March 21, 2014
Hello everyone on the Dis boards. I am just back from an amazing one and a half day trip to DisneyTokyo and here is my trip report. I have a feeling this will get pushed over to the 'Otherlands' forum but I think everyone who loves WDW should read what I have to say and seriously consider visiting TokyoDisney if you have the means, because it can be argued that it is by far and wide the best Disney park in the world and that is coming from a die hard WDW fan who has loved visiting WDW Orlando since 1979.
I have been in Thailand and Bali since December, escaping the brutal New England weather. I tried to rebook a flight to stay longer in Bali and was told I'd have to switch to Japan Airlines and that there would be a day and a half layover in Tokyo. Humm Japan? Ok. I'll go to Disney! I went online and found that they have three very expensive hotels on property and I began a week long study about how best to approach this trip so that I got the most out *of my stay. I bit the bullet and booked the original Disney Ambassador art deco hotel online for $560 with a Amex card.. bill to be paid on arrival. I was flying in late afternoon so I knew I'd only get 3 or 4 hours max the first night as the parks closed at 10pm. I also read how very crowed the parks are with long, long lines sometimes *3 hours for one ride. Humm I thought. Next I booked the MiraCosta Hotel which is the only hotel in the world actually INDIDE a Disney park. Bit the bullet. $650 for the night. Hotel guests can enter the parks 20 minutes early ahead of what I knew would be huge crowds cueing up hours before and running at 'rope drop'.(actually a gate rising).. My plan was to do DisneyLand, a bazaaro version of the Magic kingdom build in 1983 as soon as I checked in to the Ambassador off the bus from the hour drive from the airport. Then I'd stay until the last man out after 10pm closing and get up first thing in the morning.. walk over to the Miracosta and do DisneySea all day and night, because I'd read that it is the greatest theme park on earth and totally unique to Disney.
That was the plan.
Plane was late getting in to Tokyo because of severe wind and I had a one hour window to catch the last limo bus to Disney at 5pm sharp or Id have to navigate the train system with my luggage being new to Japan or I could take a taxi for $200. Limobus was only $24 .Panic set in as the pilot kept saying we would be late and then late again. We arrived at the gate with only 45 minutes for me to clear immigration, collect my bag, clear customs, buy my limo ticket and find the bus stop!!!
I thought it was going to be a nightmare from the get go. Except instead it became my first of many lessons about how incredibly efficient and dedicated to service the Japanese are. It took me all of 15 minutes to do all of the above and I found myself with a half hour to spare at the limo stop directly outside the door where you exit the airport.*
Arrived at exactly the stated time at the Ambassador! Man that is a beautiful hotel. As soon as I came to the door a beautifully dressed young woman bowed to me, took my bags and walked me to the checkin counter where another young man bowed and apologized to me for the 2 minute delay to check in because One person was in line before me!. Check in was a breeze and I got my evening entry passport for Disneyland $33 .They have an art deco Mickey bus right outside that takes you on a ten minute ride to Disneyland. It leaves every ten minutes exactly. The first thing I noticed was how immaculate everything everywhere was on the bus and all around. Like brand new for a thirty year old hotel! Got to Disney and had a blast right away just people watching! First off there were no Westerners that I saw ANYWHERE over the course of my visit. Only cast members who work in the shows. The guests at Disney Tokyo are almost totally teenage girls by the thousands all dressed with the wildest Disney gear on hats, matching shirts, purses and Duffy Bears just everywhere streams of school girls laughing, dressed Disney crazy in short skirts, knee socks and school blazers. Lots of families too. And teenage boys dressed in Tiger outfits and huge hats..laughing!!! I saw NO one on a scooter, and no one overweight! There was a complete lack of baby strollers or maybe an unnoticeable number.
From my research I knew Poo's Hunny Hut was the top ride with a huge line and a fast pass that runs out in the morning fist thing. Bummer I thought. So I headed over to Spalsh Mountain where they have a single rider line that no one uses in Tokyo. So first I rode Splash. Splash is much better than the one in WDW by far. Immaculately maintained to the last drop of paint and light bulb, much longer and fun to see every character speaking Japanese. After Splash I noticed that everyone was sitting down along the parade route waiting patiently for the parade Dream Lights.
Being that I was the only American in the park and I'm six foot two, I watched the parade standing and had a fantastic view of an amazing parade of beautifully lit floats against the backdrop of the castle. I filmed the whole thing and it was the best show I've EVER seen at Disney!
Next I hopped over to Poo's and discovered only a 50 minute standby line! I jumped in! What a blast just waiting in line with all the crazy kids having so much fun out doing each other in their gear.
