Tokyo Disney Resort Houkoku
Special Guest Trip Report
Paul from Moscow's Visit to Tokyo Disney Resort
March 8th-10th, 2005
(Posted 03/24/05)
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Hi, below are my opinions of Tokyo Disney Resort which I visited for three days during my vacation a week ago. Since I visited only DLP many times before, I'll compare TDL with it. All observations are personal and subjective, but my final impressions are positive and I surely will visit TDL again. OK, here I go:
INTRODUCTION
Our direct flight to Tokyo was heavily overbooked, so we were routed through Shanghai and arrived to Narita six hours later than planned. Both of us were compensated for $200, so in the end each ticket came to $175 for a round trip journey, which is not bad deal :)
I don't know why, either because of jet lag or some expectations when I went to bed I had very bad sleep. The next day we barely woke up in time to go to Maihama about 20 minutes before park opens. Thanks to MagicalNezumi's advice we stayed in Ginza Capital Hotel which is located in 7 minute walk from Hatchobori from where you can get to Maihama in about 11-15 minutes. Such close proximity saved us a lot of time for rest.
I wasn't able to pay for tickets with my credit card, a cashier showed me a nice card "we need to make a phone call to process this transaction which would take 5-10 minutes, do you have any other means of payment?" Now I understand why an immigration inspector in Narita tormented an American girl near me who didn't bring any cash with her.
View Paul from Moscow's TDR Trip Photo Album
SOME GENERAL OBSERVATIONS
Cast members in Tokyo are top-notch. Don't know about their American colleagues, but I doubt most CMs in Paris will ever come even remotely close to Japanese.
Restaurants are much more various than in DLP, portions are not that small from European point of view, the food is excellent and reasonably priced. They even sell churros in the parks :)
Shops and merchandise are interesting and diverse, it's not like endless plush toys in Paris. I wonder what is an average guest spending in TDL when many people bring huge bags with gifts from the parks.
We experienced ride closures or stoppages many times (Splash, Pooh, HM, POTC, JTTCOE.) On March 8th Splash Mountain was closed until afternoon and I thought it's something serious. Fortunately they fixed it and we traveled 5000 miles not in vain.
DISNEYLAND
My first impression was about pure craziness around. Without any soft opening the number of people waiting in lines was overwhelming. After entering the park I was surprised to see that almost nobody runs anywhere. Another real shock was observing the simplicity of World Bazaar. As almost everywhere in the park floor is just painted concrete, buildings are very very simple if compare them with Main Street in DLP. Also I didn't expect to see the majority of guests are teenagers, either schoolchildren or young couples. But later I learnt they are much more bearable than even two American kids in a long queue :)
The park is very clean and well-maintained, though there's almost always some trash in queue areas. And I have one strike back to TDLFAN who often complains about cleanness and smokers in DLP: I noticed that Tokyo Disneyland is very clean and smoke-free during the day, but after dark the situation changes and I encountered trash in pathways and enough people who smoked on the go.
Well, now some opinions about attractions and shows.
Splash Mountain
For me, it's the best attraction in both parks. True E-Ticket with long lines and fantastic decorations inside and outside. I wish one day they will build this ride in DLP without any modification or excuse for cold weather.
Big Thunder Mountain
DLP version is definitely better, though they need to fix water sprinkles in Paris.
Buzz
Nice and fun ride, but I don't think it's worth 100 minute waiting. The biggest shortcoming is a lack of space for external queue, both FastPass and ordinary lines block the main path through Tomorrowland.
Space Mountain
The biggest disappointment for me. I knew DLP version is superior, but didn't expect the one in Tokyo so bad. Its interior is too bright, the track is clearly visible, and the ride is so uncomfortable it's literally painful. After riding it, next time I would think twice before calling SM in Paris bumpy.
Haunted Mansion
To my surprise I liked it better than Phantom Manor. At least it's more logical and every little things are working.
