Los Angeles: All-Inclusive Pass Plus with Universal Studios

Los Angeles is spread out, expensive, and packed with attractions that can quickly drain your budget. This Go City All-Inclusive Pass Plus brings more than 40 activities under one digital pass, including the big prize for many visitors, Universal Studios Hollywood. I like that you can use the pass for 2, 3, 4, 5, or 7 days, with those days spread across a 14-day period.

I especially like the mix of classic movie attractions and outdoor outings. You can tour Warner Bros. in the morning, ride Big Bus through Hollywood, visit the Aquarium of the Pacific, or spend a full day at Universal. The app also helps you reserve activities and check current opening details.

The catch is that this pass rewards careful planning. Los Angeles distances are large, some top attractions require reservations, and you must scan in by 5:30pm, even if you stay until closing. If you only want one or two major sights, buying separate tickets may cost less.

Key points to know before you buy

• Universal Studios is included once: You receive single admission, but advance reservation is required.
• The pass works across a 14-day window: Your chosen number of sightseeing days does not need to be consecutive.
• The best value comes from full days: Combining several smaller attractions with one major visit helps justify the $246 price.
• Popular tours need reservations: Warner Bros., the celebrity homes tour, the aquarium, LEGOLAND, the Hollywood Sign walk, and other activities may require advance booking.
• San Diego requires a separate day for each major attraction: LEGOLAND California and San Diego Zoo cannot be used on the same pass day.
• The Go City app matters: It stores the pass, lists current attractions, and gives the latest opening and booking instructions.

How the $246 pass earns its keep

The listed price is $246 per person. That is a serious upfront cost, so I would not buy this pass simply because it includes many names on a list. You need to use it well.

Universal Studios, Warner Bros. Studio Tour, Knott’s Berry Farm, and the San Diego attractions are the big-value stops. Add a bus tour, a museum, a guided tour, or an aquarium visit, and the savings can become substantial. One visitor calculated savings of roughly $60 to $80 after using four attractions, while other users found the pass particularly worthwhile during a four or five-day visit.

The key is to compare the activities you truly plan to do, not every activity available. If your wish list includes Universal, Warner Bros., and several paid tours, the pass has a strong case. If your plan is mostly beaches, walks, and free viewpoints, it is probably not the right tool.

You also need to account for time and transport. The pass does not include food, drinks, or travel between attractions. A day that looks full on the app may become frustrating once you add Los Angeles traffic and the distance between Hollywood, Santa Monica, Long Beach, Buena Park, and other areas.

Universal Studios is the main event

Universal Studios Hollywood gives this pass its strongest headline attraction. You get one admission, and you can spend a full day on rides and movie-themed attractions.

I would give Universal its own day. Trying to fit another major attraction around it is risky, especially since you need to scan your pass before 5:30pm. The park is not a quick stop, and the value comes from staying long enough to enjoy the rides rather than rushing through for a brief visit.

Universal also gives the pass appeal to families and movie fans who might not otherwise consider a multi-attraction card. It is one of the attractions that can make the pass worthwhile on its own when paired with several smaller visits.

Reserve ahead. Universal is marked as requiring a reservation, and popular dates can fill. Check the Go City app after purchase rather than relying on an old printed list.

Warner Bros. and Hollywood’s movie world

The Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood is another major inclusion. This is a behind-the-scenes studio visit, which gives you a different kind of movie experience from the rides at Universal.

I would place Warner Bros. on a separate half-day, then pair it with another Hollywood attraction if timing allows. Madame Tussauds Hollywood, the Dolby Theatre guided tour, TCL Chinese Theatre, and the Big Bus routes all fit naturally with a Hollywood-focused day, though exact operating times and reservation rules need checking.

The pass includes a choice at TCL Chinese Theatre: a tour, or a movie and drink. That flexibility is useful if your interests change during the day. The Dolby Theatre guided tour adds another look at the city’s entertainment identity.

