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Photo TR: Chuck Returns to Japan with TPR--Again


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Yeah, I saw Robb's video of Illumination Fantasy and my first thought was, "I remember seeing this video. That ride is great!" And then I started watching it, and it was all kinds of WTF. It's, er, not quite like the other Hello Kitty ride.

 

I love Japanese instructions. They never tell you what to do, just remind you to do what you know you should. It's never a stop sign, it's a sign that says "Please consider others who would like to use this intersection." That garden at the end is fantastic as well.

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Also, seeing that train made me RATIONALLY angry at the US again. WHY CAN'T WE HAVE NICE FAST TRAINS?!?!?!

 

I was looking at DC to NYC which is roughly 220 miles (the same distance we took that awesome Green train from Tokyo to Sendai) and it takes 3.5 hours by train. It took us 94 minutes in Japan. Grrr!!!

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Also, seeing that train made me RATIONALLY angry at the US again. WHY CAN'T WE HAVE NICE FAST TRAINS?!?!?!

 

I was looking at DC to NYC which is roughly 220 miles (the same distance we took that awesome Green train from Tokyo to Sendai) and it takes 3.5 hours by train. It took us 94 minutes in Japan. Grrr!!!

 

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Chuck, I'm very disappointed that you didn't include the most extreme coaster at Beny Land, Aero 5:

[attachment=0]IMG_1463.jpg[/attachment]

(I'm waiting to see what will be done with the amazing on-ride footage Elissa got on that one! )

 

Other than that, great report! Both parks looked nice, and had some interesting attractions, but not the best in terms of coasters. And I'm glad that my fake enthusiasm for cyclone came through since Robb was filming then.

 

I rode it, but blacked out and forgot. I think.

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Chuck, I'm very disappointed that you didn't include the most extreme coaster at Beny Land, Aero 5:

[attachment=0]IMG_1463.jpg[/attachment]

(I'm waiting to see what will be done with the amazing on-ride footage Elissa got on that one! )

 

Other than that, great report! Both parks looked nice, and had some interesting attractions, but not the best in terms of coasters. And I'm glad that my fake enthusiasm for cyclone came through since Robb was filming then.

 

I rode it, but blacked out and forgot. I think.

 

from the headbanging? is it an SLC?

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  • 2 weeks later...

Thank you for the kind words, Andy. I need to finish this one, but there are a lot of Tokyo Disney photos to sort through. Plus, I've enjoyed writing it, and I'm kind of sad that it has to end. I hope to have it wrapped up this weekend.

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At Long Last: Tokyo DisneySea

 

What can I say about DisneySea that many (including me) haven’t said many times before?

 

1. It’s still the greatest theme park ever built.

2. Its version of Tower of Terror has the best back story of all the other towers--not to mention Shiriki Untundu. (Nothing against Rocket at Disneyland in California, but he’s no Shiriki.)

3. It’s home to some of the best popcorn anywhere.

4. Even with Journey to the Center of the Earth down for rehab, it's still the best theme park you'll ever visit.

 

I did do a couple things I’ve never done at this park before, but I think I’ll just move on to the photos.

 

Yes, the greatest day you could possibly imagine at almost any other park isn't as good as a bad day at Tokyo DisneySea--and there is no such thing as a bad day at Tokyo DisneySea. If you disagree with this statement, our Guest Relations CM will be happy to assist you.

 

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He'll give you all the attention you want and then some.

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Not a Shinkansen, but a monorail will do.

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The Japanese wait very patiently until it’s time to get a Toy Story Fast Pass. Then it’s everyone for him- or herself for about 15 minutes or so.

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No park tops the vistas of Tokyo DisneySea. Absolutely none!

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Temporary Hidden Mickeys?

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There isn’t a bad view in this park--even when you can see the access stairs to secured areas.

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May as well get this out of the way before the one-hour-plus queue kicks in.

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I just love all the little details in this park, such as the sea walls that appear to barely hold back the sea. Great touch.

