Los Angeles: All-Inclusive Pass Plus with Universal Studios

Los Angeles rewards a well-planned hit list. The Go City All-Inclusive Pass Plus bundles more than 40 attractions into one digital pass, including Universal Studios Hollywood, Warner Bros. Studio Tour, Big Bus sightseeing, museums, zoos, bike tours, and more. You choose a 2, 3, 4, 5, or 7-day pass, then visit as much as you can during a 14-day window.

I like the big attraction lineup, especially the mix of movie studios, theme parks, city tours, and family activities. I also like the flexibility of using the Go City app, since it holds your pass, attraction details, opening times, and reservation instructions in one place.

The main catch is that this is not a magic skip-the-line card. You still need to manage Los Angeles traffic, reserve popular activities, and scan your pass by 5:30 p.m. The $246 price can be excellent value, but only if you plan full days and group attractions by location.

Key points to know before buying

• Universal Studios is included once: You receive single admission to Universal Studios Hollywood, a major reason many people choose the Plus pass.
• More than 40 attractions are available: The mix includes Warner Bros., Madame Tussauds, Big Bus tours, aquariums, zoos, museums, stadium tours, and theme parks.
• Your pass works by calendar day: A 3-day pass means three sightseeing days, not three rolling 24-hour periods.
• Reservations matter: Universal Studios, Warner Bros., Aquarium of the Pacific, the celebrity homes tour, and several other activities require advance booking.
• San Diego requires planning: LEGOLAND California and San Diego Zoo cannot be visited on the same pass day.
• The pass does not include transport or meals: You need to budget for getting around a very spread-out city and feeding yourself between stops.

What the $246 pass really gives you

At $246 per person, the pass is not automatically a bargain. It becomes good value when you use the expensive headline attractions and add one or two smaller stops on the same day.

Universal Studios Hollywood is the clearest value driver. A full day at the park gives you rides and movie-themed entertainment, and the pass includes one admission. Warner Bros. Studio Tour is another strong addition, especially if you enjoy film and television production. Add the Big Bus tour, Madame Tussauds, or an included museum, and the math can quickly work in your favor.

A useful target is to plan attractions worth more than the pass price across your chosen number of days. A four-day pass gives you room to combine major outings with shorter activities. A two-day pass is more demanding. You may save money, but only if you start early and keep moving.

The pass works best for someone who already wants several paid attractions. If you mainly want beaches, neighborhood walks, free viewpoints, and casual sightseeing, buying individual tickets may be simpler. Los Angeles has plenty to do without a pass, and the card rewards quantity more than spontaneity.

How the calendar-day system affects your plans

Your pass is valid for one year from purchase, but it activates when you first enter an included attraction. After that, your selected number of days must be used within a 14-day period.

This sounds flexible, and it is, but there is an important detail: the pass counts calendar days. A pass activated at 4 p.m. still uses that day, even if you only have a short time left. I would activate it early in the morning, not after lunch.

You must scan the pass for entry between 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. You can stay at an attraction after 5:30 p.m. if you entered before the cutoff. This matters at Universal Studios, Knott’s Berry Farm, and other places where a full day may run into the evening.

The two-week validity window can help you build rest days. For example, you might use a five-day pass over seven or eight days, leaving time for the beach, shopping, or a slower day. Just remember that the pass gives you a set number of sightseeing days, not unlimited admission throughout the entire two-week period.

Universal Studios Hollywood is the main event

Universal Studios Hollywood gives the Pass Plus its strongest pull. The package includes single admission, so plan this as one substantial day rather than a quick stop between other attractions.

You can expect rides and entertainment based around familiar films and television productions. The attraction is especially useful for families and anyone who wants a full theme-park day during a Los Angeles visit.

Reserve it in advance. Universal is marked as requiring a reservation, and its popularity can make last-minute planning risky. Check the current instructions in the Go City app before you travel, since access rules and operating details can change.

Do not try to pair Universal with a distant activity simply because both are included. Los Angeles traffic can turn a short map distance into a long transfer. Give Universal the day, arrive early, and use the evening for dinner or a nearby plan that does not require another timed admission.

Warner Bros. and the movie-studio side of Los Angeles

The Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood is one of the best choices for anyone more interested in how productions are made than in celebrity photographs. It is a reserved experience, so secure a time before you build the rest of your day around it.

The tour gives your pass a different feel from a theme park. Instead of rides, you get a behind-the-scenes look at a working entertainment brand and the sets, stories, and production world connected with Warner Bros. The exact route and available areas can change, so check the app for current information.

