The Spirited Seventh Heaven ...

[GoofGoof]

Its still infuriating that there are more baffling choices by the nurses and crew who worked with the infected patient.
There was news that one of them was in a CRUISE SHIP in route to BELIZE (was denied from getting down the ship in Mexico by the authorities)

The cruise ship guy was a lab worker who handled some of the lab samples. He quarantined himself after finding out about the sick nurses. The ship wanted to stop in Belize to unload the passenger and send him home on a private plane, but the government refused to allow the ship to stop there. I guess it's not just us Americans that are overly paranoid

I spent several hours yesterday waiting for my car at the dealership and they had CNN on in the waiting room. Based on the news stories I think a lot of the blame falls on the CDC and the hospital administration. The nurses had little choice but to make do with what equipment they had. According to reports from nurses who worked at the hospital they knew they had improper equipment but the right equipment was on back order. Typical beuracracy. They probably have one or a few suppliers they are contracted to use and they were out of the proper suits. In this case going to an unauthorized supplier is completely justified. The nurses and doctors weren't going to just let the guy sit there and die. They treated him and did their best to stay safe. Unfortunately they lacked proper equipment and training (watching a 2 hour video on ebola isn't good enough).

The CDC should have been quicker to act on providing protocols and restricting movements of the workers who came in contact with the patient. A nurse in a hospital is not an expert on an infectious disease that only occurred in Africa until a few weeks ago. They were relying on advice from the CDC (the experts) on what they could and couldn't do. The 2nd infected nurse who went to Ohio called the hospital after she found out about the first nurse being sick to ask if it was OK for her to fly back to Dallas. They referred her to the CDC. She told them she had a temperature over 99 but below 100. The CDC told her it was OK to fly since her temperature didn't officially qualify as a fever (it had to be over 100). I bet they wish they could have that call back.

I agree that in hind sight it seems like the workers made some bad choices. I think they felt like some of the posters here that the disease isn't an American problem and that it's so remote that they would get sick that it wasn't an issue. People have their own agendas. The 2nd nurse was flying home to go to a dress fitting for her bridesmaids for her wedding. I'm sure that was something very important to her. The guy on the cruise had a vacation planned. Probably already paid for with time off scheduled from work. Since this is a Disney board, how many people would have cancelled their big Disney trip if they already paid if there was just a remote chance you may be infected? The cruise line may have refunded his money, but if nobody got sick maybe they wouldn't. Now if the CDC mandated that anyone under observation was restricted from mass transit and large public places then they would have canceled their trips and I'm sure got full refunds.

 

[BrerJon]

Just sickening. What do those moms even do? Blog about how Disney is so perfect? Maybe we're on the wrong side here. If we turn all positive maybe we'll get some special treatment

Didn't you get your invite to the 'Disney Doom & Gloomers Panel'? I hear you get free stuff... from Universal.

 

[maxairmike]

Lobbing my support here, but I'll do you one better...

July 1st-July 5th, 2013 (straddling Canada Day and Independence Day): Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay, 11050yen all in (~$100). 3 Beds, SPG stay and benefits eligible nights - no fancy rates required, booked it via the Sheraton/SPG website. To top it off the parks were very quiet.

It's an "on the monorail" resort by all definitions, the stop is directly across the road (~30 second walk).

I see PLENTY of dates available for ~$143 next year, I'm sure the Hilton and others also have decent rates but people can price shop themselves if seriously interested.


Now when does the math not work quite so well?

-During Japanese Holidays when the parks are slammed and hotel prices easily quadruple.
-Japan is also NOT a seven day resort. There is a reason the maximum days on a park ticket is four.
-Tokyo Bay is not an appropriate place to see Tokyo proper from... I know lots of people here have done it, but that's just my opinion. Just because you can and the transportation is awesome, doesn't actually mean you should. A second hotel in the city makes way more sense.
-Side Note: My recommendation for HKDL is completely opposite though, get a hotel in the city and don't stay at Disney, just take transit in the one/two days you'd visit.
-If you fall into the theme park fanboi crowd, throw in the cost of a Shinkansen to go down to Universal (and that's realistically a 2+ week vacation you'll be looking at to do both and not completely ignore Japan).
-Realize too that the far superior Universal product right now is Orlando.

