The best Florida theme park!! (Disney MGM Studios)

Member Name: Siospin

Product:	Disney MGM Studios
Date:	11/04/09 (45 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Fantasmic, thrill rides, seeing how the film tricks are created

Disadvantages: Long queues but this is to be expected

I am a total theme park junkie and MGM Studios is without a doubt my favourite theme park! This is the Disney park for those who like the scarier rides and who love the classic films such as The Wizard of Oz, Twister, Casablanca, Star Wars and Indiana Jones

Now renamed Disney Hollywood Studios, a name which probably gives a better indication of what this park is all about - Disney films!!

The park is centred round Mickey's famous sorcerer's hat and has 6 themed areas.

The main entrance takes you into Hollywood Boulevard where you will find the streets lined with shops selling Disney merchandise. Photographers and entertainers can be found around here. The Great Movie Ride is located at the end of the street. This is a must for all movie fans. You go on a cart which moves through the classic films such as The Wizard of Oz and Casablanca.

**Sunset Boulevard**

We'll head round the park in the most popular way, to the right. Here you will find Sunset Boulevard which all movie buffs will recognise from the land of cinema, Hollywood. First stop for most will be The Tower of Terror Twilight Zone, an abandoned hotel thrill ride that drops riders down a broken elevator. You go up and down a few times, to different levels each time. This is one of those rides where you feel you left your stomach on the ground. If you don't like this feeling, this one is definitely not for you - personally I love that feeling! Your photo gets taken on the first drop, with hilarious results!
After this ride move on to the Rock 'N' Rollercoaster, a rollercoaster where you board a pink stretch limo to attend an Aerosmith concert. You are launched from 0-60 in 2.8 seconds, making this the 2nd fastest ride at Disney. Your photo is taken at take-off and if you have long hair, be prepared to see it as a stream behind in your head in the pictures!! The ride takes you through pitch black with neon signs providing your only light. While on the ride you listen to Aerosmith's greatest hits. The ride is fast but not too scary and I would definitely recommend this one!!
Beauty and the Beast Live Stage Show is also in this area of the park and is a fantastic show featuring many of the songs from the film. Seating 1500 people and lasting about 30 minutes, make sure to schedule this one into your itinerary. Show times can be found outside the attraction or at the front of the park.

** Pixar Place **

The next area of the park if we continue in an anti-clockwise direction. Here you can find Toy Story Midway Mania a 3d attraction which only opened May 31st last year. As I visited the park just before this I'm afraid I can't review this attraction but based on Disnney's other 3D rides I bet this one is a great stop for all the family and I will definitely be going here on my next visist!

**Animation Courtyard**

There are a number of walk throughs here where you can explore the life of Walt Disney and another where you can see the props used in the Narnia film Price Caspian. Voyage of the Little Mermaid is another stage show featuring songs from the film and is another must see for all of the family!

**Streets of America**

Jim Henson's Muppet Vision 3D is another 3D experience featuring all your favourite characters from the Muppets such as Kermit and Miss Piggy - a must for all Muppets fans.
The Studio Backlot Tour is one of the highlights of this park. Here you see how film effects are created including fire and water effects. I love this tour and have done it every time I have visited the park as it is so interesting.
For the little kids here you can find the Honey I Shrunk the Kids playground with over sized toys, great for the little ones.

**Echo Lake**

Here we find Star Tours a motion simulator ride set in the Star Wars Universe. If you do suffer from motion sickness , avoid this ride as people I have ridden with have felt rather ill after this one! It's a good ride however if you do enjoy motion simulators even if you aren't a Star Wars fan.
The Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular is a live action performance where you see how the stunts are done in movies and is a fantastic show!! Audience members are selected for participation in the show so make sure to sit near the front if you want to take part, but you must be over 18. The show is based on the first Indiana Jones film and guys will love this!! Make sure to turn up really early for this one as it fills up very quickly! When you leave the ride you will find a shop filled with Indy merchandise.
The American Idol Experience opened in February 2008 so again is another attraction I have not participated in. It is an interactive stage where guests can audition and sing live in front of the audience. If you are really good you may also get the opportunity to bypass the line for a real AI audition.

**Night Time**
Fantasmic is an amazing experience and one certainly not to be missed. You cannot fail to be astounded by this performance! It is a night time fireworks and show which includes showing film clips on walls of water - you will be amazed!! It focuses on Mickey having a dream where he is attacked by Disney's classic villains such as Ka from Jungle Book, Captain Hook from Peter Pan, the Queen from Snow White and Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty. At the end of the performance all your favourite Disney characters appear on a boat which goes round the whole set.
The show lasts 22 minutes but you will need to queue up at least an hour before the performance begins to get in. Schedule changes mean that this performance is now only going to be shown a few times a week instead of everyday. Find out what day it will be performing and make sure you visit on these days. I'm not sure why they are changing as this is always full. I think the AI auditions may be taking place here.

**Other Services**
As with all the other Disney Parks there is a lot of merchandise for sale and a variety of food and drink venues. It can be a little expensive but you will be spending all day here so probably will spend a bit. However, if you choose to eat your food from a stand rather than in a restaurant you will save quite a lot of money.
The toilets and the rest of the park are always very clean and there is very little crime in the parks.

**Reccommend**
No trip to Florida would be complete if you don't visit the Disney parks and this is the best of the bunch with the classis Magic Kingdom coming in a close second. With shows, thrill rides and tours there is something for everyone here!!

Summary: Great theme park suitable for the whole family