We laughed and talked sign language to each other and then before I knew it I was riding Poo!
Its the only ride of its kind in any Disney park and it is not yo be missed!
Then I went off and ate a great counter meal at Grama Sara's kitchen. A beautiful place with good food, plenty of seats and reasonably priced. Everyone talks about how expensive Japan is but it was my experience that the food and tickets are 30% cheaper in TokyoDisney compared to Orlando.
Granted the portions are smaller. But everything at TokyoDisney is lovingly and immaculately prepared and presented. I went on a weekday and the parks were jammed but nowhere could I find a single grain of popcorn on the ground the entire time there. Also, the Cast members are beyond belief dedicated to there jobs, super polite to the point of insane wearing white gloves and bowing, handing you things gently with both hands. Everywhere the whole time with every single CM encounter. Another thing is that there are CM's everywhere..no looking around for someone to help like at WDW sometimes.. Plus the characters just roam around the park and interact with the guests without any pushing or Chaos like WDW where they've for the most part done away with free roaming characters . In Tokyo Disney people are polite and stand back so pictures can be taken with their kids alone with the characters, including Mickey..I found this to be extraordinary. Next I went over to Big Thunder Mountain and waited about 45 minutes as crowds start to thin out late at night!
I stayed in the park the first night until 10:45, after they announced goodnight straggling and taking pictures. The park is almost an exact copy of MK but in a sort of retro style Tomorrow land is stunning in its simplicity like WDW in the 70s *So my first 3 hours of TokyoDisney had me in awe inspite of the crowds, (I'm used to off season at WDW) I got to ride the headliners and see a not to be missed light parade with every single Disney character you can imagine. Not bad for a long day coming from Bali in the morning!
I took the easy and beautiful retro bus back to The Ambassador and had a lovely salmon dish and a Japanese beer just before the Ambassador restaurant closed at 11pm. The little shop in the hotel that sells goodies including beer is open 24 hours. Next I headed to my room and took lots of photos staying up til 3 am and checking out the next morning at 6:15 to start my day to get the most out of my short stay at Tokyo Disney. Yes, I was exhausted but very excited. My room at the Ambassador had pajamas neatly folded in the drawer, slippers, robes, full bathroom goodies like a Mickey razors, sewing kits, tooth brushes for the whole family, soap etc. etc all with Mickey logos. Every single thing in the room was insanely immaculate. You could not find a piece of dust or dirt if you spent your time searching with a magnifying glass. Never seen anything like it. And the bathroom! The toilet seats are heated! The bathtub is deep and the hot water and pressure are like Niaggra Falls!
In the morning my bags were efficiently tagged at guest services and transferred to the MiraCosta and at 6:45 I walked the 10 minutes over to DisneySea to check in and get in line for hotel guests early entry. The walk was lovely and the Gods were with me as I had beautiful weather in the 60s both days and sunny Walking up to the MiraCosta is stunning. You have to go there at least once if you can afford to do so. At guest services I was told that if I checked in at 7:00am my room would be ready at 4:30pm but if I checked in at 2:45pm my room would be ready then at 2:45pm. Humm. I got my DisneySea passport for $62 and was escorted over to the line for hotel guests early entry. Already people where swarming into to gate area to get a jump on the day. I was about number 30 in the hotel guest line. A nice cast member checked the guests to see that they were on the hotel guest list of course everyone was. The Japanese wait patiently and would never seek to break the rules or cut ahead in line. Amazing. At gate opening everyone RUNS to ToyStory first to get a fast past which are gone by 9am for the day. Having studied up thats exactly what I did. By 8:10 when the general public enters the park the place was packed and this was on a weekday which was supposedly much better than weekends. After getting my TS fast pass I hopped in the standby line for Tower of Terror.. a different theme than in Orlando but lots of fun. I do think the one at WDW is a little longer and even better than Tokyo but it was fun nonetheless. Next it was over to the volcano area to in standby for 'Journey to the Centre of the Earth' about a 50 minute wait at 8:45 in the morning but a fun cue and a great and unique ride not to be found anywhere else from Disney.
