Universal’s Legendary Studio Tour Introduces $75.95 Extra Fee

Universal Studios is putting a new premium spin on one of Hollywood’s oldest theme park traditions.

Before Harry Potter, Jurassic World, or SUPER NINTENDO WORLD arrived, Universal Studios Hollywood was built around something much simpler: giving the public a look behind the scenes of a working movie studio.

The Studio Tour debuted in 1964, when visitors paid $2.50 to ride red-and-white “Glamor Trams” through the Universal backlot. Guests could see film sets, costumes, makeup demonstrations, and stunt performances while getting a rare glimpse at how movies were made.

That basic idea survived as Universal Studios Hollywood grew into a major theme park. Today, the Studio Tour lasts roughly an hour and remains included with regular admission, carrying guests past active soundstages, familiar movie locations, and attractions such as Jaws and King Kong 360 3-D.

Its setting also separates Universal Studios Hollywood from the company’s other resorts. The California park sits beside an active film and television studio, meaning the tour’s route can take guests through areas still used for real productions.

Universal is now preparing to monetize that access in a new way.

Universal Adds a Premium Backlot Experience

The company has confirmed plans for the Backlot Photo Experience, a separately ticketed tour offering closer access to parts of Universal Studios Hollywood’s production backlot.

The new experience will start at $75.95 per person and requires regular theme park admission separately.

Rather than joining the standard Studio Tour tram, guests will travel through the property by van. Each group will be limited to 12 participants and accompanied by an expert guide.

Universal says the Backlot Photo Experience can last up to 90 minutes, with guests visiting between five and seven locations selected by the company.

Universal Studios Hollywood is introducing the Backlot Photo Experience, where guests can step onto Universal's world-famous Backlot and enjoy special up-close access to several iconic Studio Tour locations – such as the Hollywood sign replica, Courthouse Square, and more. The… pic.twitter.com/Kc7SeUDiZM

— Inside Universal (@insideuniversal) August 26, 2026

Those stops may include the Hollywood sign replica and Courthouse Square, one of Universal’s most recognizable outdoor sets and a major filming location from the Back to the Future movies.

Unlike the regular Studio Tour, guests participating in the paid experience will be able to exit their vehicle at designated locations.

Visitors can then use their own cameras to take photographs before continuing through the backlot. The exact lineup of locations is not guaranteed and may change depending on production activity and availability.

Universal has yet to announce an official launch date for the Backlot Photo Experience.

The addition creates another paid option around an attraction that has historically been a standard part of visiting Universal Studios Hollywood.

The Original Studio Tour Is Staying

The introduction of the Backlot Photo Experience does not mean guests will need to pay extra to experience the traditional Studio Tour.

The regular tram tour remains included with Universal Studios Hollywood admission and will continue taking visitors through the working backlot.

Photography is already permitted during the standard experience, but guests typically remain aboard the tram as it moves between locations. That can leave only a brief window to photograph sets and landmarks along the route.

The new offering instead focuses on giving smaller groups more time and physical access at selected stops.

It joins an existing collection of premium products at Universal Studios Hollywood, most notably the park’s VIP Experience.

Universal’s VIP offering provides a more extensive upgrade to a day at the park, with benefits that can include guided access to the backlot, priority entry at attractions, and other behind-the-scenes perks.

The Backlot Photo Experience is more narrowly focused. Its emphasis is on visiting and photographing locations connected to Universal’s movie-making history rather than providing a broader package of theme park benefits.

That history predates nearly everything else currently found inside Universal Studios Hollywood.

Over the decades, the park has added major attractions and lands inspired by The Simpsons, Harry Potter, Jurassic World, and Super Mario. The Studio Tour, however, remains directly connected to the attraction that launched Universal’s theme park operation more than 60 years ago.

That makes the new experience an unusual kind of upcharge. Universal is not introducing a new ride or themed land, but instead selling guests more intimate access to the same working backlot that has defined the Hollywood park since 1964.

For those willing to pay $75.95 on top of admission, that now includes more time outside the tram — and a better chance of getting the photo.

Would you pay extra for closer access to the Universal Studios Hollywood backlot?