r/universalstudios • u/drivfelta • 21h ago
r/universalstudios • u/Spectrobits • 18h ago
Hollywood Hi, I’m John Murdy, Creative Director/Executive Producer for Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood. AMA!
If you have questions, please respond to the original post; John will not see the questions in response to this crosspost. Please be respectful when asking questions. Thanks, and have fun! :)
r/universalstudios • u/Spectrobits • Nov 01 '23
Mod Post Welcome to r/universalstudios! Please read this if you’re a first-time visitor to this subreddit.
Hello there, and welcome to r/universalstudios!
Ask questions, provide answers, upload photos and vlogs, share tips, and propose discussions about the Universal parks and resorts around the world.
From Hollywood to Beijing and beyond, whether you’re new to theme parks as a whole, new to Universal parks, new to this subreddit, or a veteran of all three, all guests are welcome here. :)
News on all parks: https://blog.discoveruniversal.com/
***Before you post and comment, be sure to read the rules in the sidebar and follow them to make sure your posts don’t get deleted.\*\**
Also, please read the frequently asked questions below or use the Reddit search function to see if your question (or a similar one) has already been answered before you ask. This cuts down on the clutter and may help you find an answer faster than waiting for a response from one of our readers. Thanks!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
How crowded is [insert date here]? OR When is the best date to go?
Everyone has different tolerances for crowds. If you want to know how generally crowded your park of choice might be, https://www.isitpacked.com/ can provide a very simple forecast of crowd levels up to about two months in advance on their crowd calendar.
Of course, a bit of common sense thinking can go a long way here, too. Spend some time thinking about when people are most likely to visit, and your intuition will probably be correct.
For example, the American parks will generally be busier during:
- Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays
- School breaks, though these are generally spread out over a long time frame since the colleges and local K-12 districts have minute differences in their assigned breaks.
- Spring breaks (mid-March to mid-April)
- Summer breaks (mid-June to mid-August)
- Thanksgiving breaks (entire week of Thanksgiving including the last Thursday of November)
- Winter breaks (mid-December to early January)
- 3-day weekends for mandated federal holidays (yes, the day of the holiday itself will also generally be busier)
If you’re traveling to the Asian parks, take their holidays and school breaks into consideration instead to figure out when to go.
Is Express worth it for [insert date here]?
Everyone has different comfort levels for waits and enjoyment levels for attractions. If you want to know the wait times of attractions, https://www.thrill-data.com/ is a fantastic resource that lets you find historical data and look at charts across hours, weeks, days, and even months. Search for the park you want to view, then change the data date at will. If you want to determine if Express is “worth it” for you, think about how long you’d want to wait for an attraction, compare that to the wait times you see on Thrill Data for recent days and the same time period from the past year, and make a decision for yourself. Express will generally cost $100+ when bought on its own in the parks for the day.
FastPass is not a thing at Universal parks. That was a Disney thing (and it no longer operates there, either). If you’re having trouble finding tips for how to use “Fast Pass” at Universal when searching online, try using the term “Express” instead.
If you’re still on the fence about what is “worth it” to you or not, watch some ride POV videos on YouTube for the attractions you’re interested in that also include the queues. You’ll then be more informed about what experience you’re in for and, after taking the numerical data into consideration, can decide for yourself.
I need to change the date of my ticket; how do I do that? OR I have an issue with the tickets I bought. What should I do?
The folks on Reddit can’t help you with those kinds of questions. You should call the proper support number. Each location has a different phone number for such queries.
For Universal Orlando Resort inquiries, check here.
For Universal Studios Hollywood inquiries, check here.
Please remember that ANY POSTS OFFERING TO BUY, SELL, OR TRADE TICKETS, PASSES, AND OTHER GOODS WILL BE REMOVED. Giveaways are allowed only after written documented approval is received from the mod team and are subject to be removed if the terms for the approved giveaway do not match the actual giveaway. Thank you for your cooperation.
