by Sue Langeder

Created on: April 29, 2009

Universal Studios Hollywood is the public's insight into how stars are made, films are created and imagination is limitless. A brilliant theme park concept bringing amusement park rides of your favorite movies and characters together with real life film sets and action film sequences. It's a buzz to be a part of it. Here is a little guide to make your day at Universal Studios the best.

Firstly, get in early and spend the little extra (especially if you have kids) to get the premium parking. It's $20 (instead of $12) and you are literally at the gateway of Universal Studios and the Universal Citywalk.

The park hours change day to day (anything from 9-7pm to 10-5pm) so best to check the website (www.universalstudioshollywood.com) on the day you plan to go.

One of the best things Universal Studios offers which other theme parks lack is a range of warnings at the start of each ride. The warnings range from don't go on this ride if you suffer from motion sickness, back complaints or are pregnant, to height restrictions and the possibility of getting wet. The warnings give you an educated opportunity to choose to go or not to go on the ride. They also offer a 'Child Switch' opportunity for parents who have toddlers allowing one parent to go on the ride, while the other looks after the children, and then the other parent skips the queue and can take the ride straight away after the first parent returns to look after the children.

Start your Universal Studio day at the most popular rides as the queues will be short.

The Simpsons Ride is an all time favorite. You get sent to a room with 7 other people and while you wait they play Simpsons episodes. The doors open and you are seated in a two row rollercoaster cart and taken on a virtual rollercoaster ride with some 4D action.

The Studio Tour is popular for the avid film buff. Taking a ride through the real life backlot of Universal Studios. See the enormity of the sets, the 'Psycho' set including the Bates Motel still stands, the Deparate Housewives' set, the smoldering plane crash scene from the 'War of the Worlds', you even go into a working underground train station set where the road caves in and a petrol tanker falls dangerously close to the tour tram. Riveting stuff!

On the Lower Lot, the Jurassic Park ride is a load of fun. Quietly meandering through the lagoon like water seeing dinosaurs play, until it all gets frighteningly too close for comfort with a massive T-Rex head about to bite you in half before your plummet

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