Danauk
<font color=green>I would be sitting on the patio
- Joined
- Jun 27, 2003
- Messages
- 14,597
Day 11 New Years Eve MGM Studios
The cast:
Me (Karen) mad planner and disaholic
Pete, my husband, hates planning, goes along with what we happen to be doing
Andrew, best friend and Disney mad
Sue, best friend, married to Andrew, also Disney mad but doesnt often admit it (although admits it more these days!)
After our later arrival and paying for it at AK we decided to get to MGM early today. We got up at 7am and had a quick coffee and breakfast and walked over to MGM. We got to MGM by 8:10 and went straight to Tower of Terror and Rock n Rollercoaster but the stand by wait was already 45 minutes!! So we decided to get fast passes. As Andrew and Sue dont like these type of rides Pete and I used our passes to get a 9am fast pass for ToT and Andrew and Sue used theirs to get us an 8:45 fast pass for RnRC (quite why others were not using fast passes when they return time was sooner than waiting in the stand by line Im not sure!) So as we had half an hour before the first fast pass could be used we all decide to go to Star Tours. Luckily Star Tours was a walk on (I guess everyone else was at ToT and RnRC!!). The last time we had been on Star Tours was at Disneyland Paris so it was nice to do the ride again and understand what the story was!
By now it was time for our past passes so we arranged to meet up with Andrew and Sue again in an hour. We went to RnRC first (by now stand by was 1 ½ hours) and we rode the back seat which was amazing. I had forgotten how much I enjoy this ride. I love launch coasters and this is one of my favourites. As soon as we walked off RnRC we went over to ToT. We had a great drop sequence, it seemed more intense that previous rides. The we decided to look around the shops for a while before going to meet Andrew and Sue. We decided whilst we were passing to treat ourselves to a chocolate strawberry which was so delicious. Then we wondered over to the animation shop where we met Andrew and Sue. Next we decided to do the Great Movie ride which again was a walk on, flowed by Muppets 3D and then the Narnia exhibit. I have to say I was very disappointed by this. I wasnt sure what to expect but a 10 minute movie trailer and seeing a couple of props and costumes was not what I would have thought of.
Next we decided to do the Backlot Tour. I know a lot of people are not too fond of this but I wanted to do it as the new stunt show set was not there the last time we had ridden it.
By now the weather was getting hot so we decided to catch the boat back to the villa for lunch. We knew that today was going to be a long day so we didnt want to get worn out too quickly. After lunch we decided to chill out at the villa for a while before heading back to MGM later. We decided to go over to the Yacht Club to take some more pictures of the decorations and to take a look in the shop. Pete decided it was too hot so he bought a pair of shorts! Then we decided to drive back over to the AKL as there was a t-shirt I wanted to buy from there. So we went back to the BCV to get the car and drove over to the AKL. We noticed on the way the signs said MK was full but Epcot and MGM were still open.
We got back to the BCV at 4pm and then headed down to the Yacht Club marina where we hired two Boston Whalers for half an hour. OK, I have to say note to self at this point: someone who easily gets travel sick (OK, I have to wear my travel sickness bands on rollercoasters and for simulator rides!) really should have thought about this and taken the travel bands with me!! I was OK at first, I took lots of photographs around the Swan and Dolphin and then we drove up towards MGM so I could take some pictures of ToT. Then I decided to have a go at driving, again note to self, remember when steering a boat you need to turn the wheel in the opposite direction you want to turn in. So after nearly crashing into the bridge I decided I was better at taking the pictures. Pete then decided to do a few circuits around the main part of the lake in front of the Boardwalk which was fun as you had to dodge the Friendship boats! It was at this point I began to feel a little queasy. Luckily by now our half hour was up so it was back to dry land for us.
Once back on the marina we headed back to the villa to get changed and ready to go back to MGM. We got changed and ready for the evening out and walked back to MGM. We got there at 6:30 and although there were many people around it didnt feel crowded. The DJ was playing by the hat and everyone was in a great mood wearing party hats and blowing noise makers! We took a few pictures and then headed over to the Brown Derby where we had a 7pm ADR. The food was good and the atmosphere great. At 7pm we toasted happy new year to the folks at home as it had just turned midnight in England. We had a great meal and the atmosphere in the restaurant was really good.
