MGM with kids / how long?

[sandymandr]

Hi!
I need some suggestions about MGM. We'll be at WDW 4/27-5/5 with two 5 y.o.s. We planned to go to MGM on AM EMH day (Sat), but I am now wondering if we can really spend a whole day there with the kids? We will not be doing TOT or RR because of the kids (read they were too intense). We want to see the parade at 4pm and Fantasmic and thought MGM would be a good alternative due to the grad night at MK. So, do you think it is worth it to go first thing in the morning or would it be better to go later in the day, maybe after EMH crowds have died down a bit? We could either sleep in or go to a different park in the am. Or we could go in the am, take a nap at POP and go back. Thanks for any thoughts on it!!

 

[kj2mom]

I took my two 5 year olds on an EMH day but we did not target the early hours. It was our first day of our trip (flight and Hoop De Doo the day before) so I let them sleep until they woke and then we headed out. I believe we got there just before 11. We stayed the full day but for us Fantasmic was at 8:00pm, I haven't looked to see when it is for you. We had no problem at all filling the day and definitely could have used some more time there although we didn't leave with any major "wish we could have done _________". We had similar touring plans as you, no ToT, no RNR but yes parade and Fantasmic. We had lunch at Pizza Planet and did the Fantasmic Dining Package at Hollywood & Vine. We had a great day and definitely didn't feel like we had run out of things to do. We never did the afternoon breaks since to me it just seemed like alot of travel time for a short break but I know many others find it effective. We did our breaks by planning our day and putting in some downtime (MGM is great for that because you can catch some shows, Beauty and the Beast, Playhouse Disney, Voyage of the Little Mermaid, Muppets 3D) to just sit, watch and relax.

 

[WaltD4Me]

I don't think you'll need a whole entire morning til night day at MGM, BUT I also think MGM might be a bit more crowded because of EMH and because of the fact it'll be Grad night at MK.

I would go early to MGM for the EMH, hang out there awhile and then take a nice break back at POP, then head back to MGM for the parade and Fantasmic.

I think if you sleep in and go later to MGM it may be very crowded...I'd go early and get some "Must Do's" like Playhouse Disney out of the way and then go back, maybe have dinner at Prime Time after the parade...

 

[Goofy4]

Since you're not targeting ToT & RnR (prime EMH opportunities), you'll want to be sure to check out what is open during that time and plan accordingly (or choose a non-EMH day). Or, like you say, sleep in.

I am not familar with grad night, but that might not have a significant affect on crowds until later in the day. Sorry to throw you in so many different directions

Ah, I like what WaltD4Me had to say. Just be sure to check out what attractions on your list might not be open for EMH.

 

[Minnie824]

We went to MGM last year w/our 4yo and 19mo.....honestly, I don't think theres too much to do there for that age other than shows, which mine did not really want to sit thru. If you want to see the parade and fantasmic, I don't think you'd need to go first thing in the morning. It could make for a long day. Maybe check out show schedules, see if theres some you want to see and plan for that as well. This year, we're only spending an evening there cuz I want to go to Fantasmic, which we haven't seen, and show our DDs the Osbourne Lights. Thats all we really have planned there...maybe Ariel or Belle show if we have time.

 

[mamamary]

I had the opposite going on at MGM. All my kids (7&9) wanted to do was RNR and TOT. We saw alot of shows and had 2 nice meals at MGM but if it wasn't for going on those two rides we could have done MGM in half a day. Also on our last day we could spend maybe 3 hours at a park. My kids picked MGM - all we did was go back and forth on those two rides.

 

[sandymandr]

Thanks for all your thoughts on this. I checked it out and the muppet vision and star tours will be open for EMH. I think we will go ahead and try to use the EMH (I know the kids will be up at 6am anyway....like on the comercial, "too excited to sleep!" ), do the HnV lunch with Jojo and Goliath, go play in the pool or sleep , then back for more fun!!
Thanks to you all, I hadn't thought about lots that you said! I love DIS!!

 

[Got Quattro?]

@ age 5 my daughter rode ToT several times. Mermaid, playhouse disney, millionaire, muppetts, stunt show, indianna jones, beauty and the neast on stage, and fantasmick can barely be done in 2 days, much less a half day.

 

[sandymandr]

hmmm, I think I will give this all some more thought before making any decisions. It is just that I have never been to MGM so don't know what to expect there. Thanks again for all the help!!!!

