There is a predictable pattern of guest movement at Universal Studios Hollywood^SM. Knowing what that is can help you to hit the rides and attractions at the right times to drastically reduce your wait time and maximize your time in the park.

If you and your family are a huge Harry Potter fans and are most excited about visiting The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™, but also want to visit the whole park, here is our best advice: Get to the park before park opening. Go straight to Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey™ at the back of the Wizarding World. Do not stop and enjoy the Wizarding World in the morning. Put those wands away and save them for the afternoon. Save the perusing and shopping and enjoying all details for the afternoon when the ride times are high. It’s hard, we know. You have waited so long for this, but your patience will pay off. Your goal is to get on the ride for the shortest wait time and then make your way to the Lower Lot attractions right away for their incredibly short morning wait times (this can shave over three hours off of waiting compared to long afternoon wait times in the Lower Lot). Do everything in the Lower Lot you want to do in one trip before coming back up to save travel time or multiple journeys on the StarWay.

In terms of shows, Universal Studios Hollywood^SM does not publish the show times in advance, so be sure to grab a map and show times guide when you enter the park. You can also find show times (and wait times) on the digital directories around the park. Generally the shows begin in the afternoon and have multiple showings running into the evening, so if you can focus on getting on as many rides as possible in the morning, you can insert the shows you want to see in the afternoon as they fit into your schedule. Your show order may vary based on available times.

Other factors that can reduce your wait times include Universal Express, Child Switch (so adults can take turns riding without waiting twice) and Single Rider Lines.

Attractions with Single Rider Lines

• Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey™ (it does not take you on the full castle tour)
• Jurassic Park® - The Ride
• Revenge of the Mummy - The Ride
• Transformers™: The Ride 3D

Universal Studios Hollywood 1-Day Park Plan

1. Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey™
2. Transformers™: The Ride 3D
3. Revenge of the Mummy - The Ride
4. Jurassic Park® - The Ride
5. Despicable Me Minion Mayhem
6. Super Silly Fun Land (bring swimsuits for water play if you have small children)
7. Have lunch (We highly recommend The Three Broomsticks) in The Wizarding World)
8. Studio Tour
9. Universal's Animal Actors
10. Return to The Wizarding World for shopping and shows
11. Ollivanders™
12. Flight of the Hippogriff™
13. Special Effects Show
14. Shrek 4-D™
15. The Walking Dead Attraction
16. WaterWorld®
17. Have dinner in the park or at Universal CityWalk

More Los Angeles Theme Park Plans:

Disneyland® Resort:

Universal Studios Hollywood Resort: