Grayline LA/Hollywood, or Universal with Hollywood bonus?

[niklynn1]

For our upcoming DLR trip, my DD17 wants to see Hollywood. Grayline offers two options that I'm trying to decide between.

One is LA/Hollywood and appears to be 10 hours long. It includes the Chinese theater, the Grove, Farmers Market, Olvera street and choice of Santa Monica or Venice Beach.

Then, there is a Universal Studios tour that is 13 hours long, and includes the day at Universal and then an evening tour of Hollywood sites. These sites appear to be different, such as House of blues, Whisky a Go Go.

I could use helping decide between these two. I don't know many of these locations, but the evening HW tour seems like it might have more adult locations?

Also, would the Universal tour allow enough time to really see/do everything at Universal?

Please help!

 

[kelmac284]

I JUST did something similar to this last month. We didn't go to universal but we stayed there and went to city walk. I have been to universal though MANY times and I can tell you depending on when you go it doesn't take that long to see that park. There is the tram tour which is about two hours but then there are really only about 5 rides and then there are the shows. I have seen them all but if that is something you are interested in then it might take a full day to do it all.

We did a stars home tour which did the walk of fame, the hollywood sign and stars homes and it was really fun. I would like to do a more extensive one though at some time and the first one you mentioned sounds really fun. In fact the Grove/Olvera street were on our list last time and we never made it so going to do it this summer.

Are you planning on staying down in Annaheim and just wanted to do a day trip? Otherwise you might want to stay up there for a few days first and that way you could spend one day at Universal and then a day doing a tour. Good luck on whatever you decide and I am sure you will have fun!!

 

[skiingfast]

There is the tram tour which is about two hours but then there are really only about 5 rides and then there are the shows. I have seen them all but if that is something you are interested in then it might take a full day to do it all.

I would of said it would be easy to see in a day, however, for the OP's visit and rest of Summer it may not be. With Tranformers opening that may add another ride and a 90 minute wait for it.

 

[kelmac284]

Oh yeah I forgot about Transformers. True! And like I said if she has never been it would probably take an entire day if she wants to "do it all". I know for us the place has hardly changed in the last 10 or so years so we skip the stuff we have seen over and over or are not interested in. For example none of can ride the new Simpson's ride because of motion sickness. Heck even the Shrek movie makes me a little queasy LOL. But really it seems that there is just Jurrasic Park and the Mummy other than Simpsons. Then there are the shows of course. And if you want to see those that can take up your day for sure.

Wondering if Transformers will be completely new or replaced something else?

 

[skiingfast]

Wondering if Transformers will be completely new or replaced something else?

It is completely new and a ride on the lower lot. I think it is in the old Twister building.

This attraction has opened in US Signapore and you can find some videos on youtube.

 

[kelmac284]

I'm pretty sure Twister was never at Hollywood. They had and I believe still have it in Florida although not positive. We went in 08 and it was still there but not sure if it is anymore but I don't think it was ever at Hollywood. They used to have ET but I thought the Mummy took that building. I wondered if they were going to maybe replace Shrek since from what I understood it was a 3D movie type deal but either way it will be fun I am sure. We are going in June so I am anxious to see it!!

 

[kelmac284]

Or maybe it is where they had backdraft? That is something that was in Hollywood and it would make sense if they put in there!

 

[Mabel67]

For our upcoming DLR trip, my DD17 wants to see Hollywood. Grayline offers two options that I'm trying to decide between.

One is LA/Hollywood and appears to be 10 hours long. It includes the Chinese theater, the Grove, Farmers Market, Olvera street and choice of Santa Monica or Venice Beach.

Then, there is a Universal Studios tour that is 13 hours long, and includes the day at Universal and then an evening tour of Hollywood sites. These sites appear to be different, such as House of blues, Whisky a Go Go.

I could use helping decide between these two. I don't know many of these locations, but the evening HW tour seems like it might have more adult locations?

Also, would the Universal tour allow enough time to really see/do everything at Universal?

Please help!

Hi! I might have some helpful info...we (me, DH and DS21) did the 10 hour LA/Hollywood tour this past August. We have been to DL many times before and HW once. Universal Studios we have visited a few times before as well....

We all really enjoyed this tour. DH especially enjoyed not having to be the driver, so he could really enjoy looking around. The amount of time in Hollywood was more than adequate...there really isn't much there beyond Graumanns and the stars in the sidewalk...unless you like cheap t-shirts and plastic Oscars statues! The bulk of our time was spent at Graumann's. The highlights of LA were very interesting. I especially enjoyed seeing Olvera street, as it is mentioned in the Harry Bosch books I enjoy. There was a brief stop at one of the buildings (can't remember which, off hand) in LA as well.

The bus tour around Hollywood was very enjoyable as well. I especially enjoyed seeing the Viper Club and a home where Marilyn Monroe had once lived.

From there we went to the Farmers Market. The outdoor shopping mall was nice, but the shops were very expensive. The Farmers Market, however, was wonderful and we will return there at some point to spend more time. This is where you have time to eat some lunch. There were too many places to choose from!

Then it was off to the beach. We chose Venice. I'm glad I got to see it because now I no longer wonder what it's like, however I will not return. It was quite seedy and dirty. I was astonished at the amount of open drug use. A lot of panhandling as well....I don't think I would feel real safe there after dark, but it might not be as bad as it seemed. I would definitely choose Santa Monica Pier if I were to do this tour again (which we are contemplating for our next visit to DL in April).

From the beach there was a brief tour around Venice where the canals are/were and then back to the hotel.

Overall, we enjoyed this tour a lot. We will do it again sometime. I feel that we got good value for our money and that the tour hit all the major high points that we wanted to see. Our driver added some interesting anecdotes along the way.

For Universal, I would prefer to do it at my own time...that way you can see everything you want in the park and at CityWalk without having to follow the bus schedule. And I believe (though not positive) that Transformers is replacing the Back Draft experience....

Hope this helped, and let me know if you have any more questions about the tour.

 

[skiingfast]

Or maybe it is where they had backdraft? That is something that was in Hollywood and it would make sense if they put in there!

Thank you, that jogged my memory and that is the attraction that it replaced.