The Studio Tour at Universal Studios Hollywood is celebrating 60 iconic years with high-profile changes that include a unique step-off the tram moment, a reimagined Earthquake experience, a new T. rex encounter, Doc Brown appearances with the DeLorean in Courthouse Square, and more.
This guide covers everything you need to know about the 60th Anniversary Studio Tour at Universal Studios Hollywood available from April 26 through August 11, 2024.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This posting was updated 5/16 with additional photos, details, and information. It was modified again on 10/6, 7/8 and 7/3.
Video
Over the course of several visits, we catalogued video of all of the updates available on the Studio Tour in celebration of the 60th anniversary. You can see our full narrated video below offering a look at the highlights of all the updated scenes, videos, and more that are available for a limited time.
Boarding the Glamor Tram
The whole tour has been plussed with various updates throughout the whole experience — from the sights and attractions to the on-board video, narration, and and more.
The Trams
The Studio trams have been given a redressing with a return of the iconic red and white candy-stripe theme evocative of the original look for the iconic vehicles when the tours first began in 1964.
The Queue
New artwork graces the attraction’s marquee entrance and another mural paying homage to all six decades of the attraction can be found before the escalators leading you down to the loading area.
Plus, in commemoration of the landmark celebration, the leadup to the Studio Tour has also been updated. New montages, historical clips, and trivia play in the queue to help make the waits more manageable.
On The Studio Tour
New Clips and Footage
Various clips paying homage to the history of the Studio Tour are available featuring cameos from various celebrities who have starred in or worked on Universal films. Jimmy Fallon, dressed in a tux, has also recorded all new vignettes and featurettes.
Back to the Future Moment
When the tram ventures into Courthouse Square — made most famous by its use in the BACK TO THE FUTURE trilogy of films — you may just encounter Doc Brown himself, GREAT SCOTT! Nearby is an original DeLorean time machine picture car!
Runaway Train / Collapsing Bridge
As a tribute to two since-defunct Studio Tour offerings, a train engine has been placed on the former collapsing bridge.
Hollywood Ocean
A now much-smaller man-made lake gets a shoutout during the 60th anniversary Studio Tour and pays special tribute to the popular parting of the red sea effect that was an iconic feature for many years in various incarnations.
Monster Wall
The Studio Tour makes its way past an area normally not on the regular tram route by the Monster Wall which was hand-painted by street artist Tristan Eaton. The primary medium for the larger than life monster-sized work of art was actually spray paint.
T-Rex Encounter
Straight from the studio archives, a giant Tyrannosaurus rex, used in the promotion of Universal Pictures’ Jurassic World movie, now features near the other dinosaurs in the attraction. Plus, rumors abound that a new Jurassic World experience is coming to replace the former Fast & Furious “dancing car” scene that’s been defunct for several years now. In the meantime, the formerly-used area has been repainted to appear as a dinosaur paddock.
UPDATE: Following an accident on the backlot involving guests, this area has remained unavailable since opening day of the Studio Tour 60th Anniversary version of the attraction. As a reminder, the photos below are from an early annual passholder preview.
Earthquake—The Big One
The memorable “Earthquake—The Big One” attraction has been given a refresh including new props and some fresh paint once again creating its jolting 8.3 magnitude quake in a San Francisco subway station!
Small Touches
Various parts of the tour have received small updates for the 60th celebration. Some of the highlights we noticed included the memorable Ted statue now holds a celebrational sign plus the return of the Yogurt shop commemorating THE GOOD PLACE (which was famously shot on the Little Europe set), the Lyon Estate signs from BACK TO THE FUTURE and more.
More to Explore
Of course, other fan-favorite features are still part of the tour including Jaws, King Kong 360 3-D, Flash Flood, Fast a Furious – Supercharged, and War of the Worlds. Of course, all elements of the tour are subject to availability and may temporarily be unavailable without notice.
Step Off Moment and Photo-Ops
Near the Bates Motel, feel free to step off the tram and spot several unique photo-ops. Snap a picture with a hanging great white shark like the one in JAWS or take a picture in the grips of Kong’s mighty fist. There’s also some cars from HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS paying homage to the sets that sat on this site for many years. Plus, you can scope an authorized re-creation of the HOLLYWOOD sign (a fiercely protected landmark) and even an original 1964 Universal Studios Glamor Tram!
As you make your way through the motel grounds, you cross through a new walkway that takes you back behind the motel where a series of photo-ops have been placed paying homage to 60 years of the iconic attraction.
Once you’re ready to continue the tour, you can hop aboard another tram.
At the end of the tour, there’s one additional photo-op available done in the stye of a postcard. Wish you were here!
See it for Yourself
The Studio Tour’s 60th Anniversary Celebrations takes place at Universal Studios Hollywood from April 26 through August 11, 2024.
MORE INFO: Check out all of our coverage for the Studio Tour 60th anniversary
