Originally Posted By dreaminTDL Help Please! We are going to Japan at the end of this year and plan to be at Tokyo Disneyland for two days in January once the school kids go back(I think that is after the 5th). I am at the very beginning of planning my trip here and need any advice about how to make the most of my two and see as much as we can. I have been to WDW, DL and DLP and so I am very excited to try a new park. The crowds worry me a lot as I went to Universal Studios Osaka last year on a school trip and the line waits were 2-3 hours long! This is a family trip with my husband and 18 year old daughter and we are travelling from Australia. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Originally Posted By Malin Depending on your dates and if you are visiting on a Weekday vs a Weekend for instance then the crowds shouldn't be too bad that time of the year. You'll find more attractions under refurbishment and the weather can be cold with even a risk of snow which can cause outside attractions to shut down and entertainment to be canceled. Also a chance the trains will stop. Although this is very much a rare situation but did happen earlier on this year across Tokyo. So something to keep in mind like if you visit during June (Rainy Season) or August/September (Typhoon Season). Since you have been to other Disney Parks before I would concentrate on the unique attractions. Monsters Inc and Pooh's Hunny Hunt. The Haunted Mansion and It's A Small World will likely be closed still to remove Christmas overlays. You make mention of wanting to visit Tokyo Disneyland but not DisneySea. Please don't miss out on seeing this park.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN The first mistake is only allocating two days. You need at least 3-4 days to fully enjoy this resort. Also January tends to be a low season month after the initial New Years holiday event ends. The park hours get reduced, the weather is cold and the tarps come on for refurbishing. Many shows are suspended and no special events may happen to add to the ambiance. Not IMO the best time to visit. But you won't deal with crowds.
Originally Posted By Brad I agree TDLFAN – and I’m ashamed my fellow Aussie hasn’t done his/her homework well enough to realize two days aren’t enough! And January – YIKES! Yes, fellow Aussie, depending on where you are in Australia I can understand your confusion if you think January is hot(Perth regularly reaches 42! - If you're in one of the woosy states like NSW or Vic., your maximums are a “stifling” 22 degrees Celsius!!! – Wimps!). What they might not know however is that TDR had feet of snow dumped on it earlier this year and while that might be a novelty for regular TDR visitors like TDLFAN, it makes for a wasted visit for a first-timer. I remember reacting in horror when TDLFAN sent me the photos and I pictured this happening for me next year when I visit with my partner(Disney park virgin!). I could think of nothing worse, hence me N OT going in January to be faced with snow, cold, closed attractions, extremely limited park opening hours and no outside shows. God – no thanks!!! No – noob Aussie – do your homework and go at a different time of the year. Stop being terrified of the reports of large crowds(suck it up – if you’re in ANY large Australian city you’re already used to EVERYWHERE being crowded thanks to successive governments open door policies of letting every refugee into our country, thus clogging up EVERYTHING)and just do a bit of research and go and have a great time!
Originally Posted By Megara If you have been to the other Disney parks, then you know the drill. The only new park to you is Disneysea. I would google "trip reports" for the park and read what others have said. Just make sure you go on Journey to the Centre of the Earth ride. The rides I wouldn't bother with are Stormrider and Mystic Rhythms show. Just walk around and enjoy. Get a park map in both English and Japanese when you arrive. The Japanese one has pictures of all the great souvenirs and food you can buy. The food is amazing. I wouldn't go in January either. Too cold. You will be freezing, especially as the park is on tokyo Bay and the wind.... Brrrrrr. We went once in early December and it was so cold, we vowed never again. Have a great trip, Japan is a great place.
Originally Posted By dreaminTDL Thanks for the tips and advice. I have no choice but to go on this trip in January but I do have the choice to visit Tokyo Disney parks or not go at all. I guess my decision based on your advice would be to give it a miss. In the foreseeable future I will not get the opportunity to visit Japan at any other time of the year so thought it was an opportunity to experience another Disney theme park. Yes Brad I do realise that two days will not do it justice. We spent three weeks at WDW in January this year and our 'fellow aussies' thought we were crazy spending that much time at theme parks. I actually love travelling in winter and have no issue with rugging up and enjoying whatever is thrown at us-have travelled throughout Europe with snow and limited daylight hours-you just plan for it. I guess my thoughts on it was to get a general feel for the place and go on attractions that were different from the ones we have experienced at WDW, DL and DLP.
Originally Posted By Mr X Brad seems to have the wrong idea about snow, it's actually a great time to be in the parks. Very few attractions are outdoors, after all, and you have the place to yourself more than any other time outside of a typhoon day (and who wants to go then!? Blech...). TDL is especially pretty as you can hang out in world bazaar under cover and watch the snow fall over the castle - pictures and vids are a must. Sure, there are show cancellations, but that's no different than if you're unlucky enough to show up on a rainy day. Prepare for cold weather, and aside from that, have fun! It's far less stressful than any other time of year and, frankly, a lot more fun. When the crowds are at defcon-stupid the rest of the year, the parks can be very draining indeed. Two days is plenty that time of year, one each park and you'll be fine. Don't listen to the naysayers. ☜(⌒▽⌒)☞ ☆ﾟEnjoy! ♪
Originally Posted By Mr X p.s. be on the lookout for a little extra magic from the custodial department if you do happen to be there when it's snowing (which is quite unlikely, really). They do a bang up job turning the white stuff into something fun to see, all around the resort!
Originally Posted By FerretAfros While weather and seasonal closures may not let it live up to its full potential, I'd rather go to any Disney park on a crummy day than to completely miss it. If you're prepared for the cold weather and recognize that you may not get to see everything in the park, I see no reason to skip it. No, it's not the ideal time to go, but very few people actually have the flexibility to pick; the rest of us just make do with what we're given and it usually turns out pretty well
Originally Posted By dreaminTDL Thank you so much MrX and FerretAfros your positive posts were very helpful.I am a teacher and my husband is self employed with his quiet time being end of December/January coinciding with my long school holidays so that is when we have to travel. I figure we just make the best of the weather wherever we go as all countries have something to offer no matter what the season. You can eat yummy food all year round!! I am thinking we will visit on the 7th and 8th of January and hopefully stay at the Disneyland Hotel. I love the Grand Floridian at WDW but there is no way I would ever be able to afford to stay there but off peak in Tokyo it is a possibility. Could you fill me in on the 'Fast Pass' system there. We had magic bands at WDW so we pre-booked them electronically. I am assuming the still have paper fast passes but do you get one and then wait for that time to expire before you can get another? Thanks in advance
Originally Posted By Mr X Fastpass works the same in Tokyo as in America, but if you want one for the most popular attractions it's best to grab one as early as you possibly can (like, right when the park opens). On that note, it's generally a good idea to get there at least a half hour before the parks open - given that you only have two days, that's pretty much a must. Even if it's not that busy, you'll still want to make the most of two full days so it's best to get there as early as possible (even earlier than 30 minutes is highly recommended).
Originally Posted By dreaminTDL Thanks MrX. We are rope drop people! Plenty of time to sleep and rest when you are home. We will arrive the night before, may even get a night pass depending on how the itinerary works out, but either way will be up and ready to go for day one and hour before the park officially opens.
