Trip Report COMPLETED: BEST (DISNEY) MONTH EVER !! - Dec 2016 - 2 Continents, 2 Resorts, 6 Parks !!

Hello to all the Disney Fans

As the title stipulates the month of December was a great Disney month for me and my family

Quick introduction - I am Max and I have been going to Disney since 1979. This trip report will detail trips 24 and 25 for me. (edit 1/17)

What: The first leg is a solo trip to Tokyo Disneyland and the second is a family trip to Walt Disney World.
Who: My DW (T) and 2 DD ( S 21 and C 19) and me (Max)
(I am using initials to type less and protect the innocent.
The star over my head in the shot below is awesome!!!

When: Dec 10 and 11 at TDR and Dec 23-30 at WDW
Why: Business trip from Dec 2-16 in Japan & family vacation in Florida.

This is my first full length trip report that I have attempted. In the past I have asked a few questions on the boards, and then posted a few details but never really went all in. The family has agreed to this one so here goes. I will try to use Doc Disney, Nicole and Longers amazing reports as motivation.

Just a few disclaimers (and I understand if I might lose most of my viewers but I have to be up front and honest)

#1 - I am Canadian (hence the honest and upfront approach - lol). So my viewpoints and opinions come from a different perspective at times. I will try to avoid political comments but sometimes the jokes are hard to pass on. (And I know the hat gives it away - I support the Blue Jays and that is the hat the team wears on Canada Day - Our birthday - 150 Years old in 2017!!)

#2 - I do not take a lot of food pictures - I am on a seefood diet - I see food and I eat it. I do not take the time to take a picture of it - I will have a few though.(The sound you hear is of all the "foodies" running for the exit)

#3 I do not own or use an expensive camera - all pictures will be either photo pass or iPhone. (the sound you now hear is of all the photographers leaving the building)

#4 Having been to TDR before (and being on a solo trip) and having been to WDW a few times I did not take a ton of pictures. Hopefully enough to tell the story. And my night time shots are limited (see point 3)

#5 I did not take a great notes (I know - Rookie mistake) but I will rely on my family to fill in the blanks for me.

Next Up : Background on the two trips and how them came to be

 

[amjt660]

 

[amjt660]

The Genie!!!

 

[amjt660]

I did not catch it in a pic but Cindy's dress goes all white after the FGM waves her wand and says Bibidi Bobidi Boo

 

[amjt660]

 

[amjt660]

Next up: Finishing up Day 1

 

[Zipadeelady]

Great report! I'm surprised how much everything looks like Disneyworld. For some reason I was expecting everything to look different. The Queen of Hearts restaurant looked phenomenal!

 

[amjt660]

Great report! I'm surprised how much everything looks like Disneyworld. For some reason I was expecting everything to look different. The Queen of Hearts restaurant looked phenomenal!

I agree that a lot of it looks like WDW.
One thing to consider is that TDL was opened in 1983 (only 12 years after Magic Kingdom in Florida)
So a lot of the design of the layout and of the attractions is taken from WDW and DLR.
Now when I start Day 10 at Disney Sea you will see a completely different looking park!!
Stay tuned

Thanks
Max

 

[amjt660]

Part 1 Day 9 - Finishing up the night
After the amazing parade I rode Pirates (same/similar to WDW)

After Pirates I went into the "Enchanted Tiki Room - Stitch presents Aloha E Komo Mai"
No pictures (and you should thank me).
This one was bad - no flow - the animatronic looked off and it just did not sit well.
The only good thing was I got out of the cold for abit.
This is a picture of the outside taken earlier in the day

I went back to the hub and caught the end of the fireworks.
It was short and simple and not too exciting.

Later I watched the Castle Projection show (no pics taken by me)
It was really good but it seems like they wanted the FW to just be fireworks and the project show to just be projections.
Below is an online pic that I found - the show "Once upon a Time" was breathtaking

 

[amjt660]

Winne the Pooh Gift Shop
I thought these quotes around the store were cute and brought back memories of reading the stories to my daughters many years ago

 

[amjt660]

The entrance into Pooh Hunny Hunt and the exit of the ride

For those who have rode the Pooh rides in the US and have not heard about this one in Japan you might not want to hear what I am going to say.
This ride is done right. No cardboard cutouts, no cheap sets, it has working animatronics and a ride system that is unbelievable.
The hunny pots do not ride on a rail or follow a /track.
They are individually / electric driven vehicles that follow markers on the floor. They go forward, backwards, spin , cross each other.
There is more than 1 sequence as you enter a large room - last time I went up to Owls house and he talked to us, this time I was brought up to Rabbits house, The pots criss cross each other, and of course do not make contact.

Funny story - in 2007 a vendor named Frog came to my plant to present their product. Automated Guided Vehicles (AGV) for parts delivery. They start their spiel and flash up the "where we have done work" powerpoint slide.
I glance up and see the typical names, GM, Ford, GE, Home Depot, etc. And low and behold in the bottom corner is the word Disney (in Disney font of course). I perk up and ask them about it and they tell me they designed and installed a ride system in Japan.
We had a good laugh when I told them I had actually been on their Winne the Pooh ride less than 6 months before.
It truly is a small world after all.....

 

[amjt660]

Walked out after Hunny Hunt (the park was closing up) and took a few more pics of displays
A long but very fulfilling day at Tokyo Disneyland was coming to a close.

I had a mix up with the shuttle back to the hotel
I was told10:30 and the attendant told me my hotel pick up was going to be 10:55.
I did not want to wait another 25 extra minutes so I just grabbed an expensive cab ride .

