Originally Posted By irishfan An opportunity has popped up and now I find myself going to Tokyo in January. It's been over 8 years since I was last at the resort and really looking forward to checking it out again. I'm in Tokyo for 7 days and I was planning two or maybe three days at the resort. I arrive early on a Wednesday morning, and my thought was to get the bus from Narita to Disneyland and stay there until Friday, when I plan to go into the city. I dont want to spend a fortune on the Disney branded hotels, so I'm considering either the Sheraton or Hilton at the resort, any thoughts on either of these hotels? Crowd wise I'm wondering what to expect? On week nights the park closes at 7pm, can I expect Dreamlights to run, or at that time of year does it only run at the weekend? Any sit down restaurant recommendations? I love the look of Vulcania, is it any good?
Originally Posted By Mr X Dreamlights is never offered "only on weekends". Assuming no special events are in conflict, you can expect to see Dreamlights any normal operating day of the year. Vulcania, imo, is overpriced and only so-so Chinese food. A far better option would be to head to Yokohama (about an hour from Tokyo by train) and go to Chinatown there. Excellent stuff! Aside from that you can find great Chinese food all around Japan, and even at the resort there's a great chinese place (can't quite remember the name but it's right next to Kua Aina Burger) in Ikspiari. All better options than Vulcania imo (also a very limited menu in Vulcania iirc). Vulcania IS really cool to look at though if you've not been inside..consider a coffee or desert break there and sit down instead at Ristorante di Canaletto (outside if possible, though it'll probably be too cold that time of year) or Sailing Day Buffet (or both!). Can't help on hotels, I don't know much about them but I haven't heard too many negatives so I'm sure you'd be very happy and comfortable at either place. Crowds wise should be very light, best time of year to enjoy the parks if you can stand the cold. Bring your jacket and gloves dude!
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< I dont want to spend a fortune on the Disney branded hotels, so I'm considering either the Sheraton or Hilton at the resort, any thoughts on either of these hotels? >>> If you ever want to experience one of the Disney hotels at TDR, January is a good time to do it. Most weekdays are at the "Value" rate, which is 35-40% off the "Top" rate, although still very pricey. As a rule of thumb, the Disney hotels are about 2.5x the price of the Hilton or Sheraton, regardless of season, so unfortunately it's always a large extra outlay to choose a Disney hotel at TDR. Regarding the Sheraton and Hilton, I've stayed at both many times. They're usually about the same price. If you find one much cheaper than the other, I'd go with that option, as they aren't terribly different. The Hilton is much more westernized than the Sheraton, both in terms of the way the hotel is set up, and in terms of the guest population. Pluses include a Starbucks in the lobby, and a 24-hour convenience store. Rooms vary dramatically in quality and style of design. The Sheraton has a bit less to offer in the common areas, but the guest rooms are better. In particular, Sheraton has a brand standard of the "Sheraton Sweet Sleeper Bed" that all Sheratons have. Hilton apparently has no brand standard for bedding, so you get whatever each hotel chooses to provide. At TDR, the Hilton chooses to have mattresses that are about as basic as they come and something I'd expect in a Motel 6. As far as being comfortable in bed, the Sheraton wins hands-down.
Originally Posted By Mr X Wow. Based on that review it seems like the Sheraton is the way to go...you could always stroll over to the Hilton if you need some coffee or something from the store, but sleeping well would seem more important to me. Interesting mini-reviews there Steve. Thanks. I've been asked many times about those places, now I've got a little something I can say about that (at least, "well, according to my friend" etc...).
Originally Posted By irishfan Thanks for the info on the hotels, they are both priced around the same for the days I'll be at the resort, looks like the Sheraton is the way to go. I didn't think about just having a coffee and desert at Vulcania, it's really the setting I'm interested more so than the food. I do want to eat at one or two nice sit down restauarants though. I'm well prepared for the cold, I'll have spent the previous two weeks back home in Ireland.
