Studio Tour Information Thread - Warner Bros, Paramount, and Sony

[hurleysweety]

I recently looked up this information while deciding which tours, if any, we would do and thought I would share with the boards. Here are the three main studio tours available in Hollywood/LA.

Studio Tour Information

Warner Bros VIP Tour (IMO, the best, and if you only do one, do this one!)
Tours available every day and is the only tour available on weekends. Monday-Friday, departs every 15 minutes beginning at 8:15 until the last tour at 3:45 (sometimes 4pm is available). Weekend tour hours differ depending on season. Check website for details.

• Website: http://vipstudiotour.warnerbros.com/
• Cost: $49 for all ages, 8 and up only, must bring ID for everyone in group
• 2 hr 25 min Tour
• 5 Hour Deluxe Tour available at 10:15, daily for $250 (not Go Card eligible)
• 3400 W. Riverside Dr. Burbank, CA 91505
• Enter Through Avon Street Parking on Gate 6
• There is a $7.00 parking fee)
• Take the 405 North to the 101 South to the 134 East. Exit Pass Avenue, turning right onto Pass. Turn left at the second light onto Riverside Drive. Take Riverside past Hollywood Way. Turn right at Avon Street and left onto Warner Blvd. Follow signs to VIP Tour parking.
  **Personal Opinions about Warner Brothers - Definitely our favorite. WB has the only backlot (outdoor set) area and that is just fun to see! For added value, be sure to go during the fall/spring when they are shooting shows as you'll have a better chance of seeing more going on. Since we went in the off season, we didn't see much - but we did come across some amazing...things. If you like the show, "FRIENDS" than you have to go on this tour - you won't regret it. We liked this tour so much, we would definitely go again - and possibly consider the Deluxe experience someday!

Paramount Pictures - M-F - Departs every 30 minutes beginning at 9:30, last tour at 2:30 - $48
4 1/2 Hour Special "VIP Tour" available for $150 departs at 10 AM each day (not Go Card eligible)
2 Hour Tour
Parking at Windsor Lot A for $7
Arrive 30 mins before
Vistor entrance at Melrose Gate
Located at 5555 Melrose Avenue Hollywood, CA 90038
**Personal Opinions about Paramount - Very cool grounds and architecture here. We got to see the folley room where people make all the noise/sound effects for movies. Also, you'll see some interesting things like seeing where Lucille Ball's office was once and other fun historical things (don't want to ruin any surprises!). If you like shows done by Paramount, you'll enjoy seeing where they are filmed too.

Sony Pictures - M-F - Departs every hour beginning at 9:30, last tour at 2:30 - $35
Twilight Tours are offered on Thursday nights at 6:30 pm (not Go Card eligible)
Approx 2 hours - walking tour
The Tour Department is located in the Sony Pictures Plaza in Culver City, just east of the San Diego (405) Freeway and south of the Santa Monica (10) Freeway. We are conveniently located twenty minutes from Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, downtown Los Angeles and LAX. Free underground parking is available at the Sony Pictures Plaza building, across from the main gate to the studios. The Tour Department is located in the rear of the SPP lobby by the museum.
**Personal Opinions about Sony: We went on all three tours in June 2012 and were very disappointed by this tour. Most of the tour was "here is a giant warehouse where such and such movie was filmed, and here are the doors to the jeopardy building." We went inside to see Wheel of Fortune, but since it was the off-season, it was just bleachers and an empty set. I could tell people were really not happy with the quality of the tour. I was glad we had already gotten our money's worth and had not paid full ticket price.

Additional Notes:

• The special tours at Paramount and Warner Bros include lunch, which can takes about an hour of the tour time.
  
• All three tours are available on the LA Go Card which offers free admission to these attractions plus more for one flat rate per day (you can buy a 1 day, 2 day, 3 day, 5 day or 7 day pass).
  
• If you use the Go Card, you can make your reservations by calling each studio and giving them the date, time, and name of the members in your group. Check online first to see what is available.
  
• If you use the Go Card,you can only tour the WB studio on the weekends or between 2:00-4:00, Monday - Friday. The fine print doesn't include Sunday, but when you call, they will tell you all weekend tours are available with the Go Card.
  

Hope this helps anyone interested in the tours. I will add more information as I find it!

[pipervali]

Thanks for compiling all of this. My group has already settled on the Paramount tour. Mostly because two of us are big Glee fans and strong armed the other two into doing it :lol: But I've also been giving some thought to the WB one as well.

[hurleysweety]

Originally Posted by pipervali

Thanks for compiling all of this. My group has already settled on the Paramount tour. Mostly because two of us are big Glee fans and strong armed the other two into doing it :lol: But I've also been giving some thought to the WB one as well.

You're welcome! We are scheduled and have booked reservations to go on all three tours this Sunday and Monday. So I will compile the pictures I'm allowed to take and include more tips as well!

[kkendle]

Did you do all 3 tours? Just wondering as we are wanting to do at least one of the tours and wondered which one you liked better?

Any info on these 3 tours would be greatly appreciated!

kelly

[hurleysweety]

Originally Posted by kkendle

Did you do all 3 tours? Just wondering as we are wanting to do at least one of the tours and wondered which one you liked better?

Any info on these 3 tours would be greatly appreciated!

kelly

Hi!

