Originally Posted By Mrs X Before my family went to TDL, I heard some stuff about the 25th anniversary from my friends, and mostly people are complaining about the 25th anniversary! Because they don't have a castle show, EVEN for 25th anniversary! And about jubilation parade, they didn't use much head characters like it used to be. According to some friends of mine, the main characters float is the ONLY one that has some main Disney characters in the whole parade, so everyone can only see characters on that float (too crowded for the show stop!), and someone on laughingplace wrote those fans want to see picture bubbles or something? But that's not the reason. The bubbles are cheesy and cheap, everyone says! Of course, they want to see "real" characters, not pictures or ornaments with characters on them! So we don't wanna see paintings or props, we don't care about that. Fans want to see the REAL characters. Anyway, yesterday I took my family to see the 25th anniversary stuff. That greeting show at the castle forecourt is maybe, they trying to do a special show besides castle show right? But, for me, just like old Cinderellabration kind of style. That's kinda weak! Weak for the 25th anniversary anyway, right? I read someone wrote about castle show on internet, the person said according to the rumor maybe at the final season they're going to do a real castle show? I don't know that's true, but I hope so! Anyway, so far the 25th is disappointing. Many people are disappointed. Also some people commented that there is hardly any decoration around the park. It's VERY cheap compared to past anniversaries and obviously they cut down because of budget...we can tell! And the restaurant and food prices are up this year! The fast food stuff snacks are MUCH more expensive, like a hot dog set for nine bucks! Or a simple Chinese dumpling (chuukaman) for FOUR bucks! What a ripoff! That costs about one buck anywhere else in Japan! Or a teeny tiny taco for five bucks!!?? Give me a break! You have to buy 3 or 4 of those if you want to be full!! And also they're selling tons of merchandise for the 25th anniversary, and trying to sell those overpriced goods to make lots of money. It's pretty obvious. At the hub, they do this "Disney dream key" thing, it's an original keychain you can make. Almost twenty bucks for that crap! IT'S A KEYCHAIN! And EVEN 25th anniversary goods, that's too much I think. And in the morning, from the open, they make stupid long lines for guests and you have to ORDER first, make a reservation. It's really ridiculous. All to make guests spend more money at the park for merchandise. BUT, nothing special for shows or decorations or new attractions or ANYTHING. Maybe Bon Voyage or Disney Store is enough for that stuff...nobody needs to go into the park! I'm just disappointed! After all the tenth and fifteenth anniversary events were much better, I think. Mrs X (used to be FGM)
Originally Posted By MagicalNezumi Maybe those same Japanese people who complain online should also go to Main Street House, Guest Relations or the TDR Welcome Center to voice their dissatisfaction with the offerings and prices for the 25th. Or perhaps, guests should be surveyed when LEAVING the Parks instead of entering like they usually are. (wink) That way, OLC can get a better understanding of what the guest experienced. Most of the things you wrote about are just the latest examples of things that have been going on for years now. Food selection is down and prices are up, but where else in Japan can you get a Mickey-shaped dumpling? Oh, non-Japanese have been complaining about food portions for a long time. The shops are still packed with people buying overpriced trinkets and tin can confectionary snacks. But isn't it a Japanese tradition to take a "memoir" of their visit and also an "omiyage" for others? They are not buying as much as before, so the company raises prices in other things. A lot of Japanese disagree with you on the "keychain" and "straps" items since it is usually one of the longest lines in the Park, even during non-special event times. The reservation shows are a big money maker for the Park. And yes, people usually rush to make a reservation because the shows and seating are limited. Is that a Park problem or just a Japanese culture thing? About the Parade, eventually the company will change it to "better suit" the Japanese audience, just like what happened to "Mythica" and "BraviSEAmo!" But, as you probably know, a lot good those changes did those shows...NOT! And most of these decisions were done by OLC, the company that claims to know more about the Japanese audience than anyone else. Attendance was up last year, hotel occupancy rates are still high, and people still buy anything with Mickey, Pooh or Stitch on it. So, publicly, OLC is doing a good job. If the Japanese visiting public is doing any complaining, it doesn't seem to have done much good. -- MagicalNezumi PS: Hi Mrs X (former FGM), o-hiashiburi desu.
Originally Posted By Mr X About the surveys, I think SuperDry has talked a bit about how with Disney (and other companies) those surveys are not actually used to gauge true guest satisfaction but rather to provide "backup" for the suits when they have meetings to justify what they've already done. Looking at the wording of many of them, you can really see that to be true. FGM isn't here right now, but I'd have to say (and I believe she feels the same) that what was disappointing about our visit was more along the lines of "wow, this isn't as nice as it used to be", rather than "wow, this was bad". Certainly nothing to complain at Main Street House about anyway. We had a very nice day. And unless they are going to charge a higher ticket price or something, they have every right to offer as much or as little as they want for an anniversary...heck they could offer nothing at all. There's no law that says they must. Still, I have to wonder if this trend towards "less is more" in everything except the prices is going to be bad for them down the road. Already one overseas poster has mentioned that it doesn't sound like there's anything compelling enough to bother visiting this year, and they might as well wait til next year. I don't recall ANYONE feeling that way back when WDW had their 25th...it was a very "must see" kinda vibe, and EVERYONE was planning a trip to see what all the fuss was about. As far as the trinkets are concerned, how expensive is "too expensive". Granted, people WILL pay it as evidenced by the long lines, but at some point those astronomical prices become somewhat unseemly, and the whole place starts to feel like "you're not guests to us, just so many wallets"...especially when the special entertainment and offerings become less and less. Nezumi, you didn't comment on our biggest disappointment, the big "character greeting". What did you think? I'll talk the 15th anniversary castle show (or even the 20th) thanks.
