Originally Posted By RoadTrip Disney's Hollywood Studios doesn't get a whole lot of respect here. Some (me included at times) have even given it the ultimate insult... we've said that DCA is a better park. But when I think about it, I guess I'm not sure why it has such a poor reputation. I know the fact that it is no longer a working studio has taken away a lot. I never actually saw a production in progress on any of the sound stages, but I always liked the idea that sometime I just might. I can't say that watching the animators was the highlight of my visits, but on the other hand I've missed them far more than I ever thought I would. There was just something about being able to look through those windows and see real people working on real Disney films. Well, enough about what was. On to what’s still there that I really like. I love the feel of Hollywood and Sunset Boulevards. The period architecture and lighting are just great. It is every bit as evocative in it's on way as the MK's Main Street. It also offers some of WDW's best shopping outside of the World Showcase. If you like thrill rides DHS has three of the best with the Tower of Terror, Rock N Roller Coaster, and Star Tours. For a long time I've said that ToT is the number one attraction in Orlando. Mission Space has given it a run for the money, but the superior queue and storytelling of ToT leaves it in the lead. The RnR Coaster is fantastic fun. It is too short and they've turned the sound down too much; but there is nothing like that launch anywhere. As a child of the 60's/70's, I also love seeing the old rock concert posters in the queue area. I still like Star Tours a lot. Yes, it is yesterday's technology. Yes, it could certainly use a new film. But it has one of the greatest queues in WDW and it is still an amazing amount of fun I think that the Great Movie Ride is greatly under-rated. It is without a doubt Disney's longest and most complex dark ride. It could use eliminating some existing scenes to add new ones. It could also use a new story line. I think there could be something better than the current guided tour through the movies. I am truly sorry to say this, but with the exception of the occasional really great CM, the live action is more of a minus for me than a plus. It takes some great acting to pull off the hokey scenes they are asked to pull off. There are very few CM that are good enough. On the other hand, the scene in Munchkin Land more than makes up for GMR’s shortcomings. It is in my opinion the greatest scene in any Disney darkride... yes, including Haunted Mansion (gasp!). I still see something new every time I go through it. There is no way any Disney fan could not love One Man's Dream. I usually have to be dragged out of that place. I could spend an entire afternoon there. The models of MK attractions are unbelievable. Although this is a once a year thing, some of my finest WDW memories are of Thanksgiving Day at DHS with my family. We always have a mid-afternoon Thanksgiving Dinner at the Brown Derby followed by a stroll through the Osborne lights. There is absolutely no better way to begin the Holiday season. The Brown Derby dinner is always superb, and there is something about the Osborne lights, the music, and the 'snow' in Florida that makes for a Holiday experience unlike any other. Well, there are many other things I like about DHS including Fantasmic. But I asked what I liked best, and I've already listed MANY bests. What are your favorites?
Originally Posted By brerroadrunner I like the overall atmosphere, especially at night. I think it is the best park for evening visits. I enjoy eating or just sitting at the bar at Prime Time Café. I just really like the atmosphere that the entire park offers. I enjoy just walking around there and people watching.
Originally Posted By CarolinaDisneyDad My family always has liked DHS best. When we first went people who had been before told us Epcot and DHS weren't for kids and we should visit them first so there wouldn't be a letdown. After we had been to all the parks we were shocked. They were anything but letdowns. In fact those first few years DHS (MGM) was our favorite park and would always get our extra night. It was our favorite because the types of entertainment were so varied and it had a great mix of thrill with show. The addition of toy story has only served to make it better. Even though my kids are getting larger they still love the Honey I Shrunk the Kids set. For me there is nothing like walking down the street towards ToT. Its like traveling back in time. Also the muppets are still a favorite from when I was younger. Finally we love having Mama fuss at us for putting our elbows on the table. Just like my Mom used to do.
Originally Posted By Disney and beyond The Great Movie Ride is one of my top rides of all time. It is one of three rides ever to give me goosebumps everytime I watch it(during the montage of great films at the end.) I agree though that a refurb is in need, and I have a topic set up about that. My favorite ride of all time is Tower of Terror, because, as you said, the storyline of it is just masterful. It has that Twilight Zone feel to it. I also love the Muppets. The fact that Muppet Vision was the last thing Henson worked on before his death means that it will always have a special place in my heart. One's Man Dream is one of the other two that gives me Goosebumps everytime I see it. I must go, but I have much more to say about DHS
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA Prime Time Cafe is a great restaurant -- tons of fun, and decent food too. (Disney should have put one in DCA instead of Soap Opera Bistro, but I digress...) I haven't visited this park for almost 10 years, but I was there opening weekend, and really enjoyed the Streetmosphere characters. Sid Cahuenga (his shop was very cool), and all the rest of the wacky people who worked and entertained on Hollywood Blvd. I enjoyed seeing 'Superstar Television' -- the silly hosts -- the guests from the audience. I like the live show stuff in theme parks. Disney doesn't have any in DLR. I agree with RoadTrio re: Star Tours -- still a great attraction after all these years.
