Strategy for MGM?

[mommapea]

We're attending MGM with my dh and myself, our 2 younger dd's, and my parents, who are not interested in Tower of Terror or RRC.

Of course, our girls want to see Ariel and my 4 yr old wants to go to Playhouse Live.

Would you do ToT/RRC first (only my dh and I want to do this) and then head over to Playhouse and Ariel, or the other way around?

Trying to figure out the crowds. Is it just easier to get fast passes when we are ready for PoP and RRC?

This is our first full day itinerary for our trip, and I'm beginning to plan the fun stuff, now!!!!

 

[ransom]

If it were me, I'd use as my basic plan getting RNRC and ToT out of the way first.

However! If you get to the parks before opening, try to get a Times Guide at the gift shop to the left while the rest of your party is waiting to go through the turnstyles. Then check the times for the plays and other scheduled things you want to do. That, and the actual crowd levels you see around you, might give you a better idea of what to do on that day.

But that's just me. I try to stay flexible.

 

[mickeystoontown]

I agree with the previous poster, go ahead and get Tower of Terror and Rock 'n Roller Coaster under your belt first thing in the morning.

We arrived first thing as the park opened and went straight to Little Mermaid and Playhouse Disney and found that they weren't running the shows yet. Like the previous poster said, get a Times Guide as soon as you enter the park.

Don't forget to do Muppet Vision 3D, Beauty and the Beast, the stunt show and Star Tours. Of course, Fantasmic is a must!

 

[JMD]

I agree, hitting those 2 first thing in the morning is the best plan. Depending on crowd levels and wait times, you can fast pass one while you ride the other.

 

[bear22]

You should have no problem knocking out both of those rides in the morning. Then you will have the whole day to do other stuff with your family. You might even want to get fast passes for RNRC after your done so you can come back.

Have fun!

 

[NotUrsula]

I had the top "kiddie attractions" plan down to a science when DS was little; but at that time we didn't do TOT and RNRC. Of course, now we do, so I think I can adjust ...

At opening, go straight to RNRC to pick up FP's and then ride TOT in the standby line. (TOT takes longer than RNRC to work up a line in the morning.) When you get out of TOT you'll be able to go straight onto RNRC.

Meanwhile, having left the tots with the GP, you should haven given your park passes to them as soon as you got the RNRC FP, so that as soon as your FP eligibility window comes up they can pick up FP's for all of you for the first showing of VOTLM. While they wait for you to do the two big rides they should take the tots to the Muppets -- it opens first thing in the am. Once Muppets is over, they can walk back slowly and meet you at Playhouse Disney and you can join them in line for the first show. When the first Playhouse Disney show ends you should be able to go directly across the courtyard and use your FP to walk right into VOTLM (take your time getting into that line -- you want to be at the back of the audience to get the best wide view and have the puppets be far enough away that their size won't frighten the kiddies.)

Double-check the times guides to be sure that you won't end up out of sync, but the order of the attractions should line up pretty well. It does require a fair amount of cross-park brisk walking, but it should cover the high points by noon for you. Before you go to lunch, grab a FP for B&TB if you want to see it fairly early.

 

[skier_pete]

Here's a suggestion. Using your kids tickets, grab two FP for ToT and two FP for RnRC early in the day. (Not necessarily right at opening.) Then, at some point later in the day, leave the kids with Grandma and Grandpa while you go back and do those two rides. (Remember, FP can be used anytime AFTER the time range stamped on them, just Disney does not advertise this.) Perhaps Grandma and Grandpa could take them to the HISTK playground (WARNING: Your parents will need to be pretty spry to keep up with the kids there.) or maybe around to get autographs. You better expect 45-60 minutes to do the two thrill rides. Even with a FP, RnRC takes about 30 minutes to get through all the pre-show queues + the ride.

And DON"T take your kids, especially the 4 YO, on the great movie ride. Too intense. (Shootouts and Aliens springing at you.) You'll ruin the rest of the trip.

SkierPete

 

[MomPOM]

Personally, I would just run over and get Fastpasses for ToT/RnR and then head over to the other stuff. You can use the Fastpasses whenever, even after they have expired so you can go on the way out of the park if you want to. Most of the people at rope drop head over to the TOT section and won't be near the Ariel and Playhouse things yet. The other thing to remember though is that, if I recall, those shows don't start until a half hour after the gates open.

 

[nyfinfan]

And DON"T take your kids, especially the 4 YO, on the great movie ride. Too intense. (Shootouts and Aliens springing at you.) You'll ruin the rest of the trip.

SkierPete

Is it really that bad? We havent done it yet but were planning to? They'll be 4 & 6.

 

[MelanieC]

Is it really that bad? We havent done it yet but were planning to? They'll be 4 & 6.

Our kids loved this ride when they were 4. I don't think ours were ever scared of the great movie ride. I think it would depend on your child, a parent can probably gage how their kids might react.