Day Five: Grand Adventures at MGM

[Miffy2003]

Sunday 12th December

Stitch woke us up just after 7 today in readiness for our first trip to Jon’s favourite park, Disney MGM. I can’t remember why but we took the car today (Jon would come to regret this later) and somehow managed to drive right past the entrance to MGM. In fairness, it was the back entrance and the sign was behind an overgrown tree. That’s my excuse, anyway! I realised as we continued on towards Downtown Disney “Oh look, it’s the Cabana Beach Resort” (Julie) and a quick U Turn resolved the situation. When you go in the back way, you end up in a parking lot which seems really far from the entrance (despite there being many spaces free near the entrance).

MGM had a lovely Christmas tree outside.

We decided to get a stroller for Erin today as a treat; we are quite cruel normally and make her walk.

I tried to buy a Missy Marie (the Aristocats) pin for Erin but due to one thing and another (and very poor customer service from a Disney CM) I didn’t get it in the end. Bad service particularly stands out here as 99.9% of the time the service is exceptional which makes the odd less than perfect encounter seem probably worse than it is.

The first ride has to be Star Tours which Jon, Julie & I enjoy as always and the girls and Derek enjoy riding the speeder bike outside. A rather astonishing thing happened; Jon did not spend any money in Tatooine Traders. He is a huge Star Wars fan and believe me this is a very rare occasion for no purchase to be made here!

Onto MuppetVision 3D which we still love as much as the first time we saw it – it’s not the most spectacular show any more but I think the Muppet theme continues to work well here. Amber is not happy at being “made” to go in and keeps her eyes shut for at least half of the performance. Erin particularly approved of the pinkness of the 3D Specs here!

We wandered round to Al’s Toy Barn and met Woody, Jessie and Buzz and then a couple of soldiers came along and spent ages playing catch with Amber and Erin!

This was brilliant. We then spent a while in the Honey I Shrunk The Kids Playground for the girls to have a play. It was quite cold today and a little chilly stood around watching them but they had fun so that was the main thing.

We decided to have some breakfast and shared pretzels and coffee (proper coffee! Bliss!) from the Writer’s Bookstore. The girls had a cool (Hallowe’en? In December?) Mickey cookie.

Onto Playhouse Disney which the girls love, picking up an FP for The Little Mermaid on the way. I really enjoy Playhouse Disney – it’s lovely to watch all the children so involved and enraptured by the show, singing along and dancing. But I must point out that twenty minutes sat on the floor is too long for me as I had awful cramp when I got up! Perhaps I should have invested in a shooting stick

Onto the Little Mermaid which is as always a great show. The lighting effects and the puppetry brings the story to life. I wasn’t that impressed with Ariel today though; definitely not the same one we met yesterday and she needed lip synching lessons.
A show was just starting for Who Wants to be a Millionaire? So it would have been rude to walk past without joining in. It seemed quite quiet in the park today but WWTBAM disproportionately quiet. I would say only a third to at most half full. Well, this gives us a better chance!

I have absolutely no idea what any of the questions were but the lady who won fastest finger first I was sure I had seen before. As she made her way to the stage the camera panned onto her whole family and I realised it was Emperor Zurg, Zurgswife and family from the Dis. I seem to recall Kimball (Zurgswife) got to 2000 points but got a question about Brussels sprouts wrong? The next person on the leader board was – you’ve got it, Emperor Zurg. He fared better than Mrs Zurg and got to 32,000 points I think? At this point I was second on the leader board much to the excitement of my family but the show ended. Derek felt I’d been robbed, and despite explaining the way it worked to him several times, he spent all day talking about how I should have had a prize for being second! Can you imagine? Personally I was just happy to have got on the leader board and my goodness the adrenalin kicked in properly when I saw my seat number up there! I hate to think what I’d be like if I actually made it to the hot seat!

More in the next post...

 

[Miffy2003]

...continued

We were all pretty hungry by now and decided to try Mom’s 50’s Prime Time Diner for lunch. We were told it would be a 30 minute wait but the sun was out by now so Jon kindly offered to wait inside for our name to be called and the rest of us went outside to enjoy the sun. It wasn’t warm but at least there was sun!

