If you’re a fan of television and movies, a visit to the Warner Bros. Studio Tour is an LA experience not to be missed! Get up close to historic backyards, step onto iconic sets and explore soundstages where legendary scenes were filmed. But that’s not all. Read on to find out what you’ll see and do on the tour, as well as a few tips to make your visit better than ever.
Before we begin, here are some of our highlights:
- Dine at Central Perk Café
- Take a photo from the sofas Friends and Big bang theory
- Enter the world of Chicago and New York City
- Arrange yourself in your Harry Potter house
- Pose on the pavilion of Gilmore Girls
- Admire the costumes of some of your favorite superheroes
How to have the best Warner Bros. Studio Tour experience
Let’s start booking your experience. Book tickets online in advance. Tickets start at $76 and although that seems like a lot, this tour is definitely worth the price. You’ll also have to pay for parking unless you snag one of the free spots on your way to the parking lot (although they technically have a two-hour limit and you’ll likely be at the studio after that limit expires).
However, there are numerous tour times to choose from. Please note that if you arrive early you can leave early. Since I arrived in Burbank early, I killed time nearby. I found out that I could have started the tour any time after I arrived. Dress comfortably as you will board and disembark the shuttle and complete portions of the tour. You should probably bring a jacket as the weather in LA can sometimes be unexpectedly chilly.
While TCM has a tour that focuses on classic films, I chose the regular studio tour because I wanted to learn as many facts as possible about newer productions that have taken place on the property. I didn’t do the Studio Tour Plus because I don’t think additional time with the guide is necessary, nor is lunch. As mentioned, I wanted to learn as many facts as possible about recent productions, including Gilmore Girls. At the start of your tour, your guide will ask you about your favorite shows. Make sure you do a little research so you know which of your favorites have filmed here.
No matter which tour you book, there is an opportunity to eat. When you stop at stage 48 you can order a snack or a drink. Pro tip: Place your order and then stroll through Phase 48 while your food is being prepared. PS: There is also a Starbucks in the lobby where you can enjoy a drink or snack before and/or after the tour. Whether you plan to have coffee or not, you shouldn’t skip Starbucks if you’re a Harry Potter fan. There is a giant Tri-Wizard Cup that you can take a photo with.
Document your experiences
Speaking of pictures, taking videos is not permitted on the tram portion of the tour. But here’s another pro tip: set your photos to live so you can turn them into videos if you plan on editing a reel that highlights your experience.
You can take your own photos anywhere on the tour. And if you want official photos on set and at famous locations, you can also purchase photos (and videos). Photo ops include: Central Perk, the couch of Big Bang TheoryHarry Potter’s cupboard under the stairs, the pavilion from Stars Hollow, the Friends fountains and more. There’s also the option to purchase videos of yourself in green screen scenes, riding a broomstick over Hogwarts, racing around Gotham on the Batpod, creating a Harry Potter Most Wanted poster, and more.
What else happens on the tour
Storytelling showcase
You start with the storytelling showcase. This is simply a museum-style room that contains plaques and information about Warner Brothers, props from popular shows and information about how the studio has grown over the last 100 years. When you’re ready, head to a small cinema to watch a short video about the studio.
The cart tour
After watching the video, board the open-air cart to ride around the site. On this part of the tour you will see different street styles that will make you feel like you are in Chicago, New York, the Midwest and more. You may see sets from current productions that you know and love Georgie and Mandy’s first marriage And Abbott Elementary School. Depending on when you’re there, there may even be some studios in operation (when I was on tour, the Jennifer Hudson show was recorded live).
One of the highlights of this part of the tour for me is the tour of the orphanage from both sides Annie Movies, the fire escapes where the cast hung out while they sang the opening song Rent and the fire escape from the most infamous Spider-Man Scene. And that’s not all. You will see the spot where Phoebe ran crazy FriendsMerlotte’s Bar by True bloodThe Growing pains house and recently also the studio The studio. But for me the absolute best sights on the tour are Gilmore Girls Locations including Luke’s Diner, Lorelai’s House, Sookie’s House, the Pavilion and more. I even discovered the “secret bar”. A year in the life.
You’ll also learn about how films are made, see where and how props are built, costumes are stored, and tour Studio 16, one of the largest and tallest sound stages in the world (98 feet), famous for its massive two-million-gallon underground water tank. The scenes with the pirate ship were filmed here Idiots!
Level 48
At level 48 you will find Central Perk and a gift shop with many items Friends Memorabilia. In this section you will also find costumes, props, photo ops, sets and hands-on interactive experiences. The Central Perk photo op is here, as are setups from Tthe big bang theory.
Friends couch and fountain
From here, get back on the tram to take a photo with the fountain Friends. You may discover a few other well-known sets such as the Painted Lady’s House replica Full house (used in Fuller house) and the garage where Luke stored his boat Gilmore Girls.
Action and magic done here
This tour ends with a massive superhero performance showcasing the universe of DC superheroes and supervillains, as well as the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts. Enjoy interactive exhibits like posing with Wonder Woman’s wings, crawling into Harry Potter’s closet under the stairs, transplanting a mandrake, learning wand choreography, and most importantly. You will be sorted into your house at Hogwarts. Proud Gryffindor reports for duty!
A huge gift shop
I couldn’t spend another hour alone in the gift shop. As Gilmore Girls fan who stated that merch was a dream come true. I was tempted by that too Ted Lasso Prey. What’s most impressive, however, is the amount of Harry Potter merchandise.
Some Warner Bros. Studio feature films and television shows:
- Abbot Elementary School
- Annie
- Batman
- Big Bang Theory
- Bob Hearts Abishola
- Casablanca
- Dukes of Hazzard
- IS
- Friends
- Full house / Fuller house
- George and Mandy’s first marriage
- Gilmore Girls
- Gremlins
- Growing pains
- Lois and Clark
- PeeWee’s big adventure
- pretty Little Liars
- shrinkage
- Shameless
- Spider-Man
- The Goonies
- The greatest showman
- The Music Man
- The studio
- True blood
- Young Sheldon
Of course, there are MANY other things that were filmed on the site. You will find many of them listed here.
One last tip!
Be on the lookout for a celebrity. You never know who you’ll see! During my tour I spotted Matthew Rhys as well as the parking spaces of Mindy Kaling and Jason Segel.