Madame Tussauds is listed as included in the current details, but attraction lineups can change. One past visitor was turned away because the wax museum was no longer included at that time. Check the app shortly before visiting and again on the day itself.

Big Bus tours help you get your bearings

The Big Bus Hop-on Hop-off Discover Tour is a practical first-day choice. Los Angeles is difficult to understand from a map alone, and a sightseeing bus can help you see how the major areas fit together.

The pass also includes a Big Bus Celebrity Homes and Lifestyle Tour, which requires a reservation. That tour focuses on the starry side of Los Angeles and gives you a different experience from a regular city route.

A useful tip from an earlier visit is to choose the open-air tour on the smaller bus when available. It can reach smaller roads, and a guide named Andrew was singled out for making the trip especially enjoyable. Guide assignments can change, so do not count on a particular person, but the vehicle choice is worth asking about.

The buses are not a substitute for exploring on foot. They are best used as a broad introduction, a rest between busy stops, or an easy way to see more of the city without arranging several separate tours.

Beach time and the Santa Monica to Venice ride

The Highlights of Santa Monica and Venice Beach Bike Tour adds a welcome change of pace. Instead of spending another day indoors or in a vehicle, you get an active outing along two of the city’s best-known coastal areas.

This is a good choice for a morning or afternoon when you want to see Santa Monica and Venice without making the day entirely about paid attractions. It also balances the studio tours and theme parks.

A whale watch and dolphin tour from Newport Beach is included as another coastal option. It requires a reservation and involves more planning because Newport Beach is not close to Hollywood. I would only choose it if you are already building a day around Orange County or are happy to spend part of your pass day getting there.

Aquariums, zoos, and theme parks beyond Universal

The Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach is one of the pass’s strongest non-Hollywood choices. It requires a reservation and gives you a change from celebrity-focused sightseeing. The aquarium works well for families, rainy-day planning, or anyone who wants a slower indoor visit.

Knott’s Berry Farm offers another full-day amusement park option. If you are comparing the pass with individual tickets, include Knott’s in your calculation only if you genuinely want to go. A long drive to an attraction you picked only for its theoretical value is not a saving.

The pass also reaches beyond Los Angeles. You can visit LEGOLAND California and San Diego Zoo, both marked with reservation requirements. They cannot be visited on the same pass day, so plan two separate days if you want both.

That rule matters for a 2-day or 3-day pass. A San Diego day is also a major commitment in distance and time, so it may not fit comfortably into a short Los Angeles visit. For a longer trip, the option can add real value, especially for families.

Hollywood Sign walks and stadium tours

The Original Hollywood Sign Walking Tour requires a reservation and offers a more active way to see one of Los Angeles’s best-known sights. It is a good counterpoint to the studio tours because you are out walking rather than moving from one indoor attraction to another.

Do not treat it as a casual drop-in. Check the meeting instructions and timing in the app, then allow enough time for the walk. The pass includes the activity, but it does not remove the need to plan your day around the starting time.

SoFi Stadium Tour is another distinctive inclusion. It gives you access to one of the city’s major sports venues and broadens the pass beyond film, television, and theme parks. It may appeal most to sports fans, but it is also useful when your group has mixed interests.

A practical way to plan two to seven days

For a two-day pass, focus on the expensive attractions. One day could be Universal Studios. The second might combine Warner Bros. with Hollywood attractions, provided the schedules and reservations line up.

A three-day pass gives you room for Universal, Warner Bros., and either a beach outing, aquarium visit, or bus tour. Do not pack all three major Hollywood options into one day.

Four or five days are easier to use well. You can assign full days to Universal, Warner Bros., and Knott’s, then use the remaining time for Big Bus, Madame Tussauds, the Dolby Theatre, the aquarium, the Hollywood Sign walk, or the beach bike tour.

A seven-day pass suits a slower visit or a family that wants several full-day attractions. You still need to watch the calendar because the pass is valid for the number of days purchased over a 14-day period, not necessarily seven consecutive 24-hour periods.

