universal studios studio tour full ride

Ultimate Guide: Studio Tour at Universal Studios Hollywood

The Studio Tour at Universal Studios Hollywood is in my opinion one of the best attractions at the Universal Studios Hollywood theme park.

The World-Famous Studio Tour is a one-hour tour around the backlot at Universal. This is a real working movie studio, as such you’ll see sets from your favourite shows and movies as well as some of Hollywood’s most legendary filming locations.

This tour is suitable for the whole family (I recently did it with my wife and our 14-month-old little boy) and features two cinematic ride experiences; Fast & The Furious: Supercharged & King Kong 3D.

What Is The Universal Studio Tour?

The World-Famous Studio Tour takes you behind the scenes of a real film studio which has been the home to a number of movie and television shows since its inception over 50 years ago.

The tour is hosted by comedian Jimmy Fallon alongside a live guide who provides commentary throughout the duration of the tour.

Highlights Of The Studio Tour

During the tour, you will travel through different past various sound stages, and through movie sets. Throughout this time you’ll experience a variety of attractions including;

Bates Motel

This is perhaps the scariest part of the tour.

Here you’ll pull up to the Bates Motel from the epic thriller film Psycho just as Norman Bates himself is carrying a body from a room to place in the back of his truck.

As he does so, he spots you, a witness.

In an aim to cover his tracks, Norman will come towards you with a fake knife. Thankfully, the driver will begin to pull away just in time.

Norman gets closest to the back two carriages of the tram. As such I highly recommend sitting in the carriages closest to the front if you’re travelling with young children.

Plane Crash Wreckage

After escaping Norman Bates, you’ll enter the plane crash wreckage area of the tour. This features a commercial 747 aircraft which was purchased by the production company behind the hit 2005 film War of the Worlds, directed by Steven Spielberg.

The plane was chopped into pieces and transported to Universal where the full set has been left fully dressed as it was during filming.

Obviously, given how realistic this all is, it can be scary for younger guests.

Jupiter’s Claim

This new area of the backlot tour opened on July 22, 2022 (timed to open the same day as Jordan Peele’s movie Nope).

This is a drive-through area which has been rebuilt at Falls Lake (previously occupied by the Log Cabin) and features select theme park sets used in the sci-fi horror film.

Flash Flood Simulator

As you drive through the Mexcian Village, you’ll experience one of two flooding simulators that feature within the Universal Studios backlot tour.

This is one of the oldest parts of the backlot tour (in operation since 1968) and has appeared in countless films including Big Fat Liar and Fletch Lives.

In my opinion, this isn’t as scary as the other flash flood simulator which takes place as part of Earthquake: The Big One!

Earthquake: The Big One!

Earthquake: The Big One is the only split-level sound stage in the world, and has been in operation at Universal since 1969.

As the tram pulls into the subway area, an 8.4 Richter-level earthquake hits, causing a subway train to come off the tracks as it pulls into the station and flooding from the streets above to pour down into the underground.

Various scenes have been shot here including; Beverly Hills Cop III and Season 5, Episode 15 of the TV show Bones.

The Jaws portion of the Studio Tour dates back to 1967 and subsequently is one of the most nostalgic parts for long-time visitors.

As the tram approaches the water, the tension builds as the tour guide narrates the scene. Suddenly the giant animatronic shark jumps out of the water, jaws wide open.

King Kong 360 3-D

King Kong 360 3-D is one of two simulator-based rides on the Universal Studios Hollywood Studio Tour.

This simulator was created by Peter Jackson himself and is the world’s largest 3-D experience.

The film lasts just a couple of minutes and see’s you caught in the middle of a terrifying struggle between a 35-foot T-Rex and the 8th wonder of the world – King Kong.

Fast & The Furious Supercharged

This is another simulator-based ride situated on the back lot tour.

Once again you’ll put on your 3D glasses and experience a high-speed chase alongside Dom and the gang. This is far from my favourite part of the tour, but sadly it’s not optional. Thankfully, it only lasts a couple of minutes.

Where Is The Universal Studios Tour Located?

The World Famous Studio Tour is located in a dedicated lower lot area of Universal Studios Hollywood which can be accessed from Springfield, home of The Simpsons via a number of escalators.

This dedicated lower lot area is not to be confused with the lower lot escalators down to Jurassic World & Super Nintendo World.

If you’re unsure as to where to go for the Studio Tour be sure to ask one of the Universal Studios team members situated around the park, or the Universal Studios mobile app which features a map with GPS.

How Long Is The Universal Studio Tour?

The Studio Tour at Universal Studios Hollywood lasts between 40 minutes and one hour. During the ride, there are no stops and no toilet breaks.

While the ride itself is between 40 minutes and an hour, the standby wait line for the ride can be another hour (give or take) depending on how busy the park is during your visit.

This ride is eligible for the Universal Express Pass so, if you are upgrading to the Universal Express Pass then you will be able to skip the line here. We did this during our most recent visit and we walked straight on (the standby line at the time was around 20 mins – February 2022).

How Much Does The Universal Studio Tour Cost?

The Universal Studios Tour is free.

However, to go on the tour you will need a Universal Studios Hollywood park ticket.

Universal Studios Hollywood tickets are sold using a dynamic pricing model based on estimated demand.

As such quieter days or times of year often have lower ticket prices, while more popular days and seasons (Christmas, Halloween, Spring Break, Summer etc.) have higher ticket prices.

This dynamic pricing model also applies to Universal Express Pass tickets and tickets for the VIP Experience.

Do You Have To Book The Universal Studio Tour?

Sadly, you can not book your tour of the Universal Studios backlot in advance. Instead, spaces on each tram are on a first-come, first-served basis. Each tram roughly holds between 100 and 150 people split across 6 or so carriages.

How Long Is The Wait For The Universal Studios Tour?

The wait time for the World Famous Studio Tour at Universal Studios Hollywood can vary depending on factors such as the time of day, day of the week, and season.

During quieter times at the park, you can wait as little as 10 or 20 minutes to board the tram. However, during peak periods such as holidays or weekends, wait times can be in excess of one hour.

Can You Use A Universal Express Ticket For The Universal Studio Tour?

A Universal Express ticket at Universal Studios Hollywood can be used for the Studio Tour, as well as for many of the other popular attractions and rides in the park.

The Universal Express ticket gives guests priority access to select attractions, allowing them to bypass the regular standby line and experience the attraction with a shorter wait time.

Best Time To Go On The Universal Studios Tour?

Generally, speaking the best time to go on the tour is in the morning when the park first opens.

During this time the crowds are typically smaller and the lines are shorter, allowing visitors to enjoy the tour with minimal wait times.

On the flip side, the worst time to go on the tour is usually in the early afternoon, just after lunchtime as most people get to this area of the park at this time of day.

Is The Universal Studios Tour Scary?

Certain areas and attractions within the World-Famous Universal Studio Tour may be scary to younger children. However, none of them last long (maximum of four minutes).

If you’re looking for thrill rides then this tour isn’t it!

Is The Universal Studios Tour Suitable For Babies & Toddlers?

The Universal Studios Tour is suitable for babies and toddlers.

However, you will be on the tram ride for up to an hour so be sure to bring any supplies you may need for that duration of time with you.

It’s also worth noting that children must remain seated throughout the duration of the tour for health and safety reasons. So if you have a restless little one consider bringing a book, toy or iPad.

There is an extensive stroller parking lot available in the Lower Lot area from where the tour departs, this is covered so if it does start raining while you’re out on the tour then your stroller should be protected.

Are There Any Height Or Weight Restrictions For The Studio Tour?

Unlike other rides at Universal Studios Hollywood there are no weight or height restrictions on the World-Famous Studio Tour.

Can You Take Photographs & Videos During The Studio Tour?

Visitors are permitted to take photographs and videos during The World Famous Studio Tour at Universal Studios Hollywood.

However, flash photography is not permitted during the tours 3D cinema experiences (King Kong 360 & Fast and Furious: Supercharged).

Is The Studio Tour At Universal Studios Hollywood Worth It?

While going on the Studio Tour takes up a significant portion of your day at Universal Studios Hollywood park. I believe it’s a worthwhile time investment.

This tour provides a unique insight into how scenes from your favourite movies and TV shows are made while the expert tour guide provides some incredible Hollywood secrets.

Can You See Celebrities On The Universal Studios Hollywood Tour?

There is always the possibility of seeing celebrities on the World Famous Studio Tour at Universal Studios Hollywood, as the tour takes visitors through active movie and television sets where productions are often being filmed.

However, there is no guarantee.

I’ve been on this tour more than ten times over the past couple of years, and the only person I’ve seen is Mario Lopez who was filming at the entrance of the theme park.

Does Universal Studios Orlando Have A Backlot Tour?

Sadly, Universal Studios in Orlando does not have a backlot tour since it is a dedicated theme park, rather than a film studio.

The Universal Orlando Resort does, however, have a VIP Experience (which is also available at Universal Studios Hollywood).

The VIP Experience is a full-day tour of the Universal Studios park with a dedicated Universal guide. The ratio of guests to guide is roughly 8:1 so it’s a very personal experience in which you’ll skip the line on every ride in the park, go behind the scenes and learn park secrets.

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How To Spend One Day at Universal Studios Hollywood

As a bona fide Universal Studios Hollywood expert, I’m often asked: OK, I have one day at Universal. What should I do? Whether it’s native Angelenos or folks visiting SoCal, a trip to Universal is an incredible way to get the best of L.A. in one jam-packed day. So, instead of individually sending everyone I know a chaotic Notes App itinerary, I’m making my dream Universal Studios Hollywood itinerary an Official Article.

