Universal Studios Hollywood Guide 2026: Nintendo World

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Hi everyone, I'm Ongsang!

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If you could only visit one theme park during your trip to LA,

are you torn between Universal Studios and Disneyland?

I've visited Universal Studios Hollywood

three times now.

If you have a long trip, I’d highly recommend doing both. But

if you're short on time,

I'd definitely recommend Universal Studios Hollywood.

It's just a quick Uber ride from Downtown LA,

so there's no need to book a separate hotel nearby.

Plus, as the very first Universal Studios park

in the world, it holds a truly iconic status.

Seven years ago, when I visited LA with a friend during the autumn holidays,

we bought our tickets directly from a UCLA campus booth

because it was the cheapest option back then.

lolllll

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But nowadays, buying online is by far the cheapest way!

As a three-time visitor, here are my insider tips,

including how to grab the cheapest tickets. Let’s dive in!

Buying at the gate is a guaranteed rip-off.

Buying online is a must,

but prices vary across different platforms,

so it's best to compare them beforehand.

I compared the official website, Klook, and MyRealTrip

for the exact same date.

Clicking on the provider's name will take you directly to their site.

They also sell "Buy 1 Day, Get the 2nd Day Free" tickets,

but since the park is much smaller than Universal Studios Japan or Disneyland,

if you have an Express Pass,

one day is more than enough!

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The MyRealTrip price has a 5% discount code applied,

and it's the price with the code applied.

If you stack an additional credit card discount on top,

it becomes the absolute cheapest option.

I also used a KB Kookmin Card discount

for a ~$19 discount on MyRealTrip.

Go to MyRealTrip

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Go to Klook

To give you the short answer,

if you're going on a weekday, you don't really need it.

But what if it's the weekend?

If you are visiting during weekends or peak season,

that is a completely different story.

I once visited on a weekend in June,

and I bought the Express Pass for that trip.

The regular standby line for Mario Kart was about 120 minutes back then,

but the Express line took only about 15 minutes.

Walking past the people

who had been waiting for hours in the regular line,

I felt a tiny bit guilty... but oh, the sweet taste of capitalism! 😂

I genuinely thought to myself at that moment,

"I need to work hard and make more money."

Since it was June, the daytime heat was intense,

but we managed to ride everything while taking plenty of breaks.

Thanks to the Express Pass, I was able to

save so, so much time!

When I visited 7 years ago, I used the Single Rider line

just like an Express Pass,

but now, even the Single Rider lines are incredibly long.

There are a few different types

of Express Passes.

Honestly, the standard Express Pass is more than enough!

I arrived right at opening time

and headed straight to Super Nintendo World as soon as I entered.

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As soon as the gates open, the biggest crowds immediately rush

to Super Nintendo World and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Even though I got there right at opening,

it was already incredibly crowded!

But I still managed to explore every nook and cranny

before heading over to Harry Potter!

Universal Studios Hollywood is located

high up on a hill, so the views are absolutely stunning.

It’s easily the crown jewel of the park right now.

The moment you step into Super Nintendo World,

you literally feel like you've been transported inside the game screen.

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From the nostalgic background music to every single structure,

the Mario universe is brought to life so perfectly

that you'll find yourself completely immersed without needing any explanation!

This didn't exist when I last visited 7 years ago,

so it was incredibly mind-blowing to see.

The game I used to play as a kid was right before my eyes..!

Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge

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You ride it while wearing an AR headset,

and the way the virtual screen blends with the actual physical track feels so fresh.

The queue itself takes you through Bowser's Castle,

making the wait much less boring than usual.

Maybe because I rushed here at opening and still had to wait quite a bit,

it fell just a tiny bit short of my high expectations.

Power-Up Band

You can buy these separately at the kiosks

inside Super Nintendo World.

It lets you interact with different elements around the land

and complete mini-missions, which is super engaging—

especially if you're visiting with kids!

I ended up skipping it and regretted it a little.

Next time I go, I'll definitely buy a Power-Up Band

first thing so I can get the full experience.

Souvenir Shop & Food

They sell Mario-themed food at Toadstool Cafe,

and while it's typical theme park pricing,

it's totally worth it for the adorable photos!

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The World-Famous Studio Tour

You ride a tram and tour actual filming backlots,

and the special effects and live action setups along the way are incredible.

I've done this tour on all three of my visits,

and honestly, not much has changed each time, haha! 😂

On my very first visit, I was so jet-lagged

that I ended up sleeping through more than half of it lol.

On my second visit, without an Express Pass,

I was exhausted after waiting for about three hours,

but I still had a blast watching it like it was my first time.

Since it's a signature experience exclusive to

Universal Studios Hollywood,

I highly recommend it, especially to movie buffs.

Personally, I love "War of the Worlds,"

so that particular set piece still feels incredibly vivid in my mind.

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey

Just walking inside Hogwarts Castle was an amazing experience in itself.

To be honest, the props and the overall atmosphere inside the castle were even more impressive than the ride itself!

I actually got chosen at Ollivanders wand shop...

and got to perform some magic in front of everyone! haha

Butterbeer comes in both hot

and cold versions, so pick one depending on the weather.

I end up getting Butterbeer every single time I visit,

and even though it's not quite my style,

there's some kind of magic that makes me buy it every time.

Jurassic World

It's a water ride, so you will get soaked!

I was seriously just going "Wow! Wow!" the entire time.

Jurassic World was an absolute blast!

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Springfield

Since I used to play The Simpsons: Tapped Out mobile game for ages,

exploring Springfield was so much fun for me!

I even tried Duff Beer! haha

The Lard Lad Donuts were way too massive for me to even attempt.

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Heading to Super Nintendo World?

Your best bet is to go first thing in the morning!

As the afternoon rolls in, the lines get more than twice as long.

Make sure to download the official Universal Studios app beforehand.

It has real-time wait times, show schedules, and a park map,

which is incredibly useful for adjusting your route on the fly.

I highly recommend packing some water and snacks.

Food inside the theme park is ridiculously expensive.

You are allowed to bring in unopened water bottles and small snacks like chips or energy bars.

Note: Outside meals or lunch boxes are not allowed.

If you are driving,

make sure to snap a photo of your parking zone and level.

After walking all day long, you will not remember where you parked!

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Even after visiting three times, the highlight for me is still

Super Nintendo World, without a doubt.

If you hit Universal Studios Hollywood

right at opening time, start with Super Nintendo World,

and cover the Studio Tour and Harry Potter,

you'll feel like you made the absolute most of your day—

but you'll also be completely exhausted! haha.

If it's your first time visiting LA,

I would personally recommend Universal Studios

over Disneyland.

It's much easier to get to, and since you can fully enjoy it

in just one day,

it makes planning your travel itinerary so much simpler.

Even if I go again in the future, I'll definitely save up

to buy the Express Pass again. It's totally worth it.

I haven't been to Universal Studios in other countries yet,

but I think it would be so much fun to visit them someday and compare!

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