Miscellaneous Tokyo Thoughts

[Stitchon]

What can Disney logically do to OLC? Song of the South is PD over there in Japan and I don't know if the company's petty enough to use an attraction the OLC wants in exchange for the removal of Splash.

It's a licensing agreement for the Disney characters, themes, etc. Knowing Disney, the agreement probably covers all the bases in regards to how they want their brand represented in the parks. If Disney doesn't believe the Song of the South IP is good for their brand, pushing for the licensee to remove it doesn't seem out of the ordinary. It's equally unsurprising they want their best and most relevant IP like Marvel represented in Tokyo, regardless of whether the Japanese care about the IP or whether the OLC wants it.

 

[GenChi]

Some of you definitely know Tokyo way more so could clarify, but how could they even force OLC to change the theming? I don't see how they could

At least from what I know the agreement goes to the mid 2070s (imagine Iger's frozen head ruling this in the 2070s lol) and even if they could they can't revoke it and lose Tokyo for this without it being career suicide for every executive at the company. People say they are threatening with a loophole of not approving rides/IP usage but Wreck it Ralph was approved this week so clearly not the case, and good luck explaining to shareholders why you're boycotting one of your biggest revenue generators. Further, OLC under contract would have to pay for all construction costs for the entire remodel. If there was something they could be pressured (as obviously the west has tried) they would have announced it over the past 4 years.

Only way I see this happening is if Disney gives them a real sweetheart deal. Which would be covering the entire cost, developing a new ride based to OLC's preferred replacement property (which would not be Tiana), maybe even adding a carrot like making Duffy media which they can use to further market them. How I see it they'd have to be given a deal that can't be refused, not be pressured to cave.

 

[BrerFoxesBayouAdventure]

While I think this will happen, they will probably take their sweet time doing it. It's probably not as much of a priority as the US retheme is as the Song of the South controversy isn't nearly as big in Tokyo (due to the film being public domain, due to the voiceover dubs removing the minstrel-like aspects of the Brer characters, due to less familiarity on the history of slavery in the U.S. and due to Japanese audiences being less impacted by the stereotypes and historical revisionism in the film).

Tokyo's probably going to play the long game, I mean Disney already made them remove the music for "diversity and inclusivity purposes" back in 2021(?) and has seemingly not allowed them to produce merchandise for the ride seeing as how you can't find anything with the critters on it in the designated gift shop. It was like that in 2019 too, the Hoot n' Holler Hideout sold nothing but Chip and Dale crap in there.

 

[aleh021]

Tomorrowland is the only logical place for a Marvel based ride. DisneySea really has no spot for it honestly.

I'm surprised they went with Wreck It Ralph instead of another Ant-Man version of Buzz for TDR.

Who knows, maybe Star Tours will get rethemed to Marvel at TDR.

 

[davis_unoxx]

Disney corporate a shell on their old self, shame on them. Wrong priorities.

 

[ThemeParkTraveller]

That was fast.

 

[IMDREW]

So I am looking at going for a vacation package for my trip to TDR this September. It's a lot of money, but the guarantee of entering Fantasy Springs and experiencing the 4 attractions as many times as I like through the fast lane are pulling me across the line. And also guaranteed passes for Beauty and the Beast, Splash Mountain, Journey to the Center and Soaring are making this very inviting. But Ive got a few questions and need some help if anyone knows more.

Does anyone know if prices for the packages are set or do they still tend to go up and down?
Also, do I have to pay in full at once?
And if I cancel well before hand will I get a full refund?

 

[BasiltheBatLord]

Got walked off Center of the Earth tonight. A very cool experience.

 

[BrerFoxesBayouAdventure]

That was fast.

View attachment 782443

The worst possible people got a hold of the news. Also, LOL @ them using the MK version of the ride in the first thumbnail.

 

[Disgruntled Walt]

The worst possible people got a hold of the news. Also, LOL @ them using the MK version of the ride in the first thumbnail.

I don't mind them getting a hold of the news. They have a large following and the more people that find out about this the better. I wish W D W N T would post about it too.

 

[BrerFoxesBayouAdventure]

I don't mind them getting a hold of the news. They have a large following and the more people that find out about this the better. I wish W D W N T would post about it too.

I just don't like them because of their rather...politically charged dialogue.

 

[PiratesMansion]

Disney corporate a shell on their old self, shame on them. Wrong priorities.

Where have you been the last decades?

 

[hopemax]

So I am looking at going for a vacation package for my trip to TDR this September. It's a lot of money, but the guarantee of entering Fantasy Springs and experiencing the 4 attractions as many times as I like through the fast lane are pulling me across the line. And also guaranteed passes for Beauty and the Beast, Splash Mountain, Journey to the Center and Soaring are making this very inviting. But Ive got a few questions and need some help if anyone knows more.

