The World Famous Studio Tour at Universal Studios Hollywood – The Ultimate Guide

The World Famous Studio Tour is Universal Studios Hollywood’s best attraction. This one-hour tram tour takes you around the backlot of one of the oldest active movie studios in the world.

This is a real, live, working movie studio. As such, you’ll see some of Hollywood’s most famous filming locations and sets from your favourite shows and movies.

This also means you may see some celebrities while on the Studio Tour. However, to temper expectations, I’ve been on the Studio Tour more times than I can count and have never seen a celebrity. However, I have seen Mario Lopez at the theme park entrance.

The Universal Studio Tour is suitable for the whole family. There are no height restrictions, and accessibility adjustments are readily available.

Jimmy Fallon hosts the tour via a TV screen, and a live guide provides real-time commentary throughout. You are permitted to take photos and videos throughout the Studio Tour. However, flash photography is prohibited during 3-D experiences (King Kong and Fast & Furious).

History of The Studio Tour

Before Universal Studios Hollywood was a theme park; it was a filming studio. However, even during the early days, a version of the Studio Tour was available for just 25 cents. Known as “Movie City”, this tour included:

• A Western stunt show
• The demolition of a bridge
• A simulated flash flood

This was during the silent film era. As such, background noise from guests resulted in the tour closing after several years.

Fast-forward to 1958, and Lew Wasserman’s MCA purchased the Universal Studios lot. MCA then leased it back to Universal Pictures before buying the company in 1962.

Until this point, the studio lot was still closed to the general public. However, the rise of television in the late 1950s caused the studio financial hardship.

In an aim to increase revenue, MCA partnered with Gray Line bus tours. Guests on Gray Line bus tours would be driven to the studio lot and have lunch at the Universal commissary.

These Gray Line lunch sales were a huge hit sparking the idea for Universal City. This led to the opening of Universal as an amusement park with an official Studio Tour in 1964.

When The Studio Tour first launched, it was 90 minutes long and included a make-up show and a lunch stop at the Universal commissary.

Since Universal was now operating both a tram tour and a movie studio, the company faced an issue. How to entertain tram tour guests when filming meant some areas of the lot had to be closed.

This led to the opening of fixed attractions such as:

• The Flash Flood Scene in 1968
• The Parting of The Red Sea in 1973
• The Collapsing Bridge in 1974
• The Ice Tunnel in 1975
• Jaws in 1976
• King Kong in 1986
• Earthquake: The Big One in 1988

Some of these fixed attractions, still remain on the tour today. Meanwhile others have been replaced with more modern scenes and displays.

Famous Films & TV Shows Shot at Universal Studios Hollywood

Famous films and TV shows made at Universal Studios Hollywood include:

• Jaws
• Back to the Future
• Jurassic Park
• The Good Place
• Desperate Housewives
• The Voice
• Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
• Bruce Almighty
• Cast Away

The Studio Tour Location

The Studio Tour can be found in the Upper Lot at Universal Studios Hollywood. To get to this part of the theme park, head straight from the entrance towards Springfield.

Once inside Springfield, continue heading straight until you get to The Simpsons Ride. You then want to turn right. At this point, you should see a sign overhead with ‘Studio Tour’ plus the wait time.

Be sure to turn right and not left at The Simpsons Ride to get to the Studio Tour entrance. To get down to The Studio Tour tram boarding area you will need to take either an escalator or lift.

The Studio Tour Line & Wait Times

Down at The Studio Tour boarding area, you’ll find:

• A small food & drink stand
• Bathrooms
• Outdoor shelter for strollers

There are three potential lines you can take for The Studio Tour:

1. Standby Line – The line most people will take
2. Universal Express Line – The line for Universal Express Pass holders
3. Spanish Tour Line – The line for those wanting the Spanish Studio Tour

Wait times for The Studio Tour vary significantly depending on several factors. In the past, I’ve been able to walk straight onto a tram that was waiting, but I’ve also waited 60 minutes.

The factors that will influence how long you have to wait for The Studio Tour include:

• The Day You’re Visiting: Like all rides at Universal Studios Hollywood, you will wait longer to go on The Studio Tour during peak season.

• The Time of Day: The Studio Tour has the shortest lines, which are early morning and early evening. The line is often busiest between 11am and 2pm, with people going on the tour before or after lunch.

• Universal Express Pass: It’s rare to wait more than 20 minutes for The Studio Tour with a Universal Express Pass – even during peak season.

• The Spanish Studio Tour: These tours are at fixed times, so you won’t have to wait. However, I’d still recommend arriving early to guarantee your seat on the tram.

• VIP Experience: Guests on a VIP Tour of Universal Studios Hollywood take a different tram. As such you don’t wait in line with the general public. Instead, your dedicated guide will take you to your dedicated tram that will be waiting for you.

The Studio Tour Rides, Attractions & Sets

The Studio Tour lasts between 45 and 60 minutes. During this time you will go around both the front lot and the backlot passing 30 film sets and 35 sound stages.

However, being that this is a live filming studio the order and viewing of these areas is subject to change.

Timeline Drive

Look left and right out of the tram to see posters from films and TV shows shot at Universal Studios Hollywood.

Fire Station 51

Universal has it’s very own active Fire Station which can be seen on the right hand side of the tram.