I would pair Warner Bros. with nearby Hollywood activities, not with Santa Monica or Long Beach. Add the Hollywood Sign walking tour if the timing works, but be careful not to create a schedule with no breathing room. Reserved tours are less forgiving than a museum where you can walk in at any time.

The Original Hollywood Sign Walking Tour also requires a reservation. It offers a more active way to see one of Los Angeles’s best-known landmarks. Wear suitable walking shoes and leave time for the meeting instructions, since the pass does not include transportation to the starting point.

Big Bus tours help you get your bearings

The Big Bus Hop-on Hop-off Discover Tour is useful near the beginning of your visit. Los Angeles is difficult to understand from a map alone, and a city tour can help you decide which areas deserve more of your limited time.

You also get access to the Big Bus Celebrity Homes and Lifestyle Tour, which requires a reservation. This is a separate experience, so do not assume the regular hop-on hop-off ticket covers both automatically.

A practical tip is to choose the open-air bus option when available. One past user specifically praised the smaller open-air bus and guide Andrew for reaching narrower roads. That kind of vehicle can make the tour feel less like a transfer and more like a proper city outing.

The drawback is time. Hop-on tours are useful only if you accept their pace and route. Traffic can slow the trip, and the pass does not cover your journey to the bus stop. Use the app and current route information before setting up a tightly timed afternoon.

Hollywood’s indoor attractions are easy add-ons

Madame Tussauds Hollywood and the Dolby Theatre Guided Tour are shorter, easy-to-combine activities. The wax museum is built for photos and recognizable celebrity figures, while the Dolby Theatre offers a guided look at the venue associated with the Academy Awards.

You can also choose one TCL Chinese Theatre option: a tour, or a movie and drink. Read the current terms before arriving, since the choice is limited to one option rather than both.

These attractions are useful on a Hollywood day because they can fill gaps around a reserved tour. They are not strong reasons alone to buy a $246 pass, but they help increase its value once Universal and Warner Bros. are already on your schedule.

Keep your expectations sensible. A pass gives you entry, not necessarily priority access. Earlier feedback also raised an important practical issue: some attractions may still require you to wait while staff process the pass or issue a ticket. Bring patience during busy periods.

Beaches, bikes, and the west side

The Highlights of Santa Monica and Venice Beach Bike Tour gives the pass a welcome change of pace. Instead of spending the whole trip indoors or in queues, you get an active outing along two famous coastal areas.

It is a good choice for a morning or afternoon when you want to see the west side at a slower pace. You will need to arrange your own transportation to the activity, since travel to and from attractions is not included.

Do not schedule this on the same day as an attraction far across the city. Santa Monica and Venice belong in a west-side cluster, while Universal, Warner Bros., and Hollywood need their own planning. The pass saves admission money, but it cannot solve the city’s distances.

The Whale Watch and Dolphin Tour from Newport Beach is another coastal option and requires a reservation. This is a separate trip south of Los Angeles, so treat it as a regional day rather than a quick add-on. The pass can make the tour more affordable, but the value depends on how much of your day you are willing to spend reaching Newport Beach.

Aquarium, zoo, and theme-park choices

The Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach is a strong family option and requires a reservation. It gives you an educational indoor stop that can balance out more commercial Hollywood attractions.

Knott’s Berry Farm is another full-day possibility. Like Universal Studios, it deserves a clear block of time. Trying to squeeze it between short sightseeing stops will leave you with a rushed and tiring day.

The San Diego Zoo and LEGOLAND California extend the pass well beyond Los Angeles. Both require reservations, and they cannot be visited on the same pass day. That rule makes sense given the distance and the amount of time each attraction can require, but it also means you need to plan carefully.

If San Diego is already part of your trip, these inclusions can add serious value. If you are staying only in central Los Angeles, do not count them as easy savings. The admission may be included, but transport, fuel, and time are still yours to cover.

SoFi Stadium and the extra attractions

The SoFi Stadium Tour offers a different side of Los Angeles, centered on a major sports venue rather than movies or beaches. It can suit football fans, architecture enthusiasts, and anyone looking for an attraction outside the usual Hollywood circuit.

The pass also includes additional activities beyond the headline names. The exact lineup can change, so use the Go City app as your working guide rather than relying only on a printed list or an old itinerary.

This changing lineup is both a benefit and a drawback. You may find a new activity that fits your schedule, but an attraction you expected could be closed or no longer included. One person arrived to find the wax museum was no longer part of the pass, while another reported closures during the Christmas period. Check every attraction before you commit your day.

