Part IV: Exploring Walt Disney World
Lost children at Disney–MGM Studios are taken to Guest Relations.
Children younger than 7 should wear name-tags inside their clothing.
Shop clerks can send your packages to Guest Relations near the
entrance. Allow three hours for delivery. If you’re staying at a
Disney resort, you can have your package shipped directly to
your room. Both services are free.
For pet care, day accommodations ($6) are offered at kennels to
the left and just outside the entrance (% 407-824-6568). Proof of
vaccinations is required, and you’re responsible for walking and
feeding your pet.
You can rent strollers at Oscar’s Super Service, inside the main
entrance. A single costs $8, $15 for a double, including a $1 refund-
able deposit.
Rent wheelchairs at Oscar’s Super Service inside the main entrance.
Your cost is $10 for a standard wheelchair; $35 plus a $5 deposit for
battery-run chairs.
Call % 407-824-4321 or visit Disney’s Web site, www.disneyworld.com,
to get more information on WDW properties.
Pitting Disney–MGM Studios Against
Universal Studios Florida
If you love the movies, Broadway-style productions, or the Golden Age
of Hollywood, you’ll enjoy wandering the streets, shops, and sets of
Disney–MGM Studios. Universal Studios Florida (see Chapter 18) caters
more to visitors with children thanks to Nickelodeon Studios, Fievel’s
Playland, and Woody Woodpecker’s KidZone. But is this town big enough
for two studios? Both offer unique experiences and a flair all their own,
so if you can swing it, it’s well worth your time to experience both. I gen-
uinely feel for the visitor who has time to visit only one of these stellar
parks.
Both have a variety of good shows and, alas, unavoidably long lines.
Universal has an edge in the number and diversity of rides, but MGM’s
Tower of Terror is, arguably, the best thrill ride in either park (even with
the addition of Universal’s Revenge of the Mummy) and Rock ’n’ Roller
Coaster Starring Aerosmith is nothing to sneeze at either. Universal is
larger, which means you wear out more shoe leather, but it isn’t as
congested.
My overall evaluation is that MGM Studios has some great shows and
rides, mainly the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular!, The Twilight Zone
Tower of Terror, Star Tours — the ultimate Star Wars thrill ride, Jim Henson’s
Muppet*Vision 3-D, and the Disney–MGM Studios Backlot Tour, but I give
Universal a microscopic edge.
217Chapter 14: Disney–MGM Studios
The following sections divide attractions in Disney–MGM Studios into
two categories. Rides and shows rated G will assuredly entertain the
youngest visitors and, in many cases, the older ones as well. PG-rated
rides are those geared toward adults and teens (and may bore or
frighten children). For a look at the park, turn to the “Disney–MGM
Studios” map on page 215.
Entertaining the Whole Family:
G-Rated Attractions and Rides
Rides and attractions listed in this category are suitable for everyone,
although a few in particular may not appeal to teens or adults.
Beauty and the Beast — Live on Stage
A 1,500-seat, covered amphitheater provides the stage for this 30-
minute, live production of Beauty and the Beast, adapted from the movie
version. Musical highlights include the rousing “Be Our Guest” opening
number and the poignant title song featured in a romantic waltz-scene
finale. Sets and costumes are lavish, and the production numbers are
spectacular. Arrive early to get a good seat. The park usually hosts four
or five shows a day.
“Honey, I Shrunk the Kids” Movie Set Adventure
In this 11,000-square-foot playground, everything is larger than life. A
thicket of grass is 30 feet tall, mushroom caps are three stories high, and
a friendly ant makes a suitable seat. Play areas include a massive cream
cookie, a 52-foot garden hose with leaks, cereal loops 9 feet wide and
cushioned for jumping, and a waterfall cascading from a leaf to a dell of
fern sprouts. (The sprouts form a musical stairway, activated when you
step from sprout to sprout.) There’s also a root maze with a flower-petal
slide, a filmstrip slide in a giant film canister, and a huge spider web with
11 levels. This attraction is a great place for children ages 2 to 8 to work
off their excess energy, while you regain some of your sanity.
Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular!