We were soon called and went inside to be seated at Cousin Ray’s Table. Well, I loved this place. I can see how it may not be for everyone but we got into the spirit of the occasion and enjoyed the 50s theming and Cousin Ray’s interaction. I would say if you enjoy a bit of banter and have a slightly silly sense of humour you will love it here. Julie & Derek really didn’t get into it here and just looked confused about the whole thing. We had all the interaction about eating all our lunch up if we wanted pudding and so on.

I had a nice glass of Grandma’s Picnic Punch with glowing ice cube (Jon is now wishing the car was back at ASMo and we could take the bus back) which went down a treat. I think the ingredients included Crème de cassis, vodka, Archer’s and pineapple juice.

(You don't really get the flourescent effect in the photo but believe me it really glowed!) I had the Clam Po’ Boy Sandwich (delicious); Jon had traditional meat leaf and Yukon mash, and the girls had PB&J & nuggets. I’m very glad we did this and because it was unplanned this made it seem even more of a treat!

As we went outside we realised the parade would soon be starting so got a space right at the front (until a lady said “excuse me” so we let her through as we thought she wanted to cross the road and then she simply stood in front of us. How rude!) but we still had a great view. I love the parade at MGM and the Christmas twist made it even better. Some of my favourite banners included “Holidays give me Heartburn” (Hades) and “No Ho Ho” (Queen of Hearts).

We decided to watch Beauty and the Beast and I was absolutely wowed by this show. The dancing, story, singing and direction were simply fantastic. I had wondered how they would condense this into a 30 minute show but I wasn’t left with the feeling that anything had been left out; the costumes were exactly as you imagine they would be in real life and I was simply transported by this show. I do love Beauty and the Beast anyway (the music and animation are top notch) and this show effortlessly lived up to one of my favourite Disney films. I could watch this again and again (with perhaps a small break between shows as the seats aren’t that comfortable ) The only negative was someone singing along behind me, off key.

We decided to head back to ASMo as the only show we had left to see was Indiana Jones and we’d either just missed one or there wasn’t another one for ages.

When we got back we found all the toys watching the TV with the remote control nearby to change channels.

We wanted to head out to the 192 for tea and find a Perkins or Chili’s for tea but Julie and Derek were very reluctant as “there would be a lot of traffic as it was a Sunday” ? We couldn’t really understand this line of reasoning (and they weren’t driving after all) but unfortunately this was to become a recurrent theme for the rest of the holiday. It seemed rather anti-social for us to go out and leave them at ASMo so we agreed to have tea in the food court, which at least was preferable to getting a pizza in the room again which is what they had wanted to do.

We had had a lovely relaxing day at MGM and thoroughly enjoyed all the shows.

 

[Miffy2003]

More photos from the parade:

 

[KayleeUK]

I think you should have left them in their room

Lovely report - how did Jon not manage to spend ANY money??

 

[Scottish_Maleficent]

Great pics karen......!

 

[Miffy2003]

But have you noticed Cath I always get a tree in the way or a flagpole or something?! I'm not what you'd call a natural photographer, LOL

 

[AlanUK]

Another quality report Karen, well done

I got to the top of the leaderboard in WWTBAM just as the show ended so I understand the knee trembling that goes on when you think for a split second that you might have to go up and sit in the 'Hot Seat'! It's silly really as it's what you play the game for, but I have to say I did feel somewhat releived that the show had ended and I'd escaped

For some reason I am getting a sense of impending depression regarding the outlaws

 

[SusanEllen]

Karen,
Your reports are a hoot! I'm really enjoying them.

Bless your heart. What a good daughter-in-law and son you and Jon are. Looks like your diplomatic skills were called into play again. It's so hard to travel with others when the others have a different style of vacationing than you. It's fine to say "Whatever" and "It's all good" when choosing what to do at WDW, but I know you had expectations of things you wanted to do and how to do them. Hope to read as the reports go on that everyone continued to have a good time.

 

[MsPennieLane]

A great report Karen, I love your photos of the parade too! Shame about Jon's parents, that must've been really hard. I too love the Beauty & the Beast show, it's wonderful. Looking forward to reading more!

Anz

 

[Scottish_Maleficent]

But have you noticed Cath I always get a tree in the way or a flagpole or something?! I'm not what you'd call a natural photographer, LOL

Me neither, but I'd much rather take the photgraph than be IN it!!!!

