Universal Studios Hollywood is smaller than most first-time visitors expect. It’s a working movie studio first and a theme park second. That means fewer rides than you’ll find at Disneyland, but you do get the popular behind-the-scenes Studio Tour, the full Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Super Nintendo World, and Halloween Horror Nights every fall. A first high-speed outdoor coaster, Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift, is also on the way.
If you’re planning your first visit, the most useful thing I can give you is the complete current ride lineup with the practical info parents actually need. For each ride below, I’ve listed which lot it’s on, the height requirement, and whether Express Pass works there, plus the single rider lines where Universal offers one. If you’ve got little kids, the height restrictions will shape your day.
The park is split between an Upper Lot and a Lower Lot, connected by a long set of escalators. Which lot a ride is on matters more than you’d think for planning your morning.
I’ve been to Universal Studios Hollywood many times and am a certified Universal Studios Hollywood Specialist. The per-ride tips below are the ones I wish someone had told me the first time. Before you go, save on admission by reading how to buy Universal Studios Hollywood discount tickets.
The Short Answer: Which Rides to Do First
If you only have a few hours, ride Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey first, then Revenge of the Mummy, and leave time for the Studio Tour. Forbidden Journey is the one I would pick if I could only do one, the Mummy is my favorite in the park, and the Studio Tour is the only experience like it on the West Coast. With Nintendo fans in the group, add Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge and buy Early Access so you are not spending your morning in line for it.
Every Universal Studios Hollywood Ride at a Glance
Here’s everything you can ride at Universal Studios Hollywood right now, grouped by lot. Height requirements are listed for every ride, so you can scan for what your kids can do. On most rides, a child under 48 inches also needs a supervising companion who is 14 or older.
Lower Lot (where the thrill rides live)
- Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge — 40-inch minimum (single rider 48 inches and up)
- Revenge of the Mummy — 48-inch minimum
- Jurassic World: The Ride — 42-inch minimum
- Transformers: The Ride-3D — 40-inch minimum
Upper Lot
- Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey — 48-inch minimum
- Flight of the Hippogriff — 39-inch minimum
- The Simpsons Ride — 40-inch minimum
- Despicable Me Minion Mayhem — 40-inch minimum
- The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash — 34-inch minimum
- Silly Swirly — no height minimum (spinner in Minion Land, Express Pass eligible)
- Kung Fu Panda Adventure at DreamWorks Theatre — no height minimum (4D theater)
- WaterWorld: A Live Sea War Spectacular — no height minimum (stunt show)
The Studio Tour (departs from the Upper Lot)
The World-Famous Studio Tour. No height minimum, about 60 minutes round trip.
That’s the complete lineup: 10 rides, plus the Studio Tour, a 4D theater show, and the WaterWorld stunt show. Fewer than Disneyland, but more than enough for a full day.
One more is on the way. Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift, a 51-inch outdoor coaster, is built but Universal still lists it as coming rather than open. More on it below.
Universal Studios Hollywood isn’t just about rides. You’re walking the working backlots between attractions, ducking into Honeydukes and Ollivanders, and watching live shows. You’re eating your way through Springfield and Hogsmeade, moving up and down between the Upper and Lower Lots all day.
In the Wizarding World, you cast spells with an interactive wand. In Super Nintendo World, you punch question blocks and play minigames with a Power-Up Band. You’re doing things, not just riding rides.
Per-ride detail and insider tips below.
Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge
Lower Lot. 40-inch height requirement (40 to 48 inches needs a supervising companion 14 or older). Single rider line. Express Pass eligible.
Mario Kart is the centerpiece of Super Nintendo World and the main reason families are putting Universal Studios Hollywood back on their California list.
The short version: you climb into a four-seat kart, slide an AR visor over a Mario hat, and roll through Bowser’s Castle throwing shells at Koopalings while collecting coins. Your kart’s coin count contributes to a Team Mario or Team Bowser outcome.
Manage expectations going in. The ride is dark, slow, and visually busy, not the speed coaster the Mario Kart name implies. Riders expecting a thrill ride often leave underwhelmed; riders expecting an immersive Nintendo dark ride almost always leave thrilled.
Insider tips:
- Buy Super Nintendo World Early Access (an add-on that gets you in one hour before park opening) and arrive at the front gate 60 minutes before your early-entry time so you’re at the front of the rope drop.
