Help! Parents are actually going to a theme park!

[threeboysmom]

My parents are going to Orlando the same week as my family (a fluke - we didn't plan it that way). Anyways, they are definately not Disney-lovers or even theme park people. They are going just to hang out around the resort & relax - I always ask them "Why Orlando if you're not going to Disney???" I don't get it They plan on going to the Holy Land place & have a dinner reservation at Emeril's (I had to make it for them; otherwise, they wouldn't have one). Well, my dad decided yesterday to join us for our MGM day because he wants to ride "that tower thing". Which is good - I'm glad they are going to come with us to Disney!! But on the other hand, I'm very apprehensive - MGM is probably our least favorite park - we go only to ride ToT & RnRC (which my dad won't do because he doesn't like to go upsidedown, and my mom certainly won't go on either of those!). They are only getting a one-day pass so they'll have to spend the entire day there . We are going to AK first, then meeting them there probably around lunchtime. I have a feeling they are going to be incredibly bored even by the time we arrive!! I really want them to stay for Fantasmic, but I definately don't think they will last that long! Maybe I should tell them not to show up at the park until around 1:00?? They will probably think that's such a waste of $100 to only go for a half-day. But I KNOW they won't stay there for 12 hours!! I understand that The Great Movie Ride is closed? A bummer because that is probably the only thing they could enjoy together....... Maybe playing Millionaire?? Anything else you guys could suggest to make this special? This will be their only glimpse of Disney and I want them to at least like it & enjoy themselves and not walk away with negative opinions of my favorite place in the world. I can see them now, especially my dad, shaking his head & wondering out loud why does Kimberly keep coming back here.....it's soooooo boring...... Anyways, I know you guys will understand this......sorry for my rambling. We "Disney lovers" want everybody else, especially family & close friends, to love it too

 

[CarolA]

Shows.
Make sure they see Beauty and the Beast and Indiana Jones. Muppets 3 D is good also.

Have them arrive late! You can fast pass it for TofT.

If they won't arrive late, pick them up and take them back for a few hours. It is very hot that time of year.

Maybe a nice meal. Would they get PrimeTime?

 

[Susiesnowflake]

Kimberly,
I feel so bad. It sounds like you are really stressing over this one. Disney MGM is also my least favorite park.
Is there any chance you could convince them to go to Epcot? My father-in-law is also not a theme park person, but he was captivated by Epcot....FW and the WS. He was highly impressed with the educational aspects of each and all the wonderful food & dining options. Just something to consider. Hope everything works out. Enjoy your trip!

 

[dynamite]

Oh gosh! Not MGM and family members!!! My wife, son, father, and I went two years ago (I think... I try to put it out of my mind!). We got to MGM, bought one day passes, went in and headed straight to the Tower of Terror and Rockin Rollercoaster. We managed to get those in before the fun started. My wife and father don't exactly get along, so as we were leaving out of that section, our 2 year old son (at the time) decided to leap out of his stroller and land head first onto the street. Well, my wife automatically over reacts, my father is like "Oh... it just a scratch, he'll be OK".
Well... the wife and father got into a shouting match and she finally goes storming right out of the park. No return stamp or anything. I have to go after her and then my father walks out. Well 30 minutes after entering we were out of the park and out somewhere around $150!

Hope you trip goes better!!!

 

[InstImpres]

Depending on their sense of "adventure" why not try the backlot tour. They may enjoy seeing the Golden Girls House.

I also agree, don't miss beauty and the Beast. They will feel like they saw a Broadway show and got real value for their entrance.

Also, it isn't my thing but many people enjoy walking from the back to the front down the street (Broadway/New York Ave???) and viewing the forced perspective, listening to the musical changes, seeing the NY style shops etc. Just a thought.

Good luck

 

[4greatboys]

Hey Kimberly,
I just had to stop by to say hi. I hadnt seen you posting to much since your last trip. Maybe you could talk them into getting a 3 or 4 day hopper so they could try one or two of the other parks (then as a nice gesture to their favorite daughter they could give you the left over days on their hoppers ). Good Luck!!

 

[lisajl]

I liked MGM, of course we were there at Christmas and the Osbourne lights were amazing.

We loved the movie ride, could have skipped Indiana Jones, maybe your parents would like that.

Fantasmic, Muppets 3-D, walking around New York.
Those were pretty good.

