Hollywood and DL 6 day tour

[mikeishere]

Looking into the ‘Hollywood and Disneyland’ Adventures by Disney tour from Uk in a few years hopefully .
As it’s 6 days and coming from the Uk hopefully looking to do 2 weeks so looking for suggestions of what else can you do after the 6 days of tour to fill 2 weeks. Got to consider don’t drive also.
Thanks

 

[Mathmagicland]

Hi - here are some suggestions from a local’s perspective; out-of-towners who have done this AbD and added time may have other ideas. Also not sure what your areas of interest might be...



Arrive to Hollywood a few days early. There is a Metrolink stop, similar to the Tube but above ground, at Hollywood & Highland by your first hotel. One stop to the north is Universal Studios & some Harry Potter stuff, and Universal City Walk. Today is it around $3.50US for a round trip ride. You’d need a fare card similar to the Oyster card but you can’t turn it in for a refund at the end of your visit. I’ve not been to Universal Orlando, so can’t compare the two, but this was the first for Universal & is a mix of a working movie/tv studio tour along with theme park/Harry Potter. Some folks spend a couple of days here - you could easily metro up both days. https://www.universalstudioshollywood.com/web/en/us


Around your Hollywood area hotel -


-Tour the Disney El Capitan theatre, which does not show as included with the AbD, also note the walk of fame stars for some Disney characters out front and the Ghiradelli soda shop next door. If you collect Disney pins, the shop offers some pins unique to the shop & not offered in the parks. They will often have showings of Disney movies and sometimes their organist will play the old-time theatre organ. https://elcapitantheatre.com/ and https://www.ghirardelli.com/StoreLocations-Hollywood


-Hollywood Walk of Fame - the stars along the sidewalks recognizing different entertainers and leaders from movies, music, theatre, and TV. Most are along both sides of Hollywood Blvd; a few go off on side streets off Hollywood Blvd for a block or two. Some people have more than one star - ie Walt Disney has two, one for movies and one for TV. At the 6200/6300 block of Hollywood Blvd, on each of the four corners, is a special “star” - the moon to commemorate the televised Apollo 11 moon landing in 1969. https://walkoffame.com/browse-stars/


-Iconic Capital Records tower - the Beatles stars from the Hollywood Walk are in front here https://www.discoverlosangeles.com/visit/the-capitol-records-building-the-story-of-an-la-icon


-Pantages Theatre - if you like Broadway/West End type shows https://www.broadwayinhollywood.com/venues/detail/pantagestheatre


-Dolby Theatre, where the Oscars are held each year - tours available. https://www.dolbytheatre.com


-Hollywood Wax Museum. https://www.hollywoodwaxentertainment.com/hollywood-ca-attractions/hollywood-wax-museum/


-Guinness World Records Museum https://www.hollywoodwaxentertainment.com/hollywood-ca-attractions/guinness-worlds-records-museum/


- Ripleys Believe It or Not Museum https://www.ripleys.com/hollywood/


-If filming during your visit, get tickets well in advance to Jimmy Kimmel Live, late night US talk show It tapes in the late afternoon, in the theatre next to the El Capitan. https://1iota.com/show/1/jimmy-kimmel-live


-At Hollywood & Highland, the TCL Chinese theatre for a tour, with the famous footprints in the cement out in front. http://www.tclchinesetheatres.com/

If you are interested in history, take the Metrolink east a few stops to the end of the red line and Union Station and downtown Los Angeles. Union station is a great Art Deco building you would likely recognize from a lot of movies and TV programs. Nearby are areas related to Los Angeles history such as Olvera Street and some other smaller museums. https://www.unionstationla.com

After the tour portion at Disneyland - some who have done trip reports have added a day or two here to spend more time in the Disneyland Resort parks, seeing things not included or for which not enough time in the AbD, or revisiting new favorite attractions. There are attractions in Disneyland/California Adventure that are not in other Disney Parks. Depending on the time of year of your visit, some attractions get special holiday overlays.

There’s really not anything else I’m aware of (as i don’t live in the Anaheim area) within walking distance or easy Metrolink access to Disneyland since Disneyland is not close to a metro stop. Since you won’t be driving, you’d need to Uber or Lyft to get to places like the beach, and that is not really close...drive would be 30-45 min depending on time of day & traffic. Knotts Berry Farm, a western-themed amusement park and older that Disneyland, is also an Uber or Lyft away - maybe 15-30 minutes again depending on our ever-present traffic - https://www.knotts.com/

Have fun planning! If you have specific questions or interests, please ask & I’ll try to help out.

