Originally Posted By barboy ///In 2005, according to another Internet website, Tokyo was the 51st most visited city in the world/// I need more info to understand that stat. By visited do you mean those who don't reside in each of those cities? Would someone from Reno, Nv staying in San Fran. coun towards San Fran's visit numbers? Or do you mean those who must cross an international border to get to the city. Furthemore if we are talking about crossing borders to count for visits then San Diego(San Ysidro) and Tijuana are the two most visited cities in the world.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< Tokyo Disney Resort for the few that visit often enough is an experience not to be beat, but its also in a position where it needs to provide more entertainment, because who really wants to visit a park where the average wait for the most popular attractions can reach 3 hours long. >>> MORE entertainment? You could practically spend your entire day at either park doing nothing other than taking in the live entertainment. And, as I mentioned before, the non-seasonal entertainment is offered pretty much every day of the year on a full schedule.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< 3 - 4 weeks were so we could also take in Kyoto, Hiroshima, USJ Osaka, as well as well as yes, multiple days (at least 5) with Disney. >>> Wow - you Europeans with your long vacations <<< Otaku (maye I have the spelling wrong) being the manga/comic culture. >>> You have it spelled correctly. X doesn't know what he's talking about. Once I was with him in Akihabara and we were handed a flyer by a cute girl in an over-the-top maid outfit that advertised a coffee shop serving coffee at $20/cup. Mr X had never heard of such a thing, and I had to explain to him that it costs $20 because all of the waitresses were in over-the-top maid outfits. We were in the heart of world-famous "Otaku culture" as you put it, some 15 miles away from where Mr X lives, and he's never heard of it. <<< And Hirajiko being the cosplay/lolita culture of Rappongi? >>> That would be Harajuku and Roppongi. Certainly everything you say above would be interesting things to check out, especially since they are more or less unique to Japan, but it shouldn't take more than a day or two to do so, unless you really want to get deeper into it than you probably want to anyway with the family in tow.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Lol - true it is long, however, given the distance travelled and taking the whole brood, it is good to make it worth while. I am sure the 2 weeks a year max culture in the US explains a lot. I had to laugh the other day. Someone on one of my client sites was complaining about these loud americans on a day trip to Morocco she went on, flashing their cash around, and yet they were the only one's pick pocketed. The young americans (students) did nothing but complain about no McDonald's in the town they went to. I just quietly laughed. Then she turned around and asked why I was laughing. I explained how not every American is like it, but it matches a lot of my experiences too. She blushed when she heard my accent, reminding her that I too am American. The moral of the story is that we like to travel and experience a place. Going to 7 towns in 7 days is not really experiencing it. I suspect we will realistically go for 14 - 19 days - 6 days at Disney, a reasonable amount of time for Tokyo and Kyoto.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< ***3 - 4 weeks were so we could also take in Kyoto, Hiroshima, USJ Osaka, as well as well as yes, multiple days (at least 5) with Disney.*** That's quite a trip. Kyoto is doable, Osaka maybe, Hiroshima not so much (perhaps you could split your dream trip into TWO trips, so as not to overdo it!). >>> With 3 - 4 weeks, I think you could easily do what you've mentioned so far, and then some. If you don't plan to venture any further south/west than Osaka other than for Hiroshima, it's easily doable as a day trip, with it being under 90 minutes by Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka Station. If you really have 4 weeks, you might want to consider traveling further and including Kyushu. There's lots of interesting stuff there, and most tourists completely miss it.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< The young americans (students) did nothing but complain about no McDonald's in the town they went to. >>> Interestingly, you'll find a Samurai burger at McD's in Hong Kong, but not Japan. <<< The moral of the story is that we like to travel and experience a place. Going to 7 towns in 7 days is not really experiencing it. I suspect we will realistically go for 14 - 19 days - 6 days at Disney, a reasonable amount of time for Tokyo and Kyoto. >>> That helps a lot. Based on what you say above, strike my recommendation for Kyushu - you won't have a enough time. Whether you stay in Osaka, Kyoto, or split your time between the two, there's plenty of other stuff close enough that they can be done as day trips on the trains. And especially if you have a rail pass, it won't cost a lot to see lots of things without having to change hotels every couple of nights.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< [HKDL] was hamstrung by the narrow-mindedness of the decision to place the berm and train tracks so close to the Phase I buildings. >>> What happened to the notion of the berm and tracks being movable?
