Los Angeles: All-Inclusive Pass Plus with Universal Studios

Big-ticket LA days can add up fast. The Los Angeles All-Inclusive Pass Plus gives you entry to more than 40 attractions for 2, 3, 4, 5, or 7 days, including Universal Studios Hollywood and the Warner Bros. Studio Tour. I like the broad choice and the chance to combine major theme parks with city tours, museums, beaches, and wildlife stops. I also like the Go City app, which keeps the pass, attraction details, and reservation instructions in one place. The main catch is that you need to plan carefully, since Los Angeles attractions are spread across a wide area and several popular activities require advance reservations.

At $246 per person, this pass can be excellent value if you fill your sightseeing days with high-priced attractions. It is less useful if you prefer a slow trip, choose only one major attraction, or lose time crossing town. The pass is not a skip-the-line ticket, and you still need to meet each attraction’s entry rules.

Key points before you buy

• Universal Studios is the headline inclusion: You receive one admission to Universal Studios Hollywood, making the pass especially appealing to film fans and families.
• The pass covers more than Hollywood: You can add the Aquarium of the Pacific, San Diego Zoo, LEGOLAND California, Knott’s Berry Farm, Santa Monica, Venice Beach, and Newport Beach.
• Reservations matter: Warner Bros. Studio Tour, Aquarium of the Pacific, the celebrity homes tour, the Hollywood Sign walk, LEGOLAND, and other activities may require booking ahead.
• Your days are calendar days: After your first attraction visit, the pass works for the number of days purchased within a 14-day period, not for rolling 24-hour periods.
• Start early: Attractions must scan your pass for entry by 5:30 p.m., though you can stay until closing once admitted.
• The app is your control center: Sync the digital pass to Go City for current opening hours, attraction changes, and reservation details.

What the $246 price really buys you

The pass costs $246 per person, with the available duration ranging from two to seven days. The exact value depends on how much you use it, not simply how many days you hold it.

I would think of the pass as a sightseeing budget with a deadline. If you visit Universal Studios, Warner Bros., a Big Bus tour, a museum, and one or two other major attractions, the total individual ticket cost may exceed the pass price. One visitor used four attractions and estimated savings of roughly $60 to $80 compared with buying separate tickets. That is a useful benchmark, though your result will depend on the attractions you choose.

The best value comes from pairing expensive attractions with shorter activities. For example, you might spend most of one day at Universal Studios, then use another day for Warner Bros., a bus tour, Madame Tussauds, and a guided theater visit. You get more from the pass when you mix full-day attractions with activities that take less time.

Do not buy it just because the attraction list is long. You will not visit 40 places in a normal holiday, and some included activities are far from central Hollywood. The pass rewards a busy plan. It is not designed for a leisurely stay built around one attraction each day.

Universal Studios Hollywood makes the pass tempting

Universal Studios Hollywood is the strongest reason many people consider this pass. The package includes one admission, so you can spend a full day on the rides and movie-themed attractions without paying a separate park admission.

This is a major benefit for families and visitors who already plan to visit Universal. It also gives the pass a clear anchor. Instead of trying to squeeze in a string of small attractions to justify the price, you can build the trip around Universal and use the pass for several additional stops.

Remember the wording: this is single admission. The pass does not promise repeat entry, front-of-line access, or special treatment inside the park. You still need to account for the park’s opening arrangements and your own transport.

A Universal day can also make the pass harder to maximize. It may occupy most of your sightseeing day, leaving little time for another activity. That is not a problem if Universal is a priority, but it means you should not count a long list of same-day attractions in your savings plan.

Warner Bros. Studio Tour adds a more personal film connection

The Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood is another top inclusion, and it gives you a different kind of film experience from Universal Studios. Universal focuses on rides and entertainment. Warner Bros. is a behind-the-scenes studio visit, which suits you if you want to connect movie and television production with real studio spaces.

A reservation is required, so do not assume you can turn up whenever you like. Put this tour into your schedule early, then build nearby plans around its confirmed time.

The combination of Universal and Warner Bros. is one of the pass’s best features. You get two very different versions of Hollywood: the polished theme park and the working studio tour. If you are visiting LA for the first time and have a long film-related wish list, this pairing can help justify the cost quickly.

