Originally Posted By X-san On my most recent visit, I noticed a pretty hefty price increase coupled with a rather shocking downsize in volume (even by Japanese standards!). Anyone else notice this? The SweetHeart Cafe, which used to be a pasta place, is now pretty much a snack shop with incredibly overpriced little cakes and pastries and sandwiches (the sandwiches, though pricey, were pretty tasty I will admit...yum!), BUT essentially not all that worth the price (particularly the Pluto "dog bones" and other little "Disney shaped" treats which are fun to look at but cost more than double the equivalent at any other Japanese pastry shop around town). So much for that place...run of the mill now and not much else. And that Tomorrowland eatery nearby has changed their menu to be essentially Chinese cuisine. what's up with Chinese food in "tomorrow"(land)?? lol. Is "big brother" trying to tell us something? No doubt Walt wouldn't have approved! Anyway, I paid around 5 dollars for essentially a piece of fried chicken surrounded by a nikkuman "bun" (the description was "fried chicken on "chinese bread"...apt, to say the least). Again the volume was outright tiny, and the taste was a bit strange. The sandwich was worth TWO dollars on a good day, as a "snack" offering...and not worth a penny more than that. Another person in my party ordered the chinese style "seafood gratin" dish, which was also quite paltry and cost nearly seven bucks! No meals to be found there! So after sort of wasting our time on the Tomorrow side, we happened to notice they still had some nice fried chicken meals over in Westernland by the dock to Tom Sawyer Island...unfortunately we were slightly full (as in, NOT full, BUT didn't want to purchase another entire meal...so we ate popcorn). We'll have to try that place next time. Anyway, my point is is always seemed to be a good bet that we could find decent fast food (western style) with good volume at an okay price at TDL, but nowadays it doesn't seem quite the same as it used to be. As for me, I'll be heading for the Tom Sawyer docks for my fried chicken the next time around, I suppose (and it's funny cause I remember SuperDry enjoying his mickey shaped pork sandwiches in the very same restaurant I was so disappointed in this time around...BOY, I would've liked to buy a couple of those bad boys the other day!).
Originally Posted By SpokkerJones Even in Tokyo it's still the same as Disneyland. Crappy food and crappy prices. We usually ate off property and scoured Tokyo for places to eat. Otherwise we just went to that New Days convenience store under Maihama Station.
Originally Posted By X-san ***Even in Tokyo it's still the same as Disneyland. Crappy food and crappy prices.*** I wouldn't go *that* far. Crappy prices, sure. Especially relative to years past when the price of food in Tokyo Disneyland seems quite reasonable, if not a BARGAIN, compared to comparable food prices around Tokyo. That's not so anymore, sadly. Crappy food...well, I'd say the selection has gone downhill for sure (example, Sweetheart cafe which at this point is no different from the millions of "viva de france" pastry and sandwich shops you can find all over Japan...except far more pricey in Disneyland). But if you're talking crappy "quality", I'd say no. Everything we got (small and pricey though it was) was still fresh and tasty. That much is still consistent, and far better than Disneyland in America in my experience. ***Otherwise we just went to that New Days convenience store under Maihama Station.*** I'm guessing you didn't notice that big "Ikspiari" complex right next to the convenience store? Ikspiari has an amazing array of dining options, from inexpensive all the way up to gourmet. You didn't stroll in for a look-see at least?
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< I remember SuperDry enjoying his mickey shaped pork sandwiches in the very same restaurant I was so disappointed in this time around...BOY, I would've liked to buy a couple of those bad boys the other day! >>> Those were the days! You're talking about the Menchi Katsu Burgers. They were the best! Minced ground beef and pork made into a patty, dipped in batter and fried, and then placed on a Mickey-shaped bun with shredded cabbage and plum sauce. Delish! They used to have these at the Plaza Restaurant, but then one time they were gone. I asked where they had gone, but the CM just shrugged and said the menu had changed. Yet, they had then appeared on the menu at Tomorrowland Terrace, and I was pleased once again. But, on this last trip, they were gone from there as well. MagicalNezumi informed me that they no longer serve any food on Mickey-shaped buns in the park. What a disappointment. Also, Diet Coke is gone from the menu at the Space Place FoodPort, but thankfully they still have it at Tomorrowland Terrace.
Originally Posted By X-san Yes, the Menchi-Katsu. And that place also had some nice regular burgers too (though I can appreciate they didn't want TWO burger joints in Tomorrowland...I just wish they hadn't switched to Asian cuisine though the place seems popular).
Originally Posted By TokyoSweets <<<MagicalNezumi informed me that they no longer serve any food on Mickey-shaped buns in the park. What a disappointment.>>> I'm pretty sure that last time we went to Captain Hooks Galley in fantasyland they still had the kids set with Mickey shaped jam sandwich.
Originally Posted By Malin Sorry to read about your report regarding Counter Service options X. Its an area that has always impressed me at the TDR with the selection and quality always being of high standard. Sorry to read that like the special events this is another area where the Resort seems to be slipping, despite having record attendance last year. I have always considered the smaller portions are a way to encourage you to buy more. Give you a light lunch so you end up snacking all afternoon.
Originally Posted By Malin <<< MagicalNezumi informed me that they no longer serve any food on Mickey-shaped buns in the park. What a disappointment. >>> Now thats a name that hasn't appeared online in a while. So does this mean the Mickey shapped Cheese Burgers at the Tomorrowland Terrace have gone. I love the Burgers at the Resort as there are usually so tasty and moist.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< So does this mean the Mickey shapped Cheese Burgers at the Tomorrowland Terrace have gone. >>> That's how I interpreted it.
