Explore the Charms of Burbank LA – Your Guide

If you’re planning a Burbank trip around a studio tour, it’s worth knowing upfront that only one of the city’s two big-name studios actually offers one: Warner Bros. runs a public tour, but Walt Disney Studios does not — it’s a working studio lot closed to walk-in visitors, and the rare public access (through the D23 fan club) is limited, pricey, and not something you can plan a trip around. That distinction alone changes how most people should plan a Burbank visit.

Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood

This is the real studio tour experience in Burbank: a working backlot where you’ll see actual sets (some used in 400+ productions), soundstages, and the Stage 48: Script to Screen exhibit covering costumes, props, and effects. Tours run daily, roughly 8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m., and combine about an hour with a guide plus two hours to explore, shop, and eat on your own. Reservations are required — you can’t walk up and buy a same-day ticket the way you can at a theme park. Standard tickets run from around $78 and up depending on the package and date; check current pricing directly since it varies by season and tour type. One practical note: children under 5 aren’t permitted on any tour.

Walt Disney Studios

Despite being headquartered in Burbank, Walt Disney Studios does not offer a general public tour — it’s one of the only major studios that doesn’t. The only ways in are through the D23 fan club’s occasional studio tours (held a few times a year, membership and ticket fees apply, and they sell out fast) or as part of certain Adventures by Disney vacation packages. If you’re hoping to tour Disney’s actual studio lot on a regular trip to LA, it’s not something you can count on being available — plan around Warner Bros. instead unless you’re specifically building a trip around a D23 tour date.

Outdoor Spaces Worth Knowing About

• Stough Canyon Nature Center — hiking trails with valley views, a good option if you want an actual trail rather than a paved park walk.
• Johnny Carson Park — a flat, shaded park suited for a picnic rather than a hike.
• Verdugo Mountains — more serious trail options nearby if Stough Canyon feels too easy; check trail difficulty before you go since routes here range widely.

Other Things to Know Before You Go

• The Martial Arts History Museum is a small, specific-interest museum — check its hours before a special trip, since small museums like this often have limited weekly open hours rather than daily operation.
• Starlight Bowl hosts a summer concert series; it’s seasonal, not a year-round venue, so check the current season’s schedule before assuming shows are running.
• Burbank Town Center is a standard shopping mall with dining and a movie theater — useful as a rainy-day or evening option, not a destination on its own.
• For food, Porto’s Bakery & Cafe (Cuban) is the best-known name in Burbank dining and draws real lines, especially on weekends — if you’re set on going, weekday mornings are typically less crowded than weekend afternoons.

Bottom Line

If a studio tour is the reason for your trip, book Warner Bros. in advance — it’s the one that’s actually reliably open to the public, and reservations sell out on popular dates. Don’t build a Burbank itinerary around touring Disney’s studio lot unless you already have a confirmed D23 tour date or Adventures by Disney package, since walk-in access simply doesn’t exist there.