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As far as hopeless romantics go, I can admit that I’m a bit unorthodox.
Sure, like most others, I have entertained the idea of marrying Ryan Gosling and yes naturally, I’m a sucker for roses and candlelit meals… but the truth is, there’s a big part of me that would much rather put on my Ravenclaw scarf and just demand a date at Hogwarts.
So I guess you can say boyfriend done right when he actually took me.
Or I mean, the next best thing: Universal Studios Hollywood, where you can find the magical Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
Last month, I had probably the best date in my whole entire life… all within the walls of a cheesy amusement park. And I know you might think that theme parks are exclusively for kids, parents with kids or maybe groups of friends who haven’t gotten the memo about adulting, but I assure you: Universal Studios Hollywood is the perfect destination for couples. Read on for a guide on how to plan the ultimate romantic getaway to Universal Studios Hollywood!
Universal Studios Hollywood: the Basics
Where to stay: The park is super centrally located in LA, so you don’t necessarily need to stay at one of the nearby hotels (there’s a Hilton and Sheraton on-site). Staying anywhere in Hollywood will place you close to the park. As long as you have access to the Metro (the park is at the Universal City station) or a car, then you’ll be fine.
When to go: Of course, as a couple, minimizing the number of screaming children around is a must. You’ll want to avoid peak times like weekends and holidays (especially when the kids are off school).
What to wear/bring: Opt for comfy clothes and shoes that you wouldn’t mind getting wet! A waterproof daybag is a must, and remember to pack for some layers since it can get chilly at night.
Universal Studios Hollywood: a Park Overview
The park is huge, but doable in a day if you plan correctly! Here’s a quick overview of the different sections you can look forward to.
The Upper Lot
Roam around Super Silly Funland (from Despicable Me), enjoy a beer at Moe’s Tavern or try your luck at being zombie bait in the Walking Dead attraction. The Upper Lot is home to some of the park’s lower impact rides like the Simpsons Ride, the Despicable Me Minion Mayhem and the Shrek 4D experience. AKA for scaredy cats like me! This is also where you’ll find a lot of gift shops, restaurants and shows… plus the park’s recreation of Springfield (from the Simpson’s), and yes, it’s pretty amazing.
The Lower Lot
The Lower Lot is where thrill junkies get their fix. Famous rides like the Revenge of the Mummy, Jurassic Park and Transformers can be found here. To arrive at this adrenaline haven, you’ll be relying on a series of suuuuper long escalators called the Starway which can take 5-10 minutes to traverse depending on how busy it is. For this reason, aim to do all the Lower Lot rides at once, to avoid going back and forth.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
The newest park attraction and by far my favourite! Arrive early to avoid disappointment. Here, you can walk through real-life Hogsmeade, with wonderful gift shops like Honeydukes and Ollivanders, grab a bite to eat at the Three Broomsticks, or of course, go for a ride on The Flight of the Hippogriff. The ultimate star of this section is the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride, which is honestly the most mindblowing ride I’ve ever been on in my entire life. I smiled like a crazed child and went 3 times. A must do!
The shows
You’ll be given a schedule of the day’s shows upon entering the park, so be sure to strategically pick which ones you’ll want to attend. The Waterworld stunt show is a classic, but the Special Effects Show and Animal Actors show are really fun to watch as well.
The Studio Tour
The studio tour is by far one of the best (and most famous) attractions in the entire park. Tours last about an hour, and are available in English, Spanish and Mandarin. During this hour magic ride of happiness, you’ll be taken through the famous Universal Studios backlot on a multi-car tram, where you’ll get to see famous sets, props and lots of cool surprises along the way. Prioritize this attraction because it’s a must!
Meeting characters
If cheesy photo opps are your thing (which, let’s be honest, of course they are), be on the lookout for different characters who will be roaming around the park. These include the minions, the Simpsons, Scooby Doo, Spongebob, Shrek and many more.