Does anyone know if prices for the packages are set or do they still tend to go up and down?
Also, do I have to pay in full at once?
And if I cancel well before hand will I get a full refund?

I can help with a few things because we just booked a 2-night package at the Fantasy Springs hotel for our trip in October! This is our second TDR trip, the first we followed the advice to skip a package because it was cheaper a la cart pricing. But the guaranteed access to Fantasy Springs and unlimited Premier access is a game changer. Combined with a historic exchange rate, it was hard to say no. A YOLO opportunity. If ever there was a “cheap” time to splurge, and you are paying in USD, it’s now.

Packages you do pay in full at booking. Which if you are checking the current exchange rate, can make the actual package price go up or down depending on the day you book. But the Japanese prices don’t fluctuate. As long as you cancel 21 days in advance you can get a full refund.

One annoying thing, is that the ride selections you choose are factored into the price. You are basically locking in a time and prepaying for the Premiere Access. But if you want to make a modification, the whole package is rebooked, and the old one refunded. So for us, I didn’t realize the Baymax attraction, which is new to us, is essentially Mater or Alien Saucers ride. We didn’t need that one, so tonight I swapped it for the generic ride (which we can use at Pooh). This caused our package price in yen to go down 1800. But because of the exchange rate between 2AM and 11PM changed, and for us its 456,000 yen being charged, it actually resulted in like a $20 price increase! So be mindful of what you select and limit changes… unless the dollar gets even stronger.

 

[IMDREW]

I can help with a few things because we just booked a 2-night package at the Fantasy Springs hotel for our trip in October! This is our second TDR trip, the first we followed the advice to skip a package because it was cheaper a la cart pricing. But the guaranteed access to Fantasy Springs and unlimited Premier access is a game changer. Combined with a historic exchange rate, it was hard to say no. A YOLO opportunity. If ever there was a “cheap” time to splurge, and you are paying in USD, it’s now.

Packages you do pay in full at booking. Which if you are checking the current exchange rate, can make the actual package price go up or down depending on the day you book. But the Japanese prices don’t fluctuate. As long as you cancel 21 days in advance you can get a full refund.

One annoying thing, is that the ride selections you choose are factored into the price. You are basically locking in a time and prepaying for the Premiere Access. But if you want to make a modification, the whole package is rebooked, and the old one refunded. So for us, I didn’t realize the Baymax attraction, which is new to us, is essentially Mater or Alien Saucers ride. We didn’t need that one, so tonight I swapped it for the generic ride (which we can use at Pooh). This caused our package price in yen to go down 1800. But because of the exchange rate between 2AM and 11PM changed, and for us its 456,000 yen being charged, it actually resulted in like a $20 price increase! So be mindful of what you select and limit changes… unless the dollar gets even stronger.

Thank you! This helped so much! I’m looking at doing a package for one night and then book 3 separate nights after. Not expecting them to let us stay in the room though. But would be nice.

 

[hopemax]

Thank you! This helped so much! I’m looking at doing a package for one night and then book 3 separate nights after. Not expecting them to let us stay in the room though. But would be nice.

You might be surprised. On our first trip we had a 5 night reservation and a 1 night reservation, and when we arrived they had tied them together and so we only had to check in once. If you book the same category room, I think they try to not have to move people. They know people are building these longer stays piecemeal, and a 1 or 2 day package is limiting. So yeah, don't expect to not have to move, but don't be surprised if you don't have to either.

 

[BrianLo]

I can help with a few things because we just booked a 2-night package at the Fantasy Springs hotel for our trip in October! This is our second TDR trip, the first we followed the advice to skip a package because it was cheaper a la cart pricing. But the guaranteed access to Fantasy Springs and unlimited Premier access is a game changer. Combined with a historic exchange rate, it was hard to say no. A YOLO opportunity. If ever there was a “cheap” time to splurge, and you are paying in USD, it’s now.

Packages you do pay in full at booking. Which if you are checking the current exchange rate, can make the actual package price go up or down depending on the day you book. But the Japanese prices don’t fluctuate. As long as you cancel 21 days in advance you can get a full refund.

One annoying thing, is that the ride selections you choose are factored into the price. You are basically locking in a time and prepaying for the Premiere Access. But if you want to make a modification, the whole package is rebooked, and the old one refunded. So for us, I didn’t realize the Baymax attraction, which is new to us, is essentially Mater or Alien Saucers ride. We didn’t need that one, so tonight I swapped it for the generic ride (which we can use at Pooh). This caused our package price in yen to go down 1800. But because of the exchange rate between 2AM and 11PM changed, and for us its 456,000 yen being charged, it actually resulted in like a $20 price increase! So be mindful of what you select and limit changes… unless the dollar gets even stronger.

