The “World” According to Jack

Today’s blog is going to be all about Jack. I experienced something wonderful and I simply must brag about it. Please excuse my self-indulgence.

But as is typical of me, first I must give you some background.

When Walt became involved with the New York World’s Fair, he discovered that many of the corporate sponsors, including the ones he was working with, required nicely appointed offices or lounges to be included in their pavilions. These would be places where corporate bigwigs could entertain clients and guests in lavish style, away from the masses outside.

Walt was already entertaining dignitaries on a regular basis at Disneyland and he realized that this same concept would be useful at his theme park. When the fair ended, work began in earnest on New Orleans Square and Pirates of the Caribbean. It was decided that this new land would be the perfect place to build a private sanctuary. It would be located on the second floor of the twisting buildings of this Crescent City reproduction. This refuge would be called Club 33. The number 33 comes from the Club’s address, 33 Royal Street. The Blue Bayou next door is 31 Royal Street.

However, maintaining a first class lounge and restaurant would be expensive and Disney wasn’t entertaining dignitaries and celebrities on an everyday basis. So it was decided to open the Club 33 to others – create a membership. This way, the corporations that were already sponsoring attractions at Disneyland could join and help defray the costs. For example, this would provide The Bell System, who sponsored the CircleVision Theater in Tomorrowland, a place to wine and dine guests and customers. Individual memberships were also made available to local businessmen (and later, Disney fanatics). Memberships were not cheap yet a years-long waiting list quickly ensued.

Members are given the right to eat at the Club 33 and are provided free parking and free admission to Disneyland (as long as the use the Club on that given day). They may also make reservations for their guests and do not have to accompany them. All meals are extra as they are not included in the price of membership. In addition, the Club 33 is the only place at Disneyland where alcohol is served.

As many of you might know, I was the maitre d’ at Club 33 for three years (1977-1980). I loved working there and was fortunate enough to meet a number of celebrities and Disney bigwigs.

When the Oriental Land Company (the company that owns Tokyo Disneyland) was designing their park, they used Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom in Florida as a shopping cart. They would select the best of what each park had to offer – and the Club 33 was one of the items selected. However, in their park, the Club 33 would be located in World Bazaar, their version of Main Street. Tokyo’s Club 33 is located on the second floor of World Bazaar. If you compared it to the Magic Kingdom it would be above Casey’s Corner (sort of).

Tokyo’s Club 33 fulfills the same purpose as its California cousin. It allows the Oriental Land Company and the corporate sponsors of Tokyo Disneyland to entertain guests in lavish style. Their Club 33 is also the only spot inside the park that serves alcohol.

Arranging a meal at the Club 33 in Disneyland is no easy task for your average Disney fan. You must know a member who is willing to make a reservation for you. And in the scheme of things, there aren’t all that many members. Eating at the Club 33 gives you “Disney bragging rights.” Arranging a meal at the Club 33 in Tokyo Disneyland is even a greater challenge for American Disney fans. Most of us don’t know all that many Japanese corporate leaders with memberships. By the way, memberships in the two Clubs are not reciprocal.

So why am I going into this long explanation?

I was able to pull some strings -- strings that must remain anonymous. You see, on my recent visit to Tokyo Disneyland, I was able to eat at their Club 33. You have no idea how excited I was. But the member who made my reservation did more than just secure me a dinner at this exclusive club. He also arranged for me to visit a number of the corporate lounges scattered around the park. You see at Tokyo Disneyland, many of the sponsored rides and attractions have lounges of their own. However, because of the anonymity I must respect, I can’t tell you which corporations and attractions I visited.

Before I left home, I was provided with a detailed schedule to follow on the day of my Club 33 reservation. I was to arrive at the first private lounge at exactly 3:45 (the Japanese are very precise). I was given a map beforehand to help me find the lounge as they are more or less hidden and you’d never locate them without instructions. When I arrived at the first lounge, I was greeted by a lovely hostess and given something cool to drink (non-alcoholic). After relaxing a while, I was taken through a “back door” of an “E” attraction, bypassing an hour-long line, and given a front row seat. After the ride, I was escorted to another private lounge where more drinks and relaxation ensued. Then, once again, I was taken through a back door and bypassed another long line. This happened for three attractions and I easily avoided over two hours of queue.

I have pictures of all of the lounges, but I can’t share them with you because it would be obvious which company’s quarters I was in. However, I did crop this one photo. As you can tell by the smile on my face, I was in Disney heaven.

After visiting the lounges, I was free to wander the park until my dinner reservation time. These next pictures show the Club 33 entrance and me standing next to the door. Take a look at the brass plate to my left. Beneath this panel is an intercom that connects to the hostess inside. Before being granted entrance, you must speak your reservation name here and then you will be “buzzed” in.

Befitting of Main Street, the interior of the Club 33 is Victorian in style. The lobby is on the first floor and guests use either an elevator or stairway to reach the lounge and restaurant on the second floor. These pictures are of the downstairs lobby.

When entering the second floor you’ll find a large lounge and several smaller, private rooms where guests can have cocktails or conduct business. I was seated here for a short time until my table was ready.

I was told in advance that “the best table in the house” had been arranged for me. I was skeptical. Since I used to work at the Club 33 in California, I knew we told people this all the time when it wasn’t necessarily true. But in this case, it was true.

First, the tables at the Tokyo Club 33 are arranged very spaciously – much more so than its California counterpart. You could easily put twice as many tables in this room. This allowed for a very intimate dining experience as you could speak freely without fearing that someone at the next table would overhear you. I only took a picture of my own table as I did not want to intrude on the other diners.

My table was located in a sort of alcove. From my table I looked out onto the Hub and parade route. This next picture shows an exterior view of the window I looked out of.

When my waitress arrived at the table, I quickly discovered she spoke very little English. But since the menu was printed in both Japanese and English, “pointing” became the language of choice. I enjoyed a six course meal with cocktails and wine. However, I could not begin to tell you what I ate or drank. It’s all a Disney fantasy blur to me. But I can tell you it was magical and special in every sense of the word. And I do remember that one course was topped with real gold flakes. For those of you who have dined at Victoria & Albert’s at the Grand Floridian, I would say that this evening was comparable.

When I write a restaurant review for Allears, I take pictures of each course. However, I had decided in advance that this would not be the case when I dined at Club 33 for several reasons. First, this was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I wasn’t about to diminish this event in anyway by interrupting my meal. But more than that, once I entered the dining room, I knew it would be gauche and disruptive to take too many pictures. After all, I was a visitor in their country and I wanted to put my best foot forward.

At one point during my meal, I noticed that cast members had taken position at each window in the restaurant. A moment later, the background music stopped playing and the room went dark. At that moment, the cast members quickly opened the sheer curtains to provide us with a view of the Electrical Parade below. Of course, the parade’s music was piped into the room. As soon as the parade ended, the curtains were closed and the lights came back up. Later in the evening, this same exercise took place for the firework presentation. These pictures were taken from my table. I did use a zoom lens, but as you can see, my view was impressive. I really was given the best table in the house.

So what did my two and a half hours of Disney bliss cost? Not counting the souvenirs that I bought, $380 for two.

I want to thank my anonymous friend for giving me a Disney memory that will last a lifetime and be very difficult to top.

During the postings of my Hong Kong and Tokyo Disney blogs, I received several emails from people asking me if it’s worth the trip to travel this vast distance to visit these parks. Ultimately, this would depend on your budget and how strong your desire is to experience the foreign Disney parks, but I will give you my thoughts.

Let’s start with Hong Kong.

It’s a 13-14 hour flight from Chicago to Hong Kong. That’s a long time to spend in an airplane. Fortunately, I had enough frequent flyer miles to upgrade to Business Class and I would recommend this to anyone who can swing it.

As I mentioned in an earlier blog, Hong Kong Disneyland is a nice, LITTLE park, but it still has a long way to go before it could be considered a great park. There just aren’t enough rides and attractions to keep the average guest busy for more than a day – two if you’re a true Disney fanatic. I chose to spend three full days here because I’m a Disney extremist and I wanted to experience everything multiple times, but I would only recommend this length of stay to a handful of my readers. Because of the lack of rides and attractions, it becomes difficult for me to recommend a trip all the way to Hong Kong, JUST to see Disneyland.

But keep in mind, the City of Hong Kong is only a 20 minute train ride away from Disneyland. And believe me, there is no other city on earth like Hong Kong. This is a magnificent metropolis. A combination of ultra modern and traditional Chinese make this an exciting place to visit. You can easily spend three days here. And a day trip via hydrofoil to Macau is also a great excursion.

So, if you add the City of Hong Kong and Macau to your trip to HKDL, then it becomes a no-brainer. I say, “Go for it.”

