Thinking about skipping Disney studios (MGM)

[Sammi2]

My kids are 5, 3 and 1 and the big draw for the studios was seeing Bear. We were planning to go the day we arrive. The only other thing I think they'd really like is the honey I shrunk the kids playground. Now I'm thinking maybe we should just chill out on arrival day (we'll be coming off a 20 hour car trip.)

What do you think? Is MGM worth the visit if there's no bear?

 

[Worfiedoodles]

I can only speak for us -- we visited Disney Studios once when ds was 4, and again when he was 7. It was a bust both times -- there just wasn't enough to interest him. He could care less about an Ariel or Belle show, and he wasn't familiar with the Muppets. He liked the Star Wars ride, but didn't have the patience for the stunt shows. The only thing he recognized on the Great Movie Ride was the Wizard of Oz. Too short/scared for ToT or the Aerosmith ride. I could go on and on, but you get the picture. He did enjoy Fantasmic, but it was too little too late in my opinion. I vote for a day of rest and relaxation. The other thing we found was that he really just wanted to spend time at the pool. With three that young, I bet you could have a great time relaxing in the water before you hit the Parks -- especially if you cap it off with a character dinner. That's a great way to get meeting Mickey out of the way (with their own audience you don't have to stand in line for), and get everyone excited about the days to come.

Have a magical vacation!

 

[tjlovespooh]

We decided to skip the studios when we took DS last May (he was 18 months). We just figured there wasn't anything at MGM that would appeal to him. He really loved MK and AK!

 

[Finally08]

I am so sad that Bear is gone...but what about Cars?? I thought every kid loved Mater!! We are most excited about that, but we'll also see the new Playhouse Disney characters too. And then it seems like they have some fun dining spots, like Sci Fi.

 

[Mickey1974]

I know that when I arrive somewhere on vacation, no matter how long the trip, I like to still do something when I get there. But in my opinion I'd say skip it with kids that young. We've only gone to MGM once in the last 3 times we've been there and we didn't even spend a whole day there. The kids were really bored with it. They were 4 and 7 at the time and they kept wanting to know where all the rides were.

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

I think if you have never been there before, than MGM is definitely worth the visit. Even without Bear, there is much to enjoy, even for very small kids. I agree that some attractions are a little old (my kids had to be educated on who Indiana Jones was, didn't know the Muppets and the GMR was totally foreign to them-and boring). However, the shows are great (Lights, Motors, Action and Beauty and the Beast for starters). There's a lot of interactive attractions and my kids loved learning how to draw Stitch in the One Man's Dream attraction. You know your kids best and what will appeal to them. The parade and the streetmosphere in general are excellent though.

 

[reelmom]

I think if you have never been there before, than MGM is definitely worth the visit. Even without Bear, there is much to enjoy, even for very small kids. I agree that some attractions are a little old (my kids had to be educated on who Indiana Jones was, didn't know the Muppets and the GMR was totally foreign to them-and boring). However, the shows are great (Lights, Motors, Action and Beauty and the Beast for starters). There's a lot of interactive attractions and my kids loved learning how to draw Stitch in the One Man's Dream attraction. You know your kids best and what will appeal to them. The parade and the streetmosphere in general are excellent though.

I have to agree. We usually only go for a half day, but this trip we spent the whole day there. This ended up being our favorite park. Our kids are ages 4 and 5. Maybe we enjoyed it more because we weren't running back and forth between rides. I would recommend getting the Fantasmic Dinner Package if you will be seeing the show. It cuts down on the wait time, which helps with little ones. As far as Honey, I Shrunk The Kids Playground...be careful. It is very crowded and the kids can get lost easily.

 

[Dallas_Lady]

We took our 12 months old and did it on our arrival day. I went back and forth on whether or not to skip in. In hindsight, we should have. We were tired and there just wasn't much that she could enjoy. Sure, there were a few things (she did love Playhouse Disney), but I felt like I was forcing it just so I could say we went to all 4 parks. That time would have been better spent relaxing at the resort or getting a little extra MK time in.

 

[The Disney Bunch]

I always enjoy the Studios & would rather skip AK. But each person has their preference!

 

[dspads]

My kids (same ages-boys)loved a lot of stuff here:

Car stunt show
Backlot tour
Great Movie Ride
Muppet 3-d (they are familiar with the Muppets)
Little Einstein character meal
great characters to meet -Power Rangers, Lighting McQueen, Buzz & Woody, all Pixar stuff

That being said, I don't know if I'd do it the 1st day straight from the road. But maybe if you don't mind using a park ticket and only seeing a few things.

 

[mlraabe]

We love MGM. The first time we went the kids were 18 months, 2, 6 and 9 and the 2nd time 3, 4, 8, 11. Both times we loved everything about the park. Even the youngest ones. Of course, they loved the playhouse stuff the best but they also loved the stunt show, Indiana Jones, the muppets. None of our kids knew who they were either but it didn't matter - it was fun and entertaining. AK is the park where we could spent 1/2 and be satisfied but we are at MGM for a full day for sure!

