Pockets
07-29-2003, 10:36 PM
This was posted in July 2002 on another site. Thought it might give those who are planning a trip to Toyko Disney some helpful information.
Ohio, Tokyo Disney Sea
(Hi, Tokyo Disney Sea)
Cast of Characters
Pockets - Trip planner, packer of suitcases, lover of all things Disney
DH - Likes all things Disney and loves to indulge me whenever possible (read…spoils me rotten)
Preface
DH had a convention scheduled in Osaka, Japan. Since our 34th wedding
anniversary was just a few days before the convention, we decided to take
advantage of the opportunity and spend a week in Tokyo before the
convention. We had hoped to obtain reservations at the Mira Costa Hotel or the Ambassador Hotel (the official Disney Hotels) for two of the nights. Six months prior to the trip, I tried to make reservations. First I started with the official Tokyo Disney website. They have lots of great information but you cannot actually make the hotel reservation via the website. Then I tried calling the numbers on the website, those in my guidebooks and WDW. All the numbers I got were for Japanese speaking clients. Next I tried travel agents specializing in Asian Travel. But alas, by the time I got through to Tokyo Disney there were no rooms available at the inns. Of course, we could have stayed at one of "unofficial" hotels that are within walking distance of the parks but chose not as we had a rewards certificate for seven nights in a Tokyo hotel. It seemed foolish to pay for an "unofficial" room when we had a room at no cost. Of course, one could argue that to spend between 44,000 yen ($375) and 65,000 yen ($550) per night for an "official" room when one has a room at no cost is foolish but as I said DH spoils me. In the end it did not matter as the train, which we picked up within 3 blocks of our hotel in the Ginza, dropped us off at the entrance to Tokyo Disney.
Day One - Thursday, July 4th
Today is our 34th wedding anniversary and we are going to Tokyo Disney Sea !!!!!!!!! We have been in Tokyo for three days visiting various historical and cultural sites. But today we are celebrating so we are going to spend the day with Mickey San. As the trip planner, I was a bit concerned because we had no advance reservation for park entry tickets (in a chat on Tokyo Disney it had been suggested that reservations might be necessary) nor did we have PS for either lunch or dinner. Ever fearless DH pushes on assured that all will be well. He was correct!!! We are up at 6 AM and at Mickey's door by 7:30 AM having had a substantial breakfast in our hotel and taken an early train to the park (approximately a 30 min. ride). The park opens at 9 AM today. On the weekends it opens at 8 AM. To get to the Disney Sea entrance, we get off the train from Ginza and get on the Disney Monorail that circles both parks (the Monorail costs 200 yen ($1.70) per person per trip).
We are about 40th in line for tickets. We spend the time very enjoyably playing peek a boo with the various children, having rather interesting conversations using our limited Japanese and gestures until the ticket windows opened at 8 AM. We purchase two one-day passes for Tokyo Disney Sea at 5500 yen ($47) each. FYI Tokyo Disney has Child passes (age 3-10) 3800 yen, Junior passes (age 11 - 17) 4800 yen, Adult passes 5500 yen and Senior passes (over 65) 4800 yen. In addition, you may purchase a Twilight pass if you enter the park after 6 PM., which is about half the price of the one-day pass. They also have just implemented a two-day pass good for one day in each park (can't remember the cost) in addition to the three-day pass (two days in one park and one in the other) and four-day pass (two days in each park). However, you cannot park hop. Even with the multi-day passes you may only do one park a day.
With passes in hand we move on to the gated entrance where we wait for the parks to open at 9AM. The Japanese people are very punctual people, if they say the parks open at 9AM, the parks open at EXACTLY 9 AM. We meet several very nice couples waiting for the gates to open. Many of them just wanted a chance to practice speaking English. It seems that in school they learn to read and write in English but have little chance to hold conversations in English as many of the English teachers to not speak English. This explains all the ads in the English print newspapers for English speaking teachers.
