For people who have never been on a movie or television set, the first thing you need to be prepared for on a studio tour is that it is really a bunch of warehouses full of lights, cables and set pieces. You get limited access to sets, and never when they are in use. The chances of seeing actors are slim, although it happens occasionally. The quality of the experience usually depends on the quality of the guide and how much of a fan you are. Some tours are by tram, others are all walking, and some combine the two. Most studio tours have an age limit.
NBC Studios Tour
The indoor walking tours of the NBC television studios in Burbank are a real bargain, at just a fraction of the cost of the movie studio tours. They are offered hourly Monday through Friday from 9 am to 3 pm. You get to go onto some of the sets; which ones vary depend on what is taping. There is also no age limit, so you can take the kids.3000 W. Alameda Avenue
Burbank, CA 91523
(818) 840-4444
Paramount Studio Tour
© 2005 Kayte Deioma, courtesy of www.KayteDeioma.com
Cart or tram tours of the studio behind the famous Paramount Arches are offered several times a day, Monday through Friday. Reservations are required.
5555 Melrose Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90038
(323) 956-5575
5555 Melrose Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90038
(323) 956-5575
Sony Pictures Studio Tour
A 2-hour guided walking tour of the studio including some sets. Tours are offered four times a day Monday through Friday. If you're up for the walking, this tour seems to get better marks than the other studio tours and is the most economical as well. Reservations are recommended.10202 W Washington Blvd
Culver City, CA 90232
(310) 244-8687
Warner Brothers Studio Tour
This is a combination cart and walking tour, so you must be able to do the walking part. This tour is the most expensive of the studio tours, but doesn't offer anything more than the less expensive tours.3400 Riverside Drive
Burbank, CA 91522
(818) 972-8687
Universal Studios Tour
© 2007 Kayte Deioma, courtesy of www.KayteDeioma.com
You can't compare the Universal Studios Tour with the other studio tours because it is part of the Universal Studios Hollywood theme park. Not only do you have to pay theme park prices to take the tram tour, but it also includes special effects sets so you get to experience an earthquake, flood and car crash along the way. However, you also get to see sets that have been used in TV shows and famous movies like Psycho and War of the Worlds and some sets, like Wisteria Lane, that are still in use. The tour has to keep a distance from anything shooting that may be going on, so the route changes.