If you do decide to go to Hong Kong, I would break the trip up into two sections. Stay at the Disneyland or Hollywood Hotel for two or three nights and the remainder of your stay on Hong Kong Island or across the harbor in Kowloon.

I’ve stayed at the Kowloon Shangri-La twice and was most pleased. In fact, it’s one of the nicest hotels I’ve ever been in. It has beautiful views of Hong Kong Island and it’s an easy walk to many of the sights. However, I’m sure there are MANY equally good hotels to choose from. Talk to your travel agent.

Now let’s discuss Japan. Should you fly 9-10 hours from Chicago to visit the Tokyo Disney Resort? Absolutely!

If you’ve been reading my blogs, you know that I rank Tokyo DisneySea as my absolute favorite park and I rank Tokyo Disneyland as my fifth favorite out of a total of eleven. Each of these parks has much more to offer than HKDL and each requires every bit of two days to see. Also, keep in mind that you probably won’t be returning anytime soon, so I would suggest spending three full days in each park to make sure you’ve imprinted all the sights and sounds into your brain.

Just like Disney World, I always recommend staying “on property.” If there is anyway you can afford it, stay at the MiraCosta. With the hotel located literally inside Tokyo DisneySea, it’s the most magical of any Disney hotel anywhere in the world. You’ll be glad you did. Also consider the new Disneyland Hotel which is right on the doorstep of Tokyo Disneyland. And lastly, the Ambassador Hotel which is just a short walk from the monorail, is worthy of your consideration.

Japan is an expensive country. If budget starts to play a part in your decision, consider staying at the Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay Hotel. It’s a little less costly than the Disney hotels and it’s extremely convenient to the Disney monorail so the parks are still just a short ride away.

On one trip, I stayed at an inexpensive (relatively speaking) Holiday Inn in downtown Tokyo and took the train to Disneyland everyday. It was less expensive than staying on property, but it lacked “magic” and I was more or less stuck at the park all day long as it would not be convenient to return to my hotel mid-day for a nap.

But here comes my dilemma when suggesting a trip to Tokyo. How can you possibly fly all this way and ONLY see Disney? Japan is a beautiful country. It would take weeks just to see the highlights. Do you really want to miss out on experiencing this wonderful culture?

Japan is roughly the size of California and has a magnificent railway system that can take you almost anywhere quickly and safely. But navigating in Japan can be daunting for someone who doesn’t speak the language. To make things easier, I would suggest meeting with a travel agent and arrange for a multi-day tour of the country that begins or ends in Tokyo, then spend an additional 6-7 days at Disney.

Here are just a FEW of the “must see” attractions in Japan.

Daibutsu (Buddha) in Kamakura

Daibutsu (Buddha) in Nara

Kyoto’s Golden Pavilion

The Kyoto Bridge

Osaka Castle

Nagasaki

If you’ve already visited the City of Hong Kong and the country of Japan as I have, or, if you really only want to visit Disney, you might want to do what I did and combine both resorts into one trip. I figured if I was flying all the way across the Pacific anyway, why not lengthen my stay and see both resorts. It’s about a 4½ hour flight between Hong Kong and Tokyo.

Getting from the airports to the resorts is easy. In Hong Kong, just hail a cab and tell him where you want to go. It shouldn’t cost much more than $20US to get to the Disneyland Resort. (Honk Kong also uses the “dollar” so don’t get confused.) The trip takes about 20 minutes. You can also take a train, which would be cheaper, but that would involve a transfer. And do you really want to schlep your luggage through crowded stations after just having completed a 13+ hour flight?

In Tokyo, there are a number of motor-coach counters located immediately after you clear customs. It’s here that you can arrange transportation to Disney. After purchasing your ticket (about $25 per person one-way) you will be told where to wait for the bus which will be just a short walk from the counter. The trip takes approximately one hour. You arrange for your return trip at your hotel.

Even though Visa and Master Card are accepted everywhere, I always try to have some local currency in hand when I arrive. It’s just one less thing I have to worry about after my flight.

One of the major enjoyments I get out of Disney theme parks is comparing them to one another. It fascinates me to see how similar, yet different, any given attraction can be.

I realize that international travel isn’t in everyone’s budget, but if you’re one of those families that visits Walt Disney World three or four times a year, might I suggest that you only visit once or twice some year and use the money you’ll save for an overseas Disney trip. You’ll be happy you did.

Although I have not talked about the Disneyland Paris Resort in my recent blogs, I rank Disneyland Paris as my second favorite park. And even though I rank the Walt Disney Studios Paris as my least favorite park, I still feel the resort has a lot to offer – a lot more than Hong Kong. Not to mention, the City of Lights is just a short train ride away.

So, this ends my Asian Disney blogs. I hope you’ve enjoyed them. I’ve had a good time reliving my adventures by sharing them with you.

Much of the architecture of Tokyo’s Tomorrowland is stuck in the 80’s. Actually, it’s stuck in the 70’s as it was copied after the Magic Kingdom at WDW – which was designed in the ‘60’s.

In other words, there are areas here that could definitely use a face lift like they did to the Tomorrowlands in California and Florida. But even though some of the areas are a little dated, there is still a lot of fun to be had here.

Let’s start with the main entrance into Tomorrowland.

Do the spires look familiar? Remember them from the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World?

In an effort to update the spires, they have received several stylish paint jobs over the years. And by the way, water no longer cascades from these guys.

If you look closely at the above picture you’ll notice that there is no PeopleMover running down the middle of the concourse or along the side of the buildings. By the time Tokyo Disneyland was being planned, people-movers were already becoming commonplace at airports and were no longer considered a product of the future.

Let’s start with the first attraction you come to on the right, Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters.

The Tokyo version of this ride is the exact same attraction as can be found at Disneyland, CA, Disneyland Paris, and Hong Kong Disneyland.

All four of these attractions came after the Disney World version and have a different track layout than their Florida cousin. Also different from Florida is a very nice upgrade. The laser guns are not attached to the vehicle. Instead, they’re connected via a retractable cord which gives you a greater range of movement when shooting.

The queue is also a little different from Disney World. Instead of seeing a giant View-Master, here you see a large Etch-A-Sketch which continually draws new pictures.

The sights within the attraction have also been changed slightly from the Florida version, but the concept is the same. You aim and shoot at targets as you travel through Buzz’s universe and high score wins. Because of the upgraded laser guns, I have to say that all of the other Buzz Lightyear attractions are better than the Magic Kingdom’s version at Disney World.

Across the way from Buzz we find MicroAdventure.

MicroAdventure is what we call, Honey, I Shrunk the Audience. This is the exact same movie as plays in California and Florida, except that it has been dubbed into Japanese. There are several phone handsets in the back of the theater that play the English soundtrack.

This is a very popular attraction and I would suggest using FASTPASS.

Let’s take a little detour and enter Tomorrowland via Center Street from World Bazaar. Here are two pictures, one looking out from World Bazaar toward Tomorrowland and the other looking from Tomorrowland back toward World Bazaar.

Once entering Tomorrowland from World Bazaar, you will be greeted by an all new attraction in 2009, Monsters, Inc. Ride and go Seek.

Because of the construction wall, I wasn’t able to get any good pictures of the building. The photo below was taken from outside the park from the monorail station platform.

As you can see, the structure is reminiscent of the buildings seen in the movie, Monsters, Inc.

The details for this attraction are still sketchy, but from what I’ve read you play hide-and-go-seek with Boo, Mike, and Sulley in Monstropolis. The ride will be similar to the attraction “Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue!” at Disney’s California Adventure and it will incorporate 3D screen technology similar to that used in the “Toy Story Midway Mania” attraction at Disney's Hollywood Studios. It’s scheduled to open in 2009 at a cost of $88M.

This new ride replaces “Meet the World” which was a “Carousel of Progress” type attraction that portrayed the history of Japan.

Next to Monsters, Inc. Ride and go Seek you’ll find Star Tours. I like the exterior of this building as it looks like a futuristic space craft hanger.

The interior of the attraction is very similar to all of the other Star Tours around the world.

The dialogue for Captain Rex and the pilot seen on the TV monitor have been dubbed into Japanese, but the vocals coming from Star Command are still in English. Otherwise, the attraction is exactly the same as the American versions.

The exit for Star Tours is far more elaborate than the “hallways” you walk through in the American parks. At Tokyo, the space age architecture is continued in the exit corridors and you even come across a strange alien working feverishly in a control booth. Look closely and you might recognize him as he bears a striking resemblance to Sonny Eclipse from Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café at WDW.

When you exit the Star Tours building, you cross an elevated walkway to an observation platform and the upper level of the Pan Galactic Pizza Port. You can also reach this platform via a large staircase.

