Universal Studios Hollywood, the Entertainment Capital of LA, brings the magic of movies to life. Located in Los Angeles, California, this park combines a working film studio with thrilling attractions.
Whether you love heart-pounding action or fun for the whole family, this iconic park offers immersive lands and spectacular shows based on your favorite films.
his guide covers everything you need to know about the rides and shows available in 2026. You can also look for great ticket deals for the park, including the Universal and Disney ticket deals, through UndercoverTourist.
Entering the Park: CityWalk and Production Plaza
Your visit starts before you even reach the gates. Universal CityWalk features awesome shopping, dining, and entertainment spots. You will soon reach the famous Universal globe and walk through the legendary Universal arches.
Once inside, you head onto Universal Boulevard. This area is home to the main Universal Studio Store and other places to shop and eat. You then arrive at Production Plaza. This central point in the upper lot lets you easily explore all the park’s different areas.
DreamWorks Theatre: Kung Fu Panda Adventure
The first attraction you find is the DreamWorks Theatre. It currently shows Kung Fu Panda Adventure. This is a fun, multi-sensory show. It uses advanced technology to bring Po and his friends to life. They fulfill a quest for the emperor during this exciting presentation. The theater is designed so the show can easily change to feature other future films.
Trolls Meet & Greet
Near the theater, you can meet some of your favorite Trolls characters. Be sure to stop by this special area for a great photo opportunity.
Exploring the Upper Lot
The Upper Lot contains some of Universal’s most famous and popular themed areas. You will find movie magic around every corner here.
Minion Land
This area is based on the popular Illumination films. It offers several attractions for guests of all ages.
Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem
Start your minion transformation at Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem. This motion simulator ride turns you into an actual minion. You then head on a wild adventure through many different scenes. You will meet all your favorite characters from the Despicable Me movies. Watch out for lots of dangerous machinery along the way. When you exit, you enter Super Silly Stuff. Here you can buy a wide selection of merchandise from the franchise.
The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash
Opposite Minion Mayhem is The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash. This dark ride converts you into lost puppies. You explore the streets of New York City during your journey. The attraction features amazing audio-animatronics of all the furry creatures from the film. The queue line is fantastic and includes some nice interactive elements to keep you busy while you wait.
Super Silly Fun Land
You can also visit the outdoor play area called Super Silly Fun Land. This entire area is themed to the Minions.
- Wet Zone: This part has over 80 different water play features. It is a perfect spot to cool off on a warm day.
- Playground: A regular playground lets younger visitors climb, jump, slide, and explore safely.
- Carnival Games: You can play a load of different carnival games here. You get a chance to win a Minion-based prize.
- Silly Swirly: This aerial carousel attraction spins and soars guests around. You board your very own bug ride vehicle. It gives you an amazing view of Super Silly Fun Land.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter (Hogsmeade)
Walk through the arches and enter the magical land of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. This area transports you right into the world of Hogsmeade. It features plenty of shopping and dining locations for fans. You can buy a wand at Ollivanders. You can also chug some Butterbeer inside the Three Broomsticks restaurant. Don’t forget to try on some robes at Dervish and Banges.
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
The major attraction here is Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. This is a motion-based dark ride. The experience begins as you enter Hogwarts Castle. Walking through the hallways and classrooms feels like a ride itself. Once you board the attraction, you join Harry Potter and his friends on an amazing adventure. You will encounter lots of magical creatures and dangerous foes. This attraction always has a long wait time. It is smart to invest in an Express Pass or join the Single Rider line to shorten your wait.
Flight of the Hippogriff
Flight of the Hippogriff is a junior outdoor roller coaster. Hagrid teaches visitors how to fly a hippogriff. You will see great theming throughout the ride. This includes Hagrid’s Hut and the Forbidden Forest. The coaster also provides great views of the whole Wizarding World. It is a perfect introductory thrill ride for younger visitors.
Daytime and Nighttime Shows
Throughout the day, you can watch one of two shows on a special outdoor stage:
- Frog Choir: This is an A Cappella performance. Hogwarts students and their frogs sing familiar Wizarding songs.
- Triwizard Spirit Rally: Students from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang perform dances. They cheer on their classmates participating in the Triwizard Tournament.
In the evening, enjoy the special projection show called Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts Castle. This show celebrates the four houses of Hogwarts. It is backed by the legendary John Williams musical score. The show changes throughout the year. Look for unique versions during the Halloween and winter holidays.
Interactive Wand Experiences
All throughout Hogsmeade, you will find many different spots for Interactive Wand Experiences. This technology helps bring the Wizarding World to life. Even if you are a casual fan, you will feel the magic using your wand.
The Signature Experience: The Studio Tour
Next to Hogsmeade, you will find the park’s signature attraction, The Studio Tour. This ride lasts 45 to 60 minutes. You board a tram vehicle that takes you to the Universal backlot. This is where actual filming of many shows and movies takes place.
The tour takes you through many recognizable film sets:
- The Courthouse Square from the Back to the Future Trilogy.
- The crash plane scene from War of the Worlds.
- The infamous Bates Motel from Psycho.
Along the way, you see how special effects are used in movies. The tour includes segments like the flash flood and earthquake simulations. The tram ride also features three other exciting themed elements:
- King Kong 360 3-D: You ride through a dark tunnel. You watch King Kong battle dinosaurs and other creatures from Skull Island.
- Jaws: You encounter the famous shark in Amity Island.
- Fast & Furious Supercharged: You become part of the family in this high-speed finale.
The Studio Tour is an incredible attraction. Many guests say it is worth the price of admission on its own. Make sure you take a ride on the Studio Tour when you visit.