Heads-up: Check the theme park hours as you plan — they vary by season. Sometimes the theme park closes at 6 pm, others at 10 pm, and it’s open even later during Halloween Horror Nights . Obviously, we recommend going on a day where it’s open late, to maximize your time at Universal.

MORNING | AFTERNOON | EVENING

After you snap an obligatory photo at the Universal Globe (and on the red carpet), beeline for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter . Yes, tears may well as you enter Hogsmeade — it really doesn’t get old for me.

But don’t fill up on Butterbeer just yet. Head all the way back to Hogwarts Castle where you enter to ride Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey . Wind through the dark-yet-cozy hallways of Hogwarts, then hop on an enchanted bench to soar above the castle grounds and come face-to-face with Dementors, have a run-in with the Whomping Willow, and fly right into the middle of a Quidditch match.

Now that you’ve had a daring adventure with Harry, Ron, and Hermione, head to the Three Broomsticks . The Traditional English Breakfast here is my favorite first meal of the day at Universal. It comes complete with eggs, sausage, baked beans, baked tomato, bacon, ham, potatoes, a butter croissant and black pudding, plus coffee or juice, you’ll feel geared up to meet a Hippogriff on Flight of the Hippogriff . Afterwards, bop around Hogsmeade for a bit. Get a wand at Ollivanders , shop for your Hogwarts house robe at Gladrags Wizardwear , and snag a Chocolate Frog at Honeydukes .

Oh, and duh: don’t forget to get a Butterbeer! I typically go for the standard, cold version of the beverage, but it also comes frozen and hot. 

Up next: the world-famous Studio Tour . You can take the direct path from The Wizarding World of Harry Potter or you can wind through Springfield, U.S.A to the tour entrance. We’ll be back to experience The Simpsons Ride later. But while you’re here, stop at Lard Lad Donuts and grab one of Homer’s favorites: The Big Pink. These jumbo donuts are topped with classic frosting and sprinkles.

PRO TIP: While approaching the Studio Tour entrance, you’ll see a chalkboard listing all the TV shows currently shooting on the Universal lot. Take a peek and see if any of your faves are on set that day.

Next on your Universal Studios Hollywood one-day itinerary: The World-Famous Studio Tour ! To be totally honest, this one-of-a-kind tram excursion is what makes Universal Studios Hollywood so special. I mean, what other theme park lets you tour legit, working sound stages and actual movie sets? Check out the sets of “Psycho,” “War of the Worlds” and “Nope;” take in mind-blowing effects inspired by the “Fast & Furious” franchise and “King Kong;” and so much more on this tour. You’ll really feel like you’re living in a piece of Hollywood history.

PRO TIP: PSST — sit on the right side of the tram in a middle car. You’ll get the best view of the infamous great white shark from “Jaws” when he makes an appearance.

All right, it’s Lower Lot time. Cruise down the escalators near Springfield, U.S.A. (and stop to get your next holiday card photo with the sweeping city views on the way) and you’ll find a whole new area of the park awaiting you. First up: Lunch. Head to the Jurassic Café for Costa Rican-inspired fare. Personally, I’m a fan of the Mojo Pork, and the Beef Empanadas really hit the spot, too. Or, if you’re looking for an on-the-go meal, grab a Turkey Leg.  

But we’re just getting started with the dino fun. Hop in line for Jurassic World – The Ride . This might be my favorite ride in the park (but don’t tell the others.) You’ll wind down a lush, tropical river and into Predator Cove, where you’ll come face-to-face with Indominus rex, Tyrannosaurus rex, Stegosaurus, Velociraptor and so many more dinos, before plunging down the massive drop at the ride’s finale.

PRO TIP: Download the official Universal Studios Hollywood app to keep up with your jam-packed itinerary. With it, you can check out up-to-date wait times for each ride. And, if you’re OK not riding with your group, I highly recommend hitting the Single Rider Line for a shorter wait time.

After all that excitement, you’ve gotta keep your nerves in check. That’s where Isla Nu-Bar comes in handy. If you’re the type who’s inclined toward a midday alcoholic bevy, this is a necessary stop. The island-theme bar serves up rum drinks, many in tiki-inspired mugs, that will have you feeling like you’re floating in the tropics.

Next up, head over to the Raptor Encounter to meet Blue the Velociraptor. If you’re lucky, you’ll get to see a baby Raptor, too.

And now, the moment you’ve been waiting for: SUPER NINTENDO WORLD . The newest addition to Universal Studios Hollywood is an absolute must. Once you enter through Peach’s Castle, you’ll immediately feel like you’re inside the world of Super Mario with Koopa Troopas, spinning shells, Goombas, and Piranha Plants all around. Plus, your favorite characters — Princess Peach, Toad, Luigi, and Mario himself — are available for photo ops. (You’ll want to take a lot of photos here. Make your followers jealous.)

First things first: purchase a Power-Up Band to make your experience even more interactive. Inside the land, you can buy them at the 1-UP Factory or at the kiosk next to the Piranha Plant Nap Mishapkey challenge. Link this gadget up to your Universal app. With it, you can punch ? Blocks for digital coins, have a showdown with Bowser Jr., and so much more.

