MGM & Magic Kingdom

Morning greets us, with me once again having a hangover. Yet again I don't have breakfast, but the Anita & the kids have their usual in the room. We decide once everyone is back from breakfast to go to the Disney-MGM studios today. We jump aboard the A-Wagon and head off. As we get close we view the water tower with its famous ears. It is called the Earful Tower. (Ho-ho-ho). We decide to go on the Great Movie Ride. You are taken back into the movies. Our tour guide is explaining all the bits and bobs of the films that we are riding through, but when we reach the Gangster movie bit, a real gunfight breaks out.

The tour guide leaves and is replaced by a gangster. The gangster them carries on with the tour, until they are replaced when we get to the tribute to Indiana Jones, where our guide returns to us. An excellent idea very well presented. The Indiana Jones Stunt show is very good. There is a certain amount of audience participation. There is also a plant (no - not a triffid!) within the audience, who joins the show. He is then used as a punch bag, by the heroine, at which point we realise that he is a plant. The stunts are performed, some being explained, some just occurring. At one point Indy (or the actor playing Indy really,) seems to catch himself on some spikes, which hurt!

We decide that the Tower of Terror is not to be on our agenda. Basically I am a coward, so there was no way I was going to go on that ride. There is a great playground for the kids here; called Honey I Shrank The Kids. It is like the film in that everything is very, very big. Lauren and Andrew, and Anita and Brigitte all have a great time here. There is a simulator ride based around the Star Wars films called Star Tours. Andrew and Lauren liked this one as well. I thought it was going to be better than it was, but what the heck, I love the Star Wars movies. Still we get thrown about a lot, and it does feel that you are flying through the galaxies, although I am a little disappointed as none of the original Stars Wars characters is in the ride.

The Starlings and Russell and Brigitte at the Magic Kingdom

At three o'clock there is the Mulan Parade. All the characters from the film are here. Shame was we hadn't seen the film, so didn't really know what was going on. Upon our return to the UK we did see the film and it all became clear. Still we got a good bit of video here, but without the zoom facility on the camera it does not really do the parade any justice. This parade was a million times better than the parade at Magic Kingdom. We also got to see the Muppets in 3-D, which is a good show, but again we had to watch Andrew very carefully. However this time he enjoyed the show, and only removed his glasses once.

There is a great ride at MGM, called the "Back Lot Tour". There are three parts to this ride. First you view how films are made. Once again there is audience participation, where you see how the old war movies were made. With bombs and water all over the place. The second part is a journey around the back of the studio where you view things like houses used (for example George of the Jungle), and vehicles used in the movies like the helicopter from Airwolf. This tour then takes in calamity canyon. This is where you are hit by everything from water to fire. A petrol tanker even explodes beside you.

When all the water and fire is exhausted you can watch the area right itself, ready for the next tour. It is really amazing to see the tanker restore itself!

We now decide that we are returning to the Magic Kingdom, where for tonight only, well once a week on a Saturday, there is to be the Electric Parade, followed by the firework display.

As we arrive the clouds begin to group. We take up a good spot for the parade, exactly where we stood for the parade last time in fact. As we await the allotted time, the heavens open up. Unfortunately we do not have any coats or macs with us. Brigitte goes off to buy an umbrella, but comes back with two macs instead. She and Russell put them on, and the kids hide under them as well. Anita and I are soaked through. Suddenly there is an announcement, advising that the parade will be delayed. I should point out that as it is a night time parade all the floats are lit up. It is an electric parade, and electricity and water do not mix. Then a second announcement - it is cancelled. Everyone begins to leave. We get as far as the shops, where Anita decides that the Starlings need to get dry clothes. It has by now stopped raining, but all four of us are soaked through. She purchases us all outfits, or shirts. However she is so wet, she can wring her knickers out. So she goes into the nearest toilet and then reappears, but she is going commando!

Suddenly there is a sense of anticipation as people begin to turn around as the fireworks begin to light up the sky. Although the parade was cancelled, they have never cancelled the fireworks. Once again we stand in amazement as the thousands of pounds worth of firework are set off. Unfortunately it soon comes to an end, and we then have to try and leave the park. As I mentioned when we first went to the Magic Kingdom, there are only two ways in and out of the park, the Monorail, and the Ferry. The queues for both are enormous, as it would appear that all the other parks have been deserted because everyone wanted to see the once a week Electric Parade. So we wait and wait. Suddenly we are near the monorail, but disaster strikes, we get split up. Anita and Lauren are on one monorail, and we have to get the next one. Unfortunately there is a problem with ours, and we don't arrive at the car for another half an hour. Still we have a bit of a laugh on the way. Everyone is tired out, so it is back to the hotel, and bed.