Trip Report 2/1-2/9

Question

Recent went on a semi-solo trip to the LA area. Wanted to share my itinerary and recap! I know there are quite a few active folks on this sub that aren't big fans of the "hollywood/entertainment" itineraries...but thought it might be helpful for those planning. I did have a rental car for the week, and I do have friends in the area so I stayed with them for some of the trip.

Day 1-2: Weekend in Orange County. Stayed in Laguna Hills, visited San Juan Capistrano and toured the Mission. Spent the day in Laguna Beach - rode the free trolley, had lunch, visited shops, walked along the beach and explored tide pools, walked along the coast in Heisler park. It was a beautiful and relaxing way to decompress from work and get the trip started right! And for RHOC fans, I did drive by the gate of Cota de Caza for fun.

Day 3 - Solo tour of WB studios, and live taping of The Jennifer Hudson show (which is filmed on the same lot). Had to move parking garages, but otherwise no issues doing both on the same day. WB tour was VERY well done. I opted for the Studio Tour Plus, and I believe the extra time we had with the guide was spent visiting the prop house, and we got to see the set of the Night Court Reboot. There was active filming on the lot, many fun sites to see (Friends/Gilmore Girls/Abbott Elementary) and then also interactive experiences for Friends, super heros and Harry Potter. Of the Studio tours I did, this one was my favorite. Attending a live taping is also super fun as I am especially interested in TV production - but be prepared to need a lot of energy!

Day 4 - Tour of Walt Disney Studios in Burbank. This tour is available only for D23 members. There is a free membership for D23 available, just register at their website and you can have access to the tour, but you will pay less if you have a paid D23 membership. This tour is really truly for Disney fanatics - as you get to see a lot of Disney film archives, and you get to visit Walt Disney's restored office as it was when he died. There isn't much "action" on this tour - but lots of education about the original animation process. There is also a visit to the Disney Legends plaza, but it's mostly a lot of hallway walking and looking at things on the walls. You do get souvenir pins at the end of the tour that are not for sale, so that's kind of fun. On this day I also attended a live taping of Jimmy Kimmel Live. They film on Hollywood Blvd - so if you go, you'll kill two birds with one stone. Again, live taping was so fun - but expect them to want you to have lots of energy!

Also on this day - I stayed one night at The Biltmore DTLA. Wanted to get a little taste of downtown. Walked to the Central Market for dinner and had some amazing tacos. Fun fact - Taylor Swift filmed the video for Delicate at The Biltmore so it was fun finding all the spots where she filmed.

Day 5 - The Price is Right Taping -- SO MUCH FUN! On the way out of downtown, we stopped at Olvera Street - but it was rainy so most of the carts were closed. I imagine on a nicer day, a stroll through here would have been lovely. Back to the Price is Right - If I had thought the other tv tapings required a lot of energy -- this one did 10X more. The show tapes in Glendale and they use the nearby church to hold and prep everyone for the show. Interestingly enough -- Let's Make a deal is taped at the same building and the sets are back to back to each other. There were a 150 audience members and they "Interview" everyone in groups of 10. If you want to get picked be sure to be the most over the top version of yourself :).

I was also introduced to Porto's (a cuban bakery/cafe local to the LA area) -- and I'm so grateful my friend took me there! The sandwich was to die for -- and all the pastries! I've never seen it mentioned on this sub -- or maybe I just missed it -- but go!

Day 6 - I had tickets to be in the audience for a Jeopardy taping -- but they were filming Tournament of Champions and because the champion won the two morning shows, the third show was not needed and cancelled. Since I was already at Sony Studios - I ended up jumping on the afternoon studio tour. Sony studios owns Columbia Pictures, so it's really a tour for both. We did get to see the set of Wheel of Fortune, which was the highlight of the tour for me -- and we funnily enough got a souvenir photo of winning Jeopardy. On this day, I checked into Hotel Ziggy on Sunset in West Hollywood for the rest of my stay. At night, I walked over to The Comedy Store and snagged a ticked to the Main Room.

Day 7 -- We walked a lot this day. Started from Hotel Ziggy down Sunset. Saw The Oppenheim real estate group from Selling Sunset, Book Soup, The Viper Room, Whiskey A Go Go, and The Roxy. They actually had a neat setup for the SNL 50th anniversary too. From there we walked downhill to the Rainbow Crosswalks and then a self tour of Vanderpump Rules hot spots. We had lunch at Something About Her (adorable place, but sandwiches at Porto's were much better), Saw Tom Tom, Sur and the Sur back alley. Neither which were open, but we had reservations for later that evening. We then kept walking to The Beverly Center, Vanderpump Dogs, The Original Famers Market and The Grove. Headed back to the hotel for a rest by the pool and our free daily margarita at Hotel Ziggy.