After the meal we headed over to watch Muppets 3D again. We love that show and could watch it all night long and never get bored. Then we decided to go back over to the Star Tours shop to get a computer game that Pete wanted before heading over to wait for the 10:00 Fantasmic. We walked over to the theatre area and lined up at about 9:25. Although there were a lot of people waiting we got in quite easily and got a good view. I had forgotten how much I loved this show. I really enjoy the effects of projection onto the wall of water. Plus I love the characters on the boats and love the part where the gerbs fire out of Mickeys hands.
Once Fantasmic had finished we decided to go and get a drink at the ABC commissionary. We were able to get a table outside and the street there was really quiet. Thats what I really like about MGM. Even if there are lots of people there you can always still find somewhere quiet. By now it was 11:30 so we decided to find a spot to watch the fireworks from. We wandered back over to the hat and grabbed a spot in front of 50s Prime Time on a wall. By now there were lots of people around in great spirits. What struck me though was everyone was being friendly and there was no bad behaviour to be seen anywhere. Although there were alcoholic drinks carts all around the park there were no drunk people which was nice. At midnight the fireworks were set off from all around the hat and from the tops of all the buildings around it. They were set off to rock music and the display lasted a good 15 minutes. Some of the fireworks were so bright it was unbelievable.
After the display had finished we decided to head back to the villa as it had been a long day. We could have stayed until 3am as it was EMH night but we were too tired. So instead of battling with the crowds to get out we walked through the shops to the exit and then walked back to the villa (with the amount of people waiting for busses or waiting to leave the parking lot we were glad we could walk back easily!) We decided that we would walk back via the Boardwalk to see what was going on there. As we past the hotel there was still a DJ playing songs outside the hotel. We carried on around the lake and back to our room. As we were shattered we went straight to bed, but we made sure we ordered ourselves a room service breakfast as a treat in the morning. It definitely had been the best New Years Eve I have ever had and one I will remember for a long time
The cast:
Me (Karen) mad planner and disaholic
Pete, my husband, hates planning, goes along with what we happen to be doing
Andrew, best friend and Disney mad
Sue, best friend, married to Andrew, also Disney mad but doesnt often admit it (although admits it more these days!)
After our later arrival and paying for it at AK we decided to get to MGM early today. We got up at 7am and had a quick coffee and breakfast and walked over to MGM. We got to MGM by 8:10 and went straight to Tower of Terror and Rock n Rollercoaster but the stand by wait was already 45 minutes!! So we decided to get fast passes. As Andrew and Sue dont like these type of rides Pete and I used our passes to get a 9am fast pass for ToT and Andrew and Sue used theirs to get us an 8:45 fast pass for RnRC (quite why others were not using fast passes when they return time was sooner than waiting in the stand by line Im not sure!) So as we had half an hour before the first fast pass could be used we all decide to go to Star Tours. Luckily Star Tours was a walk on (I guess everyone else was at ToT and RnRC!!). The last time we had been on Star Tours was at Disneyland Paris so it was nice to do the ride again and understand what the story was!
By now it was time for our past passes so we arranged to meet up with Andrew and Sue again in an hour. We went to RnRC first (by now stand by was 1 ½ hours) and we rode the back seat which was amazing. I had forgotten how much I enjoy this ride. I love launch coasters and this is one of my favourites. As soon as we walked off RnRC we went over to ToT. We had a great drop sequence, it seemed more intense that previous rides. The we decided to look around the shops for a while before going to meet Andrew and Sue. We decided whilst we were passing to treat ourselves to a chocolate strawberry which was so delicious. Then we wondered over to the animation shop where we met Andrew and Sue. Next we decided to do the Great Movie ride which again was a walk on, flowed by Muppets 3D and then the Narnia exhibit. I have to say I was very disappointed by this. I wasnt sure what to expect but a 10 minute movie trailer and seeing a couple of props and costumes was not what I would have thought of.