Disneysea has to be seen and experienced to be believed. Its huge, well laid out and so much fun, spotlessly clean. I had no problem in the course of the day doing the boat rides, the train, Indiana Jones single rider line, Toy Story, Journey to the Center of the Earth, Raging Sprits roller coaster single rider line, walking around taking pictures, easily meeting characters everywhere, having unbelievable and deliciously and lovingly prepared meals at Magellon's and Restaurante Cannelinni
which I easily reserved online a few days before and walked right into at the stated time even though the park was crowded. All in all it was just amazing to be at DisneySea. In the afternoon my room was ready at exactly 2:45 and I was escorted by a bellman where my bags were already nicely placed. Oh yeah get this..there is NO TIPPING at TokyoDisney, anywhere!. The japanese don't tip by custom and so the service is included in your bill but you get an insanely over the top style of service and dedication that borders on surreal. I took a nap in my beautiful room INSIDE DisneySea with my view of the harbor, ships and volcano that erupts periodically! After catching a much needed rest I hopped the monorail and rode it around the property.. get this!.. in the FRONT..just walked right in and sat right down both times in the front as there is no driver in Tokyo. Hummm ya think they will figure that out at WDW someday? You have to pay about $2.50 for one loop on the monorail at Tokyo Disney unless you are staying at The MiraCosta or the New Disneyland Hotel where you are given a free pass during your stay. Both those hotels are directly on the monorail. The Ambassador has a cool art deco bus to take you to the parks. I took another nap after the monorail and went back into the park at 7pm strolled around and saw the fireworks until DisneySea closedto the public at 10pm . went to the hotel for a coffee and and amazing desert lovingly and immaculately served by a CM who bowed to me. Jeez. Headed back to my room and watched an over the top spectaular Fantasmic right from my open window lying on my bed that went on from 11pm until midnight for hotel guests only Absolutely nothing like WDW with no expense spared. Never seen anything like it in my life.
Mickey woke me up on the phone at exactly 6am Thursday morning and I headed down to the lobby for an easy checkout and the Limobus was there at exactly 7:05 as stated. I flew home with a great respect for the Japanese people and an understanding that it isn't just the bottom line as far as DisneyTokyo is concerned.. Its about SERVICE, quality, and the magic of Disney that in my humble opinion is at it best in Tokyo above and beyond what I've seen of late in WDW USA
I highly recommend for all you Disney fans out there to hop over the Pacific and enjoy the Japanese version of Disney!.. you will be amazed to experience a once in a lifetime treat.
Thank you and enjoy the film I made of my journey to TokyoDisney. Enjoy the film. watch it in HD and turn up the sound. I made it on the Japan Airlines flight on the way back to The States last night.
Tim.. March 21, 2014
*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIFx6gvqfys
Hello everyone on the Dis boards. I am just back from an amazing one and a half day trip to DisneyTokyo and here is my trip report. I have a feeling this will get pushed over to the 'Otherlands' forum but I think everyone who loves WDW should read what I have to say and seriously consider visiting TokyoDisney if you have the means, because it can be argued that it is by far and wide the best Disney park in the world and that is coming from a die hard WDW fan who has loved visiting WDW Orlando since 1979.
I have been in Thailand and Bali since December, escaping the brutal New England weather. I tried to rebook a flight to stay longer in Bali and was told I'd have to switch to Japan Airlines and that there would be a day and a half layover in Tokyo. Humm Japan? Ok. I'll go to Disney! I went online and found that they have three very expensive hotels on property and I began a week long study about how best to approach this trip so that I got the most out *of my stay. I bit the bullet and booked the original Disney Ambassador art deco hotel online for $560 with a Amex card.. bill to be paid on arrival. I was flying in late afternoon so I knew I'd only get 3 or 4 hours max the first night as the parks closed at 10pm. I also read how very crowed the parks are with long, long lines sometimes *3 hours for one ride. Humm I thought. Next I booked the MiraCosta Hotel which is the only hotel in the world actually INDIDE a Disney park. Bit the bullet. $650 for the night. Hotel guests can enter the parks 20 minutes early ahead of what I knew would be huge crowds cueing up hours before and running at 'rope drop'.(actually a gate rising).. My plan was to do DisneyLand, a bazaaro version of the Magic kingdom build in 1983 as soon as I checked in to the Ambassador off the bus from the hour drive from the airport. Then I'd stay until the last man out after 10pm closing and get up first thing in the morning.. walk over to the Miracosta and do DisneySea all day and night, because I'd read that it is the greatest theme park on earth and totally unique to Disney.
That was the plan.
Plane was late getting in to Tokyo because of severe wind and I had a one hour window to catch the last limo bus to Disney at 5pm sharp or Id have to navigate the train system with my luggage being new to Japan or I could take a taxi for $200. Limobus was only $24 .Panic set in as the pilot kept saying we would be late and then late again. We arrived at the gate with only 45 minutes for me to clear immigration, collect my bag, clear customs, buy my limo ticket and find the bus stop!!!
