Our 2025 Common Studios Hollywood planning information presents suggestions & tips that will help you lower your expenses & time, keep away from crowds in Tremendous Nintendo World, and what to do on the “Leisure Capital of Los Angeles.” USH is one in every of Southern California’s finest theme parks, and an excellent aspect journey should you’re visiting Disneyland. (Up to date October 13, 2024.)
The final 12 months has been a enormous one for Common Studios Hollywood as a result of opening of Tremendous Nintendo World! This marks the official arrival of Mario, Luigi, Bowser, and different iconic Nintendo characters to america theme park scene. It’s the second of three variations of the land; with the primary already open in Common Studios Japan.
We’ve had the possibility to expertise Tremendous Nintendo World at Common Studios Hollywood a number of instances, and it’s really one thing particular. Tremendous Nintendo World options the groundbreaking Mario Kart: Bowser’s Problem journey, in addition to many interactive actions designed to interact all the household throughout the fascinating Mushroom Kingdom.
For those who’re planning a go to to Common Studios Hollywood and Mario and pals are your principal motivation, it is best to seek the advice of our complete Technique Information for Tremendous Nintendo World at Common Studios Hollywood. That gives suggestions & tips, how one can beat the crowds, and a ton of different recommendation for profiting from your time on this unbelievable new land.
The most important factor to learn about Tremendous Nintendo World is that it’s crowded. This could not come as a shock given the recognition of Tremendous Mario Bros., however suffice to say, you really want to have a plan of assault. Whether or not that imply shopping for Early Entry, rope dropping the land, staying late, and so on. The above information has you lined with all of these choices–we simply need to reiterate their significance.
You completely shouldn’t arrive late and hit Tremendous Nintendo World noon. That’s what nearly all of friends do, they usually encounter triple-digit wait instances for Mario Kart, get shut out of Toadstool Cafe, and fail to complete the entire minigames consequently. Only a truthful warning–don’t make the identical errors!
For those who’re on the fence about Tremendous Nintendo World, or need extra suggestions for no matter purpose, try our ideas in Tremendous Nintendo World Overview: Good, Dangerous & Ugly. For those who’re searching for extra Mario Kart data, see our Experience Overview: Mario Kart Bowser’s Problem. (Each of these critiques are based mostly on the USJ model of Tremendous Nintendo World.)
On a extra sensible be aware, there’s our Overview of Toadstool Cafe in Tremendous Nintendo World, which relies on the California model of that restaurant.
It ought to go with out saying, however Tremendous Nintendo World has drawn colossal crowds to Common Studios Hollywood as an entire, not simply the brand new land. Attendance exploded final 12 months after the brand new land opened, and is barely lastly beginning to decelerate a bit. We count on that to die all the way down to an excellent larger diploma in 2025, however not completely.
Compounding the group situation is the measurement of Tremendous Nintendo World. On account of that compact footprint coupled with excessive demand, Common makes use of a digital line system for accessing Tremendous Nintendo World on busier days. The excellent news is that the land doesn’t require advance reservations. Company are in a position to enter Tremendous Nintendo World as normal, as long as it’s not at capability. Whether it is at capability, make reservation from the USH app whereas inside park, or kiosk on Decrease Lot.
In our expertise, as long as you arrive early or late, the digital line is a non-factor. It’s often solely in use on weekends, holidays, and different peak season days when faculty is out of session. Even then, as long as you arrive earlier than 10 am or after 4 pm, you sometimes received’t should cope with the digital queue.
Common Studios Hollywood has improved tremendously within the final a number of years, so there are a ton of enjoyable issues to do past Tremendous Nintendo World! The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Studio Tour, WaterWorld Stunt Present, and Jurassic World: the Experience (that includes a brand new Indominus Rex) are all superior.