Originally Posted By Mr X My favorite sit down restaurants are sailing day, the italian one on the canal as I mentioned, and not much else at DisneySea (I much prefer snacking around the park, the quick service and carts are all unusual and delicious so it doesn't really seem even necessary to spend long amounts of time sitting (we often do the italian or the buffet for a late lunch or early dinner though). At TDL, I would say you really can't go wrong anyplace. I've always avoided the Blue Bayou because the menu doesn't interest me much and it seems to be the most pricey. But aside from that I've eaten everywhere but Hokusai (nor Sakura at DisneySea...just seems silly to me to eat Japanese food at Disney in Japan, knowwhatImean?) and it's all good. And yes, do just get a snack or coffee at Vulcania, it's nice to look at but your options for good, more reasonably priced Chinese food are virtually endless...do try the place at Ikspiari if you get the chance, it's great!
Originally Posted By Mr X Oh, forgot the pricey stuff at DisneySea. I ate in the S.S. Columbia dining room once, and found it way overpriced and nothing special. I've never tried the other expensive one, Magellan's, but I'll get around to it one of these days. If you chose between the two, I'd say don't bother with the S.S. Columbia, go to Magellan's instead. I've heard nothing but rave reviews. DO go into the S.S. Columbia and check out the lounge though, even if just for a quick cocktail. Awesome detail. You can check out the dining room from outside if you wish, just go upstairs.
Originally Posted By irishfan Thanks X, Magellans looks like it might be the one, I had no idea you could get a cocktail in the S.S, sounds like a nice way to end the day.
Originally Posted By Mr X Yup, the Teddy Roosevelt Lounge on the second deck (restaurant is on the third). A definite highlight, don't miss it...it's one of those details that makes DisneySea so special!
Originally Posted By leemac <<I'm well prepared for the cold, I'll have spent the previous two weeks back home in Ireland.>> Helping to prop up the economy I hope. I'd like the see where our billions are going.
Originally Posted By leemac SuperDry's comments make a lot of sense. We usually have to stay at the Hilton for work and I always get upgraded so I haven't seen the basic rooms for a while. I'd check their website as they have photos of the rooms - they are gradually refurbishing the whole hotel but it is a very long program - the recently renovated rooms are better than the Sheraton. Elsewhere I tend to stick to W/Westin hotels in the Starwood group and the Sheraton has similar beds (they are exceptionally comfortable). The Hilton's old-style rooms were definitely not as comfortable (although I like hard beds so it worked for me). In January you should get some good deals at any of the official hotels or the one at the station (friends of mine rave about it - cheap and massive rooms).
Originally Posted By SuperDry Let me add that I think that mid-January is an excellent time to visit TDR. The crowds are non-existent, with almost everything having a very short wait time. And, as Mr X pointed out already, although there may be no special event, the full roster of regular entertainment is presented every day of the week. As long as you're dressed for the cold, there aren't a lot of downsides to that time of year.
Originally Posted By irishfan The cheapest rate for the Disney hotels is coming out at over $680 for two nights, not a price I'm willing to spend. The hours for the parks for the three days I"m there are 10am-7pm, here's hoping the crowd levels will be low.
Originally Posted By Mr X Anytime the parks close at 7pm, crowd levels are almost certain to be low. I wouldn't worry about that at all if I were you.
Originally Posted By The Goddess Mara January is good, but it's very cold. If you're from Ireland in more than name only, than you'll feel right at home with the frigid wind blowing off Tokyo Bay.
Originally Posted By irishfan Irish born and bred, but have lived in Australia for the past eight years. The cold really doesn't worry me!
Originally Posted By Mr X You might get lucky anyway...it is generally very cold in January (February too), but there are a fair amount of sunny, reasonably nice days most winters as well. If you have space, consider packing some "chilly clothes" such as a lighter jacket or nice sweater in case you are lucky enough to have a moderate day.
