All the way from Japan to enjoy the WONDER of Disney

[tinawv]

This looks like the beginning of a great trip report. Looking forward to reading more, and hopefully more pictures.

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

I'm hoping on to this report as well. Your report makes me laugh especially when you go on about your DD's boyfriend. It reminds me of all the troubles my dad is going through with his step-daughter.

One of my dreams is to someday visit Japan and that trip will of course include a trip to Tokyo Disney. The pictures I have seen of Disney Sea are unbelievable!

 

[tokyodisneydad]

Well after breakfast we headed for the bus to go to MGM studios. It seemed like everyone else in the POP had the same idea of taking advantage of the Extra Magic Hours. If you ever run into this problem don't be discouraged. The Extra Magic hour program works well, at least for me. Two buses later we were on our way to MGM.
MGM is the girls favorite park. Mainly because of Tower of Terror. Tokyo Disney SEA has TOT also and the waiting area is better there. But the ride itself can't be beat at MGM. We make it through the gate and go to Guest services to pick up translating headsets for the girls. Last visit these worked well, but this time MGM would be the only park we used them at.
We then head towards the big blue Mickey's hat and start our Photopass. Again this came from all the pretrip research. More on this later. Turning right we head towards TOT to grab a Fastpass. Fastpasses really worked to our advantage this trip. We grab a FP for TOT and then notice there is almost no line. So round one for TOT begins. It was as great as I remembered. Of course DDA and DDJ want to get right back on, so I say OK and round two begins. Getting off they say again/again, but I convince them to go over to the Rock and Roll roller coaster and jump in line. This is my favorite and I plan on riding it several times. R&R never disappoints. When we get off it,s time for our TOT fastpass so we get our second fastpass for R&R coaster a little later and off to TOT for round three.
It's still before 10:30 and everything is going great, but it's HOT HOT HOT!!!
When it's this hot walking through the Tower of Terror line area is a fantastic way to cool off. It almost made me wish we weren't walking straight through on a fastpass.
The girls are on

 

[tokyodisneydad]

Don't let the crowds in this picture fool you. This was actually taken later in the day. The park was quite manageable throughout the day.

Next up--Highschool Musical , Motor car parade and late lunch

 

[tokyodisneydad]

Thanks to all the new folks for joining in. I just finished my first day back at work so I'm off to bed for now. I'll continue my day in MGM in the morning. Thanks to those who helped me figure out how to post pictures. We took over 600 pictures this trip. I can't share them all, but will share a few along the way.

 

[mkluvsmickey]

Great update! Your girls are adorable and I love their shirts in the MGM picture!

 

[lookingforward]

The girls are beautiful! I am lookingforward to more posts. I lived on Okinawa for three years and LOVE the Japanese culture and people. They are dignified, kind and hard working. I envy your life in Tokyo. We are returning to Japan in 2011 when my son graduates high school. He was born in Japan in 1993 and we promised him we would take him "home" to see where he started his life.


I remember those 14 hour flights and that was in the days BEFORE they had individual televisions. Can we discuss sleeping pills

 

[tokyodisneydad]

Thanks for the compliment Michelle. They are beautiful girls and look like their mom. I'm a very lucky man to have found Kiyomi. We found the shirts at Tokyo Disneyland on one of our many visits.

I remember the days before the inseat TVs to Lookingforward. I haven't been to Okinawa yet, but will get there some day

 

[tokyodisneydad]

Before we went on this trip DDA and DDJ were obsessed with High School Musical. They had watched the movie countless times and almost always were listening to the CD. So much that even I knew the words of the song by heart. Well, I don't know if I'm happy or sad that they no longer are interested in it. The change of mind can be blamed on the HS Musical Pep rally. First they were disappointed by the fact that the majority of the audience were just little kids, no one their own age. Second the performance left much to be desired, especially the singing. Now I understand that the heat and all that can effect a show, but DDA and DDJ don't quite get that.
Anyway it was about noon at this time and we don't have lunch reservations until 3:40 so I ask everyone if they are hungry. They say no and then I hear words I'm fearing-- "Let's go shopping!!" In my mind there is still so much to do, but in theirs we have been here before so can skip a lot this time. I give in and head to the shops knowing that I'll be weighted down with bags in another 20 minutes.
DDMs English skills are fine so I leave her on her own to shop as she may. I go over to help DDA and ask what she is looking for she says " I want to buy something for...." Can you guess? Yes, THE BOY has come back to haunt me yet again. But being the patient man I am and as long as she is spending her money, I help. Well I lost track of here, but when finally leave the shop I'm about 50 pounds heavier and I haven't even eaten lunch. I see a photopass guy or gal and push the family in front of the camera. My ultimate plan is to get as many pics as I can and then buy the CD.
BRB gotta change pics

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

What a great Dad, carrying all their shopping!