Start early. The pass must be scanned for entry by 5:30pm, though you can stay at an attraction until closing after entering. This rule is easy to overlook and can ruin a late-start sightseeing day.

The app is more than a digital ticket

Your pass arrives digitally as a PDF, and you can save it to your phone or print it. The Go City app is the better option because it keeps the attraction list, opening hours, reservation instructions, and current access details in one place.

I would sync the pass before your first outing and keep your phone charged. You can activate it at any included attraction. The pass is valid for one year from purchase, but it does not begin counting down until that first visit.

The app is especially important because attractions and schedules can change. The Sony Pictures tour was reportedly closed for an entire Christmas period in the past, and some activities have changed or disappeared from the lineup. Check holiday hours and reservation rules before you build a tightly timed plan.

What the pass does not solve

The pass is not a transport pass. You pay your own way between attractions, and Los Angeles traffic can make a cross-city itinerary much slower than it looks.

Food and drinks are also separate unless an attraction specifically includes them. The TCL Chinese Theatre option, for example, can include a movie and drink, but do not assume meals or refreshments are covered elsewhere.

You may still encounter lines or need staff to process your pass at an attraction. One past user found that the pass worked well but that some staff had to print tickets from another computer. The system is simple overall, but it is not a universal skip-the-line ticket.

The pass is non-refundable, so compare your intended stops before purchasing. If an attraction closes or changes, the app is your best source for current information, but the flexibility does not remove the need to check dates.

Who should buy the All-Inclusive Pass Plus?

I would recommend it to a first-time Los Angeles visitor with a long sightseeing list. It is particularly useful if you want Universal, Warner Bros., a bus tour, Knott’s Berry Farm, the aquarium, and at least one or two additional activities.

Families can also get good value, especially if everyone enjoys theme parks, zoos, aquariums, and movie attractions. A four or five-day visit gives you enough room to spread out the big stops.

I would be cautious if your trip is short and your plans are loose. A two-day pass can work, but only if you reserve early and organize each day by area. I would also skip it if you mainly want free beaches, neighborhood walks, viewpoints, or a relaxed schedule.

Should you book it?

Book the pass if you can name at least three major paid attractions you will definitely visit, then add smaller stops around them. Universal Studios, Warner Bros., and Knott’s Berry Farm can quickly shift the math in your favor, while the included bus tours and Hollywood sights add useful extras.

Before paying, open the Go City app or current attraction guide and confirm that your preferred activities are operating on your dates. Reserve the popular ones, group nearby sights together, and start early enough to scan in before 5:30pm.

The pass is not effortless sightseeing. It is a planning tool. Used with a sensible schedule, it can save money and simplify a busy Los Angeles visit. Used without a plan, it can leave you paying for attractions you never reach.

FAQ

How many attractions are included?

The pass includes admission to more than 40 Los Angeles attractions, tours, and activities. The lineup includes Universal Studios Hollywood, Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood, Madame Tussauds Hollywood, Big Bus tours, Knott’s Berry Farm, the Aquarium of the Pacific, and others.

How long can I use the pass?

You can choose a pass lasting 2, 3, 4, 5, or 7 days. After activation, those days are valid over a 14-day period and do not operate as 24-hour periods.

When does the pass activate?

The pass activates when you first use it for entry at one of the included attractions. It is valid for one year from the purchase date before activation.

Do I need reservations?

Some popular attractions require reservations. These include Universal Studios, Warner Bros. Studio Tour, the Big Bus Celebrity Homes and Lifestyle Tour, the Aquarium of the Pacific, LEGOLAND California, San Diego Zoo, and the Original Hollywood Sign Walking Tour.

Can I visit LEGOLAND California and San Diego Zoo on the same day?

No. LEGOLAND California and San Diego Zoo must be visited on different pass days.

What do I need to bring?

Bring a charged smartphone with your digital pass saved in the Go City app or as a PDF. You may also print a copy. Make sure the pass is scanned for entry by 5:30pm, although you can remain at the attraction until closing.