Originally Posted By SpokkerJones "Once I was with him in Akihabara" I stayed the hell away from Akihabara when we visited Tokyo. I only reluctantly passed through, haha.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< I stayed the hell away from Akihabara when we visited Tokyo. I only reluctantly passed through, haha. >>> Although there's lots of otaku stuff there, my goal that day was very different: I had a large laundry list of electronic and related items that I needed to get: specialty batteries, two or three different cables, a camera lens, a power adapter, and so on. Some of it was stuff that I had wanted for awhile, and others were things I needed for that trip but I had forgot to bring. I had maybe 12-15 items on my list. In about a half-day, I was able to find all but one item in Akihabara, with the last remaining item found near Tokyo Station later in the day. There are few places in the world where I could have filled that shopping list in a few hours on foot.
Originally Posted By Malin *** Hey James, what did they have to say about Paris? With the way things are currently going, we are thinking very seriously about saving up for a trip to finally see Mr X and TDL rather than go to the other resorts for a while. *** He really just pointed out the differences between the two Toy Story Lands that are going into Hong Kong and Paris. I was actually suprised he discussed it at all, seeing that I don't think Disney have yet to officially confirm it to media sources. But he was quite happy to discuss it also pointing out both will stand out as being differnt in layout. I think your making a very smart decision in skipping the other Disney parks for the time being as while the future expansion plans on display at the Expo all look very promising, all are also a good few years away from becoming an reality. Never being to the Tokyo Disney Resort before will no doubt not only re fresh your interest in the parks, but also allow you to view them in a differnt light, to what we currently have here in Europe and the States. I'm also skipping out on any future Disney trips for the time being, and I'm putting together a couple of trips to Japan and Singapore next year. *** I am sure bro, and I am serious. I read Kevin's book this week (disappointing), and flights are cheaper during vacation time to Tokyo than Orlando or LAX. *** Depending on how you wish to travel also check out flight rates for Kansai International Airport, as rates can be a bit cheaper than Tokyo. As your considering touring Japan it may work out better starting out in Osaka and using the rail pass, although the UK has no direct flights, Airlines like the Emirates can fly you there via Dubai. This is actually the option I'm going with when I tour the Kansai region in March.
Originally Posted By leemac <<What happened to the notion of the berm and tracks being movable?>> They are - but at immense costs hence why the tracks won't be moved for the expansion. Timur's "grand" plan saved a few bucks but the poor decision-making has come back to bite the current team in the ass. It is frightening how WDP&R is still trying to correct the mistakes that that idiot made during his tenure. DCA and HKDL are both a product of his cost cutting. It is even more galling that after being sacked by Don Goodman he ended up as a MD at Goldman Sachs.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***And Hirajiko being the cosplay/lolita culture of Rappongi?*** Oh, HARAJUKU. Yeah, definitely a cool zone, easily checked out during a trip to the Shibuya/Shinjuku areas which are also must-see (Shibuya is actually my favorite zone in Tokyo, I love Harajuku as well...very funky, chic, and funny not necessarily in that order lol).
Originally Posted By Mr X ***You have it spelled correctly. X doesn't know what he's talking about. Once I was with him in Akihabara and we were handed a flyer by a cute girl in an over-the-top maid outfit that advertised a coffee shop serving coffee at $20/cup. Mr X had never heard of such a thing, and I had to explain to him that it costs $20 because all of the waitresses were in over-the-top maid outfits. We were in the heart of world-famous "Otaku culture" as you put it, some 15 miles away from where Mr X lives, and he's never heard of it.*** That is correct.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***She blushed when she heard my accent, reminding her that I too am American.*** I don't know what you think you sound like, but to me you sound like freakin Oliver Twist.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< Timur's "grand" plan saved a few bucks but the poor decision-making has come back to bite the current team in the ass. It is frightening how WDP&R is still trying to correct the mistakes that that idiot made during his tenure. DCA and HKDL are both a product of his cost cutting. >>> I didn't recognize the name and had to Google it to find out who you're talking about. Apparently he was let go from Disney in Dec 2001. That was certainly time enough for Disney to see the results of the brilliant planning and design that went into DCA, but was it late enough into the design of HKDL that poor decisions could not be undone? I've never heard of any explanation (let alone the actual reason ) behind the dramatic changes in HKDL from when the project was officially announced with the SAR gov't in the late 90's to how it turned out on Opening Day. It's pretty clear to me that the differences weren't just creative changes of direction, but rather a specific decision to spend a lot less than had been planned when the project was announced. My theory has always been that DCA had a lot to do with the decision: when all of the money that DCA was supposed to make didn't materialize and it was finally sinking in that it was not a temporary problem that could be easily fixed was just about the time when critical decisions about HKDL would have been made.
