LA/Hollywood Tour Itinerary

catfan98

DIS Veteran
Joined
Jan 22, 2015
Hey guys. We have planned a tour of the LA/Hollywood area with a tour company. They have given us a sample itinerary and we can make changes if needed - add stops/places, add time, etc. It looks good except I'm wondering about the time spent at a couple of locations - Hollywood Blvd and Griffith Observatory. Should we plan longer at these stops or is that enough time to explore a bit? We are trying to hit the highlights that the kids want to see.

• Pick up in front of Anaheim hotel
• Head North to Beverly Hills, arrive at Rodeo Drive, photo-op stop - 15 minutes
• Continue on to Movie Star Homes Tour - duration 30 minutes
• Drive down Sunset Blvd to Carney’s Train Car for lunch
• Continue to Hollywood Blvd (Walk of Fame, Chinese Theater, photo-op with the Hollywood Sign) - stop 40 minutes
• Head up to the Griffith Observatory - stop 35 minutes
• Return to Anaheim hotel
 
If at all possible, I'd make each of those stops an hour just so you aren't stressed for time. Hollywood also has the Disney theater, El Capitan, and if you want to take pics of any of the stars on the sidewalks you might want some time. Besides the Chinese theater, where all the hand/footprints are, the Dolby theater is where you'll go up the steps (outside steps) to the far end where you can get a pic of the Hollywood sign. There are a couple of shops (one is a huge candy store) in that area you might want to explore, plus maybe go across the street for a couple of minutes at the Ghiradelli shop/El Capitan Theater.

At the Observatory there is another vantage point to get a pic of the Hollywood sign, then I think you'll want to explore the observatory itself, and get pics of Downtown LA on the other side (back end) of the observatory. There is a cool pendulum in there plus some exhibits that won't take long to see, but you don't want to have to run through there either. Have your kids look up Tesla, and see the electricity exhibit while there (find out when they'll demonstrate it).
 
At the Observatory there is another vantage point to get a pic of the Hollywood sign, then I think you'll want to explore the observatory itself, and get pics of Downtown LA on the other side (back end) of the observatory. There is a cool pendulum in there plus some exhibits that won't take long to see, but you don't want to have to run through there either. Have your kids look up Tesla, and see the electricity exhibit while there (find out when they'll demonstrate it).

Totally agree with more then 35min there. Lot's to do and you don't want to feel rushed. Make sure you explore the lower level too. Not sure of you age group but DW, myself and 10yo DD really liked it.

As an FYI, I think it's the only way to get there, you will go through the Mt Hollywood Tunnel. It's been in numerous movies such as "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" and Back To The Future II.
 
We were good with 20 minutes on Hollywood Blvd. In our experience, it was so crowded with homeless and sketchy vendors around. We saw a few stars on the Walk of Fame, the Dolby and Chinese Theater, and we walked up to the second floor of the mall to get a good view of the Hollywood sign, got a donut at Randy's, and then we were ready to get the heck out of there. It very much reminded me of a less cool version of Times Square.
 


Hey guys. We have planned a tour of the LA/Hollywood area with a tour company. They have given us a sample itinerary and we can make changes if needed - add stops/places, add time, etc. It looks good except I'm wondering about the time spent at a couple of locations - Hollywood Blvd and Griffith Observatory. Should we plan longer at these stops or is that enough time to explore a bit? We are trying to hit the highlights that the kids want to see.

• Pick up in front of Anaheim hotel
• Head North to Beverly Hills, arrive at Rodeo Drive, photo-op stop - 15 minutes
• Continue on to Movie Star Homes Tour - duration 30 minutes
• Drive down Sunset Blvd to Carney’s Train Car for lunch
• Continue to Hollywood Blvd (Walk of Fame, Chinese Theater, photo-op with the Hollywood Sign) - stop 40 minutes
• Head up to the Griffith Observatory - stop 35 minutes
• Return to Anaheim hotel
That's a whirlwind!

