Curious Constance
Well-Known Member
Would that be the Majestic Circle Island Tour?
https://www.disneyaulani.com/activities/excursions/majestic-circle-island-tour/
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Got laid off Monday, which foreign Disney Park should I visit?
- Thread starter mickEblu
- Start date
Would that be the Majestic Circle Island Tour?
https://www.disneyaulani.com/activities/excursions/majestic-circle-island-tour/
Darkbeer1
Well-Known Member
Sounds like the one. Do it early, as you might want to go back to some of the sights for a longer visit.
TP2000
Well-Known Member
Tokyo, Tokyo, Tokyo! TOKYO!
Japan is a fabulous country, very exotic yet familiar but almost everything that is familiar is done in a superior way to America. Their service standards are mind blowing, at everything from Customs to trains to hotels to department stores to Starbucks to... Disneyland.
You could fly over there for a week and stay on a 3 star budget and feel as though you got a 4 star vacation and service. The catch is you CAN NOT fly on an American airline; I would highly recommend Singapore Airlines who has several non-stops per day from LAX to Tokyo. Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways (ANA) are close seconds. But if you flew Singapore Airlines Premium Economy you would get service and comfort for that 12 hour flight that exceeds Delta or United First Class. Stay at any good 3 star hotel in Tokyo or throughout Japan and you will feel like a king staying at an American Ritz-Carlton (but the rooms are smaller, like everything in Japan).
Take three days for Tokyo Disneyland Resort, staying at the Tokyo Bay Hilton or Sheraton located at the Resort on the monorail line. You will never be able to look at an American Cast Member the same way ever again. Just plan to spend weekdays at the Resort, hopefully avoiding big Japanese holiday weeks. The parks are insanely clean and perfectly maintained, the CM's are absolutely perfect, and the service standards are higher than Walt even demanded circa 1962. And Tokyo DisneySea is the best non-Castle park in existence (Sorry, Epcot).
If it's a Disney Parks experience that is really the end goal of your international visit, Tokyo is your best bet. And Japan is a fabulous country that deserves a week of your time. Their train system is unparalleled and makes domestic travel within the country a breeze and almost too easy. TOKYO!
Japan is a fabulous country, very exotic yet familiar but almost everything that is familiar is done in a superior way to America. Their service standards are mind blowing, at everything from Customs to trains to hotels to department stores to Starbucks to... Disneyland.
You could fly over there for a week and stay on a 3 star budget and feel as though you got a 4 star vacation and service. The catch is you CAN NOT fly on an American airline; I would highly recommend Singapore Airlines who has several non-stops per day from LAX to Tokyo. Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways (ANA) are close seconds. But if you flew Singapore Airlines Premium Economy you would get service and comfort for that 12 hour flight that exceeds Delta or United First Class. Stay at any good 3 star hotel in Tokyo or throughout Japan and you will feel like a king staying at an American Ritz-Carlton (but the rooms are smaller, like everything in Japan).
Take three days for Tokyo Disneyland Resort, staying at the Tokyo Bay Hilton or Sheraton located at the Resort on the monorail line. You will never be able to look at an American Cast Member the same way ever again. Just plan to spend weekdays at the Resort, hopefully avoiding big Japanese holiday weeks. The parks are insanely clean and perfectly maintained, the CM's are absolutely perfect, and the service standards are higher than Walt even demanded circa 1962. And Tokyo DisneySea is the best non-Castle park in existence (Sorry, Epcot).
If it's a Disney Parks experience that is really the end goal of your international visit, Tokyo is your best bet. And Japan is a fabulous country that deserves a week of your time. Their train system is unparalleled and makes domestic travel within the country a breeze and almost too easy. TOKYO!
