Universal Mega Movie Summer Roars into Universal Studios Hollywood

Monday, July 14, 2025

Mosasaurus leaps above lagoon at Universal Mega Movie Summer.

Universal Mega Movie Summer has taken over Universal Studios Hollywood, delivering a blockbuster-sized lineup built around Jurassic World Rebirth and other film milestones. Running daily through August 10, 2025, the seasonal program layers exclusive character encounters, limited-time food and merchandise, and after-park screenings onto the park's core attractions. For first-time visitors and franchise super-fans alike, the event transforms the Lower Lot into a living movie set where roar-filled drops, giant animatronics, and Hollywood memorabilia surround every path.

Key Points

Why it matters: extends summer capacity without extra-cost tickets
Jurassic World Rebirth meet-and-greets debut Dolores the Aquilops
84-foot (26-meter) water drop on Jurassic World-The Ride anchors the lineup
Scavenger hunt and photo ops add low-queue options for families
Event also salutes Jaws 50th, Back to the Future 40th, and Fast & Furious preview

Snapshot • Summer Dino Fest

The headline feature is a daily appearance by Dolores, the gentle Aquilops introduced in this summer's top-grossing film. An animal-care specialist accompanies the five-foot-long ceratopsian, sharing behind-the-scenes facts while posing for photos. Nearby, guests tackle a self-guided dinosaur scavenger hunt that winds through the park's Lower Lot and ends at the imposing spinosaurus set piece. A separate photo station frames visitors against a life-size Mosasaurus lunging from digital "water," echoing the dramatic 84-foot (26-meter) finale drop inside Jurassic World-The Ride. Seasonal fare ranges from blue coconut "Lagoon Splash" mocktails at Isla Nu-Bar to chile-lime churros at Jurassic Café.

Background • Blockbusters Converge

Universal has a long tradition of using film anniversaries to spike summer attendance, and 2025 stacks milestones. Jaws turns 50, Back to the Future hits 40, and Wicked enjoys renewed buzz ahead of its two-part film launch. Meanwhile, Jurassic World Rebirth opened over the July 4 holiday to instant worldwide-blockbuster status, giving the park a timely anchor IP. By wrapping these touchpoints into one umbrella event, Universal leverages cross-generational nostalgia while highlighting future investments-namely Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift, whose Dodge Charger ride vehicle now sits on static display. The result is a ready-made itinerary that encourages repeat visits ahead of next year's attraction openings.

Latest Developments • New Dino Experiences

Since the June 13 kickoff, Universal has layered multiple experiential tiers onto the Jurassic footprint, each aimed at a different guest segment-from thrill-seekers chasing coaster counts to families needing stroller-friendly diversions.

Mosasaurus Makeover

Jurassic World-The Ride refreshed its gigantic underwater screen to sync with Rebirth's updated creature design. The Mosasaurus now delivers a louder, echo-enhanced roar, timed lighting cues, and geyser eruptions that soak the front two rows. Ride throughput is up by double digits after loading-dock tweaks installed during a brief refurbishment in May.

Dolores Encounter

Dolores appears seven times daily in 25-minute sets on a shaded stage beside the ride exit. Handlers demonstrate positive-reinforcement cues-tail wiggles, head nods, and vocalizations-while guests stand at a marked line for photos. The interaction replaces the Blue the Velociraptor meet-and-greet, which now rotates to afternoon slots.

Scavenger Hunt & Collectibles

Guests pick up a free map at Jurassic Outfitters, then locate five dino-egg statues. Completing the course earns a foil-stamped sticker sheet featuring new species from the film. Limited-edition merchandise includes amber-colored T-Rex sippers (refillable), a $25 plush Aquilops, and a deluxe "chomp" bubble wand with synchronized LED lights.

After-Park Screening

CityWalk's Universal Cinema runs 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. showings of Jurassic World Rebirth on its seven-story IMAX screen. Ticketholders walk a red-carpet entrance flanked by a full-scale Quetzalcoatlus perched atop a faux-Mayan temple. Arriving 45 minutes early all but guarantees a selfie with minimal crowding.

Analysis

For travelers, Universal Mega Movie Summer creates an unusual overlap: daytime park ticket plus evening blockbuster in the same complex. Families can dodge Los Angeles traffic, grab dinner at CityWalk, and finish with an air-conditioned screening-effectively stretching a single-park day into a 14-hour experience. Budget-minded visitors should note that menus are priced at standard park rates (mocktails run $8-$11), while the scavenger hunt, meet-and-greet, and Quetzalcoatlus photo op are included with admission.

Crowd dynamics are manageable before noon and after 5 p.m.; the 1-3 p.m. window sees the longest ride queues. Line-reservation tech is not available, so early entry remains the best strategy. Allergy-conscious diners will appreciate that Jurassic Café now posts complete ingredient lists via QR code, a first for the location.

Disney California Adventure's "Pixar Fest" and Six Flags Magic Mountain's "DC Heroes & Villains Summer" target similar demographics but require separate hard-ticket events. Universal's all-in pricing provides a cleaner value proposition, especially for locals who hold the California Neighbor pass. Looking ahead, the static display of Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift hints at a kinetic, trackless ride system, with test runs expected this fall.

Final Thoughts

Universal Mega Movie Summer folds film premieres, classic anniversaries, and hands-on dinosaur fun into a single ticket, making it one of Southern California's most efficient theme-park splurges. Arrive early, start with Jurassic World-The Ride before queues spike, then circle back for Dolores and the scavenger hunt during mid-day peak lines. Cap the night with an IMAX screening, and you'll walk away having seen, heard, and tasted the Jurassic universe-all without leaving the property. For visitors chasing that perfect photo or the next collectible, summer 2025 is the moment to experience Universal Mega Movie Summer.