Best Things to do at Universal Studios

Best things to do at Universal Studios Hollywood 

Universal Studios Hollywood is a popular amusement park with many rides, attractions, and restaurants. Many attractions you might know of are Jurassic Park: The Ride, and The Revenge of the Mummy Ride. Because these rides are absolutely thrilling and exciting, many people miss out on other underrated rides. Most people tend to go for the overrated rides that are highly promoted on social media. 

One of these examples is Mario Kart: Browser’s Challenge. It is quite interactive, and features an appealing visual appearance, but is not worth the usual 2 hour wait. This ride is very short and has breakdowns often, sometimes causing malfunctions throughout the experience. If you’re looking for an attraction that isn’t boring and has a wait that seems like forever, here are some completely underrated, adrenaline pumping rides and delicious restaurants.

                                                                        Rides  

             Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey (simulation coaster)

The Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride is a must if you’re visiting Universal Studios. This ride takes you on a dark, mysterious journey. The attraction is located inside Hogwarts Castle, and features multiple unexpected heart-stopping drops. This ride is perfect for visitors who prefer a fun and long ride without the usual wild twists, turns, and plummets a normal roller coaster would have.

                             Revenge of the Mummy (roller coaster)

This indoor coaster makes many scream in terror as soon as the ride starts. This ride is highly recommended for people with a passion for roller coasters. The Revenge of The Mummy is located in a dark ‘pyramid’ and has many many sharp turns. This coaster involves fireballs and many special effects. These features may be exciting, but most visitors come for the thrilling reverse in the middle of the ride. The coaster spins you around, so that you cannot see anything behind you while it launches you backwards. At the end of the ride, you can pick up photos that catch you and your companions' reactions.

                                    Studio Tour (3D experience tour)

The studio tour is a great way to take a look around the park, and learn about Universal Studio’s history. Here, you’re taken on a tram with a tour guide through famous film sets such as the courthouse square and multiple tunnels. You are provided 3D glasses. In some tunnels, there are 3D screens. These 3D screens feature short films like the King Kong 360. This immersive experience shakes the tram around as a 360 screen plays a video of King Kong fighting V-rex dinosaurs. It makes you feel as if you’re in a tram dangling on giant vines as King Kong tears through the jungle atmosphere. Another 3D experience on the tram is in Jaws 360. In this experience, your tram is ‘floating’ in a pond, when a shark suddenly appears from under the water. In this part of the tour, special effects like flamethrowers and water sprinklers are featured. The full studio tour is about 45-60 minutes long. The wait is about 30 minutes to 1 hour and 30 minutes, depending on how many trams are functioning.

                                The Simpsons Ride (simulation coaster)

Many people miss this ride when visiting Universal Hollywood, which is a huge mistake. In this simulation, you are led onto a boat/car in Krustyland. You’re then taken on a chaotic journey with the Simpsons. Once the ride starts, the villainous Sideshow Bob, hijacks your boat/car and attempts to crash the ride. The Simpsons try to stop him repeatedly. This chaotic ride is in 3D/4D, and surprisingly, doesn’t move much at all except for spinning and turning. This attraction is a great way to enjoy a good ride without a long wait.

                             The Jurassic Park Ride (aquatic coaster)

Last but not least, this dinosaur-themed ride is an awesome attraction for the Jurassic Park movie fans, and people who just want to enjoy a nice water ride with a huge splash. This water ride takes you on a journey through a river to Jurassic Park. As you slowly ascend, the story plot unfolds. In the ride, a Tyrannosaurus rex has escaped from its enclosure, and is attacking your boat. You then plummet into a lake, soaking you and your party, and you ‘escape’ from the T-rex. (Raincoats or ponchos are highly recommended if you don’t want to get soaked.)

                                                        Food 

                                                 Toadstool Cafe 

The Toadstool Cafe, located in the SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, has many fun themed foods. One of their menu must-tries is the Princess Peach’s Cupcake. This dessert is a pastel yellow, fluffy cake filled with raspberries. It also has whipped cream and a variety of fruits on top. Another must-try is the Fire Flower Spaghetti and Meatballs with the Super Star Lemon Squash drink. The Fire Flower Spaghetti has the perfect amount of marinara sauce, and is slightly spicy and sweet. They also add freshly shaved parmesan cheese, and 3 of their housemade meatballs. The Super Star Lemon Squash is a honey-lemon flavoured sparkling soda with tropical popping boba and mango jelly. Not only does this restaurant have delicious food, but their atmosphere has a lot of bright and colorful decorations.

                                Toothsome Chocolate Emporium 

Toothsome is one of the best dinner places at Universal Hollywood. They have steaks, soup, and their mouth-watering seafood and burgers. Their warm chocolate almond bread served with salted caramel butter, is a must-try, and is one of their signature dishes. Their top milkshakes are their Brownie or Red Velvet Milkshake. Their signature Beef Filet Mignon is super juicy and tender. The very popular ‘That’s Mint’ milkshake is visually appealing and is worth the whole trip to the amusement park. Toothsome’s macarons are crisp and delicate on the shell and so creamy on the inside. Their prices are considered cheap for the massive portions, too. This food place is very recommended for a quick, but memorable dinner and dessert.

                                                  Power Up Cafe 

Located in SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, Power Up Cafe has some of the best drinks in all of Universal Studios. The menu includes the cafe’s well known speciality drinks, 1 up Mushroom Fizz, Fire Flower Fizz, and Super Star Fizz. The 1 Up Mushroom Fizz is a lemon-lime soda, with green apple popping boba. It also comes with a 3D printed lime-shaped sugar into the drink, the drink sparkles, it also changes the color and the flavor! The Fire Flower Fizz is very recommended. Its orange popping boba, and mango aroma is absolutely worth trying. It also comes with a power up, that does the exact same thing as the 1 Up Mushroom Fizz! The Super Star Fizz is a lemon-lime flavored soda as well, with lemon popping boba. The power up is a mango and pineapple sugar cube. This cafe is a perfect place to re-hydrate, and enjoy a nice bubbly soda. 

Written by: Joanna Yu

Edited by: Jaslynn Thai 

Edited 2 by: Kaylee Ecarma

Art by: Joanna Yu