***Tokyo Disney Resort - FAQ***

[RPK89]

Was language a barrier in anyway both in the parks and around Tokyo? My husband and I will be traveling with our two daughters who will be 12 and 9. We are kind of worried about getting lost and feeling disoriented. We once got stuck in a parking garage in France... needless to say I'm traumatized from that experience! Lol!

I forgot to mention getting around Tokyo in general, sorry. Like I said above, English isn't widely spoken, but I haven't ever known anyone to struggle in getting around. The train system is so easy, and the country overall is so safe that you can wander the streets of Tokyo at 11pm with zero fear of coming into trouble.

Are you planning on going anywhere else other than Tokyo? If so, consider the Japan Rail Pass, it is the most cost effective way to travel the country, and the trains will always leave on time. Train travel is Japan is like no where else. Oh gosh, so jealous.

Hit me up if you need any other help. I am more than happy to help.

Happy Friday!

 

[lullwater]

April 6th-April 10th:
My husband wants a day in Kyoto - I'd rather go back another time and spend longer there so we will see. Definitely going to Yoshino for a day to ride the ropeway and enjoy their sakura. Also hope to see the Osaka castle and aquarium during this time but we will see. Have to get okonomiyaki and stop by a shop to get DIY food display to make at home or bring back as souvenirs for people. I think they're so cute..!

Revisit Kyoto in the future when you can plan on more time. With a tour guide or a strict schedule the big 6 can be visited. The subway is almost nonexistent as every time they try to extend the line they are thwarted by archaeological discoveries. Bus's can be painfully slow in Kyoto. I have a second house in the city and it’s faster for me to ride my bicycle to most of the sites.

Good on you for visiting during one of my favorite times of year when the cherry blossoms will be out; the summer and winter are awful.

 

[lullwater]

Btw....I recommend to visitors to try and not to speak Japanese even if they are fluent.

 

[AquaDame]

Btw....I recommend to visitors to try and not to speak Japanese even if they are fluent.

Not to try..? Why?

 

[lullwater]

It seems counter-intuitive, but one can actually experience more Japanese culture by acting like a foreign tourist, thereby taking a role that receives attention.

If you speak native Japanese, then you are outside the bubble and treated as a local because of the Japanese cultural concept of omotenashi. It translates into English as hospitality, but it represents a complex behavior like many other Japanese words. Customer satisfaction becomes a priority so that politeness is elevated and placed on a pedestal so to speak. Even the government reinforces the concept of omotenashi. Walking in a shopping arcade or while watching TV, a public announcement will remind the Japanese, in Japanese of course, to be understanding and polite to foreign tourist and go beyond normal behavior to make them happy. It’s almost like the entire population is being reinforced with Disney cast member training on a daily basis. Omotenashi is so over the top that it never ceases to be amazing.

 

[AquaDame]

Omotenashi is so over the top that it never ceases to be amazing.

Two of my friends from high school who moved to Japan for jobs (one married a Japanese man as well) actually ended up moving back to the US out of fatigue... one after 7 years and the other made it 12. They never were able to fully assimilate and were frustrated when the "politeness" never ended. You can only take so many years of strangers stopping you to ask in broken english if you are lost when you speak fluently I guess. Thank you for the advice though - that kindness definitely made an impression on me during my first trip and I felt very at ease.

My Japanese is broken, and very basic so I don't think there is anything about me that will stop people from being nice either way...! I'm also white and blonde & my husband is freckled so we stick out a little. I wish their hospitality extended to allowing foreigners to make the same hotel bookings at the resorts... I'd be OK without over the top politeness if I were treated like an equal... but I get it. Sort of.

 

[JoeBruin23]

Hello everyone, had a question.

I am looking at Tokyo Disney Celebration Hotel for 2 nights. Thinking of doing 1 day multi-passport so I can go to both parks in 1 day. I'm very limited on time in Tokyo and wanted to go to both parks in 1 day.

How far are the 2 parks? are they walking distance? I'm ok with skipping a lot of the rides that are in California since I live near Orange County. I just want to see all the unique things at each park.

Also, do the multi-passports for 1 day sell out? I know it says guaranteed, but was making sure.

Thanks!

 

[lullwater]

The parks adjoin one another side by side. So much so that they share a single employee entrance as well as education, commissary, wardrobe and other backstage facilities.

Tokyo Disney Celebration Hotel is not within walking distance; however, they have Disney bus service.

I don’t buy tickets for Tokyo Disneyland, but if I speak with a CM this week who can answer the question, I’ll get back to you.

 

[JoeBruin23]

The parks adjoin one another side by side. So much so that they share a single employee entrance as well as education, commissary, wardrobe and other backstage facilities.

Tokyo Disney Celebration Hotel is not within walking distance; however, they have Disney bus service.

I don’t buy tickets for Tokyo Disneyland, but if I speak with a CM this week who can answer the question, I’ll get back to you.

Thanks! Can you please find out if you can only purchase "Multi-Day Passport Special" tickets just for 1 day? On the website, I only saw for 2 days. I will only be going to the park for 1 day.

