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

[PrincessShea]

Excuse my ethnocentrism, but I still can't get over the Duffy photo spots. Wow.

The pool looked amazing. Worth the $40 to me! All the pics look great too. Glad to see the sun finally came out for you. Can't wait to read more

 

[simzac]

You know, there comes a time when all trip reports must end. But this one isn't there yet. Keep em comin

 

[Chilly]

Loving the Duffy Photo Spot!

 

[praisehisname]

All those bright colors are gorgeous! Love the pool area; so beautiful!!! What an awesome chapel--do you have to be from Japan to get married there? What is in the cup with the coconut ice cream--is it some kind of float?

 

[JMcDisney]

What an awesome trip! That is very neat to see the indoor pool area. The whole thing is just total visual overload. I bet it was almost overwhelming, on top of the language and cultural differences!
Also, I am also going to have to figure out how I can get/make salt ice cream!
P.S. I don't want your report to end, so try to drag out the last day as much as possible!

 

[lurkyloo]

That's Clarice. I couldn't remember exactly how she fit in with Chip & Dale, so I went to good 'ol Wikipedia.

Oooohhh... of course! Clarice! The one from that one cartoon way back when! I love Tokyo Disney...

I want one of those popcorn buckets!

They are quite alluring! As I said, I don't even really eat popcorn, let alone have a need for a bucket to popcorn in, yet I bought two!

I agree with you that the indoor pool is one of the reasons why I wanted to visit the MiraCosta so much, it's just so nice.

Regarding the soundtrack, a lot of DisneySea songs you can hear at this site:

http://www.mouseinfo.com/cms/radio/index.php

(There's different songs now each time you reload the page, but it has several from DisneySea)

Otherwise, I'm still sad that I won't get back there for a while, it's just so amazing

Thanks for the link—I can't wait to check it out! I've collected a lot of area loops for the US parks and even tracked down all the Christmas music they play in Disneyland (and the MK, it turns out) to create a custom holiday album. So I'd love to hear more from Tokyo!

Alas no butterflies were born while reading these wonderful updates due to the drool from the dessert descriptions. Poor things.

Great update as usual! Love the shots from the gondola ride.. how pretty!

Each of your updates makes me want to get there more and more. I'm definitely adding it to my list of places to go some day

Hooray! It's definitely a (popcorn) bucket list kinda place!

I
Of all the popcorn buckets, I'm sure I would have gotten the retro looking Mickey. Yep, I'm obsessed with retro Disney and with Walt. He's my hero.

Yes! I loved that one for the same reason—very retro!

The indoor pool looks fabulous even the naked bath. I have never paid to use a pool but really wanted to when we stayed at the Grove Park Inn in Asheville NC. They have a fabulous stone grotto like pool with music piped in under the water..........but unless you are staying club level you have to pay $50 for a spa day pass to use it & Eric wasn't buying it.

Oh good! I feel better knowing that there are even MORE expensive pools out there...

Was Patrick in a peaceful mood that day?

Hey, when in Japan, pose as the Japanese do!

Thank goodness for the updates!
I was getting the shakes waiting for them ...
excellent as always... I'm hoping to go in Sept, so I'm following this thread really closely...

Oooh! You are so lucky! I can't wait to read all about your trip!

I love popcorn, and I really love all of those popcorn buckets I have seen from your report! I would need a suitcase just for all the buckets that I would want.

TOTALLY! I was restraining myself with the 2, but there are people out there who collect them. I just wish I could think up some practical secondary use for them...

Excuse my ethnocentrism, but I still can't get over the Duffy photo spots.

You know, there comes a time when all trip reports must end. But this one isn't there yet. Keep em comin

Sure thing! We're only about halfway there, at this point!

Loving the Duffy Photo Spot!

All those bright colors are gorgeous! Love the pool area; so beautiful!!! What an awesome chapel--do you have to be from Japan to get married there? What is in the cup with the coconut ice cream--is it some kind of float?

Anyone can get married at Tokyo Disney! I think the language barrier and cost is what keeps more international couples from doing it, though. Check out my mini-report on weddings at Tokyo Disney here:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2438502

P.S. I don't want your report to end, so try to drag out the last day as much as possible!

No worries—we're still seven whole days from the end of the trip, so it'll be WEEKS before that happens!

