[MerlinMatt]

In case you haven't figures this out yet, the McDonnells tend to do things against the grain. My morning commute is against traffic and I like it that way. When we're at the parks, we like to be places where others are not.

So, on Friday, we decided to see the rope-drop ceremony at Epcot. It was actually quite disappointing. A few Epcot CM's rolling around on Seque's yelling into a megaphone. (Didn't help, I still couldn't hear.) At least now I can say that I saw it.

The funniest part however was watching as the CM's begged for people not to run into the park after the ropes were dropped. There were at least 2 dozen people that ran directly to either M:S or TT.

Anyway, we hadn't had breakfast and in the tradition of going against the grain, we walked straight trhough to the International Gateway and over to the Boardwalk for breakfast at Spoodles. It made us smile when a CM stopped us on the garden path and asked us what we were looking for. Apparently, there are a number of guests who make their way back to the World Showcase first thing in the morning only to be disappointed that it dosen't actually open until 11am.

Breakfast was great, as expected. We had breakfast here last year as well. There's a breeze in the morning at the Boardwalk and the french doors across the front of the restaurant are left open. It's like having breakfast on a veranda. Both the food and the atmosphere are great.

Spoodles wasn't on our "schedule", so we deceded to toss the day's schedule altogether. We walked over MGM to get the few rides we wanted to see out of the way. I got FP's for RnRC while the three of them watched the Star Wars parade. DS really liked the clones and the battle robots.

We did the Great Movie Ride. Is it me, or is this ride totally hit or miss? Our "guide" seemed like she was going to be pretty good, but she turned out to be very plastic. And the bank robber wasn't much better. Then we walked over the RnRC. As a family, we are HUGE Aerosmith fans. DW and DD got out at the yellow door. The pre-show is kinda funny. DS and I screamed (happily) through the whole ride, so we didn't notice the music much once the ride started. It is the most "comfortable" roller coaster I've ever been on. You're pushed into your seat the whole time. I think DD will ride it next time, but DW can't go upside down. She's got some kind of inner ear thing going on which was exploited on Mission:Space. I get to that on Sunday's TR.

So, we did Star Tours and we couldn't wait to leave. None of us really care for MGM. It seems more crowded than it needs to be and frankly, it feels no different than a Six Flags. We were glad to get out of there. Between the sun and all the walking, we were exhausted. So, we waited for the boat and the four of us slept all the way back to Epcot (about 35 minutes).

We wandered around the countries and did a little shopping. We stopped in Mexico and bought DW a pair of sandals. IMO, the Mexico Pavillion is one of the best places to shop. Prices are OK, but more importantly, most of the things in there are actually useful! We did "El Rio Del Tiempo" (aka, "The Mexican Home of the Evil Smiling Dolls). If IASW can be cleaned up and enhanced like this ride, I might actually like it again.

We walked over to The Land for a quick snack and were disappointed to find a 35 minute wait for the ride. We never did get to ride that. Is it that good? I haven't ridden it for years and I can barely remember it anymore.

Then, we walked back over to the WS and took a boat to Morrocco for dinner at Marrakesh. All I can say is WOW. The service was terrific. The food was excellent. Dessert was quite good and the entertainment was fun. DD went out to belly dance with the dancer.

IllumiNations was spectacular. The kids were having such a great time that both DW and I got tears in our eyes during the show. This was turning out to be a great vacation. After the show, we took the long way around and walked REALLY slow back to the buses. The line was still really long. Apparently, there hadn't been a bus in over 30 minutes. But then they started coming one after another and we were on a bus in about 20 minutes. We were exhausted.

Tomorrow, rest day and La Nouba!.

[MagicalMoments]

We will have to put Marrakesh on our list to try. What did you and your family have to eat there?

[MerlinMatt]

We did the sampler appetizer, I had the lamb shank, DD ordered some beef from the kids' menu, DD had vetetable couscous and DS had the beef shish-kebab. It was all good.

[tinkerbell]

Originally Posted by Matt McDonnell

The funniest part however was watching as the CM's begged for people not to run into the park after the ropes were dropped. There were at least 2 dozen people that ran directly to either M:S or TT.

Anyway, we hadn't had breakfast and in the tradition of going against the grain, we walked straight trhough to the International Gateway and over to the Boardwalk for breakfast at Spoodles. It made us smile when a CM stopped us on the garden path and asked us what we were looking for. Apparently, there are a number of guests who make their way back to the World Showcase first thing in the morning only to be disappointed that it dosen't actually open until 11am.

on the subject of people running .. I use to get so upset about this because here were adults with children running and we had seen them actually run over/ knock down other children. once back when ToonTown Fair was Mickey's Starland ..there was a show "Disney Afternoon" ..even when the CM's asked people not to run ..it was a waste of breath ..these adults would run carrying or dragging their children to get front seats. Once a little girl of about 3 was knocked down. Another time in the Castle when the rope dropped, several began running and some using strollers as battering rams, a little boy maybe five years old was hit by one and knocked down, his cheek was scrapped :(. what really made me the most angry about these adults doing this, was the example they were setting for thier children.. Be first no matter what.

and as to WSC being closed .. I can remember when it wasn't closed. when the entire park was open.