Not a criticism because I’d be talking out my butt pretending I didn’t just pay for nice D23 seats. The package still strikes me as inordinately overpriced, it just comes off well compared to WDW I suppose.

I’ve elected to do the Sheraton and a la carte and I might be coming in at a third of your price for twice the length of stay. The base price is very, very cheap right now. Though if one is only doing two days it makes sense the way you are tackling it.

 

[Jubs]

Not a criticism because I’d be talking out my butt pretending I didn’t just pay for nice D23 seats. The package still strikes me as inordinately overpriced, it just comes off well compared to WDW I suppose.

Even if you add up the sum of all parts, the packages are often hundreds of dollars extra, so not wrong. Never even considered purchasing one until this year, but it is the price of unlimited FastPass now so... it is what it is if you want that.

 

[IMDREW]

Even if you add up the sum of all parts, the packages are often hundreds of dollars extra, so not wrong. Never even considered purchasing one until this year, but it is the price of unlimited FastPass now so... it is what it is if you want that.

Yes and for me I got a bit shocked by seeing all those lines to get into the park. Is that a daily thing?

 

[hopemax]

Not a criticism because I’d be talking out my butt pretending I didn’t just pay for nice D23 seats. The package still strikes me as inordinately overpriced, it just comes off well compared to WDW I suppose.

I’ve elected to do the Sheraton and a la carte and I might be coming in at a third of your price for twice the length of stay. The base price is very, very cheap right now. Though if one is only doing two days it makes sense the way you are tackling it.

The part you don't know is my 77 year old Dad is accompanying us. Our 2018 TDR trip, our 2023 Paris trip and this one are *his* "bucket list" trips, although I am planner, tour guide and companion. This is likely his last international trip (DH and I want to do something just the two of us for our next big trips), and while he is in good shape for his age, it is becoming a limitation. So as close as the good neighbor hotels are, we want to be closer and more in the bubble. These are the trips that you scrimp elsewhere in your life for 50 years, in order to take. We stayed at the MiraCosta in 2018, and there is not a moment the three of us regret a single dollar of that splurge. We actually talked about how "next time we could stay at the Sheraton or Hilton." The next time was scheduled for October 2020. Now it's 4 years later, and my Dad is 4 years older.

We're going to be adding on another 5 nights in a Triple Room at the Disneyland Hotel when the booking window opens in June. I expect that to be as much as the 2-night package (although as you suggest, the sum still probably less than a comparable deluxe level WDW trip would be). We don't care. We'll also probably be paying whatever ridiculousness the Grand Helios is at Epic Universe, because my Dad always wanted to experience a new theme park near opening, and DCA was... not it. The alternative option to save money for that one is we just stay at his house. So shaving spending is really not the goal, and we're fortunate that the exchange rate makes it not as outrageous as it could have been.

 

[BrianLo]

The part you don't know is my 77 year old Dad is accompanying us. Our 2018 TDR trip, our 2023 Paris trip and this one are *his* "bucket list" trips, although I am planner, tour guide and companion. This is likely his last international trip (DH and I want to do something just the two of us for our next big trips), and while he is in good shape for his age, it is becoming a limitation. So as close as the good neighbor hotels are, we want to be closer and more in the bubble. These are the trips that you scrimp elsewhere in your life for 50 years, in order to take. We stayed at the MiraCosta in 2018, and there is not a moment the three of us regret a single dollar of that splurge. We actually talked about how "next time we could stay at the Sheraton or Hilton." The next time was scheduled for October 2020. Now it's 4 years later, and my Dad is 4 years older.

We're going to be adding on another 5 nights in a Triple Room at the Disneyland Hotel when the booking window opens in June. I expect that to be as much as the 2-night package (although as you suggest, the sum still probably less than a comparable deluxe level WDW trip would be). We don't care. We'll also probably be paying whatever ridiculousness the Grand Helios is at Epic Universe, because my Dad always wanted to experience a new theme park near opening, and DCA was... not it. The alternative option to save money for that one is we just stay at his house. So shaving spending is really not the goal, and we're fortunate that the exchange rate makes it not as outrageous as it could have been.

Absolutely, not a criticism! You are not the first or the last poster to have booked this package recently that I’m aware of. I was just getting at some hiding of the math underneath that it’s ultimately multiple hundreds per day for an unlimited fast pass and an up charge on site hotel buried in the pricing to boot.

It’s more a doable/feasible luxurious splurge than a deal.

Like I said I’ve treated D23 the exact same way. If it’s a bucket list thing, it’s not out of this world at all. But for the average North American/European, it’s probably an unnecessary luxury if there’s good group mobility, patience and ability to add on another day or two to length of stay. This includes me running prey to DVC math as well, I’m not immune.