MGM question

[3boysluvndisney]

We went to WDW 2 years ago and only visited MK (short visit) and before that I went when I was around 13 or 14 years old ( a long time ago). Well we are heading back in June for a week and was wondering if MGM was worth seeing with a 8, 5, and 14 month old. From what I can remember when I was a teenager the younger kids wouldn't get much out of it but I'm not sure if I'm remembering right or if things have changed. We are doing 3 days at WDW two of which are being spent at MK but not sure on the third. Would it be better to got to AK? Not sure what to do or where to go. Any help would be great. I know I have heard that playhouse disney is great at MGM but how much of it is there and would it be a days worth of fun taking that we are only buying single day passes since we are only visiting WDW 3 days and the park hopper passes come in 4 day passes. Right? Can't you tell I'm a newbie?

Chanda

 

[meeko_33785]

There's a number of things that kids love at MGM. There's a Playhouse Disney show for the younger set. Bear in the Big Blue House, Stanley, Rollie Pollie Rollie and others appear in the show. There's also a Beauty and the Beast show and Little Mermaid show (though the Mermaid one may be too instnse for the 14-month old with Ursula and a thunderstorm). The MuppetVision show is good as well but there also a number of explosions that also might frighten the 14-month old. The parade is also good for young kids as well and there are characters everywhere in the park.

 

[tjmw2727]

We love MGM, my girls are now 7 and 9 and they really enjoy this park. Younger kids will like the playhouse disney show as well as voyage of the little mermaid and the muppets 3-d.

I would recommend you check out the Alamo offer of 3 day park hopper plus passes, IIRC they are slightly cheaper than buying 3 - 1 day 1 park tickets and you will be able to park hop and visit a waterpark if you wish. You don't have to rent from Alamo but you do have to purchase the tickets from there 800 number.

Personally I couldn't take a trip to WDW without visting all the parks. We generally hit MK or AK in the morning, take a break and go to MGM or Epcot in the Evenings. This way we can do a few attractions at the afternoon/evening park and see Illuminations or Fantasmic as well. AK and MK tend to close earler and we like to break up the day. My girls love the WS at Epcot and all the live entertainment almost as much as they love the MK!

In addition to this terrific website check out these others to help in your planning.

www.mousesavers.com
www.allearsnet.com

Have fun
TJ

 

[Jordan's MOM]

Not what you asked, but I would choose Epcot. I think there is more to do there with kids than MGM. They would love the living seas, Ellen's Energy Adventure, Figment, Test track, Spaceship earth, Living with the land ride and many other things. There are preformers all through WS that they would love too. Food is good in Epcot and there is even a character meal there which you won't find anymore at MGM.

We also really like AK. There is a lot at MGM for kids but it has always been my DS's least favorite park. For younger kids there are not a lot of rides but more shows that they can do. All the parks are great and they will have fun where ever you go.


Jordans' mom

 

[MikeBW]

You don't have to do just 1 park with your third day. If 1 of the parks has EE, you can do that one for a while and if the kids are bored then go to another park. You can walk to Epcot from MGM. Our last day in WDW a couple of weeks ago, we did 3 parks in 1 day. We started at AK, went to MK and had dinner and fireworks in Epcot. I have kids 9 and 7 and they were dragging at the end of the day.

 

[cyndibelle]

my kids are 4 and 6 and we all LOVED MGM ....MK AND MGM were our favorites.......... if your children love toy story as mine do well then MGM will be the place for you....my son wouldnt stop talking about eating in pizza planet...and then meeting buzz and woody.....and then when we first got there walking down the main street and this truck comes driving down the street with HUGE army guys from toy story on it..and they get off and come up and shake my sons hand....he totally FLIPPED OUT....the picture i have of his face is priceless.............it is a great park to meet the characters in..........

 

[tjmw2727]

Originally posted by MikeBW
You don't have to do just 1 park with your third day. If 1 of the parks has EE, you can do that one for a while and if the kids are bored then go to another park. You can walk to Epcot from MGM. Our last day in WDW a couple of weeks ago, we did 3 parks in 1 day. We started at AK, went to MK and had dinner and fireworks in Epcot. I have kids 9 and 7 and they were dragging at the end of the day.

Actually the OP is planning on getting 1 day/1 park tickets if this is the case there is no option to park hop. Just wanted to clarify!

TJ

 

[tink2]

My children are 4 and 2 and my nieces that went with us this year are 7 and 10- MGM is our second favorite park, under MK. We all loved this place! DD4 and my nieces all loved Voyage of the little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast. My children, younger than my nieces, both loved Playhouse Disney!! All 4 children loved Muppets 3D, Indiana Jones Stunt Show, and the parade- their favorite. Don't forget Fantasmic!- that is spectacular! And characters were everywhere! DS2 1/2 LOVED meeting the Toy Story gang at Al's Toy Barn. Plus we met Mike and Sulley- didn't see them anywhere else. Also, every afternoon the week we were there, the princesses all came out for a meet and greet every afternoon for about 30 minutes- met Pocahontas and Meeko and Jasmine and Aladdin- the only ones DD had not seen that she wanted to meet b/c we had breakfast in the castle. My oldest niece loved TOT and RNR. MGM has a lot to do for children- as I said before- mine loved it!!!!

 

[3boysluvndisney]

Thanks for all of the advice but have one more question. I'm seriously thinking of going ahead and purchasing the 4 day park hopper pass so we can visit MGM and also maybe AK or epcot in one day. Any unused and we can use again next year. My question is if I buy the 4 day park hopper pass that means that I can park hop between any of the 4 parks. Right????

Thanks!
Chanda

 

[tjmw2727]

Originally posted by 3boysluvndisney
Thanks for all of the advice but have one more question. I'm seriously thinking of going ahead and purchasing the 4 day park hopper pass so we can visit MGM and also maybe AK or epcot in one day. Any unused and we can use again next year. My question is if I buy the 4 day park hopper pass that means that I can park hop between any of the 4 parks. Right????

Thanks!
Chanda

Yes, you can visit as many parks as you like each day while only using 1 day of the hopper. Unused days never expire so you can save a day for another trip or since your staying a week maybe you will end up using all 4 days. IMHO - hopping is the only way to go!! Remember to get a hand stamp when exiting a park, this, plus your park hopper pass will gain you entrance to the same park or another WDW park that day.

If you do decide to get the 4 day park hopper you can get a discount by purchasing the pass before your trip.

TJ

 

[meeko_33785]

Another thing to remember- days on park hopper tickets never expire so if you get a four day this time and only use three days, you can use your extra day on your next trip- whether it be next year or in two years or five or however many. As for me, I love park-hopping. If you can, I definatly recogmend you a park-hop to visit either EPCOT or Ak in addition to MGM.

 

[jcemom]

I definitely think you'd get more out of your trip with the park hoppers. AK for example closes early. With park hoppers, I think I would do two mornings at MK and one morning at AK, then one afternoon each at MK, MGM, and Epcot. You wouldn't be able to see/do everything, but you could hit the highlights at each park, especially Wishes fireworks at MK, Fantasmic at MGM, and Illuminations at Epcot.

DD was 16 months when we went last month and her favorites were TriceraTop Spin at AK, and Playhouse Disney, Beauty and the Beast, and Fantasmic at MGM. At Epcot she like Figment and Ellen's Energy. She also enjoyed all of the fireworks shows and the characters. She liked just about everything at MK.