This is a classic Hollywood experience that takes you behind the scenes of active and historical…read moremovie sets. The tour is done in a group of about 14 people, with an electric cart taking you around facades, sound stages, and other parts of the studio.
You can park in the studio garage for $20. We came on a Saturday and found plenty of free street parking nearby. We parked on Avalon Street, around the corner.
The arrival experience felt somewhat disorganized. There are two sets of doors to enter the facility, but neither was clearly marked as an entrance. Inside, there is a Starbucks on the left, bathrooms, and what appears to be a ticketing area. We had purchased online tickets for $69 per person as California residents. After going through a metal detector--which went off because of both my wife's and my belts--we were hand-scanned.
Several attendants asked to see our tickets without actually scanning them, which added to the feeling that the entrance process could have been better organized.
The tour begins with an exhibit about the Warner brothers, who tried their hands at several businesses before becoming successful in the movie industry. The exhibit emphasizes their success in making movies about ordinary people and their everyday problems. I was surprised, however, that it didn't mention that the brothers were Jewish or the antisemitism their family experienced. Given the emphasis on their family background and connection to ordinary people, I thought that historical context was missing.
Our guide, Divey, took us around several buildings and lots of facades where movies such as Spider-Man and Inception, as well as numerous television shows, were filmed. We went inside a sound studio and visited several Stage buildings. I ended up learning much more about how movies and television are actually made than I expected.
The second part of the tour included a Central Park café surrounded by the Foley sound exhibit, a Friends exhibit, and a gift shop dedicated to the show. We enjoyed cappuccinos while admiring the incredibly realistic cake props.
We then boarded an electric tram for the final part of the visit. This was where the signage became confusing again. There was no clear indication that the tram would take us to the Harry Potter exhibit but the line was for the Superman area, which required an additional ticket we didn't have.
There was also a minor seating mix-up: an attendant initially told the four of us to sit on the same bench and then asked us to move because only three people were allowed there.
The Harry Potter exhibit itself was excellent. Harry's cupboard-under-the-stairs, the chimney with Hogwarts invitations, the Sorting Hat, and especially the Potions shop were spectacular.
Overall, we had a great time. Compared with the Universal Studios tour, Warner Bros. felt much less crowded and more contemplative. We also noticed far fewer children than we typically see at Universal, which contributed to the quieter atmosphere.
If you're interested in how movies and television are actually made--and especially if you enjoy classic Hollywood, Friends, or Harry Potter--this is a very worthwhile experience. Just expect some confusing signage and a somewhat disorganized arrival process.This version keeps the review positive but credible: the criticisms are specific rather than overwhelming, while the strongest parts of your experience get more emphasis.