 

[princesslauren6]

Eeeee Carrie I am finally caught up (again) haha!!

so many good updates that i forget all the stuff that i loved but i do remember:

those arabian mouse ears! love them!
marie popcorn bucket! so cute!
little mermaid section!! need to go there!!

keep it up im totally loving reading all of this, i actually dont think i would be able to plan my trip there if i didnt have your report to tell me all about it! so thanks!!

 

[praisehisname]

i actually dont think i would be able to plan my trip there if i didnt have your report to tell me all about it! so thanks!!

So true!

 

[LittleStinkerbelle]

The pool is gorgeous! I hope you swiped a few of those "free" bottles of water. This TR makes me crave popcorn!

 

[bekkiz]

Thank you so much for continuing on your trip report with such great detail and, oh, the pictures are so wonderful! You really have sold me on Disney Sea. We'll be spending a day there in September and I cannot wait!

Slightly embarrassing question, but I'll try anyway. Do the rides seem like they'd be accommodating for bigger folks? We have all sizes in our travel party and one person already mentioned they'll just skip the TDS day since they won't fit on any of the rides. Neither of you are big by any stretch of the imagination, but maybe you could compare them to the WDW ones?

I'm thinking the atmosphere of TDS will be enough to hold anyone's attention, but you know how it goes.

 

[emmmms]

So, when you pose like the Japanese do, do you feel like a big impostor? I think I would be really tempted to do that for photos if I was over there, but would feel like a silly American if I tried it.

megan

 

[ChrisFL]

So, when you pose like the Japanese do, do you feel like a big impostor? I think I would be really tempted to do that for photos if I was over there, but would feel like a silly American if I tried it.

megan

If you're referring to holding up the peace sign, that seems to be a trend all across Asia now from the countries I've visited. I don't know where it started though

 

[lurkyloo]

Eeeee Carrie I am finally caught up (again) haha!!

so many good updates that i forget all the stuff that i loved but i do remember:

those arabian mouse ears! love them!
marie popcorn bucket! so cute!
little mermaid section!! need to go there!!

keep it up im totally loving reading all of this, i actually dont think i would be able to plan my trip there if i didnt have your report to tell me all about it! so thanks!!

No problem! I'm so glad to hear my ramblings are actually useful as a trip-planning aid!

The pool is gorgeous! I hope you swiped a few of those "free" bottles of water.

You're darn tootin' I swiped the "free" water!

Thank you so much for continuing on your trip report with such great detail and, oh, the pictures are so wonderful! You really have sold me on Disney Sea. We'll be spending a day there in September and I cannot wait!

Slightly embarrassing question, but I'll try anyway. Do the rides seem like they'd be accommodating for bigger folks? We have all sizes in our travel party and one person already mentioned they'll just skip the TDS day since they won't fit on any of the rides. Neither of you are big by any stretch of the imagination, but maybe you could compare them to the WDW ones?

That's a great question. I was prepared to be scrunched into the rides cuz I'm so tall, but we never found it to be a problem on the two I was worried about: Journey to the Center of the Earth and 20,000 Leagues. But your pal should definitely try to sit in the front on Journey, because there is more legroom and the sightlines are better. Just ask "Ichiban seki?" For 20,000 Leagues, your pal might want a bench all to him/herself in the car, but that would be as simple as telling the ride op that s/he is riding solo.

We didn't try the kiddie rides, though, and I'd imagine those would be tighter. TOT and Indy are the same as in the US. Boats, trains and other vehicles shouldn't be a problem, nor should shows.

I know it would feel terrible to go to not be able to go on certain rides, but I hope your friend won't skip the entire park and all its delights on the off-chance that s/he won't fit on one or two rides.

So, when you pose like the Japanese do, do you feel like a big impostor? I think I would be really tempted to do that for photos if I was over there, but would feel like a silly American if I tried it.

megan

If you're referring to holding up the peace sign, that seems to be a trend all across Asia now from the countries I've visited. I don't know where it started though

Hmm... well we were just doing as the Japanese do cuz we thought it was cute—I hope we weren't being culturally insensitive!

 

[JMcDisney]

Hmm... well we were just doing as the Japanese do cuz we thought it was cute—I hope we weren't being culturally insensitive!

Oh, I'm sure you weren't at all. I see American celebrities posing with peace signs all of the time. The pics turned out great! All of the poses you guys do make the pictures so fun. I remember one picture (from one or another of your other reports) that had Patrick spewing water in front of the Swan and Dolphin that was so funny - hey if that's culturally insensitive, then I don't wanna be right.

 

[Becx N Gav]

Hmm... well we were just doing as the Japanese do cuz we thought it was cute—I hope we weren't being culturally insensitive!

