Ak or MGM question

[VaGal]

Hi to all and I wanted to say what a great board this is, you all have such great tips and advice! We will going to MK and US/IOA on our trip in July and we want to try either MGM or AK 1 day, 4 adults and a 9yr old will be going. My question is which park do you think my 9 yr old son would enjoy more? He usually likes just about anything and seems to be very interested in AK, but also seems to want to go to MGM also. Thanks for any help!

 

[kaylajr]

my girls were 6 and 8 last trip
Mgm was only a half day park for them they were just not interested
but AK was wonderful
they had so much fun and can't wait to go back

so our vote is for AK

Oh and welcome to the boards

 

[720L]

If he likes thrill rides (Tower of Terror, Aerosmith roller coaster) you should go to MGM. The Star Wars ride is good also. Indiana Jones is an awesome stunt show.
He'll love the great movie ride if he has watched older movies. (Well they are kinda old now, I watched a lot of them when I was little) But if he loves Animals and looking at a lot of stuff (there are a lot less rides at AK) , I'd go to AK. They are both great parks. I think there is more to do at MGM. Definitely more restaurants. And I think Animal Kingdom is a hotter park than MGM, there seems to be less air conditioned stuff there.

 

[hockey mom]

While we love both my vote is for MGM. Way more to do and the Fantasmic show is a must see.

 

[webmomom]

Since Ak is my favorite park, my vote goes for the AK. there is so much to do and see there. On tip if you go to the AK. Take it slow and stop and look. Most people rush through and except to see everything popping out at them. It is the kind of park you need to slow down and as the saying goes, "stop and smell the roses".

If you go try and get there at opening and take the train to Conservation Station. If you get there early enough you might be able to see an operation of something on one of the animals.

there are a lot of hands on at Conservation Station. A very over looked place. Another one to "stop and smell the roses".

 

[wannabee princess]

For my 9yo ds, it would definitely be AK if we could only do one of them!

The safari ride is one we can do at least 3 times! The trails are great - much better than any zoo! The Primeval Whirl is enough of a thrill without being too much. The Tarzan show is great for the stunts the skaters do. If you want to cool off, the Kali is a great way. It's Tough to be a Bug is a very good show, as is the bird show. If he is into thrills, Dinosaur is a good one!

My ds likes to do the kid's discovery book stations also - it is a great way to throw in a little learning and great way to have CM interaction.

 

[Disneyfreaknjw]

I would have to say MGM, but it depends on what your son likes best animals or movies & thrill rides!!!

 

[il-gander]

If your son really likes thrill rides, I'd probably suggest MGM. Having said that, however, that and Fantasmic are the only reasons I would ever suggest MGM over AK.

AK is a fantastic park in my family's opinion. There is so much atmosphere, a great laid-back pace, and more things to do than can be done during the park's open hours. My DD was 9 when we visited last summer and she absolutely loved AK, but MGM was just OK. She loved Fantasmic, but if it hadn't been for the Star Wars weekend stuff going on we would have been there maybe half a day, tops.

Both AK & MGM seem to inspire opposing reactions - some people love one and think the other is a "half-day park" and vice versa. We're an AK family.

Carla

 

[julfre]

I'd go to AK first. WHen you have seen what you want there, take a rest and end the night at MGM. AK usually closes earlier than MGM. If you spend a long day at AK, you can still go to MGM and see Fantasmic at night. Just plan on heading to the park so you can get to the show early. Stop somewhere and get dinner to eat while you sit and wait for the show. You didn't say if you were staying on site or not, but this is really easy with the busses if you are.

 

[swilphil]

If you have a park hopper pass, I would definitely agree with the previous poster and do AK in the morning and MGM in the evening.

If you do AK for either a full day or a half day, GET THERE EARLY. The heat is unbearable in the summer in AK. Oddly enough, there isn't much shade and not as many attractions that are inside.

If you can only do one park, I would lean toward MGM. I can see the animals at our local zoo instead of going to AK. MGM's Tower of Terror and Rock N' Rollercoaster are the best rides in all of Disney World for both kids and adults. There are also some nice indoor attractions to get out of the heat and rain ( a big problem in July). Muppetvision is fun, as is the Millionaire game. The Beauty and the Beast show is like a Broadway production and in the shade. The Little Mermaid show is inside and short if your son would go for it. The best show of all is Fantasmic.

Another fun activity in the MGM area is the Boardwalk in the evening. It is a short boatride from MGM. You could even walk from the Boardwalk over to the Beach Club's Beaches N Cream for some FABULOUS ice cream.

Have fun!

 

[QuickGold]

My vote is for MGM. In july, AK has little shade and not much to do.

 

[twinkles0819]

I have a similar situation.....I'm going in August and am going to be there for a full six days (eight counting our traveling days) But I am told if you are there for that long, a DAY OFF is recommended, or it because unbearably exhausting. So I have a day where I am just going to relax at the pool and do a spa service or something. Therefore, my "park" days are cut to 5. I am going to US/IOA also....I have alloted a full day for each, though in the past I have done both in one day, but this was with my parents who did not go on the "big" rides. After this I only have 3 days to do 4 disney parks. I do not want to skip one because I have not been to Disney since 2000 and before that 1996.....and both times I couldn't fit everything in, So I decided to do AK/MGM in one day.

I'm sure some do not suggest that because a full day at one park will feel like you're not rushing but I don't have the time nor the money to do anything but do these parks in one day. I decided to go to AK on the day it has Early morning Hour......then hopefully it will not take me that long to do what I want in the park. Hopefully I can get out and grab some lunch before heading off to MGM and spend the rest of the night there. I hope this plan works out for me...but I'm sure you can figure out something to do as well

 

[jcemom]

MGM!

 

[VaGal]

Thanks to all that replied to my post. After reading everyones opinion, my son is leaning towards ak now, but we're still keeping an open mind with mgm also. This is our 2nd year at Orlando and we want to try a different park each time, so this really helped us out alot! You all are great. Thanks again.

 

[tar heel]

I would choose MGM and so would my 9-year-old son. This is especially true if you are talking about a one day pass b/c you can't spend all day at AK in the summer and leave still speaking to each other. It's way too hot and there just aren't enough places to cool off in that park. In addition, it closes early which makes it not a good value for a day pass. Just my opinion.

 

[disneyholic family]

twinkles0819--
no need to take an entire day off....just take some afternoons off (to go back to the hotel, swim, spa, whatever)...
we never spend more than the morning in any park in the summer....too hot and tiring....we get to the park for opening, then leave at noon or 1....
so i wouldn't skip a whole day if i were you....use every morning in a park and rest in the afternoons...