 

[Janet2k]

Miffy2003, I loved the photos (especially the one of Grandma’s Picnic Punch -- I'm going to have to look for that drink the next time I'm in WDW). The attention to detail in your trip report was wonderful. I so rarely read trip reports but found myself over here on the UK board tonight. I'm sure glad I stopped by.

 

[Disney_Jedi_Jon]

Jon's Point of View.

Off to MGM,I had decided to drive today,but for some strange reason was unable to find the entrance to the park.I have to idea why I missed it but we get there in the end.

I had brought along the video camcorder today as I wanted to film some of the shows and the park.The camcorder is working fine today.Upon returning home to the UK, I discovered that the Footage of CRT and Ariel that had taped, had recorded but jumps like a broken record.The CRT footage is watchable so I guess it could have been worse.The camcorder works fine for the rest of the holiday which I'm very pleased about!!Also the Picture mum had taken of Ariel and I had come out perfectly.

I really love MGM,it was really cool to ride Star Tours again.I don't think I'll ever get bored with this ride.I don't hang around in the shop as mum and Karen walk straight outside and Dad and the girls are waiting by the speeder bike.I plan to come back and buy my light sabers,key ring,t shirts x3 and pewter figure,when I come back for another ride.(which dosen't happen!).

Off to the Muppet Show,which I love,this show is another must do.Amber is dragged in,the rest of us love it.Watch out for the remote control pie,Amber still dosen't like the muppet vac.

We meet up with the toy story gang which is allway cool.Jessie gives me a big hug and I shake hands with Woody and Buzz.Amber and Erin have a great time with the green army men and spend ages playing with them.Its little things like this,that really add the magic to the holiday.

We watched Beauty and the beast and Playhouse Disney which I video(tired arms),which are both great shows.The parade is my favouite disney parade,I love the cars and characters idea.Its extra special this time with the festive twist,again camcorder comes out and my arm gets tired again.

We have Lunch at the Prime Time Cafe,which is brillant,I can't recomend this enough!!!I didn't mind waiting inside for the table as the place has a great atmosphere.Cousin Ray was great fun and my meal was fantastic.I loved the meat loaf and mash yum yum.Mum and Dad didn't get it.

I didn't get to see the Indy stunt show today(or any other day),so I'm praying that it will be still running in August when we go again.Hopefully Action motors won't mean Indy closes.

Dinner we had at the asm food court,ho hum.

Jon.

 

[SusanEllen]

Thanks for offering your point of view, Jon. Pleased for you that your sore arms weren't in vain and that your Mum saved the day with her photo of you and Ariel. Do we need to call Mickey's Mail Order and have them send your Star Wars stuff?

 

[Miffy2003]

Don't worry Susan, I'm sure Jon will get his own back in August and buy twice as much stuff to make up for the disappointment

Alan - oh yes, the knee trembling had kicked in for sure

 

[SusanEllen]

Jon's Point of View.


I didn't get to see the Indy stunt show today(or any other day),so I'm praying that it will be still running in August when we go again.Hopefully Action motors won't mean Indy closes.

Jon.

Jon, In Anz's MGM report and in her photos, it looks like Action Motors is being installed in the lot at the far end of the NY Street, back in the area that's had rotating "temporary" attractions through the years like Barbie and Goosebumps and sometimes just signs promising refurbishment for our future enjoyment, so I think you can breathe easier about being able to see the Indy stunt show in August. Doesn't look like it will be affected by the car show.

 

[SusanEllen]

Oops, Jon. Just thought as I was pressing Send--although Action Cars isn't displacing Indy Stunt, Disney may take the time to close Indy for "refurbishment" or maintenance and have only one stunt show going at a time. So, I probably shouldn't have offered you comfort (and possibly false hope) without more information.

 

[WDWfan uk]

..... another lovely day, another great report with some lovely photos

 

[Verity Chambers]

Sounds like another vgreat day. I love the Beauty and the Beast show as well.

Verity.xxx

 

[Ron from Michigan]

We just love 50's Primetime, the food and atmosphere are so great. We also ate there last month, we split the fried chicken and the smores for deseart. We love what they did with the cars for Christmas in the parade. We also tried the Sci-Fi restaurant for the first time on this trip and really liked it, we will be going back to both on our next trip.

 

[MazdaUK]

Great report - must try that punch!!