Next, hop in line for Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge . I think we can all agree that stepping into the world of Mario Kart is a dream come true. Throw on a pair of special goggles, tap your Power-Up Band to the steering wheel (if you bought one), and let the games begin! This attraction is especially fun because there are several different outcomes you can experience – it’s a totally different ride each time. So go ahead and get in line again once it’s over, we won’t judge.

I know you just ate lunch, but I’m never too full for the Toadstool Cafe . Here, Chef Toad whips up delicious Mushroom Kingdom-inspired eats, like Super Mushroom Soup, Piranha Plant Caprese, the Mario and Luigi Burgers, ? Block Tiramisu, and a Princess Peach Cupcake. If you’re really up for it, try the Bowser’s Fireball Challenge: a 1 lb spicy meatball, topped with mozzarella and mushroom sauce.

Oh, and definitely check out the SUPER NINTENDO WORLD merch at the 1-UP Factory before you go. From Yoshi plushes to big red Mario hats to Mario Kart T-shirts, this land’s swag is seriously on point.

PRO TIP:   Since SUPER NINTENDO WORLD is new, it’s also quite popular. You might have to make a Virtual Line reservation to get in — do so on the official Universal Studios Hollywood app first thing.

WHEW, that was a blast. Now head back up to the Upper Lot and over to Super Silly Fun Land . If you’re anything like me, you have grown to be utterly endeared to the Minions. This park zone is Minion central. First, pop in line for Despicable Me Minion Mayhem , a ride that takes you through Minion training headed by none other than Gru himself. From there, take a spin through Super Silly Stuff — you’ll be truly impressed by the sheer magnitude of Minion merch available for purchase. Don’t forget to strike a pose with a real-life Minion on the way out!

And don’t miss Minion Cafe for a dessert inspired by everybody’s favorite banana-colored mischief makers. Mid-afternoon dessert? Sure. You’re at Universal, meaning you’re on vacation (even if you’re an L.A. local), meaning multiple desserts multiple times a day.

Depending on the timing, you should be able to squeeze in a viewing of WaterWorld . This Universal Studios Hollywood itinerary item is totally unlike anything else at the theme park (and honestly, anywhere else). This truly ridiculous, live spectacle spans across land, sea and air, and includes jet ski stunts, gigantic fireballs, explosions, and more mind-blowing special effects. This is where the magic of the movies collides with real life in the most jaw-dropping way possible. It’s no wonder it’s Universal’s top rated show.

PRO TIP: Check out the WaterWorld schedule on the official Universal Studios Hollywood app , and try to get there 15 minutes before showtime to secure the best seats. Oh, and the first few rows (painted green) are the “splash zone” — whether that’s a warning or an incentive is up to you.

I promised you’d make it back to Springfield, U.S.A. , the home of The Simpsons . Now’s the time! The best thing about eating in Springfield is that there’s something for whatever you’re in the mood for. Want a burger? Krusty Burger has you covered. Craving Mexican food? Try Bumblebee Man’s Taco Truck , just adjacent to the Duff Brewery Beer Garden . There’s also Suds McDuff’s Hot Dogs , Luigi’s Pizza ,or Cletus’ Chicken Shack .If you’re looking to cool off, head to Moe’s Tavern for a classic Duff Beer, or a delightful, non-alcoholic Flaming Moe. Everything is tasty, so grab your meal of choice.   

Today might be winding down, but it’s not over yet! On my perfect itinerary, you end up right where you started: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter . Tuck into a booth for a quick beverage at Hog’s Head  before you wander back up to the castle for the ultimate grand finale: The Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts Castle . (Or, depending on the season, the show might be Dark Arts at Hogwarts Castle .) Catch the school lit up in the dazzling colors of the four Hogwarts houses, set to epic music that’ll give you all the feels.  

EDITOR’S NOTE: The lights shows are seasonal. Check the here and here to see if they will be running during your next visit.

But wait — WAIT, I say! The day ain’t over yet. Because the second you step out of Universal Studios Hollywood, you find yourself at CityWalk , which is teeming with the best things to eat, drink and do in L.A. If you’re totally exhausted from the jam-packed day at the park, might I introduce you to the cushy, reclining chairs at Universal Cinema ? Catch the latest blockbuster at this 18-theater venue, which even includes IMAX.

And that’s my perfect itinerary for a day at Universal Studios Hollywood. Obviously, everyone’s perfect day looks a bit different — what does yours look like? Let us know in the comments.

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Grace Perry

Senior Editor, Universal Studios Hollywood. Lisa sun, Smithers rising, Disco Stu moon.

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good and Beautiful

We’re so happy to hear you enjoyed your visit, Ivan! Hopefully you had the chance to check out the World-Famous Studio Tour, as it’s an absolute must-do!

This was a great itinerary!! Appreciated all your recommendations and pro tips. Thank you.