The Pan Galactic Pizza Port is a sizeable, counter service restaurant that serves, you guessed it, pizza. Sausage & Mushroom and Chicken & Vegetable pizza is offered by the slice along with salads and a few other odds and ends.

Food is ordered and purchased on the ground floor, but there is additional seating upstairs, overlooking the greatest pizza making machine you’ve ever seen. Here, Tony Solaroni runs an outrageous contraption designed to delight children and adults. Even if you don’t eat here, I would strongly suggest taking a gander at this fun spot.

Located between Star Tours and Space Mountain is Showbase.

Showbase is a covered amphitheater where lavish Disney-character shows are presented. As with all live performances at Tokyo Disneyland, you need to arrive early to get a seat.

Next we come to Space Mountain. You enter this attraction via a long speed-ramp that takes you to the second floor of the building. Here, the line continues around the perimeter of Space Mountain for a short distance before it enters the structure.

Up until recently, the inside queue and ride were identical to the Space Mountain attraction at Disneyland, CA. Unfortunately, I was unaware of the recent refurbishment and chose not to ride Space Mountain on my latest trip. It wasn’t until I returned home that I found out that Disney has tinkered with this perennial favorite quite a bit. Even the logo has changed.

The large spaceship that once hung from the main queue area has been replaced by a much sleeker craft.

I want to thank my friend TDLFAN for the above picture and the following description.

“It's too bad you didn't ride Space Mountain, because Disney did a very nice job giving this ride a new look all over. Still the same track, but now it features a new show that makes it look like you are in an electrical power plant/station in outer space, complete with lightning-like special effects and other show elements unique to Tokyo. There is no ride soundtrack, but it doesn't matter because now the TDL version has a very unique look to it. Best of all is how Disney made the main portion of the ride very dark, with some sound effects and new visual elements, like flying thru a nebula during one of the drops, plus the new star field at "re-entry" similar to the one now in use at DL and HKDL.”

Let this be a lesson to myself and all of you, ‘GO ON EVERYTHING WHEN VISITING A FOREIGN DISNEY PARK!”

Now we come to what I describe as the “boring” concourse. This is a vast expanse that runs from Space Mountain to the Star-Jets. It’s flanked by the Grand Circuit Raceway on one side and the Tomorrowland Terrace on the other. At one time, the Skyway traveled above this area, but with it gone, there really aren’t any architectural elements to excite the eye.

The Grand Circuit Raceway is Tokyo Disneyland’s version of the Autopia at Disneyland or Tomorrowland Indy Speedway at Disney World. In fact, the track layout is almost identical to the Tomorrowland Indy Speedway.

It’s interesting to note that the steering wheels are on the right side of these little cars as the Japanese drive on the left side of the road. Also, the Japanese do not consider these “bumper cars” as so many of us Americans do and it’s rare to get smacked from behind.

I have always felt that this attraction and the one in Florida are strictly for youngsters who don’t yet have a driver’s license. There really isn’t very much to see along the journey. However, the Autopia in California has been updated with some nice scenery and props that make this simple car-ride more enjoyable to adults.

Like Walt Disney World, the Grand Circuit Raceway does have a “stadium” where parents can wait and take pictures.

Across the way from the Grand Circuit Raceway is the Tomorrowland Terrace.

If you notice a resemblance between the Tomorrowland Terrace and Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe at Walt Disney World, that’s because the two restaurants are almost identical in everyway.

This is one of the few true burger joints at Tokyo Disneyland and you can order hamburgers, cheeseburgers, chicken burgers, sandwiches, chicken strips and fries. I didn’t eat here on my latest trip, but five years ago I got the cutest burger.

Sonny Eclipse does not perform at the Tomorrowland Terrace, but there is a stage in the same location as Cosmic Rays and live entertainment can sometimes be heard here.

The last attraction in Tomorrowland is the Star-Jets.

There’s not a lot I can say about this ride. You take an elevator to the loading platform, board a two-passenger “jet” and spin for something less than a minute.

Like all Disney parks, live entertainment is everywhere, and Tomorrowland is no exception.

One final curiosity I’d like to point out is the interesting trash can I saw in Tomorrowland.

If you look closely at the smaller receptacle, you’ll notice that it’s intended to be used for liquids before throwing away your paper cup.

Well, that’s it for Tokyo Disneyland. I will be writing one final blog about my trip to the Hong Kong and Tokyo Disney Resorts in an effort to sum everything up.

Toontown

Toontown is the community where carTOON characters live, shop, and play when not at a studio making movies. Inspired by the movie “Who Framed Roger Rabbit,” Toontown is a whacky place where very little makes sense and you never know what crazy thing might happen next.

The entrance to Toontown is located at the boundary of Fantasyland and Tomorrowland and it’s tucked neatly behind the two.

Here are several aerial shots of Toontown taken from the old Skyway attraction.

In the above picture you can see the Grand Circuit Raceway skirting the edge of Toontown and Gadget’s Go Coaster.

Anyone familiar with Toontown at Disneyland California will immediately become disoriented when entering Tokyo’s version as the entire land is a mirror image of its American counterpart. But other than that, these two lands are remarkably similar. Even the interiors of the buildings are furnished almost identically.

For those of you who are only familiar with Disney World’s “Mickey’s Toontown Fair” you’re in for a treat. Toontown in Tokyo (and California) are vastly superior to the scaled down version in Florida.

Let’s start with the residential section of Toontown which has many of the same elements as Mickey’s Toontown Fair. Specifically, let’s start with Mickey’s House.

At Mickey’s house you can personally meet The Mouse in one of several movie sets. This is a great way to get some uninterrupted time and pictures with the number one cheese. However, the line to meet Mickey and tour his home can be as long as many of the top attractions. As you can see in the above picture, this is a popular destination and many guests make this their first stop of the day.

Here’s a picture of me taken 13 years ago at Mickey’s House.

Touring Mickey’s house is a lot of fun. Straight lines are almost nonexistent, everything is overstuffed and curved, and craziness abounds. I always secretly wonder if I could somehow convert one of the rooms in my own home to look like this.

Minnie is Mickey’s neighbor to the left and her house is also open to her adoring fans. However, Minnie rarely makes a personal appearance like her boyfriend. Here are a couple of pictures of her charming cottage.

To the right of Mickey’s house we find Chip ‘n Dales Treehouse. Once again, these rascals’ home is open to all.

Continuing on we find Gadget’s Go Coaster.

This is definitely a kiddy coaster. At Disney World it would be comparable to The Barnstormer at Goofy's Wiseacre Farm. The ride is just a little over a minute in duration and the thrills are tame.

You would never think of going on this attraction unless you had little ones in tow OR you were an absolute Disney fanatic that wanted to experience EVERYTHING. By the way, I have no children and I’ve been on this ride.

Docked next to the Go Coaster we find Donald’s Boat, the Miss Daisy.

Unlike Mickey and Minnie’s houses which are primarily for viewing, Donald is a little less uptight than his neighbors and let’s you play with various goodies in his residence. You can steer the ship, ring a bell, talk over the “intercom” and a bunch of other cool stuff.

The final residence in Toontown is Goofy’s Bounce House. Here, the walls and floors are cushioned and/or inflated, making this the perfect spot for kids to bounce and jump to their heart’s content. There is a height restriction though. You must be UNDER 132 cm (52 inches) to enter. No adults, please.

You never know where you’ll find a toon.

For the long commute into the city, residents and visitors of Toontown can catch the Jolly Trolley located next to Mickey’s fountain.

The Jolly Trolley is visually appealing as it bobs and pitches, this way and that, on its one-way trip downtown. The trolley holds eight guests and the ride lasts a whopping two and a half minutes. This is one of those attractions that provides more ambiance to onlookers than it does enjoyment to the few who actually ride it. I love the Jolly Trolley. It’s cute!

The Jolly Trolley is another good example of how the Tokyo parks have substantially more cast members manning their attractions than the American parks. When the trolley is in motion, one cast member drives the trolley. Another walks in front of the trolley in a zig-zag pattern clearing pedestrians from the tracks. And a third cast member follows behind the trolley ensuring that no hitchhikers jump aboard.

Downtown Toontown has all the essential elements of any big city. City Hall anchors one section of town and is flanked by a school, a bank, and various other municipal buildings.

You’ll even find Restaurant Row here, where you can purchase such taste treats as ice cream, caramel-flavored popcorn, pizzas, sandwiches, and Mickey pretzels.

As we venture further into downtown we find winding streets with gags galore.

There is a fireworks factory with occasional explosions on the second floor.

Beware of falling safes.

Beware of falling barbells.

Sparks fly at the Power House.