 

[mikeishere]

Hi - here are some suggestions from a local’s perspective; out-of-towners who have done this AbD and added time may have other ideas. Also not sure what your areas of interest might be...



Arrive to Hollywood a few days early. There is a Metrolink stop, similar to the Tube but above ground, at Hollywood & Highland by your first hotel. One stop to the north is Universal Studios & some Harry Potter stuff, and Universal City Walk. Today is it around $3.50US for a round trip ride. You’d need a fare card similar to the Oyster card but you can’t turn it in for a refund at the end of your visit. I’ve not been to Universal Orlando, so can’t compare the two, but this was the first for Universal & is a mix of a working movie/tv studio tour along with theme park/Harry Potter. Some folks spend a couple of days here - you could easily metro up both days. https://www.universalstudioshollywood.com/web/en/us


Around your Hollywood area hotel -


-Tour the Disney El Capitan theatre, which does not show as included with the AbD, also note the walk of fame stars for some Disney characters out front and the Ghiradelli soda shop next door. If you collect Disney pins, the shop offers some pins unique to the shop & not offered in the parks. They will often have showings of Disney movies and sometimes their organist will play the old-time theatre organ. https://elcapitantheatre.com/ and https://www.ghirardelli.com/StoreLocations-Hollywood


-Hollywood Walk of Fame - the stars along the sidewalks recognizing different entertainers and leaders from movies, music, theatre, and TV. Most are along both sides of Hollywood Blvd; a few go off on side streets off Hollywood Blvd for a block or two. Some people have more than one star - ie Walt Disney has two, one for movies and one for TV. At the 6200/6300 block of Hollywood Blvd, on each of the four corners, is a special “star” - the moon to commemorate the televised Apollo 11 moon landing in 1969. https://walkoffame.com/browse-stars/


-Iconic Capital Records tower - the Beatles stars from the Hollywood Walk are in front here https://www.discoverlosangeles.com/visit/the-capitol-records-building-the-story-of-an-la-icon


-Pantages Theatre - if you like Broadway/West End type shows https://www.broadwayinhollywood.com/venues/detail/pantagestheatre


-Dolby Theatre, where the Oscars are held each year - tours available. https://www.dolbytheatre.com


-Hollywood Wax Museum. https://www.hollywoodwaxentertainment.com/hollywood-ca-attractions/hollywood-wax-museum/


-Guinness World Records Museum https://www.hollywoodwaxentertainment.com/hollywood-ca-attractions/guinness-worlds-records-museum/


- Ripleys Believe It or Not Museum https://www.ripleys.com/hollywood/


-If filming during your visit, get tickets well in advance to Jimmy Kimmel Live, late night US talk show It tapes in the late afternoon, in the theatre next to the El Capitan. https://1iota.com/show/1/jimmy-kimmel-live


-At Hollywood & Highland, the TCL Chinese theatre for a tour, with the famous footprints in the cement out in front. http://www.tclchinesetheatres.com/

If you are interested in history, take the Metrolink east a few stops to the end of the red line and Union Station and downtown Los Angeles. Union station is a great Art Deco building you would likely recognize from a lot of movies and TV programs. Nearby are areas related to Los Angeles history such as Olvera Street and some other smaller museums. https://www.unionstationla.com

After the tour portion at Disneyland - some who have done trip reports have added a day or two here to spend more time in the Disneyland Resort parks, seeing things not included or for which not enough time in the AbD, or revisiting new favorite attractions. There are attractions in Disneyland/California Adventure that are not in other Disney Parks. Depending on the time of year of your visit, some attractions get special holiday overlays.

There’s really not anything else I’m aware of (as i don’t live in the Anaheim area) within walking distance or easy Metrolink access to Disneyland since Disneyland is not close to a metro stop. Since you won’t be driving, you’d need to Uber or Lyft to get to places like the beach, and that is not really close...drive would be 30-45 min depending on time of day & traffic. Knotts Berry Farm, a western-themed amusement park and older that Disneyland, is also an Uber or Lyft away - maybe 15-30 minutes again depending on our ever-present traffic - https://www.knotts.com/

Have fun planning! If you have specific questions or interests, please ask & I’ll try to help out.