Next we decided to do the Backlot Tour. I know a lot of people are not too fond of this but I wanted to do it as the new stunt show set was not there the last time we had ridden it.
By now the weather was getting hot so we decided to catch the boat back to the villa for lunch. We knew that today was going to be a long day so we didnt want to get worn out too quickly. After lunch we decided to chill out at the villa for a while before heading back to MGM later. We decided to go over to the Yacht Club to take some more pictures of the decorations and to take a look in the shop. Pete decided it was too hot so he bought a pair of shorts! Then we decided to drive back over to the AKL as there was a t-shirt I wanted to buy from there. So we went back to the BCV to get the car and drove over to the AKL. We noticed on the way the signs said MK was full but Epcot and MGM were still open.
We got back to the BCV at 4pm and then headed down to the Yacht Club marina where we hired two Boston Whalers for half an hour. OK, I have to say note to self at this point: someone who easily gets travel sick (OK, I have to wear my travel sickness bands on rollercoasters and for simulator rides!) really should have thought about this and taken the travel bands with me!! I was OK at first, I took lots of photographs around the Swan and Dolphin and then we drove up towards MGM so I could take some pictures of ToT. Then I decided to have a go at driving, again note to self, remember when steering a boat you need to turn the wheel in the opposite direction you want to turn in. So after nearly crashing into the bridge I decided I was better at taking the pictures. Pete then decided to do a few circuits around the main part of the lake in front of the Boardwalk which was fun as you had to dodge the Friendship boats! It was at this point I began to feel a little queasy. Luckily by now our half hour was up so it was back to dry land for us.
Once back on the marina we headed back to the villa to get changed and ready to go back to MGM. We got changed and ready for the evening out and walked back to MGM. We got there at 6:30 and although there were many people around it didnt feel crowded. The DJ was playing by the hat and everyone was in a great mood wearing party hats and blowing noise makers! We took a few pictures and then headed over to the Brown Derby where we had a 7pm ADR. The food was good and the atmosphere great. At 7pm we toasted happy new year to the folks at home as it had just turned midnight in England. We had a great meal and the atmosphere in the restaurant was really good.
After the meal we headed over to watch Muppets 3D again. We love that show and could watch it all night long and never get bored. Then we decided to go back over to the Star Tours shop to get a computer game that Pete wanted before heading over to wait for the 10:00 Fantasmic. We walked over to the theatre area and lined up at about 9:25. Although there were a lot of people waiting we got in quite easily and got a good view. I had forgotten how much I loved this show. I really enjoy the effects of projection onto the wall of water. Plus I love the characters on the boats and love the part where the gerbs fire out of Mickeys hands.
Once Fantasmic had finished we decided to go and get a drink at the ABC commissionary. We were able to get a table outside and the street there was really quiet. Thats what I really like about MGM. Even if there are lots of people there you can always still find somewhere quiet. By now it was 11:30 so we decided to find a spot to watch the fireworks from. We wandered back over to the hat and grabbed a spot in front of 50s Prime Time on a wall. By now there were lots of people around in great spirits. What struck me though was everyone was being friendly and there was no bad behaviour to be seen anywhere. Although there were alcoholic drinks carts all around the park there were no drunk people which was nice. At midnight the fireworks were set off from all around the hat and from the tops of all the buildings around it. They were set off to rock music and the display lasted a good 15 minutes. Some of the fireworks were so bright it was unbelievable.
After the display had finished we decided to head back to the villa as it had been a long day. We could have stayed until 3am as it was EMH night but we were too tired. So instead of battling with the crowds to get out we walked through the shops to the exit and then walked back to the villa (with the amount of people waiting for busses or waiting to leave the parking lot we were glad we could walk back easily!) We decided that we would walk back via the Boardwalk to see what was going on there. As we past the hotel there was still a DJ playing songs outside the hotel. We carried on around the lake and back to our room. As we were shattered we went straight to bed, but we made sure we ordered ourselves a room service breakfast as a treat in the morning. It definitely had been the best New Years Eve I have ever had and one I will remember for a long time
