Tokyo Disney on 2 Weeks’ Notice: Hightower Halloween Costume!

[lurkyloo]

And then suddenly it all went horribly wrong. We were exploring the fort and marveling at all the places that would have given our Disneyland's lawyers a heart attack when, moments after Patrick warned me to watch my head at the entrance's low doorframe, I walked full-speed into the exit's low doorframe because my doofy hat was blocking my view! Luckily no one else was around at that moment, because I hollered some words that are naughty in ALL languages. Then I plopped down on a fake barrel and burst into tears.

As I was disintegrating, a little girl stepped into the fort, took one look at me, SHRIEKED, and bolted back out the doorway. This instantly cracked us up. I can only imagine how frightening it would be to step into a dark and spooky old fort to discover a ginormous woman in a voluminous white poncho wailing at the top of her lungs.

The Lair of the Wailing Woman

After that I managed to pull myself together, and we staggered off the island as it closed for the night. Patrick kept asking if I could see straight or if I felt dizzy, but mostly I just felt like an idiot for not watching where I was going.


Oh NOW you tell me!

After nearly getting sent to the hospital while trying to ask the park nurse for earplugs, we knew if I went in there now they'd probably euthanize me, so instead Patrick got me a cup of ice at a counter service restaurant and poured it into a handy Ziploc bag. Actually, *I* got the ice because I made Patrick go around taking more reference pix of the restaurant….


This is the Lucky Nugget Café… or possibly Thomas Keller's French Laundry, for all I knew…

So then I was the ginormous woman in a voluminous white poncho holding a plastic bag to her head. We rode the riverboat. I got to sit down. The Japanese 3-year-old next to me was practicing saying his numbers, and he knew more of them than I did.


At least I still have my popcorn bucket!

Hey cool! The settler's cabin is still burning in Tokyo! Now all they need is the body draped over the table… or me sitting there wailing…

 

[lurkyloo]

We still hadn't set foot in Toontown, so after we wobbled off the Mark Twain, we continued wobbling across the top of Fantasyland toward Toontown.

We never find ourselves in our Toontown after dark, so it was kinda surreal to be in an unfamiliar (dare I say "Bizzaro"?) Toontown at night.

Huey, Dewey & Louie's Good Time Café

Despite the fact that I was at that moment powering my way through a tub of Honey popcorn procured near Pooh's Hunny Hunt, we decided to go eat dinner back at the amazingly themed Grandma Sara's Kitchen in Critter Country.

Beef Tomato Stew with Seasoned Rice Set (incl. salad and a drink) ¥1,400

Seafood and Rice Au Gratin Set (incl. salad and a drink) ¥1,300

The food was… not so amazing. Patrick's Beef Tomato Stew had three tiny pieces of beef, and my Seafood and Rice Gratin was a plate of rice with a thin veneer of fake cheese dotted with overcooked shrimp and scallops. But at least Grandma Sara had hot chocolate for us!

After dinner we headed to Adventureland to see if we could get on any rides.

As my pal Jensey would say, "Favorite!"

We got on the Jungle Cruise fairly quickly, and even though the guide was speaking Japanese, we still knew when to laugh!

Patrick turned out to be rather interested in the Polynesian Terrace, the site of an impossible-to-book lunch/dinner show. I felt bad for not doing more research about this aspect of Tokyo Disneyland, but characters are not exactly my top priority, and I only had TWO WEEKS to plan, fer cryin' out loud!

Mostly, I think he just liked the idea of getting to eat someplace kind of like Disneyland's former Tahitian Terrace restaurant. Next time!

 

[lurkyloo]

We ducked into Country Bears to escape the cold and found it much better attended than the one at the Magic Kingdom—but we still got right in. The exit area is also way more elaborate than Florida's. Oh, and some of the songs are in English!

"So… do you have a pin of this?"

Back in Adventureland we stumbled on a place I'd somehow missed before but was ecstatic to find: the perfume shop! My collector's Holy Grail is Dorothea Redmond's concept art for the former perfume shop in Disneyland's New Orleans Square (now the crystal shop). It was made available a few years ago through print-on-demand but pulled within a week because the digital file was corrupt, and they never fixed it. But here in Tokyo, I'd just walked into a full-size replica of the place!

I will often buy or bring one perfume to wear on vacation so it reminds me of that vacation every time I put it on again. This time was no exception, although my nose was so stuffy I couldn't really smell it til about 3 days later!

The Disneyland Railroad was a walk-on, prolly cuz you can't really see much in the dark! As I think I've mentioned before, at Tokyo Disneyland, it's really just a ride, not an actual mode of transport, because they would have to charge a fare if it went anywhere.

Finally it was nearing closing time, so we ran to the Buzz Lightyear gift shop and then to the Monsters Inc gift shop to get omiyage for everyone and his brother.

