MGM for 4 year olds?

[Violetx3]

We are going to WDW in a few days. Our first day will be at MGM which I am a little concerned about. I have never been there and I can't really tell if it will be fun for my kids. My youngest (twins) are 4 and have never been to WDW. Any thoughts? (I would love to start at the MK, but guidebooks seem to suggest avoiding MK on Mondays.)

 

[THESCHULTZFIVE]

It will be fun, there's agreat playhouse disney show there. There are some things that they can't do , but then you don't have to worry about that. Be sure to eat at Pizza Planet(from Toy Story), see Muppetvision, the playhouse Disney show, there's a Honey I shrunk the Kids play area. Just some suggestions, I'm sure there's more stuff that I just can't think of right now. The studio tour has a catastrophe canyon(I think it's called) part that they might like(might be a little scary, lots of water and fire although you don't really get wet unless it's just a spray). Someone else will probably post anything I've forgotten. Have a great time!!!

 

[2dogmom]

My girls love the Beauty and the Beast and Little Mermaid shows. The parade is good too. If your kids don't frighten too easily, Fantasmic would be good to see as well. My DD, when she was 2, liked it.

 

[mom2cinderella]

DD and DS were 3 and 4.5 for their first visit to MGM. They enjoyed Playhouse Disney, the Muppet 3-D movie, and Pizza Planet. DD loved the Little Mermaid show, and getting them out of the HISTK play area was a chore b/c they were having so much fun!

Michele

 

[rileyroosmom]

There is plenty to do at this park: Playhouse Disney, Little Mermaid Show, Beauty and the Beast show, Muppets 3-D movie, Honey I Shrunk The Audience Playground. Mine even liked the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular Show. The Great Movie Ride (one or two parts may be scary, Alien and when the"gangster" hijacks the car). I thought it was also easier to greet the characters here. Not as many people in this park as in MK so it's easier to see characters, IMO.

 

[MazdaUK]

My younger DS was 5 wen we went this Easter and loved all of MGM - especially Indiana Jones, Playhouse Disney and Muppetvision. We were too mean to let him in the playground in case we couldn't get him out, but he did pose on the speeder bikes and in the car outside the Sci Fi diner.

We ate in Hollywood Brown Derby - like all Disney places its great for kids, with a good kids menu plus they bring colouring to keep them going, but the service was so quick there wasn't long to wait! Its a bit dearer than some of the other places but worth it for the calmer atmopsphere IMHO

 

[tjmw2727]

I agree with others, this is a great park for kids! We went to MGM with my girls who are older and my neice and nephew who were 4 and 2 last Christmas. They loved Playhouse Disney of course and meeting the PHD characters, Voyage of the LIttle Mermaid and the BaTB stage show. My nephew also loved Star Tours (40" height restriction) despite never having seen the movie or anything. We rode the Great Movie ride but my SIL distracted the 4yo during the ailien scene, the 2yo laughed! We had fun in the HISTK playground and my nephew loved the backstage tour even the canyon part (the 2yo slept through it).

If you think your kids will enjoy meeting characters this park may be the best one for greetings. Every 20 minutes or so in front of the Mickey Hat as well as throughout the park. This is the best place to see the toy story and monsters inc characters. You can meet sorcerer mickey in the "theater" just past millionare. FWIWI have never had to wait in a long line here, even during Christmas week.

My girls think the stars and motor cars parade is the best!

If you do have a toy story fan then lunch at the pizza planet is a must.

Have fun
TJ

 

[funcinderella]

I have twins too, they just turned 4 last week. Agree with the above posters, we took them last August when they were three. At this age, I think they might even like tower of terror, since froghopper is their favorite ride. They weren't crazy about the movie ride. Definitely don't overlook this park!

 

[CrazyDisneyMom]

We just returned on Sunday. We had 18 days in orlando. My 4 year old son loved MGM. He saw The Little Mermaid Show, Disney Playhouse, Muppet 3D, Backlot Tour, Star Tours, Beauty & The Beast Show, Fantasmic, Now The Stunt Car show is on from Paris and my son absolutly loved it. There was not one park that my DS 4 & DD 6 did not have fun at. Hope you have a wonderful time.

 

[rt2dz]

We took our kids there when our oldest was 3.5 and he loved it. There was plenty to do there. I would definetly go to MGM--Playhouse Disney alone makes it worth while. My DS is quite tall for his age and even went on ToT; still quite proud of himself over that & talks about it all the time. Not sure if he'll go on it again this next trip though, we'll see.

 

[bamajill]

My four year old daughter loved MGM. Her fave's were Little Mermaid, Beauty & the Beast, Star Tours (x6!!), Muppet's 3-d. She even liked Who Wants to Be a Millionaire......and also loved Indiana Jones and Lights, Motors, Action (note..she does have 2 older brothers, lol)...

She did ride Tower of Terror....didn't like it, but didn't totally freak out, either. If your kids are big enough, let them give it a try!

 

[DeanDoug]

We took our 2 year old to MGM and she loved it! They had the JoJo Circus characters for her to meet, the Playhouse Disney live show... etc., etc... it was fun and worthwhile for little ones!

 

[cheyennemama]

OMG! bamajill! Your 4 yo went on Tower of Terror?! And she tolerated it?! Wow! DH and I have been joking back and forth that he wants to take my 3.5 yo and I said "no way!" The funny part is that she's 42" and you only have to be 40". I'm just amazed that your child tolerated it!

Cheyenne

 

[tjmw2727]

OMG! bamajill! Your 4 yo went on Tower of Terror?! And she tolerated it?! Wow! DH and I have been joking back and forth that he wants to take my 3.5 yo and I said "no way!" The funny part is that she's 42" and you only have to be 40". I'm just amazed that your child tolerated it!

Cheyenne

Actually my youngest, now 8, went on TOT on her 4th birthday and LOVED it. Had her birthday button on, measured tall enough and dh took her as my oldest dd and I wanted no part. She got a magical moments certificate and had a great time.

FF to the next trip at almost 6, she remembered how much fun she had so we all went. She was horrified and could not wait until it ended, she told me she loved the riding, and falling but the people and the story was way to scary. Honestly I don't think she even noticed or understood it at 4!!. I think that a 4-5 yo may not get all the theming but a 6+ may and may be more fearfull. So if they like the frog hopper they "may" be ok on TOT but if you think they may get the theming or if they get scared in the "hotel" then take the chicken exit.

TJ

 

[tjmw2727]

I just noticed that you said your youngest were 4 and wanted to make sure you know about child swap. At MGM if your older kids want to ride RnRC or TOT and the 4yos' are not tall enough or unwilling you can use child swap so that both parents can ride with the older kids. Child swap is offered at all 4 theme parks.

TJ
(do a quick search on the theme parks board if you don't already know about child swap)

 

[cheyennemama]

My 3.5 is a bit of a scaredy cat and even made me climb all the way up the slide today to push her down because she was too scared to scoot herself down. lol. TOT.....hmmmm....??? I'd think "no", but we'll have to see how she does on the other rides....

 

[Colinsmom]

My 2.25 year old LOVED it at MGM. He got to see so many characters with little to no waiting, enjoyed the Muppet 4D movie, the Little Mermaid show, the Playhouse Disney show, and just generally walking around and looking at things. We would have done more there but didn't budget enough time!