Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 Thanks for killing the thread, TDLFAN! And while you know I think it sucks the way you and your fellow workers are being treated, I still want my pilots to be very highly paid ... that's unless you can land a 777 yourself!
Originally Posted By tokyodisneydad Just a quick note about your trip to TDL. I'm pretty sure Space Mountainis scheduled to be closed during that time. Which is too bad because I personally like the smooth ride it offers in comparison to the other parks that I have ridden it at WDW/ DL /DLP. As for Mt Fuji its closed for climbing during that time anyway but a view from one of the lakes nearby is beautiful with the snow, but bring a jacket. Posiible You will see me in Disney Seas, I'm there atleast once a week and In TDL atleast once a month. There is a great little GyOZa stand kind of hidden away in TDS. It's near the Nautilus gift shop in the center of Mysterius Island.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN >>And while you know I think it sucks the way you and your fellow workers are being treated, I still want my pilots to be very highly paid ... that's unless you can land a 777 yourself!<< Still...they can land the plane but they are not the ones trained to get you out of a burning airplane alive.. they will escape from the cockpit and not look back. WE have to make sure you get out alive. Not the well paid pilots.
Originally Posted By Mr X TokyoDisneyDad, that's a great suggestion. If it's hard to find, remember you have to go DoWNSTAIRS to find the place.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN I have no problems finding the Nautilus Galley restaurant..so why would it be for others???
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< I have no problems finding the Nautilus Galley restaurant..so why would it be for others??? >>> The secret is apparently out. There was an hour wait there last week.
Originally Posted By Mr X For a while there, it was definitely a hidden gem. I think it's just that even though it's visible, many people assumed it was inaccessible because there are no obvious stairs down (maybe people assumed it was within an attraction or something). By the way, that elevator is way cool. Talk about keeping up the theme! Anyone else ever ride it? Normally we don't take elevators, but we had a stroller with us that day. I don't think I've ever taken a "regular" elevator in a Disney park except for there, are they all so nicely themed??
Originally Posted By SuperDry Oh yea, the elevator! I liked it so much that I took the group of people I came with in May down in it to show it off as an example of the OLC difference.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< <<I was thinking of staying at the Sheraton ... any thoughts?>> It is a big hotel for sure. Personally I prefer the Hilton (albeit it is starting to show its age) but then we typically don't have much choice about it. >>> I just finished a stay at the Sheraton, and stayed at the Hilton in May, so let me offer my comparisons. I think that the Sheraton is a higher quality property, and the rooms were nicer and more recently renovated. But the hotel is noticably less Westernised. The Hilton was completely western, right down to the Starbucks in the lobby. By "less western" I mean things like charging a $5 cover charge for the lobby bar, no washcloths in the bathrooms (instead that very thin Asian body wash thing), and the worst thing of all: absolutely no Diet Coke on property. I had to hoof it over to the Hilton and lug back some of the sweet nectar. Having said all of that, I'd call it a wash and recommend either. Let other factors such as price or loyalty program decide for you.
Originally Posted By Mr X Well, SD, if you think THAT'S bad, I strongly recommend you avoid any and all Ryokan during your trips to Japan! ;p
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< Well, SD, if you think THAT'S bad, I strongly recommend you avoid any and all Ryokan during your trips to Japan! ;p >>> I've stayed at a ryokan once, and that was enough for me. I liked it about as much as I like B&B's. I'd much rather be at a full-service hotel.
Originally Posted By Mr X Gotta love the bath, though. That's what keeps me going back to Ryokans. I, too, prefer full service. Others swear by B&B's though for some reason. Personally, I feel like I'm invading someone elses house. Ugh.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN >>I think that the Sheraton is a higher quality property, and the rooms were nicer and more recently renovated. But the hotel is noticably less Westernised.<< Big deal. When in Rome, do as romans do... I personally would take the Sheraton over any of the other official hotels around TDR, especially the Hilton. I don't need to go to Japan to feel like I have been to some "western" hotel, and trust me... that is not a compliment. Hiltons have become so trailer park.. Avoid avoid.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< Gotta love the bath, though. That's what keeps me going back to Ryokans. >>> For me: ryokans, no. But onsen, yes! <<< Others swear by B&B's though for some reason. Personally, I feel like I'm invading someone elses house. Ugh. >>> That's almost exactly what I almost said! Some people LOVE that sort of situation, but it just makes me feel uncomfortable. <<< I personally would take the Sheraton over any of the other official hotels around TDR, especially the Hilton. I don't need to go to Japan to feel like I have been to some "western" hotel, and trust me... that is not a compliment. Hiltons have become so trailer park.. Avoid avoid. >>> I'd recommend the same thing. I mentioned the differences in case they were important to someone else, and because I was trying to put my finger on just what was different between the two, and then I realized what it was.
