Best Tour Company to do Universal Hollywood during our stay at DL

[bluedoggy]

Coming to Disneyland this summer. Staying at GCV and we won't have a car (or any desire to drive).
But, we'd like to take a day to visit Universal Studios park and possibly a tour of Hollywood (LA sites).
For those of you who have taken a tour- who would you recommend. (Only one chance to do this right)
LOL....
Thanks for your help

 

[kathy040690]

if i had to chose between going an LA tour or universal, I would chose universal !! i love it there *not as much as disney but its a contender*

 

[Luckymommatoo]

With Wizarding World opening at Universal in April, expect the crowds there to be pretty big over the summer. No experience with tours, but hope you find what you're looking for!

 

[Agent 86]

I think it might be a stretch to do both Universal and a Hollywood tour in one day. Unless you're happy to only spend half a day at Universal.

Personally, I was really disappointed by the tour of Hollywood which we did. Not because of the tour company, but because "Hollywood" didn't come close to matching the grandeur, glitz and glamour that I'd been indoctrinated to expect thanks to a steady diet of American TV shows growing up. But, I think that it's probably something that everyone has to experience just so they know how flimsy the façade of Hollywood is.

As noted, with the new Harry Potter land, Universal will be very busy. And all tours to Universal from Disney provide very limited hours at the park (i.e. they normally arrive after it opens and leave before it closes). So, if you wanted to ride a lot of the in-demand rides at Universal, you would probably need to spend the entire "day" there.

 

[millie0312]

I think it might be a stretch to do both Universal and a Hollywood tour in one day. Unless you're happy to only spend half a day at Universal.

Personally, I was really disappointed by the tour of Hollywood which we did. Not because of the tour company, but because "Hollywood" didn't come close to matching the grandeur, glitz and glamour that I'd been indoctrinated to expect thanks to a steady diet of American TV shows growing up. But, I think that it's probably something that everyone has to experience just so they know how flimsy the façade of Hollywood is.

As noted, with the new Harry Potter land, Universal will be very busy. And all tours to Universal from Disney provide very limited hours at the park (i.e. they normally arrive after it opens and leave before it closes). So, if you wanted to ride a lot of the in-demand rides at Universal, you would probably need to spend the entire "day" there.

We also were looking into this but as PP said the only buses that would work for us there far after opening (which would worry me with the high HP crowds coming- our kids are not great about waiting in a lot of lines lol) and leave before they close (why pay $100 a person not to maximize your time there). If you find something let us know here I'd love to know too! Gl!

 

[Agent 86]

If you find something let us know here I'd love to know too! Gl!

Unfortunately, we couldn't find anything. I started a thread on these forums on the topic, but other than hiring a car or potentially using public transport, apparently there are no tour companies who maximise your time at Universal.

 

[Disney_Alli]

I gave up the idea of doing a tour and decided to rent a car for exactly that reason - I wanted to maximize my time in the parks and for less than the price of a shuttle I could do a one day rental. Sorry.

 

[sheetz]

Doing a tour of Hollywood is pointless because you only see the trashy outside of the buildings. If you're going to go to Hollywood I highly recommend something like a movie at the El Capitan, a performance at the Hollywood Bowl, or even visiting the Magic Castle if possible. Those a truly unique experiences that you can't do anywhere else.

 

[Luckymommatoo]

Another recommendation is the Warner Bros Studio Tour. If you want to see "where the magic happens" with soundstages and outdoor sets, that tour is well worth the money.

 

[bluedoggy]

Anyone familiar with Anaheim Tour Company? They have a package that includes bus from Anaheim Hotels and full day at Universal.
Cost is $118 (or so)

 

[Geemo]

My grandkids and DIL were interested in Hollywood. Each trip they'd ask and I'd avoided going in that direction.
Then I caved, we had a rental car, so off to Hollywood we went at the very end of our DLR trip.
We drove up in the morning. I thought we could spend the day touring around the area as they'd been asking.
I found a parking garage and parked the car. We walked around Hollywood and Highland area. After about 30 minutes they were done. It wasn't what they were expecting. Glad I didn't waste one of my Disney days for that.

On a later trip with the older grandkids, we went up to Universal for the day. Had a great time. On the way back to DLR, I swung through Hollywood for them to see it at night. They agreed it look fancier and cleaner at night when it was dark. But they weren't interested in stopping.

 

[tkradtke]

Anyone familiar with Anaheim Tour Company? They have a package that includes bus from Anaheim Hotels and full day at Universal.
Cost is $118 (or so)

We're thinking about using them next month to do the Hollywood/Warner Bros Studio combo tour. I've been reading their reviews and they seem good. I think we'll book with them. I'd be happy to report back after our trip.

 

[AlohaNow]

DH has been making rumblings about Universal for our October trip. I’ve gotten lots of Disney gift cards for free towards this trip, but even so, I tell him we are about at our limit for $$budget$$!

Yeah, there really is no Hollywood to go see. There is the sign of course, but the entire industry is just not something you can go ‘see’. I have heard that Warner Bros. has one of the last studio tours, but even so, you really don’t see much unless you happen upon something awesome that day. Closer to our trip dates I want to try and get tickets to be in the studio audience for the taping of a show. (Check Audiences Unlimited for this.) Youngest son will be 10 so the only shows we can all get into, due to studio age restrictions, are two Disney shows. How appropriate for our Disney trip!

We will have a car the entire trip, which at first I thought would be a dumb idea, but just getting four people to and from SNA, believe me we’ll be saving money with a car! This will allow us to also get to the beach, the TV studio, and the JPL at Cal Tech. All fabulous, and free, activities!

 

[AlohaNow]

If you're going to go to Hollywood I highly recommend something like a movie at the El Capitan, a performance at the Hollywood Bowl, or even visiting the Magic Castle if possible. Those a truly unique experiences that you can't do anywhere else.

I thought the Magic Castle was very members-and-their-guests only? Do you know something we don’t? Do tell!

 

[sheetz]

I thought the Magic Castle was very members-and-their-guests only? Do you know something we don’t? Do tell!

You can often contact one of the magicians who are performing on the day you plan to visit and ask them for an invitation. Also, the Magic Castle is open to guests of the Magic Castle Hotel.
http://magiccastlehotel.com/

 

[sprmom]

HI, I'm going next week, any recommendations or updates on tours from Anaheim to universal studios? Hoping to hit soft opening of Harry Potter on March 20 or 21....

 

[bluedoggy]

HI, I'm going next week, any recommendations or updates on tours from Anaheim to universal studios? Hoping to hit soft opening of Harry Potter on March 20 or 21....

I inquired with Anaheim Tour Company. Somebody told me they are quite good. Since we don't have a car (and don't want to deal with the LA traffic, we are doing a Universal Tour package with pick up from our hotel at Disneyland. Gives us a whole day there and they get you to the park at opening..