I thought it was going to be a nightmare from the get go. Except instead it became my first of many lessons about how incredibly efficient and dedicated to service the Japanese are. It took me all of 15 minutes to do all of the above and I found myself with a half hour to spare at the limo stop directly outside the door where you exit the airport.*
Arrived at exactly the stated time at the Ambassador! Man that is a beautiful hotel. As soon as I came to the door a beautifully dressed young woman bowed to me, took my bags and walked me to the checkin counter where another young man bowed and apologized to me for the 2 minute delay to check in because One person was in line before me!. Check in was a breeze and I got my evening entry passport for Disneyland $33 .They have an art deco Mickey bus right outside that takes you on a ten minute ride to Disneyland. It leaves every ten minutes exactly. The first thing I noticed was how immaculate everything everywhere was on the bus and all around. Like brand new for a thirty year old hotel! Got to Disney and had a blast right away just people watching! First off there were no Westerners that I saw ANYWHERE over the course of my visit. Only cast members who work in the shows. The guests at Disney Tokyo are almost totally teenage girls by the thousands all dressed with the wildest Disney gear on hats, matching shirts, purses and Duffy Bears just everywhere streams of school girls laughing, dressed Disney crazy in short skirts, knee socks and school blazers. Lots of families too. And teenage boys dressed in Tiger outfits and huge hats..laughing!!! I saw NO one on a scooter, and no one overweight! There was a complete lack of baby strollers or maybe an unnoticeable number.
From my research I knew Poo's Hunny Hut was the top ride with a huge line and a fast pass that runs out in the morning fist thing. Bummer I thought. So I headed over to Spalsh Mountain where they have a single rider line that no one uses in Tokyo. So first I rode Splash. Splash is much better than the one in WDW by far. Immaculately maintained to the last drop of paint and light bulb, much longer and fun to see every character speaking Japanese. After Splash I noticed that everyone was sitting down along the parade route waiting patiently for the parade Dream Lights.
Being that I was the only American in the park and I'm six foot two, I watched the parade standing and had a fantastic view of an amazing parade of beautifully lit floats against the backdrop of the castle. I filmed the whole thing and it was the best show I've EVER seen at Disney!
Next I hopped over to Poo's and discovered only a 50 minute standby line! I jumped in! What a blast just waiting in line with all the crazy kids having so much fun out doing each other in their gear.
We laughed and talked sign language to each other and then before I knew it I was riding Poo!
Its the only ride of its kind in any Disney park and it is not yo be missed!
Then I went off and ate a great counter meal at Grama Sara's kitchen. A beautiful place with good food, plenty of seats and reasonably priced. Everyone talks about how expensive Japan is but it was my experience that the food and tickets are 30% cheaper in TokyoDisney compared to Orlando.
Granted the portions are smaller. But everything at TokyoDisney is lovingly and immaculately prepared and presented. I went on a weekday and the parks were jammed but nowhere could I find a single grain of popcorn on the ground the entire time there. Also, the Cast members are beyond belief dedicated to there jobs, super polite to the point of insane wearing white gloves and bowing, handing you things gently with both hands. Everywhere the whole time with every single CM encounter. Another thing is that there are CM's everywhere..no looking around for someone to help like at WDW sometimes.. Plus the characters just roam around the park and interact with the guests without any pushing or Chaos like WDW where they've for the most part done away with free roaming characters . In Tokyo Disney people are polite and stand back so pictures can be taken with their kids alone with the characters, including Mickey..I found this to be extraordinary. Next I went over to Big Thunder Mountain and waited about 45 minutes as crowds start to thin out late at night!
I stayed in the park the first night until 10:45, after they announced goodnight straggling and taking pictures. The park is almost an exact copy of MK but in a sort of retro style Tomorrow land is stunning in its simplicity like WDW in the 70s *So my first 3 hours of TokyoDisney had me in awe inspite of the crowds, (I'm used to off season at WDW) I got to ride the headliners and see a not to be missed light parade with every single Disney character you can imagine. Not bad for a long day coming from Bali in the morning!
I took the easy and beautiful retro bus back to The Ambassador and had a lovely salmon dish and a Japanese beer just before the Ambassador restaurant closed at 11pm. The little shop in the hotel that sells goodies including beer is open 24 hours. Next I headed to my room and took lots of photos staying up til 3 am and checking out the next morning at 6:15 to start my day to get the most out of my short stay at Tokyo Disney. Yes, I was exhausted but very excited. My room at the Ambassador had pajamas neatly folded in the drawer, slippers, robes, full bathroom goodies like a Mickey razors, sewing kits, tooth brushes for the whole family, soap etc. etc all with Mickey logos. Every single thing in the room was insanely immaculate. You could not find a piece of dust or dirt if you spent your time searching with a magnifying glass. Never seen anything like it. And the bathroom! The toilet seats are heated! The bathtub is deep and the hot water and pressure are like Niaggra Falls!