Spectacular barely begins to describe this 35-minute rock ’em, sock ’em
extravaganza guaran-double-teed to keep you entertained and on the
edge of your seat. The show is held in a big, open-air stadium and
recruits a handful of adult volunteers to help out. It begins with Indy rap-
pelling down from the rafters, and the amazing special effects soon have
him dodging spikes, falling into a pit of molten something-or-other, sur-
viving two ax-wielding gargoyles, grabbing a priceless amulet, and then
outrunning fire, steam, and a tremendous boulder that nearly flattens
him. The actors, special effects folks, and director use the breaks to
explain what you just saw or are about to see, including stunt secrets. In
later scenes, Indy battles the evil Nazis in a Cairo marketplace and at an
218 Part IV: Exploring Walt Disney Worldairport-munitions dump. Shots are fired and flames are bursting all
around the set. For some stunts, adult victims . . . err . . . volunteers are
chosen from the audience.
The closer to the front of the theater you are, the more likely you are
to feel the extreme heat from the explosions, so if you have young kids
along you may want to sit a few rows back.
“It looked just like the movie — how cool is that!” It’s definitely an adren-
aline booster, though loud noises may make this show a little too intense
for kids under 5. There usually are five or six shows a day.
Jim Henson’s Muppet*Vision 3-D
This must-see production stars Kermit and Miss Piggy in a delightful
marriage of Jim Henson’s puppets and Disney audio-animatronics, special-
effects wizardry, 70mm film, and cutting-edge 3-D technology. The action
takes place in a pretty darn accurate reproduction of the theater most of
you grew up watching on TV. In the show, you encounter flying Muppets,
cream pies, cannonballs, high winds, fiber-optic fireworks, bubble show-
ers, and even an actual spray of water. Kermit is host, Miss Piggy sings
“Dream a Little Dream of Me,” Statler and Waldorf heckle the action from
the balcony, and Nicki Napoleon and his Emperor Penguins (a full Muppet
orchestra) provide music from the pit. Kids of all ages will enjoy this
whimsical attraction and adults will be just as delighted. The 25-minute
show (including a 12-minute video pre-show) runs continuously.
Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show
Inspired by the popular Stunt Show Spectacular at Disneyland Paris,
this high-octane stunt show takes places on the set of a spy thriller in
progress, with a quaint Mediterranean village as the backdrop. The show
features specially designed stunt cars, motorcycles, and jet skis, plus
some rather amazing special effects and even more spectacular driving —
with an audience member pulled in for a bit of the fun. Much like the
Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular!, insiders reveal industry secrets,
detailing how stunts are created, designed, and filmed for the movies.
Filmed images are shown on an oversized screen, illustrating how the use
of different camera angles can add drama to filmed scenes.
Seating is in a large outdoor stadium with a degree of cover from the
sun, but a late-afternoon show may be the best way to avoid the direct
rays and heat. The only bad seats in the house are the few rows in the
center just above an entry to the set used by some of the vehicles.
The Magic of Disney Animation
The new Drawn to Animation tour opens with a live artist interacting
with Mushu from Disney’s Mulan and a cute video on the making of that
film. Alas, Disney’s real-life Florida animators were all laid off in 2004, so
the inspection of their former working quarters strikes a somewhat sour
chord. The tour ends on an up note, however, as visitors attempt their
219Chapter 14: Disney–MGM Studios
own Disney character drawings under the supervision of a working ani-
mator. Just before exiting, be sure to have the kids head to an animation
station. The short computerized program photographs your children’s
faces and asks a few questions to determine which Disney character
they are most like.
Playhouse Disney — Live on Stage!
Younger audiences (2–8 years old) love this 20-minute show, where
they meet characters from Bear in the Big Blue House, The Book of Pooh,
Jo Jo’s Circus, and other favorite Disney stories. The show encourages
preschoolers to dance, sing, and play along with the cast. It happens
several times daily. Check your show schedule.
Sounds Dangerous — Starring Drew Carey
Drew Carey (on film) provides laughs while dual-audio technology pro-
vides some incredible hair-raising effects during a 12-minute mixture of
movie and live action at ABC Sound Studios. You feel like you’re right in
the middle of the action of a TV pilot featuring undercover police work
and plenty of amusing mishaps. Even when the picture disappears, you
continue the chase via headphones that demonstrate “3-D” sound effects
such as a roomful of angry bees, a herd of galloping elephants, and a
deafening auto race.
