Originally Posted By disneyboy1985 Well, I visited both parks during the December Christmas period and really enjoyed what both parks have to offer in terms of special events and entertainment and rides. However, what struck me was how quiet Disneysea was compared to its sister park next door. It doesn't have bad themeing or poor immersive feel that other recent Disney second gate parks seem to suffer from, or the lack of rides from Day 1, like HKDL. Now I know that of course it has more visitors than HKDL but its all relative to the market and the influence of Disney in the respective countries right? And now OLC is aggressively trying to shore up attendance rates. So, why is TDS faring poorer than TDL when there isn't seem to be problems with either the themeing or rides? Is it because of the lack of a 'fantasy' feel to the whole place? Is accessibility to anywhere in the park worse than the MK design? Does it have less rides when compared to TDL, or less rides designed for the enjoyment of the whole family? Is it due to the fact that it was designed more with the adults in mind? Or is it that the special events and shows like BraviSEAmo! seem boring to the general public when they've come to a Disney park to see cutesy Mickey or Minnie? Well, I'm curious to know because I honestly can't find any concrete reason on OLC or Disney's part that would contribute to its lack-lustre attendace rate when compared to its targetted attendance set.
Originally Posted By leemac <---------- Biting tongue very hard. I think I wait to see what other people have to say before jumping in with both of my Size 10s.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss The answer is quite simple in my mind: it's not Disneyland. ANY park that's not a Magic Kingdom is going to "suffer" in comparison when it comes to the number of guests that want to visit.
Originally Posted By SuperDry If I wasn't at work I'd post a famous SuperDry mega-post on the subject. You'll have to wait until tonight...
Originally Posted By TDLFAN >>Is it because of the lack of a 'fantasy' feel to the whole place?<< Maybe (as Leemac has stated before) but I do not see how Mermaid Lagoon, or even Arabian Coast can't be viewed in a fantasy light. But there is nothing I can do to change your mind on that. It's your opinion or perception of the park and I respect that. TDS may not be for everyone...and that's OK.
Originally Posted By leemac Why does Arabian Coast have any fantasy element?? It is a very realistic architectural style.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN I have never been in those parts of the World and to me they appear fantastic and exotic. maybe a reason why I love Med Harbor since I have never been to Venice.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss <<TDS may not be for everyone...and that's OK.>> When your average Joe (or in this case, your average Sato san) decides to go to Disney for one day and they don't intend to return anytiime soon, between Disneyland and DisneySea, which do you suppose they would choose? In all likelyhood they will choose Disneyland, because they want the "original," the one that "is" Disney. A second gate will _never_ match the attendance of a Magic Kingdom. This is not to say that TDS doesn't have some problems, but I wouldn't blow it out of proportion as if the park is a failure from an attendance standpoint. It's not.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss I hate it when I make errors in grammar. In my last post I starting off saying "your average Joe" (singular) and then went on to "they don't intend to return" (plural.) Geez...
Originally Posted By disneyboy1985 I always thought that maybe accessibility was part of the cause. ie You would have to take the monorail all the way from Resort GAteway Station to Tokyo Disneysea staion, as compared to just a walk away from the Maihama station for TDL But I'm glad that TDS has less guests so that I can better enjoy the awesome themeing and atmosphere, and basically just enjoy the environment
Originally Posted By TDLFAN >>When your average Joe (or in this case, your average Sato san) decides to go to Disney for one day and they don't intend to return anytiime soon, between Disneyland and DisneySea, which do you suppose they would choose?<< I think the real reason why an average guest is forced to choose one park over the other is because there are NO PARK HOPPING benefits with the one day or 2 day passports. If TDR sold an 1-day or 2-day hopper pass, I think there would be more people hitting TDS for some of their offerings... Food choices for example is excellent at TDS...which is a reason why World Showcase is so popular at Epcot. >>I always thought that maybe accessibility was part of the cause.<< I do not believe accesibility plays a part on which park guests choose to attend or not. The fact is...you can geta round the entire TDR via monorail in quite expeditiously. The entire round trip on the monorail (with all 4 stops included) takes on average 12-14 mins. The walking time from maihama station to TDS' entrance is a mere 12 mins as well.. I know this because I have walked it several times and timed it. So, NO, I don't think accesibility is a problem at TDR at all.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss I hadn't thought about the tickets, but all Disney parks single-day tickets don't have a park-hopping option without a surcharge, and I'm not too sure many people go for that option.
Originally Posted By SuperDry Also, I think the last thing that TDS needs is to be treated as a $20 add-on to a single-day TDL visit, as DCA has become to DL. Regarding accessibility, I think that most guests that go to TDS do so via the Resort Line, costing them $5 more or whatever it is. Even so, I doubt that many choose TDL over TDS on the basis of saving the Resort Line fare. <<< When your average Joe (or in this case, your average Sato san) decides to go to Disney for one day and they don't intend to return anytiime soon, between Disneyland and DisneySea, which do you suppose they would choose? In all likelyhood they will choose Disneyland, because they want the "original," the one that "is" Disney. A second gate will _never_ match the attendance of a Magic Kingdom. >>> I think this is getting really close to the point.
Originally Posted By Inspector 57 <<I hate it when I make errors in grammar. In my last post I starting off saying "your average Joe" (singular) and then went on to "they don't intend to return" (plural.)>> There, there, trekkeruss. We all have moments of weaknesses while posting. Look, I don't know if you're the sort of person who can console himself by witnessing others' shortcomings, but get a load of this: <<If I wasn't at work I'd post a famous SuperDry mega-post on the subject.>> I won't name names, but SOMEONE's secondary school Engish teacher has been reduced to tears once again over the fact that her students never pay attention during her "subjunctive" lecture.
Originally Posted By Inspector 57 ^^^ Ugh. And SOMEONE appears to be having motor skills issues. Please pardon the typos.
Originally Posted By Inspector 57 Count me firmly among the "There's no park hopping and guests have to choose between two parks so of course they're going to choose the quintessential 'Disneyland' park" camp. Ironically, I bet that TDS would do better if it were located several miles from TDL. Imagine the scene. Japanese parents have set aside a weekend day for their semi-annual trip to Disney. They drive to the Resort. They have to choose where to spend the day. They go for Disneyland. That's the "real" Disney park. But if TDS were located 10 miles east of them and TDL were located 10 miles west of them, they might settle into a schedule of doing TDS once a year and TDL once a year.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN If TDS were located 10 miles east I57, it would be located close to the city of Chiba in another prefecture I'd suppose. You'd have to see how overpopulated Tokyo and it's suburbs are to really see why TDR is a compact resort. But I still believe the distance between TDL and TDS is no issue here... both parks main entrances and parking lots are a mile apart and facing in opposite directions...unlike DLP and DLPR where one parking lot and one esplanade is used for both parks in those resorts. As close as TDL and TDS are, there is still a separation that clearly defines these parks on their own. >>all Disney parks single-day tickets don't have a park-hopping option without a surcharge, and I'm not too sure many people go for that option.<< Do not kow if they do or not, but for those who are visiting with a limited amount of time..or want to catch only some offerings in two or more parks, this would be the way to go. However, at TDR...unless you have the PAP or separate TDL or TDS AP (like Leemac does) there is no option to hop, not even as an added fee. You are stuck on either park. I feel that works against TDS, since TDL will always have the highest pull of guests.