We went on all three tours. You can definitely skip Sony pictures. Barely worth the drive unless you are huge fans of wheel of fortune and go during their season (nov-march?).

Warner Bros was our favorite. They have a great backlot too. If you are/were fans of Gilmore girls, pretty little liars, friends, hart of Dixie, big bang theory, two and a half men. You won't be disappointed. You spend the most time on the cart in this one. Plus you get to walk through parts of the backlot. What you see will depend on what is currently shooting and in production while you are there.

Paramount was pretty fun too. I would suggest this if you are a fan of dr Phil, big time rush, dr oz, Lucille ball (and nostalgia from her and deli Arnez). We had the best tour guide on this trip. This trip required a bit more walking, but their was a cart to take us from place to place. This studio also depends on what is in production and what is open for you to see that day. You won't know until you get there.

Paramount had more of a movie focused tour while Warner brothers was more tv focused.

I would look and see which studio produces more shows that you and your family like. It was so weird that a lot of people on the tour didn't seem to care that we were on the set of tv show. In fact on the Warner bros tour I almost wanted to ask some of them if they've ever watched tv. LOL. And this is coming from someone who watches less than half the average of my friends!

Feel free to ask more questions!

[kkendle]

Thanks for answering!! Did you happen to go to Universal Studios as well? I know they also have a tour which is different from the rest. The tours you described sound good....so basically, you look around sets of shows...so you might drive by the Friends set and look at it?

I am wondering if it would be worth it for the money for us....we have never done a tour like this so thought it might be interesting but looking at a bunch of empty sets might not be as exciting as I thought..maybe for the money we should just go to Universal. I have been to Universal in Orlando several times and know the Hollywood park is half the size.

I really don't know what to do. Did you do any of the hop on hop off tour busses? They sounds kind of neat too and you could see a lot of different things that way.

Thanks for your help...I appreciate it!

[hurleysweety]

Originally Posted by kkendle

Thanks for answering!! Did you happen to go to Universal Studios as well? I know they also have a tour which is different from the rest. The tours you described sound good....so basically, you look around sets of shows...so you might drive by the Friends set and look at it?

I am wondering if it would be worth it for the money for us....we have never done a tour like this so thought it might be interesting but looking at a bunch of empty sets might not be as exciting as I thought..maybe for the money we should just go to Universal. I have been to Universal in Orlando several times and know the Hollywood park is half the size.

I really don't know what to do. Did you do any of the hop on hop off tour busses? They sounds kind of neat too and you could see a lot of different things that way.

Thanks for your help...I appreciate it!

We didn't make it up to Universal, so I can't comment about the park. Their studio tour is more of a "ride" than a studio tour, from what I've heard. But it might suit a family better - or thrill seekers with all the coasters and such.

As for what to do in LA - we used the GoCard. Its this card that you purchase for a certain number of days. Much like Disney tix - you can use them whichever days you want over a 14 day period. The card gives you access to about 40 different attractions include all three studio tours. A couple of the celebrity home/hop on hop off tours are offered on their too.

We got the two day card and did all three studio tours, madame tussads, the hollywood museum, and went to the Santa Monica Pier. It takes some careful planning, but its doable! The card is good from 9AM to 5PM. So as long as you get to an attraction by 5PM, you can be at/use the attraction until it closes.

When you get the 3 day card, you get a free ticket to Universal. So you'd then have a day at Universal plus 2 days for the other attractions!

We bought the card at about a 20% discount from last minute travel. They email you a voucher and then you have to redeem it at any of their locations (but check on the site which locations will let you redeem vouchers). You can also buy from them directly and have them send it to you via mail (if you have time) or through a voucher as well.

Hope that helps!

[OhioStateBuckeye]

If anyone wants a more in depth look at the Paramount Studios Tour, http://www.disboards.com/showthread....2918026&page=3

Post #40 covers our Paramount Tour.

[SnowWhite12]

Dang it! I just looked at the WB tour, which looks amazing! However, can't do it because kids under 8 can't go

[Jajone]

What kind of ID do you bring for the kids?

[danaesacto]

Originally Posted by Jajone

What kind of ID do you bring for the kids?

You have to enter their names when you buy the tix, and it says ID required of all adults. If they question your child's age- they will just ask them- and then ??? It has been a debate on these boards previosuly on the parents that allow and encourage their child to lie and those that say if you don't want them to lie to you mom/dad, then you shouldn't let them lie to others... personally I found it was just easiest to wait until my girls were old enough to go

[vakamalua]

Has anyone done the Warner Brother Studio Tour recently? What TV shows are highlighted (LOVE the Big Bang Theory)? If there are a bunch of shows that we don't watch, would it still be enjoyable? Thanks

[danaesacto]

Originally Posted by vakamalua

Has anyone done the Warner Brother Studio Tour recently? What TV shows are highlighted (LOVE the Big Bang Theory)? If there are a bunch of shows that we don't watch, would it still be enjoyable? Thanks

I have tickets for March 12 and will report back after that- sorry I can't be of more help now

[uncw89]

Glad to see this thread! We are going in July and I'm trying to decide what to do after we go to DL!
Thanks!

[vakamalua]

Originally Posted by danaesacto

I have tickets for March 12 and will report back after that- sorry I can't be of more help now

Thanks, looking forward to hearing your report. We'll be at DLR in late May.