- The single rider entrance is easy to walk past, so look for the signage on your way in rather than defaulting into standby. Even families can use it strategically: one parent rides standby with the kids while the other parent runs single rider two or three times in the same window.
- For a high score, look up and behind you. Koopalings spawn above and behind the kart, not just in front, and most riders never realize it until their second go.
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
Upper Lot, Wizarding World of Harry Potter. 48-inch height requirement. Single rider line. Express Pass eligible.
If you only have time for one ride at Universal Studios Hollywood, this is still the one. A robotic-arm vehicle paired with surrounding screens and physical sets takes you through Hogwarts on a tour that includes a Quidditch match, a dragon chase, and a dementor encounter. The system was groundbreaking when it opened, and ten years on it still holds up better than most theme park rides built since.
Insider tips:
- Walk the standby queue at least once for the castle interior. Dumbledore’s office, the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, and the talking portraits ARE the queue, not preludes to it. Single rider skips most of it.
- This is the ride most likely to trigger motion sickness in the park. The combination of robotic-arm motion, screen-based visuals, and tight turns is the worst-case scenario for sensitive stomachs. If anyone in your group is prone, take Dramamine 30 minutes before riding or save it for last.
- Lockers are required (no loose items) and the locker bank line gets long. Use the parent-swap entrance or single rider line to avoid the bottleneck.
Revenge of the Mummy
Lower Lot. 48-inch height requirement. Express Pass eligible.
This is my favorite ride at Universal Studios Hollywood and we usually ride it multiple times every visit. It’s an indoor launched coaster wrapped inside an Egyptian dark ride. No inversions, but there’s a surprise backward section, a drop in pitch black, and special effects that catch first-time riders off guard. The Hollywood version leans heavier on horror than the Florida one, and even after dozens of rides it still gets me.
Save it for later in the day if you can. Mummy is intense enough that some riders find tamer rides anticlimactic afterward, and if you hit it first, the rest of the Lower Lot can feel like a step down. It is also the lowest-motion-sickness thrill ride in the park: no screens, no spinning, just classic coaster forces. That makes it a good option if you want adrenaline without the visual disorientation of Forbidden Journey or Mario Kart.
Jurassic World: The Ride
Lower Lot. 42-inch height requirement (42 to 48 inches needs a supervising companion 14 or older). Express Pass eligible.
Reimagined in 2019 from the original Jurassic Park: The Ride, this water flume hybrid ends with a long plunge into the Indominus rex finale. It features animatronic dinosaurs, recorded appearances from Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard, and a much wetter ride profile than the original. We usually ride it once and call it good for the day, mostly because of how soaked we get.
The front rows get genuinely soaked, and there is splashing well before the final drop, so sit toward the back if you want to stay driest and bring a poncho in cooler months. If you do get drenched, ride Revenge of the Mummy next. The indoor coaster’s air movement essentially blow-dries you on the way through.
The World-Famous Studio Tour
Departs from the Upper Lot. No height requirement. Express Pass eligible (one-time priority boarding). Roughly 60 minutes round trip.
This is what genuinely separates Universal Studios Hollywood from Universal Orlando. I do it every single visit because the scenes sometimes change. The tram takes you through working backlots, past the Psycho house, the Jaws shark attack lagoon, an Earthquake demonstration in a subway station, and a flash flood sequence.
Inside the soundstages, the tram locks into King Kong 360 3D, a 3D sequence that surrounds the whole tram. It also runs the Fast & Furious: Supercharged finale, where you’re chased through Los Angeles by a hijacking crew at simulated 120 mph.
Insider tips:
- Save it for after lunch. The Studio Tour is the longest single experience in the park and burns through your prime morning low-wait window. Eat first, then settle into the tram.
- It is one continuous loop with no way off partway through, so take everyone to the restroom before you board.
- Check the Universal Studios Hollywood app for the day’s last tram departure so you don’t leave it too late.
Transformers: The Ride-3D
Lower Lot. 40-inch height requirement (40 to 48 inches needs a supervising companion 14 or older). Express Pass eligible.
Transformers: The Ride-3D is a 3D motion simulator on a moving track. You’re on the Autobot side of an extended chase sequence with Optimus Prime, dodging Decepticon attacks. The combination of physical motion, projected action, and 3D depth makes Transformers one of the more underrated rides in the park, especially for guests who already wrote it off because they aren’t Transformers fans.