FerretAfros
Well-Known Member
There's some great advice here already, but I figured I'd add my take on things to the list. There are some definite themes popping up in the recommendations
Tokyo:
The best Disney resort worldwide, period. It's like being in a fantastic timewarp (TDL especially) to the old days when maintenance and service were second to none. Entertainment is top notch, and words simply can't describe TDS. Crowding can be an issue in both parks during certain times of year, but can be easily avoided; regardless of projected crowds, I'd recommend being there for rope drop. It will ruin other Disney parks for you, but it's an incredible experience that's worth seeking out. You'll probably need at least 3 days to really explore and see everything
Tokyo itself is a sprawling modern megacity in every sense. Although it's gotten better in recent years, English still isn't common everywhere, but the people are very accommodating (far moreso than other places where English is more widely spoken); due to its sheer size navigation can be difficult at times, but getting a little lost is part of the experience. If you don't speak Japanese and/or haven't done much international travel, it can be intimidating, but I think it's worth the effort. There are great historical and modern tourist sites in the city, where you could easily spend a week or more. Other sites in Japan can be easily reached by train in a few hours. You can easily spend 3 weeks sightseeing in Japan and never get bored
Paris:
DLP is the most beautiful castle park, but WDSP is Disney's ugliest park. Because of its financial problems, DLP hasn't suffered from the IPs that have invaded other parks, which gives it a unique feel. There are operational issues (odd hours, reduced capacity, etc.), but maintenance has really improved in recent years and things look pretty good. DLP has some of the best versions of the classic headliners, and lots of great walkthrough attractions to explore too. European park guests have some behaviors that seem odd by American standards (smoking, lounging on the grass, etc), but it's just part of the experience. Under moderate crowds, you should be able to see pretty much everything in 2 days
Unlike anywhere else I've visited, Paris lives up to *all* the stereotypes, both good and bad: it's beautiful, scenic, romantic, dirty, crowded, and people are standoffish. There are obviously lots of world-class tourist sites in the city, and other European destinations can be easily reached. English is common but not universal; because it's such a tourist hub, it's approachable for people without much international experience.
Hong Kong:
I haven't visited since before the mini-lands opened, but HKDL always felt like the little park that could. It's small with fewer attractions than others, but everything there is really well done and enjoyable. Crowds are generally light (excepting a couple major holidays) and the sleepy resort can be easily navigated on foot or shuttle buses. To me, it's the other park that captures DL's cozy homey feel. When I last visited, 1 day was plenty to see everything, but that may have changed with all the additions in recent years. Note that they've recently begun work on the awful castle façadomy project, so there's likely to be major construction there later this year
The city has an incredible east-meets-west flair that makes it really unique in the world. English is near-universal so it's easy to navigate, and the city is small enough that you can feel like you've hit all the highlights in a couple days. It feels exotic, but entirely approachable, and is one of the unique historical crossroads of the world that's still on the cutting edge
Shanghai:
I visited the city before the park opened, so I can't offer any critique of Disney's stuff, but I found the city itself to be much like any major financial city in the world. There are a handful of things worth seeing, but in general it's not worth going out of your way for. China's cultural and historical landmarks are mostly in Beijing, which is a much better trip, IMO.
As others have said, pick your Disney parks based on which area of the world you want to visit. As much as I enjoy the international parks, the international destinations themselves are so much more fulfilling and worthwhile. I hope you have a great trip, and that the job search goes well!
