Having previously visited and reviewed the three big film studios north of Hollywood, I thought I would compare the Burbank Studio Tours!
Burbank Studio Tours
For those who don’t know, there are three working studios located near each other in the Burbank/upper Hollywood area: Universal, Warner Bros., and Walt Disney. Each place handles tours differently and seems better suited to different demographics. So, if you are wondering how each of these tours compares and which one is for you, keep reading!
Universal Studios Tour
I’ll start with the first one I did and I would wager is lots of people’s first (and only?): Universal! You see, you can’t actually schedule a straight Universal Studios Tour. However, there’s a ride at the Universal Studios Hollywood theme park that takes you on a cart ride through the studios! The “ride” is included with park admission and can be repeated to see different things.
You can get an extended look at the lot by booking a VIP Tour. I was lucky enough to book it and posted a Universal Studios Hollywood VIP Tour Review back in 2024. We were able to get off the bus and walk through some of the props department. We also got to step on the lot where some “Pirates” movie and “The Good Place” show was filmed.
Neither of these options guarantees access to specific lots though and experiences can vary greatly. The tours can’t access lots where filming is taking place. Plus, Halloween Horror Nights can interrupt the studio tours with props and houses.
I think Universal Studios Tours are more of an add-on to a theme park day. Yes, you visit the back lot and maybe get to walk on a lot when you are VIP. However, it left me wanting more from a studio tour and I was happy to have the WB Studio the next day. If you are curious what a studio lot is like and don’t want to spend all day at a studio, then this is sufficient.
Warner Bros. Studio Tour
The second option is the Warner Brothers Studio Tour. WB has really leaned into the studio tours with multiple tour options. They also host seasonal events to celebrate movie anniversaries and/or holidays throughout the year. On my visit, I only had time to do the standard studio tour. This gets you a 1 hour guided tour of the lot with access to other experiences they estimate will take 2 hours. In my Warner Bros Studio Tour Hollywood Review, I stated that it took me about 2.5 hours total. However, I could have taken much longer if I hadn’t had something else planned for later in the day.
I think the Warner Bros. Tour is best for the folks who really want to see and experience a back lot. Even the standard tour allows you to get off of the cart and walk onto a set! Plus, after the guided portion, then you get to see sets from “The Big Bang Theory”, “Friends”, and more! It was so cool to get a picture on the “Friends” couch/set! There’s sections on “Harry Potter”, “Game of Thrones”, and “Batman”.
Warner Brothers is for people who really want to learn more about the movie making process. You can easily spend a whole day here. I hope to take a longer tour someday, personally. I really enjoyed this tour. However, I enjoy learning about how things work. If you think your group might get bored with a multi-hour experience, then this probably isn’t for you.
Walt Disney Studios Tour
Lastly, there’s the Walt Disney Studios Tour. I think it’s great that the D23 Disney fan club is offering this tour for members. It’s wonderful to visit where the magic was made. Although, this tour focuses on the company’s animated films, which makes it a totally different experience.
As I stated in my Walt Disney Studios Tour Review with D23 this storied lot gave me real pinch-me moments. However, it was a little dry (compared to the other two tours). I would say this is best for hardcore Disney fans. It was amazing to be able to visit Walt Disney’s office and see what it was like when he was alive. It was so cool to walk around where history was made. However, it’s not a traditional studio tour like the others. You don’t get to walk onto a set. Rather, the tour focuses on the animated films that were produced here in the Animation Building. It also highlights the Disney Co. history that happened here.
I love that the tour includes a visit to the Disney Legends Plaza and you get to shop in the special studio employee store for unique merch! Overall, I’d suggest this only for the big Disney fans.
Which Burbank Studio Tours is the best?
I know that people will want to know which Burbank Studio Tours is the best. However, I think it’s subjective and you need to pick the one that suits you/your group best. Universal is a theme park with the studio tour as an add-on. That’s probably better for folks with children. The Disney one is best for big Disney fans. Warner Bros. is great for getting a more intimate look at shows/films actually being made.
So, have you done a studio tour? Which one did you prefer?
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