When we go back we will def. go there again.
Not as fun as MK, but much better than Ohio in the winter.

 

[phoebusII]

I would take them to see every single show and ride you can possibly cram into the day, especially Fantasmic. If you don't take them to see anything they will think the park is boring. The day is what you make of it. Wear them out, run from place to place and have dinner at a themed restaurant. They may just have fun.

 

[Paris]

You know your parents the best, but since you know MGM maybe you can suggest an early lunch for them there. Be it Brown Derby if they're upscale or Sci Fi if they enjoy retro B-movies. Grab an 11am-ish reservation and they will be fresh, fed and away from the heat (and you can always meet them there which is much better than agreeing to hook up somewhere vague and unshady for their simplicity's sake).

If they enjoy game shows, definitely tell them to check out the first or second Millionaire show.

 

[tar heel]

My parents would find the backstage tour (Catastrophe Canyon) and animation tour interesting. They also would really like Muppets and Millionaire -- would probably want to do the latter multiple times. They would be okay with Sounds Dangerous and Lil Mermaid. I think Indiana Jones is good if you sit up front near the action -- bet your parents would like it. It's too bad, of course, that the Great Movie Ride is closed. I would take them to Prime Time for lunch and, if I was trying to keep them there all day, Sci Fi for an afternoon snack.

Instead of keeping them there all day, though, you might want to consider taking the boat over to the Boardwalk. It would give them a diversion and rest from the park -- you might even eat dinner there. You also could get off there for awhile, then go over to Beaches and Cream for your afternoon snack. Then go back to MGM. Don't forget that you can be holding a fast pass for Millionaire or something while you're on your little tour.

I agree that you probably could keep them going all day better at Epcot, but I think you can make MGM work, too.

Good luck!

 

[tmli]

My parents have come with us twice now. My dad isn't a theme park fan and totally thinks I'm crazy for going back every year. However, MGM is their favorite park. They love the shows, backlot, parade, millionaire and fantasmic. He hates EPCOT! While those of us who get "IT", think MGM is not very magical, there are many people who will never get the magic no matter what park they are in. I personally think MGM may be the best park for non theme park people because of the variety of entertainment. Don't sweat it, if your parents are anything like my dad, they'll probably have a negative comment or two no matter what you do. Just be glad it's only one day, my parents had 7 day hoppers with us! We finally booked him a golf tee off time at one on the on site courses, then all of a sudden he got "IT"!!LOL.

 

[Sharby]

Here's my thoughts (I should just leave the rest of the post blank . . . . )

I liked the suggestion that about asking your parents to get hoppers (unused days never expire). If they don't want to use the unused days. . . well then. . .

And while you're talking to your parents about hoppers, you can gently suggest what they might like - based on their personality types and interests. (Hey, some people like to camp at Ft. Wilderness and some like concierge service at the Grand Floridian ).

For example: if they are the "refined, gentile" type - (this is how you've made me picture them in my head) how about talking them into Epcot? plenty of refinement in the World Showcase. What interests do they have? Gardening? How about Living With the Land?

Maybe they want to go to the Studios because they like 'old movies' - and they think that's the only place they might have a chance of finding something they like. (They probably think that AK is a zoo, MK only has Dumbo and other amusement park rides, they're not sure what Epcot is - probably just a big old golf ball ride - LOL)

So if they want to go to the Studios because they might see something like some old time 40 & 50's movies (you know like they probably saw when they were dating or were young marrieds) I think at the Studios they'll like Catastrophe Canyon, the animation tour, the Muppets and especially the Great Movie Ride. Also Indiana Jones, and other "shows", maybe Sounds Dangerous and maybe even Star Tours. Not sure about the Tower of Terror - but they might like to go right to the Chicken Exit and look at all the 'old' things up to that point.

Maybe make sure that they see the refined side of WDW - suggest touring the Grand Floridian in early afternoon - they might like to have a refreshing drink out by the "beach" - do they still have someone occasionally play 'old standards' at the grand piano there? Someone out there know the answer to this?

What I find really intriguing about this whole situation is that maybe your parents are trying to find out why YOU like WDW so much and I think they're going to 'your' vacation place to find out if they'll like it. Give them a chance and maybe they will.

However, do remember, that you can't make someone else like WDW - they'll either get it or they won't. All you can do is put what you like to do out of your head and try and think about what they might like about WDW. HTH.