Elsewhere in Oahu, Pearl Harbor is a solid half-day's worth of activity. The walkthrough exhibit looked recently updated and did a good job of putting it all in context. Diamondhead is a fun and easy (though hot!) hike with some great views, but if you're at Aulani the whole time it may not be worth the hassle of getting all the way over there (though it's really easy from Waikiki). The Dole plantation and/or Kualoa Ranch can also be a fun change of pace if you're looking to get away from the beach for a while
Tokyo:
The best Disney resort worldwide, period. It's like being in a fantastic timewarp (TDL especially) to the old days when maintenance and service were second to none. Entertainment is top notch, and words simply can't describe TDS. Crowding can be an issue in both parks during certain times of year, but can be easily avoided; regardless of projected crowds, I'd recommend being there for rope drop. It will ruin other Disney parks for you, but it's an incredible experience that's worth seeking out. You'll probably need at least 3 days to really explore and see everything
Tokyo itself is a sprawling modern megacity in every sense. Although it's gotten better in recent years, English still isn't common everywhere, but the people are very accommodating (far moreso than other places where English is more widely spoken); due to its sheer size navigation can be difficult at times, but getting a little lost is part of the experience. If you don't speak Japanese and/or haven't done much international travel, it can be intimidating, but I think it's worth the effort. There are great historical and modern tourist sites in the city, where you could easily spend a week or more. Other sites in Japan can be easily reached by train in a few hours. You can easily spend 3 weeks sightseeing in Japan and never get bored
Paris:
DLP is the most beautiful castle park, but WDSP is Disney's ugliest park. Because of its financial problems, DLP hasn't suffered from the IPs that have invaded other parks, which gives it a unique feel. There are operational issues (odd hours, reduced capacity, etc.), but maintenance has really improved in recent years and things look pretty good. DLP has some of the best versions of the classic headliners, and lots of great walkthrough attractions to explore too. European park guests have some behaviors that seem odd by American standards (smoking, lounging on the grass, etc), but it's just part of the experience. Under moderate crowds, you should be able to see pretty much everything in 2 days
Unlike anywhere else I've visited, Paris lives up to *all* the stereotypes, both good and bad: it's beautiful, scenic, romantic, dirty, crowded, and people are standoffish. There are obviously lots of world-class tourist sites in the city, and other European destinations can be easily reached. English is common but not universal; because it's such a tourist hub, it's approachable for people without much international experience.
Hong Kong:
I haven't visited since before the mini-lands opened, but HKDL always felt like the little park that could. It's small with fewer attractions than others, but everything there is really well done and enjoyable. Crowds are generally light (excepting a couple major holidays) and the sleepy resort can be easily navigated on foot or shuttle buses. To me, it's the other park that captures DL's cozy homey feel. When I last visited, 1 day was plenty to see everything, but that may have changed with all the additions in recent years. Note that they've recently begun work on the awful castle façadomy project, so there's likely to be major construction there later this year
The city has an incredible east-meets-west flair that makes it really unique in the world. English is near-universal so it's easy to navigate, and the city is small enough that you can feel like you've hit all the highlights in a couple days. It feels exotic, but entirely approachable, and is one of the unique historical crossroads of the world that's still on the cutting edge
Shanghai:
I visited the city before the park opened, so I can't offer any critique of Disney's stuff, but I found the city itself to be much like any major financial city in the world. There are a handful of things worth seeing, but in general it's not worth going out of your way for. China's cultural and historical landmarks are mostly in Beijing, which is a much better trip, IMO.
As others have said, pick your Disney parks based on which area of the world you want to visit. As much as I enjoy the international parks, the international destinations themselves are so much more fulfilling and worthwhile. I hope you have a great trip, and that the job search goes well!
I visited Aulani last summer and had a great time. When you arrive, check out the event guide to see if there are any activities you want to do, since registration for many fills up in advance (the ukulele lessons ended up being the surprise hit of our trip). Expect to spend a ton of time at the pool(s) and beach; lines at the water slides can get pretty long for most of the day, but they're a blast
Elsewhere in Oahu, Pearl Harbor is a solid half-day's worth of activity. The walkthrough exhibit looked recently updated and did a good job of putting it all in context. Diamondhead is a fun and easy (though hot!) hike with some great views, but if you're at Aulani the whole time it may not be worth the hassle of getting all the way over there (though it's really easy from Waikiki). The Dole plantation and/or Kualoa Ranch can also be a fun change of pace if you're looking to get away from the beach for a while
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D
Deleted member 107043
I agree. If I were ranking cities I'd personally put Hong Kong above Tokyo, but obviously TDL has more to offer than HKDL.
Thank you for all the great detailed advice! Tokyo is sounding better and Better! Sounds like a world class city that I will definitely visit one day, even if not this year.
Thank you for your very detailed breakdown! Seriously guys, We re going to have to repurpose/ rename this thread to “A Guide to Disney’s Foreign Parks.” We ll just take out the bit about me being laid off. Seems that when it comes to Disney foreign park destinations (parks included) that just about everybody has Shanghai last and Tokyo or Paris first with Hong Kong in the middle somewhere. I think the order could change a little if ranking strictly the parks.
