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

[PopArtGal]

The monorail is soooooooooo cute. And so swanky. Maybe we'd get the same treatment if we paid fees to use it?

 

[PopArtGal]

That Stitch is so freakin adorable!

 

[Chilly]

I've just remembered what my second comment was! The double cuteness of a Disney character dressed as something else is also something common in the UK.

 

[Donald'sGirl]

Carrie I just found your TR and spent the last 2 days reading and all I can say is

WOW!!!

I am loving this trip report! You are so lucky you were able to go to. I hope someday I will be able to as well. Your pictures and detail of the trip is fantastic! Thank you for sharing this with us.

Can't wait for the next installment

 

[aharbin88]

Good question! Maybe it was sun protection?

That's what I was thinking, too. I wondered if Tokyo has a high incidence of skin cancer or something. They were wayyyy covered up!

Your TR is just amazing! I just love looking at all these pictures, and I'm so glad you took the time to take them. I'm really impressed that you were able to get all this touring done before 3, too! You must have been haulin' tail to get to all these places, especially the ones that weren't connected by the monorail or easily-found foot paths.

It strikes me as a little odd that all these wedding venues seem very American-ized to me. Is this why they say that only certain people would want this wedding, so they only offer limited choices? Those same people would want American-ish weddings? Or maybe that's the theme of most weddings in Japan these days. I'm not exactly up on the trends in other parts of the world (except what Jessica Simpson taught me on "Price of Beauty"!), so maybe it seems more odd to me than it should.

 

[voleball]

Good question! Maybe it was sun protection?

That's what I was thinking, too. I wondered if Tokyo has a high incidence of skin cancer or something. They were wayyyy covered up!

These are the very traditional and very popular work outfits for older people who work outside includig farmers. Mostly to cover up to hide from sun and sun burn. (Japanese don't really use sun blockers.) But no, skin cancer is not very common in Asian countries as far as I know. Skin cancer is more common on western countries where people have fair skin.

It strikes me as a little odd that all these wedding venues seem very American-ized to me. Is this why they say that only certain people would want this wedding, so they only offer limited choices? Those same people would want American-ish weddings? Or maybe that's the theme of most weddings in Japan these days.

Yes, western wedding is VERY popular in Japan. They have 2 themes in most cases. One w/ traditional, old style wedding with brides and grooms wearing Kimonos which usually held in a enclosed traditionally decorated room (that's probably why lurkyloo didn't see those kind of weddings) and most big hotels should have it. It's usually a small room and only close families and relatives can get in - usually not friends. And the other is just like western weddings. A lot of times, couples have both in one wedding. Have the traditional wedding with close family members, then have the reception in the western style with gowns, cakes, food and all that. Most girls dream about wearing western gowns for their wedding. The difference is the gowns are not limited to white for the reception. Many brides change gowns a couple of times during the reception and tend to wear more colors. Other popular (but not as common) wedding is couples actually go to Hawaii w/ family and friends and do the real western wedding there. Japanese spends A LOT of money on wedding.

 

[meryll83]

Oh no! I was hoping this report would do the opposite and make a Tokyo trip seem *less* complicated! Well, the PassPorter on Tokyo Disney should be out by the time you go, so hopefully that will make it seem less overwhelming to you!

I'm so glad someone has decided to make a us guide book - it's about time, thank you!

Hong Kong next? Please?

 

[Chilly]

I'm so glad someone has decided to make a us guide book - it's about time, thank you!

Hong Kong next? Please?

I've heard HK Disney is pretty small.

 

[aharbin88]

These are the very traditional and very popular work outfits for older people who work outside includig farmers. Mostly to cover up to hide from sun and sun burn. (Japanese don't really use sun blockers.) But no, skin cancer is not very common in Asian countries as far as I know. Skin cancer is more common on western countries where people have fair skin.



