Please help me appreciate MGM

[airplane]

Don't get me wrong I like MGM, I just feel like its missing something, or maybe I am missing something. You hear a lot of people say AK is a half day park, but I feel like MGM is my half day park. I absolutely love ToT, RR and Muppetvision. I really enjoyed fantasmic and eating at Mama Melroses, but they are not on my must-do list. Hollywood and Vine had good food but I thought it was a bit expensive. I am not crazy about most of the other rides/shows. What am I missing? What rides and shows are on your must-do lists?

 

[Lucille1963]

My favorite activity at MGM is a nice long lunch with cocktails at the Brown Derby. Come to think of it, it is probably one of my favorite things in all of WDW!

 

[airplane]

Is there a bar at the Brown Derby or do we have to have a table service meal?

 

[jann1033]

brown derby is fantastic, don't recall a bar
last time we went to the shows ( not the indiana stunt show boring after a couple times) which we usually miss( B&B,Little mermaid) and thought they were really good. it's my least fav. park by a mile though..love tot and rnr, muppets, star tours and bd or would skip it probably. i think part of it for me is the "scenery" is just not as great...it fits the theme but not "fantasy" like. doesn't seem as carefully detailed either.

 

[DisDarling]

Are you doing the backstage tours, the animation tour, the Stunt show now??
I think MGM is a great park, more for the shows than the rides to us. We like The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Indiana Jones- its really what you make of it.

 

[JRawkSteady]

Honestly, MGM (soon to be known as only Disney Studios) has gone downhill for a few reasons:

1) They took away the ABC Soundstage
2) They took away the Monster Show
3) They replaced Doug Live! with absolutely nothing
4) They took away the Golden Girls/Empty Nest house and shortened the Backlot Tour
5) The tour guides on the Great Movie Ride are now forced to go directly from script b/c of an alleged incident
6) THE ANIMATION STUDIOS IS NOW GONE!!!
7) Who Wants To Be A Millionaire is pathetic...
8) Lights! Moteur! Action! Stunt show now exists for no plausible reason
and finally:
9) The big ugly and gaudy hat was erected, ruining the look of the park

Unfortunately these things had to all happen to my favorite park...This still, however, happens to be my favorite! The scenery, the originality, the colors - it really feels like you're walking backstage at a movie set! Plus there's great rides like Star Tours, RNRC, TOT, and GMR (even with the aforementioned downer). And look at all the great shows! Indy, VOTLM, Beauty and the Beast, even the Playhouse Disney show is fun! And you can't forget Fantasmic! IMO, THE best show on Disney property (except for the Pocahontas part...it just doesn't make sense with the story).

Finally, I would like to mention that 50s Prime Time Cafe is the most original themed restaurant I've ever been to. I go there every trip, b/c it's just so much fun playing with the improv actors... (and prolly b/c I have this natural affinity to the 50s cultures) Plus Sci Fi, Brown Derby, and Mama Melrose are also great!

And Streetmosphere actors are stupendous! I like to just watch them for their whole "set"...I think I've seen every one!

Disney Studios is the best park.. the biggest tragedy is the loss of the animation studio...but thats a whole other story

 

[kelleigh1]

MGM is my favorite park. And I don't even ride ToT or Rockin' Roller coaster. I love the shows and I think the overall atmosphere is what does it for me. And while I've seen Indiana Jones twice...I still love it. Muppets 3D is another favorite. And the Great Movie Ride.

I don't know how to convince you, but I love it.

