Hollywood Studio Tours

We were there this week. Paid $45 each person x 4. The tour was boring and you didn't see much besides
some empty buildings. Compared with Universal Studio tour which charges $56 per person (official price is $64, but you can find $8 off coupon in hotels), this tour is way, way too expensive. The right price should be like $5 to $8 per person. Go to Universal Studio and skip this one.

The tour experience was well-organized and guides were informative and upbeat. That being said, the tour itself was a disappointment. It lasted less than two hours -- but much longer and I would have fallen asleep. Our guide focused more on television productions than on films. We visited the back lots (various street scenes) and a sound stage. A fifteen minute visit to the 'museum' was somewhat short of boring. In the end, I wish I would have taken my visitor to Universal. Warner could do so much more to make this an interesting tour experience. They could focus, as they have claimed in the past, on giving visitors an indepth view of the film business, by providing tour participants more information on the technical aspects of production. Unfortunately, they've failed to do so. Warner Brothers employs a deep bench of creative talent. Too bad it isn't in evidence on the tour.

Pros: tour guides; small group size; close-up view; no large crowds
Cons: left me on the edge of boredom; little understanding of a film studio operation; no Wow! factor

The Warner Brothers VP TOUR: One Guides Opinion. I am a former guide and I know a good tour when I see one, the WB tour is not one of them. Guests are promised a behind the scenes look at a working studio in progress.... We had strict instructions not to let guests walk away from either the carts or if walking to take photos for security reasons. In no way are guests permitted on active shooting areas to include sound stages or other areas of the studio where active filming was to take place. No photos: guests could only take photos in certain designated areas and only under the supervision of a guide, mostly the back lot area and only when their was no active filming. Absolutely no photography of sound stages or the front lot or of any talent.

According to the official Warner website: "the WB tour is the best kept secret in Hollywood and every day is different you might see your favorite star or actual filming of that favorite TV show or film." Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact the tour is structured only to lure guests into cheap exhibits, and induce guest back to the store and spend more. You WILL NOT SEE ANY CELEBRITIES ON THIS TOUR!!!! And if one happens to accidentally stumble in front of your cart, rest assured you will not meet them, you WILL not have a photo taken with them.

Many older guest who have trouble walking are not allowed to sit in the cart unattended and have to leave the tour, no refund is offered. The tour has a formal route with mandatory stops at cheesy prefabricated exhibits instead of working departments. The amount of time wasted trying to get guests to spend more money in the store, as opposed to spending time in the few interesting studio departments you can still visit is not worth the price of the tour.

Pros: None
Cons: Guests are hustled to spend more money in the store, as opposed to spending time in the few interesting studio departments you can still visit is not worth the price of the tour.