On the family-friendly entrance, there’s the Secret Lifetime of Pets: Off the Leash. We reviewed this in Common’s New Darkish Experience Rivals Disney’s Greatest! Because the title suggests, this attraction is great and to not be missed. Secret Lifetime of Pets: Off the Leash additionally makes use of Digital Line on busier days, so you’ll want to rating a spot within the digital queue so that you don’t miss this superior attraction!
Past that, Common Studios Hollywood has modified a lot within the final decade–and for the higher. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter was added to the higher lot. On the decrease lot, there’s the redone Jurassic World space, which incorporates Raptor Encounter, DinoPlay, Isla Nu-bar, and Jurassic World — The Experience.
Large areas of USH have already got been dramatically reworked from how they had been a few decade in the past once we first purchased our Common Studios Hollywood Annual Passes. The long run can be shiny, with alternative stage exhibits and different leisure, and rumors that USH is making an attempt to determine some strategy to develop Tremendous Nintendo World.
Within the lead-up to the 2028 Los Angeles Summer season Olympics, there are different long-term plans so as to add extra rides to this hybrid of a theme park and dealing movie studio. That ‘hybrid’ nature of the park is vital to Common Studios Hollywood’s success, and what makes it distinct from each different theme parks in Southern California and different studio excursions at Warner Brothers, Paramount, and Sony.
When it comes to concrete additions, the following large factor is the Quick & Livid: Hollywood Drift curler coaster. This new journey will begin on the Higher Lot and proceed on the hillside above the Decrease Lot, even looping across the high escalator to the Decrease Lot. Common has introduced that it’ll open in 2026, which caught us abruptly–we anticipated it to debut in 2025 based mostly on building progress. With that mentioned, it’s more likely to open in early 2026 and gentle openings through the Christmas 2025 season make sense.
Talking of which, Common Studios Hollywood has introduced main additions for this Christmas. USH will rejoice the vacation season from November 29, 2024 by means of January 6, 2025. This may embrace the traditional leisure choices, resembling Grinchmas and Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
For the primary time, Tremendous Nintendo World is moving into the vacation enjoyable. New photograph ops can be arrange proper on the pipe entrance and all through the land itself. There can be a Mushroom Kingdom impressed tree that includes a Tremendous Star topper, festive wreaths, and Mario & Luigi snowmen. Plus, new merchandise celebrating the season with the characters from the video games, and a restricted time menu of seasonal treats at Toadstool Cafe.
We’ve skilled Christmas in Tremendous Nintendo World at Common Studios Japan (pictured above), and it’s quite a lot of enjoyable. The decorations make for nice Christmas card images, particularly by the warp pipe entrance and character meet & greet in the course of the land. The merchandise can be cute–I’m additionally trying ahead to the Christmas desserts at Toadstool Cafe!
With that mentioned, right here’s what it’s good to learn about visiting Common Studios Hollywood all year long…
Park Tickets
Now that Tremendous Nintendo World is open, there are far fewer methods to save lots of on admission to Common Studios Hollywood. Demand has skyrocketed, which suggests offers have dried up. However, there are nonetheless a few good choices for saving cash on Common Studios Hollywood tickets.
The primary is just shopping for an Annual Cross. For those who dwell in Southern California, that is just about a no brainer, because the decrease tier is cheaper than multi-day tickets to USH. As famous, we’re Common Studios Hollywood Annual Passholders though we dwell a lot nearer to Disneyland and don’t go to USH. (We’ve two totally different tiers for the sake of perks and free parking–a sensible choice for households.)
For those who’re not native of view the AP as overkill, the opposite choice is shopping for discounted multi-day tickets by way of Get Away Right now. To be clear, we don’t suppose USH is a 2-day or 3-day park should you strategize nicely. However should you don’t–or are an enormous Harry Potter or Mario fan–spreading your go to over a number of days is absolutely sensible. Common Studios Hollywood sells each 2-day and 3-day tickets with a reasonably low incremental value (versus single-day tickets). We advocate doing 2-day tickets, quite than 3-day ones.