Pirates of the Caribbean
While surely more primitive, it's more impressive than in DLP. Again, it's because all effects are working.
Pooh
Very good. I do hope such nonlinear technology will be used in more attractions. Before park closing lines are almost non-existent, so it's a good time to try all three different cars.
Country Bears + Tiki Room
While can be some kind of fun, they're too old-fashioned and with almost zero repeatability.
Jungle Cruise
Quite nice, especially interesting to see reactions of Japanese people. Such attitude to many shows always reminded me little green aliens from Toy Story :)
MicroAdventure
Nothing special, the mouse effect is unimpressive.
Star Tours + Grand Circuit Raceway + Western River Railroad
The same, nothing new.
It's a Small World
I like DLP layout better.
ToonTown
Frankly, I didn't get it, so we almost skipped it.
Disney Gallery
True hidden jewel, must be very interesting for any Disney fan.
Shows
I was very surprised that with all Japanese technological advances shows in TDL are very simple. The more or less OK was One Man's Dreams, all others are just time-fillers. I think after seeing the Lion King show in DLP I started to expect too much from Disney :)
Parades
If I only knew how lame Cinderellabration is! Now I need to return to Tokyo just to see their Dreamlights parade. As for Dreams Parade, it was refreshment after seeing the ancient daytime parade in Paris, with much more dancers and floats, everything is new and shining.
View Paul from Moscow's TDR Trip Photo Album
DISNEYSEA
I wonder if all Disney's second gates are cursed. DisneySea after very crowded Disneyland seemed almost empty, even during shows and fireworks the crowds were OK. The longest waiting time we encountered was 40 minutes in JTTCOE, it was child's play after 150 minutes on Big Thunder Mountain. To my surprise the most popular attraction in the park was StormRider with consistent 25-35 minute wait throughout the whole day. The park itself is fantastic and very detailed, especially if compare it to neighbor Disneyland. In this regard it's on par with DLP, but the number of attractions is too small. I wouldn't say it's a half-day park, but for me currently the only attraction I want to re-ride is JTTCOE. We returned there in FastPass window for about two hours on our third day just to take some more pictures.
Journey to the Center of Earth
One of two true E-Tickets in the park with a great pre-show and cool drop. We rode it about 7 times and my only complain is too loud music during the dark ride part. Still I don't understand on what thing airtime is dependent.
Indiana Jones
Great ride, almost walk-on in the evening time, but its main scene is not very impressive and too obvious because of stage smoke scent.
Sindbad
We got there with our surprise FastPasses. I'm not a big fan of Arabian fairy tales and saw a lot of scenes that was later used in European stories. But audio-animatronics are great, it was interesting to see how they developed since It's a Small World times.
StormRider
I think simulators are too big, also seams on a screen ruin illusion.
20000 Leagues
I expected to see mini-Nautiluses instead of metal cubes. Small air bubbles in water are clearly visible on the way back to the station.
Aquatopia
Its track is too obvious under water, movement is too rough to pretend to be boats.
Electric Railway + Steamer Line
Since usually lines are non-existent for these "attractions," they're very convenient to move throughout the park.
Under the Sea at Mermaid Lagoon
The most hyped show on laughingplace.com. I was absolutely disappointed by it. I saw many circus shows in my life and this one is incomparable with them, because it's too simple and too short. I think enough people feel the same, because FastPass machines were shut down both days we were in DisneySea.
Encore!
Very impressive, though some singers sang out of tune. The theater is nice too.
Aladdin [Editor's Note: Magic Lamp Theater]
I liked it, it's funny show with clear projection.
Mystic Rhythms
It's my favorite show in both parks. Great effects, not lame performances, impressive almost without any language.
BraviSEAmo
We saw it in reduced form because of windy weather, but nevertheless it was exciting. Too pity DLP doesn't have similar night shows.
View Paul from Moscow's TDR Trip Photo Album
All Text By: Paul from Moscow. [Report re-printed with permission.]
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