Yes, western wedding is VERY popular in Japan. They have 2 themes in most cases. One w/ traditional, old style wedding with brides and grooms wearing Kimonos which usually held in a enclosed traditionally decorated room (that's probably why lurkyloo didn't see those kind of weddings) and most big hotels should have it. It's usually a small room and only close families and relatives can get in - usually not friends. And the other is just like western weddings. A lot of times, couples have both in one wedding. Have the traditional wedding with close family members, then have the reception in the western style with gowns, cakes, food and all that. Most girls dream about wearing western gowns for their wedding. The difference is the gowns are not limited to white for the reception. Many brides change gowns a couple of times during the reception and tend to wear more colors. Other popular (but not as common) wedding is couples actually go to Hawaii w/ family and friends and do the real western wedding there. Japanese spends A LOT of money on wedding.

Wow! Thanks for all that info! That all makes a lot of sense. I wish this here Southern girl could do a "real western wedding" in Hawaii! Maybe I can convince DH to do that for our 10 year next year.

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For all my fellow Disney shopaholics:
I don't know if you are a member of the online sample sale called One Kings Lane or not, but they are hosting a sale today for Walt Disney-inspired prints from PTM images. This is an invitation only website that sells high-end home decor items for a steal. Most of these prints are just $29, and they are super nice! If you want me to send you an invitation, just PM me your email address. You have to have an invite to even look around the site!

I just got an email from ideeli, and they have Disney Couture today! It's overload! Ideeli is a fashion and accessory online sample sale, and you also need an invitation to enter that site. If anyone wants to PM me their email address, I can send an invite, or I also posted a link on my FB page. I bought an adorable Mickey head necklace, and there are some earrings and a castle necklace that are calling my name! Ugh! I will probably end up ordering those too!

 

[A-T-G]

Is it wrong that I keep checking here to see if there's an update? I'm officially insane, right?

 

[torsie24]

Is it wrong that I keep checking here to see if there's an update? I'm officially insane, right?

If you're insane then I am too!

 

[lurkyloo]

I am in love with your report, detailed and engaging! Thanks for taking the time!

Hey, thanks!

I pilfered someone else's picture of a Happy Magic Room to gain admittance to your trip report .

Good job!

TDL looks A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!!! I do have to agree that it still seems sort of overwhelming. Do you think what limited language you learned before you went helped decipher some of the signs or helped you navigate your way around? I look at some of the signs/maps in your pictures and I would probably just curl up in a ball and start crying .

There's no crying in Disney!!! No, you really have nothing to worry about—all the signs are in English. Even that really complicated one of the bus routes I shot at the airport had English in there somewhere. To a certain extent, you have to let the spoken form of the language just wash over you and keep an eye peeled for visual clues as to what's being said, but if you can find a sign, you're golden!

Only once on the whole trip did I have a desperately frustrating experience where I couldn't communicate with anyone, and that was trying to buy bullet train tickets. Usually anything we really needed to know was very clear.

WOAH!!!! What an update! I give you MUCH credit for not getting lost..because i certainly would...with unfamiliar suroundings and a language barrier..that would have done me in! Kudos...and I love love love the pictures and details.

I think it helped that I was able to let go of my usual need to control every situation and just trust that I was going to figure stuff out eventually. I never once felt stranded anywhere I went, because it was so easy to just get back on the subway and go "home". Oh wait, OK, there was the part at the end of the trip where the train stopped on the tracks for several hours and we actually *were* stranded, but even that was fairly painlessly resolved... more on that later...

lurkyloo, just FYI, that Tokyo Bay Hotel Toku looks very similar to the Gaylord Palms in Orlando...it's HUGE and is themed to 3 different sections of Florida, The Everglades, St. Augustine and the Keys....I highly recommend checking it out the next time you visit WDW

Very interesting! I've always been curious about Gaylord Palms - guess I'll have to check it out!

OMG what an update! What a crazy day you must have had. The Disney hotels are amazing. I really want to go and stay at one. Plus the monorail there is really cool. How come they are not like that in the states? This really was a trip of a lifetime!

I will say that those cute Mickey-shaped windows are not as easy to see out of as our monorail windows, but otherwise... kawaii!!!

Awsome!

Thanks!

I was just telling DH that I can't believe the Yen rate. When we were there in the 80's, $1 would only buy 175 yen We could never afford to stay on property - now it looks downright cheap - If there ever was a time to go to Tokyo Disney, this is it - I'll have to work on him Thanks again for all the details!

Ooh! Oooh! I hope it works!