See Hollywood from buses, wax figures, and famous theaters

The Big Bus Hop-on Hop-off Discover Tour offers a simple way to get an overview of Los Angeles. It is useful early in your stay, when you want to see several areas before deciding where to spend more time.

You can also use the Big Bus Celebrity Homes and Lifestyle Tour, but this activity requires a reservation. The tour may place you on standby if you do not arrange it ahead of time, so treat it as a booked activity rather than a casual add-on.

The open-air bus option received particular praise for its access to smaller roads. A guide named Andrew was singled out for doing a good job, so if that format is available when you visit, it may offer a more pleasant view than a larger enclosed vehicle.

Madame Tussauds Hollywood is listed as an included attraction, but the attraction list can change. One pass holder was turned away because the wax museum was no longer included at that time. Check the current Go City app before you plan your day around it, and do not rely on an old printed guide.

The pass also includes a choice at TCL Chinese Theatre: a tour, or a movie and drink. That choice gives you some flexibility, especially if the day is hot or you want a quieter evening activity.

The Dolby Theatre Guided Tour adds another focused Hollywood stop. It is shorter and more structured than a full bus tour, so it may fit well between other plans.

Add the coast and the water

The pass is not limited to central Hollywood. You can take a Highlights of Santa Monica and Venice Beach Bike Tour, then see a different side of the region away from studio attractions.

The bike tour is a good choice if you want an active way to experience the coast. It also gives the pass variety. A schedule made entirely of museums and studio visits can feel repetitive, while a beach ride changes the pace.

The Whale Watch and Dolphin Tour from Newport Beach adds another coastal option. It requires a reservation, and Newport Beach is not a quick hop from Hollywood. Allow enough time for the journey and check the tour’s operating schedule before you commit to it.

The Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach is another reservation-based attraction. It works well as a dedicated outing, particularly if you are traveling with children or want a break from film and celebrity attractions.

These coastal activities show both the strength and the weakness of the pass. You have plenty of choice, but Los Angeles is geographically spread out. A pass cannot remove traffic, distance, or parking time. Group attractions by area instead of zigzagging between Hollywood, Long Beach, Newport Beach, and San Diego on the same day.

Theme parks and zoos require serious scheduling

Knott’s Berry Farm is included and can provide another full day of rides. If your group enjoys amusement parks, adding Knott’s after Universal may produce strong value from the pass.

LEGOLAND California and the San Diego Zoo are also available, but they are major distance commitments from Los Angeles. The pass rules state that LEGOLAND California and the San Diego Zoo must be visited on different days. Plan them as separate full-day outings, not as quick extras.

This is where a seven-day pass may make more sense than a two-day pass. A longer pass gives you room for Universal, Warner Bros., the coast, a theme park, and San Diego without forcing every day into an exhausting race.

You should also check current opening times before traveling. Attraction schedules can change, especially around holidays, and included venues may close or alter their operating hours. The app is more reliable than an old schedule or a printed guide.

The Hollywood Sign walk and city tours

The Original Hollywood Sign Walking Tour is a reservation-based activity that adds an outdoor element to a pass otherwise heavy on ticketed attractions. It may suit you if you want a closer connection with the city’s famous hills rather than simply viewing the sign from a bus.

The walk needs a fixed place in your day, so reserve it before filling the rest of your schedule. You should also avoid treating it as a casual stop between distant attractions. The supplied details do not specify the walking length or difficulty, so check the current information in the app before booking.

The pass also includes the Big Bus tours, the Dolby Theatre tour, and the TCL Chinese Theatre option. These are useful for first-time sightseeing because they help you get an overview without buying several separate tickets.

I would use one of these tours near the beginning of your stay, then return to the places that interest you most. That approach keeps the pass from becoming a checklist.

The Go City app helps, but it does not plan the trip for you

Your pass is delivered digitally as a PDF. You can save it to your phone or tablet, print it, and activate it at your first included attraction.

The app is worth setting up before you leave. Sync your pass, check the latest attraction list, read entry instructions, and reserve activities that require bookings. Keep your phone charged, since the digital pass is central to the experience.

The app reduces paperwork, but it does not solve every practical problem. You still need to study distances, check opening hours, and allow for attraction time. You also need to scan the pass by 5:30 p.m. for entry. Once inside, you can stay until closing, but arriving after the scan cutoff will not help.

