WB Tour, Homes Or Hop-On Choice

Starline pairs the Warner Bros. studio visit with a guided Hollywood bus loop: about 2.5 hours on the Burbank lot, then 2 to 2.5 hours touring Hollywood highlights. Shuttle transport ties the two halves together, and free cancellation applies. Rated 3.9 across 201 reviews.

Overview

This package pairs a Warner Bros. Studio visit with a Hollywood sightseeing leg, run by Starline Tours of Hollywood. The studio portion takes about 2.5 hours, split between a guided tour of the backlot and self-guided time through exhibits including the DC Universe, the Friends Central Perk set and Harry Potter displays. A complimentary round-trip shuttle connects Hollywood to the studio lot, so the traveller does not need to arrange that transfer.

After the studio, the day continues with a choice: the Celebrity Homes Tour, an open-air bus ride through the Hollywood Hills and Beverly Hills past spots like the Sunset Strip and Rodeo Drive, or a Hop-on Hop-off ticket on the Hollywood Route with 15 stops including the Walk of Fame, TCL Chinese Theatre, LACMA and the Original Farmers Market. The homes tour runs in English or Spanish, while the hop-on bus offers commentary in 9 languages through the CitySightseeing LA app. Studio tours also run in Spanish and French at scheduled afternoon times, though transport is not included for those.

The full sequence works as a single day, with the second leg starting in the mid-afternoon, or the package can be split across two days by messaging the operator after booking. Hotel pickup is not included, so travellers make their own way to the Starline Tours Visitor Center on North Orange Drive.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Check in at Visitor CenterArrive at 1738 N Orange Dr, Los Angeles, for 09:00 AM check-in at the Starline Tours Visitor Center.
2. Shuttle to Warner Bros.The complimentary shuttle departs at 09:30 AM and the drive to the studio takes about 20 minutes.
3. Guided studio tourBetween 10:00 AM and 10:30 AM the studio tour begins, starting with a 1-hour guided portion around sets and a studio space.
4. Self-guided studio timeA further 1.5 hours of self-guided exploration covers exhibits such as the Friends set, DC Universe and Harry Potter displays.
5. Return shuttle to HollywoodThe return shuttle leaves the studio at 01:00 PM for the ride back to Hollywood, about 20 minutes.
6. Hollywood sightseeing legFrom 02:15 PM, take either the Celebrity Homes Tour or the Hop-on Hop-off Hollywood Route, roughly 2 to 2.5 hours for the homes option and about 2 hours for the hop-on route.
7. Drop-offThe tour ends back at 1738 N Orange Dr. Hop-on Hop-off ticket holders can instead continue using the Hollywood Route, since the ticket is valid for 24 hours.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points shape how this day goes, from the ID check at the studio gate to how the two halves of the package connect.

• Bring ID. Adults need a valid government-issued ID, such as a driver's license or passport, to enter the studio. Security may also search personal belongings, so travel light.
• Photo limits. Photography is limited on the studio lot and video filming is not permitted. One reviewer described getting a photo on the Friends sofa and the Big Bang Theory set, so picture opportunities exist within the rules.
• Getting there. Hotel pickup is not included and the meeting point is the Starline Tours Visitor Center on North Orange Drive. One reviewer noted there is parking nearby for those driving in, though several travellers said the transport arrangements to the studio were not entirely clear to them at first.
• Pace and timing. The studio portion mixes a guided hour with self-guided time, then the sightseeing leg starts at 02:15 PM. Reviewers describe the day as full but well run, with guides frequently praised as knowledgeable and entertaining.
• What to carry. Comfortable shoes, a charged smartphone and a passport or ID card are the listed essentials. Luggage and large bags are not allowed, and pets are not permitted except assistance dogs.
• Tickets and app. Mobile tickets are accepted, so there is nothing to print. Hop-on bus riders can download the CitySightseeing LA app for live bus tracking and audio commentary in 9 languages, and most of those buses offer free Wi-Fi.

Common issues. The main friction point in reviews is transport expectations: several travellers expected the whole package to be one connected service and were unclear that the shuttle from the Visitor Center is what links the studio leg, with one reviewer wishing this had been explained better. One reviewer found the prices in the studio shop expensive. One reviewer found the open-air vehicles less comfortable at freeway speed and asked for a slower pace, and another was disappointed the homes tour no longer stops for photos. Photography restrictions on the studio lot may also disappoint keen photographers.

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