Originally Posted By Malin *** However there aren't many folks in CA that are on the HKDL expansion project - they were briefed and able to answer the majority of questions. *** Well in the situation I found myself in regarding one Imagineer it was more a case of not wanting to answer instead of knowing the answer. Again not the Imagineers to blame here they have to protect the company's image, but you would think Disney would of come up with a positive answer by now on why three of the parks lands are being constructed behind Adventureland. *** Many of those knuckle-headed decisions were taken by Paul Pressler and Timur Galen and couldn't be reversed once the masterplan had been agreed. *** Shame the park is suffering from previous poor Management decisions, but I also don't think the current decisions being made are a step in the right direction either, after reading your concerns about Guest flow. But my real concern is the fact this park is getting more lands and expanding in size, but its not adding anything to the pre existing lands. No new dark rides for Fantasyland and Adventureland will still continue to be this huge waste of space with only a few attractions to see. *** That said two of the three lands will be wonderful experiences. The Grizzly area will have a tremendous kinetic energy to it with the attraction on multi-levels throughout the land. It will be an intense experience with 2 LIMs and the backwards section and it has a fun light-touch story. Mystic Point will also be richly themed. *** Agreed and I am very much looking forward to two of the three lands opening. But will this be enough to turn this troubled park around, looking at it I say no, and despite how good the Coaster and the dark ride look, its really only adding two new E Tickets to the park, the rest of the expansion will be carnival rides, shops and restaurants. Are the public going to be won over by Grizzly and Mystic Point? On the topic of expansion for HKDL, I was fortunate enough to check out the Blue Sky Cellar at DCA last week and I was impressed and rather excited by the models and concept art. And I very much think HKDL needs its own preview centre to share with Guest the future three lands. I hope Disney and the HK Govement will take steps in introducing a similar concept for the people of Hong Kong, although I think it would be better suited located outside the park in a city location.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< I hope Disney and the HK Govement will take steps in introducing a similar concept for the people of Hong Kong, although I think it would be better suited located outside the park in a city location. >>> At first, I was going to say they could do it at The Peak, where they already have some sort of preview of the current park and actually sell park tickets. But that's obviously oriented at catching visitors to HK, and not local residents. The Peak is perhaps the one single thing that most first-time visitors to HK will do, so by having the preview and ticketing desk there, they're perhaps most likely to get people to add a day visit to the park to their HK visit. But I don't think a location outside the park is the appropriate place to have something that talks about what will be there in a few years. Stuff outside of the park should be focused on getting people to go today or this month or this year. Once at the park, then you can get them excited about coming back.
Originally Posted By Malin *** MORE entertainment? You could practically spend your entire day at either park doing nothing other than taking in the live entertainment. And, as I mentioned before, the non-seasonal entertainment is offered pretty much every day of the year on a full schedule. *** I am in no way doubting the entertainment schedule for TDR in any way. But do you think if Mangement were to follow in the direction of the other Disney parks and cut back all the stage shows and replace them with stuff like the Star Wars training acamedy, or start charging extra to view the Christmas and Halloween events, you would see such a high demand for Annual Passes. Do you think people would visit as often if Dreamlights was cut back to Weekends only. Without the entertainment your looking at a park where the average wait times for attractions is 2-3 hours. Less people inside the park also means less Guest buying food and merchandise which is a huge income for the Resort. So while we praise the TDR for its amazing entertainment, we also shouldn't forget the reasons behind it.
Originally Posted By Malin *** But I don't think a location outside the park is the appropriate place to have something that talks about what will be there in a few years. Stuff outside of the park should be focused on getting people to go today or this month or this year. Once at the park, then you can get them excited about coming back. *** Unfortunately by having a preview area inside the park your only going to promote the expansion to tourist and Annual Passholders. My thinking of having it away from the park is that you can promote it to locals and tourist who wouldn't usually be interested in visiting the park to make a trip out to visit once each new land opens.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***Do you think people would visit as often if Dreamlights was cut back to Weekends only. Without the entertainment your looking at a park where the average wait times for attractions is 2-3 hours.*** Seems like a rather chicken and egg sort of argument. Are the lines long and so entertainment is necessary, or are the lines long BECAUSE there's so much entertainment drawing people in? I'm not sure of the answer, but one thing I do know is that attendance drops considerably in the lull times between special events (want an empty park? go BETWEEN Halloween and Christmas and you'll find one for sure).
