Inside the Walt Disney Studios Tour: A Magical VIP Experience
There are plenty of attractions to see when you vacation in Southern California. Choosing which attractions to visit can be overwhelming—unless you have the opportunity to take the Walt Disney Studios Tour. That should be at the top of your list.
A chance to walk in Walt Disney’s footsteps and even spend a few minutes in his famed office is a hard to get ticket. We’ll give you some tips on how you can get tickets to this exclusive Walt Disney tour. And we’ll give you a preview of what you can expect.
Walt Disney Studios Tour
Walking the grounds of the Walt Disney Studio is like walking through the history of Hollywood. These studios have been involved in some of the most iconic movies and TV shows ever, and you can’t help but feel that history as you walk around.
Early in the tour, you’ll stop by an intersection of two of the main roads on the grounds. Even though you’ve probably not been there before, it will likely feel comfortable. It did for us. The sign post at the corner of Mickey Avenue and Dopey Drive is a focal point of Disney Studio Tour. Plus it also was featured prominently in the movie Saving Mr. Banks.
From there you are taken to the Animation Building, where so much Disney magic was created. Walking the halls and thinking about the creative history made there including Cinderella, Lady and the Tramp, and The Jungle Book is a wonderful experience. As you would expect, the artwork throughout the building is impressive highlighting practically every Disney animation project ever created.
Next up, we were able to walk by the soundstages. Unfortunately for us, we didn’t get the chance to see inside. But our guide did an excellent job of telling us the history of the building and the many blockbusters made there like Mary Poppins, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Guardians of the Galaxy.
Walt Disney’s Office
This tour is full of highlights but the biggest has to be stepping into Walt’s office. Office 3H has been painstakingly preserved to be exactly how Walt left it for the last time.
The office was basically a sealed vault for four years following Walt’s passing in 1966. Then Dave Smith, credited with starting the Disney Archives, went through and photographed and documented everything in the office. On the tour today, what you see is how it was more than 50 years ago.
All kinds of knick-knacks and awards can be viewed in the office. Also on display is the famous piano used by the Sherman Brothers to audition some of their amazing songs featured in countless Disney movies and at the theme parks. Our guide also told us the story of a frequent request from Walt over the years, where you might hear “Feed The Birds” played by special request from Walt on a Friday afternoon. Featured in the movie Mary Poppins, it was Walt’s favorite song.
Disney’s Legends Plaza
Near the new animation building is a quiet spot full of history that is worth stopping at. Legends Plaza is a small park-like area that even has a couple of small picnic tables along with memorials honoring Disney and Hollywood Legends.
The best of the best are honored here, from Imagineers and animators to many of your favorite actors have plaques here. Legends plaza honors people that have made a significant contribution to the Disney legacy.
Disney Archives
A tour of the Walt Disney Studios would not be complete without a stop at the Disney Archives. The Disney Archives tour is not open to the public. It is used internally for company history and for researchers but a stop off is still worth it. It’s a rare chance to snap a photo holding one of Walt’s actual Oscars!
This is a great photo opportunity, and the Oscar is not a replica. Based on our research after the fact, we think we were able to hold the Oscar won by Walt Disney for his 1958 nature documentary film White Wilderness.
Unique Disney Shopping Opportunity
Every museum and tour has a gift shop, and the Disney Studio Tour is no different in that respect. But what is different is your shopping experience. Once you are done with the tour, you are encouraged to shop at the Disney Studio Store. That store has a very nice selection of items all things Disney. During our visit, there was very few people in the store so we were not rushed and able to have a very enjoyable experience. Many items here are also available at other Disney stores, but the experience is more relaxed and less crowded and rushed.
Once you are done shopping in there, keep walking to the back of the store. Pass through the doorway and enter into The Walt Disney Company Store. This store is much smaller but is full of special Disney items that are only available at this store on the Studio lot.
Disney Studios Tour Tickets
Tickets for the Walt Disney Studio tour is an D23 exclusive tour for members only. D23 is the official fan club for all things Disney, and these tickets go fast. Tickets for the month generally go on sale at the same time. In our case, tickets went on sale to the public on the first day of the month prior to when we toured.
We joined D23 so that we would be eligible for these tickets. D23 and Gold Members are allowed to reserve tickets for themselves and up to three guests for the tour. D23 members can only reserve these tickets once every calendar year.
When you purchase tickets for this amazing Disney fan experience, you will be asked who will be on the tour. Each person on the tour needed to be listed on the ticket, and have a valid ID that matches. While IDs weren’t closely checked during our visit, it’s a stated requirement and may be enforced.
Things To Know
As you exit Walt’s office, each guest is given a couple exclusive gifts. As Disney pin collectors, this was a big score. Each person receives a collector D23 pin as well as Mousecar and Duckster pins. The Mousecar, a play on the Oscar Award dates back to the 1940s, and a Duckster followed in the 1950s. These special in-house awards were created by Walt and Roy Disney to honor Disney employees and others for their contributions to The Walt Disney Company.
It’s worth noting, this is not a tour for children. This is strictly enforced, and children under the age of 10 are not permitted on the tour. Nothing scary on the tour, but you are going through active work areas and they try to keep the intrusion to a minimum.
Photography is allowed almost everywhere on the tour, though there are a couple of rules which are easy to follow. Video is not allowed, unfortunately.
You do not get full reign to just walk around the grounds. Security is tight, starting when you arrive. You cannot arrive more than 30 minutes before your tour. The tour is typically a very small tour; around 12 total on our tour. They will usher you around, and keep close tabs on you the entire time. After the tour, you can shop or perhaps go across the street for a snack and a drink at the cantina.
This tour isn’t cheap. You have to purchase a D23 membership and then tickets for the tour. But still, if you are a fan of Hollywood history and especially Disney history then it is worth it.
Our tour guide was wonderful to work with, and definitely made us feel very special. This is a VIP tour, and you feel that throughout the experience
The walking tour is roughly two and a half hours and includes plenty of walking including some stairs. There is plenty to see on this tour, but it is given at a very comfortable pace. Tours are offered at various times throughout the day. When you are ready to book your tour, the drop down menu for the day you select will tell you the times available.
In our case, we did a late afternoon tour. Once done, we decided to have an early dinner at the Tam O’Shanter Inn. This was Walt’s favorite restaurant and a place that he and many of his team members frequented during the Golden Age of Hollywood. You can check out our review of our visit here. Check out more of our Disney destinations.