As long as it's not the two fingers up pointing the other way I won't be offended

That pool looks amazing! Not sure about the giant naked bath though - I would skip that!

 

[adisneygal]

So, when you pose like the Japanese do, do you feel like a big impostor? I think I would be really tempted to do that for photos if I was over there, but would feel like a silly American if I tried it.

megan

Hmm... well we were just doing as the Japanese do cuz we thought it was cute—I hope we weren't being culturally insensitive!

The hand peace sign was used in the 60's in the US, before that it was used in Europe for a victory sign. My teenage niece does it all the time so I believe it is universal. Heck, my hippie Uncle does it for all his pics.

 

[MAGICFOR2]

If you're referring to holding up the peace sign, that seems to be a trend all across Asia now from the countries I've visited. I don't know where it started though

The hand peace sign was used in the 60's in the US, before that it was used in Europe for a victory sign. My teenage niece does it all the time so I believe it is universal. Heck, my hippie Uncle does it for all his pics.

I think that the 60s and 70s was the time when the Asians started being able to travel more and we started visiting more, and from that they saw Americans making peace signs, and they just continued to assume we still do that. I kind of had the idea it ismostly done while visiting America, or when Americans are taking the pictures, but maybe I'm wrong.

 

[lurkyloo]

Oh, I'm sure you weren't at all. I see American celebrities posing with peace signs all of the time. The pics turned out great! All of the poses you guys do make the pictures so fun. I remember one picture (from one or another of your other reports) that had Patrick spewing water in front of the Swan and Dolphin that was so funny - hey if that's culturally insensitive, then I don't wanna be right.

Yes, we do love our gag photography... Tonight Patrick saw a pic on Facebook of a guy who posed like he was being attacked by a statue of Ronald McDonald. You can bet we'll be stealing that one at some point...

As long as it's not the two fingers up pointing the other way I won't be offended

That pool looks amazing! Not sure about the giant naked bath though - I would skip that!

Tee hee! Yeah, sometimes you just gotta keep the naked baths for at-home!

The hand peace sign was used in the 60's in the US, before that it was used in Europe for a victory sign. My teenage niece does it all the time so I believe it is universal. Heck, my hippie Uncle does it for all his pics.

Hee hee! Are you callin' us hippies?!

I think that the 60s and 70s was the time when the Asians started being able to travel more and we started visiting more, and from that they saw Americans making peace signs, and they just continued to assume we still do that. I kind of had the idea it ismostly done while visiting America, or when Americans are taking the pictures, but maybe I'm wrong.

That sounds like a great explanation to me!

 

[lurkyloo]

After spending the morning soaking up as much Tokyo DisneySea as we could before we had to go back to Tokyo, we hopped on the monorail and got to Disneyland around 3:30pm. We kinda couldn't believe that the park was only open til 10pm, even during Top Season. But I s'pose if we'd been able to stay later, we would have run ourselves ragged trying to wring every last drop out of the Tokyo Disneyland experience!

Once we got inside the park and took a gander at the huge lines and sold-out FASTPASSes, we decided to just explore the park and shop for Uncle Matt.

No, thank you!

I don't know where Patrick found this, but it's kinda cool!

So… are llamas a big deal in Japan? This stuff was just the tip of the iceberg…

Before…

…After!

Along the way, we ran into two of Patrick's fellow puppeteers, who'd made a banzai run out from Tokyo, and they tipped us off to a magazine Disney produces that describes all the limited edition merchandise being released. I guess we all were going to miss the debut of some fabulous merch related to the start of Disney's spring promotion the following week. When one of Patrick's pals mentioned that he'd love us to pick some up for him if we happened to come back to Disney before we left, a seed of a plan was planted in my mind.

Of course, we had to stop by Swiss Family Treehouse, one of Patrick's favorite attractions in any version of the Magic Kingdom, but especially in the ones where it hasn't been given the boot by Tarzan (I'm looking at you, Disneyland!).

I can see my (former temporary) house from here!

 

[lurkyloo]

We stopped by Crystal Palace to shoot the interior and menu for the PassPorter book. It looks pretty much just like the one in the Magic Kingdom!

"Peace, maaaaaan…."

We hadn't spent much time in Westernland on our previous visit (which we were still referring to Frontierland at that point), so we wandered back there to have a look around.

Another place Patrick loves is Tom Sawyer Island, and it was fun to see the differences and similarities between ours and theirs.