The Five & Dime is where the toons do most of their shopping. Here they can find a large array of Disney souvenirs for themselves or their human friends.

The final attraction in Toontown is Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin.

On this ride you join Benny the Cab for a wild ride through the seedier side of Toontown. The weasels are in hot pursuit with “Dip” and a desire to dissolve you. Your cab has a steering wheel that when turned, spins your car in circles. Think of the “Tea Cups” on wheels. The attraction has been carefully designed so that no matter which direction your cab is facing during the ride, there is something fun to see.

Just when you think all is lost, Roger Rabbit comes to the rescue with a portable hole and saves the day. This effect is simple, but beautifully executed.

This is a very popular ride, but fortunately, the queue is almost as entertaining as the attraction so the wait is somewhat enjoyable.

That finishes up Toontown. Next stop, infinity and beyond. Or in other words, Tomorrowland.

I rank Pooh’s Hunny Hunt as one of my all time, world-wide favorite Disney attractions! And considering I’m not a big fan of Winnie the Pooh, that’s saying a lot.

When I wrote about World Bazaar, I mentioned that I would talk about FASTPASS in a later blog. Well the time has come.

FASTPASS works exactly the same in Tokyo as it does in California and Florida.

You arrive at a FASTPASS kiosk, insert your admission ticket, and receive a slip of paper with a return time printed on it. Simple. But Pooh’s Hunny Hunt is the first attraction that I’ve literally, without exaggeration, waited 25-45 minutes in line to pick up a FASTPASS.

When Tokyo Disneyland opens, everyone scrambles to their favorite attraction to secure a FASTPASS, and Pooh’s Hunny Hunt is one of the most popular destinations. Cast members set up a temporary queue just to handle the FASTPASS line for this attraction. This picture was taken at around 9:30am and the line is about 25 minutes long at this point. Note, this is the line for the FASTPASS, NOT the attraction.

By 10am, one hour after the park opens, Pooh’s Hunny Hunt will have an 80 minute standby line. By 11am, it can easily be two hours. And at 10am, the Fast Pass return time will already be late afternoon or early evening.

Why is this attraction so popular? Because it is astoundingly superior to its cousins in California, Florida, and Hong Kong. These other three versions pale in comparison. And even if you didn’t compare it to the other Pooh attractions, it’s a fantastic attraction in its own right.

I will do my best to describe the experience, but I know my efforts will fall short. Let’s start with the cast member costume. Here they wear a “camp counselor” outfit -- very appropriate for the 100 Acre Wood.

The queue begins in a lovely garden. In the background you see a large book, open to a Winnie the Pooh story.

After a number of switchbacks through the plants and flowers, you eventually enter a gardener’s shack full of tools and toys. As you exit this building you find yourself behind the large book you saw earlier, looking back out into the garden.

From here you weave in and around more book pages as you gradually work your way to the head of the line.

Pooh’s Hunny Hunt loads three hunny buckets at a time. Each bucket holds four guests, two in the front and two in the rear. As the ride begins, all three vehicles move forward simultaneously, one, two, three. There is no track on the floor so the buckets are free to move about randomly.

A short distance away, all three vehicles come to a stop in front of a giant storybook, which comes to life as Christopher Robin and Winnie the Pooh set the mood for the adventure to come.

A moment later, you leave this area, but not in the same order as you arrived. Now, vehicle number three is in the lead, followed by two and one. Next stop, the Blustery Day room. As you enter this large area, your vehicles seem to have minds of their own. Each hunny pot takes a different route and roams around the room as the wind causes a number of events to unfold.

As each vehicle wanders about, you’ll see most, but not all of the goings on. Each hunny pot experiences things a little differently. When you leave this room, vehicle number two is in the lead, followed by one and three.

Next you enter the Bounce Room where Tigger is your host. All three vehicles come to a stop, then the entire floor begins to bounce up and down. At the same time, the trees and plants that surround the room spring to life, but they bounce independently from the floor. All the while, Tigger can be seen hopping from one screen to the next in the background. The effect is fantastic. You really are immersed in the middle of everything.

As you leave this room, you travel backwards down a long hallway with car number one in the lead, followed by three and two. Eventually you make another stop, this time to watch Pooh fall asleep and go into his dream state. This effect is the same as the one seen at Florida and California.

From here you enter the Heffalumps and Woozles Room. This is the best area of all! As you enter this “fun house,” you join four other hunny pots already in the midst of things. Three of the hunny pots are occupied by other guests and the fourth contains several Heffalumps and Woozles.

At this point, your three vehicles join the Heffalumps and Woozles’ hunny pot and create a circle. Then the four of you rotate around each other. After you make a couple of revolutions, you break away from the group and start your crazy journey around the room. At the same time, the vehicles that were already in the room when you arrived take their exit. As they leave, a fresh group of hunny pots join the room and create a new circle with the Heffalumps and Woozles.

Now traveling independently from the other hunny pots, your vehicle moves from one gag to the next, stopping momentarily to view the event, then moving on – sometimes forward, sometimes backwards.

It seems to be complete chaos, seven hunny pots moving about randomly. It’s sheer delight. Eventually, it’s time for your group of hunny pots to leave the room, only to be replaced by a new group of three.

Your final stop brings you to Pooh covered in honey.

When you eventually reach the unloading area, car number three is in the lead, followed by two and one. And I guarantee, you’ll want to hop right back on and experience this ride again. Unfortunately, by this time, all of the Fast Passes are gone and it’s an hour-and-a-half to two hour wait for the standby line.

If you are lucky enough to ride this attraction multiple times, be sure to request a different hunny pot on each occasion as the sights and experience is slightly different depending on the car you’re in.

You exit the attraction through a shop, as if you couldn’t have guessed that.

Pooh’s Hunny Hunt uses the same ride technology as the Aquatopia ride at Tokyo DisneySea. Having no track, the hunny pots are controlled by a master computer that relays directional information to each individual unit from a number of transponders positioned throughout the attraction. This allows different vehicles to take different routes, adding to the confusion of the experience.

Why do I think this ride is so fantastic? It’s because you’re immersed in the story. You’re more than just a passive observer; you’re part of what’s going on. Somehow you’ve been whisked from reality and allowed to “live” the fantasy for a few moments. No trip to Tokyo Disneyland would be complete without experiencing this attraction. Even if you HATE Winnie the Pooh, this is a MUST SEE attraction.

I find it sad that Disney chose to build “traditional” Winnie the Pooh attractions at Disneyland CA and Hong Kong. They knew they had a winner with the Tokyo version. Why did they “cheap out” in the other parks? From my own experience and from what I’ve read, the Pooh attraction in California is often empty, even when the park is busy. I can guarantee that if they had put in the Tokyo version, this wouldn’t be the case.

Located outside of this attraction is a concession stand that sells honey flavored popcorn. How appropriate.

It’s interesting to note that even though popcorn is sold extensively at both Disneyland and DisneySea, finding plain, salted popcorn is almost impossible. It seems that the Japanese enjoy their kernels flavored. Here are just a FEW of the varieties you’ll find: curry, chocolate, cream soda, caramel, black pepper, strawberry, salad, cappuccino, and coconut.

Pinocchio’s Daring Journey is located across the way from Pooh’s Hunny Hunt.

This attraction is a carbon copy of the Pinocchio adventure at Disneyland in California. This is a classic “dark” ride that follows the wooden boy and his conscience on a series of adventures.

The final attraction in Fantasyland is The Mickey Mouse Review.

For all of you old enough to remember, The Mickey Mouse Review was one of the original Magic Kingdom attractions that ran from October 1, 1971 through September 14, 1980 when it was closed and shipped to Tokyo. Florida guests still look back nostalgically when they think of this show.

For those of you who fondly remember this classic, I have good news and bad news. The good news is this, other than being translated into Japanese, the show has not changed one bit since its opening in 1971. The bad news, other than being translated into Japanese, the show has not changed one bit since its opening in 1971.

The presentation begins in a preshow area. Here you’ll watch the same exact film that was shown at Disney World (dubbed in Japanese). As the movie begins, an animated “sound track” moves from the side of the filmstrip to the center of the screen and introduces a variety of Mickey Mouse cartoon clips and a history of animation unfolds. This “soundtrack” gag was originally used in the movie Fantasia.

This movie is horribly out of date. Ever present is the old Disney World logo.

The film is also terribly scratched and the colors are faded.

From the preshow area we move into the main theater, which looks pretty much as it did in Florida.

For those of you not familiar with the attraction, a large collection of audioanimatronic Disney characters are assembled on stage and perform a number of classic songs. Mickey Mouse takes center stage as the conductor of the orchestra.