It also doesn't work if you visit WDW on a budget, drive in, don't stay on property, etc.


I also would be remiss to oversell it too much. Overseas travel is just not some people's thing, and there is nothing terribly wrong with that. It's a personality/preference thing. I'd always recommend trialling Disneyland resort first, if you don't prefer Disneyland over WDW, Tokyo won't be your thing.

The foreign cuisine, cutesy throwaway merchandise and unknown language would send you running for the hills.

On the subject of TDR, even though I've not been yet, I have done quite a bit of shopping around for hotel and flight prices to get an idea of roughly what to expect. I've noticed that you can often shave as much as a few hundred off of your flight cost total if you take a budget carrier like Southwest from the East Coast to LA or Seattle and do your roundtrip to Japan from there. I've seen prices to Japan from LAX in the $800 range vs. the roughly $1500 cost from MCO (probably the highest cost major Eastern airport for this trip, but still). If you throw in a $300-400 RT to LA via Southwest you still come out about $200-300 ahead per person on flight cost.

 

[Kman101]

I haven't traveled to any Disney parks other than Anaheim, but it's a goal, and I think people would be surprised how affordable it probably can be, especially compared to WDW and honestly even Disneyland, depending.

 

[BrerJon]

On the subject of TDR, even though I've not been yet, I have done quite a bit of shopping around for hotel and flight prices to get an idea of roughly what to expect.

With the deals that have been suggested here, it makes it even more do-able. My last example was for Deluxe travellers, but let's try for the other extreme, say a young couple of Disney fans on a budget who would stay off-property and pay $100 a night in Orlando:

7 nights x $100 room rate = $700
2 x $300 flights JFK-MCO = $600
2 x 5 day MYW tickets at around $300 each= $600
Total base trip cost: $1900

And in Tokyo, using lower rates at the Sheraton and for the flight, with discounts suggested on this thread:
7 x $150 room rate = $1050
2 x $1000 flights JFK-NRT (via Southwest) = $2000
2 x $150 4-day TDR tickets = $300
Total base trip cost: $3350

Yikes, for the Orlando budget traveller, swapping Orlando for Tokyo works out about $850 extra for the trip, or $121 a day per person more expensive. However, as you start staying in Disney hotels instead of off-property, and the hotel prices increase, that difference goes down dramatically, equalising once you start paying $320 for Orlando hotel nights.

 

[ChrisFL]

I think you're dodging other limitations.
What about language? do everyone speaks english in Tokyo and its parks?
I think the other thing to understand is culture, language and distance difference
In japan.. you're foreing, you do not get the same as in moving from one side to another from the US.

I think the questions about this are highly overblown. Does everyone speak english? No, but many speak the basics or at least have signs in english, menus with pictures on them, and a general understanding by Japanese people that anyone who doesn't look Japanese WON'T speak their language. Hand gestures, smiles and pointing gets you through most things.

Tokyo has tourists and foreigners everywhere, so unless you're going into some rural places, you won't have much trouble.

Another thing, customer service in Japan overall amazing, VIP like treatment wherever you go. It truly seems to be part of the culture to treat everyone else with great amounts of patience and respect.

Of course its good to learn the basic greetings, as Japanese are also very polite and the mutual attempt to show some politeness and manners back will go a long way.

I've been to Japan three times and every time I fall more in love with the place...as mentioned before I am actually planning to move there in a year or so.

 

[ChrisFL]

Regarding the hotel, I have a recommendation...the Shinagawa Prince Hotel is a very nice place. It is on the Yamanote train (like directly across the street from the station) and that line is practically direct to all of the major tourist friendly districts in Tokyo and is not far from TDR.

The hotel also has its own aquarium, dolphin show, indoor rollercoaster, pirate boat ride and bar, movie theater, bowling alley, indoor driving range and lots of restaurants.

