Last year you chilled in a room with other tour goers until the tour began, they then took you out to the streets and talked about a few of the scare zones, after this they took you to the sound stages.
In 2009 they had the room where you waited this past year set up with a model of the Palace Theater as a cool treat. They also had books for each houses with concept work and such, they then took you to one or two of the streets and then the houses.
Hope this helps!