With the exception of Mickey Mouse saying goodbye at the end of the show, all of the songs has been translated into Japanese. This isn’t a problem since there is no dialog and we’re all so familiar with the music that we can translate the lyrics in our heads.

But the show is frozen in the past. The most current movie represented is The Jungle Book which came out in 1967. And by today’s standards, the show is very slow moving.

Don’t get me wrong. I enjoy this attraction, and I suspect that many of my generation would also like seeing it again or for the first time. But younger audiences may find it a little dull and plodding. I know many Disney purest will disagree with me, but I think this show could be updated, both in pacing and with more contemporary characters and songs

This attraction is rarely crowded, even on busy days, and it’s a good place to relax and cool off when you need a rest.

There are a number of places to eat in Fantasyland, but I’m only going to talk about one, the Queen of Hearts Banquet Hall. Located between the Haunted Mansion and “it’s a small world,” this restaurant was designed with an Alice in Wonderland theme and an exterior that looks like a fanciful castle. You’ll even be able to spot a few playing-cards painting the roses red.

Inside you’ll find an elaborate buffeteria and show-kitchen that serves an assortment of entrees such as rotisserie chicken, steamed sole, meatloaf, and a variety of salads, soups, and desserts.

The seating area is also a lot of fun as you sit among more playing cards, overgrown flowers, and a beautiful stained glass window.

This restaurant is very popular and lines tend to be long for lunch and dinner.

For me, Tokyo’s Fantasyland lacks an overall cohesiveness. It has a lot of nice individual elements, but somehow I don’t feel that they blend together well enough to make this land magical. Instead, you just wander from one attraction to the next with no real sense of being anywhere special. Others might disagree, but that’s my take. That’s it for the realm of fairytales.

Next stop, Toontown.

Fantasyland Part 1

Before I start my description of Fantasyland, I need to post a correction. My friend Katsumi, who lives in Tokyo, informs me that the Japanese do indeed wear shorts during the months of July and August when temperatures demand cooler attire. So feel free to don your lighter togs during this time.

Now, onto Fantasyland.

Just beyond Cinderella Castle we find the most magical land of all, Fantasyland.

As I mentioned in a previous blog, the exteriors of the Tokyo and Florida castles were almost identical until just recently when the Tokyo castle was given a new color scheme.

Here’s a picture standing at the castle entrance, looking back toward The Hub and World Bazaar. The two large turrets conceal lighting and sound equipment used for many of the shows presented in front of the castle.

Within the castle breezeway, you’ll find the same Cinderella mosaic as the one at Walt Disney World.

Up until two years ago, the interior of the Tokyo castle contained a walkthrough attraction called the Cinderella Castle Mystery Tour (there is no restaurant in this castle). Here, groups of about 25 guests were escorted through a labyrinth of rooms and hallways, dungeons and turrets by a cast member who would have an ongoing discussion with the “Magic Mirror.” Along the way you would encounter a number of villains in various settings. You even came face to face with a dragon that was very reminiscent of the dragon that lives beneath Le Château de la Belle au Bois Dormant (Sleeping Beauty Castle) in Paris. The climax of the tour involved a showdown between good and evil and a youngster was chosen from the group to do battle with the Horned King from the Black Cauldron. Of course virtue triumphed and there was a happen ending.

Even though I didn’t understand any of the dialogue, I enjoyed this attraction as it was completely different from any other Disney experience. I was sad to see it close. No replacement has been announced.

Here are a few more pictures of the castle and its courtyard.

Moving clockwise from the castle courtyard, you come to Snow White’s Adventures. Notice the word “Scary” is not in the title here. I find this strange because I felt that this version of the ride was much more intense than its American cousins - especially the scenes in the haunted forest. The trees were more menacing and this section of the ride was longer.

Next we come to Peter Pan’s Flight. In this case the attraction is almost identical to the one in Florida. However, I will make two observations.

First, the boarding area is about four feet higher than ground level. To bring guests up to this height, the queue is actually a series of ramps that switch back and forth until you reach the boarding area. Unfortunately, when you’re in line on a lower level you’re able to look up into the ride mechanism and see the track. It’s impossible to ignore and I feel it really detracts from the magic.

For my next comment, I’m only using the Peter Pan attraction as an example. For what I’m about to describe is common everywhere at the Tokyo parks.

There is never a lack of cast members manning the rides. For Peter Pan there were two cast members maintaining the queue -- greeting guests and keeping the line moving. When you reached to boarding area, a third cast member asked you how many people were in your party and a fourth helped you into your ship. And finally, a fifth cast member helped you exit your ship at the end of the ride. That’s five cast members for one simple attraction.

I’ve often seen only one cast member man the “dark rides” at California and Florida. I was continually amazed by the number of cast members I saw everywhere. Restaurants, shops, and attractions easily had one and half to two times the cast members as their American counterparts.

Keeping in our clockwise direction, and practically entering Westernland, we come to Snow White’s Grotto. This pleasant spot is a copy of the grotto found at Disneyland CA.

For those of you not familiar with the story of the Snow White Grotto, it goes something like this. It seems that Walt received an anonymous gift from an Italian admirer who sculpted Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Walt was so touched by this gesture that he insisted that the figures be placed in his new Disneyland park. There was just one problem. It seems that the sculptor made Snow White the same size as the dwarfs instead of twice their size. In order to remedy this oversight, the Imagineers decided to use forced perspective and place Snow White high above the dwarfs, thus minimizing the similarity in height and making her look taller than she actually is.

When the Oriental Land Company was told this story, they insisted that their Snow White Grotto be the same as the California version. They did not want the “mistake” corrected.

Continuing our clockwise tour of Fantasyland we come to the Haunted Mansion.

At first you might think that this is an odd place to put the Haunted Mansion, but there are a number of reasons why it ended up here. Since Disney was only going to build “half” of New Orleans Square in Adventureland, there was no place for it here. Also, Tokyo would have no Liberty Square as this was an area the Japanese could not relate to. So nix that idea.

Throughout the Haunted Mansion’s development and history, thoughts of placing it on Main Street and Frontierland had been considered. But these ideas were also dismissed for the new Tokyo park for various reasons. In the end, it was Japanese culture that determined its location as ghost stories are considered fairytales or fables in their society. Since Fantasyland is all about fairytales, what better place for the Haunted Mansion.

Until the mansion in Florida had its major rehab last year, the Tokyo mansion was an exact copy inside and out. The only difference is that the exterior of the Tokyo mansion is run down, evidenced by broken windows and overgrown gardens.

The queue is also somewhat different. Here you pass by several crypts in various stages of decay.

The parades also make their entrance from an area next to the Haunted Mansion. I don’t have any pictures of the current parade so I’m only going to be posting one photo that has to do with an interesting detail I will relate.

A number of Americans are hired to portray many of the “face” characters in the parades and throughout the park. A “face” character is someone whose actual face is visible to the public like Snow White, Prince Charming, and Sleeping Beauty. Since a Japanese cast member could not be made up to look like these characters, it’s necessary to hire people who can emulate them. This is also done at Hong Kong Disneyland.

When I’ve watched the parades in Tokyo, I’ve taken some of the greatest pictures because my blonde hair stands out among the crowd. Therefore, I’m more noticeable to the characters and they lock eyes with me as they pass by.

Continuing on, we come to Dumbo The Flying Elephant. My comment here is that this attraction needs to be torn out and rebuilt. See for yourself.

This version of Dumbo harkens back to the original Dumbo attraction at Disneyland California in 1955. It looks cheap. It only has eight elephants (instead of 16 like the other parks) and has very few architectural embellishments around the ride. Considering the money Oriental Land Company is willing to spend on other projects, it surprises me they haven’t updated this attraction.

The next ride we come to is Castle Carrousel. There’s not much I can add to this – it’s a merry-go-round. However, I would like to note that the cast members stand attentively and wave to you as you ride by on your steed.

Like the carousel, there’s not much I can say about Alice’s Tea Party. Round and round you go, where you puke, nobody knows. Like Florida, this attraction is covered to protect you from the elements.

Visitors familiar with Disneyland in California often complain when seeing Disney World’s “it’s a small world” for the first time. The exterior is quite a disappointment compared to its west coast counterpart.

In an effort to correct this mistake, the Imagineers took the best from both American parks when designing the Tokyo version of “it’s a small world.” The elaborate exterior from California would be combined with Florida’s indoor boarding area.

The actual ride is closer to Florida’s design as your boat floats through a “lake” rather than a trough.

Here’s another picture of “it’s a small world” taken from the now defunct Skyway.

That’s it for Part 1 of Fantasyland. Stay tuned for Part 2.

Critter Country is the smallest land at Tokyo Disneyland and is located at the top end of the Rivers of America. The only access to Critter Country is through Westernland. And in a sense, Critter Country a subset of Westernland, just with a whimsical feel.