The pass is valid for one year from purchase until you activate it. After activation, the purchased number of days must be used within a 14-day period. These rules give you flexibility for a trip with rest days, but the days are calendar days, not rolling 24-hour periods.

Start early. A late morning start can turn a two-attraction day into a one-attraction day, particularly when reservations and traffic are involved.

Where the pass can disappoint

The biggest practical issue is not the pass itself. It is the amount of time required to move around Los Angeles.

A full-day Universal visit, a Warner Bros. appointment, and a coastal tour may all be worthwhile, but fitting them together takes discipline. If you spend too much time in traffic, you may use only a small part of the pass’s attraction list.

Reservations are another weak point. The most popular tours may sell out or place you on standby. Book them well in advance, especially the Warner Bros. Studio Tour, celebrity homes tour, Aquarium of the Pacific, Hollywood Sign walk, and LEGOLAND California.

Attraction changes can also cause trouble. Madame Tussauds and other venues have not always remained available, and one visitor found Sony Pictures closed through the Christmas holiday even though the guide did not make that clear. Check each attraction shortly before your visit, particularly during holiday periods.

You should also expect regular admission procedures. The pass may save money, but it does not always save waiting time. A past user reported needing to stand in lines while staff printed tickets from another computer. The exact process can change, but the pass should not be confused with a universal fast-track card.

Finally, food, drinks, and transport are not included unless specifically stated. Your real trip budget must include meals, rides, parking, or other transport between attractions.

Who will get the most from this pass?

I would recommend it most strongly to a first-time LA visitor with a full sightseeing list. It suits families who want Universal and Knott’s, film fans who want Universal and Warner Bros., and active visitors who will add a bike tour, Hollywood Sign walk, or coastal outing.

It also suits people who enjoy planning. You need to compare opening times, reserve key attractions, and group activities by area. The more organized you are, the more likely you are to save money.

I would be more cautious if you are staying only two days and want a relaxed pace. A short pass can still work if Universal and one or two other costly attractions are your priorities, but you may not have time to exploit the wider list.

The pass is also a poor fit if your main goal is free sightseeing, beaches, viewpoints, and neighborhood walks. Those activities are often more flexible and do not require an all-inclusive attraction pass.

Should you book the Los Angeles All-Inclusive Pass Plus?

Book it if Universal Studios is already on your plan and you can add several other included attractions. Warner Bros., Big Bus, the Aquarium of the Pacific, Knott’s Berry Farm, and the major tours can push the total value well beyond $246, especially on a four-to-seven-day itinerary.

Before buying, open the Go City app and check three things: the current attraction list, reservation requirements, and operating dates for your trip. Pay close attention to any attraction you consider essential, since inclusions and schedules can change.

My verdict is positive, with a clear condition: plan for value, not volume. The pass can save a substantial amount and make a busy LA visit easier to organize, but only if you start early, reserve ahead, and respect the distances between attractions.

FAQ

How much does the Los Angeles All-Inclusive Pass Plus cost?

The listed price is $246 per person. Passes are available for 2, 3, 4, 5, or 7 days.

How many attractions are included?

The pass provides access to more than 40 Los Angeles attractions, tours, and activities. The exact attraction line-up can change, so check the Go City app before visiting.

Is Universal Studios Hollywood included?

Yes. The pass includes single admission to Universal Studios Hollywood. Reservations are required.

How long is the pass valid?

The pass is valid for the number of days purchased within a 14-day period after activation. It does not operate as a series of rolling 24-hour periods.

When does the pass activate?

It activates when you use it for the first time at an included attraction. Before activation, it is valid for one year from the purchase date.

Can I enter attractions after 5:30 p.m.?

Your pass must be scanned for entry by 5:30 p.m. You can stay until the attraction closes once you have been admitted.

Do I need to reserve attractions in advance?

Yes, several popular activities require reservations. These include Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood, the Big Bus Celebrity Homes and Lifestyle Tour, Aquarium of the Pacific, the Original Hollywood Sign Walking Tour, and LEGOLAND California.

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

No. The pass rules require San Diego Zoo and LEGOLAND California to be visited on different days.

Are food and transportation included?

Food, drinks, and transportation to and from attractions are not included unless a specific attraction says otherwise.