Most of the show takes place in total darkness, and the sound and sen-
sory effects may be frightening to younger ears, so think twice before
bringing younger children.
Voyage of The Little Mermaid
Hazy lighting helps paint a picture of an underwater world in a 17-minute
show that combines live performances, movie clips, puppetry, and spe-
cial effects. Sebastian sings “Under the Sea,” Ariel performs “Part of Your
World,” and the evil Ursula, 12 feet tall and 10 feet wide, belts out “Poor
Unfortunate Soul.” The Voyage has some scary scenes, but most little
kids don’t mind because, just like the movie, they know the show has a
happy ending. You get spritzed with water during the show, making this
an especially good experience during hot days.
Exploring PG-Rated Attractions and Rides
Rides and attractions in this category appeal to older children and
adults. In some cases, they have age, height, or health restrictions —
most of them well deserved.
The American Film Institute Showcase
More of a shop than anything, the showcase includes an exhibit area
where you can waltz through Hollywood history, learning about the folks
220 Part IV: Exploring Walt Disney Worldbehind the movies — editors, cinematographers, producers, and direc-
tors whose names roll by in the blur of credits. It also spotlights some of
the institute’s lifetime-achievement winners, including Bette Davis, Jack
Nicholson, and Elizabeth Taylor. A special exhibit here, Villains: Movie
Characters You Love to Hate, features the costumes and props of several
notable bad guys, including Darth Vader.
Disney–MGM Studios Backlot Tour
This fun, 35-minute special-effects show starts on foot and finishes in a
tram. You get a behind-the-scenes look at the vehicles, props, costumes,
sets, and special effects used in some of your favorite movies and TV
shows. On most days, you see costume makers at work in the wardrobe
department (the largest of its kind, with around 2 million garments). But
the real fun begins when the tram heads for Catastrophe Canyon, where
an earthquake in the heart of oil country causes canyon walls to rumble.
A raging oil fire, massive explosions, torrents of rain, and flash floods
threaten you and other riders before you’re taken behind the scenes to
see how filmmakers use special effects to make such disasters.
Groans at the thought of enduring a tour of the backlot gave way to
screams after Austin, Ryan, and Nicolas experienced Catastrophe Canyon,
where the “earthquake” shook the tram and a very large, very wet wave
threw 70,000 gallons of water our way. All in all, this ride is very similar
in type to Earthquake — The Big One at Universal Studios Florida (see
Chapter 18). Sit on the left side of the tram if you want to get wet.
The Great Movie Ride
Set inside a replica of Los Angeles’s famous Grauman’s Chinese Theatre,
this 22-minute journey down MGM’s memory lane starts in the 1930s and
moves forward from there, using lifelike audio-animatronic versions of
famous actors to re-create some memorable movie moments. The line/
waiting area features film clips from various classic films, and several
cinematic artifacts to gawk at, including a set of Dorothy’s ruby slippers
from the Wizard of Oz. Then, you’re off to watch Bogey say goodbye to
Bergman, Tarzan (the Johnny Weismuller version) swing through the
jungle, James Cagney act tough, and Gene Kelly dance — and sing — in
the rain. A live outlaw enhances the action when he kidnaps you and
your mates, but — revenge is so sweet, isn’t it? — he goes the wrong
way, hopping onto a set that has an uncanny resemblance to one in
Raiders of the Lost Ark. After a narrow escape from the space thing from
Alien, your bank-robbing buddy gets incinerated when he tries to steal
the sphinx’s jewel. You survive to follow the yellow brick road to Oz,
where a remarkable likeness of the witch warns, “I’ll get you my pretty,
ahahahaha!”
Even though this ride was recently refurbished, the older kids expressed
zero interest in it, so we split up. They headed for the heart-pounding
thrills down on Hollywood Boulevard while my two youngest (ages 3
and 5) and I enjoyed the slow moving trip (with a brief moment or two of
221Chapter 14: Disney–MGM Studios
excitement thrown in for good measure) through Tinseltown. Movie
buffs and nostalgic adults will love it.
Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
It takes a lot to really wow anyone anymore but this ride is sure to do
the trick. This inverted roller coaster is one of the best thrill rides that
WDW has to offer, definitely not a ride for younger kids or anyone with
neck or back problems, faint hearts, a tendency toward motion sickness,
or fear of the dark.
Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster is a fast-and-furious indoor ride that puts you
in a 24-passenger stretch limo, outfitted with 120 speakers that blare
Aerosmith at 32,000 watts! A flashing light warns you to “prepare to
merge as you’ve never merged before,” and faster than you can scream
“Stop the music!” (around 2.8 seconds, actually), you shoot from 0 to
60 mph and into the first gut-tightening inversion at 5Gs. The ride’s
beginning is a real test of your courage as you blast into a wild journey
through a make-believe California freeway system. One inversion cuts
through an “O” in the Hollywood sign, but you won’t feel that you’re
going to be thrown out because the ride’s too fast and too smooth for
that. It’s so fast, the Disney hype says, that it’s similar to sitting atop an
F-14 Tomcat. The ride lasts 3 minutes and 12 seconds, the running time
of Aerosmith’s hit, “Sweet Emotion,” which is one of the tunes played in
the limos. Similar to Space Mountain, the entire ride takes place indoors
and in the dark, but this one packs far more of a punch. Riders must be
at least 48 inches tall.
Plus-size guests with larger chests may not be able to pull the shoulder
harness fully closed and, therefore, may not be able to ride this.
“Lets do it again!” 8-year-old Nicolas screamed while playing air guitar.
Austin (age 10) screamed back in agreement. I wasn’t sure if they were
screaming from the excitement or as a result of the loud music being
pumped from the speaker behind their heads on the ride. People with
sensitive ears should probably bring earplugs for this ride.
Star Tours — the ultimate Star Wars thrill ride
Star Tours, like the slightly lesser Body Wars at Epcot (see Chapter 13), is
a virtual ride where you go nowhere, but you feel like you do. Your jour-
ney to a place far, far away begins with a pre-ride warning about high
turbulence, sharp drops, and sudden turns, and a winding walk (a line)
through the woodlands, where you see an Ewok village in the trees over-
head and a humungous Imperial Walker standing guard near the entry.
The pre-ride, which is expected to be updated eventually with charac-
ters from the prequels, now has R2-D2 and C-3PO running a galactic
travel agency of sorts. After boarding your StarSpeeder, the ride itself
starts kind of slow, but it finishes fast as you soar through space as
the good-guy fighter, with R2-D2 and C-3PO helping you make passes
through the canals of a Death Star. The special effects include hitting
222 Part IV: Exploring Walt Disney Worldhyperspace speed (you feel like you’re going up against a very small
G-force) and falling. All things considered, though, this ride isn’t quite
up to modern rides here and at Orlando’s other theme parks, including
Back to the Future at USF (see Chapter 18), but it’s still highly enjoyable.
Sit in the last row to feel the motion best. If you feel a twinge of motion
sickness there are plenty of stationary objects you can look at to get
your bearings.
“That was so awesome!” Austin, a Star Wars fan, was definitely impressed.
It’s not nearly as threatening or active as the Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster
Starring Aerosmith, but Star Tours still carries a 40-inch height minimum.
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
A truly stomach-lifting (and dropping) ride, Disney continues to fine-tune
the Tower of Terror to make it even better. That includes a January 2003
upgrade that added random drop sequences, meaning you get a different
fright every time you ride. Its legend says that during a violent storm on
Halloween night 1939, lightning struck the Hollywood Tower Hotel, caus-
ing an entire wing and an elevator full of people to disappear. And you’re
about to meet them as you star in a special episode of The Twilight Zone
(cue that television show’s famously creepy music). En route to this for-
merly grand hotel, guests walk past overgrown landscaping and faded
signs that once pointed the way to stables and tennis courts; the vines
above the entrance trellis are dead, and the hotel is a crumbling ruin.
Eerie corridors lead to a dimly lit library, where you can hear a storm
raging outside. The detailing on this ride is some of the best around.