The animals in Critter Country live anywhere there’s room to build a house. Every nook and cranny is filled with their handiwork. Take a gander at a few of their homes.

There are only two attractions and two eateries in Critter Country. Let’s start with the biggest, Splash Mountain.

The queue for this attraction is divided into two sections, the outside and the inside. Once again, the Imagineers wanted to protect the guests from Tokyo’s cold and wet winters so a full 45 minutes of the line is deep within the mountain. This is also where you board and exit your log. This attraction does use Fastpass and the dispensing machines are located conveniently before you reach the queue.

The indoor queue has interesting scenery as your path takes you deeper and deeper inside the mountain. Eventually you’ll meet an audioanimatronic owl who entertains the passing guests – all in Japanese.

Shortly before boarding, you’ll come face to face with one of the larger hidden Mickeys.

Like Big Thunder Railroad, Tokyo’s Splash Mountain has a completely different track layout than Florida or California. Once again, most of the same scenes are present, but you experience them a little differently because of the dissimilar route. Guests also sit side-by-side in the same way they do in Florida.

The Japanese aren’t as keen on getting wet as we Americans. Combine this with the harsher winters and it became apparent that something needed to be done to minimize how wet a guest would get. To do this, the Imagineers redesigned the logs so they repel water more efficiently and create less of a splash. You still get sprayed, but it’s not nearly as intense.

I can’t say that this Splash Mountain is any better or worse then its American cousins – just different. However, I do like the indoor queue. When it’s hot and humid in Florida, I can’t wait until I enter the “cave” section of the line for a little air conditioning.

The other attraction in Critter Country is the Beaver Brother’s Explorer Canoes.

Long absent from Florida and Paris, but still going strong in California, this is the low-tech ride where guests get to do all of the work (with some help from the two cast members). You board at the far end of Critter Country and each canoe seats approximately 18 guests. You’re given a paddle and asked to carefully take a seat.

Soon after leaving the dock, you are given instructions on how to row.

From then on, it’s a leisurely trip around Tom Sawyer Island.

You see the exact same sights as you do from the Mark Twain Riverboat, but it’s a little different from this vantage point.

Something I think the decision-makers in Florida have forgotten is that low capacity attractions still add to the overall experience. Even if guests don’t ride the canoes, they add to the atmosphere of the area. They are visually appealing to look at as they pass by. As I mentioned in my last blog, I spent 30 minutes just waving to the canoes as they sailed by the Lucky Nugget Café. Not every attraction needs to be an “E” ticket.

Near the Beaver Brother’s Explorer Canoes is a restaurant called Rackety’s Raccoon Saloon. This counter service eatery serves cookies, ice cream, and beverages. This is a great place to cool down after your “strenuous” trip around the Rivers of America.

The other place to grab a bite in Critter Country is Grandma Sara’s Kitchen. Here, you order your food deep within Splash Mountain as the restaurant is located in a cave.

This is a cute spot with plenty of seating on two levels with additional tables outside. The interior looks exactly as if a sweet grandma mouse had decorated it.

Even though Grandma Sara’s Kitchen is a counter service restaurant, the food does not reflect this. Full entrees such as grilled chicken and beef stew are served along with salads and desserts. This is an enjoyable spot and unique among the Disney parks.

The Western River Railroad also skirts Critter Country. There are several wonderful spots to watch this train slowly pass by.

That’s it for Critter Country. It’s a small, but very cute land.

Here’s one last picture looking back at Critter Country from Westernland.

Next stop, Fantasyland.

The word “frontier” does not translate adequately into Japanese so the name Westernland was used in Tokyo Disneyland to describe the American West. For me, the name “Westernland” is a lot easier to accept than Main Street being called World Bazaar.

When entering Westernland from Adventureland, the transition is smooth enough.

But the division between Fantasyland and Westernland is practically nonexistent. I don’t know what the Imagineers were thinking. One moment you’re in Fantasyland, and the next, Westernland. In fact, in one section, the Snow White Grotto is across the street from the Diamond Horseshoe. Admittedly it’s hidden behind trees, but its proximity can’t be dismissed. I wish I had a picture to show you this proximity, but I don’t. This is one area where Tokyo Disneyland falls way short.

Like Adventureland, I feel that you can divide Westernland into two sections, the township and the wilderness area. Here are a few pictures of the streets of Westernland.

There are three attractions in the township area, Westernland Shootin’ Gallery, Country Bear Theater, and the Diamond Horseshoe.

Let’s start with the Shootin’ Gallery.

Unlike most of the other attractions at Tokyo Disneyland which are included in your admission price, the Shootin’ Gallery coast ¥200 (about $2) for ten shots. Target practice takes place in an old-time saloon and sharp shooters use an imitation Winchester rifle that fires lasers at an assortment of targets.

Each target performs in some manner when hit. For example, shoes will dance, bottles jump, and the piano plays. At the end of your round you’ll receive a score card with a message from Pecos Goofy.

The interior of the Diamond Horseshoe in Westernland is almost identical to the one at the Magic Kingdom in Florida. The one noticeable difference, they actually use the theater in Tokyo rather than letting it sit empty. Several lunch shows are presented each day starring Woody, Jessie, and Bullseye form Toy Story 2. And at the dinner shows you can find Pecos Goofy and a number of “Can-Can" girls on stage while you enjoy your vittles.

Reservations are an absolute must and if you have any desire to see one of these shows, you need to be among the first to enter the park and then make a mad dash to the Diamond Horseshoe Theater.

All of our ursine friends are alive and well and performing in the Country Bear Theater. Henry, Trixie, Wendell, and the rest of the gang now speak Japanese but some of them are bilingual as several of the songs are sung in English.

Also, all three versions of the show are presented here. The original "Country Bear Jamboree” is performed from January through June. The “Country Bear Vacation Hoedown” is performed from July through November. And finally, the “Country Bear Christmas Special” is performed in December.

Among the many shops in Westernland is the Picture Parlour. Here, guests dress up in western garb and can have their picture taken against an Old West backdrop. I remember when you could do this at various Walt Disney World locations. But alas, those days are long gone. This type of souvenir shop just doesn’t generate as much money as yet another candy store. Sigh.

Straddling the township and the wilderness area of Westernland is Big Thunder Mountain. While you enter the queue at the far end of town, the runaway mine trains take you on a wild trip through the rugged canyons of the American Southwest.

Much of the scenery and effects are similar to those at WDW, but the track layout is completely different. I can’t say that this attraction is any better or worse than WDW’s. It’s just different.

Now let’s move on to the wilderness area of Westernland. In my previous blog I mentioned that you board the Western River Railroad in Adventureland, but since most of what you see is actually in Westernland, I said I would discuss it in more detail here.

After leaving the few sights of Adventureland, you pass by a railroad station. This is strictly a prop and can only be seen from the train.

Beyond the station is a vast wilderness. Here the sights are many. Of course, there is the ever lively statuesque moose and deer. A number of Native Americans can be seen in several encampments. And numerous prairie dogs pop up from their burrows for a look at the passing train.

Eventually the train leaves the backwoods and enters a clearing. Here the train runs along a lengthy trestle that skirts the Rivers of America and Critter Country. For me, this is the most beautiful spot in all of Tokyo Disneyland. The train is majestic as it weaves its way around several attractions and over walkways. The views from the train are pretty good as well.

Eventually the train winds its way to Big Thunder Mountain. Here, it runs beside the attraction and the runaway mine trains can often be seen as you pass by. Additionally, a number of dinosaur bones are present in this area.

The next three pictures are of poor quality as I did not have any good shots in my collection. So I “snapped” these pictures off of a video I took. It’s the best I could do.

As the dinosaur bones become more prevalent, you enter a tunnel and are transported back in time to witness “Primeval World.” This is the same dinosaur diorama as at Disneyland in California, even down to the music. When you emerge from the tunnel, you’re back in Adventureland and the end of the ride.

The Western River Railroad is my favorite of all the Disney steam trains around the world. Even though it’s the shortest ride of the five, you see the most along your journey. That’s because this train actually runs “through” Westernland rather than just passing on the sidelines. I admit, by not having the train circle the park you don’t get a train station at the beginning of World Bazaar, so this does make it a tough call as to which is better.

The theming of Tokyo Disneyland’s Tom Sawyer Island is different from that of California’s or Florida’s. Instead of being located in the middle of the Mississippi River, this island is more likely to be found in the middle of the Colorado River.

Since Big Thunder Mountain sits nearby, the same red-orange spires that make up this mountain range are carried across the water to the island and beyond. The entire effect is beautifully executed.