 

[bhg469]

Did you get a shrine! And you get a shrine! And you get a shrine!

Before long we're all going to drink to a bunch of Shriners.

Ha! I just got a call from the local shriners. They sure do like to party.

 

[Cesar R M]

You do realise it's not an airborne virus, right?

in a tight and crowded space like an airplane.. The man could have gone to the bathroom.. and touched walls, waterthingies..
many people could have touched the infected areas.
It just needs some dumb person that didn't wash their hands and touch their mouth, eyes.. nose.. and they will be infected imho.

 

[Cesar R M]

Yes but there's something about Americans that means they have to touch everything. We are very tactile society.

Wow, Now I understand why I was groped many times when arriving to the US from Mexico. Didnt know they were THAT tactile.


(for those who dont get it.. the patdowns at airports)

 

[Cesar R M]

The cruise ship guy was a lab worker who handled some of the lab samples. He quarantined himself after finding out about the sick nurses. The ship wanted to stop in Belize to unload the passenger and send him home on a private plane, but the government refused to allow the ship to stop there. I guess it's not just us Americans that are overly paranoid

I spent several hours yesterday waiting for my car at the dealership and they had CNN on in the waiting room. Based on the news stories I think a lot of the blame falls on the CDC and the hospital administration. The nurses had little choice but to make do with what equipment they had. According to reports from nurses who worked at the hospital they knew they had improper equipment but the right equipment was on back order. Typical beuracracy. They probably have one or a few suppliers they are contracted to use and they were out of the proper suits. In this case going to an unauthorized supplier is completely justified. The nurses and doctors weren't going to just let the guy sit there and die. They treated him and did their best to stay safe. Unfortunately they lacked proper equipment and training (watching a 2 hour video on ebola isn't good enough).

The CDC should have been quicker to act on providing protocols and restricting movements of the workers who came in contact with the patient. A nurse in a hospital is not an expert on an infectious disease that only occurred in Africa until a few weeks ago. They were relying on advice from the CDC (the experts) on what they could and couldn't do. The 2nd infected nurse who went to Ohio called the hospital after she found out about the first nurse being sick to ask if it was OK for her to fly back to Dallas. They referred her to the CDC. She told them she had a temperature over 99 but below 100. The CDC told her it was OK to fly since her temperature didn't officially qualify as a fever (it had to be over 100). I bet they wish they could have that call back.

I agree that in hind sight it seems like the workers made some bad choices. I think they felt like some of the posters here that the disease isn't an American problem and that it's so remote that they would get sick that it wasn't an issue. People have their own agendas. The 2nd nurse was flying home to go to a dress fitting for her bridesmaids for her wedding. I'm sure that was something very important to her. The guy on the cruise had a vacation planned. Probably already paid for with time off scheduled from work. Since this is a Disney board, how many people would have cancelled their big Disney trip if they already paid if there was just a remote chance you may be infected? The cruise line may have refunded his money, but if nobody got sick maybe they wouldn't. Now if the CDC mandated that anyone under observation was restricted from mass transit and large public places then they would have canceled their trips and I'm sure got full refunds.

interesting, this was reported differently in Mexican newspapers. (ps, the block was reported to be on Cozumel, a small island by Cancun)
And they claimed it was a nurse with direct contact.
Thanks for clarifying!

 

[Phil12]

in a tight and crowded space like an airplane.. The man could have gone to the bathroom.. and touched walls, waterthingies..
many people could have touched the infected areas.
It just needs some dumb person that didn't wash their hands and touch their mouth, eyes.. nose.. and they will be infected imho.

Those waterthingies are just germ magnets!

 

[ford91exploder]

in a tight and crowded space like an airplane.. The man could have gone to the bathroom.. and touched walls, waterthingies..
many people could have touched the infected areas.
It just needs some dumb person that didn't wash their hands and touch their mouth, eyes.. nose.. and they will be infected imho.

