Is it me, or is MGM really lame?

[ellyn2000]

We, too, love MGM and will spend a full day or more there on our upcoming trip. I guess it's truly "to each his own" when it comes to what appeals to us in theme parks. I like all 4, but spend the shortest amount of time @AK.

 

[Karnak]

I usually plan a full day at the Studios, but you are quite right ... the park does seem a bit "lame" at times. If you stop to think about it, there are only four "rides" in the park (the Coaster, the Tower, the Movie ride, and Star Tours); and only the first two are major thrill rides. The Movie ride is not one most people would want to do more than once, and Star Tours is a simulator.

The major reason to visit the Studios, then, would be to see the shows. And there were ten of them the last time I counted. But as others have pointed out, the show times are conflicting, making it almost impossible to schedule more than a few of them on any one day.

In addition, the park is arranged in such a way that it is difficult for many people to find their way quickly from one attraction to another. The Studios are the only park where I have had to ask directions from a CM to find my way about. One CM advised me to look at the park map upside down. She said many people found that the best way to find the best route from here to there. I know that I have many times wished that someone would publish a meaningful map of the Studios.

Just some thoughts from an old timer.

Enjoy.

 

[LoraJ]

I think we're planning on only spending 2 -3 hours at MGM on our next trip. Just not that much to do there.

 

[btuftee]

MGM really does need a new E-ticket... it's been just over 7 years since Rock 'n' Rollercoaster opened. Over 12 years since Tower of Terror! I'm sure the car stunt show is nice, but like most shows, it's a one-time viewing, and you're done until your next trip to WDW. MGM needs attractions, not shows!

In the last 7 years, Epcot has gotten Mission Space, Soarin', lots of new stuff at the Living Seas, upgraded Imagination ride... AK itself is just 8 1/2 years old, and has gotten a huge E-ticket ride recently in Expedition Everest. The MK hasn't seen much in the last couple of years, but it's already a fully fleshed out, multi-day park that doesn't need help (and even it has gotten Pooh and Philharmagic - I'll ignore Stitch's Great Escape for now).

MGM... it was puny when it opened in '89, and there was a mad dash to add rides and attractions. In my opinion, it's really only got a handful of repeatable attractions - ToT, RnR, GMR, and Star Tours. Everything else is a show, tour, or exhibit - one viewing and you're done. Honestly, GMR and Star Tours aren't that repeatable for me either...

I think what it will take is AK's attendance numbers to overtake MGM, before MGM really gets a hard look and some money. Seeing as the 2005 attendance numbers were 8.2 million for AK and 8.6 for MGM (and that's with no EE at AK), I wouldn't be too shocked to see MGM come in 4th for 2006.

 

[go cowboys]

Is it me, or is MGM really lame?

Its you!

MGM is one of our most favorite parks. ToT and RR are must see/do rides. We all enjoy the shows. Fantasmic is fantasmic. Tarzan does rock! Beauty and the Beast is lovely. My children flip for the Extreme Stunt Show. And the Osborn Family Spectacle of Lights will always brighten your day.

We go each year after Thanksgiving and the decorations really add to the atmosphere. I suggest you try it again that time if you can.

 

[Speedemon21]

Sorry we did love Fantasmic, it was a first for us. But other than that......

 

[teacher31]

I keep wanting to like it, but somehow it never works out that way. I want to, but can't.

 

[meeko_33785]

MGM is my 2nd favorite park after MK. It's got three of my favorite attractions in all of WDW- Tower of Terror, Beauty and the Beast, and Fantasmic. Great Movie Ride, Little Mermaid, and MuppetVision are high on my list too. I love the old Hollywood themeing and the music. The restaurants all have great food and amazing theming. There's plenty of cool characters like the Toy Story characters, Kim Possible and Ron Stoppable, The Incredibles, Mickey as the Sorcerer's Apprentice, etc. and the streemosphere characters are pretty fun too. On my last trip, I was there for 12 hours and probably would have liked to have stayed longer if it hadn't have closed. But, to each his own, I guess.

 

[catsrule]

MGM is our least favorite park.

 

[buckylarue]

We don't do the shows (usually) or character meet'n'greets, but the Studios is still one of our favorite parks. We usually wind up spending at least 4 or 5 half-days there out of a 6 day trip. As for Universal, in spite of a few good rides, the whole place just reminds us of a bigger, more expensive Six Flags or Valleyfair. We get there about once every decade or so, and it's more than enough...To each his own; all you folks that don't spend time at the Studios just mean that the lines are shorter for us!