Can I add Express to my Annual Pass/third-party ticket for the day? OR Can I add Early Access to Super Nintendo World in Hollywood to my Annual Pass/third-party ticket for the day?
YES! If you're an Orlando or Hollywood guest, you should be able to purchase Express using the Universal app of your destination to add to any stored tickets and passes you may have in your Wallet. For Early Access to SNW in Hollywood, you must purchase it online before the date of your intended visit. Be aware that both ticket add-ons are able to sell out, so buy early if you want to secure them.
What is the best food at [insert park here]?
Use the search function. We’ve got a multitude of threads available with a multitude of answers and perspectives (for the American parks, at least. Information on the Asian parks can be difficult to come by). If you’re not sure what food is available at each resort, visit their respective websites to learn more.
For Universal Orlando Resort dining options, check here.
For Universal Studios Hollywood dining options, check here.
In what order should I tackle each ride at [insert park here]?
Use https://www.thrill-data.com/ to see which attractions build up crowds quickly, and try to hit those when they’re not yet at their peak. In the case of Hollywood, for example, guests will generally find that starting in the Lower Lot is more effective (except saving Mario Kart for nighttime). If you’re arriving early, you’re generally better off hitting the attractions that support Express before the people with Express can hit them.
Can I bring [insert item here] to [insert park here]?
Each destination has its own list of banned items visible on its respective website.
For Universal Orlando Resort policies, check here.
For Universal Studios Hollywood policies, check here.
I need help with Super Nintendo World in Hollywood!
We’ve got the biggest Megathread on the site! Check here.
The recommended step-by-step for the area strongly differs depending on when you enter the area, the crowd levels in the area at the time, and your personal preferences. Use the search function in the subreddit. We’ve got many threads with a variety of different strategies that have worked to varying degrees of success for you to thumb through.
For additional information, check each park’s official website and use the search bar to find what you’re looking for. It’s usually the magnifying glass in the upper right corner of the page.
- Hollywood: https://www.universalstudioshollywood.com/web/en/us
- Orlando: https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us
- Japan: https://www.usj.co.jp/web/en/us
- Singapore: https://www.rwsentosa.com/en/attractions/universal-studios-singapore (search bar will be in the hamburger menu on the left)
- Beijing: https://www.universalbeijingresort.com/en
- Horror Unleashed Las Vegas: [https://www.universalhorrorunleashed.com/en/us
- Kids Frisco: [https://www.universalkidsresort.com/en/us]
Thanks for reading to the end, and enjoy your stay here at r/universalstudios!
r/universalstudios • u/cowmissing • 17h ago
Hollywood Universal Studios Hollywood attendance fell to 8 million in 2025 — a look at the park's attendance since 1999
galleryr/universalstudios • u/Stock-Bee5021 • 1d ago
Orlando Grinch breakfast questions
Hello!
I bought grinch tickets this morning. I was going so fast I accidentally bought my 11 year old a child ticket. Google is telling me this is easy to fix…anyone have experience with this? Thanks in advance!
r/universalstudios • u/IndividualFinding980 • 1d ago
Orlando Advice
My family of five(adults) are going to universal and we were planning to spend 3 days total, one for each park. We are going December 20-22. We probably were just gonna get an express pass one day. We are staying in a universal hotel, so we have early park entry. I was wondering which park we should get an express pass for? Thank you
r/universalstudios • u/AlwaysHappy4 • 2d ago
Orlando Interesting concept art created by Tommyhawkins on X.
r/universalstudios • u/whodisbaby • 1d ago
Orlando Shrek penny press machine
Help a girl out please - I’m at Universal Orlando and have searched high and low for the Shrek penny press at Islands of Adventures and Universal Studios Florida.
I saw posts from 2025 said it’s by the Donkey’s Photo Finish - but we’re also unable to find this anywhere.