Originally Posted By Anatole69 When Malin says the parks had record attendance last year, it makes me wonder if that is just a soft number or not. It has been reported elsewhere (on another forum) that the attendance numbers are notoriously inaccurate. I have to really wonder what the financials of the Tokyo park are like, for them to begin cost cutting as has been reported here. I'd hate to think the world financial situation would effect the parks so quickly. - Anatole
Originally Posted By leemac <<When Malin says the parks had record attendance last year, it makes me wonder if that is just a soft number or not. It has been reported elsewhere (on another forum) that the attendance numbers are notoriously inaccurate.>> The attendance numbers actually fell off slightly (c.4% of I recall correctly) for the financial year ended 31 March 2008 - however they were in line with forecasts. The previous year had included TDS's 5th anniversary so it was expected that FY08 as a non-anniversary year would be lower. Also let me dispel any suggestion that TDR attendance numbers are wrong or deliberately inflated. That is not correct. I don't know what forum you are referring to but the poster is entirely incorrect. OLC is a public company and releases attendance figures as a guide to shareholders on performance. It would be both a criminal and civil offense for OLC to deliberately misrepresent their financials or any ancillary information. PricewaterhouseCoopers (as statutory auditors) would also investigate those statistics as they form part of the annual report. Those numbers are fairly stated. There are a lot of reasons why TDR seems "less busy" whilst still posting very strong attendance numbers.
Originally Posted By X-san Would you say that they accurately report the numbers from each park correctly though? Since now that you mention it, I suppose that wouldn't matter as far as shareholders are concerned (so long as the "total" is correct, what does it matter right?). Obviously this is unscientific, but I would be absolutely dumbfounded if the numbers are REALLY true between the parks...that DisneySea gets just SLIGHTLY less customers than Disneyland every year. Having spent far too much time in both parks, I have seen Tokyo Disneyland crowded (often to the max) so very, very often and DisneySea absolutely dead at the same time (sure, busy in the peak times, but even so nowhere NEAR as busy as TDL).
Originally Posted By Malin When the OLC release its annual figures it never releases attendance for each park, but a combined figure. What I think many on another forum are talking about is that unofficial park attendance report that gets issued every year that list both TDL and TDS as having 12.5 million each. You only have to look at how packed one park always is to the other to realise this report is wrong. To defend the other posters I don't think anyone is acusing OLC of working the numbers but posting a combined attendance does look like your hiding something you wouldn't want your shareholders to know. By all accounts OLC is doing very strong business at the moment, but shareholders want to see not only a return in profits but a growth. Attendance while strong is not growing either and OLC are under pressure to deliver growth. Reason for the cutbacks in entertainment and now food.
Originally Posted By Anatole69 Ah that could very well be what I had read as far as the numbers go. Didn't mean to cast aspersion on the OLC, just was curious about the financials and why there are questions about whether they are investing less in some of the park operations and entertainment. - Anatole
Originally Posted By leemac <<What I think many on another forum are talking about is that unofficial park attendance report that gets issued every year that list both TDL and TDS as having 12.5 million each.>> Most of use the TEA/ERA attendance report - which for 2007 had TDL at 13.9m and TDS at 12.4m. They don't fully disclose their research methods but many in the industry think it is accurate.
Originally Posted By Malin Again I have a hard time believing that TDL only gets 13.9 million a year while both Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom parks get more each year. Also I've been to both DLP and TDS in the same week and no way does TDS get more guest than DLP. Lee I am in no way doubting what you say here but I do think regarding the TEA/ERA attendance report, that I have to question how accurate this report is!
Originally Posted By TDR_Fan <<Also I've been to both DLP and TDS in the same week and no way does TDS get more guest than DLP.>> That says nothing except that DLP was busier that week. Both parks have their slow days, sometimes at different periods of the year. Just because one park is busier during a particular week doesn't mean that it's true for the whole year.
Originally Posted By Malin Did I fail to mention I visited TDS on a holiday weekend in Japan and TOT was only posting 40 minute waits for Tower of Terror, and shows like Big Band Beat were peforming 75% full of capacity. I have visited DLRP all year round before and the crowds are certainly larger at DLP to TDS. Also TDS was a quiet place but TDL was packed with guest enjoying the Halloween entertainment and top attractions posting 200 minute waits. But I'm only going by what I have witnessed first hand.
Originally Posted By barboy ///TDS was a quiet place but TDL was packed with guest enjoying the Halloween entertainment and top attractions posting 200 minute waits/// This makes me think about something again---- a strange phenomena that has been intriguing me. One mid week day in Feb. Dis. Sea looked empty but yet evey single big attraction had at least an hr. and 20 min. wait(excluding Sindbad of course).---HighTower was 2 hr. and FP's sold out The walkways had few people but the queues were unreal. Lost River Delta was quiet as a ghost town but yet IJ had 90 minutes and the FS's were gone. So the question is: are the walkways very wide compared to other Dis parks(they sure do **seem** that way to me) thus they can absorb or swallow truck loads of guests. Or do the guests at Dis Sea hit the rides to a greater degree than guests at other parks thus keeping the streets fairly clear and swelling the queues instead. Because my days in Dl Paris were far more chaotic trying to navigate the busy walkways but yet the rides weren't averaging 1.5 hrs.---- nowhere near that. Big hitters like BTMRR, Pirates or Space Mnt were around the 35- 60 minute mark. I know Dl Anaheim can be one large clogged artery when rides like IJ and Splash hit the 60 minute mark.
Originally Posted By TDR_Fan <<I know Dl Anaheim can be one large clogged artery when rides like IJ and Splash hit the 60 minute mark.>> It's a nightmare trying to navigate Disneyland on a crowded day, especially when they have to create one-way passages. When the entrance to Adventureland is blocked, I usually just call it a day and leave. Much better than squeezing through a wall of people .