I'm a little confused: if you're going with a tour company do you have the option of spending more time or dropping a leg?

Is the Carney's lunch part of the tour? If it is I gotta say I love it. A great place that most tourists don't bother with.
 
That's a whirlwind!

I'm a little confused: if you're going with a tour company do you have the option of spending more time or dropping a leg?

Is the Carney's lunch part of the tour? If it is I gotta say I love it. A great place that most tourists don't bother with.

Hi, yes we can add or drop a leg on the itinerary as it is a customized tour as long as we stay within the time frame we have paid for. They had us tell them which sights we wanted to see and they set up the itinerary to fit the time frame we paid for. We can add another hour to the tour for just a bit more money, which I am honestly thinking about doing - maybe adding another 30 minutes at the walk of fame, and another 30 minutes at the Observatory. Or we can just adjust how much time we spend at each place within the time frame we have already paid for. And yes, Carney's is included as part of the tour (well, we pay for the food, but they take us there). They gave us several suggestions and recommended this one when I asked which they would choose. My husband is really excited about it. Do you think there is something/somewhere I should add or take out? I always appreciate advice or opinions! Especially when I am going somewhere I have never been!
 
In my experience escorting out of town/state family/friends around the area the Movie Stars Homes is usually a let down. Huge mansions are fun to see but does it really matter that Lucy Ball or Tom Cruise once lived in it? If that's something that really interests you then go for it. There are some beautiful, huge homes on the route. Walk of Fame is a must see and I agree with nkereina a little; you don't need much time there. As WebmasterMaryJo said, the Chinese Theater and nearby Hollywood/Vine complex is fun to see. I love the hand/foot prints in the forecourt but I can't quite understand the appeal of the names written on the sidewalk. And sorry to report that Randy's didn't make it - gone out of business.

I agree that you could take more time at the Observatory - better Hollywood Sign photo op there and so much to see both inside and out.

For a one day trip you'll see the highlights.
 


Do you think there is something/somewhere I should add or take out?
I'm not sure how much time you have in total, but we spent a couple hours in Beverly Hills. Its such a beautiful area, clean and safe, and we loved strolling the streets and stopping in some of the stores. We stopped for a drink at a restaurant too, and strolled around the neighborhoods near the gardens to gawk at some of the houses. Loved the area.

We also enjoyed the Farmer's Market/Grove. Got lunch there. Nice area. Relatively close to La Brea tar pits if that's of interest. Looked like a unique place to visit, but we didn't explore it at all.

We did the Warner Bros studio tour too, although I'm not sure how the tour company could work that in. We used a double decker hop on hop off bus pass to get around the city and made our own itinerary.

As I mentioned before, Hollywood Blvd is gross with not a ton of stuff to do. I would keep that stop short. We didn't visit, but Santa Monica and areas near the water are also popular places to visit. It would be time consuming with traffic to go out there, so you'd have to plan accordingly.
 
I'm not sure how much time you have in total, but we spent a couple hours in Beverly Hills. Its such a beautiful area, clean and safe, and we loved strolling the streets and stopping in some of the stores. We stopped for a drink at a restaurant too, and strolled around the neighborhoods near the gardens to gawk at some of the houses. Loved the area.

We also enjoyed the Farmer's Market/Grove. Got lunch there. Nice area. Relatively close to La Brea tar pits if that's of interest. Looked like a unique place to visit, but we didn't explore it at all.

We did the Warner Bros studio tour too, although I'm not sure how the tour company could work that in. We used a double decker hop on hop off bus pass to get around the city and made our own itinerary.

As I mentioned before, Hollywood Blvd is gross with not a ton of stuff to do. I would keep that stop short. We didn't visit, but Santa Monica and areas near the water are also popular places to visit. It would be time consuming with traffic to go out there, so you'd have to plan accordingly.

Thank you for the info. I may just add some additional time to the observatory. My husband is really wanting to explore there a bit.