@GiveMeTheMusic , I forgot to ask ... phantom manor being down is kind of a biggie no?
GiveMeTheMusic
Well-Known Member
I think so. It’s one of DLP’s signature unique attractions, even if it’s a variation on the Haunted Mansion. It’s enough for me personally to hold off visiting until it’s open.
But check Tokyo’s refurb schedule as well if you look there. If Pooh, Monsters, Sindbad, Journey or TOT is closed, look for different dates.
I agree. Off the top of my head it’s really the only unique E ticket to Paris right? Unless you count Ratatouille which is coming to WDW anyway.
Thanks for the heads up.
GiveMeTheMusic
Well-Known Member
Space Mountain is unique in that it’s launched outside the mountain and has inversions. It’s currently in Hyperspace mode, which isn’t a mark in its favor. They also have an almost unthemed Indy coaster (not worth it) and the best iterations of classic Pirates and Big Thunder. Crush’s Coaster is unique as well (but not remarkable).
D
Deleted member 107043
My take on PM is that it may have been too hyped up for me, so when I rode it the ride ended up being a bit of a disappointment because it wasn't as radically different from the US version of the ride like Space Mountain, Pirates, Indiana Jones, and some of the others were. The exterior is amazing though, and Vincent Price as the Ghost Host is a refreshing touch.
I’ll be honest, I wasn’t very fond of the ride through on YouTube. But I’d imagine if there were ever an attraction that’s hard to get a read on through a video it would be dark ride like HM/ Phantom Manor. With that said, knowing that I’ll probably never go back, I’d like to experience it.
D
Deleted member 107043
I wouldn't advise planning a trip to Paris around whether or not Phantom Manor is open. It's good, but IMO it isn't that good, especially considering that you have easy access to the Anaheim version, which is perfectly fine when it isn't HMH.
dweezil78
Well-Known Member
First off, hybrid congrats/sorry on the layoff. Been there before, I'm sure I will be there again! Good on you for making the most of it and I'm sure you will land something better in no time! Always kinda nice when the decision to move on and do something new is made for you, eh? 
Traveling with a 2 yr old is going to be the same whether you go to Paris or Tokyo I think. If your excitement towards each city is the same (not sure if it is!) and Disney ends up being the deciding factor, I would say to go to Tokyo in a heartbeat. Every option has a Magic Kingdom style park which will have some similarities/some differences to Disneyland... but only one of them has a DisneySea.
Also, to me, travel often comes down to food. So ask yourself this...what do you like more... sushi or French food? There you may find the answer you seek!
Edit -- I know you said you want to wait for WDW, but if you've never been, it's definitely worth seeing and obviously a solid bet for bringing a 2 yr old. It's obviously not the same as visiting a different country, but there is a LOT to see/do there between the parks and resorts. It really is nothing like Disneyland despite how people often try to compare the two on here! There's always something new on the horizon... IMO, not at all worth waiting for SWL which we're getting here and the other stuff in the pipline like Guardians, Tron, etc. Those are just blips compared to all that's already there to see.
Traveling with a 2 yr old is going to be the same whether you go to Paris or Tokyo I think. If your excitement towards each city is the same (not sure if it is!) and Disney ends up being the deciding factor, I would say to go to Tokyo in a heartbeat. Every option has a Magic Kingdom style park which will have some similarities/some differences to Disneyland... but only one of them has a DisneySea.
Also, to me, travel often comes down to food. So ask yourself this...what do you like more... sushi or French food? There you may find the answer you seek!
Edit -- I know you said you want to wait for WDW, but if you've never been, it's definitely worth seeing and obviously a solid bet for bringing a 2 yr old. It's obviously not the same as visiting a different country, but there is a LOT to see/do there between the parks and resorts. It really is nothing like Disneyland despite how people often try to compare the two on here! There's always something new on the horizon... IMO, not at all worth waiting for SWL which we're getting here and the other stuff in the pipline like Guardians, Tron, etc. Those are just blips compared to all that's already there to see.