Three full days is overkill, however we love doing a night one night time adopted by arriving for rope drop on day two and staying all the day. For those who nonetheless haven’t had your fill, get the 3-day ticket and do rope drop once more on day 3 and go away early. Or just do mornings and evenings, skipping the center of the day, and taking the Metro into Los Angeles to keep away from the longest traces through the noon rush at USH.
Spreading issues out over an evening and the next morning makes issues much more nice, and means far much less ready in line. Plus, it offers you an opportunity to expertise each day and night time within the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Tremendous Nintendo World. (Talking of which, enormous Harry Potter followers who need to spend a whole day in Hogsmeade, after which elect to spend a second day doing the remainder of the park. Ditto Mario maniacs and Tremendous Nintendo World.)
For those who’re contemplating doing greater than a few days, take into account an Annual Cross. This principally applies to Californians who may need to revisit later within the 12 months. We’ve the bottom tier (the “Season Cross”) and it value us barely lower than a 2-day ticket. There are blockout dates and this go doesn’t embrace parking, however it has been an excellent worth for us.
You may additionally discover low cost presents on 1-day tickets or Annual Passes at Costco, Ralph’s, Vons, and different California grocers. Sam’s Membership and AAA typically provide reductions on tickets for his or her members, so you’ll want to examine that out should you’re eligible.
When to Go to
Only a few persons are in all probability planning a visit to Los Angeles solely for Common Studios Hollywood. Most of you’re in all probability including on a day as a part of your Disneyland or Southern California trip, so the reply to that is straightforward…everytime you’re coming to California.
On this regard, crowd patterns at Disneyland translate fairly equally to Common Studios Hollywood. The busy season at one is the busy season on the different, and vice-a-versa with gradual seasons. Crowds at each are based totally upon faculty schedules–primarily these of Los Angeles and Orange County, California (however to a lesser diploma, the western United States). You possibly can principally discuss with our When to Go to Disneyland put up to find out when to go to.
As for when to go to California, we’re a fan of the autumn and winter months. Summer season doesn’t get humid like Florida and plenty of different states, however it may be scorching. Extra importantly, that’s when everybody else involves California–that means crowds.
Technique
For those who’re driving to Common Studios Hollywood, add half-hour to no matter Google Maps estimates as your drive time so you’ll be able to arrive earlier than park opening. For those who’re making an attempt to make it out of your Disneyland-area resort to Common Studios Hollywood for rope drop, there’s an inexpensive likelihood you’ll be driving throughout at the least a part of rush hour. Whenever you sit at your laptop and plan this all out at 11 p.m., this site visitors received’t be accounted for.
The plus aspect to leaving early and arriving to USH at rope drop is that few different individuals will do it. Los Angelenos are unfamiliar with the idea of being “on time” because the site visitors gods roughly preclude that. Crowds have a tendency to point out up about 1-2 hours after park opening, and have a tendency to tour the park in a predictable method. If you may get forward of the wave of crowds, you’ll be able to actually come out forward at Common Studios Hollywood.
Upon arrival, right here must be your priorities, so as:
- Tremendous Nintendo World
- Transformers: The Experience 3D
- Jurassic World – The Experience
- Revenge of the Mummy – The Experience
- Reveals
- Studio Tour
- The Simpsons Experience
- Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem
- Secret Lifetime of Pets: Off the Leash
- Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
Okay, a little bit of rationalization for all of that. First, we strongly encourage all however probably the most hardcore Harry Potter followers to skip Ollivanders. It’s principally a pre-show for purchasing wands, and takes helpful time early within the morning. Likewise, Flight of the Hippogriff is a waste of time should you’re over the age of 5.
Your principal aim must be getting all the way down to the Decrease Lot sights (Tremendous Nintendo World, Transformers, Jurassic World, and Revenge of the Mummy) as early as doable. This space of the park, separated by a collection of escalators and stairs, used to begin slower within the morning. Tremendous Nintendo World has modified that, however it is best to nonetheless try and beat the frenzy down there.