So long, Tokyo Disneyland!

Taking the shuttle bus to the Ambassador was totally painless—we only waited a few minutes for one to show up, and then another few minutes later we were at the hotel.

 

[lurkyloo]

Because we booked our trip basically at the last minute, I had to do a lot of finessing of our Disney resort reservations online. I made and cancelled about 6 different reservations for various combinations of date and hotel before I settled on our 3-resort hop. The Ambassador was the only hotel I could get for the Friday night of our trip, and I was kinda bummed. For some reason—lack of photos online?—I assumed that the Ambassador would be the Paradise Pier of Tokyo Disney's resorts: a bland, basic hotel with the barest Disney overlay and chintzy amenities. Instead, we found a gleaming Art Deco masterpiece with subtle but Disney-fabulous theming and basically the same amenities as Hotel MiraCosta (although it was the first Disney hotel built in Tokyo, it's only one year older than MiraCosta, and the rooms are almost identical). Sure, it's not on the monorail (whose idea was that, BTW?!), but it is close to Ikspiari and feels just as posh as the other two Disney hotels. In fact, Patrick declared it his favorite of all three resorts.

What made our stay even better was getting a room on the Concierge level (known as the Ambassador Floor). One day during my reservation finessing, an Ambassador Floor room popped up that was only about $40 more per night than the cheapest category of standard room. We never stay Concierge in the US because a few muffins at breakfast and a handful of truffles at dessert are not worth the $100+ surcharge per night. But breakfast at Chef Mickey's in the Ambassador would have set us back more than 40 bucks, so I jumped on the deal.

We were directed to the 6th floor Ambassador Lounge to check in. When we got there, the first thing they did was seat us at a table and offer us free drinks.

Not being a big soda drinker, I think I ordered a glass of milk… and it looks like it had ice cubes in it…?

Then they had me go over to a desk and sit down with someone to check in.

Then there was more drinking back at the table, and then someone came over with our room keys, and a woman escorted us to our room. The corridors look like those on a cruise ship, and each door has a faux porthole.

The beds look so narrow in this pic, and I remember worrying about the size, but I don't recall them being too tight a squeeze…

We got yet another free fruit bowl—it's a wonder poor Patrick didn't get the trots!

This was the only Disney resort that had a desk/vanity built into the hall shelves—nice touch!

In addition to the standard Disney-branded toiletries, we got a set of real Shiseido toiletries and a pack of rose-scented bath beads (I'm guessing cuz we were Concierge?). I looooved my bath.

Hmm… I think I'monna bust out some of that bath gel tonight! Er, I mean, I would if I had taken some from the hotel…

"Must not steal towels…. Must not steal towels…"

In case you're wondering…

Ill-fitting jammies!!!

And what's this? Ill-fitting slippers too?!!!

You'll see waaaaaay more of the pool in tomorrow's update, but here's how it looks at night:

 

[lurkyloo]

The view from our room (with zoom!)

Something that we don't know what it is…

Boy, this is a lot of pictures… Patrick must've been delirious with exhaustion at this point!

Up Next: Breakfast in the Concierge Lounge and Shopping Disney Till We Drop!

 

[disney_princess_85]

Great update with fantastic photos, as usual. I particularly like the look of Toontown and the perfume shop. The Ambassador looks very nice too.

As I was disintegrating, a little girl stepped into the fort, took one look at me, SHRIEKED, and bolted back out the doorway. This instantly cracked us up. I can only imagine how frightening it would be to step into a dark and spooky old fort to discover a ginormous woman in a voluminous white poncho wailing at the top of her lungs.

This sounds hilarious! I can just imagine it happening.

 

[Becx N Gav]

Nice update

I love the braille map, seems like a great idea

I have to admit we've never done the Swiss Family tree house or Tom Sawyers island We must do it in Dec.

Ouch, your poor head Hope you didn't get a bump!

Wow the Ambasador hotel looks lovely! That thing you're not sure what it is - could it be a trousers (pant) press? Did you keep the PJ's or is there a little card that says you'll be charged a million yen for them

So was that your last day at the parks? Can't wait to hear what else you got up to

 

[praisehisname]

We were exploring the fort and marveling at all the places that would have given our Disneyland's lawyers a heart attack

Showing my lack on knowledge here...but what would have given them a heart attack?

Love the Mickey shaped pizza!

Any idea why?

Is that a recycling/trash can, or something completely different?

 

[JMcDisney]

These pictures really show what you mean by "it's like being in a dream about the Magic Kingdom where everything is just a bit off". I totally got that feeling from the shot of the castle at the Swiss Family Robinson treehouse and from the Adventureland entrance sign.

