How bad would this be?

[ntengwall]

I am trying so hard to get a visit to MGM in on our trip. We will be there for 1/2 a day on our second day, but we are going to Mamma Melrose for the Fantasmic at 4:20 that day so I have a feeling we won't get to see much.
I do have a day that I have set aside for Blizzard Beach (if weather permits) and then the otehr 1/2 was supposed to be fore Epcot (we didn't want to spend too much time here since our boys are young). I am wondering if I should nix Epcot and spend the second half of our day at MGM. The problem is that it is an EMH night but Tour Guide Mike says it may not be that bad since it is also a Spectro Night at MK.
I am also worried at night getting to do that much with going in the afternoon. And I have the same worry about Bliz Beach if we switch and do that in the afternoon. Any advice? I want to type my itinerary up tonight and have you guys look it over so I am trying to nail this down. OF course this could all be solved if the weather is not water-park weather--then it would just MGM all day. Thanks for any help--you guys have been amazing!!

 

[ErinInCT]

You'll be going at a really slow time so that will help. Plus I don't think you'd catch me at a water park in early Feb, but you never know!! Brrrrrrr!
Personally I would not do the dining package. I am sure it will not be too crowded & you can probably get better seats on your own. Then you can spend a half day actaully doing something other then eating! Try to get there for the afternoon parade. If assume the boys would probably all want to see the same thing (so you don't have to see Little Mermaid or Beauty!!), but maybe you can split up & the older kids go see Indy or Star Wars or the car show with dad & the little one can go to Playhouse Disney & Muppets. Well, the older ones might want to see Muppets too! You better put together a list of what you really want to see! Can the older ones do ToT & RNR? Then you'd probably better run for a FP when you get there! But I still think it won't be too crowded. B4 you do ToT & RNR, you can grab some food & bring it to the Fantasmic seats with the 3yr old (you are allowed to save seats for the others), then the older kids can do ToT & RNR & hopefully get back to Fantasmic b4 it starts & you'll have dinner waiting!
I would skip the water park b4 I skipped MGM OR EPCOT. Can the kids swim at the hotel? I know it's not the same but I just feel like I can do a water park anytime. Then again, I will only go to a water park if it is super hot!!
If you make a list of what you want to do, I think you can do it in a half day. If you look at the historical wait times (http://www.mgmstudios.org/wait.html) you should not have too bad of a wait on the top rides, especially if you FP at least one!
Just my .02!

 

[tom401]

I would nix blizzard beach - if your kids are too young for Epcot - they are probably too young for blizzard beach - plus it is February.
Our kids love Epcot (elementary age) - and have since pre-school.

 

[AJKMOM]

We just got back on 12-23, and it was in the 60's only, too cold for swimming. The weather in Feb. can be even colder. If you are staying at any resort with a pool, that should be fine for kids.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

We went to MGM last January - the Thursday leading into MLK weekend - and we didn't get a package for Fantasmic because DS wanted to eat at Sci-Fi. We went into the theater about an hour before the show started and we were in the section right beside the reserved section. There were PLENTY of seats available, and people kept pouring in right up until show time. We could have EASILY waited a little longer to go in and sit down!

The other suggestion I have is to call back and see if they have opened up later times at Mama Melrose. They hold the later seatings until about 3 weeks before. If you want to eat later I would call back and ask. Our original seating in October at Hollywood and Vine was really early, but I was able to move it to 5:30 closer to our trip.

Have fun!

 

[RoyalCanadian]

I'm not sure how three boys -- two of whom are 7years old and 9years old -- are "too young" for EPCOT. It was DD5's favourite place to visit with the Kidcot stations at each pavilion in World Showcase, lots to see at the Living Seas and some very fun rides. (Does anyone else have a child whose favourite Disney ride seems to be Rio del Tiempo in Mexico.)

I know each child is different and I know that time can be extremely limited on some Disney visits -- but I wouldn't completely dismiss EPCOT for the younger set.

 

[MAGGIED]

I was there in the beginning of Nov and it was the only time that I did not reserve the FANTASMIC package - thinking it wouldn't be to busy - and the theater was standing room only... for our trip in April it was one of the first reservations I made - my recommendation would be if your planning on going to one of the 3 rest. that offers the Fantasmic package then get it- beats having to wait for ever in that line too!!

 

[JFrey4240]

Forget about Blizzard Beach--if the kids are young they'll think swimming in the pool at the resort is cool. Epcot and MGM are great for children. There is so much for kids to do at Epcot--don't think it's not for them. MGM has some great shows for kids too, plus the Honey I Shrunk the Kids Playground area--we always spend at least 30 minutes here for our daughter to run around.

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

I wouldn't nix EPCOT. You've got Soarin', Mission Space and Test Track there. Most 7 and 10 yo boys would love those attractions. Then there's HISTA and Journey into Imagination and for some downtime, Spaceship Earth. Even if you don't think that they'll like the World Showcase, they will probably like Future World.

I would skip Blizzard Beach because it will be cold in February.

My advise would be to do EPCOT's Future World on the morning that you had scheduled Blizzard Beach and then head over to MGM in the later part of the day to see & do whatever you missed on your Fantasmic! day. MGM is not a very large park and you can easily see what you want in 3/4 of a day.

 

[roadtripper]

Ditto on the resort pool--- the kids will love it, wherever you're staying. I was pleasantly surprised that my kids--then 7 and 5--loved Epcot. Now the World Showcase and Illuminations is one of their must-dos!