How Many Universal Studios Are There in the World?

Universal Studios is a great place to visit whether you are a kid or an adult. There are plenty of fun and exciting rides for you to go on. Additionally, the themed parks let you immerse yourself in the world of your favorite movies and TV shows. The only problem is you might find it challenging to decide which resort to visit. 

There are six Universal Studios spread across three continents worldwide: 

• Universal Studios Orlando in Florida
• Universal Studios Hollywood in California
• Universal Studios Beijing
• Universal Studios Japan
• Universal Studios Singapore
• Universal Studios Port Aventura

Will You Have the Same Experience at Every Universal Studios?

Since all Universal Studios was built by the same company, you might think they are identical parks in six different corners of the world. As a result, you might expect to have the same experience in Orlando as you would in Beijing. Fortunately, that is not the case. While there are some similar rides, every park has a different layout and different themes.

Which Resort Is the Biggest in the World?

If you want to go to the biggest Universal Studios in the world, you will need to head to Beijing, China. It is the newest park, having been inaugurated in September 2021. The theme park is divided into seven theme areas containing a total of 37 rides. 

The resort where the Universal Studios theme park is included stretches over nearly 1000 acres, but it’s not completely finished yet. As a result, we expect this park to grow over the next decade.

What To Do When You Visit Each Universal Studios

So, there are six places you can visit to experience Universal Studios, but which one is best? That is a subjective question, but we can lay out what the top attractions are at each location. 

Universal Studios Beijing

We mentioned it is the largest Universal Studios in the world, so let’s start with Universal Studios Beijing. There are several themed areas in the park, but the one most people will be interested in is The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. It is not the only Universal Studios with a Harry Potter theme park, but it is still a must-see destination.

In The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, you can see Hogwarts, shops in Diagon Alley, and have a drink of Butterbeer. The most popular ride in this section of the park is Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey.

Transformers: Metro base is another popular area in Universal Studios Beijing. The area takes its inspiration from the Transformers movies and TV shows. It includes three attractions: Bumblebee Boogie, Decepticoaster, and Transformers: Battle for the AllSpark. Additionally, visitors can meet their favorite characters and see images of iconic moments from the movies.

Minion Land is one of the most popular destinations for kids. All the attractions and rides are based on this popular character from the hit movie Despicable Me. While this section of the park is designed for younger guests, adults should have fun on the rides.

If you go on a hot day, you will want to cool down. The best way to do that is to get wet. In that case, you should head to Waterworld. The themed area doesn’t contain any rides, just the show. But it’s nice to experience something different. The Waterworld show includes live actors and will make you feel like you are part of it.

Guests can also have fun at Hollywood Boulevard if they feel like they are missing out by not going to Universal Studios Hollywood. The theming is fantastic, making guests feel like they are starring in a blockbuster movie.

Jurassic World Isla Nublar is another one of the most popular sections of Universal Studios Beijing. Based on the set of the 2015 film Jurassic World, guests can explore the park and see impressive replications of dinosaurs.

The final park with a theme at Universal Studios Beijing is Kung Fu Panda Land of Awesomeness. It is a light-hearted park with plenty of adorable and fun rides. You are taken to the beautiful world of Kung Fu Panda with several fun rides.

Universal Studios Orlando in Florida

Universal Studios Orlando in Florida is the biggest Universal Studios resort in America. It has eight themed areas that surround a large lagoon. The first of those areas is Production Central. It has several attractions including Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, Universal Music Plaza Stage, and Transformers: The Ride 3D. Additionally, there are several dining outlets and merchandise shops in the area.

Another popular area is the one with a New York Theme. There you can enjoy rides such as Revenge of the Mummy, The Blues Brothers Show, and Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon. People love this section of the park because of its delicious dining options. There are New York theme meals, meaning you can get some of the best Pizza in the park here.

If you prefer the west coast, you can visit the San Francisco theme park. There you can enjoy the Fast & Furious: Supercharged ride. Released in 2018, it is one of the newest rides in the entire park.

Sticking with the west coast theme, you can explore Hollywood park. It has several rides, dining outlets, and Hollywood attractions to explore. You can even purchase magic items from Theatre Magic.

The most popular part of Universal Studios Orlando is The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. This area is what the wizarding world park in Beijing was based on. Here you can enjoy the Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts ride, as well as the Hogwarts Express ride. There are plenty of shops in Diagon Alley, including Fred and George’s joke shop and Olivander’s wand shop.

The World Expo is another place to visit, but it is one of the smaller areas. It has the Men in Black: Alien Attack ride for you to check out. Released in 2000, it is one of the oldest rides in the park.

Springfield is a park based on the iconic cartoon, The Simpsons. Here you can enjoy a few rides based on The Simpsons TV show.

