Fast-track fun at Universal Studios Hollywood with skip-the-line tickets

How long are the lines at Universal Studios Hollywood?

Universal Studios Hollywood gets a lot of visitors—millions every year. During busy times like summer, holidays, or weekends, you might wait over an hour for popular rides like Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey or Jurassic World: The Ride. Booking tickets online ensures that you can skip the ticket counter line and head straight to security, saving you time before you even step into the park.

Getting the skip-the-line tickets takes it a step further—it doesn’t just allow you to bypass the regular lines at the ticketing counter but also gives fast-track access to rides, shows, and attractions so that you can dive into the fun as quickly as possible.

Quick overview: How to skip the lines at Universal Studios Hollywood

Universal Studios Hollywood gets crowded fast, especially on weekends, school holidays, and during Halloween season. On busy days, expect 20–60+ mins if you’re buying tickets at the gate, plus ~10–30 mins for security (can run ~30–60 mins at peak arrival times). Inside the park, popular rides can post 40–120+ min waits by late morning, so your “skip the line” strategy is mainly about reducing ride queues, not skipping security.

• Direct entry tickets (From $109): Pre-book online and scan in at the turnstiles, bypassing the ticket-booth purchase line. You still queue for security screening. Best for budget travelers who can arrive at opening and prioritize 2–3 headliners early.
  
• Express tickets (From $189): One-time priority access to most rides/attractions and many seated shows, plus standard park entry. Doesn’t skip security and can sell out on peak days. Best for one-day visitors who hate long waits; not ideal if you mainly want character meets/shopping.
  
• VIP guided experience (From $355): Includes a guided VIP tour component plus upgraded priority access (typically the lowest waits), reserved show seating, and a meal perk. Still requires security. Best if you want maximum coverage with minimal planning; trade-off is higher cost and a more structured pace.
  
• Early Access add-on for Super Nintendo World (From $20–30): Enter the land before general guests to ride Mario Kart with the day’s lowest waits. You need separate park admission and you still clear security. Best if SNW is your top priority; less useful if you don’t care about Nintendo.
  
• Virtual line/app-based reservations (Price varies): When offered, you reserve a return time for select attractions to avoid standing in the full standby queue. Availability is limited and not guaranteed daily. Best as a free “queue hack” to stack with rope-drop planning.

​See all your options to skip the queues at Universal Studios Hollywood ↓

How long are the queues at the Universal Studios Hollywood entrance?

Universal Studios Hollywood welcomes 25,000–35,000+ visitors daily during peak season, and entry queues reflect that demand.

• In peak season (June to August and late December), general admission lines typically stretch 45–75 minutes between 9am and 12pm, with waits exceeding 90 minutes on holiday weekends. On the busiest days, queues can form well before opening and wrap around the main entrance plaza along Universal City Plaza, slowing entry for large volumes of guests.
  
• In the low season (January to early March and September), waits usually drop to 15–30 minutes, though weekends and rope-drop mornings remain the busiest.

Note: These times cover only the entry/ticket scan line; all visitors must also clear security screening afterward.

Which line do skip-the-line ticket holders use?

Everyone uses the same main entrance at Universal Studios Hollywood. After you get past the entry area, you’ll see lines for the ticket counter and security. If you’ve got skip-the-line tickets already, you skip the ticket counter line and head straight to security. From there, you’ll use the designated Express lanes at each ride, attraction, or show for faster access, depending on your ticket type.