Please help me!!! 🤣
Edit: I have asked a staff member in every section and the staff members that I was passed onto and no one seemed able to help/know where it was.
r/universalstudios • u/mister_waj • 2d ago
Orlando Weak 3rd quarter and other marketing missed opportunities
Comcast recently had their 3rd quarter call, and literally spent less than 3 minutes on the parks. I think the split might be good for the parks, but the news wasn't that great. Revenue and attendance is down. They essentially attributed the "softness" in the parks due to poor marketing, and not moving as quick as their "competitor" Disney on creating packages, hence the new Brand and marketing officer they just hired. They also added "capacity" issues at Epic. My main question is this, do you think Universal misses out on huge marketing opportunities by being so secretive when it comes to the parks and the attractions they are bringing to the parks? To give you an example, When D23 was happening in Cali, my local news station in Western Maryland, did a feature on the event half way across the country, thus making people aware of it even if they aren't fans or knowledgeable of Disney parks. I think the event creates fandom, adds hype, and can potentially attract more people to the parks, yet Universal remains secretive. We all know Disney has a tendency to over promise and under deliver for these events, but they still do it...As a big fan of Universal, I want them to do well, and I want to continue seeing them match Disney in investment and movement.
r/universalstudios • u/CheesecakeSquare7688 • 3d ago
Japan So is Shrek 4D still open at USJ? Some sources say it permanently closed last year but some people are also saying that it still plays sometimes.
r/universalstudios • u/Smart-Order-7410 • 4d ago
Unspecified Bob Gale hopes Back to the Future the Ride could return to the parks someday.
r/universalstudios • u/cowmissing • 3d ago
Hollywood Universal Studios Hollywood's 2004 Priority Pass – A Former Guest Recovery Tool
r/universalstudios • u/mister_waj • 3d ago
Orlando Weak 3rd quarter and other marketing missed opportunities
r/universalstudios • u/Icy-Count-4647 • 3d ago
Unspecified Universal Studios Optimus Prime found in a Smyths Toys in France (Ormesson, Val-de-Marne)
r/universalstudios • u/ssgkkk • 3d ago
Orlando In a plane filled with Universal Orlando Ride Villains, where are you sitting?
r/universalstudios • u/DilanRedd • 3d ago
Japan Images of #them at Universal Studios Japan + Fun Facts
r/universalstudios • u/Better-Candidate4168 • 3d ago
Japan Title: USJ Express Pass 7 unavailable throughout the entire week (Nov 17–22) — should I keep waiting or book Pass 8 for other dates ? Getting really frustrated
r/universalstudios • u/randomguy1972 • 4d ago
Orlando At Universal Studios Florida
galleryr/universalstudios • u/sunsetsssssss • 3d ago
Orlando A thank you to a very kind worker!
Wanted to put this here incase he check this as well.
r/universalstudios • u/dontcomeback82 • 5d ago
Orlando Universal orlando first timer trip with 5yo
Hey Universal folks!
I'm planning a trip for my family, 2 adults and a tall 5 year old in early march 2027. We will spend 4 nights at universal (split stay starting at wdw)
Originally I booked Adventura and was planning to either walk to both parks (~25 mins) or take the water taxi at sapphire falls.
However on second look, Stella Nova is about the same cost and is a closer walk to a park. As seasoned disney veterans who have/will be taking busses over there, a short walk to a park seems very appealing, especially with a wagon/stroller setup. We tend to go back to the room for a mid day break so being able to pop back and forth seems appealing.
A few notes
- None of us have been to universal before
- Adults are big harry potter fans
- I am the only thrill rider out of the 3
- 5 year old is still gunshy about riding even kiddie roller coasters
- We mostly enjoy disney for the shows/walking around/drinks/ambience/food rides are secondary
Just was hoping people could weigh in about which parks are the best for visiting more frequently for us, wether it does make sense to be closer to epic or the other 2 parks (volcano bay will be closed).
Thank you for any opinions or tips!
r/universalstudios • u/YaBoiSebbi • 5d ago
Orlando Team Member Discount on Epic Tickets
Where can team members purchase tickets and what’s the discount?