If you are going with your kids, you should visit Woody Woodpecker’s Kidzone. Here there are several shows and kid-sized rides for your little ones to enjoy.

Finally, the center of Universal Studios Orlando is the Lagoon. There is a show at the Lagoon every night for up to 6500 guests.

Universal Studios Hollywood in California

Universal Studios Hollywood in California is split into two sections on different levels, the upper lot and the lower lot. There are several escalators connecting the lots, making it easy for guests to move from lot to lot.

The upper lot focuses on family attractions. It is best known for having Universal Boulevard which features the large and impressive Universal Plaza. While there are not as many fully themed lands in this studio as in other locations, there are several small environments linked together. 

North of Universal Boulevard you can find Production Plaza. There you can see two of the park’s longest-running shows, Universals Animal Actors and Special Effects Show.

Furthermore, the upper lot features the Streets of the World. This section of the studio opened in 1989 and has six streets. The oldest is 1950s America, which is next to Universal Plaza. The newest street is Pets Place, which features a colorful version of Manhattan. 

There are several other attractions in the upper lot, but those are the most popular and notable areas.

The lower lot is much smaller than the upper lot, but it still has lots for you to explore. Notably, there are three thrilling rides including Jurassic World: The Ride, Revenge of the Mummy: The Ride, and Transformers: The Ride 3D.

Universal Studios Japan

If you want to go back to Asia, you can visit Universal Studios Japan. However, it is much smaller than its sister park in Beijing, covering just 130 acres. The attractions at this park are spread across nine different areas. However, there is a 10th area that opened in July of 2014, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

The nine areas of the park include Hollywood, New York City, San Francisco, Minion Park, Jurassic Park, Amity Village, Universal Wonderland, Westworld, and Super Nintendo World.

Many of the rides and attractions at this park are taken from Universal Studios Orlando and Universal Studios Hollywood.

Universal Studios Singapore

Located in Sentosa, Singapore, Universal Studios Singapore is one of the smallest Universal Studios in the world. It features 28 rides, attractions, and shows. There are seven themed zones for guests to explore. Construction began on the park in April 2008 before it soft opened in March 2010. It had its grand opening in May of 2011.

The seven themed zones in the park are Hollywood, New York City, Sci-Fi City, Ancient Egypt, The Lost World, Far Far Away, and Madagascar. The Hollywood section is the main entrance of the studio. It has one significant attraction, a broadway-style theatre. However, there are plenty of restaurants and shops for guests to explore.

The New York section here is based on the original New York City layout during post-modernization. The area has many landmarks portrayed in movies, including the famous New York City skyline. There is also a replica of the New York Public Library.

Sci-Fi City is one of the most exciting sections of the park. It is themed to look like a future metropolis. It has several rides with Battlestar Galactica themes.

Ancient Egypt and The Lost World sections of the park are very popular. They feature rides and attractions related to Ancient Egypt and Jurassic Park. You can explore the pharaoh’s tombs and the famous park out of the mind of Steven Spielberg.

Finally, the Far Fary Away park is inspired by the Shrek franchise. It has several famous landmarks from the movies, and kids can meet their favorite characters.

Universal Studios Port Aventura in Europe

The final Universal Studios for us to look at is Universal Studios Port Aventura. It is on the Costa Daurada in Catalonia, Spain. It features five themed areas including Mediterrania, Polynesia, China, Mexico, and Far West. Mediterrania is the main entrance of the studio.

The interesting thing about this park is it was not originally built by Universal. It was built in 1995, and at the time it was primarily owned by the Tussauds Group. However, Universal purchased its shares in 1998, officially rebranding it as a Universal Studios park.

There are several exciting rides for you to enjoy here including Furius Baco, Stampida, Tomahawk, Silver River Flume, Grand Canyon Rapids, Hurakan Condor, El Diablo, Dragon Khan, Shambhala, Angkor, Tutuki Splash, Tami Tami, and Street Mission. Most of these rides are either roller coasters or water-themed rides. Which you choose comes down to personal preference.

Final Thoughts

So, how many Universal Studios are there in the world? There are currently six Universal Studios scattered throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. Universal has plans to build more parks, but for now, there are six for you to visit. Fortunately, most people should not need to take too long a flight to visit their closest Universal Studios.

If you are trying to decide which resort to visit, we recommend going to the one closest to you. While there are differences from park to park, they have many similarities. 

However, if you want to travel somewhere, we recommend picking the one in the city you are most interested in. While you will enjoy your time at the park, you might want to spend some time doing other things. If you are in a fun city, you can enjoy your time at Universal Studios, but you will have other things to occupy your time.

Universal Studios is a great place to visit, no matter your age. So, get on a plane, head to your nearest Universal Studios, and have the adventure of a lifetime.