Day Trip to Universal Studios from Disneyland

[mrjefferson15]

In order to get the most out of this trip would it make more sense to go on a weekday where the crowds are less and the traffic is greater or on a weekend where it might be more crowded but the traffic is less of a factor?

 

[sbakersub]

I'll leave the "right" answer to the experts, but last month we went to Universal on a Saturday in an attempt to avoid the worst of the traffic, and Universal did get pretty busy by early afternoon. I'm sure it would have been less busy on a weekday, but I would have hated to see the weekday traffic -- as it was it took us over an hour in the late afternoon to get back to the Candy Cane Inn.

We got to Universal just after opening and did all our "must sees" on the lower level first -- the Mummy ride (twice), Jurassic Park, Backdraft -- then went back up and did the Simpsons (about a 1/2 hour wait), Shrek, had lunch (long wait in line), did the tram tour (another 1/2 hour wait in line) and then saw the Waterworld show. At that point it was getting way too crowded, hot and humid, so we spent a little time at the City Walk and then started "home" about 4:30 pm.

Based on our experience, I'd opt again for less traffic and a little more crowded park. At least when I'm standing in line for a ride I'm not spewing pollution into the air around me the way I'd be doing stalled on the freeway

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

f you choose to do the weekday, just remember not to start the drive back until after 7pm or so. Also, don't head straight down the 101 - take the 134 East to the 5 South. That way, you won't go straight through downtown LA. No matter what, it will be a minimum of 50 minutes to an hour if you are on either the start or the tail end of rush hour. No traffic on Sunday morning is 35 minutes to 40 minutes. (I live in Burbank - 4 miles from Universal.)

As to the day of the week, I can offer this. My best friend used to work in the office bungalows on the Universal lot and I used to meet her for lunch during the week and I noticed (while we were cruising through the studio on her golf cart) that the park wasn't really that crowded. One factor you have to consider - all the parks in LA (including Universal) heavily relies on local crowds. If the guests are all at work, then the park is more empty. They also have been offering heavy discounts to try to get the local crowd. Do lunch at CitiWalk - better selection and quality.

In case no one tells you - Universal is built into a hillside, so there are a lot of escalators and stairs to get you to the various levels of the park. The views are excellent and you can even see the Disney Studios in the distance, as well as look down onto Warner Brothers Studio and into Toluca Lake - neighborhood of Roy Disney and many Disney Channel (and other) celebrities.

Have a fun visit.
Nancy

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

We went on a Thursday knowing we'd hit the morning traffic, but figuring it would still take around an hour or so. Um no! LOL There was accident after accident. It took us over 45 minutes to go 2 miles at one point! It was crazy! I can't imagine what car insurance must cost down there! Just that day there was trucks flipping over, a car went off an over pass and down on to the road below! Yikes! Maybe we just had some bad luck!

We didn't want to leave too early for Universal because we didn't want to be waiting for it to open for an hour or anything. But after that we learned our lesson, leave early!

We had fun though, and the only ride we really waited in line for was the Simpsons. Everything else was pretty much walk on. But I'd expect weekends, and now that it's the summer peak to be more crowded. I was ready to get back to DL after 4 hours of Universal though. Fun, but no DL! We actually got back to hotel in really good time however.

 

[GrandCanyon]

We're actually spending the night in Hollywood on a Sunday evening, so we're thinking of (1) going to Universal on Sunday afternoon/evening and Monday morning; or (2) just going all day on Monday. We will probably do the latter, and stop at El Torito on Wilshire Blvd for dinner (4:00ish), before heading back to Anaheim, Monday evening. Anyway, here's our touring plan . . .

Any advice on this schedule would be appreciated.

Morning:
1. Simpsons
2. Studio Tour (45 Min)
--sit on right side, third coach.
3. Shrek 4D

Mid-Morning:
4. Revenge of the Mummy
5. Jurassic Park
6. Special Effects Stages (30 Min)
7. Backdraft (admitted every 10 Min)

Afternoon:
8. Terminator 2:3D
9. Waterworld (15 Min)
10. universal's House of Horrors
11. Universal's Animal Actors
12. Curious George
13. Blue's Brothers

 

[DoomBugger]

Weekday is a good plan. Weekends are busy. Traffic isn't that bad, don't plan around it more than time of day.

 

[sbakersub]

GrandCanyon, I don't think there's any reason to do the studio tour so early in the day, because while you're sitting on it crowds are building on the big rides like Mummy and Jurassic Park. So I'd stick 4-7 on your list after 1, then pick up the rest after that.

And we didn't get a choice about where we sat on the studio tour tram -- when you get to the end of the queue they tell you what line to stand in to board. Do you know a trick to get where you want to be?

 

[DoomBugger]

GrandCanyon, I don't think there's any reason to do the studio tour so early in the day, because while you're sitting on it crowds are building on the big rides like Mummy and Jurassic Park. So I'd stick 4-7 on your list after 1, then pick up the rest after that.

And we didn't get a choice about where we sat on the studio tour tram -- when you get to the end of the queue they tell you what line to stand in to board. Do you know a trick to get where you want to be?

I agree, do the tour later int he day and hit the rides early. If you want a beter spot just simply tell them and be firm. Remember, it is your vacation and they are serving you so tell them what you want! The key is to be cordial and pleasant and they will hook you up.

Too bad Kong burned up.

 

[Cali_Sparrow]

GrandCanyon, I don't think there's any reason to do the studio tour so early in the day, because while you're sitting on it crowds are building on the big rides like Mummy and Jurassic Park. So I'd stick 4-7 on your list after 1, then pick up the rest after that.

That may be true because people will start going down to the lower lot, but honestly the longest I have ever waited for Jurassic Park & The Mummy has been like... 15 minutes. It's never super crowded at Universal like it is at Disneyland, especially not on a weekday.

Usually wait times for the lower lot are 5 minutes for everything, throughout the afternoon. Evenings might be a little longer because people come after work and stuff.

 

[DoomBugger]

Whatever you do if you are there when it gets dark go on Jurrasic Park a few times!

 

[GrandCanyon]

I've heard that the line for the Studio Tour after lunch is one-hour . . . is that true? Again, I'll be going on a Monday.

Additionally, if I were to choose a two-day (Sunday: 4:00-9:00; Monday: 9:00-12:00noon), what would you think of that, and what kind of itinerary would you suggest?

My thinking is getting back on the road to Anaheim, before the 3:00 rush hour on Monday.

 

[sbakersub]

originally posted by GrandCanyon:
I've heard that the line for the Studio Tour after lunch is one-hour . . . is that true? Again, I'll be going on a Monday.

We were there on a Saturday last month, did the studio tour after lunch and the wait was maybe 20-30 minutes, if I remember correctly -- in a shaded waiting area, which was good. I'd think a Monday would have even less wait.