Amazing to hear you’ve enjoyed this article, Alison! We can’t wait to welcome you very soon!

thank you for this helped me a bunch!!!

We’re so glad to hear that this helped, Pat! We hope to see you soon!!

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Now–Aug. 11 Join the 60th Anniversary celebration of the world-famous Studio Tour. Don’t miss the all-new experience that lets you step off the classic tram and onto the studio backlot. Explore an iconic film set, take part in immersive photo-ops, experience tour enhancements, and enjoy new themed food with collectible merchandise. Limited Time Only.

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How the Universal Studios tram tour defined the modern theme park

(Thomas Bryson-King / For The Times)

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The Universal Studios tram tour — officially designated as the World-Famous Studio Tour — is today a polished theme park ride, a large-scale attraction bundled with a host of mini attractions within it. From a shark attack referencing Steven Spielberg’s “Jaws” to a jaunt through the fake rural amusement park of Jordan Peele’s “Nope,” the tour serves as a crash course in the last 50 years of Universal blockbusters, all while jostling park guests through a simulated earthquake and a 3-D encounter with King Kong.

It wasn’t always so burnished — or even a sure bet. “It was a pain in the ass, to be honest,” says Jay Stein, the now retired Universal Studios executive credited with turning the Studio Tour into the theme park force that it is today. Stein was asked to recall the reputation of the attraction when, a couple of years after it opened in the summer of 1964, he was tasked to lead it. “My recollection is that this is something that can’t really succeed.”

In 1964 the themed entertainment business was still in its infancy. While Disneyland had opened nine years earlier, other studios weren’t yet trying to replicate its success, and Stein, who had started in the mailroom, was seeking to work his way up the corporate film ladder. He had zero interest, in other words, in the amusement industry. Before being assigned the Studio Tour, Stein spent a good portion of his job trying to keep the tour out of the way of television productions. As historian Sam Gennawey writes in the Stein biography “JayBangs,” Stein had to quickly stop thinking of the tour as a nuisance and instead become its biggest champion.

“It started out as two trams and a Quonset hut on Lankershim Boulevard,” says Stein, 86, today speaking from his home in Bend, Ore. “Quite frankly, the tram was considered something that interfered with television production and could not successfully coexist. I worked for the production office and was given the task of trying to coordinate how close we could come on the backlot without interfering. Everyone I worked for said it was an annoyance and disruptive and will not ever be welcomed.”

Within months, however, Stein began a makeover of the tram tour, one that would shift it from its behind-the-scenes, borderline educational focus to one that instead would be centered around light thrills and mechanical, movie magic tricks. By the mid-’70s, the Studio Tour would begin to reshape the modern theme park industry, not only ushering Universal into the field but recentering the entire medium as one that would be based around film and television franchises — intellectual property, or “IP,” in industry speak. The modern theme park would become a place to “ride the movies,” as Spielberg, who has long had a close relationship with Universal and its theme parks, branded them.

Today the Studio Tour is on the verge of 60 and still growing; Peele’s set from the sci-fi film “Nope” was the most recent addition. If Disneyland staples such as Pirates of the Caribbean, the Haunted Mansion and It’s a Small World set the template for what an attraction could be — heavily detailed dioramas that expand on a theme rather than a plot — it was the Studio Tour that would forever wed them to the popular media narratives of the moment . The Studio Tour and its accompanying shows would react, relatively quickly, to what audiences were responding to, be it “Battlestar Galactica,” “Conan the Barbarian,” “The Incredible Hulk” or more recently the “Fast & Furious” films and “Nope.”

The Studio Tour is arguably the most important theme park attraction ever created. And remarkably, it earned that feat by being built in and around existing structures — and largely because Stein had two early revelations.

The first: A lack of control wasn’t going to cut it. “It was an industrial tour, and people always expected to see an actor or a production, and we couldn’t deliver on that,” Stein says. And even when they could, the latter two could be unpredictable. “When we park the tram 50 yards from a production, some of the shows that were taking place would say, ‘If we see a tram, we’re off the set. We’re gone.’” And as Gennawey notes, actor Shirley MacLaine is said to have once mooned a tram. “She kept her word,” Stein says today. “She said, ‘If I see another tram come by ... ‘“

The second: Studios are, well, kind of dull. A recent Studio Tour expressed as much, noting that the current labor strife in Hollywood has brought the studio’s backlot to a halt. “When a production was not there,” Stein says, “it looked dead, dusty and boring.”

The solution was clear: If the Studio Tour was going to be built to last, what started as a very real peek at how Hollywood worked would suddenly have to take after the industry it sought to glorify. That is, it would need to become a series of illusions.

Those who have studied the current Studio Tour like to point out that it’s not the first time Universal opened its gates to become a public showplace. Universal pictures founder Carl Laemmle welcomed fans in 1915 to watch how silent pictures were made. “He charged 25 cents, and they got a box lunch in the deal,” says John Murdy, known today as the architect of Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood. Murdy, who started at Universal as a tram tour guide before graduating to theme park design, has become something of a Universal historian.

