Originally Posted By TDLFAN Two new TDR dvd programs go on sale in Japan this week.. "Enjoy! TDR" and "TDR: Super Story". Both dvds sell individually or together in a boxed set. Allow me to start with "Enjoy! TDR". This particular dvd is probably one of the best produced park tour dvds ever produced for a Disney park. The production value is particularly great. The program is 45 minutes long of pure TDR magic in widescreen format and digital clarity. As the show begins...it wastes no time in offering an updated view of everything that is currently happening at TDR. First up, the "Dreams on Parade: Moving on" is previewed, complete with the new musical score of the parade, then the show proceeds around TDL.. one land at a time. As intros to each land, a kinetic computer graphic of the park is seen. Once the show focuses on any single land...the viewers are taken on a total tour of what each and everyland has to offer.... most rides are given it moment to shine, and almost each show in the park is highlighted. We see scenes from "Minnie O Minnie", "One Man's Dream 2", "Mickey's Luau", "Pecos Bill goes West" and many other offerings around the park. New attractions are also highlighted..as we get to see Astroblasters, Hunny Hunt and many other classics rides we all know and love. In regards to attraction highlights and shows... this dvd leaves no stone unturned. As an added treat, we also get a healthy dose of Dreamlights and quick views of last year's Halloween and Xmas events, plus even quicker memory refresher items, such as 1993's "It's magical" show and 2000's Club Disney Super Dancing Mania. Those past highlights are way too brief. Once the show is done with TDL... it moves on to other parts of the resorts... giving the official hotels their time to shine as we are showed some of the hotels' amenities and offerings. The we get treated to the efficient services of the TDR Line, The Disney Cruiser, Bon Voyage and even Ikspiari's many areas are reviewed briefly. Then the focus shifts to TDS... again...the show takes us port by port highlighing every little thing each port has to offer. We see attractions one by one... shows, such as the wonderful Mysthic Rhythms, spotlights on some of TDS' best restaurants...and we even cap the TDS section with BraviSEAmo! just like any real guest at TDS would. Then Disney in the Stars fireworks close the show. With only 45 minutes to accomplish the impossible... this video tour of TDR will leave you in awe if you have never been to TDR, and don't be surprised if you are calling your travel agent before the show ends... The DVD production is that good. It's amazing how much information, highlights and experiences are packed into these short 45 mins of TDR glory. Now... the technical aspects.. The dvd show can be enjoyed with or without spoken narrative, allowing you to have a musical visual tour or a descriptive one. For japanese viewers, they can also watch with or without japanese captions. As usual, you can access scenes by chapters and jump to any area of TDR in a split second. There are a couple of special features here to enjoy... You get the first 5 minutes of the "Minnie O Minnie" show in Adventureland, then the dvd jumps into teaching mode as Donald, Minnie and a couple of dancers teach you the "Shake your Bom Bom" audience participation dance for this show. The other special feature is a 15 mins long introduction of TDS' Legend of Mythica, the new and presumably over the top spectacular to end all, which debuts on July 14th. The show is introduced by several Disney cast member... the show producer, one of the show designers by the name of Steven...and another gent in charge of the entertainment productions in Japan. Our most flamboyant Steven...talks like a proud papa about this new production.. (Take note: this is how giddy imagineers get when they are given free reigns and sky high budgets to work with... if only WDW's local crew got a clue from this one..) Steven goes on to explain what the show will be like, the technical aspects of the show, as well as giving us previews of costuming, props and many other surprises that are in store for guests at TDS during this daytime lagoon extravaganza... in Steven's own words.. "The biggest daytime lagoon show ever produced for a disney park". He certainly caught my attention. Sadly, this is the only teaser we get in relation to TDS' 5th anniversary celebration which will include many more surprises and the long anticipated new version of TOT. Those items are not covered in this new show, so we may have to wait for the next big update some years down the road. Like all other dvds released by Disney.. expect some previews of Disney movies and related material. So all in all... I can not help but give "Enjoy! TDR" an enthusiastic THUMBS UP! Of course... it's not a secret that I *love* TDR, but almost every other moment of this dvd show made me teary eye in joy. It's an epic Disney resort tour and no Disney park fan should be without. I highly recommend it. Shortly, I will be posting a separate review for the other dvd release "TDR: Super Story" where little known details from both TDL and TDR come to light in a most informative (for japanese speakers that is..) dvd program about the TDR we don't normally stop to look at and discover.