Finally, the parks are open and we move into the Disney Seas. The first thing you notice is a large globe with water flowing over its surface (Disney Sea Aqua Sphere). It is beautiful but smaller than I imagined. I thought it would be about the size of Space Ship Earth but it is less than a fourth that size. We turn right through the passageway and head for Lost River Delta and the Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Crystal Skull. It is a replica of the ride at Disneyland, CA only set in Mexico. Here's a surprise - the film explaining the safety feature of your car is in Spanish with English and Japanese subtitles. This ride has a fast pass but we did not use it as we only had a 5 min. wait.
Next we are off to Mysterious Island for a Journey to the Center of the Earth. Again our plan was to get a FP but with a wait of only 10 min. we decided to get in line. The ride is similar to the Indy ride with a Splash Mountain ending. Great ride and themeing! I guess that Thursdays are a good day to visit, as the waits are short.
Ever onward… to Arabian Coast and Sindbad's Seven Voyages. A Small World type of ride that depicts scenes Sindbad's Voyages. All in Japanese with no translations but you still understand the story line. Then to a request on my list the double carousel (Caravan Carousel), again a walk on. I wanted to ride on the second level so we did. I rode the Genie and DH the elephant. Cute!
It suddenly dawned on us that we had been in the park for 1-½ hours and had not done any shopping. The rides don't end in gift shops - how strange. Well, we just have to find some gift shops. So we go back to Mysterious Island to do some pin shopping. After which we took in theMystic Rhythms a show on the Rainforest that is similar to the Lion King but more sedate. When the show is over we head toward the Mediterranean Harbor and hopefully lunch. As I mentioned we did not have PS but we were able to secure a table for two at Magellan's.
Magellan's is a beautiful two-story circular restaurant that is entered on the second level (balcony). We are seated on the first level close to center of the restaurant. Overhead is a domed ceiling with the zodiac painted in gold, blue and burnt orange. Under the dome in the center of the restaurant is a revolving globe depicting the world during Magellan's explorations. The wait staff is dressed in period customs. Behind me is a bookcase that is the secret entrance to small private dining rooms for parties of 6 or more. Great atmosphere!! The food was excellent!! The menu consists of 6 sets (Appetizer, salad, entrée, dessert and beverage). There are 2 American sets, 2 French sets, and 2 Mediterranean sets. DH's French set consisted of pate, salad with blue cheese, braised duck and fruit tart. I had a Mediterranean set consisting of artichoke hearts, salad with blue cheese, lamb chops au jus and a fruit tart. Lunch was expensive at 4400 yen ($37.60 including tax and service charge) but worth every penny as service was excellent as was the food.
It is now 1:30 PM (wow! lunch was nearly a 2 hour event) so we head over to the American Waterfront via the Mira Costa Hotel. We want to see if we can get PS for dinner. But the Porto Paradiso Water Carnival (a festive show of characters, decorated boats and music set in renaissance Italy) delays us. It is a spectacular production especially, the performance by the riders on ski jets.
Now on to the Mira Costa, since we could not stay there we hope to have our anniversary dinner there. We are in luck - securing PS for 7:30 PM in Oceano Restaurant at the Mira Costa. FYI The Oceano is really two restaurants in one. The front of the restaurant serves what looks like an excellent buffet which is very reasonably priced but if you continue through to the back of the restaurant you will find an elegant and romantic sit down restaurant. If you have dinner reservation close to the time of the nightly Buona Sera Serenade (a laser, fireworks and musical presentation) on Mediterranean Harbor you are invited out to the balcony to view the show before dessert.
With PS for dinner we head for 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, the standby line was a 35 min wait so we grab a fast pass and explore the American Waterfront. We are in time for the 2:30 PM showing of "Sail Away" on stage in front of the S.S. Columbia celebrating the maiden voyage of the ship. It is an all-star cast with Mickey, Goofy, Minnie and Donald. The tunes ("I can't be happy until your happy") in this production sound familiar but you just don't recognize the Japanese lyrics. LOL
Then it is over the bridge to Port Discovery to ride the Aquatopia (or bumper boats as I like to call them). The boats look like they are driven like a bumper car but surprise they run on a track that spin and twist just narrowly missing other boats, waterfalls and rocks. You are not in control - great fun!!
