The cliché that comes to mind for me at Disney-MGM studios is "quality over quantity." This park is small, but it has some of my favorite attractions in Disney World.

I'm a huge fan of "Star Wars," the Muppets, and "The Twilight Zone," and this park has attractions connected to all. Star Tours is a galactic sightseeing tour that goes awry. For me, waiting on line is almost as fun as the ride itself. Between R2 and 3PO and the videos of other destinations, waiting to board the ride is a charming time (although I had more fun in Euro Disney, where 3PO talks French and English . . . Protcol droid indeed!). Also the instructions are fun, with wookies and ewoks boarding the shuttle.

Muppets 3-D also has a fun wait, with a video starring Sam, Rizzo and Gonzo. Muppets 3-D is mainly a movie, but also incorporates bits of live-action and animatronics.

The wait for the fairly new Tower of Terror doesn't have the same attraction, but the ride lives up to its name. You board an "elevator" which ends up leaving its shaft and then turning into a freefall ride. The word is that it's never the same ride twice; that each shaft offers its own intro and the drops change constantly. We only rode the ride twice, so I can't tell how true that is.

MGM has its own version of "Who Wants to be a Millionaire," in which all people in the audience have a chance to play and possibly win a Disney cruise.

Like all the Disney parks, MGM offers a multitude of restaurants, each with a theme of its all. My friends and I ate at the Sci-Fi Drive-In (look for separate review).

There is a parade around midday, where the characters of Disney, Henson and Lucas ride around in some pretty spiffy cars. A hostess, much in the style of Joan Rivers at Oscar time, announces those riding down the road.

The Aerosmith Rock and Roller Coaster is somewhat like Space Mountain, in the sense that it's an indoor roller coaster mostly in the dark. What makes it different is that you are riding in a stretch limo and the launch is one of the fastest bits of any ride in all of Disney World.

The night is capped off with Fantasmic. Wizard Mickey fights a number of Disney villains.

MGM and EPCOT are for older patrons than the other two parks. Still there are a number of things even the youngest should like, such as the usual Disney characters and the "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids" Playground, where kids can play with super-large toys, made to mimic the backyard scene from the movie. Also, Disney Playhouse should be good for younger kids.

What I liked:
Being raised with The Muppet Show, I thoroughly enjoyed the 3-D display.

The Voyage of the Little Mermaid kept the audience’s attention, especially the mist that makes you feel part of the show.

Sunset Boulevard also had some nice shopping, with unique items we didn’t find elsewhere.

What I didn't:
We spent a few hours here the day it opened early to Disney guests. We got in line for Aerosmith’s Rock 'n' Roller Coaster before the park only opened. This was the longest wait we had our entire trip, though it was somewhat amusing. I think I was too short to enjoy this ride. I don’t even know what was going on, my face just kept slamming against the shoulder brace in various places. I do have this problem on other rides with this seating restraint. It was also a very short ride compared to the line. I didn’t think it was worth it, but my companion (about 5 inches taller than me) disagreed.

The other disappointment of the park was that The Great Movie Ride, which I had really looked forward to seeing, was closed.

This is Disney answer to an adult theme park. Most of Disney thrill rides are located at this park -- Tower of Terror, Rock and Roller Coaster, Star Tours. The shows are also mostly not for young children. Fastasmic was wonderful, as was Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Show, but the explosion will make any young child scream. If the weather is hot, a must is Voyage of the Little Mermaid. If you can make the first show, go then . . . if not, forgo the parade and go then because the line is the shortest then. If you want the best seat for Fastasmic, go at least 30-60 minutes early and stake your claim. Other rides to do early are Tower of Terror and Rock and Roller Coaster. Do not forget to take advantage of get the fast pass.

It's fun for everyone. There is shopping, entertainment, and restaurants galore. The rides are tame (The Movie Set Ride) or wild (Aerosmith's Rock & Roller Coaster and The Tower of Terror). You can enjoy stunts at the Indiana Jones Stunt Show and we enjoyed a excerpt from the Broadway Play "Aida" while they were touring. The Osbournes had the Holiday Light Show with millions of Christmas lights set up along famous houses like the Golden Girls home. It really seemed like a special holiday when the New York skyline glistened with snowflakes on our Florida Christmas vacation.

This park seemed to me to be the most nostalgic. It has a Hollywood Boulevard and Sunset Boulevard done in the Art Deco style of the '30s and '40s. Along those streets, there are lots of shops and fun restaurants that reminded me of the past (like an old '50s diner and another that had you sit in a car while you dined and watch a movie like at the old drive-in movies).

It's a 135-acre park with actual working studios for television and the movie industry. There are several rather interesting stage productions of favorite old movies. You can even take a backstage tour of how special effects and animation is done.

For the kid in us all, there are even a few exciting rides. My favorite is the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. Try to go on this at dusk--the sky was amazing when we went on it. I thought it would be scary, but the ride is quite smooth and really a lot of fun---but too short. If fast pass is working here, do use it! Star tours was another fun roller coaster ride--the only other one in MGM. For a more subdued ride, the Great Movie Ride was 20 minutes of interesting short takes on old movies.

There is a 7000 seat theatre near the entrance,too. That is where the nightly Fantasmic show is held. It is a battle of Sorcerer Mickey and friends against some Disney villains. The show is comprised of lasers, pyrotechnics, animation and water techniques. It starts about 1/2 hour before the close of the park, but get there early if you want a seat. There is standing room in the back, and the threatre is outside and tiered, so visibility is good from almost everywhere. Being outside, if the weather is bad, the show is cancelled. If the weather is good, and you've seen the show a few times already, it's a good time to go to some of the other activities without the normal crowds.

THe landscaping is cleverly done with lots of cartoon topiaries and interesting buildings. As with all the parks, there are tons of photo-ops waiting for you here.

There are many half hour long shows and rides here. To see them all, expect to spend at least a full day here -- maybe two.