Is it me or is MGM not so toddler friendly?

labdogs42

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Dec 2, 2005
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We just got back from a week long trip to WDW with our 19 month old son. This was his second trip to WDW and we all had a great time, BUT none of us loved MGM. Sure, DH and I love TOT and RnRC and DS loves Playhouse Disney, but other than that, there just isn't that much there for him. No fun water fountains, no little kids playground, not many rides he can go on, etc. I did try to take him in the Little Mermaid show, but he got fussy so i took him out. He's also too little for the 3D movies so we didn't do Muppet Vision. I just think this park could be so much cooler and kid-friendly with a fountain or two and some kind of little kid play area near the big two attractions (like they have the Laughing Place in MK and the play area at MS in Epcot). Why don't they have something similar at MGM? Anyone else notice this, too? Maybe I'm missing something. What do other toddlers like at MGM?
 
Sorry I don't think Disney needs to take up anymore valuable space with a playground they have too many now. If I wanted a playground I would go to one at home not pay $50.or more dollars a day to go to one. Isn't Honey I shrunk the kids play area open now? at least that is a bit more creative and my toddler loved it. Be careful of what you ask for if Disney builds much more aimed at little ones I think they will begin charging for them since that is one reason you don't pay now. Sesame Place has a lot for toddlers and you pay full price for anyone 1 and over.
 
Our DD7 loved MGM best as a toddler. She liked playhouse Disney, Mermaid, Beaty and the Beast show, Honey I shrunk the kids play area, and even who wants to be a millionair.
 
IMHO MGM is boring. We can do that park in half a day. Now my kids loved Star tours, fantasmic, and the honey I shrunk the kids playground. But thats about it.
 

I agree with you. As a matter of fact, on our last trip we didn't even go to MGM with our 2 year old DD. There was so much to do at AK, MK and Epcot that we just never really got around to it!
 
Well, I don't have a toddler anymore but MGM is our least favorite park anyway. There just isn't a lot there for us. I could go there for ToT and Fantasmic and be completely happy just doing those two things.
 
My toddler also enjoyed Backlot Tour. You can keep little ones in their stroller throughout the ride, and either take it with you on the tram part or have the CM's roll it to the exit for you when loading.

Also, our last trip we got to see the Wiggles live. Not sure how long they will offer these shows, but they are great for toddlers.
 
We do MGM with our 3 year old in about a 1/2 day.

We do The Great Movie Ride, Playhouse Disney, Little Mermaid Show, Muppets 3D show, Fantasmic & Characters. On this upcomming trip we will be doing the character breakfast at H&V to.

But unless we miss some characters like Mike & Sulley or Buzz (we HAVE to see Buzz each trip at Al's Toybarn), we wont spend more then 1 day at MGM. And if we miss a character, we head back just to see the characters & then hop to the next park.

I will say the 50s Primetime Cafe has always been fun for us. Last time my DS got a BIG kick out of his Daddy getting in trouble for drawing with the ketchup & mustard on a plate.
 
We didnt spend much time at MGM either. My kids wanted to go on rides, and there just weren't enough rides for them at the toddler age. There are shows, but after one show, they were done sitting to wait in line, wait for the show, sit thru the show. We spent half a day, saw the characters, Playhouse Disney, Great Movie ride, and that was about it (I went on R&RC). I'm just not that fond of MGM either. We are going back this year just to see Osbourne lights and Fantasmic, and maybe Belle.
 
Minnie824 said:
We didnt spend much time at MGM either. My kids wanted to go on rides, and there just weren't enough rides for them at the toddler age. There are shows, but after one show, they were done sitting to wait in line, wait for the show, sit thru the show. QUOTE]

That's what I was thinking. Even for the adults all the shows are kind of overkill. Especially with all the waiting. Glad to hear I'm not the only one whi could take or leave MGM! We'll still go there for a 1/2 day, but that's about it for us right now!
 
If it was up to me I would skip MGM on every trip. However, Dh likes the rides. Last time we went dd was 24 months and there was a lot that she liked. Playhouse Disney was her favorite followed by the playground.
 
MGM was the least favorite of the parks for our toddler. We did Playhouse Disney and Its a Bug Life playground. The playground was way too crowded though. After those two attractions, that was it. Compared to MK, AK, and Epcot, we were done with MGM in one day and did hop back at all.
 
We're not crazy about MGM. I wouldn't buy a full day ticket to go. We really only like Muppetvision, The Great Movie Ride is alright, but very misable, and the girls like Playhouse Disney...but we're not into the shows or the roller coaster's.
When we have come here we've done it in less than half a day, even without toddlers.
 
