The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash
Universal Studios Hollywood · Illumination Avenue
Overview
A gentle trackless dark ride following Max, Duke, and a group of stray dogs through detailed New York apartment and city-street scenes on the way to helping a group of shelter puppies find a home. Trackless ride vehicles allow varied movement paths and pacing through each scene, giving the low-intensity format more visual variety than a standard fixed-track dark ride. With a low 34-inch height requirement, it's one of the more accessible indoor rides at the park for younger children.
ParksLog Verdict
A sweet, low-key family ride that doesn't try to be more than it is. The trackless system adds a bit of visual polish, and the low height requirement makes it genuinely useful for mixed-age groups with younger kids. Not a must-do for adults without children in tow, but a pleasant, easy addition to a family day.
About this experience
Family dark ride through New York apartment scenes as stray puppies journey toward adoption, with physical sets and character figures.
Best For
- Families with young children
- Secret Life of Pets fans
- Guests wanting a low-intensity indoor break
Tips
- The 34-inch height minimum makes this accessible to younger kids who can't yet ride some of the park's other dark rides.
- Trackless vehicles mean each ride-through can vary slightly in pacing — a nice detail if you ride more than once.
- It's a good air-conditioned stop to pair with nearby Despicable Me Minion Mayhem for a Illumination-focused family stretch of the day.
Details
History
The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash opened in 2019, adapting Illumination's Secret Life of Pets film franchise into a family dark ride along Illumination Avenue.
Fun Facts
- It uses trackless ride vehicle technology, letting cars move independently rather than following a single fixed path.
- It's based on Illumination's Secret Life of Pets film franchise rather than an original story.
- At 34 inches, it has one of the lowest height requirements among the park's indoor dark rides.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How long does The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash take?
- The experience runs about 5 minutes. Budget extra time for the queue, any pre-show, and boarding — on busy days the full process can take considerably longer.
- Is The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash good for young children?
- Yes — The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash is listed as kid-friendly on ParksLog. The experience is gentle enough for most young guests, though always consider a child's individual comfort with the ride type before queuing.
- How intense is The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash?
- ParksLog rates this as low intensity — calm pacing with light movement. Suitable for most guests including young children. Use your own judgement based on personal comfort and any health advisories posted at the entrance.
- Does The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash cause motion sickness?
- Most guests will not experience motion sickness. The experience is smooth with no spinning or disorienting motion.
- Does The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash operate in the rain?
- The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash is an indoor attraction. It runs in a climate-controlled environment, making it a good choice on hot or rainy days.
- Should I prioritize The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash at Universal Studios Hollywood?
- ParksLog recommends The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash if your schedule allows. It's a worthwhile experience that most guests enjoy, but not critical — a mid-day or standby visit works fine.
- Does The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash have Universal Express?
- Yes — The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash is included with Universal Express Pass. Guests with an Express Pass can use the dedicated Express queue for this attraction.
- When did The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash open?
- The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash opened at Universal Studios Hollywood in 2019.
- Does The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash have a single rider line?
- The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash does not have a single rider line. All guests join the standby queue or use Universal Express.