Please help with LA/Hollywood Tours

[Deb T.]

We will be spending 3 days at DL & DCA the second week of April and have one extra day for sightseeing. We'd like to tour Hollywood and LA, and see a live taping of a television show if possible.

I checked some sites online and found a few tours that sounded like what we wanted:
1) "Grand Tour of Los Angeles" with VIP Tours & Charters for $48pp.
2) "Best of Hollywood" with Tour Connections for $42pp.
3) "Live Television Show Tours" with Tour Connections for $45pp

Does anyone have experience with these tours and companies? Is there another tour company we should check with? Are these types of tours available thru DL resorts? (We are staying at the Grand Californian, but not concierge level.) We are renting a car, so should we just get a map and drive around on our own? Are there television shows that allow live audiences that we could get into? Any help at all will be greatly appreciated!

 

[Tink33]

For tickets to shows try www.audiencesunlimited.com They can get you tickets to more shows than anyone.
I have not gone a tour in Hollywood since I was a kid. What I do remember is stopping at every hotel to pick up more and more guests - very boring. We visited Universal Studios and NBC studios.
About 2 years ago I went on a self tour through Hollywood. We stopped on Hollywood Blvd near Mann's Theater(Grahman's Chinese) and the Disney Store and El Capitan Theater. We bought a map of the stars homes and drove around looking at the homes. We happened upon a celebrity wedding and saw some famous people. Also drove through Rodeo Drive. I personally liked this much better but I am familiar with driving in Los Angeles.
If you are comfortable with driving in Beverly Hills and Hollywood and want to be able to do whatever you want, make your own tour. If you prefer being driven and don't want to make the decisions about destinations, take a group tour.

 

[Debbie in Townsville]

I booked the Grand Tour of LA with VIP through Expedia and they had a kids free promotion, so we saved about $70! They also had tickets available for some shows and other tours. I found it on Expedia, then clicked on the DESTINATIONS tab, then clicked on Los Angeles in the list of cities.

Our trip is next week, so I'll do a trip report when we get back. Like you, we'll be staying at the GC and renting a car. DH didn't want to do all the sightseeing driving, so we decided to book a tour.

I used to be Debbie in Mobile but the Army keeps moving us!

 

[Deb T.]

Thanks for the link, Tink33! It was exactly what I was looking for! It looks like we'll be at DL at the end of the taping season, but we might be able to see Drew Cary's show! And for free!! I didn't know that you don't have to pay to get in - I guess the $45 fee was for the transportation.

Debbie in Townsville - thanks for the info! I'll check it out, too. We still haven't decided if we want to try to drive around ourselves or take a tour. I think a tour might give us more information without having to worry about getting lost. But, I also like the idea of saving money! I'm looking forward to reading your trip report!

Going to DISNEYLAND in April! Going to DISNEY WORLD in June! ºoº

 

[Judy from Boise]

I would reccomend a tour, it is vacation ! I think that game shows are the easiets tickets to get ? Price is Right was very good to me ! I bet Hollywood squares would be fun too. But it might take up a good portion of your day....

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[andrewam]

tv shows will take up more time then you think, at least several hours. You have to get their early (I would say no less then an hour before it says to be there, anyone else agree with that?)and you are still not guaranted anything, even if you are first in line. Those tickets don't mean much if there are lots of VIPs. So just don't get too excited. Doing it on your own isn't bad, if you have time you can go to Walts grave, not too far away from Disney Studios. (check out the Urban legends page, don't know link sorry, they have specific directions to the site.) Just don't be wondering around after dark, not the safest place to be if you don't know where your at.

 

[Luv2Roam]

I was in an Oprah audience around 8 years ago. We went for the early morning showing, and it took all morning.
You wouldn't think so, but figure half the day is gone.

AK : Lions, Tiggers & Bears! Oh My!

 

[nickglover]

I found this info surfing around today:

1. LA City Tours (888) 800-7878
$55 5 1/2 hours
Santa Monica Pier/Venice Beach/Malibu/Marina
Del Ray
Staples Center/City Hall/Union Station
Hollywood sign/Chinese Theater/Walk of
Fame/Farmer's Market (lunch)
Star homes/Melrose/Sunset Strip/Beverly
Hills/Rodeo Drive
Not sure if they pick up - I like this
itinerary the best and plan to call to find out
if they pick up - I think they are located in
Santa Monica.
2. Grayline
$47 9 hours starts at 8:30
Chinese Theatre
Sunset Strip/Melrose/Beverly Hills/Rodeo Dr.
Hardrock Cafe
Santa Monica/Pier
Third St. Promenade Shops
They are out of Anaheim so probably would pick
up at GC.
3. Starline Tours
$49 5 1/2 hours
Chinese Theatre (where they are located)
Hollywood Bowl/Sunset Strip/ Melrose
Hard Rock Cafe/ Rodeo Dr/Farmers Mkt.
La Brea Tar Pits/Olivera Street/
Chinatown/ Music Center
1-800-959-3131

Anyone have any info on these - prefer one better than another? I have driven arond L.A. sightseeing before, but I like the idea of paying to have someone else do the driving and to hear more info from the guide - of course, you pay for it!!!

 

[eeyorerulz]

I did a half day tour with Euro pacific, and it was awaste of time. The driver was a hoon and you enver saw anything - all the star homes were past - i know where more stars live in Australia than they show, you only got 15 minutes in BH etc, not enough time ot do anything.