Universal Studios Hollywood vs. Universal Orlando

[AshleeH]

We're planning a California trip for next year - we've been to US:Florida and IOA/WWOHP - is it worth it to go to US:Hollywood? I was interested in doing the backlot tour and then I saw that it was around $250 per person and that just won't be in the budget with the rest of the things we'll be doing, so is the park itself a lot like Florida's? Or is it like comparing DLR to WDW where they have the similar ideas but different executions of the ideas?

 

[damo]

$250 per person at Hollywood? Their admission is usually quite cheap. Right now $77/person buy one day get one free.

We enjoyed it there and with the new Transformers ride and the back stage tour, I would definitely go again.

Their Mummy ride is different as is the Jurassic Park ride. Some things are the same.

 

[Shagley]

Maybe look into getting a Southern California CityPASS. It includes admission to Disneyland, California Adventure, Universal Hollywod & Seaworld and is only $279.00.

 

[Harry Potter]

$250 per person at Hollywood? Their admission is usually quite cheap. Right now $77/person buy one day get one free.

We enjoyed it there and with the new Transformers ride and the back stage tour, I would definitely go again.

Their Mummy ride is different as is the Jurassic Park ride. Some things are the same.

Didn't think USH Transformers Ride opened til Summer? Are you not confusing it with USS?

 

[damo]

Didn't think USH Transformers Ride opened til Summer? Are you not confusing it with USS?

The OP isn't going until next year.

 

[modegard]

Universal Hollywood is a great theme park. The back lot tour is worth a visit even if that is the only thing you do there. They have the King Kong 3D on the tour which is really well done. I have been a few times and have always enjoyed it.

 

[Badge]

We're planning a California trip for next year - we've been to US:Florida and IOA/WWOHP - is it worth it to go to US:Hollywood? I was interested in doing the backlot tour and then I saw that it was around $250 per person and that just won't be in the budget with the rest of the things we'll be doing, so is the park itself a lot like Florida's? Or is it like comparing DLR to WDW where they have the similar ideas but different executions of the ideas?

The backlot tour is part of the normal ticket entry. That $250 ticket is for a private guided tour.

Basically for the backlot tour (called the Studio Tour), you board a big tram that takes you on a roughly 45 minute ride around the backlot. During the ride you stop on some "sets" where stuff happens (for example, stop on the set of Jaws and Jaws attacks the boat, stop on the set of Earthquake, and you experince the same Earthquake (disaster) ride that Orlando has. The backlot tour is a lot of fun because you never know what, or who, you will see.

As far as the rest of the park, the rides are basically the same for the ones they have. They have Shrek 4D, Terminator, Jurrasic Park River Adventure, Mummy, and Simpsons. Some of these rides (mostly Mummy) are slightly different from the Orlando version, but the overall theme is the same.

Besides the backlot tour, Universal Hollywood also has a few other things that you can only find there. They have the Waterworld show which is really cool. They also have the year-round haunted house called House of Horrors that is like the houses at HHN in Orlando. I have only been to the Hollywood park twice and have been too chicken to do it...this summer I hope to change that to see if I can handle a whole night of it at HHN Then the newest ride they have opens in May which is Transformers.

Overall, the Hollywood park is MUCH smaller than Orlando. The park hours are really limited except for a few weekend in the summer. Heck, the park does not even stay open till midnight on new years eve! However, I do enjoy the Hollywood version of Citywalk a lot better. It seems a lot bigger with a much better layout.

If you are going to be in the area, it is worth a trip. They normally offer a "buy one day, get the 2nd day free" deal except for the peak summer times. Next year the park tickets should not be much more than they are right now...the Hollywood park does not follow the "norm" by increasing prices when Disneyland does.

 

[AshleeH]

The backlot tour is part of the normal ticket entry. That $250 ticket is for a private guided tour.

Thank you! I didn't realize that the price I saw was for the private tour - I thought it was the only tour! Knowing that a public one is also available by tram with the general admission is definitely more appealing!

Thank you, everyone! We'll have to see if we can fit it in for a day (or even half a day) when we make our trip . Out of a 2-week trip, we'll be spending more than 80 hours in the car with various stops, so we'll be planning everything like crazy - you all really helped .

 

[damo]

Thank you! I didn't realize that the price I saw was for the private tour - I thought it was the only tour! Knowing that a public one is also available by tram with the general admission is definitely more appealing!

Thank you, everyone! We'll have to see if we can fit it in for a day (or even half a day) when we make our trip . Out of a 2-week trip, we'll be spending more than 80 hours in the car with various stops, so we'll be planning everything like crazy - you all really helped .

The $250 is for the VIP tour of the entire park, not just the backlot. It puts you at the very front of each line with a personal guide . The normal admission is just that...normal theme park admission where you go into normal lines.