Next we ride on the Stormrider where we descend into the eye of a storm aboard an advance flying laboratory but like it's counter part Star Tours, the pilot takes his own course and you the rider are in for a wild ride. This simulator ride is fun but not worth a long wait. Fortunately, we only waited a few minutes.
Now it is time for our Fast Passes to 20,000 Leagues. I was a bit concerned about DH fitting in this ride as he is 6'5" tall but Disney Sea improve the Sub and now DH fits comfortably in the Sub. The ride is an upgrade of the WDW version that no longer exists. There are giant squid and other perils of Captain Nemoy's journey.
After a ride on the Transit Steamer Line around the Park we take the Electric Railway back to the Mediterranean Harbor in hopes of getting a ride on the Venetian Gondolas but the wait for the Gondolas was 50 minutes so maybe next time. Instead we do some shopping for the kids back home and purchased 28 post cards to send to the kids and clubhouse members. We find a seat in the shade, get a cool drink and start writing. We had chosen our seat well, soon there appeared in front of us a group of performers doing some pretty spectacular rope jumping. Goofy even got into the act.
Our anniversary dinner was everything I had hoped it would be. The service was excellent and the food even better. We both started with a glass of wine, the crab and scallop appetizer and a wild greens salad with raspberry vinaigrette. I had veal medallions with garlic roasted potatoes and asparagus. DH had rack of lamb with root vegetables and wild rice. At 8:30 PM we were invited out on the balcony to view Buona Sera Serenade. This is a very nice show but it does not compare to Illuminations. After the show we returned to the dining room. The lights had been lowered and we were presented with tiramisu topped with a chocolate card that read "Happy Anniversary". Our waiter announces that it was our 34th wedding anniversary and the other diners gave us a standing ovation. It was a moment I will never forget. Then our waiter asked if he could take our picture. He takes a Polaroid shot and leaves with the picture. Just before we leave the restaurant, the waiter reappears with our picture in a beautiful little frame and gives it to us. The night is perfect as we slowly exit the park arm in arm catch the monorail and then the train to our hotel. By the way dinner was 7140 yen ($61.00).
Ohio, Tokyo Disney Sea
(Hi, Tokyo Disney Sea)
Cast of Characters
Pockets - Trip planner, packer of suitcases, lover of all things Disney
DH - Likes all things Disney and loves to indulge me whenever possible (read…spoils me rotten)
Preface
DH had a convention scheduled in Osaka, Japan. Since our 34th wedding
anniversary was just a few days before the convention, we decided to take
advantage of the opportunity and spend a week in Tokyo before the
convention. We had hoped to obtain reservations at the Mira Costa Hotel or the Ambassador Hotel (the official Disney Hotels) for two of the nights. Six months prior to the trip, I tried to make reservations. First I started with the official Tokyo Disney website. They have lots of great information but you cannot actually make the hotel reservation via the website. Then I tried calling the numbers on the website, those in my guidebooks and WDW. All the numbers I got were for Japanese speaking clients. Next I tried travel agents specializing in Asian Travel. But alas, by the time I got through to Tokyo Disney there were no rooms available at the inns. Of course, we could have stayed at one of "unofficial" hotels that are within walking distance of the parks but chose not as we had a rewards certificate for seven nights in a Tokyo hotel. It seemed foolish to pay for an "unofficial" room when we had a room at no cost. Of course, one could argue that to spend between 44,000 yen ($375) and 65,000 yen ($550) per night for an "official" room when one has a room at no cost is foolish but as I said DH spoils me. In the end it did not matter as the train, which we picked up within 3 blocks of our hotel in the Ginza, dropped us off at the entrance to Tokyo Disney.
