Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
entryway, accompanied by new parking structures. Inside the park, several new at-
tractions are proposed for the Upper Lot, and three additional points of interest will
be installed along the tram tour. And all of that is in addition to a West Coast annex of
thewildly popularWizarding WorldofHarryPotter foundatOrlando'sIslandsofAd-
venture park. At press time, official details—including what rides might be included
or an opening date—are scarcer than muggles in Hogsmeade. But you can count on a
clone of the fantastic Forbidden Journey dark ride, plus opportunities to go broke on
exclusive merchandise and food, such as wands and delicious Butterbeer. Our crys-
tal balls point to Hogwarts Castle opening in 2015 or 2016, but look for construction
walls to go up before long. To accommodate all this activity, some old friends will
say farewell; the disused Wild West arena has already been transformed into a mul-
tipurpose plaza, and the Special Effects Stage,
WaterWorld
show, and Gibson Amphi-
theatre are on the chopping block.
The park offers all standard services and amenities, including stroller and wheel-
chair rental, lockers, diaper-changing and nursing facilities, car assistance, and
foreign-language assistance. Most of the park is accessible to disabled guests, and
TDDs are available for the hearing impaired. Almost all services are in the Upper Lot,
just inside the main entrance.
GATHERING INFORMATION
THE MAIN UNIVERSAL STUDIOS
information number is 818-622-3801. Calling this
number, however, often results in up to 20 minutes of holding time or about 7 minutes
on hold followed by a disconnect. To short-circuit the operating-hours litany, dial 3.
If you have problems, try calling 818-622-3735 or 818-622-3750. Universal Stu-
dios' website,
universalstudioshollywood.com
,
is easy to navigate.
WHAT MAKES UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOLLYWOOD DIFFERENT
WHAT MAKES UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOLLYWOOD
different is that the attractions, with a
couple of exceptions, are designed to minimize long waits in line. The centerpiece of
the Universal Studios experience is the Studio Tour. While on the tram, you experien-
ce an earthquake, are attacked by the killer shark from
Jaws,
and endure a simulated
rain shower and a flash flood, among other things. In other parks, including Univer-
sal's sister park in Florida, each of these spectacles is presented as an individual at-
traction, and each has its own long queue. At Universal Studios Hollywood, by con-
trast, you suffer only one very manageable wait to board the tram and then experience
all of these events as part of the tour.