 

[lauran cameron]

4) They took away the Golden Girls/Empty Nest house and shortened the Backlot Tour

yes. I noticed this Last time I went to WDW a few weeks ago.... It just wasn't the same...it felt like something was naked... and the animation studios being gone to is just heart breaking...I used to go there and say "I'll be at one of those desks some day." As I wanted to be an animator myself...there was so many things taken away that just gave MGM that magical disney touch like no one else could've had...and I agree, you truely feel like you are part or a workign studio, it is all just too cool

 

[GEM]

Honestly, it's the park we spend the least time in these days. We usually head over in the morning and have a few rides on Tower of Terror and Rockin Roller Coaster and then wander around for a bit before having lunch at either the Sci Fi or Prime Time - which we think are two of the most fun and unique restaurants at Disney World. After that, we are usually ready to head out. This time, we're going to take our little guy to see the Bear in the Big Blue House show, too. There's not much else there that we care to do or see again for a while. We do like the general Hollywood atmosphere and theme. It's just fun to wander up and down the streets. Oh, and we LOVE the Streemosphere actors! They're actually our favorite part of the whole park.

Oh, and we usually head over one evening to see Fantasmic every couple of trips.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

I wouldn't worry about it. I don't like Animal Kingdom and you can't convince me to do it again trip after trip. I say if you don't enjoy MGM, don't worry about it.

 

[CamColt]

Overall I really enjoy the atmosphere of MGM. I'll try to be more specific...

2 of the most thrilling rides in WDW, RNR & TOT
Fantasmic-Awesome nightime spectacular
My kids love IJ and Millioinaire
Since trying Star Tours in DL, it's now another must do for my kids
I tear up everytime I see B&TB
Cant wait to see LMA
Street performers/characters are so much fun
We also enjoy some of the other smaller attractions very much (Muppets, Little Mermaid, GMR...)
Mama Melrose, one of my favorite WDW restuarants
And if all else fails and you still dont enjoy MGM, stop in at the Tune In Lounge and grab a "Dad's Electric Lemonade". You will be smiling for sure!

 

[tjevans]

MGM is my least favorite park, too. (I haven't been to AK yet, but will soon!) I've been on every ride and seen every show at MGM before (except for RnR, it wasn't there the last time I was at WDW), and the only two things I want to see are Star Tours ('cause I love Star Wars) and Muppetvision ('cause I love muppets).

 

[Max Power]

have to say i love this park, it seems to me to be the most adult of the disney parks and the RRC is just great, my parents loved the great movies ride add in muppetvision and the new stunt show and it IS my fav of the disney parks.

but still haven't seen fantasmic, but i will ON SUNDAY

 

[mmccoy]

You have to change your mindset for each park at WDW. MGM offers rides, but the ambience is directed toward movies and theater. So, you tell yourself, MGM is my "go to the movies/theater" day.

Likewise, Epcot is geared more toward culture and education. AK's theme is the natural environment. And, of course MK is the signature Disney "theme" park (unlike Six Flags, which is an amusement park).

All the parks offer rides, because that attracts a particular niche. But, to fully enjoy each of the parks you have to change your mindset and your goals.

 

[goofie4goofy]

We love this park too!

It is not a full day park. We go in the AM, ride all the rides, walk around, se the shows..it really is cool. We end the MGM park day with a great lunch and drinks at the Brown Derby..about 2 ish or so. Then we go back to the hotel relax and relax by the pool.


I have to agree with the comment about AK...I have never been, it just never appealed to me..just not interested. The only thing that will convince me to go is Everest when it opens.

 

[*Fantasia*]

I wouldn't worry about it. I don't like Animal Kingdom and you can't convince me to do it again trip after trip. I say if you don't enjoy MGM, don't worry about it.

Same here. AKL.. take it or leave it. As long as you're having fun at MGM, you don't need to appreciate everything you see or do. Just have a wonderful time.

 

[vicb]

I wouldn't worry about it. I don't like Animal Kingdom and you can't convince me to do it again trip after trip. I say if you don't enjoy MGM, don't worry about it.

We're in total agreement with you on this! We have done AK twice and just didn't care for it. We are not planning to go there at all on our upcoming trip. We like MGM, glad there is a new show to see this year. Epcot has rapidly become our fav hangout. We just love the atmosphere there especially at night!