A (2019) HalloXmas trip to Asia - Shanghai, Hong Kong, Tokyo! - COMPLETED 5/1!!!

[KathyM2]

Things I did get: three sets of origami (Minnie clothes, prince/princess hearts, character duo bows/hearts)

Those are awesome! I still can't get over the merch over there...

Looking forward to more Tokyo Disney!

 

[StarWarsMomofGirls!]

If you want something else (like extra noodles or toppings), then you had a menu at the cubby, and could pay there.

I could eat Ramen and Sushi the whole trip!

As I was sitting on the grass eating my mochi, I watched a stage with all these random Japanese mascots. I don’t know if they come from a known show or something, because people went crazy for them. Including the turnips…

Gwen must be from Japan. She would have lost her mind with these things.

these are the best ones!

 

[Lesley Wake]

Oh wow, love the view and the fact you can hear the music, too cute!
Still very much enjoying your TR, thank you!

It was a great view! And this next part will show it even more, lol!

Those are awesome! I still can't get over the merch over there...

Looking forward to more Tokyo Disney!

The merch is amazing! And you can't find it anywhere else.

I could eat Ramen and Sushi the whole trip!


Gwen must be from Japan. She would have lost her mind with these things.


these are the best ones!

Ramen and Sushi are awesome so I didn't have any issues doing that!

Gwen would love it all! And I know the Japanese would love her with her hair and goofball nature!

I was worried those glasses looked too much like bugs!

 

[Lesley Wake]

Part 2 – Checking out the Miracosta, plus Fireworks!

After some time unpacking/repacking and chilling in the room, I decided to track down dinner. So, why not check out the Miracosta hotel, the fanciest (and most expensive) Disney resort. I mean, it is IN a theme park (the entrance is outside, but the hotel spans over the entrance and serves as the walls of the Mediterranean Harbor in DisneySea.

The entrance really feels like an Italian villa.

These are the stairs next to the entrance to DisneySea. I didn’t realize there was a walkway that would lead you right from the monorail platform to the entrance, so I ended up going down and then back up.

Gorgeous lobby and sculpture.

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[Lesley Wake]

I figured I would probably try to get dinner at the BellaVista Lounge, as that didn’t require reservations. But I passed by the Oceano restaurant, which I’ve heard is one of the best buffets at the Disney Resort, and asked, and they seated me immediately! It’s not cheap, but is a gourmet meal! (it’s around $50, though as with all Japanese restaurants, you don't tip (it's actually considered an insult to tip)).

Some decorations in the restaurant. There is an outdoor patio which overlooks Mediterranean Harbor, and during Fantasmic you can watch the show, but it’s hard to get a reservation at that time. And it seems like the patio isn’t open except for then, so I couldn’t go out to check out the view.

And some of the food. (I didn’t take the best food photos – I was a bit self conscious about being a solo foreigner taking photos.)

Various appetizers – salmon and vegetable terrine with mustard sauce, pasta salad with turkey, duck confit and lentil salad, fried pasta, tortillas and salsa

Bread table. The bacon bread was intriguing. Almond croissants and grapefruit danish

Salmon with Vermouth Sauce, Steamed fish with onion-beet salsa, spice-roasted lamb, beef paties with a sauce (Sorry – I couldn’t time photos with a full platter coming out; everything was really colorful though and the cheese on the hamburgers was cute shapes)

I skipped these little octopus

And the beef tongue with pickled cauliflower

My first plate. It doesn’t look like a lot, but was yummy. And that roast beef was DELICIOUS! So tender! I ended up getting several more plates – there was a waiter who plated it for you, and he laughed seeing how much of it I ate!

The dessert table was pretty great! They already had the Christmas stuff out. Yule Log, Tiramisu (I wish I had taken a photo when it was a full cake as they put a Christmas design in powdered sugar on it), Chocolate tart, apple pie, strawberry cream puffs, white chocolate mousse and strawberry coulis, souffle cheesecake

Of course I needed one of each, lol! And it was definitely worth it! I’ve said it before, but the Japanese really do great on their desserts!

Overall, a really unique meal with dishes you can’t find anywhere else!​

 

[Lesley Wake]

I stopped in the gift shop before heading out, which was also pretty lovely themed! (The hotel gift shops are interesting, with some hotel-specific merch that only hotel guests can buy.)

Love all the random characters!

I think it would be pretty cool to stay here one day, especially with the theme park view rooms. But it also is so pricey – I think one night would be nearly as much as my full stay at the Sheraton. I’ll just remain jealous of anyone who does stay there!