The app is useful, but planning still falls to you

Your pass arrives as a PDF, and you can save it to your phone or print it. The Go City app adds the better planning tools, including attraction information, opening times, reservation details, and the current list of inclusions.

I recommend syncing the pass before your first outing and carrying a fully charged smartphone. A dead battery can turn a simple entry process into a needless problem. A printed copy is a sensible backup.

The app reduces confusion, but it does not create reservations for you. Popular activities need advance booking, and some may have limited spaces or put you on standby. Reserve Warner Bros., Universal, the celebrity homes tour, the aquarium, the Hollywood Sign walk, and other marked activities as soon as your dates are firm.

Check hours again if you are visiting during a holiday. Attractions can close, shorten their schedules, or change entry rules. The pass terms allow the attraction lineup and opening times to change, so a quick check the night before is worth the effort.

A practical sample plan for four days

A four-day pass gives you enough time to use the big inclusions without packing every hour. Here is a sensible framework:

• Day one: Start with the Big Bus Discover Tour to understand the city, then use a Hollywood attraction such as Madame Tussauds or the Dolby Theatre if timing allows.
• Day two: Give Universal Studios Hollywood a full day. Reserve ahead and scan the pass before 5:30 p.m.
• Day three: Book Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood, then add the Hollywood Sign walking tour only if the times and meeting points fit comfortably.
• Day four: Choose between the Aquarium of the Pacific, SoFi Stadium, the Santa Monica and Venice bike tour, or Knott’s Berry Farm.

This plan is only a starting point. I would not force all four days if your list is shorter. A pass rewards a full schedule, but a vacation should not feel like a race from barcode to barcode.

For seven days, add San Diego Zoo, LEGOLAND California, Newport Beach whale watching, and extra museums or tours. Keep the San Diego attractions on separate days and allow for the time needed to reach them.

Who will get the most value?

The pass suits first-time visitors with a long list of paid attractions. Families may find it useful because Universal, Knott’s Berry Farm, the aquarium, LEGOLAND, and the zoo offer several ways to build full days.

It also works for film fans who want Universal, Warner Bros., Hollywood Sign activities, Madame Tussauds, and the TCL Chinese Theatre. The combination gives you more than one version of the entertainment industry.

I would be cautious if you prefer unplanned days. The best savings require reservations, early starts, and some route planning. You also need to pay for meals and transportation separately, and those costs can add up quickly in Los Angeles.

The pass is less convincing for a short trip focused mainly on beaches or free city sights. It is also less useful if closures remove the attractions you wanted most. Check the active lineup before purchase, not after you arrive.

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

Buy it if Universal Studios is on your must-do list and you also want Warner Bros., at least one Big Bus tour, and several smaller attractions. That combination gives the $246 price a realistic chance of working in your favor.

Choose a longer pass only if you can fill the days with activities you genuinely want. The five and seven-day options offer more room, but they do not create value by themselves. A two or three-day pass can be better for a focused Los Angeles visit.

I would book this pass for an organized first visit, a family holiday, or a movie-focused trip. I would skip it for a relaxed beach break, a trip built around free activities, or an itinerary that cannot accommodate reservations and early starts.

FAQ

How many attractions are included?

The pass includes admission to more than 40 Los Angeles attractions, tours, and activities. The active lineup can change, so check the Go City app for the latest information.

Is Universal Studios Hollywood included?

Yes. The pass includes single admission to Universal Studios Hollywood, and a reservation is required.

How long can I use the pass?

You can choose a 2, 3, 4, 5, or 7-day pass. After your first attraction visit, it is valid for the number of purchased days within a 14-day period.

Does the pass work in rolling 24-hour periods?

No. The pass works by calendar day, not by rolling 24-hour periods. Starting early helps you make better use of each day.

Do I need reservations?

Yes, some popular activities require reservations. The listed attractions that require advance booking include Universal Studios, Warner Bros. Studio Tour, Big Bus Celebrity Homes and Lifestyle Tour, Aquarium of the Pacific, LEGOLAND California, San Diego Zoo, and the Original Hollywood Sign Walking Tour.

What time must I enter an attraction?

Your pass must be scanned for entry between 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. You may remain at an attraction after 5:30 p.m. if you entered before the cutoff.

Are food and transportation included?

No. Food and drinks are not included unless specifically stated, and transportation to and from attractions is also not included.