“They erected bleachers so they could watch these outdoor filming stages,” Murdy says. “And there was a zoo on the property at the time, so they could tour the zoo. That went on until the late 1920s and the early 1930s, until sound came in.”

But different eras bring different financial motivations. The modern Studio Tour is rooted in a more basic human desire: We need to eat.

In the early 1960s, according to Stephen M. Silverman’s book “The Amusement Park,” Universal began welcoming Gray Line Tours onto the studio lot for their Hollywood history jaunts. The primary goal was to boost the bottom line of the studio commissary, where Gray Line guests would stop for lunch. “When they saw the commissary was making a lot of money,” says Murdy, “that was the literal seed,” and mogul Lew Wasserman allowed his staff to investigate the feasibility of running its own tour.

Universal’s tour had its grand opening on July 15, 1964, with a media rep later downplaying to The Times its goals, stating that the tour was a “public relations gesture on the part of the studio” and the aim was to simply break even. But this paper had an immediate fan in gossip columnist Hedda Hopper, who noted that tourists finally had a glimpse of Hollywood that went beyond “looking at a bunch of footprints in concrete.” Within two years, Universal was reporting that 8,000 guests per day were riding the so-called GlamorTrams, which were accentuated with candy-striped accouterments designed by Disneyland planner and famed set designer Harper Goff.

Within a year, The Times noted that Universal was experimenting with stunt shows on the tour, and by 1966 the tour was offering guests makeup demonstrations, artificial snowstorms and miniature sea battles at an upper lot concourse. Albert A. Dorskind, president of parent company MCA, soon telegraphed the studio’s ambitions, telling The Times in 1968 that he envisioned Universal becoming a Tivoli Gardens-like concept centered around entertainment, referencing the famed Copenhagen park.

Stein was the man to realize that vision, and he began experimenting around that time with a flash flood on the tram tour, in which a rush of water leaps multiple feet into the air before quickly dissipating before the tram. The flash flood is still a part of the tour today.

“The geography was there,” Stein says. “What the hell could we do with this dead-ass street and involve the audience with something other than looking at an inactive, sterile set? That’s how I came up with the flash flood. ... The problem with it, which we had no idea at that time, is in a movie you do one or two takes and throw it away. We had to build something that could be done every two or three minutes. How do you involve a tram full of people in something where you create a thrill? It was really crude and simple, and if you did something like that today it’d be like old-time movies, but that stuff was done 55 years ago and is still working because it makes a dull set exciting.”

Other illusions would follow, including a parting of the Red Sea, a collapsing bridge, an ice tunnel, a rock slide and a submarine attack — “generic stuff,” says Stein, before the tour had rights to various film and television properties. The upper lot — the second half of the tour, in which guests were allowed to freely wander — also began to expand its show offerings, creating screen tests and animal shows in addition to stunt demonstrations.

Not all of the experiments of Stein and his team, however, made the history books.

“There was one that I never understood,” Murdy says, “and I have pictures of this so I know I didn’t make it up in my child mind. There was a section by the black lagoon where they filmed some Tarzan movie. And they had a gorilla, like Tarzan, on a rope, and we’d hear the Tarzan yell but it was a gorilla. It was not Tarzan. He would swing along the side of the tram, and he was holding a severed arm in his hand. I have no idea why, but I actually have a picture. I have a picture of this from way back in the ’70s. Those were mostly done in house by the special effects teams. There wasn’t an industry yet.”

Everything changed in 1976. That was one year after Spielberg’s “Jaws” opened and when the Studio Tour built a mini re-creation of an Eastern seaboard waterfront and put guests face-to-face with a 24-foot shark. It was expensive to build and maintain, as The Times noted in 1977 that the shark required $250,000 per year in maintenance. Stein says the company even sought the help of submarine builders General Dynamics to understand how to create things to last in water.

“Jaws” forever changed the tenor of the tour, and arguably theme parks. While Disneyland had roots in the company’s animated fairy tales, especially in Fantasyland, and early attractions took cues from the studio’s “True-Life Adventures” and films such as “Swiss Family Robinson,” nothing on the level of the cultural phenomenon that was “Jaws” had so quickly been replicated in a theme park before. It’s an industry-wide trend that hasn’t stopped.

“With the addition of a ‘Jaws’ experience, guests were brought face to face with an angry shark as well as fire and water explosions, and for the first time immersed in an experience based on a blockbuster movie property,” says Phil Hettema, who runs a namesake themed-entertainment firm in Pasadena and is a veteran of Universal Creative and the Studio Tour.

There’s gleeful pride in Stein’s voice when recollecting the “Jaws” scenes, especially in their grown-up weirdness. One moment, for instance, has the shark attacking a stationary diver and the lagoon filling with fake blood. “That’s the stuff that works,” Stein says. “The blood. By adding things that enhance the effect, that is what puts a ride over the top. No one expects when the shark is coming up that we’re going to drop the tram a foot toward the water. That scares the hell out of you. That’s what I lived for, to make this thing come alive.”

