Los Angeles: All-Inclusive Pass Plus with Universal Studios

Universal Studios Hollywood is the big draw here, but this pass can cover far more than one theme-park day. You get a set number of sightseeing days to use across a two-week period, with access to more than 40 attractions and tours. Think movie studios, city buses, museums, beaches and even day trips south to San Diego.

I like the flexibility: you can spread your pass days across a 14-day window instead of using them all in a row. I also like the mix of big-ticket attractions, especially Universal Studios and the Warner Bros. Studio Tour, with options such as the Hollywood Sign walk and a harbor aquarium.

The catch is that Los Angeles is spread out, and the pass does not include transport between attractions. You’ll need to plan around traffic, opening hours and reservations, and move briskly to make a multi-day pass pay off.

Key points before you buy

• Universal Studios is included, but you need to reserve your visit in advance.
• Your pass days work within a 14-day window, not as 24-hour blocks. Entry must be scanned by 5:30 p.m.
• Warner Bros. Studio Tour, the Hollywood Sign walk and other popular activities need reservations.
• Some attractions are far from central Los Angeles. Transport to and from attractions is not included.
• The listed price is $246 per person. Value depends on how many included activities you can realistically fit in.
• Sync the pass with the Go City app to check current access details, hours and reservation instructions.

A pass built around a very big city

The All-Inclusive Pass Plus is not a guided tour with a set route. It is a sightseeing bundle: choose a pass for 2, 3, 4, 5 or 7 days, then pick from more than 40 included attractions. The range is broad enough to make a first Los Angeles trip easier to shape, but it also means you need to make the choices yourself.

The city’s distances matter. Hollywood, Santa Monica, Newport Beach, Anaheim and San Diego are not stops you can casually string together in an afternoon. The pass can cover attractions in several of those places, but it does not get you between them. Before activating it, group activities by area and check how much time the day’s travel may take.

You have added flexibility because your pass days are valid over a 14-day period. That helps if you want a rest day, have other plans, or need to adjust for an attraction’s schedule. But activation starts the clock: the pass is valid for the number of days you bought, within that two-week window.

A sightseeing day is a calendar day, not a rolling 24-hour period. If you activate the pass late in the afternoon, you still use one of your days. Start early and have your first attraction scan the pass before 5:30 p.m. You can stay at an attraction until it closes once you are inside, but you cannot wait until evening to make your first entry.

Universal Studios: the headline attraction

Universal Studios Hollywood is the pass’s most obvious centerpiece. Admission is included once, and you must reserve a date. If the park is a priority, check availability before you build the rest of your schedule around it.

A full theme-park day can make sense on its own. Trying to squeeze in several other attractions that same day may turn the pass into a race rather than a holiday. Treat Universal as the main event, then use your remaining pass days for attractions that fit together geographically and by opening hours.

The pass provides admission, but the information here does not promise express access or a way around queues. Allow time for lines and for the park visit itself. That distinction matters when you compare the pass price with individual tickets: the pass can simplify payment, but it does not automatically make a busy day faster.

Warner Bros. and Hollywood’s movie stops

The Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood is another major inclusion, and it needs a reservation. It gives you a behind-the-scenes look at a working studio, a different kind of movie experience from Universal’s rides and attractions. If you are interested in how film and television production happens, this is a strong use of a pass day.

Hollywood’s other included options can fill out the same area without requiring a long trip across town. Madame Tussauds Hollywood offers celebrity figures and photo stops. The Dolby Theatre has a guided tour, while the TCL Chinese Theatre offers a choice between a tour or a movie with a drink. Check the app for the current choice and access instructions before setting out.

The Big Bus Discover Tour gives you a broad view of the city, with hop-on, hop-off service. It can be useful early in a visit, when you want a general sense of the sights and a way to connect several stops. Just remember that a sightseeing bus is not a substitute for checking travel time: Los Angeles traffic can affect how much ground you cover.

There is also a Big Bus Celebrity Homes & Lifestyle Tour, which requires a reservation. A smaller, open-air bus option has been recommended for its ability to use narrower streets. A guide named Andrew has been praised for making that kind of route engaging. Tour formats and availability can change, so check the app and reserve ahead rather than counting on a particular bus or guide.

From the Hollywood Sign to the coast

The Original Hollywood Sign Walking Tour is a more active way to see one of the city’s best-known landmarks. It requires a reservation. Check the details before you commit, including the meeting instructions and the time needed, then avoid pairing it with a tightly scheduled attraction on the other side of town.

On the coast, the Highlights of Santa Monica and Venice Beach Bike Tour offers a guided way to connect two famous beach areas. The Newport Beach Whale Watch & Dolphin Tour provides a very different outing, on the water, and also requires a reservation. It is worth checking its location and schedule carefully before adding it to a day based in Hollywood or downtown.

The Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach is another useful change of pace. It gives you an indoor attraction focused on marine life and can suit families or anyone who wants a break from studios and city tours. It requires a reservation, so do not assume you can simply walk in with the pass.

