We just came back from an awesome weekend in LA. While LA is just a few hours away from San Diego, we like to take advantage of a few times a year and fully immerse ourselves for a full vacation. 

The girls had been begging to go to Universal Studios Hollywood, so we decided to take a vacation to Universal City for Danny’s birthday. 

We’ve been to Universal Studios a few times, but I will have to say that this trip to Universal was the best one yet.

• The weather was PERFECT. It’s rare to get a day in the high 60s in LA and since it can get so hot in the summer, this was a really nice to treat.
• Universal Express is the best thing ever. I’ll go over this more in detail further down but we were able to do every single ride in one day!! 
• The girls are at a perfect age (and height) to ride on all of the rides, making the trip perfect for my little thrill-seekers.

Planning your day + Universal Express

Any time we go to a theme park, we like to plan ahead and get there early, especially during peak seasons. It’s the best way to beat the crowds and you’ll find that you can get a lot more done by getting to the park at opening. 

Wear comfortable shoes because Universal Studios is a lot of walking. You’ll also want to bring sunblock and a hat for hotter days, because you will definitely feel the heat (you can always cool off on Jurassic World). 

We like to pack some protein bars for breakfast on the go so we can start our day and then sit down for an early lunch once we all start to get hungry.

Universal Express

This was our second time utilizing the Universal Express pass and it is 1,000% worth it. The Universal Express is like a fast pass that allows you front of the line access to every single ride + show one time. 

The best part? No reservation is needed so you don’t have to sit around and wait for a reservation time to ride, you can go on each ride whenever you want. We used it for every single ride and walked right on every single time. The longest we had to wait for a ride was 10 minutes. 

The Universal Express saved us a ton of time and if you are trying to knock out every attraction in one day (like we did) it is so worth it! The Universal Express is $189 a person (includes admission)- you can get more info here.

VIP Experience

If you really want to upgrade your day, you can purchase the VIP experience for $349 a person. The cost includes admission, express access an unlimited amount of times, snacks and refreshments, a gourmet meal, and a guided tour of the backlot. This is not something we’ve personally done but it seems like a really cool experience for those who want a full studio tour experience as you get to walk around on the backlot. More info here.

Things you don’t want to miss 

Wizarding World of Harry Potter

If you are a Harry Potter fan, you are going to be in for a real treat. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is filled with interactive elements that will make you feel like a wizard.

We started our day by stopping at Olivanders. I highly recommend arriving early as lines can get very long but the experience was very much worth it. The girls both chose interactive wands and from there we were able to walk all around the Wizarding World casting spells. I highly recommend this! If you don’t have time to wait in line for Olivanders, you can purchase interactive wands at other stores (minus the experience). 

You’ll also want to try the butter beer and ride Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. 

Jurassic World & Raptor Encounters

As huge fans of the Jurassic Park Franchise, we were so excited to experience Jurassic World since the girls were not tall enough on our last visit. The ride is located on the lower lot and makes you feel like you are right in the middle of Jurassic Park. Expect to see dinosaurs in your face and a huge drop at the end of the ride.

Stick around for the raptor encounter where you can take photos with Blue. This is truly a can’t miss experience. 

Character sightings

We saw so many characters on our trip! Some of our favorites were Poppy, the Scooby Doo Gang and Donkey from Shrek!

Studio Tour

This is a must for every visit. The studio tour is a one-hour tour through the backlot of Universal Studios. You’ll tour movie sets, see sound stages, and partake in 3D experiences to show you how Universal makes movie magic.  

The studio tour is suitable for all ages and the girls have been riding it since they were babies. 

Secret Life of Pets Ride

This is the newest ride at Universal Studios. It’s located right near Super Silly Fun Land and a fun ride for all ages. Plan ahead if you don’t have a Universal Express as they hand out virtual passes for this ride to avoid extremely long lines.

Universal’s Animal Actors 

If you’re an animal lover, this show is a must (and super cute). See animal actors show off their skills on stage. We saw a dalmatian from Cruella and an owl from Harry Potter on our last trip. Our visit before this, we saw Benji’s stunt double! Such a fun show to watch.

Pro tip: Take advantage of the down time and grab some hot dogs and popcorn to enjoy during the show. 

Water World

Hands down the most popular show at Universal. You’ll want to arrive early to get good seats (Universal Express tickets will have a shorter line). The show is packed with stunts and adventure but warning if you are in the blue seats- you will get wet. The show had us all in awe the whole time!

Super Silly Fun Land 

If you are visiting with little ones, you are going to spend a lot of time here. With a waterpark and dry playground plus plenty of arcade games, it will keep younger children busy for hours. The music is very much on theme and a fun and colorful area to visit. 

Where to stay

We stayed at the Hilton University City for this trip. The hotel is directly across the street from Universal Studios and about a 7-minute walk to the theme park. It was our first time staying at this hotel and it was extremely convenient. 

Book your room here.

Our honest review 

Universal Studios is a ton of fun but definitely geared more towards families who enjoy a bit more of a thrill. The kids (5 and 7) are perfect ages for nearly all the rides (Nati who is 5 was only not able to ride two). 

If you have little ones with you (under 5), expect to spend most of your day at Silly Fun Land and pack a swimsuit with you. They have a really cute water playground that cane keep smaller children entertained for hours, and several rides catered to little ones as well.

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