Amusement park Universal Studios Hollywood in Los Angeles

Universal Studios Hollywood is a theme park and film studio located in Los Angeles, California. It's a favorite family destination, eagerly anticipated by parents looking forward to taking their children. The brand also has parks in Japan, Singapore, and Korea.

Park Features

Universal Studios stands as one of the most successful theme park chains in the world, with locations spanning from the USA to Japan. Guests enjoy a range of attractions, rides, and tours. The park is divided into two levels, connected by a series of escalators known as the Starway. These areas are referred to as the Upper and Lower Lots. In 2016, Universal hosted 8 million guests, ranking 15th in the world and 9th among North American parks.

The studio boasts various entertainment types located on different levels, linked by escalators and filled with numerous attractions.

In the Upper Lot, thematic areas include:

• WaterWorld;
• Shrek 4D;
• The Simpsons;
• Terminator 3D;
• House of Horror.

The Lower Lot features attractions such as:

• Jurassic Park;
• The Mummy's Revenge;
• Transformers.

The tour takes you through various film sets from movies like Jaws, Psycho, Fast and Furious, The Mummy, and many more. Around the park, you'll encounter Marilyn Monroe, Woody Woodpecker, characters from The Flintstones and Scooby-Doo. You might also run into Dracula, Frankenstein, or the Wolfman roaming the area.

Attractions at Universal

Wizarding World of Harry Potter

This is a motion simulator journey through an exact replica of Hogwarts Castle's interior. Guests wear 3D glasses and follow Harry's adventures, spinning and turning 360 degrees along an elevated track.

You can also enjoy a Butterbeer at the Three Broomsticks restaurant, which recreates the pub from the films. In addition, there's Ollivander's wand shop, Zonko's joke shop, Honeydukes sweet shop, Dervish and Banges clothing store, and Filch's Emporium of Confiscated Goods for souvenirs.

The Walking Dead

Based on the AMC series "The Walking Dead," this attraction is a maze similar to those set up for Halloween. The difference is that it's open year-round and recreates scenes from all seasons of the show. Visitors not only witness the action but also immerse themselves in it, playing the role of survivors of the apocalypse.

This entertainment is not for the squeamish. Although it's rated PG-13, it can impress even those several times older.

The Simpsons Ride

The action takes place inside an 80-foot dome, with motion simulation and effects that make you feel like you're moving through an animated amusement park.

You'll feel like you're climbing, falling, and turning quickly. The vehicle itself tilts, spins, and shakes. It's like a roller coaster, though not entirely. Some say The Simpsons is the most interesting attraction, particularly popular with fans of the show.

Transformers

One of the most modern and exciting 4D attractions in the world, it will put you inside one of the Transformers and task you with protecting the planet from a Decepticon invasion. And it's genuinely captivating, making you want to repeat the adventure many times over.

History of Universal Studios Hollywood

On March 15, 1915, Universal founder Carl Laemmle opened his 230-acre ranch. Here, he offered visitors the chance to stroll and view filming. The tour provided a small additional income for the studio until they began adding sound to their films. Laemmle had to close access to prevent the noisy public from disrupting filming.

Universal reopened its lot to visitors in 1961. Each guest rode on a tour tram with stops to see a costume collection, walk through the stars' dressing rooms, and watch a stunt show. Initially, there was minimal staff: just a couple of tram drivers, a few guides, a ticket seller, and stunt show performers. To cut labor costs, the founders began using volunteers to participate in various scenes throughout the tour.

To compete with Disneyland, they added attractions to the park. Here's a brief historical overview:

• The sudden flood scene was added in 1968, the collapsing bridge in 1974, and the ice tunnel in 1975.
• In 1976, they built what would become the biggest tourist attraction — the "Jaws" ride. It set the template for future high-budget tours based on Universal films.
• In 1986, they installed an animatronic statue of King Kong, the world's largest at the time.
• On June 1, 2008, a serious fire occurred. Due to low water pressure in the fire department, a large part of the studio and attractions was destroyed. Restoration took several years.