On the monorail back I ended up getting a front row spot for part of the trip, so I got a fun video!

I made sure to get back to the hotel in time for the fireworks because I was curious about my view! It was pretty amazing! Like literally across the street from the fireworks launch site. Better even than the view from California Grill (though not as extensive as a show as the ones at WDW)

Then it was time for bed! Back into the parks tomorrow!

(At some point this day I must have gotten park tickets from the desk downstairs. I got a 4-day ticket (the longest they have), which would let me park hop my 3rd and 4th days, though initially I didn’t plan on doing so. And foreshadowing, but I should have really gotten my final 5th day ticket this day too, but I forgot…)

Coming up – A Return to Tokyo DisneySea​

 

[KathyM2]

Bread table. The bacon bread was intriguing. Almond croissants and grapefruit danish

That does sound intriguing, and interesting...and...a buffet!!! Who knows when we'll ever do that again!!

hotel-specific merch that only hotel guests can buy.)

That would make it pretty special!!

Better even than the view from California Grill (though not as extensive as a show as the ones at WDW)

I think watching fireworks from your room is the absolute best...no battling crowds to get out after!!

 

[Lesley Wake]

That does sound intriguing, and interesting...and...a buffet!!! Who knows when we'll ever do that again!!



That would make it pretty special!!



I think watching fireworks from your room is the absolute best...no battling crowds to get out after!!

I know- Buffets sound so exotic now, lol!

And fireworks in your PJs with a warm room on the other side of the door - can't be beat!

 

[Lesley Wake]

Day 17
Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Part 1 – All of the People!

Today I was heading back to Tokyo DisneySea. A map of relevant spots:

I had hoped that being a Tuesday, it wouldn’t be that bad for crowds – the parks are supposed to be worse Saturday – Monday. Well, apparently since that Monday was a national holiday (Culture Day), it meant the Tuesday was the equivalent of the Monday, so a lot of people took off (or had school holidays), and it was insane!

I hoped to get to the park for rope drop, but when I saw the crowds at the monorail station, I knew that wasn’t going to happen… I literally had to wait for 3 monorails before there was any room for me.

It was a cute ticket design though

At the entrance, it was just overwhelmed with people. Really ridiculous and started to put a damper on the day and it hadn’t even started yet. At least the line moved relatively quickly, though the bag check was a joke, barely checking inside.

As I entered, I ended up getting asked to take a guest survey via email after my visit. I basically said, hell yes, though when I took it, it didn’t seem like they cared about too much I considered important. I did leave some comments but never heard back (the pandemic may have impacted that…)

Christmas decorations had started going up, which were cute.

I did end up grabbing a Fastpass for Tower of Terror (even though I was unimpressed the previous day, I thought I’d give it another shot), and ended up winning the show lottery for Isles of Mirage, which I was happy about.

But overall, the crowds were just a huge bummer for most of the day. (Remember this was less than 30 minutes after the park opened). This was from a twitter account which follows TDR crowds. Obviously, red isn’t good….

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[Lesley Wake]

While I waited for my fastpass to be valid, I headed up to Port Discovery and got in line for SeaRider. The theming is nice around the queue.

In the preshow, with the shrinking fish ship.

I did get a surprise that it was a different storyline than my previous time – I guess there are two theatres and I was lucky enough to see both of them! But overall, it’s a fun ride.

Some other photos of the area. I liked the detail of the leaking dam holding back Tokyo Bay (though to be fair there is a street on the other side of the berm, before the actual ocean).

I stopped for another snack, at Bayside takeout, the “Shrimp Chicken Sushi”.

I wasn’t sure what to expect, but this was sooo good! Right up my alley. And easy to eat.​

 

[Lesley Wake]

While I was eating I heard the star wars theme from backstage, which made me curious. So, I stuck around, and it turns out it was time for the Time Travelling Band. Super fun group, so I stuck around to watch! Nice medley of Disney songs. And I think they even started to take requests from guests at the end of the set!

I also took a photo of Aquatopia, though didn’t ride because the line was insane!

And the cute Duffy and Friends photo stands they have around the park. They even have seat belts for the plushies.

Coming up - Tower of Terror and Christmas Decorations​

 

[StarWarsMomofGirls!]

That buffet looked good! And your fireworks view was great.

Yeah, no thanks!

And the cute Duffy and Friends photo stands they have around the park. They even have seat belts for the plushies.

Man they love there Duffy's!!!!

 

[cindianne320]

Whoa- those crowds are crazy! (Especially seeing them now.)

