World's Finest: Disney-MGM Studios

[nbodyhome]

Originally Posted by Luke Manning

LoL! Nice one!

I just wanted to make sure there wasn't a line out the door for fudge. :-D I do need to make some soon for Christmas!

[BigPigletFan]

Originally Posted by nbodyhome

I agree with much of it except:

I think that the counter service at MGM is terrible, I don't like eating there at all. I finally found an easy chicken curry recipe to make at home after having the worst chicken curry (ever) there.

Table service is much better. That isn't saying much, but I've had good meals at the Hollywood and Vine restaurant as well as The Brown Derby.

Also, the Fantasmic at WDW pales in comparison (IMHO) to the one at Disneyland. I don't even bother going anymore, I think the very best show in all of WDW (nighttime) is Illuminations. That of course is opinion, but it's mine. I've seen Illuminations so many times since it first started, I never get tired of the music and fireworks.

Actually, my favorite (best) attraction would be Great Movie Ride, followed by the Tower of Terror. I like the Muppets, but I do think it's a little dated as well.

As far as shopping - best, Sid Cuhuengas. Worst - most everything else.

I guess I didn't agree that much!

I actually don't mind the QSF&B at Studios. It's my least favorite at DAK, especially this past summer with Tusker House closed it was either Pizza or McDs. So much for choices! ABC Comm is usually where I end up at Studios.

Yes, some of the attractions could use some TLC but they are quite classic, like Dusty mentioned GMR and how you mentioned Muppets. Hopefully the rumored upgrades to GMR plus digital projection to Muppets will help.

I love Sid's! Yes, it is expensive but most movie, Hollywood, and other memorabilia usually is. I often look through there but it isn't a place I plan on shopping from all of the time.

I do have a Winnie-the-Pooh family print signed by John Fiedler (voice of Piglet) that I got for Christmas two years ago.

Originally Posted by Luke Manning

Where is that?

Villains in Vogue is the name of the store. As you walk down Sunset Blvd. toward Tower it's on the left-side right after Sweet Spells candy store.

[sir clinksalot]

Originally Posted by Dustysage

I can barely stand Disney MGM Studios these days. I love the Hollywood Blvd and Sunset Blvd streets - Beautiful and well designed. However, the rest of the park is such a mess. It is like a tangled web of roads and much of it is ugly. With so much else to do at WDW I find that we spend less and less time at MGM. I could go without it all together except that I just love their version of the Tower of Terror. Great Movie Ride was a favorite of mine for a long time, but it isn't in very good shape and really needs a refurb and some new scenes.

It is a movie park, let's see some new movie themed rides.

I really hope that they get some fancy new rides and theming soon.

I agree with this. We spent 2 days in MGM this past trip. The first day we left the park at about 1:00pm and the 2nd day we got to the park about 12:00 and stayed until Fantasmic.

The 2nd day we decided we wanted to see some shows so we saw BATB, Indy, One Man's Dream, etc. We also had a sit-down meal each day which took an hour plus each day.

Now, having seen all of the shows the only ones that bear repeating are BATB and One Man's Dream. No need to see Indy or the car show again.

The backlot tour is a waste of space although I do like catastrophe canyon. They should just open it up as a special effects show without making you go through an empty wardrobe area and a tower.

Of course, I could ride ToT 20 times a day and not get sick of it.

We will continue to visit MGM on subsequent trips, but I really can see us staying in the Sunset Blvd/Animation area since those are the main areas for us.

[SummerInFL]

I agree with most of what's been said, there are many things that are gone that I sincerely miss. Millionaire; The original Backstage Tour and the view of the Theater.

I hope with the addition of Toy Story Mania that MGM will start taking a more positive direction. It used to be my favorite park because it combined my two favorite things, Disney and movies but now it's really in need of an update, pretty much everywhere. ToT and RnRC being the exception (although they might consider redoing the intro video for Aerosmith)

The Villains store used to be my favorite before they chopped it in half and added the candy store, they had so much "unique" merchandise that I spent a good hour in there checking it all out.

ToT is great however, the theming is top notch but when I am going over for the day and deciding what park I am going to visit, unless its a request for HSM for my daughter, we usually end up at one of the other 3.

[MJMcB]

Originally Posted by nbodyhome

I think that the counter service at MGM is terrible, I don't like eating there at all.