Thanks for your excellent detailed reply and help. Their is definitely a lot to consider here so thanks very much for this

 

[OKW Lover]

Good advice here by @Mathmagicland. I'd just add that some of the items suggested around the Hollywood hotel may be included in your actual ABD trip. Typically, the Chinese theater is part of that trip.

Having done this trip several times we've found that the Hollywood part is "interesting" but not necessarily a place to spend a lot of extra time. Certainly a trip to Universal would be worth it. Plus a day or so to get acclimated to the time change by doing things local to the hotel. Not having a car in that area isn't really a problem. In fact its an advantage as you don't have to worry about directors, where to park, and driving on the other side of the road. :

So, you've really go a lot of extra time ti fill in if you're going to be there for 2 weeks. I'd suggest that you include a trip up to San Francisco for several days. Perhaps at the end of your stay and then fly home from there. SF is a very interesting city to spend time in. Probably better than LA which is really spread out. You would have to fly from either LAX or SNA up to SFO for that but its a short flight.

OH, and without a car you'll find Uber/Lyft to be a very good way to get around.

 

[DL1WDW2]

Can they fit the Getty Center into their plans? The view is incredible and the Center very interesting. As you walk the exterior , they have created water displays that have different sounds of the running water with each . Kinda fun to pay attention to details.

 

[dt14890]

An item I did the morning of Day 1 is the Warner Brothers studio tour. It is about 2 hours and pretty cool. I hopped on the bus that has a stop pretty much at Hollywood and Highland and then has a stop out front of Warner Brothers. 2019 it was $1.50 each way.

 

[mikeishere]

I’d love the Warner Bros tour

 

[BadPinkTink]

Ive been going to the LA area solo from Ireland without a car for about 10 years.

I use the underground and bus system to get around. They have a TAP card similar to Oyster card in London, which is valid on buses and the underground. You buy it at any of the ticket machines in the underground stations, I thin $3 and then just top up. I top up online. https://www.taptogo.net/

This is the transport website https://www.metro.net/

I usually allow approx 1 hour from A to B

Some of my suggestions
Hop On Hop Off Bus tour https://www.starlinetours.com/en/hop-on-hop-off-double-decker
The Grove outdoor shopping mall https://thegrovela.com/ and Farmers Market https://farmersmarketla.com/ (beside each other)
Hollywood Forever Cemetery https://hollywoodforever.com/
Museum of Tolerance (Holocaust exhibition and memorial ) https://www.museumoftolerance.com/
Staples Center https://www.staplescenter.com/ , LA Live https://www.lalive.com/ and Grammy Museum https://grammymuseum.org/ (all beside each other)
Santa Monica Pier https://www.santamonicapier.org/fun and Santa Monica 3rd Street Promenade https://www.santamonica.com/shopping/
Sony Pictures Studio Tour https://www.sonypicturesstudiostours.com/

 

[mikeishere]

Ive been going to the LA area solo from Ireland without a car for about 10 years.

I use the underground and bus system to get around. They have a TAP card similar to Oyster card in London, which is valid on buses and the underground. You buy it at any of the ticket machines in the underground stations, I thin $3 and then just top up. I top up online. https://www.taptogo.net/

This is the transport website https://www.metro.net/

I usually allow approx 1 hour from A to B

Some of my suggestions
Hop On Hop Off Bus tour https://www.starlinetours.com/en/hop-on-hop-off-double-decker
The Grove outdoor shopping mall https://thegrovela.com/ and Farmers Market https://farmersmarketla.com/ (beside each other)
Hollywood Forever Cemetery https://hollywoodforever.com/
Museum of Tolerance (Holocaust exhibition and memorial ) https://www.museumoftolerance.com/
Staples Center https://www.staplescenter.com/ , LA Live https://www.lalive.com/ and Grammy Museum https://grammymuseum.org/ (all beside each other)
Santa Monica Pier https://www.santamonicapier.org/fun and Santa Monica 3rd Street Promenade https://www.santamonica.com/shopping/
Sony Pictures Studio Tour https://www.sonypicturesstudiostours.com/

do any other movie studios do tours or just Warner Sony Pictures and Universal?


I think your list has sort of helped me.

id like to do :
The Grove / Farmers Market
Hollywood Forever Cemetery
Staples Centre
LA Live
Grammy Museum
Sony Pictures Tour
Warner Bros Studio Tour

but from your experience (or anyone else who can help) what are close to each other / could do on same day / what should do on different days ?