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dweezil78
Well-Known Member
I have lots!!! I don't wanna hijack @mickEblu's thread, but here are my tips:
*Look at Aulani on a map. You'll see Ko'Olina is actually 4 separate little beaches, each one shared by a few resorts. You can easily walk to these other beaches and they are going to be far more quieter than Aulani which is packed 24/7.
There is actually a trail that goes all the way to the last beach and then loops around and sends you back. Maybe a mile each way? It's a beautiful walk if you're looking for a little exercise.*If your kids are old enough and you want some alone time, drop them off at Auntie's which provides free daycare/activities while you go out and drink and do adult things. It's first come, first served and you need to wake up early to wait in a line to secure them a spot. (Check w/ hotel for opening time and get in line about 30 min before that or so).
*Take the time to play the interactive tablet game at Aulani!!! It is very well done and an awesome way to kill sometime w/ kids. You'll pass all these random things around the resort that won't make any sense until you play it.
*Also have fun fun looking for all the Menehune (little mischievous Hawaiian creatures) around the resort. You'll find them tucked away all over the place. Even in the KEYHOLES of random furniture in the lobby -
*Don't be afraid to go out and explore. Oahu is pretty easy to get around. Last time I was there I took a scenic drive on the 83 and it was well worth the effort. There's a great (and I guess pretty popular) shrimp truck along the route called Giovanni's that's a must-have if you like shrimp covered in garlic - http://www.giovannisshrimptruck.com/
*Don't be afraid to go out and eat. Food at Aulani is pretty expensive (but pretty good, all things considered). Right across the street is a cool little shopping center with food, but if you get in your car and drive a few miles you can get more stuff too even cheaper. Can't say enough good things about Plantation Tavern which has the most amazing Poke Nachos. (if you like that sorta thing). There's also a Target nearby where you can get your essentials for far cheaper than what you'll pay at the resort.
*The lazy river is freaking awesome
*I did not pay to go inside, but the Polynesian Cultural Center is very Disneyland-y without being a theme park and has a free marketplace village to explore. Was a fun little stop on the 83 and has stuff to see without dropping a cent on admission.
*There is Dole Whip at the cafe. Nuff said. Truth be told, I thought the Dole Whip at Aulani was better than the stuff at the Dole Plantation. If you're going to visit there, visit for the fun gift shop, train ride, maze, etc. The Dole Whip was a bit icy, at least the day I stopped by.
*The neighboring Marriott has a little beach side restaurant/bar called Longboards which serves these insanely awesome frozen Mai Tais. If you at all enjoy drinking, you need to have one or two or twenty of these. I had a really hard time walking back to Aulani after just having two of them, but I'm also no heavyweight.
*Venture into Honolulu for a stop at Leonoard's for incredible Malsadas (Hawaiian donuts) and stop by the weekly flea market
Hatbox Ghostbuster
Well-Known Member
Selfishly, I want you to go to Tokyo so that you can come back and share its amazingness with us and I can live vicariously.
I had some friend recently go to Paris and they confirmed its "dirty"-ness, but hey, it might be cheaper and if you're up to traveling a bit beyond that, England is well worth it.
I had some friend recently go to Paris and they confirmed its "dirty"-ness, but hey, it might be cheaper and if you're up to traveling a bit beyond that, England is well worth it.
First off, hybrid congrats/sorry on the layoff. Been there before, I'm sure I will be there again! Good on you for making the most of it and I'm sure you will land something better in no time! Always kinda nice when the decision to move on and do something new is made for you, eh?
Traveling with a 2 yr old is going to be the same whether you go to Paris or Tokyo I think. If your excitement towards each city is the same (not sure if it is!) and Disney ends up being the deciding factor, I would say to go to Tokyo in a heartbeat. Every option has a Magic Kingdom style park which will have some similarities/some differences to Disneyland... but only one of them has a DisneySea.