Next Up: Day 10 - Disney Sea

 

[BamaDisneyFan]

I am enjoying your report, especially since I'll never make it to Tokyo due to my hubby not wanting to go. I've been to Disney World in 06,07, 11, 13, and 16. My hubby surprised our daughter and I with a trip in 16 the week before Christmas. I truly loved it. Don't get me wrong I loved it the previous years in the summer, but Christmas is special. I hope to go back real soon!

 

[amjt660]

I am enjoying your report, especially since I'll never make it to Tokyo due to my hubby not wanting to go. I've been to Disney World in 06,07, 11, 13, and 16. My hubby surprised our daughter and I with a trip in 16 the week before Christmas. I truly loved it. Don't get me wrong I loved it the previous years in the summer, but Christmas is special. I hope to go back real soon!

Hi Bama Fan
I totally get the spouse not wanting to go to Tokyo. My DW has Japan/Hong Kong/China very low on her list of places to see.
I am lucky to have been able to go 2 times to TDR because of work.
As I mentioned earlier if I get to go back to Japan on business I may try to tack on a couple of vacation days at the end and try to get to either Hong Kong or Shanghai.

Now with your regards to your next trip I would strongly recommend going to California to see Walt's original park.
As you might know Walt passed away 5 years before WDW opened so you need to walk through the tunnel onto Main Street of DLR to truly experience his magic kingdom.
Late August in Southern California is warm/hot but does not have the humidity of Florida
And if you get to go at Christmas it is an amazing experience too.
If you get a chance please check of Kiwiduck's trip report about DLR that she is writing up as we speak

Either way I hope you back to a Disney park soon

Thanks for following along

Max

 

[amjt660]

Part 1 Day 10 Disney Sea

So it is now Sunday Dec 11 and day 10 of my trip to Japan.
I checked out of the Hilton and had breakfast.
The night before I had found some large lockers in front of TDL and confirmed that TDS had the same lockers.
So rather than leaving my backpack at the hotel I decided to bring it to the park.
This would save time later in the day since I was heading back to Toyota city in the afternoon.
The good news is that I travelled around TDS without a bag.

The shuttle pickup was at 7am again but I did not get to TDS until 7:30 ( Disney Sea was the second stop)
And the lines were long to get in again but I was better prepared this time to wait it out.

So I get through the gates around 8:20ish. The entrance of the park is through a tunnel that goes through the Mira Costa hotel.

Once through the tunnel you come upon once the most amazing sight you can find in a Disney park.
Mount Prometheus!!

I probably have a dozen pictures of it and to be honest I could have taken more.
My pictures do not do it justice.

The first "land" is Mediterranean Harbour

The theme is Venice Italy and it is done well - Of course I am not an authentic judge having never been to Venice but it does inspire you to go and see it for herself.

But I was not able to hang around much because I was in a hurry to get to my first ride.

This is Tower of Terror and it is located in the American Waterfront
The theme is unique to TDS.
It is not Twilight Zone.
The theme is of Harrison Hightower - an eccentric explorer and real estate tycoon.
I won't explain the entire detail - there are bloggers for that stuff.
I just want to say that the theme works for me and the tower itself is visually stunning.

So even though this is the second most popular attraction ( Toy Story Mania is newer and had longer lines for standbye and FP) I decided to FP it and come back later.

Next Up: More views of the Harbour

 

[amjt660]

Part 1 Day 10 - More pics of the Harbour

The building at the base of Mt Prometheus is a fortress that can be explored. (which I do later)

Next Up: Journey to the Center of the Earth

 

[amjt660]

Part 1 Day 10 - JTTCOTE
So I decided to ride standby on Journey (wait time was showing 30 min)
This is the main attraction in the Mysterious Island area.
Journey is based on the Jules Verne novel and uses the same ride system as Test track.
You go through Nemo's lab and take a Terravator down to the base.
You ride a drilling machine and travel down to - duh - the centre of the Earth.
Once at the bottom you come face to face with the Lava monster
The volcano "erupts" and you ride a "lava wave" up to the surface as you burst through the wall and go around a track.
I did not take pictures on the ride but here are some from the queue

The theming is amazing. The queue is one of the best - better than almost everything stateside.
The ride system is same as Test Track and Radiator springs racers so it is a dark ride and a thrill ride at the same time.
E ticket all the way!!

Next Up: Walk from Mysterious Island to Arabian Coast

 

[kimberlymautz]

This looks fantastic! You're right that Disney Sea is completely different from what I'd expect at a Disney park, but it is beautiful none the less! Definitely something I hope to have the pleasure of seeing someday.

 

[amjt660]

This looks fantastic! You're right that Disney Sea is completely different from what I'd expect at a Disney park, but it is beautiful none the less! Definitely something I hope to have the pleasure of seeing someday.

I hope you get to see it too
Thanks for following along

Max

 

[Zipadeelady]

Journey looks amazing!! I love that movie, it's so cheesy! TDS looks incredible, can't wait for more.

 

[amjt660]

Journey looks amazing!! I love that movie, it's so cheesy! TDS looks incredible, can't wait for more.

It is an amazing queue and ride.
Of the three versions that use the ride system that I have experienced I put Radiator Springs first (you get to race another car) , then Journey and finally Test Track.

The movie is a guilty pleasure but thankfully this ride does not tie into it at all
TDS has quite a few rides that do not involve an IP per say.
Although I see the changes coming with the addition of Midway Mania and an upcoming change involving Finding Nemo.

Thanks
Max