2025 Holidays at USH

[Viator]

Universal Studios Hollywood - Los Angeles, California - Official Site

Welcome to Universal Studios Hollywood! Learn more about our incredible theme park attractions in California such as The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ and much more!

www.universalstudioshollywood.com

Information has come out for 2025s Holidays at Universal Studios Hollywood, beginning earlier this year on November 21st; the event brings the return of Grinchmas, Holiday decorations around the park including Hogsmeade and Super Nintendo World, and Holiday Lights at Hogwarts Castle.

EVE has also been confirmed to be returning alongside Holidays at USH.

 

[Jerroddragon]

The website says 9/24....but it might start the 21?

 

[Jerroddragon]

Grinchmas Merch is now at the Studio Store in City Walk

Holiday in the park merch includes an ugly sweeter collection (but just the look/design the material is just normal long sleeve)
The films include BTTF, Jurassic, HP, Jaws, Hello Kitty, The Monsters and Shrek

The Minions got some new Holiday Merch and Wicked got a new mini kids collection

Most 70% HHN merch s sold out with Fallout being the biggest exceptions along with the Clown Cafe T shirt

 

[BriefCasey]

Pleasantly surprised to see the Who Hash is back. Haven't seen that in years, I wanna say.

 

[Jerroddragon]

The Citywalk tree is also themed to wicked

That’s a super fun and smart move

 

[Freak]

Pleasantly surprised to see the Who Hash is back. Haven't seen that in years, I wanna say.

Haven’t tried the Who Hash. What is it exactly?

 

[BriefCasey]

Haven’t tried the Who Hash. What is it exactly?

When I last had it, I believe it was roast beef with tater tots and scallions. I forget what else might have been in there but it looks like it might be more than just that this time.

 

[Jerroddragon]

Wicked Meet and greets and extra treat themed to the movie is starting 11/21

 

[Jerroddragon]

Went Yesterday to the first day of Grinchmas

The Pros
They lines everyone up who wanted to Rope Drop the Grinch, last year people just rushed the line area
The Grinch line and Meet and greet was moved for shade for both guests and the TMS
The New Music show in the Grinchmas area is very well done and features "Where are you Christmas"
The Castle show and Tree lightening are the same but great as always
New Who characters 2-3 new characters, the Baker was here last year but was changed to a woman so kind of a new character. Along with a new wrapping paper character and one who looks like a cloud is on his head and has a weather device/staff
The Snowmen Mario/Luigi are now elevated off the ground for better photos

The Things that went wrong on opening day
1) The Lower lot seems to be having issues, we just had a day when the power went off and yesterday at 9:30 AM both Mario Kart and Jurassic were down
2) I heard the Jurassic Christmas was not light up last night
3) The biggest one, the second row of seats at the Grinch area are mostly unmarked and are for people with the Access card....so waited for the Tree lightnings and 20 mins before the show asked to move....just I'm sorry I don't understand if these seats are for them then why not have a TM telling people at 4:00 and walking around telling people along with the front row has signs on it so I hope they add the same sign to the other seats affected
4) No Elphaba, this is the second time she was not meeting when I went.....I hope they keep the characters longer because the holidays are looking to be packed

It was mostly a fun time, I would have gotten a little more done but it was a busy day and the rides being down in the AM show to me why Transformers and other rides need to be up at opening for Grinchmas and not 10:00 AM.

Love Universal but it was packed and the park closing at 8 PM.....just my god hoping the coaster gives us more park time because closing at 8 is just insane, even Six flags will have longer hours for the holidays in the park most nights from what I can see. The parks were also busy so not sure why you are rushing people out when you finally have big crowds
Lastly, I hope USH is taking notes people like events. Lunar New Years and a Food and Wine (this I think could be at the same time as Fan fest) and I think you can keep the park busier then it normally gets

 

[Jerroddragon]

Just got back from the AP take Over event

The Grinch lines in the upper lot and Jurassic got bad, the one at the tram was around 30 mins from what I heard

The longest wait of the night was SLOP at 10 mins for me, I saw the tram got to 35 mins but I walked on it

The characters in the grinch area were at there peak, in their element. All the shows just felt like the actors were giving it there all for the hardcore fans at the event
I did miss Jurassic because they closed the lower lot before 11 PM but it was a great night

USH is the current king of events from HHN, to Fan fest and the two free AP take over events USH goes out of its way with events to make them as good as they can get

From 5 PM - 11 PM
I got on SLOP twice, KFP show once, The Tram, Mario Kart, and got 5 photo characters and talked to 5 Who characters along with Two Grinch tree lightening shows, and one of the rest of the shows, HP castle show, the Frog singing show, The Who band and Story time with Cindy

 

[Brian G.]

