MGM first day

[kdtwiss]

OK, for those of you who love MGM I apologize in advance. We are going on our first family trip in May. Our first day is Friday May 20. We have 4 children all younguns. I was planning on making MGM our first park for a couple reasons - I don't plan on spending an entire day and night there, I thought with fewer rides it was a good way to ease the kids into Disney, and after going to MK - I am not sure anyone would be all that impressed with MGM. So anyway - that day happens to be the first day of the Star Wars weekends and I am wondering how crazy you all think it will be, and aside from that if MGM on a Friday and first day on vaca is a good choice?!

I think we will be there by mid afternoon and would like to try Sci Fi for dinner,
what else should we not miss if we do not plan on going back?
kids are 9,5,6,2 and dh and I.

TIA for any advice - I just had to rearrange our dates so we arrive a day earlier than planned and leave a day earlier - so this leaves me with one whole unplanned day! How fun - I am having such a great time planning!!

 

[QuickGold]

With those age kids, it's hard to say but try to get in any shows they like. If you're referring to rides, I always say Tower of Terror & Rock n Roller Coaster are not to be missed but obviously that might be something for just you and your DH (and maybe the 9 year old).

 

[pezpam]

We only spent about a half a day at MGM when we were there - with kids too young for the big rides, a half day should be ok.

I'd try to catch at least one show - the little ones will like those.If they can handle 3-D shows, the Muppet movie is enjoyable. A lot of MGM for my DD(6 on last trip) is the characters and the details. It's worth a visit, but the time you have should work well.

DD also says that Sci-Fi is her favorite WDW restaurant, so that's probably a good choice with kids in tow.

 

[iheartdisney]

Another don't miss (except for the SW) factor is Star Tours- Everyone except 2 will be able to ride it, and they kid swap you there on the platform, so if its not too crowded, they'll let everyone else stay on.
If you get there in time for lunch, you can take everyone to Pizza Planet- a total WOW for my nephews.
Have fun!

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

Muppets 3=D is a 'must-do'. My kids (7 & 5) do OK on Great Movie Ride -but be sure to read up on what that ride involves and see if its something your kids might be frightened of. Plan to see Fantasmic at the nd of the day. I wasn't expceting much, but our whole family wound up liking the Disney Animation show (this is also where you will get to meet the INcredibles). Indiana Jones show should be fun for most of your gang too. You, DH, and the 9yo MUST do ToT. It's awesome

 

[nkjzmom]

I had the same plan for our first trip there! After those first few hours there the kids were begging to go back! My children are relatively the same ages as yours and they LOVE MGM. We can't get by with less than a full day there. Our 9 year old loves Millionaire, our 7 year old loves ToT and RnR, and the others love Playhouse Disney and other shows. We all love to visit One Man's Dream. Do not leave this out! And make sure you have enough time for the models and the movie at the end. The parade is a favorite also.

We spent just one day there over Spring Break last week and bounced back and forth between MGM and Magic Kingdom.

 

[addicted2disney]

Beauty & the Beast Live on stage is great.. Go meet Buzz & woody back at Al's Toy Barn, have lunch at Sci Fi and DInner at Pizza Planet! Check out the Honey I Shrunk the Kids Playground, Go sit thru the 10-15 minute show in the Animation place and then meet Mr & Mrs Incredible! 2 of my 3 kids loved Tower of Terror at age 3. My just just rode it for the first time in Janaury. Meet and Greet the characters under the big hat through out the day. Voyage of the Little Mermaid is great, so is Playhouse Disney for the little ones! Watch the Stars In Motor Cars parade.. it has tons of characters in awesome cars! We like Indiana Jones, but there is explosions, fire, and gunshots.. scares the little ones with the noise. Fantasmic at night is a MUST DO for us.. we LOVE it. Muppets 3-d is a kid favorite. I think you WILL spend a whole day here. The shows are longer and it takes awhile to get to everything since its all at certain times. Im betting that you will like it better than you think. If you arent arriving till mid day, you may want to come back at least for a few hours and finish everything up. We like MGM alot. Oh, and make sure you do Rock N Roller Coaster.... its awesome!!