 

[BadPinkTink]

@mikeishere
I've done all the studios tours and this is my ranking of them from best to worst. I would only pick one to do. I did them all over 4 years.

1. Warner Bros
2. Universal Studios ( number 2 only because its not a standalone tour, its park of the theme park)
3. Sony Pictures
4. Paramount Studios

I usually plan half a day for a place and group things together.

For example, you can do the Hollywood Walk of Fame things such as the the footprints Hollywood and Highland Mall etc in the morning and then take the bus to The Grove / Farmers Market.

Hollywood Forever Cemetery is the opposite direction to The Grove / Farmers Market so that would be a half day on its own. Paramount Studios is next door to the cemetery, they share a boundary wall, so those two could be done together.

Staples Center/ LA Live and The Grammy Museum are in Downtown LA, about 30 minutes on the Red underground Metro Line from Hollywood and Highland underground station. So that would be a full day.

Warner Bros Studio Tour is in Burbank. That would be a half day.

Sony Pictures is in Culver City, I think that took about an hour on the underground to get to from Hollywood.

You should go to Google maps and plot everything out. If you click on Hollywood and Highland Metro station, Google Maps will show you the entire line. Everything is VERY spaced out. Things that seem nearby on the map can be a 30 minute walk , or a 30 minute underground journey. The bus journey from Hollywood and Highland Metro station to The Grove / Farmers Market is about an hour.

Also just to note, I don't use public transport after dark and I am usually back at my hotel by 7.30pm as its dark by 8pm in June.

 

[mikeishere]

@mikeishere
I've done all the studios tours and this is my ranking of them from best to worst. I would only pick one to do. I did them all over 4 years.

1. Warner Bros
2. Universal Studios ( number 2 only because its not a standalone tour, its park of the theme park)
3. Sony Pictures
4. Paramount Studios

I usually plan half a day for a place and group things together.

For example, you can do the Hollywood Walk of Fame things such as the the footprints Hollywood and Highland Mall etc in the morning and then take the bus to The Grove / Farmers Market.

Hollywood Forever Cemetery is the opposite direction to The Grove / Farmers Market so that would be a half day on its own. Paramount Studios is next door to the cemetery, they share a boundary wall, so those two could be done together.

Staples Center/ LA Live and The Grammy Museum are in Downtown LA, about 30 minutes on the Red underground Metro Line from Hollywood and Highland underground station. So that would be a full day.

Warner Bros Studio Tour is in Burbank. That would be a half day.

Sony Pictures is in Culver City, I think that took about an hour on the underground to get to from Hollywood.

You should go to Google maps and plot everything out. If you click on Hollywood and Highland Metro station, Google Maps will show you the entire line. Everything is VERY spaced out. Things that seem nearby on the map can be a 30 minute walk , or a 30 minute underground journey. The bus journey from Hollywood and Highland Metro station to The Grove / Farmers Market is about an hour.

Also just to note, I don't use public transport after dark and I am usually back at my hotel by 7.30pm as its dark by 8pm in June.

Thanks for the info going to have to plot it all out

 

[dt14890]

Just to note here, part of the backstage magic tour is a vip tour of the Chinese theatre along with the footprints WITH the tour guide giving behind the scenes info on some of them. Save that for the Disney part of your tour.

 

[OKW Lover]

Wanted to add a caution about doing too much before this ABD starts. Once you hit the Welcome Dinner the first day, you'll be on the go for much of the week. Some really early mornings and some late nights. Don't start off with a sleep deficit. Get well rested beforehand.

 

[mikeishere]

Wanted to add a caution about doing too much before this ABD starts. Once you hit the Welcome Dinner the first day, you'll be on the go for much of the week. Some really early mornings and some late nights. Don't start off with a sleep deficit. Get well rested beforehand.

I agree with you. Think I want to arrive a day early and do ABD at the start of my holiday and everything after ABD

thinking this:


Day 1 - arrive
Day 2 - day 7 - ABD
Day 8/9 - Disney extra days
Day 10 - Chill day
Day 11/12 - Universal
Day 13 - Warner Bros tour
Day 14 - Hollywood Forever Cemetery/ Paramount Tour (possibly)

 

[BadPinkTink]

I agree with you. Think I want to arrive a day early and do ABD at the start of my holiday and everything after ABD

thinking this:


Day 1 - arrive
Day 2 - day 7 - ABD
Day 8/9 - Disney extra days
Day 10 - Chill day
Day 11/12 - Universal
Day 13 - Warner Bros tour
Day 14 - Hollywood Forever Cemetery/ Paramount Tour (possibly)

For this plan, you will need to travel back to Hollywood and stay local after Disneyland. It takes me about 2 hours to travel by public transport from my Hollywood hotel to my Anaheim hotel.