A pass can make these varied outings more affordable, but it cannot make them close together. Choose one part of the region for each day where possible. A beach outing, a Hollywood studio visit and a theme park can all be appealing, but trying to combine them without checking travel time is a recipe for spending too much of your day in transit.

Theme parks and attractions beyond Los Angeles

The pass also includes Knott’s Berry Farm and LEGOLAND California. LEGOLAND requires a reservation, and it is a separate destination from the central Los Angeles sights. It can be a good fit if a theme park is a priority for your group, but it needs its own planning rather than being treated as a quick add-on.

San Diego Zoo is included as well, with an important restriction: you cannot visit the zoo and LEGOLAND California on the same pass day. Both are substantial outings, so this rule is unlikely to be a problem if you plan a separate day for each. Still, check the current reservation instructions and travel time before you activate the pass.

The SoFi Stadium Tour rounds out the options for sports and architecture fans. The attraction mix is one of the pass’s strengths: you are not locked into a single kind of holiday. But some included activities may be less useful to you than others, and the number of choices alone does not guarantee savings. Pick the experiences you truly want first.

Does the $246 price represent good value?

The listed price is $246 per person. Whether that is a bargain depends on your pass length, the attractions you choose and the time you have to reach them. A pass is most useful when it replaces several admissions you would otherwise buy separately. If you only want Universal Studios and one other stop, compare the individual prices before committing.

One visitor who used the pass for four attractions estimated savings of about $60 to $80 compared with buying those admissions separately. Treat that as an example, not a promise: ticket prices and attraction availability can change. The practical test is simple. Add up the current admission prices for the places you genuinely plan to visit, then compare that total with the pass cost.

The best value often comes from combining a high-priced attraction such as Universal with a studio tour and several other included activities. Yet there is a limit to how much you can sensibly fit into a day. If you rush between distant attractions, the savings may come at the cost of the experience itself.

Ease of use is another part of the value. The pass arrives digitally as a PDF, and you can save it to your phone or print it. The Go City app keeps the pass and attraction details in one place. Keep your phone charged, and check the app for the latest hours, access requirements and reservation steps.

Do not assume the pass means skipping every ticket line. It gives admission, but some attractions may still have lines or need staff to process the pass. Build in a little slack, especially on busy days, and make reservations well ahead for the most popular activities.

Plan the days before you activate

Start by listing your must-do attractions, then sort them by location. Put Hollywood stops together where possible; give Universal its own day if you want time to enjoy the park; and set aside separate days for farther destinations such as Newport Beach, LEGOLAND or San Diego Zoo.

Next, check reservations. Universal, Warner Bros., the Big Bus Celebrity Homes & Lifestyle Tour, the Aquarium of the Pacific, LEGOLAND California and the Hollywood Sign walk are among the activities that require advance booking. Reservation rules can change, so use the Go City app as your final reference rather than relying on an old printed guide.

Then check opening hours, particularly if you are visiting during a holiday period. Attractions can change their schedules or close, and the pass lineup itself can change. The app is meant to provide the current information. If an attraction is central to your trip, confirm it is available before you purchase or activate the pass.

The pass is valid for one year from purchase and activates only when you visit your first attraction. That gives you time to plan, but once the first scan happens, your chosen number of sightseeing days must fit within the next 14 days. Keep the first day for a full schedule, not a late start.

Who should choose the All-Inclusive Pass Plus?

This pass suits first-time visitors with a long list of paid attractions and enough days to enjoy them. It can also work well for families or groups who want to mix theme parks, tours, museums and outdoor activities, provided everyone is comfortable with a planned schedule.

It is less appealing if you prefer a slow pace, have only one or two paid attractions in mind, or do not want to coordinate reservations. It is also not a transport pass, so budget separately for getting around. The app helps organize admissions, but you still need to make the route and watch the clock.

I would buy it after checking the current attraction list and doing a quick price comparison, not simply because 40-plus options sound like a lot. If Universal, Warner Bros. and several other included stops are already on your itinerary, the pass can be a practical way to save. If your plans are still loose, make reservations and travel distances part of the decision.

FAQ

How many days can I choose?

You can buy a pass for 2, 3, 4, 5 or 7 days.

How long do I have to use the pass days?

The pass days must be used within a 14-day period after your first attraction visit. The pass is valid for one year from purchase before it is activated.

What time must I enter an attraction?

Your pass must be scanned for entry between 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. You can remain at the attraction until closing after entering.

Do I need to reserve attractions in advance?

Yes, some popular activities require reservations. Universal Studios Hollywood, Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood and several other attractions have reservation requirements. Check the Go City app for current instructions.

Are LEGOLAND California and San Diego Zoo included on the same day?

Both are included, but they can only be visited on different pass days.

Are meals and transport included?

Food and drinks are not included unless an attraction specifically states otherwise. Transport to and from attractions is also not included unless stated.