Also, to me, travel often comes down to food. So ask yourself this...what do you like more... sushi or French food? There you may find the answer you seek!
Edit -- I know you said you want to wait for WDW, but if you've never been, it's definitely worth seeing and obviously a solid bet for bringing a 2 yr old. It's obviously not the same as visiting a different country, but there is a LOT to see/do there between the parks and resorts. It really is nothing like Disneyland despite how people often try to compare the two on here! There's always something new on the horizon... IMO, not at all worth waiting for SWL which we're getting here and the other stuff in the pipline like Guardians, Tron, etc. Those are just blips compared to all that's already there to see.
Thank you! Yes it’s absolutley fantastic when the choice is made for you. I was kind of stuck. There were many times I wanted to walk out but alas - bills, responsibilities, etc. Thank you for the response and that’s a good point on Florida too. It would definitely be the easiest with my son. And Your right, I’m not sure the 4 New Es in the pipeline are worth waiting for- especially if it’s at the cost of possibly missing out on the original TOT. I guess it’s kind of silly when you consider that I have never been and the whole thing would be brand new to me. Also, DLR may get it’s own Mickey ride and I know it’s just a matter of time before I go to DLP so that takes care of Rat. So I’d really just be missing out on Tron and the GOTG coaster.
I have lots!!! I don't wanna hijack @mickEblu's thread, but here are my tips:
*Look at Aulani on a map. You'll see Ko'Olina is actually 4 separate little beaches, each one shared by a few resorts. You can easily walk to these other beaches and they are going to be far more quieter than Aulani which is packed 24/7.
*If your kids are old enough and you want some alone time, drop them off at Auntie's which provides free daycare/activities while you go out and drink and do adult things. It's first come, first served and you need to wake up early to wait in a line to secure them a spot. (Check w/ hotel for opening time and get in line about 30 min before that or so).
*Take the time to play the interactive tablet game at Aulani!!! It is very well done and an awesome way to kill sometime w/ kids. You'll pass all these random things around the resort that won't make any sense until you play it.
*Also have fun fun looking for all the Menehune (little mischievous Hawaiian creatures) around the resort. You'll find them tucked away all over the place. Even in the KEYHOLES of random furniture in the lobby -
*Don't be afraid to go out and explore. Oahu is pretty easy to get around. Last time I was there I took a scenic drive on the 83 and it was well worth the effort. There's a great (and I guess pretty popular) shrimp truck along the route called Giovanni's that's a must-have if you like shrimp covered in garlic - http://www.giovannisshrimptruck.com/
*Don't be afraid to go out and eat. Food at Aulani is pretty expensive (but pretty good, all things considered). Right across the street is a cool little shopping center with food, but if you get in your car and drive a few miles you can get more stuff too even cheaper. Can't say enough good things about Plantation Tavern which has the most amazing Poke Nachos. (if you like that sorta thing). There's also a Target nearby where you can get your essentials for far cheaper than what you'll pay at the resort.
*The lazy river is freaking awesome
*I did not pay to go inside, but the Polynesian Cultural Center is very Disneyland-y without being a theme park and has a free marketplace village to explore. Was a fun little stop on the 83 and has stuff to see without dropping a cent on admission.
*There is Dole Whip at the cafe. Nuff said. Truth be told, I thought the Dole Whip at Aulani was better than the stuff at the Dole Plantation. If you're going to visit there, visit for the fun gift shop, train ride, maze, etc. The Dole Whip was a bit icy, at least the day I stopped by.
*The neighboring Marriott has a little beach side restaurant/bar called Longboards which serves these insanely awesome frozen Mai Tais. If you at all enjoy drinking, you need to have one or two or twenty of these. I had a really hard time walking back to Aulani after just having two of them, but I'm also no heavyweight.
*Venture into Honolulu for a stop at Leonoard's for incredible Malsadas (Hawaiian donuts) and stop by the weekly flea market
Hahah, I never stay on topic so by all means... hijak. All these great Hawaii tips have me wondering.. what do you have for Maui? Since you know it’s the trip I actually have booked at the moment.