Universal Studios Hollywood: General Admission Ticket & Studio Tour

Summary

Movie sets rides laughter and a bit of magic in hollywood

You’ll walk straight onto famous sets with your general admission ticket for Universal Studios Hollywood. Ride through real movie backlots on the Studio Tour, sip butterbeer in Hogsmeade, battle villains on 3D rides, and end your day wandering CityWalk’s neon buzz. It’s a full-on sensory dive into movie magic — with plenty of surprises along the way.

What’s the experience like?

I was already grinning before we even made it through the gates at Universal Studios Hollywood — you could hear kids squealing somewhere near the Minions ride, and that sugary popcorn smell just kind of hangs in the air. Our tickets were scanned fast (don’t forget, you have to pick your date ahead of time) and then it’s like, boom, you’re inside this wild mashup of movies and real life. I kept catching myself gawking at people dressed up as wizards or Mario characters — honestly, I thought I’d feel silly but it’s contagious.

The first thing we did was hop on the Studio Tour tram. Our guide cracked a few jokes about LA traffic (classic), and Jimmy Fallon popped up on the screens with more commentary. The backlot is bigger than I expected — 13 city blocks? You roll past all these familiar sets, like the Bates Motel (creepy in daylight too) and that massive crashed plane from War of the Worlds. There’s this moment where you get hit with misty air and engine smoke — it smells weirdly metallic, but it makes you jump anyway. I didn’t realize how much goes into these movies until you see it up close.

Afterwards we wandered over to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter because my friend insisted on butterbeer before noon (no regrets). The cobblestones are uneven under your shoes, shop windows are all fogged up, and there’s this sweet yeasty smell from somewhere — maybe Honeydukes? We tried to say “Hippogriff” properly but probably butchered it; one of the staff just grinned and waved us onto the ride anyway. It’s easy to lose track of time here — every corner pulls you into another universe, like suddenly you’re dodging dinosaurs or getting drenched by a T-Rex roar over in Jurassic World.

By late afternoon my feet hurt but I didn’t want to leave yet. We grabbed some food at CityWalk (I still think about those fries), watched people spill out laughing from Transformers 3D, and just sat there soaking up all the noise and colors. There’s something weirdly comforting about being surrounded by families, tourists, locals — everyone caught up in their own little movie for a day. Makes LA feel smaller somehow.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Explore Universal Studios Hollywood

• Enter Universal Studios Hollywood
• Experience Studio Tour with Jimmy Fallon
• Visit Wizarding World of Harry Potter
• Ride Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
• Ride Flight of the Hippogriff
• Explore Super Mario World and Mario Kart
• Ride The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash
• Explore Jurassic World and ride Jurassic World – The Ride
• Meet Blue at Raptor Encounter
• Ride The Mummy rollercoaster
• Ride TRANSFORMERS: The Ride-3D
• Ride Despicable Me Minion Mayhem
• Play at Super Silly Fun Land
• Visit Springfield U.S.A. and ride The Simpsons Ride
• Watch Universal Studios stunt show
• Enjoy DreamWorks Theatre featuring Kung Fu Panda
• Shop and dine at Universal CityWalk

Top questions

Is hotel pickup included with Universal Studios Hollywood tickets?

No, hotel pickup is not included; tickets cover park admission only.

Can I use my Universal Studios Hollywood ticket on any day?

No, your ticket is valid only for the specific date you select during booking.

Are there wheelchair accessible options inside Universal Studios Hollywood?

Yes, both transportation options and attractions are wheelchair accessible.

What attractions are included with general admission?

Your ticket includes access to all rides, shows, attractions within Universal Studios Hollywood for your booked date.

Is outside food allowed in Universal Studios Hollywood?

No outside food is permitted except bottled water, fruit, or baby food.

How long does the Studio Tour take?

The Studio Tour typically lasts about 60 minutes as part of your visit.

Does my ticket include access to Universal CityWalk?

You can access Universal CityWalk directly next to Universal Studios Hollywood without extra charge.

What’s included

Your day includes general admission to Universal Studios Hollywood for your chosen date with access to all shows, rides, themed lands like Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Jurassic World, plus entry to attractions such as Super Nintendo World and CityWalk right outside when you're ready for a break or a bite.