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I’m not a fan of simulators, but this is a better than what it replaced (Stormrider). It’s a very gentle, family-friendly trip under the sea.

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As I recall, we’re riding inside a mechanical fish that’s shrunk down to regular fish size, or something like that. It's a good thing that they don't put you in a giant real fish then shrink you. If they did, you'd be surrounded by fish guts, and who wants that?

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Nemo isn’t too far from this cart, which is a point in its flavor, er, favor.

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Duffy’s Blueberry Popcorn is pretty dang good. Hell, Duffy probably eats Blueberry Popcorn and craps out Strawberry Popcorn.

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Back through the bucolic seaside of Cape Cod.

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Excuse me, but is that Duffy Happy Marching Time stuff happening around here somewhere?

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Guess which Fast Pass we were after.

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If you guessed Toy Story Midway Mania, you guessed poorly.

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Yes! Achievement unlocked!

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I’m sorry other theme parks, but you still haven’t topped this. I will brook no dissension on this point.

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We're entering my favorite part of DisneySea.

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The Mysterious Island of Captain Nemo (aka, “Vulcania”) really does the classic Verne novel and Disney movie justice.

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Looks like the Nautilus crew has some work to do yet.

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I hope Lava Monster had a good time hanging out with Bruce the Shark at Senor Frog’s while they were on vacation.

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20,000 Leagues Under the Sea is a great ride, too.

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Probably where they stow the grog.

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“Peek-a-boo! Are you something edible?”

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“Ow! Evidently not. Looks like I'm sharing a plate with some marinara sauce now.”

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For some reason, I'm craving calamari now. More to come.

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Oh, that was damn good calamari.

 

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Back to DisneySea!

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It’s always nice to walk through Mermaid Lagoon.

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First, it’s a beautifully done kids area.

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Second, it’s indoors and air conditioned.

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Third, there are come-hither mermaid plushes for all you pervs out there to snuggle with.

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Arabian Coast is home to one of my favorite TDS attractions.

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D’oh! Stupid Sultan!

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Well, some people go there for the Sultan’s balls--with maple cream.

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“Oh, did someone say ‘balls’? Wish I had me some of them!”

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“Hey, no wishin’ for balls! This is a family park. Well, unless they’re ‘maple cream balls.’”

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OK, we were distracted there for a moment. Let’s forget about maple cream balls and ride one of my favorite TDS attractions, . . .

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. . . Sindbad’s Storybook Voyage.

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“Good luck, Sindbad!”

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“The local harlots will miss you.”

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“But the mermaids will be happy to fill in.”

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Sindbad’s sidekick, Chandu, is here to chew catnip and kick butt.

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And he’s all out of catnip.

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“Not even I would mess with Chandu, and I’m a freakin’ giant!”

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“Oh, yeah! It totally rules to be a mermaid-kissin’, boat-sailin’, treasure-seekin’ son-of-a-gun like me! Woo!”

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Sindbad parties like a rock star.

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“Hey, Sindbad! Light up a few of these!”

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“Oh, Chandu! We smoked way too much of that monkey ganja!”

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Yeah, I think Sindbad had a bit too much fun, based on his expression.

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“Yeah, these banana things are the best, man.”

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The party’s over for Chandu, too.

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I’ve been to Japan three times, but this was my first ride on the Caravan Carousel.

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Another achievement unlocked.

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My noble steed.

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This was another first--and really damn good (tastes a bit like pizza).

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Even the spots for cooling people off are well themed. One more set of photos to go.

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One last look at a great first day at DisneySea!

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Lost River Delta is yet another beautifully themed area that no one has been able to top. Once again, if you disagree, tell it too Shiriki!

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Temple of the Cyrstal Skull has nothing to do with the last Indiana Jones flick. I’ll let you decide if that’s good or bad.

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I think this was a sign for an Aztec chiropractor’s office.

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Oh no! Indy’s found the Necronomicon! Ash better load his boomstick and warm up his chain saw.

