If you’re planning to experience the tours of real Universal movies that we all love through a combination of exciting shows, delightful attractions, thrilling rides, and roller coasters then Universal Studios Park is the great place you may want to visit. There’s something here for everyone to enjoy, whether you’re traveling with friends or family. Firstly, you must know about the best rides at Universal Studios Hollywood.
There are several rides at Universal Studios Hollywood. These rides include Revenge of the Mummy, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, the newly launched Jurassic World: The Ride, and more. With so many rides and attractions to choose from at Universal Studios Hollywood, it can be hard to determine which ones are right according to an individual.
In this post, I’ll be breaking down the best rides at Universal Studios Hollywood to give you an idea of what to expect so you can determine which rides should absolutely be on the top of your list.
The 9 Best Rides at Universal Studios Hollywood You Must Do:
1. Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey:
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is a scenic dark ride located in the upper lot of the park inside the world-famous Hogwarts Castle (which serves as a ride’s queue). To board the ride, you’ll pass through the fantastic locations from your favorite Harry Potter books which could be a must-see attraction in itself. Once you’re on the ride, you’ll come face-to-face with the magical creatures.
Forbidden Journey is an update of the famous Wizarding World at Universal Orlando’s Islands of Adventure. When it came to Hollywood, it was a step ahead of the original by presenting its media in 3D. But that caused some sensitive passengers to experience nausea and motion sickness. Riders need not worry, Universal has removed the 3D imagery. Also, it doesn’t have any great impact on the attraction, people love to take this ride.
Guests must have a height of a minimum of 48 inches (122 cm) to get a seat on this ride.
Location: Upper Lot
Height requirement: 48 inches (122 cm)
2. Studio Tour:
This is a must-do for cinema buffs as you ride in a tram on Studio Tour which takes a large number of people to the backlot of Universal Studios where movies and television shows have been filmed and Hollywood’s biggest stars work daily.
The trams pass the original Psycho house, old west towns, shark attack from Jaws lagoon, and much more. But the tour upholds as just as it maintains a great balance of old and modern characteristics such as Jurassic World and the War of the Worlds remake. It’s a great way to learn and experience real Hollywood moviemaking secrets infused with immersive attractions.
Passengers pass the real sound stages of the working film studio. They also experience an earthquake, flash floods, and other real effects which are highly astounding. The long tour is wonderfully unique and thoroughly enlightening and one not to be missed. I would suggest that it’s better to do this tour mid-way through your visit when you are tired and prefer to sit down and enjoy the 60 minutes of the tram ride.
3. Transformers: The Ride-3D:
This is an immersive thrill ride with flight simulation technology. This epic dark ride takes passengers straight into the middle of a war zone like you’re in the world of popular Michael Bay movies and creates a tremendous experience for the riders.
As well as the chance to click photos with the stars like Bumblebee, Optimus Prime, and even one of the Deceptions while in the immersive standby queue.
The energetic action, stylistic cinematography, and visuals are highly appreciable. Like Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, this is one of the park’s premier attractions.
Location: Lower Lot
Height requirement: 40 inches (102 cm)
4. Despicable Me Minion Mayhem:
This immersive and engaging simulation ride is super fun with mischievous Minions and other amazing characters from the funny Despicable Me movies.
(Want to be a Minion?). The adventure starts in Gru’s home who wants to transform the guests into actual Minions and initiates the ‘Minion training’.
(What could go wrong?!). The launch of a visitor into an unforgettable trip through Gru’s super-villain laboratory.
This heartwarming ride is simultaneously loaded with frenetic action and is highly enjoyed by families with minions fans.
Location: Upper Lot
Height requirement: 40 inches (102 cm)
5. Jurassic World —The Ride:
This thrilling ride features an original story in the theme park as depicted in the Jurassic World movies. The attraction’s opening aquarium scene features an underwater Mosasaurus, a beautiful way to start the ride.
It’s a water-based dark ride that takes boatloads of passengers into an immersive land where you see life-size dinosaurs mere steps away. And there’s a surprise visit from the Indominus Rex as she stalks your every move. As you’re closer to reaching the top of the waterfall, all of a sudden an epic battle breaks out over your head between the Indominus Rex and her archrival, the Tyrannosaurus Rex. As you watch the fight, you suddenly plummet 84 feet down to a huge splash.
This incredible experience of Jurassic World—The Ride makes riders feel as if they’re inside the movie itself.
Location: Lower Lot
Minimum Height: 42 inches (107 cm)
6. The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash:
The all-new, The Secret Life of Pets is based on the popular animated film series. This scenic dark ride transforms passengers into puppies and sends them to a pet store for adoption.
Unlike all other attractions at the park which are loaded with frenetic actions and high-energy thrills, Off the Leash is relatively calm and focuses on animal personalities and companionship.
The ride is beautifully adored by people of all ages, especially kids due to its amazing old-fashioned cartoon pet characters.
Location: Upper Lot
Minimum Height: 34 inches (86 cm)
7. Revenge of the Mummy – The Ride:
This thrill ride is based on the popular Mummy films. It’s a dark ride with an enclosed roller coaster experience. It has some fantastic scenes and thrilling coaster moments in the dark with fog and special effects.
Guests find themselves surrounded by warrior mummies on the indoor roller coaster which plunges them at speeds up to 45 mph into total darkness.
After boarding the mine carts, be ready to handle a deadly scrab beetle attack, unexpected twists at every turn, sudden stops, some startling drops, and a lot of time traveling backward. This is one of the scariest rides at Universal Studios Hollywood, and you owe it to yourself to try it at least once.
Location: Lower Lot
Minimum Height: 48 inches (122 cm)
8. The Simpsons Ride:
Located in the upper lot of the park, The Simpsons Ride is a motion simulator attraction. The animation is projected onto a gigantic domed surface.
In this ride, you’ll step into the colorful recreation of the cartoon town of Springfield. The journey begins with someone demolishing Krustyland, the fantasy amusement park created by creepy-cranky Krusty the Clown. In the virtual reality roller coaster, you smash and blast through the park with Homer, Bart, Lisa, and the Motley characters from the show offering plenty of subversive humor. Riders feel like they’re completely immersed in that show.
Much like Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, there’s a uniquely designed queue area that features lovable Simpsons animations. For passengers who don’t have a problem with motion sickness and love The Simpsons, this is a ride they’ll want to check out.
Location: Upper Lot
Minimum Height: 40 inches (102 cm)
9. WaterWorld:
The ninth-best ride at Universal Studios Hollywood isn’t a ride at all. It’s a show packed with death-defying stunts, explosions, and such a nice production you shouldn’t miss.
Unfortunately, Water World the Kevin Costner-starring film was a failed blockbuster, but WaterWorld – the live outdoor show – is pretty good and has fascinated the park audiences for years.
Best of all, the show is loaded with thrills and spills from real explosions of fire and water, intense action sequences, pyrotechnics, and other special effects which make this show stand out amongst the crowd.
Location: Upper Lot
Minimum Height: NA
Conclusion:
These theme parks are designed in such a way that they can contribute more to the entertainment and enchantment of the visitors than demonstrate how movies were made.
Each park has something different to offer to its visitors. So you can check which park has the rides and attractions based on your favorite movies and TV shows and several dining and shopping options that appeal to you the most.
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