After various ghostly apparitions, blasts of chilling air, and creepy expe-
riences, your ride ends in a dramatic climax: a terrifying 13-story fall into
The Twilight Zone! From there it’s anyone’s guess as to what happens
next — not even the bellhops operating the elevator know what the ride
is going to do. At 199 feet, it’s the tallest WDW attraction, and it’s a cut
(or two or three) above its rival Dr. Doom’s Fearfall at Universal’s Islands
of Adventure (see Chapter 19).
“Absolutely the best ride ever!” 10-year-old Austin couldn’t get enough,
but my 8- and 12-year-olds wouldn’t get near the ride. I have no way of
knowing whether it was from the screams coming from the building or
the semi-green faces on a family that came out as we were about to get
in line. They aren’t alone, though: One of the Disney Imagineers who
helped design the attraction is too afraid to ride his own creation. Note,
however, that there were plenty of other kids ready for more at the ride’s
end. This ride carries a 40-inch height minimum.
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire — Play It!
Forget about winning $1 million — it ain’t happening here — but contest-
ants can win points toward prizes ranging from collectible pins to a
leather jacket to a three-night cruise on a Disney cruise ship (see
Chapter 16 for more on Disney cruises). Based on Disney-owned ABC
TV’s game show, the theme-park version features the same dramatic
223Chapter 14: Disney–MGM Studios
music and lighting that made the TV version so famous. Lifelines (such
as asking the audience or calling a stranger on two phones set up in the
park) are available for contestants who need a little help answering up
to 15 multiple-choice questions in the climb to the top. It’s great fun to
play along, but you soon realize it isn’t as easy as it looks when you’re
under the gun (the audience is timed as well). Games run continuously
in the 600-seat studio.
Unlike the TV show, the entire audience competes to get in the hot seat
by answering questions on keypads; the fastest to answer qualifying
questions become the contestants.
Taking Time Out for Fantastic
Parades and Fireworks
In addition to its assortment of rides, Disney–MGM also offers its own
daily parade and an exceptional evening fireworks display.
Fantasmic!
It’s hard not to be in awe of the choreography, laser lights, and fireworks
that are the core of this 25-minute extravaganza held once — sometimes
twice — a night, weather permitting. Shooting comets, great balls of fire,
and animated fountains, and projection animation are among the many
special effects that entrance the audience. The cast includes 50 perform-
ers, a gigantic dragon, a huge king cobra, and 1 million gallons of water.
The entire show represents Mickey’s dream, filled with fanciful songs and
fantastic visuals. The dream turns into a nightmare thanks to the mischie-
vous magic of some of Disney’s more infamous villains. Surprisingly,
much of the show is rather dark, with foreboding music and frightening
creatures, with Mickey taking on some evil villains. The magical mouse of
course triumphs, and the show ends on a festive note. Younger children
might be frightened.
If you want to avoid a real traffic jam after the show, arrive up to 60 min-
utes early and sit on the right (the theater empties right to left) side of
the amphitheater. When there are two shows per night, especially during
peak periods, finding a seat at the later show is usually easier.
At press time, Disney was offering preferred seating at the end-of-the-day
spectacular, Fantasmic!, along with a fixed-price dinner at one of
Disney–MGM’s sit-down restaurants. All you need to do is make
Advanced Dining Reservation arrangements (% 407-939-3463) and
request the Fantasmic! package for the Hollywood Brown Derby ($37
adults, $10 kids 3–11), Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano ($29 adults,
$10 kids 3–11), or Hollywood & Vine ($23 adults, $11 kids 3–11). Note:
You must tell the reservation agent you want the Fantasmic! package.
You’ll get your line pass at the restaurant and instructions on getting to
the special entrance to the preferred-seating area of the show.
224 Part IV: Exploring Walt Disney WorldBe aware that the prices above are for a fixed-price meal and don’t include
sales tax, tip, or alcoholic beverages; ordering off the menu costs you
more. The prices also don’t include a reserved seat at Fantasmic!, only a
pass that gets you into the preferred seating area (you must arrive at least
30 minutes in advance — a much shorter wait than usual).
Disney’s Stars and Motor Cars Parade
This motorcade includes a fun, highly recognizable procession of Disney
characters and their chariots. The parade is popular enough that if you
decide to skip it, you can find far shorter lines at the park’s most popu-
lar rides and shows. (Check the parade schedule in your park map.)
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