This is one of the harder rides in the park on a sensitive stomach. The 3D glasses, plus moving simulator, plus fast cuts are a tough combination, so skip it if you’re already feeling queasy. Otherwise ride it even if you have no interest in the films, because the story doesn’t ask you to know anything going in.
The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash
Upper Lot, Minion Land. 34-inch height requirement (34 to 48 inches needs a supervising companion 14 or older). No single rider line. Not Express Pass eligible.
The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash is a trackless dark ride that follows the Pets crew through New York. You’re an adoptable puppy looking for a home, and the ride vehicle moves smoothly between scenes with no sudden drops or fast turns. Easily the most accessible thrill-free ride in the park, and a good answer for parents with kids who don’t yet meet the 40-inch threshold for the bigger attractions.
Check the app when you arrive to see how this one is queuing that day, then ride it early or late rather than in the middle of the afternoon. It’s a slow loader, so the lunch rush is the worst window for it.
Kung Fu Panda Adventure at DreamWorks Theatre
Upper Lot. No height requirement. No single rider. Express Pass eligible.
DreamWorks Theatre is a 4D theater show rather than a ride. The whole theater moves as one unit, the seats sync to the action, and Po leads you through a kung fu adventure. Multi-sensory effects in a dark setting work for all ages, and the seated format is a useful break from walking and standing in line.
Like the Studio Tour, save it for the second half of the day. It runs continuously and the capacity is high enough that waits stay manageable. Sit in the middle rows for the best motion sync: front rows can feel jarring, and back rows lose some of the seat effects.
Despicable Me Minion Mayhem
Upper Lot, Minion Land. 40-inch height requirement (40 to 48 inches needs a supervising companion 14 or older). No single rider. Express Pass eligible.
Despicable Me Minion Mayhem is a motion simulator that puts you through Gru’s Minion training program, which (predictably) goes sideways.
The motion here is lighter than on Forbidden Journey, Transformers, or Mario Kart, which often makes it a good first simulator for younger kids. Super Silly Fun Land next door has carnival games, a water play area, and the Silly Swirly spinner, so it doubles as an exit valve if your kids age out of the queue partway through.
The Simpsons Ride
Upper Lot, Springfield. 40-inch height requirement (40 to 48 inches needs a supervising companion 14 or older). No single rider. Express Pass eligible.
The Simpsons Ride is a simulator on a giant dome screen that takes you through Sideshow Bob’s takeover of Krustyland. Funnier than people remember, especially if you’ve watched any Simpsons. Sleeper hit for older kids and teens.
Insider tip: Save it for late afternoon when the Lower Lot waits creep up. Springfield (the surrounding land) is worth a wander on its own. Lard Lad Donuts sells donuts bigger than your head, the outdoor Duff Brewery has decent beer, and Moe’s Tavern serves a passable Flaming Moe.
Flight of the Hippogriff
Upper Lot, Wizarding World. 39-inch height requirement (39 to 48 inches needs a supervising companion 14 or older). No single rider. Express Pass eligible.
Flight of the Hippogriff is a short outdoor family coaster with a few quick dips. No loops, no inversions. The whole layout is visible from the walkway, so you can watch a train go by and decide whether it’s your speed. For kids who clear 39 inches but aren’t ready for Forbidden Journey, it’s a good first coaster. The queue is also worth the walk for the Hogsmeade details. You’ll spot Hagrid’s hut, hear Fang barking, and find small references from Prisoner of Azkaban.
While you’re in the area, the Three Broomsticks is one of the better in-park dining options. The outdoor carts sell butterbeer (frozen is my pick, especially in summer) and pumpkin juice. Honeydukes is worth ducking into for chocolate frogs.
WaterWorld: A Live Sea War Spectacular
Upper Lot. No height requirement. Express Pass priority seating.
WaterWorld is technically a stunt show, not a ride, but skipping it is a mistake. Pyrotechnics, jet ski stunts, a literal seaplane crash into the lagoon. It still lands with kids who have never seen the movie.
Avoid the green soak zone seats unless you want to be drenched, because the cast warms up the front rows specifically by spraying them. Showtimes are limited and posted in the app, so arrive early on weekends if you want a seat outside the soak zone.
Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift
Upper Lot, Universal Plaza. 51-inch height requirement. Not open yet.
Hollywood Drift is Universal Studios Hollywood’s first high-speed outdoor roller coaster, and as of this writing Universal still lists it as coming rather than open. It will run at speeds up to 72 mph, and its cars rotate 360 degrees independently of the direction of travel, which is what produces the drifting sensation the ride is named for.
Universal has published the height requirement: 51 inches, which the park notes is higher than any of its other height-restricted attractions. If you have a child between 48 and 51 inches, that is the one to measure before you promise anyone a ride on it.
You may come across photos and ride reports from guests who have already been on it. Universal has been running previews and technical rehearsals ahead of an official grand opening, so the coaster does run some days without being open to everyone. There is no announced opening date yet, so check Universal’s site before you build a trip around it.
A brand-new coaster draws crowds, so if you are visiting soon after it opens, that is a good reason to look at Express Pass.
Super Nintendo World Strategy: Power-Up Bands, Toadstool Cafe, and Early Access
Mario Kart gets the headline, but Super Nintendo World is a fully interactive land. A few decisions to make before you walk in.
Power-Up Bands
Power-Up Bands are RFID slap bracelets that pair with the Universal Studios Hollywood app. They let you punch question blocks for digital coins and complete the key challenge minigames in the land. Collect all three keys to unlock the Bowser Jr. Shadow Showdown final boss battle. The bands are an extra purchase in addition to admission. They double as a Nintendo Switch amiibo at home.
Worth it if you actually want to play in the land. Skip it if you only care about Mario Kart and walking around. For families, one band per pair is a common compromise to keep the cost from spiraling.
Toadstool Cafe
Toadstool Cafe is the themed sit-down restaurant inside Super Nintendo World, and it is popular enough that it rarely works as a quick stop. Check the Universal Studios Hollywood app when you arrive to see how it is seating that day, then build it into your plans as a real meal rather than something you squeeze in between rides.
Early Access
Sold as an add-on to your park ticket, Early Access gets you into Super Nintendo World one hour before official park opening. If you are visiting on a weekend or in summer, it is the difference between riding Mario Kart quickly and spending a long stretch of your morning in line for it. Buy it.
Donkey Kong Country, the Super Nintendo World expansion that opened in Japan in late 2024 and at Orlando’s Epic Universe in spring 2025, has not been announced for Hollywood. Don’t plan a trip around it.
Single Rider Lines: The Most Underused Hack at Universal Studios Hollywood
The single rider is the highest-leverage time-saver in the park, and most first-time visitors don’t realize it’s available. Riders are slotted into open seats one at a time, so your group gets split up, but the line moves at a fraction of the standby pace.
Rides Universal lists with a single rider line:
- Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge
- Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
Because any rider under 48 inches needs a supervising companion, single rider only works for guests 48 inches and taller, even on Mario Kart, where the standby line starts at 40 inches.
Universal doesn’t currently list single rider lines on the other rides, and availability can change with staffing and crowds. Check the Universal Studios Hollywood app or the signage at the ride entrance the day you visit rather than counting on one in advance.
Family strategy: send one parent through standby with the kids while the other parent runs single rider two or three times in the same window. Everyone leaves having ridden, and you don’t lose a chunk of the day to one line.
Motion Sickness: What to Skip if You’re Sensitive
Universal Studios Hollywood leans heavier on screens and simulators than Disneyland does, which catches some visitors off guard. Ranked roughly worst to mildest:
- Forbidden Journey: robotic-arm motion plus screens. The hardest combination for sensitive stomachs in the park.
- Transformers: moving simulator vehicle plus 3D glasses plus fast cuts.
- Mario Kart: slow vehicle, but AR visor plus dark jerky stops can disorient.
- Simpsons, Minion Mayhem, Kung Fu Panda: simulator-based but milder.
- Revenge of the Mummy: a real coaster, but no screens. Counterintuitively, the safest thrill ride for screen-sensitive guests.
If anyone in your group is prone to motion sickness, take Dramamine 30 to 45 minutes before your first ride. Bonine is the non-drowsy alternative and works well for most adults.