DS had a good time there this past trip (at 18.5 mos). He enjoyed the Disney's Playhouse of course, plus we got to see the Wiggles there (that was huge!). We did the character breakfast at H&V with the Little Einsteins and Jojo's circus characters. He enjoyed the Muppet movie...a tiny bit scary at the end, and he refused to wear the glasses, but he seemed to have a good enough time. We watched the Art of Animation ride or whatever it is, and enjoyed the movie at the end with all the different snippets of different Disney movies. DS is way too young to enjoy ToT, Rockin'Roller Coaster, Star Wars, or any of that, and we did the Great Movie ride and he was really scared so that was a no-go, but other than that, we had a great time. It is probably my DH and my favorite park. We enjoy the various places to dine for dinner too and just love strolling around that park. To each his own!
 
MGM has always been our least favorite, but we do like it. Our older son loves the Power Rangers and was thrilled to meet a few. He liked the TOT and some of the shows. Our toddler, who was 17 months at the time, liked the parade, Playhouse Disney and the Car Stunt Show. That is a lot for a little guy - a lot of stimulation. Don't forget that is much more than a typical day for them (and me as well!)
 
hi,

i think it just depends on what you like and who you are with! for us, its the animal kingdom that could totally go - we all love strolling around mgm, doing honey i shrunk the kids - meeting the characters - the parade - great movie ride - little mermaid - beauty and the beast - narnia - playhouse disney - playhouse disney concerts - this takes us all day for sure.... i am always hoping they add more, but we love this park!! the teens/preteens in our family like it the best....so it just all depends - thank goodness disney has several parks for us to choose from!!!
 
MGM is my favorite park. I could spend the entire day there and do nothing -- the park is beautiful, I love the landscaping, buildings, etc.

I do have small children -- last trip they were 3.5 and turning 1. This trip (just over a month) they will be 5.5 and almost 3. Last trip, my dd1 loved Playhouse Disney, Beauty & the Beast, Little Mermaid, Great Movie Ride, Muppets, lunch at Sci Fi and the Honey I Shrunk the Kids Playground (she had been walking for about 2 weeks).

I guess it's all in the individual preferences...
 
I think a Disney park is what you make. We've been going weekly to a park since ds was 6 weeks old, for a few hours out of the house. He is now 2 and loves MGM.

Of course, he loves playhouse Disney. He enjoys the Great Movie ride, except for the video section at the end. That's too long to keep his attention, and usually when I pass him his spill proof sippy cup. He loves to visit the characters.

We've had some of our most magical moments at Disney with the characters at MGM. The voyage of the Little mermaid can be intense for a toddler. My son hates to get wet, and we've discovered sitting towards the left of the theater get's less "splash".

The animation tour he likes, especially the games afterwards. We have to hold him up, but he really likes pressing the buttons and watching things happen.

Obviously Rock and Roller and Tot are out of the question.

He loves the Beauty and the Beast show. We sit either to the left or right side of the theater and put him on the aisle seat so he can see.

He loves the Backlot tour. We have to tell him ahead of time about the loud explosions, but he thinks it's funny to watch the people get wet. When it comes to the fire part of the tram ride (catastrophe canyon) I put my hands over his ears and we watch for the fire. A couple times we did that while the stunt show was going, so the stunt men waved to us from their cars, as they waited. We also discovered how little room back stage there is for error at the stunt show, when one car after the other comes zooming by back there. That was pretty magical.

Across from the back lot tour entrance is a huge coca cola bottle. He loves to get wet from the mist that shoots out of it.

There is a playground at MGM it's called Honey we shrunk the kids. My son loves sliding down the film slide and standing by the water fans and getting soaked. This is one of those places where you can't let the toddlers on their own, there are too many nooks and crannies, and the older children are often unsupervised.

The cars from Cars come out at various times for meet and greets as does the Power Rangers. My son has no idea who the Power Rangers are, but he loves watching their grand entrance.

At Al's toy barn are the characters from Toy Story. He loves visiting with them too. We don't bring an autograph book, he just interacts with them, and we take his pic.

There is also the afternoon parade that a toddler should like. We usually find a spot after it's started. He doesn't seem to care if there are people obstructing his view. He's happy with what he does see.

Oh and Muppet Vision is great for toddlers. Ours usually doesn't wear glasses, but he hold them. He loves Kermit!
 
We love MGM, it's AK that is our least favorite. We have an excellent zoo and a zoo pass. I don't see the point in wasting our time to see animals we have here and can see anytime. We went just last month and our little one was 17 months old. He liked all the shows. A couple not mentioned were Indiana Jones and the stunt car show. Noah loved them especially the stunt car show! He loved Little Mermaid, but he loves getting wet and bubbles, bubble was his first non-family name word! It's MGM movie studios, it's not about rides, it's about shows. :goodvibes
 
I think they have an adequate share of kid shows versus grownup shows/attractions. I do find they lack a ride appropriate for toddlers. GMR and the backstage tour...don't totally count, though you can take a child on it.

If they had space--even one cute family oriented-movie themed ride would be a good thing. :)
 


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