Thanks!

 

[Airatic]

We have been struggling with booking our trip from the US. It seems that every time we call, no English cast members nor interpreters are available. We were charged for our deposit, but never received a confirmation email, and cannot check our booking or add passes on the website without the email. I can't find any other method of contacting them than the phone number. Does anyone know of an alternate contact for English-speaking guests, or a good time to call when we might reach an English-speaking CM?

 

[lullwater]

Have you tried 81-45-330-5711? The English speakers aren’t always available, so keep trying.

 

[AquaDame]

We have been struggling with booking our trip from the US. It seems that every time we call, no English cast members nor interpreters are available. We were charged for our deposit, but never received a confirmation email, and cannot check our booking or add passes on the website without the email. I can't find any other method of contacting them than the phone number. Does anyone know of an alternate contact for English-speaking guests, or a good time to call when we might reach an English-speaking CM?

We called twice and got English speaking interpreters both times. It was around 6-8pm PST.

 

[Airatic]

Thanks! I did end up calling much later in the day there instead and managed to get someone on the line. Perhaps the interpreter service doesn't open at the same time as the call center.

Just an FYI that they apparently do not allow foreigners to book the Bibidi-Bobidi Boutique. They were very apologetic, but said it is only for Japanese residents.

Does anyone know of any birthday highlights at Tokyo Disney? My daughter will turn 4 while we're there. We've booked a birthday dinner at Chef Mickey, do they have birthday badges like the US parks?

 

[AquaDame]

Thanks! I did end up calling much later in the day there instead and managed to get someone on the line. Perhaps the interpreter service doesn't open at the same time as the call center.

Just an FYI that they apparently do not allow foreigners to book the Bibidi-Bobidi Boutique. They were very apologetic, but said it is only for Japanese residents.

Does anyone know of any birthday highlights at Tokyo Disney? My daughter will turn 4 while we're there. We've booked a birthday dinner at Chef Mickey, do they have birthday badges like the US parks?

Im so sorry about Bibidi! I ran into that a few times while I was there re: things being for residents only. They do have the birthday badges and first visit badges. Possibly more but those were the two I remember seeing.

 

[lullwater]

If you really want the princess experience at Bibidi-Bobidi Boutique, call again and try to make a reservation. Sometimes the Japanese say something can’t be done unless you’re a native when they become confused, it’s difficult or they don’t know the answer; always in a polite manner. I’m not trying to patronize, but it helps to always speak slowly and enunciate while interacting with Japanese in English…and give them time to respond.

I’ve seen foreigners in the Tokyo Disneyland Hotel Bibidi Bobidi shop plenty of times, but they may speak some Japanese or not. A Japanese friend can make the online reservation. My daughter, who does speak some Japanese, wasn’t able to get the blond hair extension, but this might have changed as it was several years ago. Bibidi Bobidi will be opening a second boutique sometime soon at Tokyo Disneyland. This forum makes me think I need to go undercover while at Tokyo Disney to get the foreign perspective.

 

[psakid]

Any knowledge if hopper passes (1 thru 4-day) are available for TDR guests (MiraCosta, Disneyland, Ambassador & Celebration)? We bought 4-day hoppers when we stayed at MiraCosta in Jul/14. This time we're trying Celebration and we're only going in for two days and would like the flexibility a hopper affords. If so, I'll wait to purchase tickets; otherwise, I might buy them now.

 

[wanderlust7]

Any knowledge if hopper passes (1 thru 4-day) are available for TDR guests (MiraCosta, Disneyland, Ambassador & Celebration)? We bought 4-day hoppers when we stayed at MiraCosta in Jul/14. This time we're trying Celebration and we're only going in for two days and would like the flexibility a hopper affords. If so, I'll wait to purchase tickets; otherwise, I might buy them now.

Yes, it's available for Celebration guests. Here's a list comparing the benefits:

http://www.disneyhotels.jp/en/guests/index.html

 

[psakid]

Thanks. I guess it goes without saying that the TDR Official Hotels don't offer such a perk. We'll stay with Celebration this time for the 15 minutes 'early entry' and hopper perks.

 

[eeudj]

Woo hoo! Thanks for getting this ball rolling! I have a few specific questions if you please...

You mentioned earlier that the Japanese know the Fast Pass system pretty well... Is there a specific order, at rope drop, in which one should get fast passes,based on ride popularity?

For instance, most Disneyland Anaheim vets will go straight to Space Mountain, then Indy , Big Thunder Mountain , and Star Tours. At Disney California Adventure they'll go straight to Radiator Springs Racers, and Soarin' because those are the rides that get the longer lines.

What about the most popular rides that do not offer Fast Passes? Which ones should we ride first?

Are both Disney Sea and Disneyland Fast Passes connected, or can you get FPs to both parks on a park hopping day?

Do they enforce FP return times, or can you use them at any time before park closing?

 

[Agent 86]

Are you asking those questions again eeudj?