Has anyone done the Warner Bros. Studio VIP Tour ?

[Ron from Michigan]

We are thinking about doing this tour and wondered what others thought of it.

 

[LMR1991]

I've done it. It's very cute. Actually, it was my mom, me, and my brother who got to go, and as soon as we entered the park, some CMs came up to us and asked me to do a survey. I said sure and at the end they gave us vouchers for a free VIP tour! It would be worth it, even if we were paying for it. Unfortunately, there were no movies being made in the process during our trip, so we didn't get to see anything but we got to see lots of movie sets. Hope this helped you!

 

[JenLoy]

We did the WB VIP tour last August. It was very cool. They break you up into groups of 10 or so and drive you around the lot on an oversized golf cart. We saw serveral outdoor sets, got to visit WB's mini-museum, and go to go inside the set of "The New Adventures of Old Christine." Outside, we saw the log cabin from "Coach", the sets from "Gilmore Girls," the house front from "Growing Pains," and the Courthouse facade from "Night Court." We drove by the "ER" set but were unable to venture inside because they were shooting that day. I recommend it. My group of 6 enjoyed it.

 

[debloco]

My DH and I did the VIP Experience at the end of July '06. Totally worth the $$ for us. Our group went around in a trolley, and we stopped and were able to get out and see lots of sets: Psycho, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Bruce Almighty, etc.
We also got to walk around their HUGE prop building and saw things that had been put on hold for shows, or that had just been returned. Had to be quiet when we drove past the CSI soundstage b/c they were filming, but we got to see their golf cart parked outside.
Saw Wisteria Lane (Desperate Housewives), but we weren't allowed to walk around there b/c the set was ready for filming. Same for Ghost Whisperer, but for that one were were able to get out and take pics closer up.
We went onto the soundstage for one of their shows (can't remember which b/c we don't watch it) and of course, you get FOTL access all day and an annual pass. Our guide was great as well. For the "Waterworld" show he had the best seats saved ahead of time for us and brought us all cold water bottles
Basically, you pay them a bunch of extra money and they pretty much suck up to you all day. We went back the next day (as peons ) to see some of the things we had missed and had a good time...but we missed the VIP thing!

 

[Another Voice]

I think everyone is getting two different tours mixed up.

There is the Universal Studio "VIP" tour. It offers several things. First, instead of the mega tram through the backlot, you use a smaller trolley which limits the number of people in any one tour. While you follow the same tour as the big trams do, there are a few stops where you get out and tour the production facilties - the prop warehouse, editing facilities, a couple out door sets. After the tour your escorted to "front of the line" access to most of the theme parks major attractions.

Down the hill in Burbank is the tour of the Warner Brother's lot. This comes in a "regular" version and a longer "VIP" version which includes lunch in the studio's comminsary. Unlike Universal, there is no theme park at Warner Brothers - it's a real working studio. On the tour you'll be driven around on golf carts to various stops - props, costume, set design & contruction, post production. You'll also stop at various sound stages and out door sets and the Warner Brother's Mueseum. Becasue Warner Brother's isn't designed around the tour, the tour itself is subject to change at any moment depending on what's going on. The flip side is that you are more likely to see real production.

In short, if you are interested in seeing the real, working Hollywood than the Warner Brother's tour is best. If you just want to see an extra bit of "Hollywood" than the Universal tour is better.

 

[debloco]

I think everyone is getting two different tours mixed up.

There is the Universal Studio "VIP" tour. It offers several things. First, instead of the mega tram through the backlot, you use a smaller trolley which limits the number of people in any one tour. While you follow the same tour as the big trams do, there are a few stops where you get out and tour the production facilties - the prop warehouse, editing facilities, a couple out door sets. After the tour your escorted to "front of the line" access to most of the theme parks major attractions.

Down the hill in Burbank is the tour of the Warner Brother's lot. This comes in a "regular" version and a longer "VIP" version which includes lunch in the studio's comminsary. Unlike Universal, there is no theme park at Warner Brothers - it's a real working studio. On the tour you'll be driven around on golf carts to various stops - props, costume, set design & contruction, post production. You'll also stop at various sound stages and out door sets and the Warner Brother's Mueseum. Becasue Warner Brother's isn't designed around the tour, the tour itself is subject to change at any moment depending on what's going on. The flip side is that you are more likely to see real production.

In short, if you are interested in seeing the real, working Hollywood than the Warner Brother's tour is best. If you just want to see an extra bit of "Hollywood" than the Universal tour is better.

You're right, the OP asked about the Warner Brothers VIP Tour, not the Universal VIP Experience
Sorry for the mistake and disregard everything I said unless you want to do the Universal VIP Experience

 

[mtemm]

we did the regular wb tour and it was wonderful. would love to try the VIP one next time. especially now that we watch gilmore girls. lol. we had never seen the show and saw so many sets, we finally flipped it on when we got home.