Like its American cousins, guests in Tokyo board a raft on the mainland for a short trip across the water, piloted by Tom himself. Once on the island, you’ll find many of the same attractions: the barrel and suspension bridge, Fort Sam Clemens, caves, a treehouse, and more.

The final attraction in Westernland is the Mark Twain Riverboat. This boat is a copy of the one in Disneyland California, even down to the fact that guests board and unload on the same level.

For me, the riverboats have always been one of the more enjoyable attractions at the Disney parks. The lines are never long, you get a 15 minutes ride, and it’s a great place to get away from the crowds for a few minutes and relax. Here are a few pictures of the riverboat and some of the sights you’ll see along the way.

There are several restaurants in Westernland, but I’m only going to talk about one, the Lucky Nugget Café. This is a counter service restaurant that serves reasonably good fried chicken and fries. But the real reason to eat here is the location. It’s somewhat out of the way, so it’s not as busy as most other restaurants, and the tables overlook the Rivers of America. This is a wonderful place to relax and watch the Mark Twain and the canoes pass by.

On my last trip, I must have spent about half an hour here waving to everyone who floated by. They seemed to get a kick out of the crazy American as they all laughed and enthusiastically waved back at me. It’s funny, but on big and expensive vacations, it’s often the little things we remember. And for me, this was one of those special moments that I’ll never forget.

Here is one last picture of Westernland. I’m posting to for two reasons.

First, to give you and idea of how crowded it usually is at Tokyo Disneyland. This picture is typical of any given afternoon. Second, notice that you don’t see anyone wearing shorts. That’s because shorts really aren’t part of the Japanese fashion scene. In an effort to fit in and not offend, I wore long pants on all of my visits, even though the weather called for cooler attire. When in Rome (um, I mean Japan). . .

Next stop, Critter Country.

You can enter Adventureland from several areas, the first being World Bazaar (Main Street).

Unlike the other Main Streets around the world, Center Street connects to Tomorrowland and Adventureland.

The next two pictures show the Adventureland Entrance from Center Street.

There is also the traditional Adventureland entrance off of The Hub marked by a large, overhead sign.

And finally, you can enter Adventureland from Westernland. When coming from this direction, there is no real delineation between the two lands.

You might say that Adventureland is actually a combination of two lands. There is the traditional “exotic” section and there is the New Orleans section.

At Disneyland in California, New Orleans Square is its own land, but in Tokyo it’s considered part of Adventureland.

And to my knowledge, this area has no other nomenclature other than “Adventureland.” The reason behind this might be that only half of the California version of New Orleans Square was built here. There is no French Market Restaurant, Train Station, or Haunted Mansion. Thus, it would be difficult to call this area a “land.” However, I’ve always felt that it’s stretching things a little to consider New Orleans part of Adventureland, no matter how “adventurous” the “Pirates of the Caribbean” might be.

It is remarkable how similar the two New Orleans areas are to each other. Below are two pictures – one taken at Disneyland in California and the other at Tokyo Disneyland. Can you tell which is which? No peeking at the answer.

The first picture was taken in California and the second in Tokyo.

Since we’re right outside of the Blue Bayou Restaurant, let’s take a look inside. If any of you have read my Allears.net bio, you know that I worked at the Blue Bayou Restaurant at Disneyland in California for six years.

Of course, I always have to have a meal here to honor my former work place. However, it’s almost a little creepy when I do. These two eateries are so similar you could easily forget where you actually are. When I’m dining in Tokyo, I always expect to see Rod Serling and hear the Twilight Zone music as I exit the restaurant and find myself transported back to California.

This picture of me was taken in 1996 in the Blue Bayou – when I was younger and thinner.

The exterior of the Tokyo Pirates of the Caribbean attraction is almost an exact copy of the California version before they added the new queue and crossover. Upon entering the Tokyo Pirates attraction you’ll notice an indoor queue area absent from California. Once again, the Imagineers were cognizant of Tokyo’s weather when designing this park.

Except for a few minor changes, the actual ride is pretty much a carbon copy of California’s. You walk past the boats as you enter. You board at Laffite’s Landing. And you sail by the Blue Bayou.

Due to the high water-table, there is only one down ramp, but it is longer and more thrilling than the Florida counterpart. The only other difference from California is the skeleton reading in bed with a magnifying glass is absent. And yes, Captain Jack Sparrow has been added to Tokyo.

It’s interesting to note, Pirates of the Caribbean is sponsored by Kirin. Don’t worry, beer isn’t sold at Tokyo Disneyland, but some of Kirin’s sports drinks are.

The Japanese consider the bottoms of their shoes dirty – understandably so. Since they do not want to sit where people walk, they do not use the seats in the Pirate boats as a step when entering the vessel. Instead, they step all they way down to the floor. Try this the next time you’re getting in a Pirate or Small World boat. It isn’t easy.

The other restaurant in this area is Café Orleans. Once again, the exterior is extremely similar to its California counterpart. Crepes are the big draw here. Some of the varieties served are, cheese, seafood, sausage, chocolate and pineapple.

Next to the Café Orleans is an outdoor entertainment venue called Theater Orleans. The show changes periodically, but you’ll usually find the Disney characters engaging in some sort of Latin extravaganza. If you want a seat, arrive early as the shows are very popular and people get in line long before the festivities begin.

Moving further away from the New Orleans section you come to a number of shops. In an effort to make the transition smooth as you enter the “exotic” section of Adventureland, the buildings here have a colonial Spanish design.

Across from this Spanish section of Adventureland is a ramshackle fishing village. A large tugboat named 20,000 Leaks anchors this area. There are several restaurants in this vicinity serving Mickey-shaped steamed buns and other Asian delights.

Moving on we find the Jungle Cruise and Western River Railroad. These two attractions share a loading facility. The Jungle Cruise occupies the ground floor and the Western River Railroad the second. Both queues offer plenty of protection from the elements as a roof covers most of the lines.

Let’s start with the Jungle Cruise. This is the classic Disney attraction. Although it runs in the opposite direction than Walt Disney World’s, it still has most of the same scenes and gags, including the indoor temple section. Of course, your skipper is Japanese. And unlike the Hong Kong version that offers multiple languages, the cruise is presented entirely in Japanese. But that’s okay. We’ve all ridden this ride enough times in America to understand everything that’s going on.

The Western River Railroad is unique among its steam train cousins in the other Disney parks in that it doesn’t circle the perimeter of Tokyo Disneyland. You see, if it did, its track length combined with multiple stations would have classified it as “public transportation” under Japanese law and it would have fallen under government jurisdiction. This of course was unacceptable to Disney and some other solution needed to be reached. And that solution was a railroad that runs only through Adventureland and Frontierland and only has one station.

Even though guests board the train in Adventureland, this attraction is well named – Western River Railroad. Although you do skirt the Jungle Cruise and you can see the safari boats and some wildlife, the vast majority of the sights on the train ride are in Westernland. Because of that, I will discuss this attraction further in my Westernland blog.

Located next to the Jungle Cruise is the Polynesian Terrace Restaurant. Here guests enjoy a stage show along with their meal. At lunch, Lilo and Stitch throw a luau for other Disney characters and at dinner Mickey and Minnie take center stage. Reservations are an absolute must and if you have any desire to eat here, you need to be among the first to enter the park and then make a mad dash to the reservation kiosk in Adventureland.

The Tiki Birds also have a home in Adventureland. When Tokyo Disneyland opened, it featured the original 1963 show. In 1999, a second presentation debuted called “Get the Fever.” I saw “Get the Fever” and found it far more entertaining than Florida’s second show, “Under New Management.” Earlier this year, “Get the Fever” closed and a third show is slated to open soon. It appears that Stitch may be disrupting the performance this time around.

The final attraction in Adventureland is the Swiss Family Treehouse. What can I say? It’s the treehouse. It’s mildly amusing to walk through. It gives Adventureland some atmosphere. And it never has a long line. I really wish that Disney would update both this treehouse and the one in Florida with the Tarzan theme. Kids (and many adults) are not familiar with the Swiss Family Robinson movie and Tarzan would be much more relevant to them.

That’s it for Adventureland. Next stop, Westernland.

The Hub isn’t really a “land” but my blog about World Bazaar was getting a little long so I decided to give this area its own column.

The Hub at Tokyo Disneyland is a little different from that of the other Magic Kingdoms. When exiting World Bazaar (Main Street), you enter a sort of courtyard that overlooks the rest of The Hub. In this courtyard you’ll find the Partners Statue and dedication plaques. There are also a number of benches and the Disneyland Band often performs here.

For those of you who couldn’t read the small print on the dedication plaque, here’s what it says.

To all who come to this happy place, welcome.

