Welcome to the CI Universal Center!
Here you’ll find our insider guides to enhancing your Universal Studios Hollywood vacation.
The CI Universal Hollywood Center houses our free, invaluable collection of Universal Studios Hollywood vacation-planning content. It includes over a hundred pages dedicated to Universal City’s attractions, restaurants, and more. Plus, we offer readers six surprising advantages over other conventional guidebooks and websites:
- Near-constant coverage of new and insider developments throughout the park
- Extensive, in-depth analysis of all construction projects and park developments
- Top-notch multimedia, with thousands of HD photos and video content
- First-hand coverage of annual events (including Halloween Horror Nights and Grinchmas) with annually-updated and relevant trip advice
- Real-time, real-guest reviews of the theme-park attractions and restaurants
- Constant in-park photo updates broadcast live from Universal City
We are proud to launch California Informer as the sister site to Orlando Informer, where over three million families plan their perfect vacations and become resort experts every year. We couldn’t be more excited to expand our offerings and become the premier independent resource for guests visiting Universal Studios Hollywood, as well.
Just learning about our in-depth content? Please read this page:
Using California Informer to plan your Universal Studios Hollywood vacation
CI Universal Hollywood Center table of contents
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Preproduction | Lights, Camera, Action | Wizarding World guide | Events | Touring plans | Attractions | Restaurants | CityWalk
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FREE monthly Universal Studios Hollywood crowd calendar
PREPRODUCTION: Before You Go, Tickets, Transportation, & More
- Official maps & ride accessibility information
- Guest Assistance & Disability Passes
- Park crowd patterns
- Single-day ticket guide
- Universal Express (front of line) Passes & VIP tours
- Season and annual pass guide
- Height requirements and traveling with children
- Arriving by car & parking guide
- Taxis & public transportation guide
- What (and what not) to pack
LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION! In-Park Information
- Where to sit on the Studio Tour
- Characters at Universal Studios Hollywood
- Shopping & merchandise guide
- Locker guide
- Wheelchairs & strollers rentals
- Park & ride photos
- Wifi & wait times in the park
- Child Swap guide
- Single-rider lines
THE WIZARDING WORLD OF HARRY POTTER
ANNUAL EVENTS AT UNIVERSAL HOLLYWOOD
- Lunar New Year 2018
- Halloween Horror Nights 2018
- Grinchmas 2018
- Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter 2018
- EVE 2018
TOURING PLANS
- Ultimate Universal Studios Hollywood 1-day touring plan
- Universal Studios Hollywood 1-day touring plan with young children
- Universal Studios Hollywood half-day touring plan for thrill seekers
- Universal Studios Hollywood half-day touring plan for film fans
- Ultimate Wizarding World of Harry Potter touring plan
IN-DEPTH ATTRACTION PROFILES
- Upper Lot attractions
- Lower Lot Attractions
- The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
IN-PARK DINING GUIDE
- Upper Lot restaurants and carts
- Cinnabon
- Despicable Delights
- Dippin’ Dots
- Escalator Drinks and Snacks
- French Street Bistro
- Hollywood and Dine
- Gru’s Lab Cafe
- Mel’s Diner
- Mulligan’s Pub & Spirits
- Palace Theatre Cafe
- Plaza Grill
- Popcorn Cart
- Springfield, USA dining
- Starbucks Coffee
- Lower Lot Restaurants and Carts
- Universal Tower Snack Shop
- The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Dining
CITYWALK
- Full-service restaurants
- Antojito’s Cocina Mexicana (opening soon)
- Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.
- Buca di Beppo
- Dongpo Kitchen
- Hard Rock Cafe
- Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville
- Johnny Rockets Burgers & Shakes
- Karl Strauss Brewing Company
- Samba Brazilian Steakhouse & Lounge
- Tony Roma’s
- Wasabi at Citywalk
- Vivo Italian Kitchen
- Quick-service restaurants
- Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream
- Blaze Pizza
- Cinnabon
- The Crepe Cafe
- Jamba Juice
- KFC/Pizza Hut Express
- LudoBird
- Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt
- Mini Monster
- Panda Express
- Pink’s Famous Hot Dogs
- Poke Bar
- Smashburger
- Starbucks Coffee
- Subway
- Taco Bell
- Voodoo Doughnut
- Wetzel’s Pretzels
- Shopping
- Abercrombie & Fitch
- ANGL
- Billabong
- Bubba Gump Shrimp Store
- The Dodgers Clubhouse
- Element
- Flip Flop Shops
- Fossil
- Francesca’s Collection
- GUESS Accessories
- Hard Rock Store
- Hot Topic
- IT’SUGAR
- Locker Room by Lids
- The Los Angeles Sock Market
- Nectar Bath Sweets
- Popcornopolis
- Shoe Palace
- The Raider Image
- Sephora
- Sketchers
- Sparky’s
- Sublime Gifts and Finds
- Things From Another World
- Universal Studio Store
- Zen Zone
- Entertainment
- Extra TV
- iFLY Indoor Skydiving
- 5 Towers Music Stage
- Howl at the Moon
- Universal Cinema (featuring IMAX)