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

[torsie24]

Great update! Thank you Carrie.

I can't wait to hear all about DisneySea.

Why oh why can't that awesome light parade come to WDW/DLRP?

 

[onelilspark]

When I first read it, I thought it was the skirt steak that came with the tartar sauce My bad.

 

[NessieBird]

I found this...

http://everything2.com/title/Winnie-ther-Pooh

So I guess it's accurate!

Phew! Thanks, ChrisFl! I feel much more settled.

 

[PopArtGal]

the fairy godmother looks sooooooooooo frightening!

Tomorowland looks so great!!

 

[Disneygrl36]

O M G now that is what you call a mega update!!!!! Great as always.

I am still having a hard time getting used to seeing Main Street with a roof.
That fairy godmother..........couldn't they do that a little better?????

Stitch ears on tiki birds?

Loved, loved, loved the Carl & Russell vignette.

The cutest windows EVER too!!!!

WOW that Queen of Hearts restaurant is AMAZING. Love the theming. So beautiful.

DreamLights..........those floats are simply beautiful....even the big cat butt.

Fireworks......... I would have expected theirs to be spectacular. Oh well...guess they can't one up the US parks on everything.

Disneyland Hotel looks gorgeous...love all the details in your room & in the lobby.

Thanks for all the time you take to let us live vicariously through you Carrie & for Patricks mad photo skills in capturing it all.

 

[PopArtGal]

The queen of hearts restaurant is the cutest! and what about all these desserts in which you get to keep the plate, or cup!!

That "dreamlights" parade looks beautiful!

 

[Chilly]

Best update ever!

 

[lurkyloo]

That hotel room is gorgeous! I love the teacups and toiletries. Is that also a hot water pot I see? How convenient!

Totally! When it comes to tea, the Japanese have got all your bases covered!

Wow, loved this update! I was LOLing at the "Freaky Godmother" and your commentary on the fireworks show! Would love to go there someday.

I calls it as I sees it!

On another note, your reports are the best! I've lurked and read each one, but never commented before. You're sort of a legend, so...a bit intimidating. Keep up the great work!

Welcome out of lurkdom! I love it when people join in the conversation, so I'll have to think of a way to be less intimidating.... Maybe if I posted more pictures of myself first thing in the morning, all disheveled and befuddled...

I found this...

http://everything2.com/title/Winnie-ther-Pooh

So I guess it's accurate!

I'm glad that turned out not to be a typo, cuz I don't think I could handle seeing two in one day!

I'm done lurking. I had to thank you. My DBF has been trying to convince that we should go to Japan. I didn't want to go because a) it's sooo expensive there, b) he 's been there before, and c) I want our next trip to Asia to be Cambodia or Vietnam.

The I saw your TR. I HAVE TO GO THERE. I told DBF that we could go next year if he would promise me at least two Disney days. It's a go. I'm going next year! And I am going badger you with questions and beg for advice! So excited!

Also, DBF is a CM with the Walt Disney Interactive Media Group and just informed me that we do not get free passes to go, nor do we get a discount at the hotels there. When I asked why, he said it was because the park and property are managed by Disney, but not owned by Disney. How does that work??? Craziness....the mouse doesn't run the joint???

Greetings, former lurker! I'm so excited that you've been convinced to go to TDR. As ChrisFL explained, it's actually a *good* thing that Disney doesn't manage the Japan parks and it's the reason they are so much better (in many respects) than the other parks around the world.

What I don't understand is how Disney can see the example set by OLC—the pristine parks with constantly updated and enhanced attractions and the hordes of people paying top dollar to see them—and not try to emulate it. If ever there was a classic case of the adage "you have to spend money to make money," this is it! Yet Disney seems to think they need nothing more than a borrowed parade and a recycled fireworks show to compete with the new Harry Potter land at Universal? And they let Future World languish as a hodgepodge of empty buildings with a few character-based patches applied because people still seem to like World Showcase?

Hi, Carrie -- I thoroughly enjoyed this post and loved all the photos. Your attention to detail is great! Looking forward to the next update!

Thanks! Hopefully the next one won't have 450 pictures!

Great update! Thank you Carrie.
I can't wait to hear all about DisneySea.

Why oh why can't that awesome light parade come to WDW/DLRP?

I know! I guess it's because, like I was blathering about above, Disney takes an "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" approach. Enough people still come to see creaky old SpectroMagic that they don't think they need anything as cool and expensive as Dreamlights, I guess. And, as an American, I feel I must personally apologize to you for the way they phoned in Walt Disney Studios in Paris!

When I first read it, I thought it was the skirt steak that came with the tartar sauce My bad.

Mmm... steak 'n' tartar sauce.....

DreamLights..........those floats are simply beautiful....even the big cat butt.

I KNOW! Having seen some of the Japanese toy cats, I half expected the cheshire cat to have a little x in the back under his tail!

The queen of hearts restaurant is the cutest! and what about all these desserts in which you get to keep the plate, or cup!!

Yes! I had to have that cup, although I still have no idea what to do with it besides, you know, drink. Maybe keep rings in it?

Best update ever!

Well thanks!

 

[MA pigletfan]

AMAZING update!! I cannot even comment on everything because my post would be too long! Just love the dreamlights..and the pins! I absolutely adored the UP vignette...so darn cute, I wish they would add something "UPish" to WDW somewhere...
The detail in that park..WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[NeverlandClub23]

If you REALLY want to impress us how about a "I rode Haunted Mansion in Toyko Disney, Disneyland, AND Disney World in one day" trip report?