I REALLY HATE the 'airborne' handwave used by the CDC, 'AIRBORNE' is a technical term referring to viruses 10 nanometers or LESS in physical size which gives them the ability to 'float' on air currents.

Ebola is transmitted through ALL body fluids - what does a sneeze do well it creates an AEROSOL of body fluids which then settle on surfaces (Don't touch ANYTHING) and can be inhaled as well.

I suggest googling for 'Mythbusters Sneeze'

Interestingly enough the CDC is now recommending health care workers to wear RESPIRATORS instead of surgical masks...

And people wonder why American's are afraid... It's because of the sheer incompetence shown by all levels of government.

 

[AEfx]

I love how CNN has an article up today about "don't panic" when "OMG EBOLA!" has been their top headline since the day this stuff started. Kind of like someone yelling "FIRE!" continuously in a crowded theater, then as everyone starts pouring outside they say, "Oh, it's OK - don't panic guys!"

 

[Nubs70]

I think the questions about this are highly overblown. Does everyone speak english? No, but many speak the basics or at least have signs in english, menus with pictures on them, and a general understanding by Japanese people that anyone who doesn't look Japanese WON'T speak their language. Hand gestures, smiles and pointing gets you through most things.

Tokyo has tourists and foreigners everywhere, so unless you're going into some rural places, you won't have much trouble.

Another thing, customer service in Japan overall amazing, VIP like treatment wherever you go. It truly seems to be part of the culture to treat everyone else with great amounts of patience and respect.

Of course its good to learn the basic greetings, as Japanese are also very polite and the mutual attempt to show some politeness and manners back will go a long way.

I've been to Japan three times and every time I fall more in love with the place...as mentioned before I am actually planning to move there in a year or so.

Gotta be careful with cultural differences with hand gestures. Give the American being for OK or the thumbs up, you may get punched in the face.

 

[ChrisFL]

Gotta be careful with cultural differences with hand gestures. Give the American being for OK or the thumbs up, you may get punched in the face.

Both the Ok sign and thumbs up are fine to use in Japan..

 

[doctornick]

I think the questions about this are highly overblown. Does everyone speak english? No, but many speak the basics or at least have signs in english, menus with pictures on them, and a general understanding by Japanese people that anyone who doesn't look Japanese WON'T speak their language. Hand gestures, smiles and pointing gets you through most things.

Tokyo has tourists and foreigners everywhere, so unless you're going into some rural places, you won't have much trouble.

To be honest, though, I've traveled quite a bit internally (I've been to some 40 odd countries, so enough that I'm not a novice at it) and I felt that Tokyo was literally the worse place that I've been to in terms of finding people who could speak English. I was actually quite surprised by it, since I felt like it was such an international place that tons of people would speak it. Now, don't get me wrong: I learned and used some token phrases because I hate to be that American who expects everyone to speak English. And I would point out written words in Japanese when I didn't know how to speak them.

Now, I'm not saying you can't find anyone who speaks English (and TDL sounds like it is more English friendly than most of the country) but I think if you go in expecting it to be like Western Europe where most people can communicate passably in English, you are likely to be disappointed and frustrated.

 

[Phil12]

Both the Ok sign and thumbs up are fine to use in Japan..

I'm in the Thumbs Up gang. So throwin' up thumbs is a gang sign!

 

[Goofyernmost]

This is really weird. I went to Expo 70 in Osaka, Japan. I have no recollection of any language barrier at all. It seems like everyone spoke English and I don't remember being in any pavilion and not understanding what was happening, but, I don't remember if it was all in English or I just wasn't concerned. Strange how that four days is completely out of my recollection! Might be the sake'!

 

[AEfx]

I suggest googling for 'Mythbusters Sneeze'

Interestingly enough the CDC is now recommending health care workers to wear RESPIRATORS instead of surgical masks...

Funny enough, from those two sources, I'd trust Mythbusters more, LOL, when it comes to truth. CDC has proven time and again that it's interests are not with the truth but with whatever agenda they happen to be furthering at the moment, and whatever serves their "playing God" stance along with the AMA.