How you do attack MGM?

[AussieAngel]

Well, "attack" might be a little harsh, but you know what I mean!!

I'm heading to Disney in September, and MGM is our first day. I don't really know why we chose MGM as our first day, but we did, and we have ADR's for lunch in MGM, so we're stickin' with it!

So it's me (25) and my BF (27), and it's our first time in Disney (and possibly our last, considering we're from Australia, and well... it's a long way!). So considering it's our first time at Disney and our first day in the parks, I'd kinda like to know where I'm heading to. I don't want minute-by-minute plans, but I would like some kind of idea of what to do next...

I've written a little list of things we'd like to do at MGM, and things we might do if we have time. So now I want to put it in some sort of order! Basically our 'must-do' list contains... Tower of Terror, Rock'n'Roller coaster, Backlot tour, Star Tours, Movie Ride, Muppet 3D, and Sounds Dangerous. We're not much into parades and shows, but we'll do them in the arvo, if we have spare time.

Oh, and we have a lunch ADR at Sci-Fi at 12.30.

Fantasmic is on at 8.30pm - we don't know whether we'll play all day at MGM, or head to another park (or back to Pop for a relax) in the arvo, then come back for Fantasmic.

So how do you tackle MGM, when you go? Should we go straight to the Tower of Terror and do that first? Or does everybody do that?

I'd love to hear some ideas about your MGM plan! Thankyou!!

 

[Rudegrle]

I would grab a FP for either RnR or ToT and ride the other first. Both of these attractions can have very long wait times and FP do run out. Even though you're not into shows, I wouldn't miss Lights, Motors, Action! Stunt show...It's amazing! Fantasmic is a must, but remember to show up early. ToT at NIGHT is a must also! MGM is not our favorite park, so we usually only spend 2/3 of a day here, which is more than enough for us. We are a younger (24 and 30) child free couple who knows how to have a good time - especially when it comes to WDW - so you can pm me if you have any questions or need any suggestions .

Have a great trip!

 

[Snoozan]

I agree with the first poster about doing RnR & ToT first. It's best to be at the park for park opening(we're usually there 1/2 hour-45 minutes early and are at the front of the line). You can also get a fast pass for Lights, Motor, Action without it affecting your ability to get another FP for another show/ride. You have to get the show schedule when you get there and use that to plan your strategy. Alot of the shows at MGM run only certain times and you have to figure out how to get from one show to another in the best order.

 

[grinningghost]

Definitely grab a FP for TOT and line up for RNRC.

After that, it's all quite easy to do everything without much of a wait.

 

[DisneyDork712]

I would grab a FP for either RnR or ToT and ride the other first.

Ditto. Both of these rides are not-to-be-missed! They're always the first thing we do at DS!

 

[Karnak]

This park is known mainly for it's outstanding shows. However, the list you posted has no shows indicated that have set starting times (except Fantasmick), so you should have no problem doing the things on your list. I agree that you will probably want to do the coaster and tower rides first, making use of fastpass when possible.

Enjoy.

 

[justplaingoofy]

I would get there a few minutes before opening time and head straight over to rock n' roller coaster & TOT. Once, those are done, I would get most of the "rides" done before seeing the shows.

 

[exwdwcm]

i agree, TOT and RNR first- FP for the other.

I was very disappointed in the backlot tour. It used to be a lot more than it is now. I guess adding in the stunt show meant they lost of a lot of space back there. I would never waste my time on it again. Basically you go through catastraphe canyon and see some special effects. i would have much rather spent my time doing something else. so i would put that at the bottom of your must do list.

I also really enjoyed Millionaire, didn't think I would, but i did. might be worth a try.

have a great time! !

 

[Sonno]

With really big guns.

 

[Sonno]

Sorry... I just had to

Anyway...

If you have kids in your party, hit the Great Movie Ride and then make your way to Playhouse Disney for the first show of the day.

If there are older folks, head straight for TOT and RRC; you can knock those two out in 30 mins.

The rest of the day looks something like this:

The Great Movie Ride
Magic of Disney Animation
Voyage of the Little Mermaid
One Man’s Dream
Narnia
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
Backlot Tour
ATAS Hall of Fame Plaza
Lights! Motors! Action!
New York Street/HISTK Playground
Lunch
Muppet Vision 3D
Star Tours
Indiana Jones
Parade
Sounds Dangerous
AFI Museum
Theater of the Stars
(again if you like or have time)
Tower of Terror
Rockin’ Roller Coaster
Dinner
Fantasmic!

 

[DisneyFan06]

I am planning to attend MGM on my first day as well. I went there once before but there was alot I missed and stuff I am looking forward to seeing. Can anyone explain some of the rides? What is the Movie Ride like? What about Sounds Dangerous? I also heard that this was not an all day park. Therefore, would you suggest going before two or after two in the afternoon or do you feel it is an all day park? I need suggestions people. lol Thanks!