[geeman]

Thanks for the great details, Matt. It must've looked kind of funny for your family to head into EPCOT and keep on heading out till you got to Spoodles. That IS quite a walk.
However on the subject of MGM being like Six Flags--- all I can say is that if Six Flags by me were anything like MGM, I'd go there all the time.(I hate six flags great adventure!)
I agree that MGM has lost a little of that certain something it had when it opened.It was the first Disney park I'd ever gone to, and at the time, not only had it recently opened, but I was a huge movie fan and movie maker, so everything about it fascinated me. It used to be my favorite park, for many reasons, through the '90's. But then I lost interest in it for a while.
This past year, I was able to enjoy it once again, since it had been a while for me (almost 2 years). I do find it needs "something", yet I can't think what. In these days of computerized movie magic, the old fashioned way of movie making seems like a big yawn. It needs to somehow rekindle the magic of it's intent - to create a movie studio you can visit and learn about the craft of (now, old style) movie making. I would love to see the Animation attraction turned into something like the one at Disneyland, which is a truly interactive experience.One that celebrates the heritage of Disney animated movies. I'd love to see more thrilling scenes in Catastrophe Canyon. Make it more than an imitation of Universal's Earthquake ride. Since the magic of moviemaking is really not a big thing right now (basically because anyone with a camcorder and a computer can make a movie), perhaps MGM should be the place where you can ride the "other" movies. Bring the Indiana Jones attraction here. More stuff based on their films and TV shows. More character interactions. More theatrical productions. More celebrations of pop culture, like the SW and Soap weekends.They should make it the place for quality entertainment to shine. Then they will never, ever be compared to that awful, awful 6 Flags experience ever again!

[disneyguy]

Wait a minute, you mean to tell me that you were at Epcot and left to go to breakfast!!!! WOW!! What a plan, I do not think I could have done that!! I like to be where the people aren't but what you did is very different. I do not think I could have walked away from Test-Track!! Glad to hear that you loved RnR... it is definetly my new favorite Disney ride. And yes, it was very comfertable, and I didn't even notice the music either. OK about the boat ride back to Epcot, you just made my day!! If it took you 35 minutes I am so glad I took the bus. I waited ten minutes, and had a 10 minute bus ride, with the best bus driver EVER!! She was from Puerto Rico, and cracked jokes (jokes that were actually funny, NOT Jungle Cruise style jokes), honked the horn a lot (which she wasn't supposed to do, especially when going through the parking entry to Epcot), making us sing wheels on the bus (in multiple languages, English, Spanish, Japanese, and Russian), it was just wonderful!!! It really made me laugh and was a wonderful opening to going to my personal favorite park in WDW.

[downsouthtigger]

MAtt,
I'm with DL, so you left Epcot to go to BW for breakfast?? Well I have to admit, since resorts don't go towards other resorts I've had to do like that too.
As for MGM, I will admit that I wish it was more like USF, to be honest universal does a better job of the studios/theme park than Disney. I hate to say it, but if you look at the backdrop for new york at MGM, then go to the backdrops at USF, well I just like the little alleyways and such you can actually explore at USF, than the one street which actually does nothing at MGM. PLus star tours vs Back to the Future, BTTF wins hands down, and I love star wars!
Like GeeMan said MGM needs to revitalize what it could be. I like how they added Tot and RnRc, also fantasmic is held there, but really the park is very small to me.
Oh and GMR, yes your host can make or break it. As I've said in my reports, I got the cowboy, err, cowgirl and she was horrible, how can I believe an older lady with glasses, a horrible southern twang (as if she wasn't even trying half the time) and in a ankle length skirt no less? The gangster is usually better, as I've had some great ones.
I'm glad you liked Restaurant Marrakesh, that one is/was on my to go list, but someone (*ahem* Ashley *ahem*) decided it wasn't her cup of tea. Funny, she went to Ohana's for me, since it wasn't her cup of tea and she loved it! So thats been on my list and I so want to go, but I had to settle for the Tangerine Cafe, and even though my Shawarma Lamb sandwhich was great, it's not the same!

[disneyguy]

Yeah, I was really dissapointed with Star Tours, it is the same plot as Body Wars, over at Epcot, and I think it was the same sequence of motions as Body Wars.

[DisneyHog6]

Hey Matt. Once again, a great report. So, Marrakesh is that good, huh? I've been wanting to try it, but I can't convince the wife to go. Maybe someday I guess. Thanks for the reports. I'm off to read the next one.