No I think the phones are on par. You are always welcome to stay with me in the UK! I

Hey watch out — I might just take you up on that offer! And let me know if you need any Disneyland tips when you get out my way!

Carrie - if you want to do a house swap I'm there!

I've wanted to live in the States since I was about 6. You guys just have such a great way of life. More choice, better service.

Closest I ever got was a few months at UCLA, man I miss it!

Oh wow—well you certainly came to the right place! UCLA has to be one of the most gorgeous spots in LA. And, as with Chilly, I may just take you up on the house swap idea! (But we can't fall in love with fellows from the other country like they did in "The Holiday" because we are both spoken for! Also, you should know that my house would fit in Cameron Diaz's character's garage....)

Yeah all caught up, I had two things to comment on:

1 - love the Minnie Mouse Store
2 - can't remember because I was so blown away by those last photos!

Fair enough!

This is exactly how i am when I read Carrie's reports!! There's just so much to comment on, that when I get to finally comment I forget everything I wanted to say and just say..."Excellent job!" or something like that!

You guys crack me up! I'm just glad to know you're enjoying it!

(Yup, I'm just catching up. If you have time on your hand, and want to figure out why I haven't been on the dis for a while, check my ptr hehe)

I checked—sounds EXCITING!!!

May I copy your picture of the Alice poster?? I'm obsessed with this movie. Well with most Tim Burton movies.

Certainly! I'm glad to know you like it!

Love love loveee this trip report!! So inspiring!

My boyfriend and I are hoping to head to Tokyo/Disney Seas sometime next year,

We want to spend a couple days in Tokyo (probably 3ish) and two days at Disney Seas/DisneyLand Tokyo...

Whats the best way to go about starting to look into/book things?

I think I'm going to go back and add this part to the intro, because I never really talked about how to book the Tokyo Disney hotels.

Your best source of info right now is a combo of the official Disney site (in English) and MiceChat.com's TDS forum. It is extremely easy to book the Disney hotels online, and you don't have to pay a deposit AND you can cancel with no penalty up to 2 weeks out. So if your dates have opened up yet (it's roughly on a 6-month lead time), I say run over there and book rooms just to have them. The Hilton and the Sheraton also let you book w/o a deposit, and the other partner hotels may as well—none of our Tokyo hotels required one except the one we booked thru Expedia.

People bag on Kevin Yee's "Tokyo Disney Made Easy" book. It is kinda outta date, and he spends an hilarious amount of time talking about how you can avoid paying Disney's "high" food prices by eating under the train station, smuggling your own food in, etc. (We found prices to be comparable to WDW food prices and *lower* than Disneyland prices.) However, it gives you a good overview. Hopefully PassPorter's book will be out in time to help you too!

OOOOoooooh, Donald!!

I'm not sure which one I liked best from your last installment... the cute sleepy Donald in the window was fun, but I'm glad it wasn't me in Japan or I might have bought that GIANT plush Donald!!!

Your pictures are spectacular... now I want to go to Japan even more!! Perhaps when they get VRs!!!!! You'll have to come and be our official tour guide!!

That would be amazing! I would love to do that—I would learn Japanese for that, though. I saw SO much Donald stuff over there for you, it isn't even funny. They *love* Donald!

The monorail is soooooooooo cute. And so swanky. Maybe we'd get the same treatment if we paid fees to use it?

That's what I'm thinking...

I've just remembered what my second comment was! The double cuteness of a Disney character dressed as something else is also something common in the UK.

Fabulous! I hope it comes over here at some point—it's too cute!

Carrie I just found your TR and spent the last 2 days reading and all I can say is

WOW!!!

I am loving this trip report! You are so lucky you were able to go to. I hope someday I will be able to as well. Your pictures and detail of the trip is fantastic! Thank you for sharing this with us.

Good to see you again! I'm so glad you found the report and are enjoying it!

Your TR is just amazing! I just love looking at all these pictures, and I'm so glad you took the time to take them. I'm really impressed that you were able to get all this touring done before 3, too! You must have been haulin' tail to get to all these places, especially the ones that weren't connected by the monorail or easily-found foot paths.

It never ceased to amaze me how much one can get done in a single day over there. I've decided it's the later store hours combined with the fabulous transportation system.