 

[mumzie2three]

When we went in May we hit MGM twice, once in the morning and another time in the afternoon and still didn't see all we wanted to see. I just couldn't get the hang of the show times. It seems like one was starting just as we were exiting another and they were on opposite ends of the park. So I hated it, BUT we had kids and that darn Ariel show really messed us up.
The good news is we found NO lines at RNR and TOT in the afternoon during the parade time. Get Fastpass for RNR then ride TOT and then go back to RNR and you may find you won't even need the fastpass.
On our morning visit we has a 3:00 ADR but didn't end up using it because we walked up to the Brown Derby at opening (11:00/11:30) and got in before it got busy. After that the park was too hot and I was sick of trying to explain to the kids that we can't just walk into the Indiana Jones show because it has certain times and we kept missing it. Went back to the room and went swimming instead.
We got to Fantasmic over an hour early and then wished we hadn't wasted so much time just sitting there. If I had it to do over I would have tried to see a show (like Indiana Jones) during the parade time and then rode RNR and TOT while everyone else is gearing up for Fantasmic. (Although I liked Fantasmic it was not my favorite nighttime show, Illuminations was.)
My advice is to hit MGM in the morning and be prepared to get out if you get too hot and/or tired. Go back to the room and make a plan for the things you missed and go back in the afternoon, an hour before the parade. If you end up spending the whole day there, don't feel too bad if you miss Fantasmic you'd probably have just as much fun riding the rides without the lines.

 

[DisneyFan06]

Okay. So are you saying I do not need to plan on staying at MGM the whole day? I was planning on eating breakfest at the Hotel, leaving on the Bus early to go to MGM and having lunch there. Do you think maybe I should just go back to the Hotel for lunch and do alittle bit of r and r then go back after?

 

[AussieAngel]

Thanks so much everybody, for your ideas about "attacking" MGM!!

(But Sonno, I think we'll leave the guns behind!! )

So we'll definitely head to Tower or Terror and Rockin Roller coaster first then. Yay!

We were planning on arriving at park opening anyway (it's our first day!! We'll be up early!), so hopefully there won't be too many people doing the same thing.

Anyway, thanks again everybody!!

 

[magicmaster]

I see that you are going in Sept! That is the best time to visit as the crowds do not exist. Most everything should be a walk on or a very short wait. You will have plenty of time. The crowds are so low that the Fast Pass machines are turned off as there is no need for them.

Also there are sign around the park listing the show times and wait times for each attraction, we have found them to be very useful as the times may change due to crowd levels.

Since you are from Australia, you are coming out of your winter. I don't know if you have ever been to Fla, but in Sept it is still very hot and humid...upper 90's and high humidity. Pack cool comfortable clothing and remember to drink lots and lots of water.

Have a great time...you picked one of the best times to go to WDW.

 

[justplaingoofy]

Thanks so much everybody, for your ideas about "attacking" MGM!!

(But Sonno, I think we'll leave the guns behind!! )

So we'll definitely head to Tower or Terror and Rockin Roller coaster first then. Yay!

We were planning on arriving at park opening anyway (it's our first day!! We'll be up early!), so hopefully there won't be too many people doing the same thing.

Anyway, thanks again everybody!!

This will be our 3rd Sept going.. love that time of year because no crowds. We have found that the parks are very low until about 11am. After that they are still low, but you may have a short wait.
Enjoy!!!

 

[AussieAngel]

Since you are from Australia, you are coming out of your winter. I don't know if you have ever been to Fla, but in Sept it is still very hot and humid...upper 90's and high humidity. Pack cool comfortable clothing and remember to drink lots and lots of water.

Oooh, yeah!! Tell me about it! You might spot me - I'll be the pastey white one. Although we're heading to California (San Fran, LA, San Diego), then Vegas, and then Disney. So by the time we get to Disney, I might be a little less bright white!!!

Thanks for the advice about crowds and weather though, magicmaster, and justplaingoofy. I can't wait to get my summer clothes out!

 

[poohluvr]

Being that they are doing the free dining plan again the parks could be more crowded than a usual september.

 

[Missus Toad]

I usually start by saying I hate the sorcerer's hat.


(I know... sorry.)

 

[UKVermonter]

Well, "attack" might be a little harsh, but you know what I mean!!

I'm heading to Disney in September, and MGM is our first day. I don't really know why we chose MGM as our first day, but we did, and we have ADR's for lunch in MGM, so we're stickin' with it!

So it's me (25) and my BF (27), and it's our first time in Disney (and possibly our last, considering we're from Australia, and well... it's a long way!). So considering it's our first time at Disney and our first day in the parks, I'd kinda like to know where I'm heading to. I don't want minute-by-minute plans, but I would like some kind of idea of what to do next...

I've written a little list of things we'd like to do at MGM, and things we might do if we have time. So now I want to put it in some sort of order! Basically our 'must-do' list contains... Tower of Terror, Rock'n'Roller coaster, Backlot tour, Star Tours, Movie Ride, Muppet 3D, and Sounds Dangerous. We're not much into parades and shows, but we'll do them in the arvo, if we have spare time.

Oh, and we have a lunch ADR at Sci-Fi at 12.30.

Fantasmic is on at 8.30pm - we don't know whether we'll play all day at MGM, or head to another park (or back to Pop for a relax) in the arvo, then come back for Fantasmic.

So how do you tackle MGM, when you go? Should we go straight to the Tower of Terror and do that first? Or does everybody do that?

I'd love to hear some ideas about your MGM plan! Thankyou!!

Go to the Rockin rollercoaster and get your fastpass and then head to Tower Of Terror and soon after you can do Rockin Rollercoaster. What ever you do pass on Sounds Dangerous it was boring and do this only if it's real hot to just cool off. Try "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" it's fun and you will have the chance to win some prizes. A fun place to eat and relax is Prime Time '50's cafe, it has the feel of being in your mom's kitchen back in the '50's and they wait staff play with you like telling you to keep your elbows off the table and make sure you clean your plate, I was asked if I had washed my hands when I return form the restroom and what color was the soap to prove if I had, also when I had finished eating of course my plate was empty and the waiter took it around to other tables to show what your suppose to do. It was really fun and the food was great.