 

[kdtwiss]

Thanks so much everyone! Such quick answers!!!

I will plan on getting there as soon as possible in the day to squeeze in as many shows as possible!! I think your answers solidify my decision to go MGM first. What would you all suggest next day? That will be a Saturday and we have a PS at CM for 7:20. Someone somewhere said you can see something (vague enough for you?) I don't recall if it was a water parade or a fireworks show or what from the beach at the CR - any idea what that might be and when?
Also - we will be going to the parks a total of 6 days. I am thinking Epcot, MGM and AK each one day and MK 3 - what do you all think? We have never been before, and I know we will be unable to do it all - but I would like my guys to enjoy their trip as much as possible! Any advice is appreciated!

 

[addicted2disney]

There is a water parade that you can see from the Contemp, Poly and GF resorts. Ive never seen it!! Im not sure of the time. Thats something on my "to do" list. I think its floats that are lit up. Im not sure of the crowds in May, but it shouldnt be TOO bad. Ok, first day is Friday.. MGM. Saturday I would go to Epcot all day. Lots of counter service food here, so I wouldnt bother wasting time with a sit down meal. Sunday there is no EMH at MK for am or pm. Im thinking you might want to try there?? Spectro looks like it will be shown at MK every night starting on the 20th- until the 29th. How many days will you be there?? Im maybe go to AK on Tuesday.. thats its evening EMH. YOu could stay until 10.. see it when its dark. OR you could go back to MGM in the AM on Tuesday since that is MGM's emh morning, do what you didnt finish on Friday, and THEN hop over to AK for the rest of the night. Thats even a better plan, I think. MK on Wednesday and stay for EMH evening. Maybe break this day up with a nice PS somewhere.. maybe even over at at MK resort...then come back. Maybe you could go back to Epcot on Monday. The park is so huge that you cant even put a dent in it with only one day.

As for your Sci Fi dinner.. Im suggesting Sci Fi for LUNCH.. Check out the menu. Its cheaper for lunch and I think the food selections are better. Check it out. You can do a really LATE lunch.. after the parade. I think the last lunch seating is 4:00. Maybe 3:30. I know its late. Definatly hit Pizza Planet but I would come back to MGM for at least 1/2 day, do lunch at Pizza Planet ,and then leave before the parade.

Let me know how many days you will be there.

 

[lisak1]

when we visited MGM for the first time, my son was 5. he loved it so much, even better than MK. He called it "the city" and asked to go there every day we were there. We must have done muppets 6 times, and he never wanted to leave pizza planet.

It's been a long time since we've been to WDW, and we are finally going back summer of '06. MGM was the park we all enjoyed the most, i think.

 

[kyirish25]

With 6 days and wanting to spend 3 of those in MK I think I would do this

Friday - MGM
Saturday - MK
Sunday - AK
Monday - MK
Tuesday - Epcot
Wednesday - MK

I know Saturdays are busy at MK but knowing that you will have 2 more days there later in the week you won't have to rush around and see it all.

 

[liveforthemagic]

This is so strange. Your schedule is nearly like ours.....and my DH just pushed our arrive and depart date forward one day too--which totally messed up the PS's but never fear--everything got changed around. We only have 2 kids, 9 & 7.

We are actually going to be arriving thu 5/19 in the afternoon and we are just going to play that day by ear....wherever the kids want to go--but probably either MK or a WP. We will be at MGM all day on Friday--I did some research and since we are staying off property, it is a great day for us without EMH to fill up the park. We have a PS for Sci Fi and then we are hanging around for Fantasmic. You may want to call for your PS pretty quick--there weren't that many times left to choose from when I called....and the last seating for dinner at that time was 5:25 I think.

We are also spending our next day at Epcot. Again, all the guides say that SAT is their slow day. Plus, there aren't any opening shows there like at MGM or AK or MK so we don't have to be there right at 9 am--since we are going to be out late the night before at Fant.

Then we are playing with the idea of MK on Sun. The Unofficial Guide says it should be a slower day....but other people have told me it is always crowded because of local folks.

My greatest hope is that since we will be there and gone before most schools get out that the parks will not be too crowed. My greatest fear--rain.

Anyway--have a wonderful time!