In the morning my bags were efficiently tagged at guest services and transferred to the MiraCosta and at 6:45 I walked the 10 minutes over to DisneySea to check in and get in line for hotel guests early entry. The walk was lovely and the Gods were with me as I had beautiful weather in the 60s both days and sunny Walking up to the MiraCosta is stunning. You have to go there at least once if you can afford to do so. At guest services I was told that if I checked in at 7:00am my room would be ready at 4:30pm but if I checked in at 2:45pm my room would be ready then at 2:45pm. Humm. I got my DisneySea passport for $62 and was escorted over to the line for hotel guests early entry. Already people where swarming into to gate area to get a jump on the day. I was about number 30 in the hotel guest line. A nice cast member checked the guests to see that they were on the hotel guest list of course everyone was. The Japanese wait patiently and would never seek to break the rules or cut ahead in line. Amazing. At gate opening everyone RUNS to ToyStory first to get a fast past which are gone by 9am for the day. Having studied up thats exactly what I did. By 8:10 when the general public enters the park the place was packed and this was on a weekday which was supposedly much better than weekends. After getting my TS fast pass I hopped in the standby line for Tower of Terror.. a different theme than in Orlando but lots of fun. I do think the one at WDW is a little longer and even better than Tokyo but it was fun nonetheless. Next it was over to the volcano area to in standby for 'Journey to the Centre of the Earth' about a 50 minute wait at 8:45 in the morning but a fun cue and a great and unique ride not to be found anywhere else from Disney.
Disneysea has to be seen and experienced to be believed. Its huge, well laid out and so much fun, spotlessly clean. I had no problem in the course of the day doing the boat rides, the train, Indiana Jones single rider line, Toy Story, Journey to the Center of the Earth, Raging Sprits roller coaster single rider line, walking around taking pictures, easily meeting characters everywhere, having unbelievable and deliciously and lovingly prepared meals at Magellon's and Restaurante Cannelinni
which I easily reserved online a few days before and walked right into at the stated time even though the park was crowded. All in all it was just amazing to be at DisneySea. In the afternoon my room was ready at exactly 2:45 and I was escorted by a bellman where my bags were already nicely placed. Oh yeah get this..there is NO TIPPING at TokyoDisney, anywhere!. The japanese don't tip by custom and so the service is included in your bill but you get an insanely over the top style of service and dedication that borders on surreal. I took a nap in my beautiful room INSIDE DisneySea with my view of the harbor, ships and volcano that erupts periodically! After catching a much needed rest I hopped the monorail and rode it around the property.. get this!.. in the FRONT..just walked right in and sat right down both times in the front as there is no driver in Tokyo. Hummm ya think they will figure that out at WDW someday? You have to pay about $2.50 for one loop on the monorail at Tokyo Disney unless you are staying at The MiraCosta or the New Disneyland Hotel where you are given a free pass during your stay. Both those hotels are directly on the monorail. The Ambassador has a cool art deco bus to take you to the parks. I took another nap after the monorail and went back into the park at 7pm strolled around and saw the fireworks until DisneySea closedto the public at 10pm . went to the hotel for a coffee and and amazing desert lovingly and immaculately served by a CM who bowed to me. Jeez. Headed back to my room and watched an over the top spectaular Fantasmic right from my open window lying on my bed that went on from 11pm until midnight for hotel guests only Absolutely nothing like WDW with no expense spared. Never seen anything like it in my life.
Mickey woke me up on the phone at exactly 6am Thursday morning and I headed down to the lobby for an easy checkout and the Limobus was there at exactly 7:05 as stated. I flew home with a great respect for the Japanese people and an understanding that it isn't just the bottom line as far as DisneyTokyo is concerned.. Its about SERVICE, quality, and the magic of Disney that in my humble opinion is at it best in Tokyo above and beyond what I've seen of late in WDW USA
I highly recommend for all you Disney fans out there to hop over the Pacific and enjoy the Japanese version of Disney!.. you will be amazed to experience a once in a lifetime treat.
Thank you and enjoy the film I made of my journey to TokyoDisney. Enjoy the film. watch it in HD and turn up the sound. I made it on the Japan Airlines flight on the way back to The States last night.
Tim.. March 21, 2014
*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIFx6gvqfys