 

[tokyodisneydad]

Leaving the shop I see that it's time for our R/R fastpass and that we can get another one. We quickly went to R/R rollercoaster and on the way we grab another FP for TOT. After the ride we see that our FP for TOT is already time. So Round 4 here we come. Of course on the way out we get yet another FP but its for later that evening. Now it's about 2:15 and I want to see the parade so we go back over to the general area of the parade route. While waiting for the parade we go into the Drew Carey sound show. IMO BORING--I kept waiting for something to happen. It never did and suddenly the show was over--Huh?
I really enjoyed the Cars and Stars parade and my favorite was the Genie car.

After the parade we head for lunch at Mama Melroses.

I have to go to work now, so I promise to finish MGM later. I can't believe I'm writing this in such short installments, but that's how it's turning out--Sorry

Next up: Mama Melroses, a bloody nose and More of THE BOY

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

That Genie car is neat. The MGM parade is the one parade we missed out on in our recent trip.

 

[tokyodisneydad]

What a great Dad, carrying all their shopping!

Isn't it in my contract somewhere?? I better go back and read the fine print

 

[disneydance]

yeah tokyodisneydad now i need to do more on my tr maybe this weekend school started yesterday and i already have a boat load of homework and im hoping i wont have any this weekend other than reading

 

[tokyodisneydad]

I have sat down in front of the PC and I'm determined to finish this day up.

It was about 3:30 when we showed up at Mama Melrose's for our reservation. I had made the reservation for this restaurant about a month before our trip. The main reason I had chosen here was for the Fantasmic Package.
We sat down at the table and our waitress asked if we were on the Disney Dining Plan. When I said yes her face and attitude changed. I figured out why later. IMO she felt like she was going to get a set tip and why should she try any harder. Big mistake on her part. I'm the kind of guy that will write in a little extra beyond the DP tip if the service is worth it. She handed us the menu and disappeared. Well inside the restaurant the girls were cold again. The AC problem that I mentioned earlier was coming into play again. Again we would solve this later, but not yet. I remember the good things that we ordered and can recommend the following--Artisan Breads and Spreads, Toasted Italian Bread salad and the Chicken Parmesan. These were all excellent and would rate a 9 or 10 on the Wally scale. DDJ ordered her first steak of many. When we told her to eat the vegetables she basically wouldn't. That's not new though--she does the same at home. She points out that french fries are a vegetable. Cucumbers are about the only vegetables she will eat without a fight. Don't tell her but DDM and I are always sneaking veggies into recipes.
Anyway back to the meal--Overall the meal was good, but not spectacular. This may have been caused by the poor service, I wont mention our waitresses name. I believe everyone has a bad day and deserves another chance. We got or ticket for Fantasmic and go to do a few more attractions including the Muppet show and Great Movie ride. We decide to skip the Motor Car stunt show. Which is fine by me, once was enough the last visit. We slowly walk around enjoying the sights, catching a few more Photopass photographers and decide to turn in the headset translators. We then use our TOT FP and then go to the Fantasmic early seating gate. I'm excited because it's my first time to see this show. Going through the back gate we walk for what seems like forever and when we finally get to the seating area I start complaining because it's so crowded and our seats are Ok but a bit of a disappointment. I would eat these words later. As we are waiting for the show to start DDJ's nose starts bleeding. I think it was from the heat Well don't panic( I already did that) she was fine after a pack of tissue and a cold drink.
While we are waiting I see the vendors selling these light toys and being the BIG kid I am, I turn to my better half and say " I want one!!" Being the more level headed half of our relationship she says "NO" Plain and simple--I get the point. I then turn to DDJ and say " Don't you want one of those?" She doesn't fall for it. Usually she would, but the lose of blood has effected her brain.
FANTASMIC was fantastic!!Great!! Wonderful!!--Not as good as Braviseamo at Tokyo Disney SEA but still a 10.