I usually do a split location, LA first, then a travel day, then 3 park days, then travel home day.

 

[sayhello]

I agree with you. Think I want to arrive a day early and do ABD at the start of my holiday and everything after ABD

thinking this:


Day 1 - arrive
Day 2 - day 7 - ABD
Day 8/9 - Disney extra days
Day 10 - Chill day
Day 11/12 - Universal
Day 13 - Warner Bros tour
Day 14 - Hollywood Forever Cemetery/ Paramount Tour (possibly)

That sounds wise, but I'm not sure if ABD will take you back to Hollywood after the trip, because normally they take you back to LAX (and I believe they only do that if you book your post-ABD Disneyland days through them). I'm sure someone who has done this will chime in. So make sure that you have a way to get back to Hollywood for the last part of your trip, and then back to LAX to fly home.

Sayhello

 

[mikeishere]

For this plan, you will need to travel back to Hollywood and stay local after Disneyland. It takes me about 2 hours to travel by public transport from my Hollywood hotel to my Anaheim hotel.

I usually do a split location, LA first, then a travel day, then 3 park days, then travel home day.

I thought if I stayed at a hotel near Universal Studios after Disney or a Universal hotel (if they have their own resort hotels like Orlando?) would this be a good idea?

 

[BadPinkTink]

I thought if I stayed at a hotel near Universal Studios after Disney or a Universal hotel (if they have their own resort hotels like Orlando?) would this be a good idea?

yes you can do that, there are 2 hotels beside Universal studios, Hilton Los Angeles Universal City and Sheraton Universal Hotel. There is a free shuttle from Universal City underground metro station to Universal City walk and then you will have to walk to the hotels.

It will take about 3 hours to travel from Anaheim to Universal. You will have to get yourself from your Disney hotel to Anaheim ARTIC train station. There is a local Anaheim bus from Disneyland to the Anaheim ARTIC train station. Then you will need to get a train to Union Station in Downtown LA. In Union Station you will need to transfer to the Red Line underground Metro train.

You will need to be able to schlep all your luggage up and down escalators and walk a far bit with your luggage. I usually have a backpack and a 20kg / 50 pound large 4 wheel rolling suitcase.

 

[mikeishere]

yes you can do that, there are 2 hotels beside Universal studios, Hilton Los Angeles Universal City and Sheraton Universal Hotel. There is a free shuttle from Universal City underground metro station to Universal City walk and then you will have to walk to the hotels.

It will take about 3 hours to travel from Anaheim to Universal. You will have to get yourself from your Disney hotel to Anaheim ARTIC train station. There is a local Anaheim bus from Disneyland to the Anaheim ARTIC train station. Then you will need to get a train to Union Station in Downtown LA. In Union Station you will need to transfer to the Red Line underground Metro train.

You will need to be able to schlep all your luggage up and down escalators and walk a far bit with your luggage. I usually have a backpack and a 20kg / 50 pound large 4 wheel rolling suitcase.

3 hours ! Omg didn’t realise Disney and universal so far away.I guess I don’t realise how big LA is! Thought as they all in LA wouldn’t be that far. Guess as I live in uk which is a small country don’t realise how big LA is.

 

[BadPinkTink]

3 hours ! Omg didn’t realise Disney and universal so far away.I guess I don’t realise how big LA is! Thought as they all in LA wouldn’t be that far. Guess as I live in uk which is a small country don’t realise how big LA is.

Yes thats a common mistake Europeans make, thinking LA is like London , but to compare this is Google Maps set at 5km for London and LA.





Even driving it would take almost 2 hours depending on time of day. Universal is in Burbank, LA county and Disney is in Anaheim, Orange County. Google Maps says 40 miles between them, but thats not like going 40 miles in UK.

It takes about an hour driving to go from LAX airport to Hollywood. Think Heathrow to Oxford Street.

Thats why I do a half a day in each place and allow 1 hour to travel from A to B.

This is The Chinese Theater to Farmers Market / The Grove. Google Maps says just over 3 miles, but that bus journey took about an hour.