Halloween or Christmas?

[dee slack]

We are about to firm up our plans to visit Japan and wondered if anyone knows what Halloween or C'mas celebrations were like there? We are planning to go approx. 26th Oct and stay around 17 days as we'll be touring. I'm hoping we can stay 2 or 3 nights in Disney, but would it be better as soon as we arrive (for Halloween) or last stop, for C'mas? We both love Halloween and C'mas equally, so which would be the best to see in the parks? Thanks in advance!

 

[nytimez]

We are about to firm up our plans to visit Japan and wondered if anyone knows what Halloween or C'mas celebrations were like there? We are planning to go approx. 26th Oct and stay around 17 days as we'll be touring. I'm hoping we can stay 2 or 3 nights in Disney, but would it be better as soon as we arrive (for Halloween) or last stop, for C'mas? We both love Halloween and C'mas equally, so which would be the best to see in the parks? Thanks in advance!

I've never seen Christmas in the Tokyo parks, but the "Villains Banzai" parade they do for Halloween is a blast, assuming they still do it.

 

[scrump]

I've done Christmas about 10 years ago, and it was the best time I've ever had in the parks, loved it.

We did Halloween last year because our schedules worked out better that way. Halloween was awesome, but I missed the vibe that comes with celebrating it in the states.

I think this is the first year that DisneySea is celebrating Christmas. The Japanese are into Christmas, so I think there's an added element of ambience to see the parks (and the country) during this time.

My vote would be for Christmas, both both are really awesome times to visit the parks!

 

[chris31997]

We just moved to Japan, DH is military. Last year was our first Christmas here, it was a blast. We have a new apprecitation for Christmas now. Christmas here is differant than the States. It is more of a couple holiday than a family one. However, you will see some families going all out just like we do. Some families don't do anything. Most will have a dinner and exchange a small gift.

Keep in mind New Year's is a very big holiday here and if your trip falls over that time period it will be crazy and packed.

It will most likely be cold. I live on Okinawa, and it was cold for us( given we moved here from Hawaii so anything below 78 is freezing )



My vote is Christmas.

 

[dee slack]

we've decided it will be C'mas season now as we're visiting from 27th Oct to 14th Nov and want to leave Disney until the end so when I buy lots of stuff their I don't have to carry it all with me around the country!!

 

[Anaheim boy]

I thought I remember reading somewhere that the BIG thing for Christmas in Japan is going to KFC!! Like it is HUGE, and that the Japanese pre-order huge meals from there long before the day and that KFC sells more on that one day than they do for months of other times. That would be funny to see if I remember reading that right.

 

[SaliAli]

I personally liked Halloween a lot more. Christmas was beautiful but more of a mellow event. The decorations for Halloween were extraordinary, and the parade was wonderfully catchy and mind-blowing. Halloween was a very up-beat event.
Christmas of course still has great decorations, a gigantic Christmas tree (I mean ginormous) and a parade, but IMO not as fantastically put together as Halloween.

Christmas in Japan is definitely not going to feel the same as North America. As mentioned, it is not a family holiday but a couple's one (like Valentine's Day, and even THAT is another story). It's not very big of a deal, but their New Year's is more like a Western Christmas.

So the big thing to do on Christmas in Japan are:

1) Eat KFC.
Because you can't get turkey in Japan, so the next best thing is KFC (and boy, they have an uncanny love for Colonel Sanders). They even dress up the Colonel in a Santa suit. Seriously, watch out for it! And it's so popular that you have to pre-order your meal to guarantee your chickens by Christmas.

2) Christmas cake
Because of "fruit cake". Christmas cake is usually vanilla cake with white frosting and strawberries, but really anything goes. Families eat the cake together or people can host an Xmas party with friends and have cake there and eat it too.

3) Couple Date Night
It's a snowy day for love. Snow is considered to be utterly romantic just as a moonlit waterfall in an enclave is. Couples exchange presents and go on dates. If anything, it feels a lot more like V-day than Christmas.

Also keep in mind that Christmas is not a national holiday. Some people are even working on this day and shops are open.

Since you are going to Christmas, it will still be wonderful! The next time you get the chance, definitely check out Halloween, too!

 

[minnie mum]

I don't mean to hijack the thread, but have another question about Halloween at TDL. Do they have a MNSSHP (separate hard ticket party), or do they just have Halloween themed parades etc during the regular park days? Just wondering since our time for the Disney parks will be limited to only 2 days. We will be there mid Oct.

 

[BelleBway]

I don't mean to hijack the thread, but have another question about Halloween at TDL. Do they have a MNSSHP (separate hard ticket party), or do they just have Halloween themed parades etc during the regular park days? Just wondering since our time for the Disney parks will be limited to only 2 days. We will be there mid Oct.

I'm pretty sure that they do not have any hard ticket events.

When I was there for Halloween season in 2005, they had special decorations around the park, merchandise, food, and cast members giving out candy if you said "trick or treat". They also had a special parade in TDL... that didn't replace the usual daytime parade. So they had 2 parades. It may not sound like much, but I remember being very impressed. They also apply the Nightmare Before Christmas overlay to their Haunted Mansion, like they do in Disneyland.

I don't know what, if anything, has changed, but TDR generally does an outstanding job with their seasonal events, particularly when compared to the US parks.

 

[minnie mum]

Thank you so much for the info. That's what I was hoping for-can't wait to see it!

 

[tokyodisneydad]

It really depends on which park you want to concentrate on more Tokyo Disney Land or SEA. Overall I like Halloween better. I go to both each year, but find myself having more fun at Halloween. love the costumes some of the guests wear.

The one in the pink in this pic was actually a guy.

Also the decorations

That's my wife in this picture

 

[dee slack]

those photo's are really great - thanks for sharing.
Do you have any of Christmas?
I really wish we had more time to be able to go at the beginning of our vacation for Halloween and also at the end for C'mas but we will already be in Japan for 16 days (allowing 2 days for Disney) so cannot take any more time off work for one vacation and there is so much of Japan we would like to see.

 

[tokyodisneydad]

Hmmm... I have some somewhere. I will post them when I find them.

 

[dee slack]

in advance