The original working studio of Carl Laemmle and now half theme park, half active production lot. The lower lot rides are typical big-budget theme park fare; the upper lot Studio Tour, around a working back lot of standing sets and special-effects environments, is what distinguishes Universal from its competitors.
Lines are long; the Universal Express pass at premium cost cuts most of them. The Harry Potter area pulls the heaviest queues. Combine with a stop in nearby Toluca Lake or Burbank for food off-site.