD per person!
Food, Water & Dietary Needs
With five adult tickets to cover, saving money on food is a smart move. Universal is actually quite reasonable with what they let you bring in, especially for medical reasons.
- Water: You are allowed to bring in up to 2 litres of bottled water per person (no glass containers). There are plenty of refill stations around the park, so bring a sturdy reusable bottle to save a fortune.+1
- Snacks: Small snacks (muesli bars, fruit, crackers) are perfectly fine to pack in your bag.
- Special Dietary Needs (Coeliac): If you have a family member with Coeliac disease or other strict dietary requirements, you are explicitly allowed to bring in your own food. Just mention to the security staff at the bag check that you have medically necessary gluten free items. They are generally very accommodating as long as you aren’t trying to wheel in a massive hard-sided cooler (which is prohibited).
Pro Tip: If you do want to eat in the park, the Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade offers some of the best gluten free awareness, but having those safe snacks in your backpack is a lifesaver for avoiding hangry moments while waiting for Mario Kart! If you’re vegetarian and gluten free, you’ll have to be careful and the worst case scenario is fries, this is why we take snacks everywhere. Just in case, as most of the world (including Universal Studios Hollywood) doesn’t have great, gluten free vegetarian options.
A Century of Cinema: The History of the World’s First Movie City
Understanding the history makes the walk through the front gates feel much more significant. Universal didn’t start as a theme park, it started as a massive working farm. In 1915, the studio’s founder, Carl Laemmle, opened Universal City to the public. Back then, you could pay 25 cents to sit in outdoor bleachers and watch silent films being made. They even gave you a boxed chicken lunch!
The public tours actually stopped for about 30 years once talkies (films with sound) became popular, because the noisy crowds would ruin the audio on set. It wasn’t until 15th July 1964 that the modern Studio Tour we know today was born. Over the decades, they started adding incidents and sound stages like the Flash Flood and Jaws to keep people entertained. Today, it is the only place on Earth where you can experience a world class theme park and a legendary working studio at the same time.
The Studio Tour: Bruce the Shark and the Fast and Furious Crew
The Universal Studios Hollywood Studio Tour is the heart of the experience. As we rolled through the backlot, we got a proper look at the mechanical stars of the show. Being massive fans of the franchise, seeing Toretto’s 1970 Dodge Charger R/T and Brian’s 1999 Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 sitting there was a massive highlight. These aren’t just props, they are pieces of cinema history.
We also came face to face with Bruce the shark from the original Jaws movie. Getting close up and personal with Bruce brought back some core memories for me. I remember when the original Jaws came out in the cinemas back in Rotorua, New Zealand. My step brother and I tried to get in to see it, but we were way too young and they wouldn’t let us through the doors. We spent the afternoon loitering outside the theatre, and I can still remember hearing the blood curdling screams from the crowd echoing out onto the street.
Seeing Bruce try to jump into our carriage all these years later was hilarious, especially watching the kids in the tram lose their minds when he surfaced.
As the tram continued, we passed the eerie Psycho House and the Bates Motel. Seeing Norman Bates standing on the porch is one of those only in Hollywood moments that you have to see to believe. We also are big Back to the Future fans, so seeing the streets and the clock tower from the film in the tour was also one of the highlights of the LA Trip. You do see so many familiar store fronts while doing the studio tour, it’s funny how they re-purpose all the sets, and you notice them even more in movies after doing the Universal Studios Hollywood Studios Tour.
The Essential Ride List: What to Expect on Every Attraction
Universal Studios Hollywood is packed with technology that makes our local rides look a bit dated. Here is the full breakdown of what you will find when you walk through those gates.
- Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge: Located in the heart of Super Nintendo World, this is easily the most high-tech ride in the park. You put on augmented reality goggles and steer your kart through underwater and cloud filled courses while tossing shells at Team Bowser.
- Jurassic World – The Ride: We are huge Jurassic Park fans, so this was a priority. After surviving the 84 foot drop, we headed over to the Raptor Encounter. We actually got photos with Blue, the female Velociraptor. The way she moves and communicates is terrifyingly realistic.
- Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey: This ride is tucked inside the massive Hogwarts castle. It uses a unique robotic arm system that pivots you 360 degrees as you fly alongside Harry. It is incredibly immersive.
- Flight of the Hippogriff: This is a family friendly outdoor coaster located right near Hagrid’s hut. It is quite short and not overly fast, making it a great starter coaster for kids.
- Revenge of the Mummy – The Ride: An indoor roller coaster that launches you into total darkness. It features sudden stops, backwards sections, and plenty of fire effects. It is fast and physical. This was the first ride we ran to, we thought it would be a nice start to the day, but it was full on and crazy!
- Transformers: The Ride – 3D: This is a flight simulator on steroids. You are in the middle of a battle between Autobots and Decepticons, and the 3D effects are world-class.
- The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash: This is a classic dark ride but with modern animatronics. It is charming, slow paced, and a great break from the high speed thrills.
- Despicable Me Minion Mayhem: A motion simulator where Gru turns you into a Minion. It is funny and full of heart, but the queue can get quite long.
- The Simpsons Ride: Set in a fictional Krustyland, this simulator takes you on a wild ride through Springfield. While you are in the area, make sure to stop by the Kwik-E-Mart for some photos; the attention to detail in Springfield is cracking.
- Silly Swirly Fun Ride: This is a traditional carnival style ride that spins you around for a 360 degree view of the Super Silly Fun Land play area.
- DreamWorks Theatre Featuring Kung Fu Panda: This uses 4K projection and physical effects like wind and water to make you feel like you are on a quest with Po.
Coming Soon: Fast and Furious Hollywood Drift
One of the biggest talking points for anyone planning a future visit is the massive construction project happening on the hill. Universal Studios Hollywood officially announced Fast and Furious: Hollywood Drift, and it is set to be the park’s first ever high speed outdoor roller coaster.
It is designed to mimic drifting cars, using state of the art technology that allows the ride vehicles to rotate as they fly along the track. It is going to change the skyline of the park completely and give thrill seekers a reason to put Universal at the top of their list. As fans of the franchise who just visited the Toretto house and saw the R34 on the backlot, we are already planning our return for this.
Maybe we will get to do this Fast and Furious ride next time, it’s a pity it wasn’t open when we were here.
Wrapping Up the Day and Getting Ready for Disney
By the time the sun started to set and the neon lights of CityWalk began to glow, we were well and truly spent. The “theme park feet were setting in, and we finally made our exit around 8.30pm. While the temptation to grab a massive donut or a burger at CityWalk was there, we knew we had an even bigger day ahead of us. We jumped back in the rental car and made a quick pit stop at the local supermarket on the way back to Montebello. We grabbed some easy supplies for dinner and stocked up on snacks and water for the following day.
Being a traveller in the States, you quickly realise that pacing yourself is the only way to survive these marathons (my wife loves to keep us going from sunrise to sunset). We were back at the hotel, ate a quick meal, and were fast asleep by 10.30pm to ensure we were fresh for the gates opening at Disneyland Park the next morning.
Are you a thrill seeker waiting for the new Fast & Furious Hollywood Drift coaster to open, or are you all about the classic Studio Tour? Make sure to leave enough time to do both while you’re at Universal Studios Hollywood.