Here you will discover enchanted lands of Fantasy and Adventure, Yesterday and Tomorrow. May Tokyo Disneyland be an eternal source of Joy, Laughter, Inspiration and Imagination to the people of the world. And may this magical kingdom be an enduring symbol of the spirit of cooperation and friendship between the great nations of Japan and the United States of America.

April 15, 1983
E. Cardon Walker
Chairman of the Board
Walt Disney Productions

From this courtyard you must walk either right or left to get to the rest of The Hub. Once you do, turn around at look at World Bazaar. It is truly beautiful from this vantage point.

The Hub at Tokyo Disneyland is significantly bigger than its counterpart at the Magic Kingdom in Florida. And unlike Florida, it is not surrounded by water as there was never a Swan Boat ride here. However, you’ll still find the sea serpent topiary sitting next to a pond.

The only attraction in this area is the Omnibus. This is the same double-decker bus you find on the other Main Streets around the world. But in Tokyo, it only makes a slow circle around The Hub and the ride lasts about 5 minutes. It does not make its way through World Bazaar as this area is covered and extremely crowded. Also, there would be no place for the Omnibus to turn around since there is no Plaza. In addition, there is no horse-drawn trolley here.

When I visited Tokyo Disneyland in 1996, they had a variety of vehicles, like a fire engine and old-time automobiles. And you traveled from The Hub all the way into Westernland. This always bothered me because I thought it ruined the themeing. These vehicles did not belong in the western frontier. So even though they have shortened the ride, I think this was the correct decision.

There are two restaurants that face out onto The Hub, the Crystal Palace and the Plaza Pavilion.

It’s interesting to note that these restaurants are not considered part of The Hub or World Bazaar. The Crystal Palace is actually considered to be in Adventureland and the Plaza Pavilion is in Westernland. This doesn’t make any sense to me since they are obviously on The Hub and the architecture is decidedly turn-of-the century America, but that’s the way it is.

The Crystal Palace is almost identical to its counterpart in Florida and the Plaza Pavilion is almost identical to its counterpart in California. Both restaurants serve buffeteria style. The Plaza Pavilion is also very close to the Plaza Bandstand Stage and some of the outside tables have good views of the shows presented here. I’ve never eaten at either of these restaurants so I can offer little more.

Check out the sign below. Notice anything unusual about it?

English is the first language and Japanese is the second. This seems a little strange in a park where 99% of its visitors are from Japan. But that’s the way it is – everywhere. Almost everything is written with English first followed by Japanese. From what I understand, the Oriental Land Company wanted an “American” park in Tokyo – even down to the language.

Not to worry. English is a mandatory class for all Japanese school children. And even though they might not be able to speak the language, most can read it. Besides, it makes it easier for us mono-language Americans.

I realize that Cinderella Castle is part of Fantasyland, but since it faces out onto The Hub, I’ll briefly mention it here. Up until last year, the exterior of the castle was identical to the one at the Magic Kingdom in Florida. However, it was recently given a new paint job and the gray tones were changed to tans and browns. Now the castle has its own identity. Here's before and after.

Also like Florida, the Tokyo castle has a large stage in front of it. And in front of this stage is a large viewing area – much larger than the viewing area in Florida. Depending on the scope of the show being presented, temporary bench seating can be added. This helps give you an idea of how much larger the Tokyo Hub is.

I think that’s about it for this blog. Next, I travel to Adventureland.

First, let me answer the question that’s on many of your minds.

Why is Main Street called World Bazaar?

When the Imagineers first found out that they would be designing a new Magic Kingdom in Tokyo, they wanted to create something new -- not just a rehash of what had already been done before, twice.

One of their ideas was to do away with Main Street and create an international shopping mall and call it World Bazaar. Instead of turn-of-the-century America, guests would wander down a street filled with exotic shops from around the world – sort of a mini-World Showcase. And remember, Epcot was already in the planning stages when Tokyo Disneyland was first proposed so these “international” ideas were fresh on their minds.

However, the Oriental Land Company (OLC) had other thoughts. They wanted the Imagineers to take the best from Disneyland in California and the Magic Kingdom in Florida and combine these elements into an improved Disneyland – not something new. So the idea of an international shopping mall died, however, the name World Bazaar did not. From what I understand, the execs at the OLC liked the name so it was kept in order to please the client. Go figure.

The other interesting aspect about World Bazaar is that it has a roof over it. This was built as the winter months in Japan can be very cold and wet. In fact, it snows occasionally in Tokyo.

The first time I walked down World Bazaar, I really didn’t like this roof. It just didn’t feel right. But then I realized that my real issue was that it was different from the California and Florida parks. There was nothing wrong with it, it was just different. So after I got over my prejudice, I was able to accept it for what it is. And I have to admit, if you’re going to put a roof over Main Street, oops, I mean World Bazaar, Disney did a very nice job.

The structure is built of metal with glass insets so plenty of light filters down to the street below. It is themed nicely and fits in well with the turn-of-the-century American buildings. In the center of World Bazaar, over the intersection of Main Street and Center Street, a large cupola adds architectural interest.

The one negative this structure brings is noise. Everyone’s voice echoes and bounces off of the structure and quite a din is generated.

The sidewalks and street are at the same height in World Bazaar so there is no curb to trip over. I’m sure this was done for safety reasons and considering how congested it gets in here, I think this was a good idea. Interestingly, you don’t really notice this single level as the sidewalks, curbs, and street are each made of different materials and painted various colors adding to the illusion of a real street.

On my first visit to Tokyo Disneyland in 1996, I was overwhelmed one afternoon around 2pm by the crowds. I needed a break from people. Knowing that Main Street is always quiet mid-day at Disneyland in California, I headed over to World Bazaar for some peaceful shopping. Boy, was I surprised!

The Japanese people enjoy shopping. And as I mentioned in a blog about Tokyo DisneySea, it is customary to bring back a “remembrance” to friends and family back home. So when I arrived at Word Bazaar that afternoon, the shops were swamped. In fact, the cast members were literally having trouble keeping the shelves stocked. So much for escaping the crowds. If you want peaceful shopping in the Tokyo parks, I suggest first thing in the morning, otherwise, forget it.

Speaking of shopping, the Emporium is on the right side of the street, not the left as it is in all of the other Magic Kingdoms.

World Bazaar also has a Magic Shop. Remember when there was a Magic Shop on Main Street in the Magic Kingdom? Sigh...

When Tokyo Disneyland opens, everyone rushes through World Bazaar on their way for a Fastpass. But even though no one is paying any attention, many of the shop’s cast members stand on the sidewalk and wave at passer bys.

World Bazaar has a unique feature that none of the other Main Streets around the world have. Here, Center Street actually connects to other lands – Tomorrowland to the right and Adventureland to the left. I really like this layout and it makes park navigation easier.

This picture is looking toward Adventureland.

This picture is looking toward Tomorrowland.

There are two attractions in World Bazaar. The Penny Arcade offers a number of old-time arcade games – like the ones that once graced Main Street in the Magic Kingdom before every inch of available space had to make way for Disney merchandise.

The other attraction in World Bazaar is the Disney Gallery. This shop/studio is located on the second floor and showcases Disney concept art. Also available here (at an additional charge and only conducted in Japanese,) is a class that teaches guests how to draw a Disney character. This class is similar to the Animation Academy at Disney's Hollywood Studios in Florida.

There are a number of full-service restaurants in World Bazaar. I’ll briefly talk about a few of them.

Restaurant Hokusai serves Japanese cuisine. This restaurant is located on the second floor of World Bazaar and uses traditional Japanese designs in its motif. Some of tables next to the windows have a fantastic view of The Hub and Cinderella Castle.

If you haven’t already done so while visiting the rest of this beautiful country, I would suggest trying at least one Japanese restaurant and this would be a safe choice. Very little on the menu is too far removed from American pallets as to make you wince. My flight attendant friend TDLFAN was able to join me one evening at Tokyo Disneyland and we ate dinner here.

Below is a picture of the tempura I ordered. Looks good!

The décor of the Eastside Café fits nicely in World Bazaar with its early 20th-century atmosphere and Victorian charm. Pasta and meat dishes are on the menu.

I find the décor of Center Street Coffeehouse a little odd for World Bazaar. Instead of Victorian or Art Nouveau, this eatery is decorated in the Art Deco style popular in the 1920s and 30s. This is one of the few restaurants open for breakfast.

The Great American Waffle House serves, you guessed it, waffles. Open all day, this counter service restaurant is a great place to grab a quick bite to eat if you’re in need of a sugar pick-me-up.

This picture was taken from Adventureland looking back at World Bazaar.

This picture was taken from Tomorrowland looking back at World Bazaar.

Next blog will be about The Hub.