All the way from Japan to enjoy the WONDER of Disney

[mkluvsmickey]

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

Your girls look pretty comfortable in that car!

 

[tokyodisneydad]

Thanks for the compliment and yes they had a great time posing in the cars. The car pics are the few pictures that DDJ is not holding up the peace sign in I never quite understand why every time you take a picture of a Japanese person they put two fingers in the air forming the peace sign

 

[tokyodisneydad]

Ok it was time to Zig Zag back across the park. We had lunch reservations and I wanted to ride NEMO before lunch. I was looking forward to this since it was new and I like the movie. We jump in line and wait about 20 minutes. Again I'm an EPCOT purist and was worried how I would feel about the changes. I'm happy to say that Disney gets a thumbs up for the changes here. The technology to create the effects for this ride were amazing. My only complaint was it was too short, but I expected that before hand as I knew the clamshells followed the old route of the old attraction. The Living Seas is an amazing exhibit and well worth taking your time to look around in. Is it just me or are there a lot less fish than there used to be.
After NEMO we skipped Crush's Turtle talk as my girl's wouldn't have understood the English. I was a little as I have heard good things about it, but it was getting close to lunch.

Here are the girls outside NEMO--Notice DDJ's peace sign

BRB gotta change pictures for lunch.

 

[disneyholic family]

hi there Tokyodisneydad!!

i just noticed your name - as it happens, my daughter just landed in tokyo about 6 hours ago (she called a little while ago from the ryokan she's staying at)...

she'll be in japan for 17 days (not nearly enough, but she can always go back).....but she's saving the 'best' for last - TDL/TDS will be at the end of her trip....i can't wait to hear her trip report (last time i was at TDL was in 1984!! before she was born...)

anyway....hi!

now i'll go back and read your trip report

 

[tokyodisneydad]

Well it was off to lunch at the Coral Reef restaurant. I had eaten here years ago, but all I remember was the Mickey shaped butter, which was not there this time I had been telling the girls about it for several weeks. But that's Ok- this was a great lunch. Thanks mostly to a wonderful waitress named Leslie( I think) We were seated at the top, but still had a nice view of the tanks. We saw sharks, stingrays and a HUGE sea turtle. Our waitress brought the menus and I swear I heard a worried, frightened MOO sound from the back as soon as Junna opened hers. I can't say enough about the great service this meal. She brought us Japanese menus and was always there when we needed something. She did this even though she knew we were on the DDP. I tipped extra and made sure to fill out a compliment card for her after the meal.

Ok what did we order. Do I have to tell you what Junna ordered? She ordered the New York Strip and said it was Delicious. DDA ordered the salmon and so did DDM. I can't remember my entree, but here is where I tell you a must try IMO-- I ordered the Creamy Lobster soup and it gets an 11. One of the best things I ate all vacation.

Up to this point the day was looking GREAT, but hang on when I come back it suddenly takes a turn for the worse.

Next: Shopping, Mexico and the terror of a boat ride.
Also coming soon: Kill The Boy and my run around the world

The picture is me and my beautiful wife at the Coral reef restaurant

 

[tokyodisneydad]

Hi Beth. Thanks for joining in on my trip report. When will your daughter go to TDL? I'm not to far away from the park. If she needs any help just give me a holler here and I'll see what I can do

 

[bowlingchicaroo]

just wanted to tell ya that i am enjoying your TR. you are doing a fine job!

i so need to start my pre-tr soon...as we are leaving in 4 mo...

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

That's great that you had a good lunch at Coral Reef and that you had such an awesome server. I always hear so many mixed reviews of the place so I am glad to hear that you enjoyed it.

 

[eternaldisneyfan]

I miss some of Epcot's attractions, too, mainly Horizons. I loved Horizons!

Your girls look natural in that fancy smancy car.

So, how did Epcot disappoint you?

-Christamae

 

[tokyodisneydad]

Thanks for joining in bowlingchicaroo.

Lifelong_dreamer: I've heard mixed reviews of Coral Reef too, but that day atleast it was good for us.