Springfield (The Home of The Simpsons)
Springfield is the final area in the Upper Lot. This land is completely immersive. You can grab a beer in Moe’s Tavern. You can get some food at Krusty Burger. You can also see a host of characters throughout the area.
The Simpsons Ride
The main attraction here is The Simpsons Ride. This is a large simulator attraction. It takes you on a journey through a cartoon theme park called Krustyland. You encounter all your favorite Simpsons characters. You must try to evade Sideshow Bob’s evil plan during the ride. This is a great adventure perfect for all the family to enjoy.
Krustyland Games
Near the entrance of the ride, you can find Krustyland Carnival Games. These Midway stations give you the chance to win a Simpsons-themed prize.
World-Class Entertainment
Before heading down to the Lower Lot, be sure to catch a famous live performance.
WaterWorld: A Live Sea Battle
WaterWorld is an amazing live stunt show. It is located near the entrance of the park. The show features a variety of spectacular effects and stunts. This includes:
- Pyrotechnics
- Fire effects
- Water effects
The show has been running since the film’s release in 1995. It is a fan favorite. You should arrive early to catch a showing because it often fills up.
Discovering the Lower Lot
To reach the Lower Lot, you take a series of escalators located in Springfield. The descent offers amazing views of the Backlot and parts of the San Fernando Valley. The Lower Lot features high-thrill attractions and immersive lands.
Jurassic World
The first area in the Lower Lot is Jurassic World. This land is filled with fun dinosaur-based theming.
Jurassic World: The Ride
Jurassic World: The Ride is a water-based attraction. You start by going through a few dinosaur enclosures. Then, the ride takes a darker turn as the beasts begin to take over. You join Owen, Claire, and the Raptor Squad. They help you evade the dangerous Indominus Rex. The attraction includes big drops. It finishes with an amazing splash down where you will most likely get wet. This is a standout and fun attraction for the entire family.
Raptor Encounter and Dino Play
You can get up close and personal with Owen Grady’s raptor, Blue, in the Raptor Encounter. This is a great chance to get a photo with the popular dinosaur. You can also meet the friendly Triceratops and a baby Raptor.
There is an outdoor interactive play area called Dino Play. Younger visitors can climb cargo nets. They can also excavate fossils or explore a T-Rex skull. There are also slides for simple enjoyment.
Revenge of the Mummy: The Ride
Opposite the Jurassic World area is Revenge of the Mummy: The Ride. This is an indoor roller coaster based on The Mummy franchise. The coaster moves from scene to scene at an incredible pace. It features amazing effects throughout the ride. This speed and unique experience make it one of the fan-favorite attractions at Universal Studios Hollywood.
Transformers: Metrobase
Further into the Lower Lot is Transformers Metrobase. Its main attraction is Transformers: The Ride-3D. This is an awesome dark ride. You team up with Optimus Prime. You battle against the Decepticons in many exciting show scenes. The ride features a variety of impressive effects. You can also meet Megatron, Bumblebee, or Optimus Prime in a meet and greet area near the ride building throughout the day.
Super Nintendo World
The final area in the park is the amazing Super Nintendo World. You enter through a warp pipe. You end up in Peach’s castle. Then, the incredible land is revealed. You will see Bowser’s Castle and plenty of your favorite Nintendo characters. The land includes lots of hidden Easter eggs that will please all Mario fans.
Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge
The main attraction is Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge. This is an interactive dark ride. It uses Augmented Reality (AR) to enhance the experience. You race in your very own Mario Kart vehicle. You go through classic scenes from the game. You can use items like shells to disable other riders. You also use the steering wheel to help collect items and coins.
Power-Up Bands and Key Challenges
You can buy a Power-Up Band for extra interaction. You connect the band through the Universal Studios Hollywood app. This allows you to interact with lots of the environment. You can also perform special Key Challenges.
The Key Challenges are special tasks spread throughout the world. Completing these lets you collect coins and keys. Once you have enough, you can take on Bowser Jr. in an epic boss battle.
Throughout Super Nintendo World, you can meet:
- Princess Peach
- Toad
- Mario and Luigi
They appear in special meet and greet areas. This immersive land also features plenty of shopping and dining spots.
Early Access Option
Due to the popularity of Super Nintendo World, you can buy Early Access. This lets you enter the land one hour before the park officially opens. This option costs between $20 and $30 extra. It is a good way to enjoy the land with shorter lines.
Universal Studios Hollywood Special Events
That wraps up all the current rides, shows, and attractions for 2025. Universal Studios Hollywood also hosts a variety of special events throughout the year. These all include unique parades, shows, and attractions. Major events include:
- Fan Fest Nights in the spring.
- Halloween Horror Nights, which is award-winning.
- The special Winter Holidays celebration.
What’s Coming Soon to Universal Hollywood
Universal Studios Hollywood continues to grow and add new features.
Fast & Furious Hollywood Drift
The biggest attraction currently under construction is Fast & Furious Hollywood Drift. This will be a brand new and unique roller coaster. It is themed to the popular Fast & Furious franchise. The coaster will feature spinning ride cars. These cars will replicate the feeling of drifting. The ride will also include a number of inversions.
This coaster uses the hillside between the Upper and Lower Lots. It will create some “near miss” moments. It shoots over the escalators and the Studio Tour trams. This thrilling attraction is much needed in the park. It will be a welcome addition for fans of coasters and the Fast & Furious films. It has been announced that it will open in the park in 2026.
Future Rumors
There are also rumors about the future of the resort. These include:
- Two brand new Universal Hotels may be added.
- Possible further expansion in the Lower Lot area.
This means there is lots to look forward to at the amazing Universal Studios Hollywood in the coming years.