Day One - Thursday, July 4th
Today is our 34th wedding anniversary and we are going to Tokyo Disney Sea !!!!!!!!! We have been in Tokyo for three days visiting various historical and cultural sites. But today we are celebrating so we are going to spend the day with Mickey San. As the trip planner, I was a bit concerned because we had no advance reservation for park entry tickets (in a chat on Tokyo Disney it had been suggested that reservations might be necessary) nor did we have PS for either lunch or dinner. Ever fearless DH pushes on assured that all will be well. He was correct!!! We are up at 6 AM and at Mickey's door by 7:30 AM having had a substantial breakfast in our hotel and taken an early train to the park (approximately a 30 min. ride). The park opens at 9 AM today. On the weekends it opens at 8 AM. To get to the Disney Sea entrance, we get off the train from Ginza and get on the Disney Monorail that circles both parks (the Monorail costs 200 yen ($1.70) per person per trip).
We are about 40th in line for tickets. We spend the time very enjoyably playing peek a boo with the various children, having rather interesting conversations using our limited Japanese and gestures until the ticket windows opened at 8 AM. We purchase two one-day passes for Tokyo Disney Sea at 5500 yen ($47) each. FYI Tokyo Disney has Child passes (age 3-10) 3800 yen, Junior passes (age 11 - 17) 4800 yen, Adult passes 5500 yen and Senior passes (over 65) 4800 yen. In addition, you may purchase a Twilight pass if you enter the park after 6 PM., which is about half the price of the one-day pass. They also have just implemented a two-day pass good for one day in each park (can't remember the cost) in addition to the three-day pass (two days in one park and one in the other) and four-day pass (two days in each park). However, you cannot park hop. Even with the multi-day passes you may only do one park a day.
With passes in hand we move on to the gated entrance where we wait for the parks to open at 9AM. The Japanese people are very punctual people, if they say the parks open at 9AM, the parks open at EXACTLY 9 AM. We meet several very nice couples waiting for the gates to open. Many of them just wanted a chance to practice speaking English. It seems that in school they learn to read and write in English but have little chance to hold conversations in English as many of the English teachers to not speak English. This explains all the ads in the English print newspapers for English speaking teachers.
Finally, the parks are open and we move into the Disney Seas. The first thing you notice is a large globe with water flowing over its surface (Disney Sea Aqua Sphere). It is beautiful but smaller than I imagined. I thought it would be about the size of Space Ship Earth but it is less than a fourth that size. We turn right through the passageway and head for Lost River Delta and the Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Crystal Skull. It is a replica of the ride at Disneyland, CA only set in Mexico. Here's a surprise - the film explaining the safety feature of your car is in Spanish with English and Japanese subtitles. This ride has a fast pass but we did not use it as we only had a 5 min. wait.
Next we are off to Mysterious Island for a Journey to the Center of the Earth. Again our plan was to get a FP but with a wait of only 10 min. we decided to get in line. The ride is similar to the Indy ride with a Splash Mountain ending. Great ride and themeing! I guess that Thursdays are a good day to visit, as the waits are short.
Ever onward… to Arabian Coast and Sindbad's Seven Voyages. A Small World type of ride that depicts scenes Sindbad's Voyages. All in Japanese with no translations but you still understand the story line. Then to a request on my list the double carousel (Caravan Carousel), again a walk on. I wanted to ride on the second level so we did. I rode the Genie and DH the elephant. Cute!
It suddenly dawned on us that we had been in the park for 1-½ hours and had not done any shopping. The rides don't end in gift shops - how strange. Well, we just have to find some gift shops. So we go back to Mysterious Island to do some pin shopping. After which we took in theMystic Rhythms a show on the Rainforest that is similar to the Lion King but more sedate. When the show is over we head toward the Mediterranean Harbor and hopefully lunch. As I mentioned we did not have PS but we were able to secure a table for two at Magellan's.
Magellan's is a beautiful two-story circular restaurant that is entered on the second level (balcony). We are seated on the first level close to center of the restaurant. Overhead is a domed ceiling with the zodiac painted in gold, blue and burnt orange. Under the dome in the center of the restaurant is a revolving globe depicting the world during Magellan's explorations. The wait staff is dressed in period customs. Behind me is a bookcase that is the secret entrance to small private dining rooms for parties of 6 or more. Great atmosphere!! The food was excellent!! The menu consists of 6 sets (Appetizer, salad, entrée, dessert and beverage). There are 2 American sets, 2 French sets, and 2 Mediterranean sets. DH's French set consisted of pate, salad with blue cheese, braised duck and fruit tart. I had a Mediterranean set consisting of artichoke hearts, salad with blue cheese, lamb chops au jus and a fruit tart. Lunch was expensive at 4400 yen ($37.60 including tax and service charge) but worth every penny as service was excellent as was the food.
