TPR's Tokyo Disney Resort Photo Trip Report!

[robbalvey]

Hey everyone at Mice Chat!

The following is our photo trip report from our visit to Tokyo Disneyland Resort in October of 2007. We've got a LOT of photos so I'll do this TR in installments.

The first installment will be from Tokyo DisneySea with a focus on Tower of Terror.

I'm sure you guys have heard a lot of thoughts on this version of the ride so I won't go into too much detail (and don't worry, I'll get to the photos soon enough!) but my feelings on the ride were kind of mixed.

I *loved* the story and the pre-show behind it. I think I liked it more than the Twilight Zone storyline. Now, I'm not sure if that's because I really DO like it better, or because I've been watching the Twilight Zone pre-show for the past 15 years and this was "fresh." All I know is that the story was awesome and the effects were amazing!

As for the ride itself, well...it's basically DCA's Tower (you all know this!) and I'm not a big fan of DCA's Tower. It's a fun ride, sure, and had Florida's never been built it probably would be fine, but there just seems like something is "missing" from it.

I will say though that the Hightower/Skiriki storyline I think lends itself better to the onride show scenes than the California version, but I still can't help thinking that it's just not as cool as the 5th dimension sequence of the Florida version.

The drop sequence is also weaker, at least IMO, than the DCA version. The drops themselves were good, but the airtime and speed of the vehicle was nowhere near as intense. In fact, the frist time the car moved after the show scenes I thought we were going to another show scene. It moved that slowly!

But overall, it's a GREAT ride. And even though the drop sequence isn't as intense, I far prefer it to the DCA version, however Florida is still my favorite.

Anyway, I've blabbed on enough...onto a few photos...and I'll include a link to a video we shot showing off how the Shiriki effect was done!

Here goes....


So we got to Tokyo DisneySea about an hour before opening and look at how many people are already there!
(BTW, does anyone else think this photo looks like a model, or am I just insane?)


"Will the coaster enthusaists who are OBVIOUSLY not Japanese please stand up?"


If there is one thing to know about Tokyo Disney is "they love popcorn!" The English guides do not have the information about all their crazy popcorn flavors! Make sure you get a Japanese guide to find out and really interesting stuff!


Ahh, there it is...the best "looking" Tower of Terror yet!


Holy crap! Does that look like a lot of people getting FastPass?


That's nothing compared to THIS line! No, that's not the standby line, that's still the line for FastPass! It goes on for what seems like a mile!!! Oddly enough, it only took like 10 minutes to get through. The Japanese are so awesome.


"Caramel?" That's a pretty 'normal' popcorn flavor...we'll get to the really cool ones later....


"Thanks to the FastPass system we can now do the American thing and stuff our faces with food!"
(Hi Joey...nice fork!)


We may be in Japan, but OMG, the Chinese food here was freaking amazing!!!


"Sea Salt Ice Cream anyone out of...um....what is this? Uhh....Ariel's SHELL?!?! WTF part of Ariel am I eating?!?! It's creamy...it's salty! OMG!!! OMG!!! EEEWWWWW!!!!!"


The proper use of Ariel's shell!

"I totally just got the Ariel credit!"


Ahhh...Aquatopia. So stupid. So pointless. So TOTALLY AWESOME!!!


Two thumbs up for pointlessly awesome Aquatopia!


And it gets bonus points for looking completely awesome at night!


Speaking about things that look awesome at night, is it time for our Tower of Terror ride yet?


The attention to detail gets us all hot and bothered.


More sexyness.


The lobby of the hotel looks pretty cool.


Ooh, it's almost a 3D effect on the stained glass!


This is the "Shiriki" room where you see the cool effect in the video below happen! There he is on the right just looking all innocent and all.


Just a couple hours into the day and FastPass was nearly sold out. Standby at least wasn't too bad!


Instead of the boiler room you are in the museum. This part of the queue was really freaking cool!

\
Oh, BTW, did we mention the elevator's broke?


More museum looking stuff.


OMG! HIDDEN SHIRIKI'S!!!!


Yeah, did we mention how awesome it looked at night?


And we leave you with another photo of awesome "looking" Tower. I wish the ride was as good as Florida's but it's really not. It's basically California Adventure's version with a MUCH better story and theming, and a slightly weaker drop sequence.

Watch the video below and check out the cool Shiriki effect. And we'll have more Tokyo Disney Resort photos soon!

Video link - "How the Shiriki Effect Works"
http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum...hiriki_180.zip

Hope you guys all liked the photos!

--Robb Alvey
www.themeparkreview.com

[TDR_Fan]

Thanks for the great report and pictures. What I enjoy about the Disney World version is not the 5th Dimension, but the random drop sequences. I think the 5th Dimension Room is rather outdated and cheesy, but to each their own. I do prefer the ToT at Hollywood Studios over the one at DCA though. Better set-up and better theming. Having been on all 3 versions, I have to say that my favorite has to be DisneySea's for its elaborate theming and detail. I agree about the weak drop sequence, though I blame that on the weird seat belt straps they make you put on.

[robbalvey]

I think the 5th Dimension Room is rather outdated and cheesy, but to each their own.