Universal Studios Hollywood: Tips for Couples
- Buy your tickets in advance (online) and get the fast passes.
One of the biggest dampers on the day would be waiting forever in line just to get in. Avoid this by planning ahead and getting your tickets in advance online! You can browse the different ticket options on the Universal Studios website.
Now, one of the big questions when it comes to Universal Studios Hollywood is: are the fast passes worth it? And while I acknowledge that they’re rather pricey, they did genuinely save us hours of waiting in line, and I can’t imagine how our day would have gone without them. We were able to basically walk right into most rides (with no more than a 10 minute wait on any attraction). If you’re on a time crunch (e.g. working with only a day at the park), then this pass will be an absolute lifesaver.
2. Make a game plan.
I’m not going to lie, Universal Studios provides fertile ground for explosive arguments. There’s long line-ups, screaming children and in the summer, searing heat. Without a game plan laid out for the day, it’s likely that you’ll miss something you wanted to do/see, or spend more time arguing than doing anything else.
I suggest mapping out your day according to which shows you want to see. Because these shows occur at set times throughout the day, they’re the least flexible part of your itinerary, so pick the ones you want and go from there. You’ll receive a schedule of the day’s events when you enter the park.
Next, it’s a good idea to be strategic about which attractions you do first. If you arrive shortly before the park opens, you’ll have free reign to the lowest wait times you’ll receive during the entire day, so if big time attractions like the Wizarding World of Harry Potter are high on your list, be sure to do that first. It would also be smart to do the park section by section as some bits (especially the Lower Lot) take a while to get to. Bouncing back and forth between sections will lose you a significant chunk of time.
3. Be ready to compromise.
The thing about ensuring this day is special for you both is to compromise. For instance, my boyfriend is a major Walking Dead fanboy, so of course he wanted a go at the immersive walk-through experience, where zombies pop out from dark corners with the goal of making you pee your pants. Now, did I want to be ushered through a literal death maze filled with flaming zombies and regret? No, no I did not. I mean… I cried once on the ferris wheel, so clearly I’m not built for fear. BUT, did I still do it? Yes, because apparently I hate myself. My eyes were firmly shut the whole time, with my boyfriend guiding/shielding me the entire way, and somehow I still found a way to scream my head off (even though I saw nothing but literal blackness).
So looong story short, be ready to make compromises to ensure you both have the best day possible.
4. Be unashamedly enthusiastic! And encourage your partner to do the same.
The worst thing you can bring with you is a “meh” attitude. There’s no better place to embrace your inner fanboy/girl than here, so dive headfirst into your childish enthusiasm! Nobody likes travelling with a buzzkill, so if your significant other is freaking out at the sight of something, play along (aka fake it til you make it), even if it means taking embarrassingly cheesy photos every second.
In sum – if you’re considering a romantic holiday to LA, then Universal Studios has to be on your list! Now grab your wizard robes and go wild.
I was a guest of Universal Studios Hollywood but all tips and opinions are my own!
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog says
The last photo is adorable! 😀 I wish wish wish I could visit Universal Studios in Hollywood. I’ve only been to the one in Singapore and it wasn’t enough!
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
https://charmainenyw.com
Christina Guan says
Thanks Charmaine!! Hehe I wonder what the differences are between the one in Hollywood and in Singapore… either way, I hope you make it to LA soon to see for yourself!
Birthe (from Wandering the World) says
Great guide to Universal Studios Hollywood! We went there in August and as we’re from Belgium, we probably won’t be heading there again soon, but I still enjoyed reading your guide. It kind of took me back there. 😉
I guess the Studio Tour was our highlight, it was a really cool experience! We loved The Wizarding World of Harry Potter as well (duhuh) and those 3D rides are awesome too. You feel like your in a normal rollercoaster ride, it’s really impressive!
Christina Guan says
Thanks, Birthe!! Sometimes it’s nice to revisit a spot through someone else’s photos and words hehe. I agree that the tour was one of the best bits! I can never resist visiting movie sets so that part was sooo neat.