We are actually going to Santa Monica pier the night before. My son really wants to see it and I figure it is better in the evening when it's all lit up :)
 
In my experience escorting out of town/state family/friends around the area the Movie Stars Homes is usually a let down. Huge mansions are fun to see but does it really matter that Lucy Ball or Tom Cruise once lived in it? If that's something that really interests you then go for it. There are some beautiful, huge homes on the route. Walk of Fame is a must see and I agree with nkereina a little; you don't need much time there. As WebmasterMaryJo said, the Chinese Theater and nearby Hollywood/Vine complex is fun to see. I love the hand/foot prints in the forecourt but I can't quite understand the appeal of the names written on the sidewalk. And sorry to report that Randy's didn't make it - gone out of business.

I agree that you could take more time at the Observatory - better Hollywood Sign photo op there and so much to see both inside and out.

For a one day trip you'll see the highlights.

My son wants to see some big homes...should I ask for Beverly Hills instead of a movie star home tour? He has only requested 3 things this trip, so trying to make those happen :) (big homes, santa monica pier, and a restaurant in Malibu) Sound like I should just add time to the observatory, not the walk of fame. Thanks for the input!
 
My son wants to see some big homes...should I ask for Beverly Hills instead of a movie star home tour? He has only requested 3 things this trip, so trying to make those happen :) (big homes, santa monica pier, and a restaurant in Malibu) Sound like I should just add time to the observatory, not the walk of fame. Thanks for the input!
I think the movie star home tour would be fun - that's one thing we didn't do, but I said I'd like to try the next time. Ask your tour company which they think is better - the mansions of Beverly Hills are way up in the hills and I imagine most of them sit behind gates and you can't see much from the road. So the movie star tour may be better for at least seeing the front of someone recognizable's house.
 
My son wants to see some big homes...should I ask for Beverly Hills instead of a movie star home tour? He has only requested 3 things this trip, so trying to make those happen :) (big homes, santa monica pier, and a restaurant in Malibu) Sound like I should just add time to the observatory, not the walk of fame. Thanks for the input!
Most of Beverly Hills is at the foot of the hills between Santa Monica Blvd. and Sunset Blvd - called "The Flats". Broad lawns and very few walls even a little above Sunset. (If you're interested in checking Google Earth.) Most of the "stars" homes are behind gates and hedges and walls - think the Playboy Mansion, the Beverly Hillbillies mansion and Michael Jackson's last house which are all in the same area.
This is Jackson's house (on the right) from the street:
471318

I'm not sure where the tour takes you - so many of them are restricted in where they can go. I suspect they'll take you up Roxbury "the street of the stars". That's where I take my out of town friends and family. Since that's your son's request, go for it. He'll love it!
 
Most of Beverly Hills is at the foot of the hills between Santa Monica Blvd. and Sunset Blvd - called "The Flats". Broad lawns and very few walls even a little above Sunset. (If you're interested in checking Google Earth.) Most of the "stars" homes are behind gates and hedges and walls - think the Playboy Mansion, the Beverly Hillbillies mansion and Michael Jackson's last house which are all in the same area.
This is Jackson's house (on the right) from the street:
View attachment 471318

I'm not sure where the tour takes you - so many of them are restricted in where they can go. I suspect they'll take you up Roxbury "the street of the stars". That's where I take my out of town friends and family. Since that's your son's request, go for it. He'll love it!

The Flats is the area we walked around. Much nicer and larger houses than we're used to seeing so it was still enjoyable, but I knew they weren't celebrity homes. Not to hijack OP's thread, but if you go up into the "hills" of Beverly Hills, is that the same area as Mulholland Drive? The celebrity homes tours we looked into went along Mulholland Drive, but we couldn't discern if that was true Beverly HIlls, the area overlooking the Flats.
 
Technically, Mullholland boarders Studio City and Sherman Oaks. But the tour companies call it Beverly Hills and there are a lot of stars homes there.
 

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