You know what does it for me? That damn "splitting door" effect right before you go into the drop shaft! It makes me forget how cheesy the rest of it is. I just see the lines and star field appear on the mirror and I'm sold! =)

Do you think that the weaker drop sequence could also be part of the culture? Having been all over Japan now to about 40 different parks, it's very rare to find a ride or coaster that equalls in intensity to what you find in Europe or the US.

And that's not really a bad thing, just something you have to get used to when visiting parks in Japan.

--Robb "I'd rather be at Japanese parks than anywhere else in the world!" Alvey
www.themeparkreview.com

[DreamSweetsLove]

Nice trip report, your pictures are really fun! Looking forward to the next installment.

[mycroft16]

I always love reading your reports Rob, here and on TPR. Great photos as always and love the commentary.

Thanks for the spoiler video. That was the only way I could think of that they were doing that. Nice to have confirmation.

[Disneyfan4]

Awesome trip report. TOT looks totally awesome

[tasman]

I was awestruck by the level of detail on the DisneySea TOT when I first saw pictures of it during construction, and that initial impression hasn't changed a bit since. Though I haven't been on all the TOTs, based on what I can tell from pictures, the Orlando version still does retain a unique ambience.

Enjoying the report and looking forward to more!

[Malin]

Great pics and trip report look forward to the rest

Well done on capturing how the Shiriki Effect Works. That video will come in handy when ever we get someone on here asking how it works.

[seenoevil]

More, more, more, more, more, more.... waiting, waiting, waiting!!!!!

[nojarama]

Rob, you always do fab trip reports (albeit I prefer your filthy ones on at TPR myself. And I'm still cracking up about "Nurse Dan"- he know I'm in love with him, yes? He-he!). But this IS a family show so... thankies! I need to win the lottery so I can go there with you guys!

[kcnole]

I do think the storyline in Japan works much better than the weaker Twilight Zone story here in Florida. I really wish there was a way to get that storyline instead although I know it wouldn't fit into the theme anymore.

[Jerm]

Thank you so much for the spoiler video! That has always been one of those effects that have bugged me.

[robbalvey]

Ok, onto some more photos....

Our first day at Tokyo Disneyland was also the opening day for the Halloween 2007 season. One difference about Tokyo Disney from the US parks is that they allow not just kids, but adults to come dressed in Disney character costumes. And during the Halloween season, you see a LOT of very cool...and VERY WEIRD costumes!


Apparently, opening day is also known as the day that the die-hard Japanese Disney enthusaists show up, because there were a LOT of them!!!


The Tokyo Umbrella Convention was also going on this day.


Dan has *TWO* Alices. In America you pay like $1500 an hour for this fantasy come true, but in Japan, you just go to Disneyland! =)


Damn umbrella convention was making the park really busy!


TPR Members LOVE Pooh!


Haunted Mansion Holiday. It's like Haunted Mansion...but more pumpkins.


Dan & Joey found some prince & princess couples. We're pretty sure they are all women...but we're not 100% sure.


Honey Popcorn. The only thing sexier is TWO ALICES with Honey Popcorn.


Joey and the "eye guy" - cute!


Dan and two male Villains played by chicks (we think!)


There are so many things wrong with this picture that after I write this update I'm writing a novel about it.


This makes more than just a little bit happy.


Not only were all seven dwarfs here, but they each had their own "personality." It was both creepy and cool at the same time. Mostly creepy, though.


These two were some of the hottest chicks we saw all day. Why did they go after Ryan?!?!


Space Mountain's station got a makeover just like the one at California's Disneyland. This one's better because it's got TWO ALICES! Duh!


Tokyo Disneyland joined the erotic blue airgates club.


The big sliver balls now have blue stuff in them.


Outside it still looks like Space Mountain. Which is too bad. I thought it would look more like a Fudgesicle, but no, it's just Space Mountain.


Lumiere just came back from the nose job hospital.


It's Big Thunder. You know how I can tell? Because it LOOKS LIKE BIG THUNDER!


Jow is spelled wrong.


The hottest Jack Sparrow's were all chicks!


The Japanese really like Big Thunder Mountain.


They like the Big Thunder Fast Pass Machine even more.


I can't even SEE the end of the line!


Man-Fights over Curry....yumm.....


"Why are these maggots so sticky?"


Evil Witch is texting Snow White.


Curry Popcorn > Honey Popcorn & TWO ALICES!!!


Ignore the insane woman in the background. This stuff really is better than sex.


KidTums gets her first Pirates credit. Jahan should be proud.


Jack has taken over Tokyo's Pirates too!


If you like Nightmare Before Christmas you will die in this store.


They have everything for Nightmare fans.


They've even got panties to keep your bottoms warm.


More Nightmare stuff. Are you dead yet?


That night we went on a quest for Yakatori in Tokyo.


We found stuffed bell pepper yakatori. It was stuffed with chicken. We think it was chicken. It doesn't matter. It was better than Curry Popcorn which is better than sex AND Honey Popcorn with TWO ALICES!!!

Hope you liked the update! More photos coming soon!

--Robb Alvey
www.themeparkreview.com

[DreamSweetsLove]

This trip report is a blast and KidTums is so cute!

[monotonehell]

Awesome trip report. But I'm shocked at the all female characters. It's just not right. Or is it? I'm confused! And they all come in pairs? WTF? O.o

PLEASE do not tell me that the girls on the right are Chip & Dale.

*faints*