It is now 1:30 PM (wow! lunch was nearly a 2 hour event) so we head over to the American Waterfront via the Mira Costa Hotel. We want to see if we can get PS for dinner. But the Porto Paradiso Water Carnival (a festive show of characters, decorated boats and music set in renaissance Italy) delays us. It is a spectacular production especially, the performance by the riders on ski jets.
Now on to the Mira Costa, since we could not stay there we hope to have our anniversary dinner there. We are in luck - securing PS for 7:30 PM in Oceano Restaurant at the Mira Costa. FYI The Oceano is really two restaurants in one. The front of the restaurant serves what looks like an excellent buffet which is very reasonably priced but if you continue through to the back of the restaurant you will find an elegant and romantic sit down restaurant. If you have dinner reservation close to the time of the nightly Buona Sera Serenade (a laser, fireworks and musical presentation) on Mediterranean Harbor you are invited out to the balcony to view the show before dessert.
With PS for dinner we head for 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, the standby line was a 35 min wait so we grab a fast pass and explore the American Waterfront. We are in time for the 2:30 PM showing of "Sail Away" on stage in front of the S.S. Columbia celebrating the maiden voyage of the ship. It is an all-star cast with Mickey, Goofy, Minnie and Donald. The tunes ("I can't be happy until your happy") in this production sound familiar but you just don't recognize the Japanese lyrics. LOL
Then it is over the bridge to Port Discovery to ride the Aquatopia (or bumper boats as I like to call them). The boats look like they are driven like a bumper car but surprise they run on a track that spin and twist just narrowly missing other boats, waterfalls and rocks. You are not in control - great fun!!
Next we ride on the Stormrider where we descend into the eye of a storm aboard an advance flying laboratory but like it's counter part Star Tours, the pilot takes his own course and you the rider are in for a wild ride. This simulator ride is fun but not worth a long wait. Fortunately, we only waited a few minutes.
Now it is time for our Fast Passes to 20,000 Leagues. I was a bit concerned about DH fitting in this ride as he is 6'5" tall but Disney Sea improve the Sub and now DH fits comfortably in the Sub. The ride is an upgrade of the WDW version that no longer exists. There are giant squid and other perils of Captain Nemoy's journey.
After a ride on the Transit Steamer Line around the Park we take the Electric Railway back to the Mediterranean Harbor in hopes of getting a ride on the Venetian Gondolas but the wait for the Gondolas was 50 minutes so maybe next time. Instead we do some shopping for the kids back home and purchased 28 post cards to send to the kids and clubhouse members. We find a seat in the shade, get a cool drink and start writing. We had chosen our seat well, soon there appeared in front of us a group of performers doing some pretty spectacular rope jumping. Goofy even got into the act.
Our anniversary dinner was everything I had hoped it would be. The service was excellent and the food even better. We both started with a glass of wine, the crab and scallop appetizer and a wild greens salad with raspberry vinaigrette. I had veal medallions with garlic roasted potatoes and asparagus. DH had rack of lamb with root vegetables and wild rice. At 8:30 PM we were invited out on the balcony to view Buona Sera Serenade. This is a very nice show but it does not compare to Illuminations. After the show we returned to the dining room. The lights had been lowered and we were presented with tiramisu topped with a chocolate card that read "Happy Anniversary". Our waiter announces that it was our 34th wedding anniversary and the other diners gave us a standing ovation. It was a moment I will never forget. Then our waiter asked if he could take our picture. He takes a Polaroid shot and leaves with the picture. Just before we leave the restaurant, the waiter reappears with our picture in a beautiful little frame and gives it to us. The night is perfect as we slowly exit the park arm in arm catch the monorail and then the train to our hotel. By the way dinner was 7140 yen ($61.00).