Universal Studios is a media conglomerate and theme park brand known all over the world.
With locations in the U.S., Japan, and Singapore, just how many Universal Studios are there?
Currently, five: California, Florida, Japan, Singapore, and Beijing.
These five parks are spread out between America and Asia, and each one is completely different.
They all have exclusive rides, shows, attractions, and themes.
If you want to know the difference, here’s a quick overview of each park.
Universal Studios Hollywood
Universal Studios Hollywood is the first Universal Studios theme park to open.
Based in California, this park started out as more of an interactive movie studio that the public could visit.
Eventually, they added rides and concession stands to make it more of an amusement park, but they kept the movie studio aspect.
One of Universal Studios Hollywood’s most popular areas is The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
Here, you can walk through Hogsmeade, ride Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, and even see live shows like the Frog Choir.
The park has two main levels: the Upper Lot and Lower Lot.
On the Upper Lot, you’ll find fun rides like The Simpsons Ride, Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, and Super Silly Fun Land.
There’s also the famous WaterWorld stunt show.
The Lower Lot has bigger thrill rides like Jurassic World: The Ride, Transformers: The Ride – 3D, and Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge.
As for must-see attractions, The Studio Tour is something you absolutely cannot miss — especially if you’re a movie buff!
It takes you behind the scenes to real movie sets and includes surprises like King Kong 360 and Jaws.
Universal Orlando Resort
Just how many Universal Studios are there in America?
Two; one in California and another in Florida.
Orlando, to be exact.
Universal Orlando Resort in Florida, sitting on 1,291 acres of land, is the bigger park of the two.
It has three main areas: Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, and Volcano Bay, a water park.
It’s also getting a new park called Epic Universe, set to open in May 2025.
Universal Studios Orlando has The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, too.
In fact, it has two parks dedicated to the magical franchise: Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade.
Visitors can ride the iconic Hogwarts Express to visit both areas, which is a full ride and experience itself.
Do note that you’ll need a park-to-park ticket to do this.
Thrill seekers will love rides like Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, Escape from Gringotts, and the VelociCoaster.
There are also fun food spots like Mythos and The Leaky Cauldron.
And if you happen to be visiting during Mardi Gras, get ready to take a lot of pictures.
This big event includes parades, live music, and tasty, colorful food.
There’s even a chance to throw festive beads from a float.
Universal Studios Japan
The third Universal Studios park is in Osaka, Japan.
It’s known for its creative, colorful themes and fun rides based on popular media.
Just like in Orlando, this park has The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
But it has different attractions from the franchise, like the Black Lake in front of Hogwarts Castle.
And, if you’re lucky, you’ll get to see real owls in their live show.
One big reason people visit Universal Studios Japan is Super Nintendo World.
It’s designed to look like the iconic multi-layered world of Super Mario, with distinct areas like Bowser’s lair and Princess Peach’s castle.
The rides here are all modeled after the game’s many titles and spin-offs as well.
You can ride Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge, go on Yoshi’s Adventure, and use a Power-Up Band to collect coins and complete challenges.
If you’re not a big fan of Super Mario, don’t worry.
There are also big thrill rides like The Flying Dinosaur and Hollywood Dream – The Ride.
Kids will enjoy areas like Universal Wonderland, which includes Snoopy Studios and Elmo’s Go-Go Skateboard.
Universal Studios Singapore
How many Universal Studios are there in Asia?
Three in total.
One of them is in Sentosa, Singapore,
It’s the smallest of the five but still full of things to do.
One of the top rides is Battlestar Galactica: HUMAN vs. CYLON.
It’s actually two coasters that run at the same time—one is seated, and the other is inverted.
Another popular ride is Revenge of the Mummy; a dark indoor coaster with fire effects and sudden drops.
Jurassic Park Rapids Adventure takes you on a raft ride through a dinosaur facility.
Yes, you do get wet, so plan for that eventuality if you wish to ride.
Families will love Sesame Street Spaghetti Space Chase, a fun ride with Elmo and friends.
The park also includes Lights, Camera, Action!, a live show hosted by renowned director Steven Spielberg that simulates a storm hitting a boathouse.
It’s quite exhilarating and definitely a one-of-a-kind experience.
Overall, Universal Studios Singapore offers something for every age group.
Universal Beijing Resort
And, last but not least, is Universal Studios Beijing Resort in China.
It’s one of the newest and biggest parks, and it brings the answer to “how many Universal Studios are there?” to a grand total of five.
The whole resort covers 990 acres, and the theme park part itself is around 130 acres.
Universal Beijing’s park mixes classic Universal themes with Chinese culture.
It has seven themed zones, including Kung Fu Panda Land of Awesomeness, Transformers: Metrobase, and Jurassic World: Isla Nublar.
One of the most exciting rides is the Decepticoaster, a fast and high-tech roller coaster based on the Transformers franchise.
There’s also the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride, just like in other parks.
This park also includes CityWalk Beijing and two hotels.
It’s designed to be a full vacation spot, not just a day trip to an amusement park.
Are There More Universal Parks Coming?
Right now, there are five main Universal Studios parks.
You might have heard about Universal Kids Resort, but it’s not the same thing.
It’s a smaller park that specifically caters to young children.
There’s also a new park planned for the United Kingdom, but it hasn’t opened yet.
Once it does, the number of Universal Studios parks will go up to six.
Special Events at the Parks
If you like going to parks during holidays or special times, Universal has some great options.
Universal Studios Hollywood has events like Grinchmas, Halloween Horror Nights, and a New Year’s Eve party called EVE.
Universal Orlando hosts a big Mardi Gras festival with food, parades, and concerts.
Universal Studios Japan and Singapore also have events based on local holidays and popular shows.
Universal Beijing is still new, but it’s expected to have its own special events, too.
Every park has something different going on throughout the year.
Ready to Explore All the Universal Studios?
So, just how many Universal Studios are there?
Five.
And they all promise a unique, memorable, one-of-a-kind experience.
Now that you have a rough idea about what each park offers, you can choose which one to prioritize.
And if you need any help figuring out an itinerary, give us a call!
At Team Thompson Travel, we help you plan the perfect trip to any Universal Studios park around the world.
We’ll help you compare parks, pick the best time to visit, and find the right tickets.
We’ll even show you how to save money and avoid the long lines.
And the best part?
Our planning services cost you nothing.
Our commission comes from the travel partners—not from you.
So you can enjoy your vacation without worrying about the details.
Let’s plan your Universal Studios adventure today!