 

[disney6family]

MGM is our sleep in day, too, but if your kids get up early then go for it!
Don't discount ToT - my 5 DD did well and my DS started riding it when he was 5 and can't get enough of it!! They have not done RnR yet because they weren't tall enough, but you could parent swap or FP it if you wanted to ride. (kids could get sigs, ice cream then)
We usually plan our MGM day like this (yours would be earlier so you'd get to do more) Also, don't think they won't sit through shows - my kids love Indiana Jones
get to park between 10 and 11
FP to ToT
eat lunch (just read you have HnV lunch so that's great)
do either playhouse Disney, VLM, or GMR or get some sigs under the hat
ride ToT
do GMR if not yet
backlot tour or LMA
Muppets, sigs of Buzz/Woody and others around the corner
HISTK playground
Star Tours
parade
Indiana Jones or LMA
dinner
shopping or ice cream
Fantasmic

 

[mom22boys]

Thanks for all your thoughts on this. I checked it out and the muppet vision and star tours will be open for EMH. I think we will go ahead and try to use the EMH (I know the kids will be up at 6am anyway....like on the comercial, "too excited to sleep!" ), do the HnV lunch with Jojo and Goliath, go play in the pool or sleep , then back for more fun!!
Thanks to you all, I hadn't thought about lots that you said! I love DIS!!

Sounds like a perfect plan to me! MGM won't be a full day park for us for a long time. Don't forget to hit Playhouse Disney. I am guessing your 5 year olds are fans since you have H&V scheduled. Last year DS 5 thought he was getting a little too old for Playhouse Disney Live on Stage, but we went anyway for DS 2. Well, they both thoroughly enjoyed it. On our next trip our oldest DS will be 6 1/2, but we are still planning on going. We will have our Dnieces, 3 1/2 and almost 2, with us. I know our oldest DS will still love it even though he might have to pretend not to!!!

 

[sandymandr]

The kids are my dniece5 and dneph5, and their mom just told me that they saw the wiggles the other night and they were so excited that their heads almost exploded! I am so excited about taking them to WDW They knew they were going to see the Wiggles, but they had no idea that meant they would actually "see" them in person. They love watching shows too, especially where they can sing along and dance , they are boogie machines!! They are gonna flip out at WDW I think I will talk to my dsis about taking them on ToT too, it will be our second park day, so we should have an idea how they will react.
Thanks for all of your suggestions DIS ers!!!

 

[Haveamagicalday!]

I would highly reccomend getting there either very early if you can do EMH, but if you cant, definetely wait till later in the day. If you do decide to go in the morning,I would get there very early to get fastpasses because they are going to run out quickly due to EMH. Now, depending on what if your kids ride ToT or RnRC, I would go later. If they love both, I would go early. If they are too young I would go in the afternoon. If would be nice to eat at Sci-fi dine in and then go to Fantasmic early. Be sure to make ADRs early! I hope you have fun!

 

[DBarber600]

I haven't read all the posts, but:

We were there during the first Fantasmic showing with our DD3 and DS5 in June, but they were too scared to see Fantasmic, so...

we were in the area back by Pizza Planet and Muppets 3D and there was literally no one there. It looked like it was closed! We walked around to Star Tours completely by ourselves, admired the AT-AT, Ewok village and speeder bike. Absolutely no line for Star Tours. Of course, our kids were too scared to ride but they did allow us to walk through to see the droids and scenes inside and offered to run just the movie for us. DS loves Star Wars but he is still nervous about riding anything that's dark.

We walked up past everything between Star Tours, by Indiana Jones, and through to the exit and I cannot remember seeing anyone else. It was so nice and the temperature was great. Definitely an idea if your kids are more sightseer than thrillseeker.

 

[whogirl'smom]

We went with DD5 in October and arrived just past regular opening time, which was 9 a.m. We barely got everything done, due to the schedule of the shows AND all the characters you'll see there, which means lines for autographs. This was the only park where the autographs really threw off our touring plan. We did not do any thrill rides and didn't have more than 10 minutes in line for the shows, but for some reason this park just really ate up all our time and I didn't get to "meander" as much as I wish I had now. We were able to go at a slower pace at MGM, and did not stop for a hotel break mid-day; it still took all day till Fantasmic was over. We did go to supper early at Mama Melrose's at 4:45 and by the time we were done and got to Fantasmic, it was already 80% full for the 7:30 pm show.

I know a lot of people think that this park isn't geared as much to little kids, but I thought it was second only to MK. Also, check your times guide closely when you get there; many of the kid shows are at the same time as Indiana Jones and the LMA show, so plan carefully. This is one park I can't wait to go back to next year!