Originally Posted By Faith Thanks! I'm definitely going to be ordering this set very soon- TDR videos are always high quality.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN PART 2: "Tokyo Disney Resort: Super Story" dvd review" The second dvd in the new series is a more sedated experience to allow you to discover the many secrets and backstories there are scattered thru TDL and TDS. The dvd is divided into two sections, one for TDS and one for TDL. Total viewing time is 1 hr 39 mins and the format is full screen. For those interested in watching only a section or topic of interest, you can jump to your interested topic or attraction by using one of the two menus avalable: select by land (TDL) or port (TDS), or you can access the attraction menu and select by attraction of interest. While the first DVD "Enjoy! TDR" is a more frenetic look at everything there is to be enjoyed at TDR, the "Super Story" dvd takes a more sedated approach. To start, you must choose what park you want to view first. I started with TDS... After a brief introduction to the port area to be discussed, a female narrator takes over and starts a tour of all of the backstories and items of interests that make up the stories the park tells thru it's architecture and themes.. For example... you learn how important the Zambini Family is to the history of Mediterranean Harbor...etc etc. Almost every backstory or point of interest is explained by the narrator as we travel from one attraction, shop or restaurant, to the next.. then to the next port, and finally to the next park to do it all over again, discovering new things, sights, and even props that may be missed by the casual visitor, or even the most ardent fan after many visits.. I should say since there were things there that I have never seen at TDS or TDL after all these years visiting those fine resorts. If you are a Disney freak in regards to story telling, hidden mickeys, little known facts or hidden meanings in regards to the architecture and theming of the Disney parks... well this "Super Story" dvd is right up your alley. You will apreciate all of the little details there are all over the park. It is packed with so much trivia and inside info... to last a lifetime and round up the experience of being at TDS or TDL to and bring it to a whole new level of artistry and enjoyment. The most dedicated of fans would go crazy pointing out details to newbies as you explore TDR after seeing this dvd program.. Now... there are the minuses... especially for us westerners. The dvd is entirely in japanese, so for those of us who are not japanese speakers... 98% of the information presented will probably get lost in the inability to know the language. Also, while the show's visuals are stuning and exceeded my expectations in presenting the most miniscule and biggest of details in digital clarity from TDS and TDL's many corners... there is one HUGE obstacle for us westerners to overcome: the female narrator. The lady in charge of narrating this dvd...well, she is very shakesperian in style.. and she talks *constantly*. However, at times...her voice's tone in whispery and for most of it... monotonous. I am sure for a japanese speaker, this would be great as a lot of little known info is being presented, but for those of us who do not speak japanese, we have to rely on the visuals and the visuals alone may or may not be enough to maintain your interest, depending on your interest in the subject. Also, I noticed that several little scenes repeated itself thru the program several times... for example, there is this flyover scene over mediterranean Harbor that was repeated approximately 4 times thur the TDS program. The scene only last a mere few seconds but after seeing it 3-4 times... it became tedious. However... those minuses aside, you will be in for a visual treat since many attractions, shows and park areas are highlighted here with a more generous amount of time and footage, so you will get to see more of Hunny Hunt here than you did on the "Enjoy! TDR" dvd, for example... just to name one of several examples. IN closing.... Both dvds can be purchased separately for about 2,800 yen each or both together in a boxed set that saves you some money, priced at 5,000 yen, plus sales tax. They are great mementos to any visit to TDR, and a must have for Disney park collectors. But remember, they are region #2. You must have a region 2 or region-free dvd player to view, and it won't play on PAL systems either. These are NTCS dvd formats. With that warning out of the way... TDLFAN says...**** out of 5. Check them out.
Originally Posted By Faith Just wanted to say that I got my DVD set in the mail today- whee! Will watch at least 1 of them tonight.
Originally Posted By schnebs Sounds like I need to buy a region-free DVD player and learn Japanese.These DVDs sound really cool. Why can't BVHE or WDP&R put out stuff this cool for the US parks?
Originally Posted By TDLFAN Well...then, how do you explain the demand for the free planning dvd year after year after year, when in relaity those dvd programs are basically a compilation of TV ads and promotional material intended for the press, with some crazy go-lucky host/hostess added for continuity?
Originally Posted By leemac Ummm... becuase they are free and vacation-planning guides rather than geek-targeted DVDs?
Originally Posted By TDLFAN >>Ummm... becuase they are free and vacation-planning guides rather than geek-targeted DVDs?<< Well... am I glad I am not that cheap, but at least some of us geeks appreciate the efforts coming from our favorite (and best) Disney resort on Earth, especially when the effort placed into producing them makes them far superior and enjoyable to watch, over Lizzy the bubbly WDW CM taking us on a tour to see how great it is to stay on property and buying DVC memberships.
Originally Posted By gurgitoy2 "Ummm... becuase they are free and vacation-planning guides rather than geek-targeted DVDs?" Uh, oh, what like your magazine readership?? You're rag is aimed squarely at the same target audience as those DVD's would, so I guess that shows how you REALLY feel about the people you are selling too.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN Hmmm... I guess that makes you be the biggest geek of the all Lee, since you care enough to produce a magazine about Disney. Nothing to be ashamed of kid.
Originally Posted By leemac ^^ I'm not. I don't see geek to be a derogatory term like gurgitoy2 obviously does. I don't believe there is a market for the type of park-related DVDs that Disney produce in Japan.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN I don't think Gurgitoy sees the term "geek" as a derrogatory word either but the way you posted earlier did seem to be used in a derrogatory way.
Originally Posted By gurgitoy2 Yeah, I don't see "geek" as derrogatory, but it was the way you said it, Lee. It came off as a slam. Also... "I don't believe there is a market for the type of park-related DVDs that Disney produce in Japan." Uh, I guess you should tell that to the people at WDW and DLR who produce the souvenir DVD's they sell at the parks...I don't think they know they are unpopular...
Originally Posted By leemac <<Uh, I guess you should tell that to the people at WDW and DLR who produce the souvenir DVD's they sell at the parks...I don't think they know they are unpopular...>> Totally different product gurgitoy. Big difference from a "souvenir" DVD and one that is "behind-the-scenes" like so many of the TDR ones. BVHE have determined that there isn't the market for those geek DVDs in the US. I'm inclined to agree with them.
Originally Posted By leemac <<Ummm... becuase they are free and vacation-planning guides rather than geek-targeted DVDs?>> There is absolutely nothing there to suggest it is a slam. Absolutely nothing.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN What behind the scenes DVD from Japan? Because only the Discover TDR dvd (gold cover) is a true close up look at the details many miss at the parks. But all other dvd programs are for the most part straight to the point about what's available to do and see at TDR. >>I'm inclined to agree with them.<< I don't. I think there is a market in this conutry as well. Otherwise..why are there so many people in the US who are willing to overpay online for these TDR dvd programs??? I think the dvds produced for WDW/DL are just about as similar to the ones from TDR, but only the production values are better with Japanese dvds. No heavy use of promotional material as used in those free-planning dvds and also on the souvenir dvds sold about the parks.