Stein and Universal were then emboldened to bring in nods to other properties, and by 1977 the tour was bringing in $25 million in revenue. “Battlestar Galactica,” “Conan the Barbarian,” “The Incredible Hulk” and more were soon added to the tour and its upper lot attractions. While the expansive theme park attraction E.T. Adventure, in which guests would simulate riding flying bikes through a darkened show building, wouldn’t come to Universal Studios Hollywood until 1991, Murdy says the beginnings of the theme park were well solidified.

“Battlestar Galactica was kind of the first big theme park-style attraction that was incorporated into the tour,” he says. “You pulled into a show venue and with live actors and animatronics the scene played out. And lasers. It was impressive. They were really shooting laser beams.”

Not everything needed to be so intense. The Hulk experience, for instance, was relatively simple, with the muscled green man simply appearing at unexpected moments — crashing, The Times reported, a makeup show, or careening through a fake stone wall at other points on the tour. “That’s a show that I think we spent $50,000 on the whole thing,” Stein says. “It’s a muscle man painted green. We got a huge bump in attendance because ‘The Incredible Hulk’ was seen by millions of people. It was no more than a guy busting through a wall. I never came up with something that was so inexpensive that was so effective.”

So much so that Universal — and those who visited its parks — began dreaming big.

When “Nope” filmmaker Jordan Peele first made it to a Universal Studios park in Florida, it fueled, he says, a lifelong obsession.

“It was something very aspirational and magical,” Peele says. “I was told we didn’t have enough money to go to Disneyland or Universal, and at some point we got an opportunity because my mother’s job was doing something in Florida. I remember going to both places, and Universal Studios in Orlando, I remember it creating more magic for me than the other park.

“I went to very few amusement parks growing up, so when I got to Universal at 11 or 12 years old, it was formative in reinforcing my love of film,” Peele says. “It had a ‘Willy Wonka’ aspect of a world that had been opened to me that now I could sort of see behind the wall of it. Even though a lot of it is illusion, the illusion of getting to be in the presence of what it means to make movies was an addiction I never got over.”

The ’80s was a period of growth for the Hollywood Studio Tour, never more so than via the additions of a 30-foot tall King Kong animatronic that was added in 1986 (and destroyed in a 2008 fire) and an earthquake simulation in 1989, the latter of which pushed attendance to more than 30,000 people a day.

“Starting with ‘King Kong,’ guests found themselves on the tram in the midst of a completely immersive environment with a larger-than-life animated ape,” Hettema says. “Not only was the environment impressive, but, significantly, the tram vehicle itself rocked from side to side and slid across the roadway — physically engaging the guests.

“It was a hit with guests that continued with ‘Earthquake,’ where the total immersion of guests on the tram was taken to new heights — putting the guests in an illusion of danger and thrill that was visceral by physically shaking, sliding and dropping the tram. The tram could be considered the first motion base vehicle, now a key component of the most popular immersive attractions throughout the industry.”

The decade, however, was also a period of great stress for Stein. Buoyed by the success of the increased theme parkification of the Studio Tour, Universal began to look at expansion into Florida, resulting in the park that would eventually catch Peele’s heart. But when Universal Studios Florida opened in 1990, it did so after nearly a decade-long battle with the Walt Disney Co.

It’s a well-documented, often-told tale, and one that’s too large for this story to encompass, but Universal wasn’t shy in alleging that Disney stole its Florida plans for the park that would today be known as Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The latter opened in 1989 with, for instance, a tram tour that was very much in the Universal model. While Disney has long denied the contentions of Universal and its then-parent, MCA, Stein didn’t hold back, telling The Times in 1989 that “Disney took what we had, and we had to fish or cut bait,” explaining that Universal shifted from a tram-focused park to one based instead on stand-alone attractions.

Today, the subject still gets Stein worked up, and his colorful descriptions of Disney are not fit for print. “They did the same thing, and we had to up our game,” Stein says today. “If anything pissed me off more in life than that, I don’t know what it is. We knew what they were going to do. They were going to do what we wanted to do, so we upped our game in every show, every set, every stage, every element.”

The Florida project benefited the original Studio Tour and park. The earthquake attraction was duplicated, albeit in different formats, on each coast, and remains one of the most elaborate — and frightening — attractions on the West Coast. Additionally, the park’s relationship with Spielberg would tighten. Although an E.T. attraction no longer exists in Hollywood, it’s still alive in Florida, and Spielberg’s “Jurassic Park” franchise is not only a part of the Studio Tour but received a stand-alone, water-based attraction.

When it came to competing with Disney, Stein says, Spielberg brought a level of respectability to the Universal parks. “The opportunity to get Spielberg as a creative consultant gave us a credibility,” Stein says. “Nobody had heard of Jay Stein, but that was as much a contributory factory to our success as anything. He delivered the goods.”