After Fanatasmic we start taking advantage of Extra Magic hours--Atleast a little. I see the line for the later showing of Fantasmic and am now VERY thankful for my seats.
During the extra time we rode Star Tours, TOT again and R&R rollercoaster again.
Upon arrival back at the hotel DDA heads to the lobby to call THE BOY again. I give DDM a look and we know that this would be the last call--Or so we thought.

Next up: How EPCOT has lost my respect and heart

PS--Does anyone remember the show at MGM that you could be part of old TV shows like Cheers, I love Lucy and Gilligan's Island? I used to love that show.

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

That is too bad that you had bad service for your meal. I guess that is on egood thing about the 08 dining plan not including the tip, the wait staff will actually have to earn the tips instead of it being automatic.

Yikes! A nose bleed at Fantasmic I had a friend who used to get nose bleeds like that all the time. Not fun!

 

[mkluvsmickey]

Thanks for posting another update! Sorry to hear your girls didn't like the HSM pep rally. My DD7 is very much looking forward to this but since she's on the younger side she will probably love it!

Glad to hear the good report on Fantasmic. We are seeing it for the first time (with the dinner package at Mama Melrose) when we go next month.

Looking forward to more!

 

[tokyodisneydad]

Hi everyone! Sorry for the delay. Michelle your daughter will like the HS Musical pep rally. Mine were just too old.

OK now to EPCOT. First of all I'm and EPCOT purist and up to this point it was my favorite park in the world. That spot now belongs to Tokyo Disney SEA. I was at EPCOT the month it opened and remember it before Test Track and Soarin. To me it felt like going to a World's fair and Science fair all wrapped up in to one. No more, IMO Walt would be rolling in his grave if he knew what EPCOT has turned into.
Now before you read any further we had some good times here, but overall today was a bad day. Read on and find out. Also I promise this will be the ONLY time in my TR that I complain about the Magic.

Ok first of all I avoided the chaos of the POP dining area during breakfast by getting a wake up call for myself an hour before my family. Yes it was Mickey not Tigger when I answered the phone. I think DDJ was confused because when the Mouse speaks Japanese he sounds different. Anyway I went to the food court and loaded up the family favorites (including a cream cheese danish for me) then I carried the two trays back to the room for surprise breakfast in bed for my girls. They were surprised and happy and thanks all around. I didn't tell them it was because I couldn't stand the waiting So we are off to a good start.
A little background here: EPCOT having been my favorite before this trip I had made one simple request to my family before going. I wanted to take my time and not feel rushed (like last visit) in World Showcase. Did that happen? NO
To the bus and off to the park.

Arriving at EPCOT or first goal is to try SOARIN- a first for everyone including me. We walk through the gates and take a fastpass photo (not this one) in front of Spaceship Earth. I'm glad to see the Wand gone and just wish they would take down the big rock memorial in front of it. Then at a fast pace we head for SOARIN and grab a FP then jump in line and wait about 10 minutes.
Even though it's not my favorite SOARIN lived up to it's reputation. We got to sit in the front (the front is best) and it was great. The orange smell and the golf course were my favorite part. Getting off we see that our FP is within a half hour so I push the family on Living with the land. They are happy I did and really enjoy it. I love this ride as it is still from the original EPCOT . After the boat ride we use our FP for SOARIN . Still good, but the second row loses some effect as you see peoples feet and get the smell also
We would ride SOARIN again later in the third row. Even if you have to wait the first row makes a big difference.
All is good so far--We are all smiles and happy to be there.
Next is Fast Track!!

 

[tokyodisneydad]

After SOARIN it was off to the opposite side of the park for DDJ and DDA favorite ride at EPCOT-Test Track. Test Track is a cool ride and if it were in another park (maybe MGM as as Car Chase ride or something) I'd be happy. IMO though it just doesn't quite fit into the scheme of what EPCOT was originally meant to be. I miss the original World of Motion attraction that was on that sight. I know, I know--it was slow and a bit boring for most, but for me it was fascinating. The same goes for alot of the original attractions. I guess I was a geeky kid.
After riding Test Track both on a FP and Stand by we took the girls pictures in several of the cars. Being the pin trader I am I also trade several pins with CMs. I trade alot, almost with every CM I see to tell the truth. This is one things the girls understand and never complain about.
If you have never ridden Test Track I recommend it and give it a 9 out of 10. It loses the 1 point for the HEAT room.

Next up: I found NEMO and a nice lunch

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

That is a really great picture of your daughters in the car at TT, they look like they are having such a fun time!