 

[capecoddisneyfamily]

We went in Dec. Our DD2 and DS4 loved MGM, it was their favorite park. It has alot for preschool aged kids. Disney Playhouse has a great show, and all the characters from the shows are around. We also did the Disney playhouse breakfast with JoJo, Goliath, Leo, and June kids had a blast.

 

[capecoddisneyfamily]

We went in Dec. Our DD2 and DS4 loved MGM, it was their favorite park. It has alot for preschool aged kids. Disney Playhouse has a great show, and all the characters from the shows are around. We also did the Disney playhouse breakfast with JoJo, Goliath, Leo, and June kids had a blast.

 

[capecoddisneyfamily]

We went in Dec. Our DD2 and DS4 loved MGM, it was their favorite park. It has alot for preschool aged kids. Disney Playhouse has a great show, and all the characters from the shows are around. We also did the Disney playhouse breakfast with JoJo, Goliath, Leo, and June kids had a blast.

 

[mousescrapper]

I think if you have never been there before, than MGM is definitely worth the visit. Even without Bear, there is much to enjoy, even for very small kids. I agree that some attractions are a little old (my kids had to be educated on who Indiana Jones was, didn't know the Muppets and the GMR was totally foreign to them-and boring). However, the shows are great (Lights, Motors, Action and Beauty and the Beast for starters). There's a lot of interactive attractions and my kids loved learning how to draw Stitch in the One Man's Dream attraction. You know your kids best and what will appeal to them. The parade and the streetmosphere in general are excellent though.

OP:

You have to do what you think fits with your family best, but we've always enjoyed the Studios and feel there is much to appeal to a wide range of interests not just the kiddos. I agree with the poster above.

The shows, different characters here, the new Pixar Block Party Parade....

Our last trip with kids ages were 6, 6, and 2 1/2 (1 boy 2 girls) we spent just one day (afternoon into eve) there and did Playhouse twice (we stayed for the EMH and Mom(me) got to ride the thrills and Dad did Star Tours), HISTK play set that was a blast for them! Pizza Planet for food, DS loves Toy Story, the Great Movie Ride, Muppets and shopping.

This trip ages now 9, 9, 5, and 18 mo we plan to split it into 2 days and do it on our arrival day starting at 3 pm with a meal and stay for Fantasmic then come back again in the morning and do the rest. We may even go back another night for the EMH for the new Playhouse Disney Party.

I suggest do your research and if you have Park Hoppers it may be worth just to do the fun new things...including a new Toy Story ride. Use your FP and the baby swap for the 1 yr old as needed.

Good Luck and have a ton of FUN!

 

[karensi]

I didn't know Bear was gone . Is it basically the same show but with other characters? And what characters are there? We are going in April with DGS's ages 4,2 and 6mos. We'll miss bear

Thanks,

Karen

 

[llmurphy17]

Playhouse disney is going to be new in 2008 with the little einsteins, handy manny, and others.

they is also going to be a new pixar toy story section planned to be open in Spring 08.

The muppet show is also fun.

 

[DawnM]

My kids have always loved MGM. They could ride The Great Movie Ride 100 times if I let them, even when they were 5 and 7.

Right now, my 9 year old's fav. ride is Rockin' Roller Coaster and we all go on TOT.

My son is also really into art so he loves doing the area with drawing and watching the animation.

My boys LOVE the Cars show and the Backlot Studios Tour.

In fact, I asked last week if they wanted to skip anything and they said that if they had to skip something it would be Animal Kingdom!

I think every family is different and you have to pick and choose.

Thankfully we won't have to skip anything this trip!

Dawn

 

[liznboys]

We skip parks on trips sometimes. Last August we skipped MGM, and then in October we skipped AK. I think it's fine to skip a park if you want/need time elsewhere, or you just aren't drawn there but you KNOW you'll have plenty to do at the other parks to fill your trip. For us MK and EP are must do, and MGM and AK are skippable.

 

[lntsmom]

I would hate to go all the way to WDW and not see Fantasmic. Having seen it at both WDW and DLR, I firmly believe that the WDW version is far superior.

My older son was not quite 4 when we went, and, like you, I used it as a filler for our first afternoon there. He enjoyed the Hunchback show that was running at the time, but hated Beauty and the Beast. He loved the Honey playground (except the dog's nose, which scared him), the Muppets 3-D movie, and meeting Buzz and Woody. I gave him some time to play at the Pizza Planet Arcade, play on the firetruck outside Muppets, etc.

By the time we got to the park it was nearly 4 pm. I grabbed snacks and we went to wait for Fantasmic somewhere around 7...I think the show that night was at 8:30. For a little kid, that was about the right amount of time there. It meant I missed out on all the grown-up stuff, but that was pretty much the theme for that trip.

You know your kids best, though. If you decide to skip the park, make sure that on the day you are going to AK you go back to the hotel to eat and rest, then go over just to see Fantasmic. You don't want to miss that!

Beth