Secret Lifetime of Pets, Forbidden Journey, Simpsons, and Despicable Me are the 4 sights which can be going to attract lengthy waits early-on. It’s because they’re the favored rides close to the entrance of the park. For those who can journey these earlier than the “crowd wave”, superior. If not, save them till the tip of the day when traces will taper off.
Truthfully, the above itinerary works about the identical forwards and backwards. You both need to beat the crowds or outlast them. Crowds peak at Common Studios Hollywood within the late morning and early afternoon, and reduce after that. We extremely advocate staying till park closing after which doing dinner afterwards in CityWalk.
With that strategy, not solely will you expertise decrease crowd ranges on the finish of the night, however you’re additionally much less more likely to be caught in site visitors within the car parking zone that’s the Hollywood Freeway throughout rush hour. Park opening and shutting instances range based mostly on season, however it’s at all times our aim to not go away USH till after 8 pm. Any time earlier than that may be a recipe to be caught in site visitors on the 101.
For those who’re keen to make use of it, Single Rider will save a ton of time throughout busier instances. Single Rider is offered on the following sights:
- Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
- Jurassic World – The Experience
- Revenge of the Mummy – The Experience
- Transformers: The Experience 3D
Whereas we like (and advocate) doing the entire exhibits, the largest can’t miss at Common Studios Hollywood is the Studio Tour. Don’t confuse its placement on the itinerary above because it being of low significance. It’s the must-do at USH. (We solely place it later within the day as traces are inclined to get shorter later within the day.) Don’t miss it.
For those who’re visiting throughout a season when the Nighttime Studio Tour is being provided, we extremely advocate doing each the common Studio Tour and the Nighttime model. Each journey on the Studio Tour is totally different, however night time brings a brand new ingredient to the attraction.
Critically, we can not stress it sufficient: do the Studio Tour. That is the defining attraction of Common Studios Hollywood, and the one factor we make some extent of doing every time we go to. (Simply don’t get your hopes up in regards to the Quick and the Livid sequence…it has extra cheesiness than the flicks, however with out the redeeming appeal and coronary heart.)
Specific Cross Line-Skipping
Specific Cross is Common Studios Hollywood’s “Entrance of Line” entry, which is like Lightning Lanes at Disneyland, besides that Specific Cross prices much more cash. Specific Cross costs begin at +$100 the price of single day tickets and enhance in value relying upon the season (the busier it’s, the extra you pay).
We’re not proponents of buying Specific Cross until you’re going through the top of vacationer season (suppose summer season, spring break, or any nationwide holidays), and even then, we’d advocate benefiting from Common Studios Hollywood’s Single Rider traces or arriving at park opening and using an environment friendly park touring technique just like the one above.
For those who comply with our plan above, Specific Cross is simply not vital the overwhelming majority of the time. Possibly it could be on like the ten busiest days of the 12 months, however we’ve by no means had a difficulty doing all the things in USH throughout a single day with out Specific Cross.
The place to Keep
There are a selection of variables that play into this. First, are you visiting Common Studios Hollywood as a day-trip from Disneyland? Is the go to a part of a Southern California trip? A California highway journey? Let’s tackle every of those…
Disneyland Day Journey – Stick with your resort in Anaheim and simply drive there and again. Visitors apart, that is fairly easy. Common doesn’t open on the morning time, so that you’ll have an inexpensive quantity of transit time whereas nonetheless with the ability to make park opening.
Southern California Trip – For those who’re doing this and don’t thoughts altering lodges as soon as–which is what we advocate–we’d recommend doing (at the least) a break up keep, having a resort in Orange County/Anaheim for the Disneyland, seaside, and no matter else within the O.C. portion of your journey, after which a separate resort in Los Angeles or close to Common Studios Hollywood.