Yes, western wedding is VERY popular in Japan. They have 2 themes in most cases. One w/ traditional, old style wedding with brides and grooms wearing Kimonos which usually held in a enclosed traditionally decorated room (that's probably why lurkyloo didn't see those kind of weddings) and most big hotels should have it. It's usually a small room and only close families and relatives can get in - usually not friends. And the other is just like western weddings. A lot of times, couples have both in one wedding. Have the traditional wedding with close family members, then have the reception in the western style with gowns, cakes, food and all that. Most girls dream about wearing western gowns for their wedding. The difference is the gowns are not limited to white for the reception. Many brides change gowns a couple of times during the reception and tend to wear more colors. Other popular (but not as common) wedding is couples actually go to Hawaii w/ family and friends and do the real western wedding there. Japanese spends A LOT of money on wedding.

Interesting! I love the idea of wearing a more colorful gown. The only thing that stopped me was not wanting to look like a prom princess or quinceañera participant. But the Japanese brides can really pull it off!

I'm so glad someone has decided to make a us guide book - it's about time, thank you!

Hong Kong next? Please?

I've heard HK Disney is pretty small.

Yeah, I'm hoping to go after all the new stuff opens in 2012, and even that doesn't seem like a whole lot. Like WDW's Fantasyland makeover, it sounds like a lot of set dressing and not a lot of new attractions. But you're right—there outta be a guidebook in English!

I just got an email from ideeli, and they have Disney Couture today! It's overload!

Thanks for this! I posted over on my Christmas trippie, but I was able to score a lovely necklace at Ideeli. I'm interested in an invite to the other one too!

Take your time, Carrie! It's always worth the wait!

Is it wrong that I keep checking here to see if there's an update? I'm officially insane, right?

Ahem....

If you're insane then I am too!

You guys crack me up! OK, so the deal is I timed how long it took me to do the last update, and it was almost EIGHT HOURS including selecting photos, writing, and preparing the post. The only time I can work on it is the weekends, so I've fallen into a schedule of posting on Sunday night or Monday morning.

 

[KatGarcia]

Why didn't I realize you were doing this TR? I spent the afternoon reading it and enjoying it! Now I have to go make some dinner LOL.

 

[MEK]

I still have 5 more pages to catch up on, but I had good intentions of going running tonight before it gets dark. So....I need to tear myself away. So much to comment on....

the amazing stores

the food

the hotel room

the subway

the food

the history

the scenery

the food

the chocolate

the puppets

your cat and its Japanese cousin

the food

the minnie couture

and so much more!

OK....enough,,,,,this TR is sooooooooo great! I shall return!

 

[expatcat]

I am loving your trip report! We are off to Tokyo for 5 days at the end of August and you have got photos of all the things I have been planning to go and see! However I have been particularly impressed by all the photos of the different hotel lobbies, so am now planning on using part of our last day (when we won't have a disney passport) to visit the different lobbies!

Can't wait for the next chapter!

 

[PopArtGal]

Carrie!!

I was rereading my D23 Spring 2010 magazine and saw you on page 6. How exciting! hehe

 

[JMcDisney]

I was so excited to find this! We are big Carrie and Patrick fans, and had no idea a new episode was coming out!!! And Tokyo DisneySea, no less! So exciting - can't wait for the next posts to dee the inside of the park! Thanks for sharing your vacations.

 

[lurkyloo]

Why didn't I realize you were doing this TR?

Because it's buried in the Tokyo Disney forums and not in the main WDW Trip Report forum—if I'd thought I could get away with it, I woulda put it there! Thanks for joining in!

OK....enough,,,,,this TR is sooooooooo great! I shall return!

Hey, thanks for the kind words! I'm so glad you're enjoying the report!

I am loving your trip report! We are off to Tokyo for 5 days at the end of August and you have got photos of all the things I have been planning to go and see! However I have been particularly impressed by all the photos of the different hotel lobbies, so am now planning on using part of our last day (when we won't have a disney passport) to visit the different lobbies!

Can't wait for the next chapter!

That's great! You're going to have so much fun! I spent hours just wandering around the Ambassador and Mira Costa...

Carrie!!