When to Buy Express Pass (and When to Skip It)
Universal Express Pass adds one-time priority access to each Express-eligible ride on top of your park admission. Pricing varies significantly by date and demand, so buy it with your tickets rather than at the gate.
The Universal VIP Experience is a separate, more expensive product. It is a guided small-group day that layers unlimited Express access, extra Studio Tour access, and food and parking on top of admission. Universal lists the current inclusions and timings on its own site, and they change, so check there before you book.
Buy Express on: holiday weekends, summer break, spring break, and Saturdays year-round. Those are the days the Lower Lot backs up and Express earns its price.
Skip Express on: low-attendance weekdays in January and February (after MLK weekend), late September, and early November. On a quiet weekday you can usually walk on most of the park without it.
For current Express Pass prices, VIP Experience details, and the full breakdown of every authorized ticket seller, read how to buy Universal Studios Hollywood discount tickets. Here are direct links to our deals:
- Universal Express Including 1-Day General Admission
- VIP Experience Including 1-Day General Admission
Halloween Horror Nights 2026 Notes
Halloween Horror Nights runs on select nights each fall, and the dates change year to year. Two things first-time visitors need to know:
- HHN is a separate ticket from regular daytime admission. Your day ticket does not get you in.
- It is not an event for young kids. The mazes are intense (graphic gore, scareactors at arm’s length, strobe, fog), so plan it as a teens-and-up night rather than a family one.
Multi-night and front-of-line ticket tiers exist for repeat visitors and locals. Details and seller comparison live in the discount tickets post.
Park Strategy: Lower Lot First, Plus Other Time-Saving Hacks
- Arrive 30 to 45 minutes before the park opens. Earlier if you have Super Nintendo World Early Access. The gate and security take longer than you think on busy days.
- Head straight to the Lower Lot at rope drop. Mario Kart, Mummy, Transformers, and Jurassic World all bottleneck by 11 a.m. The Studio Tour, Simpsons, and Kung Fu Panda hold capacity well later in the day, so save those for after lunch.
- Mind the escalator commitment. Going down to the Lower Lot is fine; coming back up is a multi-stage escalator climb that can take 10 minutes during exits. Plan your Lower Lot block as one trip down, not multiple ins and outs.
- Download the Universal Studios Hollywood app before you arrive. Live wait times, mobile food ordering, ticket scanning, and character meet-and-greet scheduling all live there.
- Mobile order food. Hollywood & Dine, Three Broomsticks, and most counter-service spots accept mobile orders through the app. Skips the line.
- Eat at Three Broomsticks if you must eat in the park. Otherwise, head out to CityWalk for better, cheaper options. CityWalk is right outside the gate; you can come and go.
- Parking. CityWalk parking is tiered, and what you pay depends on when you arrive. Check the current rates on Universal’s site before you go, and ask about validation if you’re eating or seeing a movie at CityWalk.
Where to Buy Universal Studios Hollywood Tickets
For the full breakdown on every authorized seller, current promo codes, and how Costco, AAA, and SoCal resident pricing compare, read how to buy Universal Studios Hollywood discount tickets. The short version: skip the front gate price and buy online from an authorized seller before you go.
Universal Studios Hollywood doesn’t have the ride count of Disneyland, but the rides it does have are weighty, and the Studio Tour is genuinely the only experience like it on the West Coast. For my money, Revenge of the Mummy and Forbidden Journey alone are worth the trip, and Super Nintendo World adds a reason to go back.
If you’re building a longer LA trip, Universal pairs naturally with the rest of the city. Stay at one of the hotels near Universal Studios and work CityWalk into your evening. Then add a day or two for the rest of the best things to do in Los Angeles with kids. Combining it with a Disneyland trip? Here’s how to get from Disneyland to Universal Studios Hollywood.
Top photo is courtesy of Universal Studios Hollywood.
We just visited Universal Studios Hollywood to see it decked out for the holidays. I loved seeing Harry Potter World decorated for Christmas and covered in snow. The rides were fantastic, but I definitely vote for Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey as the best ride.
Hi, thanks for all the information on Universal Studios. Are there any budget friendly or highly recommended places to eat in the park? Also, you’ve told us the best rides, but are there any we should ride sooner rather than later in the day? I know at Disney World, I always went to the furthest rides first. Last, We will be there March 29th. Does it make sense to get a Fast pass for that day for the 1st time ride?