The Front Lot

Home to 35 soundstages, which can be seen outside the left and right sides of the tram.

Metropolitan Area

This is one of Universal’s most popular active filming areas, and is made up of:

• New York Street
• Brownstone Street
• Courthouse Square

Given its popularity, this area is also one of the most commonly skipped due to filming.

Collapsing Bridge

This area isn’t referenced by the live guide or by Jimmy Fallon in his commentary. However, you will drive over it as you enter King Kong 360.

King Kong 360

This is the first of two 360 experiences on The Studio Tour. For this 3 minute experience the tram drives into an indoor viewing area. The tram will then come to a stop and you’ll be asked to put on your 3D glasses.

Since this is a 360 degree experience you will be able to see King Kong out of both the left and right side of the tram. If you’re with little kids who you think maybe scared by this experience, I suggest sitting them in the middle of the tram.

Picture Cars

Along the left and right-hand side of the tram, you’ll be able to see some of the most famous cars used in productions at Universal Studios Hollywood.

Jurassic Park Sets

Pass by some of the scenes, props and vehicles used in Jurassic Park and Jurassic World.

Flash Flood

This was the first fixed experience created for The Studio Tour in 1968. The scene is designed to demonstrate how rain and flooding can be made for production.

Mexican Street

This vibrant area showcases a classic Mexican village setting. You’ll often see this street dressed for various productions, highlighting its versatility.

Six Points Texas

Six Points Texas is a classic Western town set that dates back to the early days of filmmaking. Many classic Westerns were filmed here, and it’s still used today for productions that need that old-fashioned Wild West charm.

Denver Street

Denver Street is an urban area that can be transformed into various American cities. This street is best seen from the the right side of the tram.

Little Europe

Little Europe is designed to represent various European cities over the years.

With cobblestone streets and old-world architecture, this area has been used in a variety of productions. The most notable of which being “The Good Place”, which funnily enough isn’t set in Europe at all.

Mediterranean Square

The Mediterranean-style buildings here are often used for scenes set in Southern Europe or the Middle East. This set is best seen from the left-hand side of the tram.

Earthquake

This fixed experience dates back to the late 1980s and is designed to show how an earthquake can be simulated for film and TV productions.

The earthquake also includes water and some flooding on both the left and the right-hand side. If you’ve got young kids you think might be scared by this experience, try to sit them in the middle of the tram.

Jaws

This fixed experience dates back to the 1970s and recently underwent a refurbishment.

Jaws comes out of the water at around the middle of the tram on the right hand side. As such if you have little kids you think might be scared by this experience, try to sit them on the left.

Colonial Street

Most famously home to Wisteria Lane from Desperate Housewives. This street is a very popular filming location so can often be skipped.

Bates Motel

Alongside Jaws, Bates Motel is one of the scariest scenes on The Studio Tour. A live actor will come out of The Bates Motel and walk towards the tram at this set. The actor will aim for the middle to back third right-hand side of the tram.

If you have a child you think may be scared by this, try placing it at the front of the tram or on the left-hand side.

Psycho House

Perched above the Bates Motel is the Psycho House, a creepy old Victorian mansion that played a central role in Hitchcock’s Psycho.

You never get close to the Psycho House like you do The Bates Motel. Instead, the tram goes around the back of The Bates Motel and onto the War of the Worlds Plane Wreck Set.

War of the Worlds Plane Wreck Set

This set, seen on the left side of the tram, was created for the 2005 adaptation of War of the Worlds and features the wreckage of a real Boeing 747.

Falls Lake

To your left, you’ll be able to catch a glimpse of Falls Lake, a large water tank used for filming aquatic scenes.

Jupiter’s Claim from Jordan Peele’s “Nope”

One of the latest additions to The Studio Tour is Jupiter’s Claim, a key set from Jordan Peele’s 2022 film Nope.

While props from the film can be seen on both sides of the tram, the majority is on the right-hand side.

Fast and Furious: Supercharged

This is the second 360-degree experience. Again, the tram will pull into an indoor 360-degree theatre and come to a complete stop. You’ll then be asked to put on your 3D glasses.

The tram’s wheels will not move, but wind and motion will simulate driving at speed. The velocity of motion of this 360-degree experience isn’t as violent as King Kong.

Again, being a 360-degree screen, you’ll be able to see clearly on the left and right-hand side of the tram.

Top Tips for the Universal Studio Tour

• There are no toilet breaks during the Studio Tour. If you need the toilet, you’ll find them off to the right as you come down the escalators.

• You can not take strollers on the Studio Tour. However, a large stroller parking area is located next to the start of the line.

• The Studio Tour is free with admission to Universal Studios Hollywood.

• A Universal VIP Experience will provide a more in-depth studio tour. As well as some other additional benefits.

• You do not have to book a slot on the Studio Tour. Instead, each tour is on a first-come, first-served basis.

• Studio Tours at Universal Studios Hollywood are also available in Spanish. However, these tours are only at pre-set times. On my most recent visit to Universal Studios Hollywood, these times were:
  • 10:30am
  • 11:30am
  • 12:30pm
  • 1:30pm
  • 3:30pm
  • 4:30pm
  • 5:30pm
  • 6:15pm