I'm with you. The CS is horrible and the TS is only slightly better (though I have never tried the Brown Derby something I will rectify in May)

[Luke Manning]

Thank you all for your comments, as said a million times by me before, it is greatly appreciated!

[WDW1974]

Right now, the Studios is not worthy of more than three hours of time, if that.

But soon that will all change. This park is the 'focus' park for the near term from both Team Disney and WDI ... lots of new stuff is on the way. Toy Story Midway Mania is just the start.

Unfortunately, no chance of losing the BAH it would seem

[Luke Manning]

Originally Posted by WDW1974

This park is the 'focus' park for the near term from both Team Disney and WDI...

Nah, that'd be DCA.

[lazyboy97O]

Originally Posted by WDW1974

Toy Story Midway Mania

I just have to ask about this name usage in reference to the Florida version. Is there some light you could shed on the name situation?

Originally Posted by WDW1974

Unfortunately, no chance of losing the BAH it would seem

[Esdeebee]

Originally Posted by nbodyhome

The hat is also ugly, I thought I would mention that. I like to point out sometimes that I coined the "Big-As*-Hat" terminology still used around the internet. The theater is beautiful, the hat is not.

I'm ambivalent about the hat but I realize that a lot of people really hate it and very few think it adds anything. I have to admit: The first time we saw it (in 2003, I think) we thought it looked pretty good. But compared to the other "weenies", it leaves a lot to be desired.

My question would be, do you (or anyone) have any ideas about what sort of icon would work to replace it? Something that says "Disney" AND "movies" at the same time?

[Esdeebee]

Originally Posted by sir clinksalot

My 58 y/o Mother in Law LOVES ToT at both MGM and DCA.

Nothing to be afraid of.

<G> I am 47, went on it with my 7 year old back in October. I came out of it thinking it wasn't something I was real excited about doing again. Too much bouncing for me! But I have to admit, the storyline was fun. (My 7 year old wasn't thrilled with it either, but I'm pretty sure that will change as he goes on it again when he's a little older...)

[Jerren]

Originally Posted by Luke Manning

I don't really like drop towers. However I have been thinking of trying ToT out here at DCA.

The general consensus is the Florida version is better, the CA version just does the up and down drop sequence and a few show rooms, the Florida version the actual car moves into the twilight zone meaning the car actually leaves one elevator rig and moves forward from one end of the building to the other to the actual drop cages, the special effects are great and the drops while faster than a typical drop ride (they engineered it with a drag cable to pull the car downward faster than gravity, I was glad I had a hold of my camera or else I would have probably had a broken jaw...) it was not bad at all and my 8 yr old daughter simply loved it I think it was about 4-5 drops but its random every time. I kinda have to ask the question of "why bother" with the DCA version since the "Drive thru" the hotel is what really sets this attraction apart in my mind from the standard hipity hop/who belly rides.

[Jerren]

Originally Posted by Esdeebee

I'm ambivalent about the hat but I realize that a lot of people really hate it and very few think it adds anything. I have to admit: The first time we saw it (in 2003, I think) we thought it looked pretty good. But compared to the other "weenies", it leaves a lot to be desired.

My question would be, do you (or anyone) have any ideas about what sort of icon would work to replace it? Something that says "Disney" AND "movies" at the same time?

Build a bigger earful tower? To me the Mickey ears on the water tower where a much better icon than the BAH, at least from a "Movie-Disney" POV. Now I must say the one nice thing about the BAH is it does make for a good central landmark that is visible thought most of the park, which makes it a little easier to orient yourself if your not used to MGM.

[lazyboy97O]

Originally Posted by Esdeebee

My question would be, do you (or anyone) have any ideas about what sort of icon would work to replace it? Something that says "Disney" AND "movies" at the same time?

IF the Chinese Theater had to be done away with, then there is no reason a new facade could not work. There is absolutely nothing "Disney" (in the current sense of being pre-established) about the design of Sleeping Beauty Castle or Cinderella Castle.

[tasman]

I have not seen any official evidence that they can't use the Chinese Theatre as weenie...which is what I would prefer since it makes a beautiful and appropriate climax to the Hollywood Blvd vista. However if they cant use it I would prefer they build a fantasy movie palace in its place...if they can come up with great designs for imaginary medieval castles then I'm sure they could come up with one for an imaginary art-deco theater. But of course its cheaper just to plop a BAH there instead.