Universal Studios Hollywood invites guests to ring in 2026 with EVE, Hollywood’s biggest New Year’s Eve celebration - featuring multiple dance locations, fireworks display, photo ops, and access to select rides and attractions.

EVE returns to Universal Studios Hollywood to ring in the 2026 New Year

Universal Studios Hollywood invites guests to ring in 2026 with EVE, Hollywood’s biggest New Year’s Eve celebration - featuring multiple dance locations, a captivating fireworks display, photo ops, and access to select rides and attractions, on December 31, 2025, with extended hours until 2:00 a.m.

www.insideuniversal.net

 

[Rideguy70]

I don't know... I'm not a fan of how Universal has "Passholder nights" and then doesn't do a dang thing special other than regular park offerings.

Like, I'm not asking for a ton of special things... but even a simple button/sticker/magnet, a rare meet and greet character(s), a specialty food item just for the night, a sponsored Coke soda giveaway (remember when they had those?), exclusive AP photo op, access to the Visa VIP lounge... and not all those, even just one of those things.... like, literally anything other than "we're just extending park hours for you"

It's even worse when I see all the perks that Orlando Passholders get, while I feel like our Hollywood AP program is the ugly step child asking for more gruel, and then not getting it

 

[Jerroddragon]

I don't know... I'm not a fan of how Universal has "Passholder nights" and then doesn't do a dang thing special other than regular park offerings.

Like, I'm not asking for a ton of special things... but even a simple button/sticker/magnet, a rare meet and greet character(s), a specialty food item just for the night, a sponsored Coke soda giveaway (remember when they had those?), exclusive AP photo op, access to the Visa VIP lounge... and not all those, even just one of those things.... like, literally anything other than "we're just extending park hours for you"

It's even worse when I see all the perks that Orlando Passholders get, while I feel like our Hollywood AP program is the ugly step child asking for more gruel, and then not getting it

Its a FREE event with rides that are all basically walk on, shorter meet and greet lines for most characters (except the Grinch), They also had the shows running super quick. In one hour I saw the Tree lightening once, the book reading and the singing show, it was like bam one after another which on normal nights is not the case

Its also for all AP's if your not a platinum this is the best benefit we get, its a free after dark event.....I rather this then 160 bucks and its like Disneyland where "rare" characters come out and thats it now....

If you can point to another park doing a Free event better please let me know because I can't think of any

 

[Rideguy70]

I guess as a Platinum holder, the appeal of short lines is not much of a draw, since the pass already includes access to Express.

But I guess it still irks me a bit that they tout it as a AP event, as if there were something unique that was going to happen that is not offered to the general public. But aside from short wait times, there isn't.

In the meantime, Orland Passholders get freebies and perks all the time. Hollywood doesn't get nearly as much love or recognition in this regard.

 

[Jerroddragon]

I guess as a Platinum holder, the appeal of short lines is not much of a draw, since the pass already includes access to Express.

But I guess it still irks me a bit that they tout it as a AP event, as if there were something unique that was going to happen that is not offered to the general public. But aside from short wait times, there isn't.

In the meantime, Orland Passholders get freebies and perks all the time. Hollywood doesn't get nearly as much love or recognition in this regard.

I would not be against more things but....my evening was filled so from my experience I can't complain

Besides the HP Frog show I had great views to all the shows, meet like 10ish characters most with zero waits and the simpsons characters normally have some sort of a line

I would love more things but I think USH treats up APs much better then Disney or other AP programs. Just everyone I went with and saw were having a good time but sorry to hear for you it was a let down