I was rereading my D23 Spring 2010 magazine and saw you on page 6. How exciting! hehe

Hee hee hee! Now you'll have to let me know if I turn up in any future issues because I switched to the D23 membership without the magazine!

I was so excited to find this! We are big Carrie and Patrick fans, and had no idea a new episode was coming out!!! And Tokyo DisneySea, no less! So exciting - can't wait for the next posts to dee the inside of the park! Thanks for sharing your vacations.

Hi there! You are so sweet - I'm glad to hear you guys enjoy the trip reports!

 

[lurkyloo]

About 15 minutes before my Starlight Pass became valid at 3pm, I started lurking around the entrance to Tokyo Disneyland. This meant I was second in line when they formed an official waiting line, which must've looked pretty silly to all the full-day passholders streaming by us into the park. At precisely 3pm, we all dashed through the gates (which must've looked pretty silly to those standing around inside) and through World Bazaar (a.k.a. Main Street, U.S.A.). My first official picture inside Tokyo Disneyland was….

…A geisha in Doc Martens! OK, so she wasn't really a geisha, and you can't really see the boots, but what a great look!

Say what you will about Tokyo's covered version of Main Street, but one thing it has all over the ones in the US is actual, working side streets that actually get you places—in this case, directly into Tomorrowland and directly in front of Monsters, Inc.! None of this long-way-round-the-barn stuff you have to do to get to Tomorrowland in Disneyland or the Magic Kingdom.

As I rounded the corner into Tomorrowland, I saw this and realized, "Whoa, I'd better make a pit stop first!"

Mission accomplished, I stepped into the The Longest Disney Park Line I Have Ever Waited In EVER, Except For Once When Splash Mountain First Opened And They Hadn't Invented FASTPASS.

I took a picture of my watch so I could time how long the line actually took me.

I took a picture of this because I was still excited and interested.

Since I am out of practice at waiting in line, I hadn't thought to bring something to do. Most of the people around me were playing videogames on PSPs. I had my iPhone, but its combo of ridiculously short battery life and AT&T's ridiculously priced data roaming meant I could only use it for emergencies and the occasional Tweet.

The outdoor queue area has Monstervision, so at least there was that.

Unfortunately, the video loop gets to feel pretty short when you've been watching it for an hour. I liked that the line was constantly moving, if at a snail's pace, but it meant that you couldn't get too comfy if you came across a bench to sit on or railing to lean against.

Oh look! Posters!!!

Oooh! Oooh! A door!

And then, about 45 minutes in, when I had only reached this point…

… it finally dawned on me that 220 minutes is not 2 hours and 20 minutes—it's THREE HOURS and 40 MINUTES!!! (Perhaps I should have been doing math flashcards in line…)

Fortunately, I was quickly distracted by something new to look at—more posters!

By this time, the line was finally beginning to round the corner to the front of the building, which meant a change of scenery and some decent people-watching (other than the backs of the heads of the tweens in front of me).


A castmember AND stroller parking? It's a veritable feast for the eyes!

And then it happened. 70 minutes after I entered the line for Monsters, Inc., I finally got inside the building!

At last! It can't be much longer now…

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

You don't even get to go into the fabulous rotunda when you get inside. Instead, they funnel you off to a side room with another set of switchbacks.


At least there was a poster

I peered longingly into the rotunda with my camera…

And then something exciting happened!

Just kidding—a kid whacked me with his backpack. But we did finally move out into the main room, and judging from this nearly identical shot to the one I took when I entered the building nearly 15 minutes before, it looked like we'd never moved at all!

 

[lurkyloo]

Grasping desperately at something, anything to do, I became obsessed by photographing the beautiful mosaics on the ceiling.

However, I was still so out-of-it, I didn't even realize these were doors until, like, yesterday.

(Believe me, this is the edited version. Originally there were dozens of photos…)

It really did feel like I'd entered a miniature version of the Monsters, Inc. lobby. I was also impressed enough with the CMs costumes to take two blurry photos of them for you:

When I got close enough to the reception desk, I had fun using the zoom on Patrick's camera to check out what was on the desk.

(You and me both, sister!)

The line spirals around inside the rotunda, then goes behind the reception desk and turns left into the load area.

I feel like there should be something else to look at in the center of the room besides, you know, the floor!