ktlm
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 20, 2008
We did both. I would say they are pretty different. WB is more comprehensive and more of an actual studio tour. Universal is more of a "theme park ride". While they do still do some filming on the Universal back lot, WB is a full blown studio with much more TV and movie activity. We actually saw people working as we drove by and through things (I remember one soundstage had doors wide open and there were a ton of workman inside building some type of set), we saw dressing trailer areas, people going in and out, etc.Thanks for sharing your experience with WB studio. We’re planning to do the studio tour at Universal, so I wasn’t sure how different WB would be. It’s good to hear it’s worthwhile. I’ll talk it over with the kids and see what they think.
Universal is about 45- 60 minutes. They told us they do still do some filming back there. It is a mostly set script on a mostly set path with a lot of people on your tram. It is very enjoyable and you do get to see real set areas. It can vary some if they are actually filming or holding an event etc. We were hoping to see the Back to the Future Clock tower area, but they were doing something back there that day and we did not get to see it. The tour is all tram from what I remember- I don't think you ever get out of the vehicle (unless you do a VIP tour). There are some "ride" type elements during the tour that are fun.
WB is about 2.5-3 hours, not counting how much time you spend at the exhibits, area, activities at the end. I looked back at our photos, and it looks like we spent over 4 1/2 hours there - but in the end area we did all the paid Harry Potter photos/videos, DD did the Friends scene filming, we did lunch in the cafe because we were all starving, shopped in the store etc. DD loved it and didn't want to leave. During the tour, you get on and off the cart to explore and walk through the backlot, exhibits, other buildings etc. It can vary due to what is filming and where things are filming. It isn't so much a completely canned speech. There are a lot less people in the cart than on the universal tram, so there is a lot of back and forth and a lot of questions and answers along the way. There are some museum type areas during the tour, and also at the end of the tour with things from different shows, I don't know how often those change out. I know the Harry Potter one is permanent. There was also a lot of D.C. stuff when we were there Batman, Aquaman, Wonder Woman, and we saw stuff from movies like A Star is Born and Crazy Rich Asians. You will see things from lots of types of movies and shows from different time periods- golden age like The Music Man, up through current things (I've heard they currently show the outside of Abbott Elementary). On the tram we were asked at the beginning what shows we liked out of several shows the guide named, and it was tailored some to the favorite of a lot of people on the tram (Lots of Gilmore Girls on our tram). Even if a just one family named a certain show, as we went through our guide would point out things from that show for that family-- just didn't talk about it in as much detail as the group voted favorite. We got to tour a prop warehouse and the All American Show soundstage set. At the area at the end, you can self explore as long as you want and along with other things they have recreated the Friends coffee shop and Sheldon's apartment from Big Bang Theory- mostly with the actual set pieces (Friends couch wore out and was replaced).
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