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Hmm--the fan in Indy’s office looks rather “Hidden Mickeyish.”

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Sigh! I really miss this park. So beautiful.

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Mickey, Donald says the Three Caballeros is his “thing.” Why are you copying his “thing”?

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Uh oh! Sudden bubble shower! Head for cover!

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I’m sure that the building and queue for the latest version of Soarin’ will look better than all the other versions.

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This park is simply a pleasure to walk through, even if you don’t ride a thing.

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Then again, taking a boat on a hot day is nice, too.

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I still have yet to ride the gondolas. Sounds like a good reason to come back.

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There’s a very nice bar on this ship.

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Eek! We’re listing!

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Both Indy and Samuel Jackson are sick of Jock's motherf***in’ snake on this motherf***in’

plane!

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Raging Spirits is a good example of of how to take a lemon and make lemonade.

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Actual, honest-to-god live bird.

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This is my favorite roller-coaster sign ever. It lights up, dings, and spins when the train goes through the loop.

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I like how this giant stone head rocks back and forth.

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This is essentially a beautifully themed, Intamin-built Pinfari-type ride . . .

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. . . that the Japanese rebuilt and made into a decent coaster, rather than a torture device.

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"I'm the freakin' Caballero, Mickey! Not you!"

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Yay! Fast Pass time!

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This is a wonderfully ironic quote from Shakespeare’s “The Merry Wives of Windsor.” The line is spoken by Pistol, a lowly cutpurse. Hightower, the rich "collector" of anicent artifacts, is, of course, a thief of a somewhat higher order.

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The best queue of any Tower of Terror ride. I haven’t seen the Guardians of the Galaxy version yet, though.

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Harrison Hightower was such a humble, self-effacing man. He painted this himself, you know--while drunk.

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Oh, Shiriki! You adorable little imp! Sending people to their doom!

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Time to head out. But we’ll be back after some time at Tokyo Disneyland. But that's all for this update.

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To every one who had the opportunity to visit Tokyo DisneySea . . . I ENVY YOU GREATLY!!! But with that being said . . . Great report Chuck! I could stare at Mount Prometheus all day and wouldn't get bored. But then again . . . if I traveled that far I would ride all the attractions and THEN stare at the Mount Prometheus for the remaining of the time I have left.

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COMPASS OF YOUUUR HEAAAAAART!!!!

Thanks Chuck, now I'm gonna have that song stuck in my head all day

 

Great report on what is now my favorite park! I went in to the trip with such high expectations and was still blown away. Seeing all of your pictures makes me want to go back there even more than I do on a regular basis (which is a lot)

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Lovely TR!

 

I took a trip to all of the Disney parks in Asia last year, and even though Shanghai Disneyland was AMAZING, with Tron and Pirates being among the best Disney rides anywhere, the Tokyo Disney Resort takes the cake in terms of overall experience. TDL and TDS were EVERYTHING I was expecting them to be and more!

 

When I went, the Cast Members made sure we didn't take any photos (even without flash) inside queue lines, which surprised me since this was the first time I've come across this policy at a Disney Park. They were very strict about it, too. Did they enforce this rule during your trip as well?

 

I'm curious as to the reasoning behind it, since the Disneyland Resort and WDW Resort encourages guests to post and hashtag everything on their social media. It's probably a cultural difference, I'm sure, and we respected and followed the rules, but still curious!

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When I went, the Cast Members made sure we didn't take any photos (even without flash) inside queue lines, which surprised me since this was the first time I've come across this policy at a Disney Park. They were very strict about it, too. Did they enforce this rule during your trip as well?

 

I'm curious as to the reasoning behind it, since the Disneyland Resort and WDW Resort encourages guests to post and hashtag everything on their social media. It's probably a cultural difference, I'm sure, and we respected and followed the rules, but still curious!

 

They seem very uptight about it in the Tower of Terror queue after the pre-show, but not anywhere else. Why, I have no idea.

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