Universal Studios Hollywood is doing that thing again where they make major changes with basically zero warning and everyone’s just supposed to deal with it.
Starting Monday, February 9th, the Jurassic Parking structure is getting a complete access overhaul that’s going to mess with literally thousands of daily guests who have no idea this is coming. We’re talking closed elevators, closed escalators, closed CityWalk entrances, and basically a complete reconfiguration of how you get from your car to the actual park. And the best part? Universal didn’t even officially announce this. The news broke on Reddit and then Theme Park Wizard shared it on X, which is apparently how we find out about major operational changes now.
From Reddit: Major changes to Jurassic parking at @UniStudios starting Monday! pic.twitter.com/HmQgJsAqpT
— Theme Park Wizard (@ParkWizar1) February 7, 2026
Here’s what makes Universal Studios Hollywood parking uniquely terrible even on good days: the park is built into the Hollywood Hills, which sounds cool and cinematic until you’re actually trying to navigate it. Unlike normal theme parks that spread out horizontally across flat land, Universal goes vertical. The parking structures stack up multiple levels, you’re dealing with elevators and escalators and pedestrian bridges just to reach CityWalk, and if you forget which level you parked on, good luck finding your car at the end of a long day. It’s already more complicated than it needs to be, and now Universal’s making it even worse with these Monday changes that are going to catch most people completely off guard.
What’s Actually Changing (And Why It’s Going to Be Chaos)
Let’s break down exactly what’s closing at Jurassic Parking because it’s honestly kind of ridiculous how much they’re shutting down at once. At Level 1, literally everything useful is closing. CityWalk access from Level 1? Gone. The elevators inside the garage at Level 1? Closed. The escalators and stairs that connect Level 1 to Level 2? Also closed. So if you get assigned to Level 1, you’re basically stuck there with no clear way to get anywhere useful.
Level 2 isn’t much better but at least they’re leaving some stuff operational. CityWalk access from Level 2 is closing, matching Level 1. But the elevators at Level 2 stay open, which is something. And the escalators and stairs between Level 2 and Level 3 remain operational, so you can at least get to Level 3 where CityWalk access still exists.
Here’s what Universal is clearly trying to do: force everyone from the lower levels to funnel up to Level 3 for CityWalk access. Level 2 guests can take stairs or escalators up to Level 3 and they’re fine. But Level 1 guests? Nobody seems to know how they’re supposed to get anywhere since all their upward routes are closing. Exit the structure and walk around outside? Find some hidden stairwell nobody told you about? Just levitate up two levels through sheer frustration? Your guess is as good as ours.
The Parking Tiers and Why This Makes Preferred Look Way More Appealing
Universal Studios Hollywood has three parking options, and after Monday, the price difference between them is going to feel a lot more justified. General Parking is the budget option that sticks you in structures like Jurassic, E.T., or Curious George. You’re looking at 5 to 15 minutes of walking under normal circumstances, but with these new Jurassic changes, who even knows how long it’ll take from the lower levels. General Parking costs $40 before 5 p.m. and drops to $10 after 5 p.m., except during Halloween Horror Nights when they jack up all the prices.
Preferred Parking usually puts you in the Woody Woodpecker outside lot near CityWalk or the Frankenstein garage. Walking time is typically 1 to 5 minutes, and you’re not dealing with the multilevel navigation nightmare that Jurassic Parking has become. Preferred starts at $60 before 5 p.m., or $20 after 5 p.m. The actual location can change daily, so ask the parking attendants where it is when you pay.
Front Gate Parking is the “I have money and I hate walking” option at $75. You park near the Universal globe and theme park security, basically as close as physically possible. No structures, no elevators, no escalators, just park and walk right in.
Before Monday, you could argue that General Parking’s $20-$35 savings over Preferred made sense if you didn’t mind the walk. After Monday? That calculation changes completely for anyone assigned to Jurassic structure. You’re not just walking farther, you’re navigating a confusing maze of closed pathways trying to figure out how to reach Level 3 just to access CityWalk. Suddenly that extra $20-$35 for Preferred Parking starts looking like the best money you’ll spend all day.
How Different Levels Are Getting Screwed in Different Ways
If you end up on Level 1, you’re having the worst day. No CityWalk access, no elevators, no stairs or escalators to Level 2. You’re basically trapped on the lowest level with no obvious escape route. Maybe there’s some exterior pathway Universal expects you to use? Maybe there’s signage that’ll magically appear Monday explaining where Level 1 guests should go? Or maybe you’re just supposed to wander around until you figure it out through trial and error while your kids complain and your parking meter anxiety builds.