Christamae hold on to your seat it's about to get rough

 

[tokyodisneydad]

We leave Coral Reef restaurant behind with full stomachs and light hearts. I make a mistake of asking what everyone wants to do next. My mind was thinking Imagination (love that Figment) or Mission Space, but No--I hear "Shopping". Of course I get this look on my face But I know when I'm out voted so off to the shops. As we go we pass the new character area and I point out that there are almost no lines. It goes unheard We are now on a mission and theres no stopping this group MARCHING across the parks. Suddenly I get an idea DDM had promised to go with me to the Innoventions area. I wanted to build a robot and explore what was new. This little fact seems to have slipped her mind. I don't say anything but my inside is I tell the girls I'll be back in an hour. (Yes I knew it would take atleast that long) Before I leave though DDA discovers she has left her money at the hotel and she wants to borrow some from DDM. DDM asks her what she wants to buy and she says something for THE BOY. Have you ever seen the Exorcist? That's what DDM head looked like at that moment. People started gathering around to watch it spinning on her shoulders. Small children ran away frightened and yelling "Maleficent has lost her mind!!"
DDM had had enough of THE BOY and wasn't lending any money to DDA. With what had happened just before our trip I understood 100%. Of course DDA turns to me with in her eyes. But not this time. I'm not getting involved and make a quick exit for the door.

I don't know what happened in the next hour with them, but I enjoyed making a robot. Even though I think I was the only adult without a kid of their own. While making mine I stood next to this little boy and talked to him so it wouldn't look like I was by myself. He was creating Buzz Lightyear according to him. After that I went to the pintrading area and saw a couple of little kids with their parents trading. I asked the parents if this was their first time trading and they said yes. I reached in my pin bag and pulled out two Japan pins that I had brought to give to new traders. The parents were happy and said thank you a number of times. For me that is what pin trading is all about. I then traded a limited edition Japan with a CM. I had brought about 20 LE pins from Japan with the goal of putting them on CM lanyards for other people to find.

OK it was time to go back to The Scene. I get back and am thankful to see that DDM has only bought 20 pounds of things for me to carry. DDA is sulking and DDM has a on her face.
I ask what DDM has bought and she goes through the list and then shows me a new pair of sunglasses. I tell you this because they will come in to the story very shortly.

We finally leave the shops and start for World Showcase Even though everyone else has a on their face I'm happy. This is what I've been looking forward to the most.
It's about 2:00 at this time and on the way we see these guys

Next The terror of a boat ride in Mexico and I lose my cool

 

[winkers]

Great report! Now I'm dying to know what happens in Mexico!!

 

[tokyodisneydad]

Great report! Now I'm dying to know what happens in Mexico!!

It's coming soon I promise and thanks for joining in!!

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Oh no! I am anxious to see what happens to make you lose your cool!

 

[tokyodisneydad]

Oh no! I am anxious to see what happens to make you lose your cool!

Believe me it takes a lot for me to lose my cool, especially in the happiest place on earth.

 

[disneyholic family]

GREAT report !!!!
so entertaining...i can't wait to hear about mexico...

thanks for the offer regarding TDL...but she's a pretty independent sort..

she'll be there with a girlfriend of hers (they're 'doing' japan together - then her friend goes back home and my daughter continues on to thailand to hit the islands there - she calls them paradise)...

my daughter did all the planning and arrangements for both of them...

she has 4 days scheduled for TDL/TDS (as our name says - we're the disneyholic family - 4 days, not a second less..)...her friend has never been to disney anywhere, so my daughter is feeling the pressure to really show her a good time at disney...

my daughter was at hong kong disney last year for her 22 birthday...
so this year she'll be at tokyo disney for her 23rd birthday...

one thing that i'm sure would be of great help to her, if you have any tips about what to see - or rather what order to see things in (both at TDL and TDS)...i'm sure she would really appreciate that...

 

[tokyodisneydad]

Beth-- Your daughter couldn't pick a better two parks to introduce her friend to the joy of Disney. I've been to every park except Paris and I think Tokyo rate the best IMO. I used to be a WDW fanatic and I guess it is still the ultimate Disney trip, but Tokyo has my heart now. That goes double for Disney SEA.
As she has four days planned she should have no trouble seeing everything. Just a few TDR tips:
TDL--Splash Mountain and Big Thunder pull the biggest crowds, so grab a FP for them early. also Haunted Mansion is having it's Halloween nightmare before Christmas special soon so that will probably be crowded. Pirates recently reopened with the updates so it's also pulling big numbers. Pooh's Honey Hunt is a 110% MUST SEE as it is ALOT different from anything in the States so grab a FP for it or see the Electrical Light Parade nearby and make a mad dash as the parade finishes.
Tokyo DisneySEA: Tower of Terror is the first thing she wants to get a Fast Pass for. Other things include Journey to the Center of the Earth and the Little Mermaid show.
If she likes popcorn I recommend getting the souvenir bucket on day one and refilling it for the small box price the rest of her visit. The popcorn flavors range from the sweet to the exotic. Try them all.
If she doesn't mind spending a little extra for a nice meal Magellens is great and she can try to get seated in the Secret Wine Celler Room.