The food looks yummy, and loved the band!

 

[KathyM2]

Wow, insane crowds!! That's really too bad...crowds can really put a damper on things...and when it's a once in a lifetime trip...you want to try to see and do as much as you can. Ugh. But the park still looks super cool and different!

 

[KEK1]

Boo to crowds

 

[missjackiemcg]

Holy crowded walkways, Batman!!! That crowd would definitely have given me anxiety, especially first thing in the morning!!

Your chicken shrimp sushi stick thing actually did look like something I would eat, too!!!

The Time Travel band looked like such a fun performance!! Glad you heard them and were able to stick around.

I love that Duffy and Friends are so popular they even get their own photo spots!! That is simply adorable.

 

[NancyLuvsMickey]

Those crowd pictures gave me anxiety just looking at them!!!! Way to many people for me!!!

But those food pictures, yummy!!!!! Everything looked delicious!!!

And wowzer!!!! The Miracosta hotel is gorgeous!!!

 

[Lesley Wake]

That buffet looked good! And your fireworks view was great.



Man they love there Duffy's!!!!

They do love Duffy! It's cute but also crazy!

Whoa- those crowds are crazy! (Especially seeing them now.)

The food looks yummy, and loved the band!

Yeah, seeing everyone packed in there is really something! (Unfortunately it wasn't even my busiest day of the trip.)

Wow, insane crowds!! That's really too bad...crowds can really put a damper on things...and when it's a once in a lifetime trip...you want to try to see and do as much as you can. Ugh. But the park still looks super cool and different!

They definitely can! And it got even worse another day later that week. But yeah, you have to go with the flow occasionally.

Boo to crowds

agree!

Holy crowded walkways, Batman!!! That crowd would definitely have given me anxiety, especially first thing in the morning!!

Your chicken shrimp sushi stick thing actually did look like something I would eat, too!!!

The Time Travel band looked like such a fun performance!! Glad you heard them and were able to stick around.

I love that Duffy and Friends are so popular they even get their own photo spots!! That is simply adorable.

Definitely anxiety! I was pretty bummed out, and just wasn't expecting it to be like that!

It was a yummy sushi "stick"! They started doing a dessert/snack buffet this past year and these were on the menu - I would have gone so hardcore at that type of buffet!

The streetmosphere things were some of the best at TDR.

Those crowd pictures gave me anxiety just looking at them!!!! Way to many people for me!!!

But those food pictures, yummy!!!!! Everything looked delicious!!!

And wowzer!!!! The Miracosta hotel is gorgeous!!!

Definite anxiety! And especially now!

Miracosta is gorgeous, and the rooms look so elegant. Just too expensive for me though!

 

[Lesley Wake]

Part 2 – Tower of Terror and Christmas Decorations

I made my way thru Cape Cod, admiring some of the decorations which were up (I took more photos another day).

And over to Tower of Terror, for my fastpass. The standby line was already 3 hrs long!

This time the CMs weren’t being strict at all about photos in the queue, so after I saw some other people taking photos and not getting in trouble, I went ahead and discretely took a few!

Harrison Hightower was a bit of a narcissist, lol! Though the decorations are less cobwebs, and more old museum.

Into the preshow room. This was probably the coolest part of the ride for me. You can see the cursed sculpture in the corner. I didn’t take photos during or after the preshow, but some special stuff happens to that guy, as well as the “glass” in the wall. I think there is also a script the CM does about the museum (either in here or in the waiting room right beforehand).

And the warehouse full of antiquities instead of the boiler/furnace room.

The waiting room, full of paintings ready to be packed/unpacked (this is the room where you are sorted into rows). I’m assuming there are some imaginer easter eggs in the portraits, but I couldn’t really identify them.

And on-ride photo. You can see how amused I am… it just is a pretty lame ride, at least for westerners who have experienced the Florida version or Mission Breakout. You can also see the shoulder straps, which really hold you down. And there are only 3 drops anyways!

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[Lesley Wake]

The gift shop is the “old pool”, so it’s covered in tile. And they have a keychain of the cursed sculpture.

Another photo from the outside. Just great theming, even though I still think the ride needs some beefing up!

By the time I got out, all the fastpasses for ToT were done for the day (this was at 11:30 am).

It really was insanely busy, just lines everywhere. So I sort of accepted this day wouldn’t be a heavy ride-day. More try to experience atmosphere around TDS.

After the ride I checked out the tree and decorations in the area. I liked all the “gifts” underneath it, themed to the different lands! And someone was kind enough to take my photo with the tree.

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