Oh, I hate bumping my head like that! I'm glad that little girl walked in and cracked you guys up right away. Too funny! She'll be scared of the attraction for the rest of her life.

I love the Mickey heads on the chopsticks and on the hotel toiletries. Everything there is just so cool looking. Can't wait to see the pics from hotel in the daytime!

 

[Beka]

That Stitch lunchbox is cute!

And how is calling a sandwich of minced meat (or whatever it said) appetizing? Yuck.

I'd be broke from buying all the cute stuff there!

 

[burly]

Wow, great update.
Sorry about the head!
Again, as always, beautiful pictures. And this time just one big butterfly was born, well actually the birthing process was a bit painful, mouth very wide open and out popped a MOTHRA! bwahahahaha


My jaw is actually starting to hurt from its lack of use while reading/veiwing your trip reports.

 

[Curiouser&curiouser!]

I love how the restaurants have fake dinners! It's nice to see what you are really getting!

I couldn't help but notice that the Crystal Palace had a price for adults, a price for children 7-12, and another price for children 4-6! That's a pretty darn smart way of doing things!

 

[adisneygal]

Hee hee! Are you callin' us hippies?!

LOL, no. I think we are about the same age since we both had the Peaches and Cream Barbie and both loved & remember Oreo Big Stuff. So if you are a hippie, so am I. But if you were around in the 60's, crap, you look great for your age! I was just saying that Hippies kept the peace sign alive and well for all generations and ethnicities to enjoy.

Now off to read your new installment.....

 

[cseca]

LOOOOOOVE the updates!
Sorry about your noggin. That would make wail too...

BTW, reading your updates and the one thing that I keep thinking is... I need to bring an empty suitccase. All the merch pics you took are amazing. There's no way I would be able to say no to all of those things. And I'm pretty darn good with surpressing my shopping impulse... sigh... DH is NOT going to be happy...

Absolutely adore those freebie lunchboxes too. Although I doubt DH would want to take it to work...

Oh, the fancy toilet... I actually had one this weekend at a holiday inn here in Michigan. How weird is that? I had to poke around to figure out how to use it... hehe.

Sooo... a question for you.
You said Patrick's favorite hotel is Ambassador, what's yours?

Oh and someone asked about why there's no pin trading.
When pin trading first started in Japan they were huge. And I mean huge. People would literally set up shop (put a blanket on the ground) to do their trading.
So OLC decided to stop park pin trading altogether. It's a bummer because trading with the Japanese are so much fun. They are very fair, polite and helpful.

 

[Disneygrl36]

Weird how parts of Tom Sawyer Island look so Thunder Mountainy.
Also, your poor head. I don't ever bump my head, but I always manage to take a tumble.....I feel like such a clutz when I do it.
Love, love, love that mirror in your room.....I collect Sorcerer Mickey.

 

[dukehoopsfan]

Carrie - Another wonderful trip report with lots of great photos!

I can "feel" your pain with the hit to the head - literally! A couple of summers ago we were going through the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids play area and came around a corner and smacked straight into the sniffing dog nose. Could feel it bumping up so I put my ice cold water bottle on it and a little kid walked by, past my laughing son, and said "hey lady - you are bleeding!". Yep, I sure was - and not just a trickle - but enough to panic the CM who quickly came over, and sat me on a bench and called to have an emt to come look at me. I started to panic thinking I split my head open and would have stitches on my forehead. The emt asked what I had done - and apparently the English language left my head when I hit is because my reply was "I hit my head on the dog sniffer thing." All of our pictures for the rest of the vacation have me with a set of bandaids on my forehead. To this day we still laugh about it - and each summer I am asked by the family if I want to go play by the "dog sniffer thing."

 

[Aburns8]

I hope that your head healed quickly! I sometimes have to watch those things as well. Loved the update! Those toiletries looked adorable!

 

[LittleStinkerbelle]

Ouch -- sorry you hit your head!

I'm intrigued by the fact that CP has pricing for ages 4-6 and then 7-12.

Congrats on the great concierge rate.

 

[beatlesblonde]

Another fantastic update! I'm sorry about your head, but as a fellow klutz I feel your pain. I am constantly smacking, banging, scratching myself for no reason....I should really take out stock in Band-Aids Looking forward to more TR, I'll need to keep myself busy next week while DH is out of town for work. (In fact he'll be in your neck of the woods at the Siggraph convention at the LA Convention Center).

 

[praisehisname]

Oh and someone asked about why there's no pin trading.
When pin trading first started in Japan they were huge. And I mean huge. People would literally set up shop (put a blanket on the ground) to do their trading.
So OLC decided to stop park pin trading altogether. It's a bummer because trading with the Japanese are so much fun. They are very fair, polite and helpful.

Makes sense, thanks for the info!