California Highway Journey – For those who’re doing a highway journey down/up the state (let’s say flying into San Diego and flying out of San Francisco with a one-way automobile rental), we’d advocate Common Studios Hollywood being what you do in your final day within the Los Angeles space earlier than heading north.
The night time earlier than, keep in L.A., however the night time after, drive as much as Santa Barbara. It’s somewhat over an hour drive, however getting again to your (a lot nearer, distance-wise) resort in L.A. might take simply as lengthy that night time. Staying in Santa Barbara will get you away from town and ready to get pleasure from dawn over the ocean the following morning with out having to combat site visitors to move north.
In the case of particular lodges close to USH, we just like the Garland and Sheraton Common Resort. Each are actually near the park, with the Sheraton being a brief stroll and the Garland being a brief (free!) shuttle journey. You’ll additionally discover the Hilton Los Angeles/Common Metropolis “on-site” at Common Studios Hollywood.
There’s additionally a Metro Pink Line station at Common Studios Hollywood, making something alongside the Pink Line tremendous handy to the park, together with choices in Downtown LA. Reasonably than going for a bland chain, you may take into account one thing eclectic or with old-Hollywood appeal, just like the Safari Inn.
When reserving in Los Angeles, be aware of neighborhoods, parking expenses, and resort charges. For those who discover a “too good to be true” worth, it in all probability is. In case you are selecting a resort particularly for USH, we advocate trying north of downtown Los Angeles. Burbank and Glendale could be higher choices than Hollywood/Los Angeles. Neighborhoods like North Hollywood, Hollywood Hills, and Los Feliz are additionally sensible picks.
To economize, try the Common Studios Hollywood resort + ticket packages provided by way of Get Away Right now. They’ve a number of lodges from which to decide on, however our high decide is certainly the Garland. It’s an excellent resort-style property with a ton of character, nice rooms, and posh facilities. The Sheraton can be stylish and good, however it’s the form of resort you would discover anyplace.
Transportation
There are not any two methods about this: driving in Los Angeles sucks. And, should you’re visiting Common Studios Hollywood, there’s likelihood you’ll drive by means of L.A. to get there. Nonetheless, that doesn’t should be the case!
As famous above, there’s a Metro Pink Line station situated at Common Metropolis, which is a brief stroll from each the park itself and CityWalk. The Metro Pink Line is a subway working between Downtown Los Angeles and North Hollywood, with stops in or close to the Civic Middle, Monetary District, Wilshire Boulevard, Hollywood & Sundown Boulevards, Koreatown, and the San Fernando Valley.
Even should you’re staying in Orange County close to Disneyland, you may get to Common Studios Hollywood with out driving. Merely take the Pacific Surfliner from Anaheim to Union Station in Los Angeles, the place you’ll be able to then catch the Metro. We solely advocate this for probably the most traffic-averse, as it’s a little bit of a trouble.
Most individuals will need to drive themselves from Disneyland to Common Studios Hollywood. There aren’t any good shuttles, Uber is simply too expensive, and public transit could be convoluted and inefficient. Sadly, site visitors could be unhealthy too, and shouldn’t be underestimated. Plan on at the least an hour, and doubtlessly nearer to 2 relying upon site visitors.
For probably the most half, should you’re visiting California and plan to go anyplace off Disneyland property, you’ll need to lease a automobile. Visitors could be intimidating, however should you drive between the hours of 10 am and three pm or 9 pm and seven am, you’ll be completely high-quality. We’ve achieved quite a lot of one-day leases from rental automobile businesses inside strolling distance of Disneyland, after which have simply achieved after-hours drop-offs.
Eating
When you journey the flicks proper into the reward store and purchase the flicks along with your American Specific–official bank card of the Leisure Capital of L.A.–it’s time to dine (at?) the flicks.