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your TR AND all of Patrick's amazing pictures!! I have one as wallpaper on my computer now (the single pink "poofy" flower) and the lavender tulips to be used in the future. Gorgeous! They look so professional (or at least as professional as the wallpaper pictures that already come attached to the computer ).

 

[jsilvers]

Critter Country is devoted entirely to Splash and Grandma Sarah's Kitchen, but there were a few interesting things to shoot on our way out.

Actually, you overlooked the Beaver Brothers Explorer Canoes. But a group participation exercise may be problematic if you're not fluent in Japanese...

 

[LittleStinkerbelle]

Wow, wow, wow -- fantastic update! I love the Russell and Carl statues. The hotel looks beautiful.

 

[ForAandA]

Finally read the first 31 pages! You have such a great writing style. Cannot wait to read more!

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Wow amazing update! I don't even know where to start! I'm amazed that TDL is so much like MK. It seems like Disney really got it right with this park! I loved Grandma Sarah's - what a cute place. It seems to be set up like Y&Y. I'm sorry you were disappointed with your park view. I loved seeing all the store fronts and food porn - just everything! Thanks for sharing so many details. Oh, and the Queen of Hearts! Patrick is such a ham!

 

[lurkyloo]

AMAZING update!! I cannot even comment on everything because my post would be too long! Just love the dreamlights..and the pins! I absolutely adored the UP vignette...so darn cute, I wish they would add something "UPish" to WDW somewhere...
The detail in that park..WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes! It seems like it would be fairly easy to stick those Up figures in Adventureland someplace—but wouldn't it be cool if they changed Soarin' to be Carl & Russell's flight to Tepu?! (I swiped that idea from my BIL)

If you REALLY want to impress us how about a "I rode Haunted Mansion in Toyko Disney, Disneyland, AND Disney World in one day" trip report?

Hmmm... let's see how that would work... we'd have to either ride it in Tokyo and then fly straight to Florida and back to LA on the same day. Because even if we rode it at 8am when the park opened here, I think with a 4-hour flight and 3-hour time difference... well, we might make it to MK's Haunted Mansion. Now ya got me thinkin!

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your TR AND all of Patrick's amazing pictures!! I have one as wallpaper on my computer now (the single pink "poofy" flower) and the lavender tulips to be used in the future. Gorgeous! They look so professional (or at least as professional as the wallpaper pictures that already come attached to the computer ).

Aww... he's gonna be pleased as punch when he hears that!

Actually, you overlooked the Beaver Brothers Explorer Canoes. But a group participation exercise may be problematic if you're not fluent in Japanese...

Oh thank gawd we missed those—Patrick would *definitely* have wanted to do them, while I avoid doing actual work inside a theme park whenever possible.

Wow, wow, wow -- fantastic update! I love the Russell and Carl statues. The hotel looks beautiful.

Yes! It's definitely one of the nicest we've ever stayed in and allllmost worth the money.

Finally read the first 31 pages! You have such a great writing style. Cannot wait to read more!

Bless you for wading through so much!

WOh, and the Queen of Hearts! Patrick is such a ham!

Tell me about it.

 

[lurkyloo]

I went back and added this to the post, but I thought I'd put it in here too. I realized I didn't describe the hotel check-in procedure—and the not-available-to-the-public tickets we were offered when I went to buy our park passes! Might be helpful to the planners....


When I checked in, I was given inactive room keycards and a map to our room location. We were told that the key cards would become active after the 4:30pm check-in time. They will only do this if you give them a "local" phone number on which you can be reached if things change—otherwise, you must go back to the desk and get active keycards at around 4:30pm. We assured them that they could reach us on my US cell phone, though, so they let us do it.

When I went over to buy our park passes at the end of the check-in desk, I was offered several types of passes not available on the TDR website or to the general public. These were:

2-day Park Hopper: ¥11,600
3-day Park Hopper: ¥14,500
4-day Park Hopper: ¥16,600

I wish I'd known about these ahead of time because we wouldn't have locked our schedule in to be all day at each park for the first 2 days. However, I have heard that this is just an occasional offer and they might not always have it.

 

[Vallie]

I'm just in awe!!!

Just a quick question... when would you say is a slower time of year to go to Tokyo Disney/Disney Sea?

Also any helpful planning websites on Tokyo and Tokyo disney you could provide?!

Thanks!

 

[IndayMichelle]

When I went over to buy our park passes at the end of the check-in desk, I was offered several types of passes not available on the TDR website or to the general public. These were:

2-day Park Hopper: ¥11,600
3-day Park Hopper: ¥14,500
4-day Park Hopper: ¥16,600

That's a reasonable price. That's less than park hopper passes at DLR. What's the catch? Are there exclusions?

 

[A-T-G]

That is truly the MUTHA of all updates! Thanks! I'm itching to go to Tokyo Disney - it's actually the ONLY park(s) DH is really excited about. As long as I let him bankrupt us in Tokyo with toy purchases, I can play at Tokyo DL for as long as I can get him out of work!

Great pics! My compliments to your photographer (he'll be a Root rival in no time). Just stop teasing me with all the pics of adorable desserts on the most covetable plates I've ever seen! Ya killin' me!

Quick question - does the Tiki room in Tokyo Disney serve a Dole Whip Float?

 

[corgi_monster]

OMG I love your trip report! I just got back from TDR and your pics are bringing back so many memories. *runs to pull out Duffy and all other TDL paraphernalia*