Southern California Universal Studios Hollywood: Questions?

[Dream.Finder]

Hey there,

I have a one-day visit to USH planned for this August. I have a few questions for anyone who may know the answers.

We plan on making our day-trip the same day that we arrive at LAX. We get into LAX at 12:11 PM and have a rental car to pick-up that is currently set for 12:30 PM. We are planning on driving over to our hotel (Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City) and park it there, then walk over to the park. From looking at Google Maps, it seems there is a covered stairway that leads up to the entrance plaza of the park on the backside of the park perimeter. Can we use this to gain access to the park? What is the best way from our hotel to do so?

I checked the hours for the day we're visiting (August 6th, 2013) and the park is open from 9 AM - 9 PM. I assume we won't get into the park until at least 2 - 3 PM or so. Will this be enough time to see everything at the USH park? And by "everything", I mean *at least* the important attractions such as Transformers, Jurassic Park, Simpsons, Studio Tour, etc. It would be great if we could catch some shows as well, but I doubt we will have enough time for all/most of them. How quickly can one do the USH park? Keep in mind that this will be in August, though... so I am assuming crowds will be heavy.

We also wanted to dine at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. in CityWalk after the park closed that night. What time does CityWalk close? Do the dining locations close earlier? I'm hoping they function somewhat like Downtown Disney and keep some dining locations open for an hour or two past normal park hours.

I think that about covers it. Thanks for any help you can provide!

 

[Metro West]

I'm going to move this to a more appropriate section.

 

[StageTek]

We are planning on driving over to our hotel (Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City) and park it there, then walk over to the park. From looking at Google Maps, it seems there is a covered stairway that leads up to the entrance plaza of the park on the backside of the park perimeter. Can we use this to gain access to the park? What is the best way from our hotel to do so?

Yes you can walk over or you can take the shuttle that will pick you up in
front of the hotel. Neither is best - they are bot great ways to get to the
entrance plaza.

How quickly can one do the USH park?

You are correct, the park will be crowded. The lower lot where Transformers
and Jurassic Park are located tends to be much less crowded towards the
end of the day. Since you are staying until closing you could plan on heading
there after 8PM and seeing both those rides with minimal wait. Mummy is
also there.

You should be able to see the Tour and Simpsons and even catch WaterWorld
in about 2 hours (the tour is about 45min) so you will have time to reach
your goal of seeing "everything".

What time does CityWalk close? Do the dining locations close earlier?

You are correct. Most of the dining places will close for service around 10PM.
CityWalk closes closer to midnight.

 

[Dream.Finder]

Thanks for your response, StageTek! Your tips are very much appreciated. We'll keep them in mind for sure! I know you've already suggested ways to approach the park attractions... but could you (or anybody else for that matter) suggest a "plan of attack" (like ride for ride....) for us to use? As I said, we'll be arriving around 2 - 3 PM most likely as we will probably end up there in the middle of the afternoon.

We plan to booking it from LAX straight to the In-N-Out Burger in Studio City to grab a quick bite in the drive-thru (though, I've heard this location can be madhouse and super cramped, but I think we can manage). And then we'd park at the Hilton's parking lot and do our check-in quickly and/or give the front desk our luggage to hold on to until later in the evening, when we return.

I'd just like to hear from someone who really knows how to "work" that park for all it's worth. Again as StageTek confirmed, we are planning on staying until 9 PM (park closing) that night -- but we are arriving later in the day, probably at it's busiest... so tips and strategies of how to blast through the attractions in a timely manner would be appreciated. I know StageTek reccomends hitting the upper-lot first and the lower-lot second, which is actually the exact opposite of what I was initially thinking to do. Anywho... bring on the advice! Thank ya'll!

 

[Epek]

I can't give you a touring plan, but I can give my old, outdated opinion! I worked there for a year in 2005, so before the King Kong referb and Transformers (where the outdated comes from!). With the information that KK and T are in the lower lot, I'd say go with your gut, especially if the thrill rides are what you want to do most. All of them are down there. Plus, the tour used to stop an hour or so before closing. (The lower lot used to close early too, but I don't think that's the case anymore). It's probably true that most people start up, then head down, so it will be most crowded, but having a half day means tackling what you want to do most, right?

 

[Dream.Finder]

With the information that KK and T are in the lower lot, I'd say go with your gut, especially if the thrill rides are what you want to do most.

Thanks for the tips. Although one thing I should mention is that King Kong 360 3-D (I think that's what you meant by the abbreviation KK) isn't in the lower-lot, it is one of the "show stops" on the Studio Tour!

 

[StageTek]

I know StageTek reccomends hitting the upper-lot first and the lower-lot second, which is actually the exact opposite of what I was initially thinking to do.

When arriving early it’s good to go to the Lower Lot right away. That’s because
by 3PM it gets very, very busy there. And then, once everyone has seen all the
rides and attractions there, they leave. So by 7/8PM it’s quite slow there.

You’re right Epek, in 2005 the Lower Lot closed about an hor earlier than the
rest of the Park. Now with Transformers there the Lower Lot sometimes even
closes an hour after the rest of the Park during very busy days. Keep in mind
that the Tour closes before the park closes - typically around dusk so the hours vary.

 

[Dream.Finder]

When arriving early it’s good to go to the Lower Lot right away. That’s because
by 3PM it gets very, very busy there. And then, once everyone has seen all the
rides and attractions there, they leave. So by 7/8PM it’s quite slow there.

You’re right Epek, in 2005 the Lower Lot closed about an hor earlier than the
rest of the Park. Now with Transformers there the Lower Lot sometimes even
closes an hour after the rest of the Park during very busy days. Keep in mind
that the Tour closes before the park closes - typically around dusk so the hours vary.

Thanks for the elaboration!