Level 2 guests have it slightly better. You can’t access CityWalk directly anymore, but at least the elevators work and you can take stairs or escalators up to Level 3. It’s annoying that you can’t just walk straight to CityWalk like you used to, but the path forward is at least clear. Go up to Level 3, access CityWalk from there, move on with your life.
Level 3 is the winner here. Nothing changes for you. CityWalk access remains exactly as it was. If you’re lucky enough to get assigned Level 3 parking, you won’t even notice these modifications happened.
Universal’s Communication Strategy: Let Reddit Handle It
Here’s what’s extra frustrating about this whole situation: Universal didn’t officially announce these changes. No press release, no email to annual passholders, no big announcement on their website. The information appeared on Reddit, got picked up by Theme Park Wizard on X, and that’s how the theme park community found out about major operational changes taking effect in a matter of days.
This means tens of thousands of guests with Monday reservations or visits planned for this week have no idea this is happening. They’re going to show up expecting parking to work the way it always has, follow their usual routes, and suddenly discover that none of their pathways exist anymore. That’s not a great guest experience, Universal.
We also don’t know if these changes are temporary for construction, permanent reconfigurations, or something in between. Are they renovating the closed areas? Repurposing them for something else? Just permanently changing traffic flow because reasons? Nobody knows because Universal hasn’t said anything official.
What You Should Actually Do if You’re Visiting Soon
If you’ve got a Universal Studios Hollywood trip planned for this week or anytime in the near future, here’s the real talk on how to handle this parking mess. First, seriously consider upgrading to Preferred Parking if it’s remotely in your budget. That $20-$35 price difference is going to feel like a bargain when you’re not stuck on Level 1 of Jurassic Parking trying to figure out how to reach civilization.
If you’re committed to General Parking, build in way more time than you normally would for parking and getting to the park. What used to take 10 minutes might take 20 or more if you’re navigating new routes and dealing with confused crowds doing the same thing. Show up early, be patient, and don’t expect your usual routine to work.
Pay attention to parking attendants when you arrive. They might have information about the new navigation routes that hasn’t been publicly shared. Ask questions if you’re confused. Look at signage instead of just following muscle memory from previous visits.
If you’re traveling with anyone who has mobility issues, young kids, or you’re just carrying a bunch of stuff, the case for Preferred or even Front Gate Parking gets way stronger. The Jurassic Parking changes create accessibility challenges that weren’t there before, and sometimes paying extra to avoid that headache is absolutely worth it.
The Bigger Picture on Universal Operations
This parking situation is part of a broader pattern where Universal Studios Hollywood makes operational changes that significantly impact guest experience but provides minimal advance communication. It’s frustrating for guests who are planning trips, budgeting money, and trying to optimize their park days.
Theme parks need flexibility to adjust operations, renovate facilities, and improve efficiency. That’s understood. But there’s a difference between necessary changes and changes that get dumped on guests with no warning. When you’re closing multiple access points in a major parking structure and fundamentally changing how thousands of daily guests navigate from their cars to the park, maybe give people more than a few days notice? Just a thought.
The compact geography of Universal Studios Hollywood means every operational change creates bigger ripple effects than similar changes would at parks with more space. When you close pathways in a vertical structure where guests are already navigating multiple levels, you’re not just causing minor inconvenience. You’re potentially creating serious confusion and accessibility problems.
Your Monday Morning Reality Check
These parking changes hit Monday whether you like it or not, and Universal clearly isn’t losing sleep over the lack of advance notice. If you’re visiting this week, approach parking like you’re going somewhere completely new even if you’ve been to Universal Studios Hollywood a hundred times before. Nothing you remember about Jurassic Parking is going to work the same way.
Don’t follow your usual route because it probably doesn’t exist anymore. Don’t assume the elevator you always use will be operational. Don’t expect to access CityWalk from the level where you parked. Everything’s different now, and you’re going to have to adapt on the fly because Universal decided that’s how this was going to work.
And honestly? If spending an extra $20-$60 on upgraded parking means you can skip the entire navigational nightmare and just walk straight to the park without dealing with closed escalators and confusing detours, that might be the smartest money you spend all day. Your stress levels at park opening will be completely different depending on whether you just parked near the entrance versus spent 20 minutes wandering around a parking structure trying to figure out which routes still exist. Choose wisely, show up prepared, and don’t say we didn’t warn you when Monday arrives and everything’s chaos.