 

[Ron from Michigan]

Thanks everyone for the replys. We will be doing the tour on may 24.

 

[princesssonny]

Here is a section of my trip report from a few years back when we did the VIP Tour I think it was called something different then.

Monday October 13 - DAY 3 Warner Brothers Studio & a very expensive dinner

Anniversary day. Today is our third wedding anniversary and we decided to spend it doing the Warner Brothers Deluxe tour. Now, there are two tours offered the first one is the VIP tour. It is cheaper and only lasts a few hours. The second one is the Deluxe, lasts 6 hours with lunch included, and at the time was $95 per person (it is now $150 per person, Ouch). This is another one of my evil attempts to see someone famous bwwwaaahhaaahhaaahaaa. We get there at 9 am as the tour starts at 10 am. We pay and pick up our tickets which are these really cool preprinted Tour Badges in a lanyard and protective covering (Just like a backstage pass to a concert). We also had to sign a waiver stating we would not approach, bother, or try to stalk any famous person we saw. How did they know me so well, lol. Note: when we went you only had to make reservations for the tour and use a card to hold it, I believe now you have to prepay for everything. We walk inside and meet up with our tour guide, as luck would have it we are the only 2 crazy people on the tour so it was even better as the tour guide said we could pretty much dictate things we would like to see and not worry about anyone else. We begin at the main building which houses several movie props and costumes. We saw a guitar owned by Elvis, Mimi's wedding dress from Drew Carey, costumes from Friends along with the wedding invitation to Monica and Chandler's wedding, George Clooney's dr badge from ER, and the Batmobile. To all of you that don't know the one used in the Batman movies is about 2 feet long and remote control operated. Up on the second floor it was entirely devoted to Harry Potter. I am a huge Harry Potter so imagine my delight when we get to sit down and have the actual Sorting hat placed on our heads and be sorted into houses by a prerecorded voice of course. I got Gryffindor woohoo and hubby got Slytherin (very accurate lol). We saw costumes, Hagrid's motorcycle, the chess piece Ron rode on in the 2nd movie, and much more. It was really cool. We exited the building and went to the gift shop where I purchased a few things for coworkers and we saw the Mystery Maching from the Scooby Doo movies. It was then we were told that from this point on no more photos. Pictures of Warner Brothers water tower and Friends Costumes.

We went to several different process stages and sound recording studios learning the movie biz and then it was time for lunch. Now, this is my opportunity as there is only one cafeteria on property and if the stars want to eat this is the place. We go in get our food and my eyes are busy repeatedly scanning the room, I don't even remember eating, but I am sure I did. We finish and no one, not one single celebrity. We walk out and the tour guide states now would be a good time for a restroom break, I hesitate thinking if I leave the lunch area I know someone famous will walk by. However, I decide I need to go and take the fastest potty break in history (seriously I think it's been recorded in the Guiness book). Anyway, I come back and my hubby says "You will never guess who just walked right by me?" I almost cry, I knew it; as soon as I leave they come. It was Ryan Stiles and apparently he almost stepped on my husband's foot. At first I though the tour guide and him were just playing a joke on me, but turns out they weren't. The tour guide finally realizes my insane obsession with seeing someone famous and gets special permission to go into the Drew Carey set where they are filming. So we end up getting to see Drew and Ryan, so I was happy then . After that we went to the coveted Friends set, where I am sad to report they were not filming. We did get to sit on the sofa at coffee perks and I took the Friends mug I had previously purchased for a coworker and sat it on the counter (she is a huge fan). After that we saw the Gilmore Girls, West Wing, and Two and a Half Men sets. Last we went to the backlot which included entire streets built as sets, several houses including the Seavers house from Growing Pains, the ER signs and basketball court, and theater from the end of Blazing Saddles. Then the tour was over. I think it was really worth it, but I don't think I would pay the current price. We were allowed to take photos again in the backlot. Below is the Seaver House and the Blazing Saddles Theater.

After the tour we went back to the hotel and got spruced up for our romantic anniversary dinner . My hubby, is not romantic, he unfortunately was born without that gene. So, I make him get all dressed up, which he also does not like, and drag him to a very nice French restaurant on Wilshire Boulevard called the Melisse. We sit down and a waiter in a tuxedo comes over and my husband is scowling already. Now, we are not the type of people to frequent fine dining establishments, so my husband is always concerned about getting treated poorly because of his tattoos and piercings. However, this was very untrue in this place. The waiter's could not have been friendlier and were very attentive to each detail. We both ordered the tasting menu which was fabulous. A girl could get used to a place like this . After receiving our $175 check and leaving a nice tip we decided it was back to the hotel for us. Upon arriving back my husband painfully admits (not wanting to admit I was right of course) that he really did enjoy the restaurant. So the entire day was very enjoyable for both of us.

 

[Ron from Michigan]

Thanks princesssonny for the review and pics.