If you've ever dreamed of basking in the bright lights of Broadway or Hollywood , you have to visit Disney's MGM Studios. Since 1989, the amusement park has been honoring the best in popular entertainment with its show-biz themed rides, attractions and live performances. Travel back to the golden age of Hollywood and live like the star you always wanted to be at MGM Studios.
Rides at MGM Studios are as exciting as the movies and celebrities they're inspired by. For over ten years, the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror has been pushing its riders to the edges of their seats. You'll journey through a spooky Hollywood hotel before reaching the scariest part of the ride - a drop down the 13-story tower's elevator shaft. Five years ago, the Tower of Terror was renovated to make multiple plunges possible in a single ride, so be prepared to plummet down the shaft more than once. Jump on the Rock'n'Roller Coaster starring Aerosmith for the most thrilling Tinseltown tour you'll ever experience. The coaster launches riders from 0 to 60 miles per hour in under three seconds and speeds through loops and turns with the force of a supersonic jet. The world famous rock band Aerosmith provides a synchronized soundtrack for the ride, their music blasting through the 120 speakers onboard each coaster train.
Those who aren't up for death-defying thrills will also enjoy the entertainment that MGM has to offer. The Great Movie Ride is perfect for film enthusiasts, especially fans of classic movies. The ride itself is a true-to-life replica of Mann's Chinese Theater and features a variety of movie memorabilia, including one of the three pairs of ruby slippers filmed in the "Wizard of Oz." Through the magic of special effects and animatronics, actors from the golden age of Hollywood come to life and help recreate scenes from favorite movies like "Tarzan," "Casablanca," and "Raiders of the Lost Ark." Little ones love Jim Henson's Muppet Vision 3D, a special effects film that uses animatronics and pyrotechnics to bring the world famous Muppets to life. Children jump out of their seats to reach for the 3D effects - after the show, take yours to the Stage One Company Store to buy that piece of Muppet memorabilia they tried so hard to grab.
Many of the attractions at MGM Studios center on popular movies. Anyone who has ever wondered how Disney's cartoon characters run, jump, dance and dive with such energy will want to take the Magic of Disney Animation tour, where guides use animated shorts and illustrations to explain how cartoons are created. If you go during weekday business hours, you may be able to sneak a peak at Disney's animators at work. Fans of "Beauty and the Beast" flock to the Theater of the Stars, where scenes from the movie are recreated by live actors and actresses. The production allows the audience to appreciate the movie's music and choreography in all its glory, as professional singers and dancers take on the roles of Belle, Gaston and other popular characters. The Backlot Studio Tour is one of the most frequented attractions at MGM Studios. On this tour, you'll discover movie production secrets, like how on-screen explosions don't end up hurting anyone and where stars really are in those New York City scenes.
MGM Studios features a variety of show-biz themed restaurants where the food is as good as the ambiance. Dine like a star at the Hollywood Brown Derby, a replica of the original Brown Derby that hosted movie moguls during Hollywood 's golden age. The Brown Derby Cobb Salad and the sesame seared tuna are popular entrees. Fans of science-fiction flicks will want to stop by the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater, where they can enjoy sandwiches, salads and shakes in a vintage 1950s convertible while watching classic sci-fi films. At the Starring Rolls Café, desserts steal the spotlight. Hot out of the oven pastries and sweets team up with freshly roasted coffee and frothy cappuccino to create and all-star menu. The ultimate MGM meal is the one that's shared with one of Disney's creative geniuses, or an Imagineer. Over a four course lunch or dinner in the Bamboo Room, the private dining room of the Hollywood Brown Derby, you can ask one of the world's most creative people questions about their career, cartoon characters or anything you ever wanted to know about Disney. Consult your hotel concierge as soon as you arrive in Orlando to make a reservation for this one of a kind dining opportunity.
After a visit to MGM Studios, you'll never look movies the same way again. If the theme park is one of your Orlando must-sees, stay at the Celebrity Resort , Best Western LBV Resort or Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort . Bring along a map to ensure that you're able to take in as much of MGM as you can in the time that you're there. In peak season, the park is open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. ; check MGM's calendar to confirm hours of operation. After a day of awe-inspiring rides and attractions, stop by the Beverly Sunset gift shop - you're sure to find a piece of movie memorabilia that only MGM Studios can offer.
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