Originally Posted By The Goddess Mara Let me toss my 2 cents in regarding your hotel at Tokyo Disneyland: I always stay at the Hilton and usually for under $200 a night. It's a great bargain, a two-minute walk to the Bay Station of the Resort Line (monorail). Can't beat it. They've recently renovated all the furnishings at the Hilton. It has the nicest and most attentive staff of any hotel I've ever stayed at and most speak excellent English. My ocean view room is large and comfy. I would never pay $350 and up to stay (again) at Miracosta or Ambassador. As I wrote several times on MiceChat, I would rather stay for 6 nights at the Hilton than 3 nights at the Miracosta (for me, cost is a consideration and since I only get to Tokyo once a year, if I can stay twice as long by staying at one hotel rather than another, I'll take the Hilton any day). If you want to stay at a hotel IN Tokyo and save a lot of money, then the Universe Hotel (where both TDLFAN and I coincidentlly happen to stay) is about $80 a night for small Japanese style businessman's room (not much larger than the bed). But, it's fine because you won't spend much time there and it's right next to the Kayabacho exit of the subway line. I have stayed in the Universe Hotel about once a year since 1985. The only thing that's changed is the high-speed Internet access in the room! I just returned from a trip to Hong Kong Disneyland and stayed three nights at the Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel. The hotel is relatively small, but clean. It's only a year old, but there are already signs of lack of upkeep (small cracks and mildew). It's a humid place. The Hong Kong Disney theme park is also nice, but you can easily do everything in a day. The park was, incidentally, empty when I was there, as was the hotel. It was spooky--like the movie the Omega Man when Charleton Heston is driving around LA and it's deserted. The entire Hong Kong Disney complex is very large--an entire infrastructure has been constructed for a large resort. There will be three more hotels built eventually and at least two more theme parks. The land for part of the second theme park is already partially cleared. When you walk from Disneyland park down the promenade back to the Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel, on your right is the Disneyland park, and on your left is where the second park will be. I also met a friend (HongKongDisneyland) from MiceChat and we had a burger at the lounge/bar in the Hollywood Hotel. From what we could see, the Hollywood Hotel is considerably less "fancy" than the Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel. The so-called "food court" there consists of one counter with dishes prepared in aluminum tins that they put in the oven for you. Couldn't believe I was seeing this in a Disney hotel. Of course, as cute as Hong Kong Disneyland is (and their Jungle Cruise is great, with some stuff you've never seen elsewhere), it pales beside the best Disney Resort in the world--in Tokyo.
Originally Posted By TDR_Fan <<I would never pay $350 and up to stay (again) at Miracosta or Ambassador. As I wrote several times on MiceChat, I would rather stay for 6 nights at the Hilton than 3 nights at the Miracosta (for me, cost is a consideration and since I only get to Tokyo once a year, if I can stay twice as long by staying at one hotel rather than another, I'll take the Hilton any day).>> I don't understand. If you are only visiting Tokyo once a year, why aren't you splurging to get the very best instead of saving a few hundred dollars? If it were me, I'd stay the whole trip at the MiraCosta, no matter what the cost. Who cares if the Hilton is cheaper; I'm still staying the same number of days regardless of how expensive the MiraCosta is. I'd be kicking myself if I missed out on a one of a kind experience that only the MiraCosta can provide just to save a few hundred dollars. I understand not everybody can afford it, but I can and I'm planning to stay there every time now. I'm never going back to those unsightly and inelaborate Offical Hotels; I stay at those kind of hotels all the time, and I'm not about to stay at one when I'm at Tokyo Disney Resort of all places. I look forward to my Tokyo trips, and always make sure that I get the most extravagant and exquisite hotel on property (being the MiraCosta of course).
Originally Posted By The Goddess Mara Well, if you read my post more closely you'd see that I can't spend without thought--and I'd rather stay six days at the Hilton for about half the price of three days at the Miracosta. It's your money, and your choice, but frankly I think there are more people in the world in my position (where cost is an issue) than yours (where cost isn't an issue).
Originally Posted By TDR_Fan You're probably right, but I don't think you're giving the MiraCosta enough credit; instead you make it seem overrated which it's definitely not. I've stayed at the Hilton Tokyo Bay once, but found the MiraCosta staff even a step above that of the Hilton. They gave me a tour of the hotel, pointed out the special Disney touches for me (like the hidden Mickeys in the lobby), and even had a chat with me for a good 20 minutes while I waited for a bus to the airport. She spoke excellent English and we discussed the two parks. She told me that she prefered Tokyo DisneySea because she admires beauty, and I commented on how lucky she was to work in such an elegant hotel right inside her favorite park (I consider the MiraCosta an integral part of the park). All in all, the best attention I've received from any cast member EVER!
Originally Posted By Mr X I don't think he made it sound overrated at all. Just not worth cutting his vacation time in half for the sake of staying there! And personally, I'd stay in the Urayasu Brighton hotel over the Hilton OR the Mira Costa, but that's just me. I find the Mira Costa nice, but the rooms are nothing special aside from the views, and there's nothing in the hotel that can't be enjoyed by just strolling around. The Brighton, on the other hand, has much better restaurants, and the rooms are about twice as big with the most amazing hotel bathroom and tub I've ever seen. And, it's nearly as convenient to the resort as the hotels behind the parks, just a 3 minute train ride from Maihama. Of course, the Hilton sounds MUCH cheaper though.