Originally Posted By Mr X Agreed on the Rockin launch, WAY cool. Love the exterior of Star Tours, inside is a bit long in the tooth I'd agree but I still love it. I'm one of the funny ones who loves the extra movement of ToT. I feel that makes the attraction superior to the DCA version and POSSIBLY even DisneySea but DisneySea has some cool added features I also love so it's probably a tie. Just something really cool about having your ELEVATOR move forward..and as cheesy as the effects might be for me it enhances the ride a LOT (plus the spooky ghost sliding doors are great too). I miss when they used to have the movie tours..that was cool. I never had any big problems with MGM, though I'd have to say it's the weakest of the four parks in Florida and I actually skipped it (and only it) last year due to time constraints in favor of more time at Epcot and Animal Kingdom.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<I enjoyed seeing 'Superstar Television' -- the silly hosts -- the guests from the audience. I like the live show stuff in theme parks. Disney doesn't have any in DLR.>> I really enjoyed that show too. Unfortunately, that has been gone for a long time now. That was replaced for a few years by 'Doug Live' which was also pretty good. The show building has been empty now for at least the last 4-5 years which has put a huge hole in that part of the park. Especially when you consider that the "Sounds Dangerous" show next door is probably worse than an empty auditorium I believe there is a new show going in the 'Superstar Television' auditorium soon based on American Idol. It will be great to see something there again.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<Just something really cool about having your ELEVATOR move forward..and as cheesy as the effects might be for me it enhances the ride a LOT (plus the spooky ghost sliding doors are great too).>> Yes, that for me is the highpoint. There are a lot of drop rides around, but that sequence initially blew my mind and still leaves me in awe. The final effect of the 'vertical white line' (I don't know how else to describe it – is that the ‘spooky ghost sliding doors' you mentioned?) before you enter the drop shaft is fantastic.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***The final effect of the 'vertical white line' (I don't know how else to describe it – is that the ‘spooky ghost sliding doors' you mentioned?*** Yes. The one that opens up like elevator doors (at least, that's how I always thought of it). We must be talking about the same thing, as it IS the final effect I'm trying to describe.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip ^^^ Yup... that's it. The light effect combined with the eerie 'swoosh' sound.
Originally Posted By leobloom RNRC is disappointing. Star Tours is ancient. Great Movie ride needed to be plussed years ago. The Indy Stunt Show is a joke. Animation Tour isn't what it used to be. Backstage Tour is a complete waste of space. LMA, worth seeing once. American Idol? Gimme a #$%%ing break. I like Muppetvision because I like the Muppets, but it's so old, I don't make a point to go see it anymore. I haven't ridden Midway Mania, though I hope to next week. TOT is the only attraction I see as essential in the park. If it weren't for that, I would never even bother setting foot in the park. The only reason I'll go to MGM next week is to try out TSMM. And after that, I imagine it'll be a long time before I return.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA leobloom -- this is a thread for things that we LIKE about DHS. We already know what sucks.
Originally Posted By leobloom Thanks for that irrelevent comment, Jim. If you had read to the end of my post you would have seen where I said TOT is the best part of MGM for me. Big deal if I also mentioned what sucks about MGM. Sounds like you're better at policing threads than you are at reading comprehension.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<leobloom -- this is a thread for things that we LIKE about DHS. We already know what sucks>> Some folks just can't stand to look at the good side of things. In a way I understand that. I try not to look at the bad side of things. In ways we are opposite sides of the same coin. I bet I'm usually happier though. But back on topic... whatever its faults; there ARE good things about DHS. I'd like to hear what other folks think they are.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<Jim. If you had read to the end of my post you would have seen where I said TOT is the best part of MGM for me.>> Not really. Essentially you said it was the only part that didn't suck. There is a difference. But whatever. I'm used to negativity around here. Carry on.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA it was just supposed to be funny, leobloom. No need to get all...leobloomy about it.
Originally Posted By -em For me- Well I'm still biased towards Coaster/Tower so those are my tops- I like OMD but still feel it shouldve been temporary or designed to be permanent not temporarily-but still here 8 years later kinda thing... (Heck I was part of the motorcade when the artifacts showed up in early 01) I liked the Narnia thing but its pretty much a once hit The rest of the park is pretty much here or there for me- I havent actually been to the studios (except for a few Extra hour shifts) since TSMM opened... Ill head over to see the lights but doubt Ill spend too much time in the park...
Originally Posted By Mr X ***RNRC is disappointing. Star Tours is ancient. Great Movie ride needed to be plussed years ago. The Indy Stunt Show is a joke. Animation Tour isn't what it used to be. Backstage Tour is a complete waste of space. LMA, worth seeing once. American Idol? Gimme a #$%%ing break. I like Muppetvision because I like the Muppets, but it's so old, I don't make a point to go see it anymore. I haven't ridden Midway Mania, though I hope to next week. TOT is the only attraction I see as essential in the park.*** Angry comments and retorts aside, I think it's interesting that you trash so many of the offerings but then list ToT as a must see, even though there are updated Towers elsewhere. What's so special about it for you? And as a minor aside to your angry invective on the rides, while I would agree that Star Tours is "ancient" in all the parks (I think "dated" is nicer), I still love it...what can I say, I'm a star wars fan and having the chance to go into lightspeed FOR REAL, as well as the trench run itself, just totally and completely brings out the wide eyed kid in me full force...I first saw Star Wars live in the theaters when I was just SIX years old, and when I was eighteen, I RODE it, at Disneyland...blew my mind and I can still remember the fanatical smile that must have been on my face back then in that lovely January of 19%#.
Originally Posted By leobloom The other towers may be "updated" but that doesnt automagically make them "better". I think one of the best, most defining parts of MGM's Tower is the fact that it has the horizontal movement into the Fifth Dimension. An elevator that goes up and down is great and all, but one that moves laterally into the Twilight Zone? That's a stroke of genius. Not to mention I prefer the original Tower's story over Sea's, because I like the TZ. And finally I like the architectural design of MGM's tower over the Spanish Deco of DCA's. So, yeah, TOT is the best thing for me at MGM. Star Tours would be ok to ride if I had to spend the entire day at the park. But I wouldn't do that if I could avoid it.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA When I rode the TOT at Disney-MGM, I didn't realize that entering the 'Twilight Zone' was such a bumpy and clunky proposition. Had that lateral movement been improved -- the show building always seems to be hot -- you can clearly see the tracks on the floor -- the special effects are basic carnival dark ride -- then, I'd give TOT at DHS higher marks.
