 | Tokyo Disney Resort Trip Report Part One |
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| DisneyDan
Wednesday, September 8, 2010 12:46:35 PM |
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Hi all,
So this is the report you have all been waiting for! (or at least part one - part two here)
The big one from Tokyo!! I’m sorry it has taken so long, but it has been so crazy since we got back, between more travelling, trying to edit and upload pictures, doing things to the website, work, and other general stuff.
Anyway, here we are. So where to begin is the question?! First off I should say that Tokyo was awesome. We did have a fantastic time, but I’m sad to say there are some “buts” coming!
I should mention that the reason we were able to go this summer was that we actually have a good friend who works for Disney in Florida normally, but had gotten a contract with Tokyo Disney Resort for eight months. He offered for us to go stay with him. This eliminated hotel costs, and actually made it somewhat affordable. Tokyo is MEGA expensive to get to and stay in, and so by having someone to stay with helped massively. So that is why we went in the summer this year. This leads on to my first section…
Let me start here by saying, the Japanese people we met were very friendly, overall considerate, and tried to do whatever they could for you to help. We made a very good Japanese friend while there who is totally lovely.
But, on saying that, the Japanese were also somewhat, how shall I put it? “Enthusiastic”, to say the least, about Disney.
Jon and I were shocked. Completely shocked. We have honestly never seen lines anything like what they get in the Tokyo Parks. In the mornings, before parks opens, there will be HUGE lines at every gate waiting to get in. And I mean HUGE. The Japanese I am sure get there at 5am to start lining up. If you stand any chance of being in the park before 9am (which is its normal summer opening time), you need to be at the entrance a good hour before hand - probably longer. If you are too far back, it can take at least 20mins to get into the park. 20 minutes to get through the entrance!
Once you eventually get through the turnstile, you have two choices. Run and hide or run.
You can either choose to be “Japanese”, and sprint at Olympic speeds to every attraction to get those all important FastPasses, or sprint at Olympic speeds to just line up and be within the first 60mins of the line, or you can just run into a corner and hide from the insane rush of Japanese people who are fixed on getting to their first destination. It really is that mad. Not only that, once you get to the FastPass line, you will have to wait at least 15mins to get you FP. And when you get it, it will be for sometime after lunch, if not evening time. By the time you have got your FP, put it in your wallet, and recovered sufficiently from the mad dash to get it, the FP’s will probably be gone.
Then you decide to go to some attractions… Attraction lines within an hour of park opening - before 9.30am - will be at least 120mins, and most likely at least 150mins plus.
The Japanese are 200% completely and totally obsessed with anything Disney. The moment the parks open, they will tear the stores apart. Cast Members will be emptying new boxes of merchandise and filling the shelves, and the shelves will just be empty moments later.
This leads me to my next point - merchandise.
Merchandise at Tokyo Disney Resort (TDR) is overall fairly varied and different from the US and Paris parks. But, as with everything else in Japan, is exorbitantly priced beyond all reason.
Small keychain plushes? Expect to pay around $30. Popcorn buckets? Expect to pay between $12 - $30.
Apparently, as we found out, the Japanese are also obsessed by anything “small and cute”. Anything small therefore is a luxury item, and is ridiculously priced. Larger items tend not to be so much more, if not the same price, as the smaller items.
The Japanese will also carry around all these items all day with them in the parks. And not just things they buy that day. They will bring with them from home a whole menagerie of stuffed animals, key chains, popcorn buckets, hats, bags - you name it, they bring it. They will carry it all around with them all day. It appears to be a fashion statement in Japan. You have to bear in mind, and I will mention at this point, this is in the summer, when in Japan it reaches over 100F/35C-plus temperatures and the humidity is over 90%. This is when even to walk is an effort in the blisteringly hot climate. And they will run with all this stuff attached to them, a hundred mile an hour to every attraction as soon as the park opens. Stuffed animals, popcorn buckets and everything else in tow in the 100 degree heat. It is not only unbelievably surreal, but just plain ridiculous.
You would think at this point that maybe I am making this up. I can assure you I am not. Far from it. I only wish I was! It was a complete eye opener to see and experience.
On top of all that, and despite their Olympic sprints at 8.30am, the Japanese could actually probably win, hands down, the award for the culture that “waits the longest”. With lines in excess of 200mins, you would think that would be enough. But the Japanese also wait outside in the intense summer heat for anything and everything. They will, literally no kidding, wait at least three hours for the day parade. They will sit there on their plastic mats with their popcorn buckets out in the heat and just wait. And wait.
In my next article read about some of the other crazy Japanese things, including the demonic bear named Duffy…
Dan. |