Originally Posted By Gone4Good I guess a lot of it is a matter of perspective. I've spent the last twenty-five years watching the U.S. parks strip mined to prop up failing television networks, failing internet scams and hyperinflated executive egos. I watched a situation that went from people complaining about burn-out light bulbs to a point where Internet sites gushed with glee that Disney actually painted a railing or re-thatched a roof. I've watched attraction after attraction gutted, dumbed down and thrashed all to sell more princess dresses, plush, or the latest overdone "franchise". I've seen a parking lot turned into a theme park - and wished that it had remained a parking lot. So when I made my first trip to Tokyo Disneyland early this year I felt like I had discovered a lost, hidden land. A place that was clean, cast members that were helpful and plentiful, a management that understood they had to please guests instead of calling them hicks with wallets. For the first time in decades I actually thought a place with "Disney" in it's name was working to get my money, that they actually wanted me to entertain me. But most of all, I was thrilled to find a theme park that wanted to be a theme park - and not just a cog in a corporate marketing plan. If Tokyo Disney Resort is as bad now as you claim it is, then I can do is to wish I had seen it before. (I wonder how much of this is OLC's doing, and how much of it is Disney's current "we're one global brand striving for the lowest common denominator" philosophy.) Still - even in it's "ruined" state - TDR is a marvel and I expect to return again soon.
Originally Posted By Malin Being a Western person myself I think there is very little point in complaining as the OLC clearly don't care what I think here. The Resort has no contact information available online through the English website. And it would rather probarely concentrate on pleasing its Japanese audience which visit a lot more often than my annual trips. But its the OLC attitude of we know our guest better than anyone else that really annoys me here. Its a very ignorant attiude to have and while many are probarely easily amused by character greetings, I think a lot of others who have visited for many years can not be happy to have such a scale down Anniversary. I find it kind of ironic for the Resort to be selling that DVD Box Set of all the past shows and parades when what its offering in return is weak to past offerings.
Originally Posted By Mr F Hey FGM! Still workin' that engrish I se I guess the OLC is taking a note from the REAL Disney and is trying to make their parks cheap and lower in quality, just like the REAL Disney park in the US!
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Hey Butters, Mrs x/FGM has a better handle on the language than many LPers it seems. Excellent. Also a superb perspective.
Originally Posted By Bob Paris Wow - "Butters". That's a blast from the past. Nice to see the name I gave him is still sticking.
Originally Posted By X-san lol. Huh? Wait...you used to be OrlandoBoi? Better yet, don't answer that.
Originally Posted By Mrs X Hey Butters, is your English better? What is "se", anyway? Sounds Spanish. Anyway, ticket price is up and it's not easy to go to the park but also everything (except Churros) is price up too! That's too bad, and of course having an anniversary not nearly as good as past anniversaries makes it more disappointing. I guess like Butters said Tokyo Disney is getting close to American Disney parks. Last years OLC turnout was not that good, and they were expecting more guests this year I think because of the anniversary, but I wonder? It's kind of disappointing so maybe some people will skip it this year. Maybe the year won't be as great as they hope! On the other hand, because Tokyo Disneyland Hotel is opening soon that will make some crazy fans try to get into the hotel, that should help the OLC numbers! We'll see. By the way, hi MagicalNezumi! Hisashiburi desu.
Originally Posted By gurgitoy2 I have to wonder if OLC can keep up the lackluster offerings. I'm sure at some point they're going to realize they need to either step it up again or do something different. They have to know how people are reacting to the anniversary so far. The past few years of repeat events, and lack of freshness is going to take some kind of toll on attendance...I just wonder if OLC will do something proactive about it.
Originally Posted By X-san ***The past few years of repeat events, and lack of freshness is going to take some kind of toll on attendance...I just wonder if OLC will do something proactive about it.*** It certainly hasn't escaped notice of this 10 year visitor! One of the things that impressed me MOST about TDR was the fact that there was always something new and interesting (even if it was some small event...just the fact that it was new). Not so anymore.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< The past few years of repeat events, and lack of freshness is going to take some kind of toll on attendance...I just wonder if OLC will do something proactive about it >>> There's the "chicken and egg" problem - which is causing the other? Actually, it's probably closer to a "downward spiral" as the feedback loop between the two serves to amplify both over time.
Originally Posted By gurgitoy2 "Hey FGM! Still workin' that engrish I se " Ok, rude much? From the looks of it, you could use some English lessons yourself, or at least spelling... I have to give Mrs. X full respect, because I can only speak one language, and she can speak two, or possibly more. When I meet people who have that skill, I always feel embarrassed about the lack of my own. I met a Japanese woman once who spoke Spanish and English fluently, as well as her native tounge...I was totally impressed!
Originally Posted By X-san lol. Just the two, Gurgi afaik. For a Japanese person speaking English that sounds natural though, she's one of the best I've ever met. And trust me, her slang is good enough to tear into Butters but good, except she's much better at reading the community standards than I.
Originally Posted By Megara Doesn't bother me. We are still going this September. I'd rather be at TDR than at work !
Originally Posted By Mrs X <<I have to give Mrs. X full respect, because I can only speak one language, and she can speak two, or possibly more.>> Thank you, gurgitoy2. I speak Japanese and English but I still can't speak English perfectly yet even though I speak to Mr X/X-san every day <<I'd rather be at TDR than at work !>> I agree!
Originally Posted By gurgitoy2 "<<I'd rather be at TDR than at work !>> I agree! " Totally! And if somebody said they would rather be at work...something is seriously wrong!