“Movies bring us together from all walks of life to hear good stories,” Spielberg wrote via email. “Many of these stories are themed and can make deep and lasting impressions. Theme parks, like Universal’s, bring the memories of these stories into three dimensional life. In 1989 when I coined the term ‘ride the movies,’ it still stands as one of the main reasons people descend on our theme parks to be part of those stories in a real world way.”

The Studio Tour remains the backbone of the Universal theme parks, the impetus for its expansion and the home to relatively constant renovations.

Last year, the Studio Tour took in the set of the fictional Gold Rush-themed amusement park of Jupiter’s Claim from “Nope.” It was Peele who reached out to the theme park and asked if it might be interested in the set. “That’s right,” Peele says. “If you can’t tell from my personality or my films, I’m very into memorabilia and objects and cars and sets from films. It’s very hard when a film is done to take something [down] that I believe is something that people will want to experience in the future.”

That it’s part of the Studio Tour, Peele says, has helped cure some of his impostor syndrome. “Steven Spielberg and Alfred Hitchcock, these were figures that helped inspire me to not compromise in the commitment to the bigness of the audience’s experience,” Peele says. “So for a piece of [‘Nope’] to end up among ‘Jaws’ and ‘Psycho’ on this tram tour, you can see how a kid who felt like he was an impostor for even stepping into the gates, it’s a full circle sense of accomplishment. ... Believe me, I have some humility, but the character of making that film was not humble. It was meant to be a film that people would want to be on the set. Let’s presume ourselves next to ‘Jaws.’”

Productions once tried to hide from the Studio Tour; today, they ask to be a part of it. The Studio Tour, in execution and in reputation, is a long way removed from attempting to scare guests with the rubber boulders of a fake rock-slide, all in an effort to increase lunch sales.

“There was enough pressure that could have been brought to kill this thing,” Stein says of the tour’s mid-’60s beginnings. “Because who needs this interruption on a daily basis so you can have a small profit at the end of the year? The commissary was losing money, so the tourists would be allowed to eat at 3 p.m. in the commissary. It was small potatoes and not anything that would have shown at that time any indication that it was going to have the growth potential that I ultimately saw. It reinvigorated me.

“This little thing,” Stein continues, “had the potential to be very special.”

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Todd Martens joined the Los Angeles Times in 2007 and covers a mix of interactive entertainment (video games) and pop music. Previously, Martens reported on the music business for Billboard Magazine. He has contributed to numerous books, including “The Big Lebowski: An Illustrated, Annotated History of the Greatest Cult Film of All Time.” He continues to torture himself by rooting for the Chicago Cubs and, while he likes dogs, he is more of a cat person.

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Universal Studios Hollywood

Get Ready for the Ultimate Hollywood Movie Experience!

Find a full day of action-packed entertainment all in one place: thrilling Theme Park rides and shows, a real working movie studio, and Los Angeles’ best shops, restaurants and cinemas at CityWalk. Universal Studios Hollywood is a unique experience that’s fun for the whole family.

Parking and Directions to Universal Studios Hollywood

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The World-Famous Studio Tour

Explore the largest and busiest motion picture and TV studio in the world. More movies and television shows have filmed on this lot than any other lot in the world.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™

Explore the mysteries of Hogwarts™ castle, and experience pulse-pounding rides and attractions that transport you into a world of magic and excitement.

Jurassic World – The Ride

Climb aboard an unforgettable journey with imposing prehistoric creatures that first roamed the earth more than 65 million years ago in our epic adventure.

Despicable Me Minion Mayhem

Join Gru, his daughters and the mischievous Minions on a heartwarming and thrilling ride.

The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash

Join Max, Duke, Gidget, Snowball and all your favorite Pets characters for a thrilling ride through the streets of New York City.

Experience a tidal wave of explosive action at WaterWorld – Universal Studios’ #1 rated show.

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey™

Enter through the towering castle gates and make your way down the familiar passageways and corridors of Hogwarts™ School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

King Kong 360 3-D

Come face to face with King Kong 360 3-D created by Peter Jackson. It’s the world’s largest, most intense 3-D experience.

Fast & Furious - Supercharged!

Hold on tight for the grand finale of the Studio Tour, Fast & Furious – Supercharged!

Revenge of the Mummy – The Ride

If you dare, face heart-pounding special effects and unexpected twists at every turn as you escape the Mummy’s revenge in life-like horror.

TRANSFORMERS™: The Ride-3D

TRANSFORMERS™: The Ride 3D is an immersive, next generation thrill ride that blurs the line between fiction and reality.

Springfield, U.S.A.

Enter the world of The Simpsons™ like never before and visit downtown Springfield, U.S.A.

Foreign Language Studio Tours

We offer Studio Tours in Spanish on select days. Please check digital boards located throughout the Park for tour times during your visit.

Explore where fun is always unexpected to experience movies like Hollywood directors, dining for every taste, shopping & entertainment that will surprise and delight.

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