Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood is a must-do for anyone who will be visiting Los Angeles. The studio features six sound stages and four outdoor sets, which include the exterior of Grand Central Station, New York Street, and King’s Cross Station in London.
Tours are conducted by an employee called “a guide”, and they are equipped with an earpiece which transmits live commentary about the scenes being shot or the history of the studio as you walk by.
The tour begins by entering the Warner Bros. lot, which is just like stepping onto a movie set – there’s even a sign that says “Welcome to Hollywood.” The first stop on the tour is the gift shop, where you can buy all sorts of movie- and Warner Bros.-related souvenirs. I bought a Gryffindor tie for my Harry Potter-obsessed friend.
From there, you enter the studio lot and make your way to the first sound stage, where you learn about the history of Warner Bros. and the different styles the studio has created. For example, there was a room that recreated a scene from all of the 1930s films done by WB. Everything from the furniture to the carpets and wallpaper was made in imitation of earlier decades. In addition, there’s a sound stage full of movie posters which were on display at Comic-Con this year.
From there, you move to the sets. At first, it smells like paint and glue because they are fixing up the sets for whatever scenes are being filmed at that moment. You’ll see lots of props on the set – ladders, candles, desks… anything you’d need for filming. It’s fun to look around but watch your step, because there are usually cords and other things on the floor.
From there, you move to Stage 16, which is one of my favorites because it’s where they filmed all the Harry Potter movies. I’ve read that Warner Bros. was able to recreate Hogwarts better than any other set in Hollywood (and by this point in the tour, you really start to feel like you’re in Hollywood). You can walk through the Great Hall, Dumbledore’s office, and Hagrid’s hut. They also have a green screen set up so you can take your picture as if you’re flying on a broomstick.
The tour ends by walking through the backlot, where you’ll see the sets for Grand Central Station, New York Street, and King’s Cross Station in London. You’ll also get to see Judy Garland’s dressing room from The Wizard of Oz where she kept all her costumes on display after the movie wrapped.
If you are a fan of any of WB’s movies or TV shows, I highly recommend this tour. If you’re not a fan, it’s still interesting to see how the movies are made and the different sets they use. The tour is about two hours long and it’s a great way to spend a morning or afternoon in Hollywood.
Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood is an excellent way to spend a morning or afternoon in Los Angeles, especially if you are fan of any WB movies or TV shows. The tour lasts about 2 hours and features six sound stages with four outdoor sets (including the exterior of Grand Central Station, New York Street, King’s Cross Station)
This would be an awesome experience for anyone who loves visiting movie studios because all the guides are equipped with earpieces that give live commentary. Plus, if you are a Harry Potter fan there’s no better way to spend your day in Hollywood!
