Universal Studios Hollywood

Los Angeles, California Travel Guide

About     Know the Neighborhoods     Getting Around     Attractions     Hotels    
Eats & Nightlife     Essentials & Practicals

Universal Studios Hollywood

Overview: One of THE best rides of any amusement parks in Los Angeles county operates at Universal Studios Hollywood. This theme park stands tall together with the Universal City Walk between North Hollywod and Hollywood off the 101 Freeway. Even though it’s technically located in Universal City, consider Universal Studios Hollywood a part of North Hollywood for reference’ sake.

The biggest attraction – and rightfully so – is probably The Simpsons ride at Universal Studios Hollywood. As mentioned above, this ride is one of L.A.’s best. You sit in a motion simulator vehicle which elevates, bringing you close to a huge, panoramic screen, which takes you on a journey with the Simpson’s in Krustyland. The simulator jolts, free falls and crashes through a wild, visually unique and fantastical journey of spiraling and broken rollercoasters, space, and much more while Maggie saves Springfield.

Universal Studios can be broken down into rides, shows and tours. Jurassic Park’s excellent river expedition takes on a tour of through a jungle of dinosaurs and caps off the river tour with an 84 foot drop and a huge splash. The Revenge of the Mummy is Universal’s only roller coaster and provides your spills and thrills, dips and curves and even a reverse ride through tunnels with nightmarish mummys. and of course, The Simpons ride renders all the fun an amusement park ride can give and then more.

In between the rides, check out the cute and fun Shrek 4-D show as Shrek has to save his love once again. The seats stadium seats, again, have a motion simulator which bumps and comes screetching to a halt as you ride along with Shrek and pals. Don’t be surprised if you feel spiders crawling on your necks! A littled dated but still a great show, Terminator 2: 3-D provides real life actors running around the theatre and interacting with the real Arnold to save the world again. This is an excellent show that makes a splash, literally. The Special Effects Stage takes you behind the scenes to reveal how special effects are created in the movies. With a live cast and audience participation, the Special Effects Stage offers great family fun and laughs. Walk or wheel slowly through the House of Horrors, one of the first tours from the entrance at the park. As you go through the mazes of the various levels, ghosts will pop out and try to grab you, the ever freaky Chucky chases you and a butcher will stare you down and follow you. You may burn tread trying to get out of the House of Horrors.

Universal Studios Hollywood offers a heck of a lot more fun, including Backdraft, Universal tours and much more. But, one of the great virtues about the studio is its bird’s eye setting and view overlooking the Hollywood Hills and expansive San Fernando Valley, especially from the 4 tiered escalators.

Universal Studios Hollywood has special printed guides and cards with bar codes, explaining various entrances of rules of the rides. This card will be swiped by the staff at each ride or show. You need to be able to transfer from your wheelchair to the vehicles of the rides. For the shows, you can stay in your wheelchair.

Location: 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, CA 91608
Site: www.universalstudioshollywood.com
Ph: (818) 622-3801

Cost: $67.00/adults. $57.00/kids. $67.00 is good for two days. For Southern California residents, $67.00 is good year round for 2009. $94.00 for Front Line Pass and reserved seating at shows.
Parking: $12.00, $20.00 for preferred parking just outside the gate of the park.
Food: All You Can Eat special for $19.95 during park hours at Mel’s Diner, Louie’s Pizza & Pasta, Jurassic Cafe

Accessibility: Universal Studios Hollywood is wheelchair accessible and rents out wheelchairs and strollers at the building across from the Universal Studios Store.

Getting There: www.metro.net, www.ladottransit.com