 

[kittythepoohbear]

I was never a really big fan of MGM but find it especially dull since they started taking out so many attractions and letting others get outdated. All the attractions I really enjoy (The Great Movie Ride, The Muppets movie, and Star Tours) are showing their age. They destroyed the animation/working studio aspect of the park which was a fun experience. The addition of the thrill rides was a good move, but a couple of thrill rides and one new action show does not a theme park make. For me, MGM is a half-day park and can easily be missed on a trip without regret.

 

[PamNC]

I can understand what you're saying - but I can't say that I would label MGM "lame." I love the strolling characters that perform and the whole vibe of the park, but I agree they could do a whole lot more with it. I miss the old Animation Tour - what they have now is totally lame. I use to LOVE the Great Movie Ride and I still do to some extent but it is totally outdated. I mean, c'mon ALIEN? I like RnR and TOT, I love Indiana Jones, the car show is OK but I would prefer to have Residential Street back. Fantasmic is very very good. I use to love the Voyage of the Little Mermaid but I'm really getting tired of that. It's as if the attractions aren't timeless. I like the Muppets, could care less about Star Tours. The Hunchback show was very good, but it's gone. Beauty and the Beast show is just borderline ok.
I do think it needs some help, but I will probably continue to visit. Just like most everyone else, it's a half day park for us. I can't imagine going to Disney and not seeing Fantasmic and during the holidays we like the Osborne Lights. We use to get a kick out of Millionaire but that got old quick. The good news is I hear they are putting something good in it's place. For the life of me I can't remember what it is though.

I remember the good ol' days of MGM - we use to LOVE it. Remember Superstar Theatre and the Monster Sound Show? Now they have that stupid Sounds Dangerous which is basically an embarrasing joke. My DH and I were in the Monster show and had such a blast.

Here's hoping MGM improves...but I'm still not willing to call it lame.

PamNC

 

[Lava124]

I too was just there last week and said the same thing to myself.There isnt just much to do at this park.I think they have 2 of the best if not the 2 best attractions at WDW.The problem is there is only a couple other rides.I dont think they need another "E ticket" attraction as much as they just need more attractions.I went there my 1st day for the afternoonand just went back one evening for Fantasmic and 1 more tower and RnR ride.JMo as I know others love this park but to me that another thing that is great with WDW.So much to appeal to all different tastes.

 

[mrzrich]

We've been skipping MGM completely, or only going four a couple of hours on our last few trips. Just not much to do for little boys too short for the TOT, RNC and ST. DS3 also is not into Playhouse Disney, Princesses or Gene Kelly
So its just Mupperts, LMA, and Fantasmic for us

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

Funny thing... when we first started going to WDW (2000) MGM was our second favorite park. MK has always been first with us. Then we staretd appreciating Epcot; then AK caught our attention; now MGM is as much an afterthought for us as AK used to be. I think it has something to do with the low repeatability of attractions there. GMR was great the first four times I did it, but now... . IJA was a cool show... twice. Star Tours? I like the queue and the gift shop loads better than I do the actual ride. Backlot Tour was a big let down. I have yet to see LMA, but I suspect once will suffice. Beauty and teh Beast show was nice... once. LIttle Mermaid is just not for me. Playhouse Disney? a cool diversion when kids were preschoolers. ToT and RnRC are still awesome IMO.

 

[phantom728]

We love MGM. MK is our favorite, of course, but MGM and EPCOT tie for 2nd. I'm not crazy about AK, so am only hitting it this trip to check out EE. Love the thrill rides!

 

[Micca]

Not lame, but not yet fully developed.

 

[Mouse511]

MGM is our least favorite park. After TOT and RNR we are ready to leave.

 

[willis37862]

RnR and TOT are awesome. Besides that the park holds nothing else for us. We had a crappy time there on our last trip two weeks ago. We ran into a ton of rude people and cms there. It was also the only place we waited over 30 mintues past our ps time. While they took the bozo that cut in front of me in line and didn't have a ps. I asked and they said the table was for four people and there was only us two so he got it and we got to wait. That plain sucks. We found that the park needs some new reasons to visit or we are skipping it next time in favor of more time at the other parks.

 

[madelinesmum]

With all due respect, maybe it's just me but I don't get anyone not liking a Disney park. They are all great and there is so much to do all each of them.
We love MGM and could actually spend more than a day there. Are some of you missing the magic?