For those who’re high-quality with counter service eating, Common Studios Hollywood has a number of strong choices contained in the park. As an entire, I don’t suppose the culinary expertise is on par with Disneyland’s, however the highlights are greater than serviceable. The perfect choices, in my thoughts, are the counter service eating places within the Wizarding World of Harry Potter (Three Broomsticks) and the Simpsons eating places in Springfield.
The meals at Three Broomsticks is expensive, however it’s near-table service high quality. The Simpsons meals is usually responsible pleasure stuff, however the burgers and waffle rooster sandwich are glorious. Don’t knock them till you’ve tried ’em!
Then there are the snacks. Common Hollywood’s snack sport is sturdy. Holy cow. Clearly, you’re going to need to attempt Butterbeer–maybe all three varieties.
At Three Broomsticks, snacks deserving of your consideration are the potted cream and sticky toffee cake. Each are extremely scrumptious, and though it is best to share them, you in all probability received’t need to.
Then there are the donuts the dimensions of your head in Springfield, deserving of one other holy cow. There are some attention-grabbing varieties, however these must be break up. After consuming the maple bacon one just about on my own, my tooth harm.
One factor you may need to take into account is buying a refillable Coke Freestyle mug. Relies upon upon whether or not you need quite a lot of Coke or the memento mug. Coke Freestyle machines situated all through the park’s eating places, and regular drink purchases in eating places should not entitled to refills. In contrast to in Florida, there is no such thing as a Common Eating Plan at USH.
Seasonal Occasions
Common Studios Hollywood doesn’t do a lot in the best way of seasonal occasions. The most important exception to that is Halloween Horror Nights, which you may make an effort to see or to keep away from, relying upon your perspective. It is a arduous ticket occasion wherein you step onto the set of a few of your favourite horror films, and strolling by means of these units as actors try and scare you. This occasion isn’t for kids underneath the age of 13, and is certainly grownup in tone.
Halloween Horror Nights are an enormous draw for Common they usually positively appeal to an grownup crowd. When you have no younger children and like horror films, you’ll in all probability get pleasure from this occasion and discover it value the price of the ticket. When you have a youthful household, you’ll need to keep away from it. For those who’re touring through the months of September and October, be aware of the Halloween Horror Nights schedule.
Christmas is well known with decorations, Christmas within the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Grinchmas leisure, however there’s nothing that requires advance-planning or round which it is best to schedule. Simply present up and tour the park principally as regular. It’s really quite a lot of festive enjoyable!
I feel that is in all probability covers nearly all the things most individuals might want to know when planning a go to to Common Studios Hollywood as an add-on to your Disneyland or Southern California trip. The most important factor to know–which might be apparent from this information–is that Common Studios Hollywood is considerably totally different from Common Orlando Resort.
Nonetheless, fewer sights and just one park doesn’t essentially imply it’s a pale imitator or inferior substitute. Very similar to Disneyland is smaller than Walt Disney World however presents a wonderful, albeit totally different expertise, so too does Common Studios Hollywood. And a part of that is as a result of of its hybrid nature, not despite it. We completely love USH, and can’t wait to proceed watching it evolve!
Planning a Southern California trip? For park admission offers, learn Ideas for Saving Cash on Disneyland Tickets. Study on-site and off-site lodges in our Anaheim Resort Evaluations & Rankings. For the place to eat, try our Disneyland Restaurant Evaluations. For distinctive concepts of issues that’ll enhance your journey, try What to Pack for Disney. For complete recommendation, seek the advice of our Disneyland Trip Planning Information. Lastly, for guides past Disney, try our Southern California Itineraries for day journeys to Los Angeles, Laguna Seashore, and plenty of different SoCal cities!
Your Ideas
Are you contemplating visiting Common Studios Hollywood? In case you are a USH veteran, are you able to fill in any of the ‘gaps’ right here or add suggestions of your personal? For those who’re a first-timer, is there the rest you’d wish to know? Chances are high in case you have questions nonetheless, so does another person! Please share your ideas within the feedback under.