Jean says
Love it! We’re not the conventional romantics either. I’d gladly go on an adventure with Harry Potter. Some times it’s so much fun to relax and embrace your inner child
Christina Guan says
Oh, totally! so glad you agree 🙂 thanks for reading, Jean!
Lauren West says
Touristy as it is, we always love to visit Universal Studios when we’re home in LA! It looks even more fun now that the Harry Potter bit is open. We’ve never visited as a couple, though, only with friends. Thanks for the inspiration!
Christina Guan says
I don’t blame you! I’d have an annual pass for SURE if I lived in LA haha. The HP bit is awesome so I hope you get to go again soon!
Jessica Nemire says
Nice cheeky rainbow in the corner of the first pic! Helpful step-by-step guide. Nice job!
Christina Guan says
Haha great attention to detail, Jessica! Thanks for reading 🙂
Erica says
Very informative guide! I can’t wait to get to the Wizarding world of Harry Potter one day! …I also dream of marring Ryan Gosling 😉 But who doesn’t?!
Christina Guan says
Thanks for reading, Erica!! and yes that’s so true haha. I guess we can all share him… in our dreams 😀
Maggie says
What a fun date! I live 45 minutes from Universal Studios but have only been once. I’d love to go back and see the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and the Minions.
Christina Guan says
Haha it’s always that way hey? We tend to never visit the attractions closest to us, yet will happily board a plane to see things that are thousands of miles away. I’d say a visit is worth it for Harry Potter alone, but I’ll let you decide 😉
ADAM DOOLITTLE says
A very informative post! I’ve been to Universal in Florida but never Hollywood. I would love to get there. I’m not a Harry Potter nut like many, but appreciate the movies and the Wizarding World looks fabulous. One day!
Christina Guan says
Ah cool!! I wonder how the one in Orlando compares. I’ve heard it’s bigger? Anyways, the one in LA was awesome and I’d highly recommend it!
Kreete says
Gosh! That sounds like a great way to spend a day! I am a massive Walking Dead fan too, I would love to go on the walk through attraction with zombies coming at me. I am a scaredy cat too so it might be scary haha! Getting a fast pass is a great idea! I have always been waiting in lines for attractions and next time I go to a theme park, I will definitely get them. Thanks for sharing your amazing date with us!
Christina Guan says
lol there were literally zombies on fire in there! as a fellow scaredy cat, I wouldn’t recommend it alone, but hey if you bring a bodyguard maybe you’ll be okay 😉
Jen Morrow says
How fun and geeky! I have not been to Universal Studios in decades, I really need to get back out there.
Christina Guan says
Yeah it’s awesome! and the new additions are super cool too 🙂 hope you head back soon.
Sonia says
I would love to go here too! You look so happy with the minions!
Do you also like Disneyland as much?
Christina Guan says
Yes I love Disneyland! I’ve been to the one in Paris twice (last year to celebrate my birthday actually) and to the one in California when I was younger. Would really like to see Disneyworld in Orlando someday. I’m a huge Disney nerd.
AlicevstheWorld says
I’m desperate to visit Universal Studios Hollywood, I’m so jealous! What a great place for a date.
Christina Guan says
yesss it’s so much fun!! thanks for reading and I hope you get to visit really soon <3
Clazz - An Orcadian Abroad says
Pffft, even Disneyland isn’t just for kids! 😉
I didn’t even realise HP World was in the LA one, that Walking Dead feature looks really cool too! I went to Universal in Florida a couple of years ago and it was so amazing! They had just opened the Diagon Alley section so it was perfect timing. 😀 You’ll definitely have to get there some time!
Christina Guan says
Haha dude Disneyland is my favourite, so definitely not just for kids 😉 Disneyland Paris is where I spent my 22nd birthday haha. I think both the Universal Studios in the US have HP World now, but the one in Orlando opened first. I wanna go there for sure!! And see Disneyworld too. I’ve never been, and it looks incredible.