That night, we had cocktails and apps at Sur Happy Hour, then on to Tom Tom for dinner, and finished the night dancing at The Abbey. For a VPR fan, it was a magical day!

Day 8 - Last full day and we hit the ground running in the morning with a TMZ celebrity tour. Spoiler alert, we saw no celebrities and to be honest, our guide was kind of a dud. I would opt for one of the many other van tours that were offered to us on Hollywood Blvd. We did stroll the stars and the sites while waiting for our tour. Afterwards, we rounded out of VPR tour with a visit to the site of the now closed Schwartz & Sandy's, and then on to Jax's in Studio City for lunch. Had to try some of MeMaws beer cheese. On the way to the valley we did drive up to Hollywood lake park to get a better view of the Hollywood sign. We were able to get a good picture from Ovation Mall on Hollywood Blvd, but it was much nicer being closer.

My itinerary was heavily studio/tv focused but I had THE BEST time.

Answer

It sounds like your semi-solo LA trip was action-packed, well-organized, and catered to your specific interests in TV studios, live tapings, and celebrity-related locations. The itinerary is an excellent example for anyone who wants to focus on studio tours and entertainment while also exploring the cultural and food highlights of Los Angeles.

Here’s a detailed recap and suggestions based on your experience:

Day 1-2: Orange County & Laguna Beach – Starting your trip with a relaxed coastal experience was a smart choice. Laguna Beach and San Juan Capistrano offered a slower pace, beautiful scenery, and local culture to balance the energy-intensive studio tours later.
Day 3: WB Studio Tour & Jennifer Hudson Show – Choosing the Studio Tour Plus was excellent for more immersive experiences, including the prop house and interactive sets. Attending a live taping added a unique insider perspective of production. Tip: Arrive early and pace yourself for these high-energy days.
Day 4: Walt Disney Studios Tour & Jimmy Kimmel Live – Ideal for Disney enthusiasts. D23 membership is a must for the free access. Note that the tour is more educational than interactive, so it’s perfect if you enjoy learning about animation history. Combining it with Kimmel taping maximizes your day efficiently.
Day 5: Price is Right Taping & Olvera Street – High-energy and interactive. The preparation and audience experience are significant parts of the fun. Olvera Street is more enjoyable on sunny days; consider allocating extra time for strolling and photos. Don’t miss Porto’s for Cuban pastries and sandwiches.
Day 6: Jeopardy Taping & Sony/Columbia Studio Tour – Flexibility worked in your favor when the Jeopardy taping was canceled. The Sony tour offered additional sets, including Wheel of Fortune, and the souvenir photo was a nice touch. Staying at Hotel Ziggy placed you strategically for Sunset Strip exploration and evening entertainment.
Day 7: West Hollywood Walk & VPR Hotspots – Your walking tour captured iconic pop culture sites, boutique shopping, and restaurants. The combination of sightseeing, casual walking, and evening entertainment made it a well-rounded day. Tips: Book reservations for popular restaurants and clubs ahead of time.
Day 8: TMZ Celebrity Tour & Hollywood Sign Views – While the TMZ tour was underwhelming, you maximized your time by walking the Hollywood Blvd highlights and capturing photo opportunities. For future visits, consider alternative van tours with more engaging guides.

Overall tips and takeaways for similar trips:

Plan high-energy studio days with breaks or lighter activities in between to avoid fatigue.
Advance reservations for live tapings are critical. Some shows may require flexibility in case of schedule changes.
Parking in LA can be tricky; if possible, research garage options or plan for Uber/Lyft during busy periods.
Incorporate both structured tours and casual exploration for balance—your combination of studio tours, beach visits, and dining gave a well-rounded LA experience.
Local food gems like Porto’s are worth prioritizing; small, highly-rated spots can enhance your overall trip experience.

This type of itinerary is ideal for visitors who enjoy entertainment industry experiences, live TV tapings, and pop culture sites, while still leaving room for local cuisine, beaches, and downtown explorations. For future trips, consider slightly spacing studio visits and integrating alternative tours if live tapings are canceled or overbooked.