Ok this has been off topic from my report, but I hope it helped. PM me if she has any other Q's.

Well it's time to get some sleep here, but I promise when I wake up everyone will find out what happened in Mexico.

 

[mkluvsmickey]

Great update! You had me laughing out loud at my desk. I can just picture everyone's expressions! Can't wait for more.

 

[tokyodisneydad]

It's time to spill the beans about Mexico. After watching the Muppet Mobile and really enjoying it in spite of the heat we start for World Showcase. Being a left to right kind of guy this puts Mexico in our sights first. On our way we have our first Dream Team member sighting. He also has just entered Mexico. Maybe he just wants a taco, I don't know. I'm really not worried about the DT that much. If my girls get a Dream that would be great, but I'm not going to spend the time chasing them down.
Ok back to Mexico. The inside of Mexico is absolutely beautiful and next trip (no daughters) I plan on having a romantic meal there with DM, maybe. Not sure now that she will ever want to step foot in Mexico again. So we go to get on the boat ride and as we enter we see the DT member again.
Ok WARNING heres where the day gets ugly-- Turn your head if you have dreams of Disney always being perfect.

We go to get on the boat DDJ and DDA get in first. Then I get in holding all the shopping bags and cameras. As Kiyomi gets in holding her NEW 20$ sunglasses the CM decides to release the boat before she sits down. This makes her lose her balance and almost throws her into the seat behind her. Luckily she was able to get a hold of the seat, but to do so those $20 glasses are now in the drink. I'm not worried about that at the moment though. First I want to check on her. She seems ok but her back has twisted and is hurting. I want to yell at the CM to stop the ride so we can get her off and she wants to get her glasses, but too late we are now around the corner.

I don't remember much about this ride. The girls later said it was fun. Being the attentive teenagers they are, they had missed their mom almost being thrown out of the boat.

Well as we exit the boat of course I have a bit to say to the careless CM. I'm trying to explain what happened and also can they check for the glasses. Yes I was speaking English not Japanese and at this point I'm still calm. Suddenly every CM there only speaks Spanish. I finally get a manager and basically am told tough tacos. I say fine that I would go to guest services and take it up with someone there. So out of Mexico and to Guest services we go.

We take a shortcut near the first aid station. I ask DM if she needs to go there. She says no that she will be OK and that we should go to GS. I tell the daughters to go to Test track and ride and we will meet them there.

At Guest services I'm still calm (I think) although smoke have been slowly seeping out of my left ear. I wait in line and get a CM from Brazil. His English is Ok, but I want an American that I can clearly explain to at that point. I wait for about 10 minutes and get a lady that does try to help, but I am still getting tough tacos. I ask for the supervisor and take a seat to wait. No one ever asked if my wife was injured or ok. It takes about 30 minutes to get a supervisor. DM says just forget it, but by this time I'm My beloved EPCOT is letting me down.

Background info: I did a 6 month Music internship at EPCOT years ago and saw similiar situations. The customers well being was always checked and I saw many a voucher given to cover damaged or lost property.

Finally the supervisor comes out and before even hearing what I have to say she says and I quote. "Tough Taco!" Well not exactly , but something to that effect. I said to her that the CM should be more careful that DM could have been injured. Suddenly she goes into protect her caboose mode and wants to call an ambulance. I tell her exactly how I feel and in not so magical words about her now trying to protect herself. I tell her that all we wanted was the glasses to be replaced. I find out that the reason itv took so long was she was talking to the CMs in Mexico, but she didn't want my point of the story.
She hands me a card and says I can file a claim with some department and that it would take 30 days. I say we will be back in Japan by then she says "Tough Taco " one more time and we leave. This has taken an hour and half of my day.

Ok I've vented. Oh I forgot the Dream Team Member was giving out Dream Lanyards at the boat ride exit. If we wouldn't have been talking to the staff we would have gotten one. As it was we missed it by one family.

 

[winkers]

That really inhales greatly!! (sorry my mom taught me not to say the very unlady like word sucks) I can't believe they weren't greatfull that your wife wasn't hurt. I wonder if it's caused by the few who try to make little things into huge events, and that's why they feel they have to protect themselves before the customer. I hope it didn't ruin your whole day! World showcase is my favorite.