Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 ... the Earth shook. Literally, LPers. And I didn't even notice. Not. At. All. Anyway, we had a 6.9 temblor just off the coast of Tokyo a little after noon today. A friend and I were in line for Journey to the Center of the Earth -- you all know, that's the attraction that simulates drilling into the earth, which causes seismic activity and culminates in shooting you out of an erupting volcano. All I know is we were in line, getting excited and they made announcements in Japanese that the attraction was closed. Neither one of us thought a thing. I just mentioned this was typical as it uses Test Track's very unreliable ride system and is often down. We did feel some rumbling, but the theming is so freaking incredible there (and includes regular 'rumbling') that we really thought it was part of the attraction. No one acted strangely. The park didn't close. Nothing strange at all. Only at dinner with some special Spirits (some known in these parts!) did we learn that there had been a significant shaker that was felt in the park and actually caused some buildings to sway in downtown. So ... there you have it. Karma? Fate? A twisted higher power with a great sense of humor? But I experienced my first real earthquake today and missed it because I was convinced it was a Disney special effect. What can I say? I completed my Disney parks circuit, saving one of the absolute best (possibly the best non-MK park) for last. Oh, I think I'm ready to debate Leemac on the TDS vs. DCA subject now that I have actually spent a day here. ;-) I did finally manage a ride on JTTCoTE later in the day (and could have done multiples as I spent two hours this evening just walking around the park ... mostly Med Harbor and American Waterfront before heading over to the Miracosta) ... and it lived up to its billing. One amazing E-Ticket. TT whole attraction is its ride system. No show. Nothing really. But in TDS, you see just what this system is capable of doing (when not shut down by quakes) ... and the lava monster may not be the Yeti, but he also works perfectly and doesn't need disco lights to hide the fact he is a large yetican. What else can I say? The park is jawdropping incredible. Everywhere you look the sightlines and scenary are breathtaking ... it's just such a complete park. Something I haven't experienced since EC debutted. Something that DAK comes close to in some ways, but not nearly enough. There were almost no crowds by Tokyo standards. Never saw a wait come close to an hour. Well, maybe ToT and Journey did hit 50-55 minutes. Walked on 20K twice and was very impressed. Walked on Sinbad twice and was very impressed. Don't get why this isn't a huge hit after they added the 'cute kitty' (yes, I hate the whole obsession with cute here and I have only been in Tokyo since Saturday!) Walked on Stormrider ... oops, that was after a 10-minute wait ... and was very impressed. Saw Mythica and was blown away. Just an incredible show on so many levels. Saw the Magic Lamp Theater show and was very impressed. Too bad I didn't know you could get an English language device. Walked thru Mermaid Lagoon and, you guessed it, very impressed. Rode Raging Spirits. Single rider walk-on. Enjoyed it for the views, but it basically is a very basic coaster with some light fire and water effects. They could have done better. Won the lottery for the new Christmas Wishes show ... albeit standing room. Enjoyed it a lot ... the entertainment budget for the two Tokyo parks must be greater than all USA parks combined with maybe the two Paris parks thrown in for good measure. Had two overpriced small meals, but they were at least quality today unlike TDL. Much more to come ... provided we don't have any more shaking! ~Spirit: Now Proud Owner of the Disney Empire Parks Complete World Tour Collection LE Duffy Plush~
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 ... the Earth shook. Literally, LPers. And I didn't even notice. Not. At. All. Anyway, we had a 6.9 temblor just off the coast of Tokyo a little after noon today. A friend and I were in line for Journey to the Center of the Earth -- you all know, that's the attraction that simulates drilling into the earth, which causes seismic activity and culminates in shooting you out of an erupting volcano. All I know is we were in line, getting excited and they made announcements in Japanese that the attraction was closed. Neither one of us thought a thing. I just mentioned this was typical as it uses Test Track's very unreliable ride system and is often down. We did feel some rumbling, but the theming is so freaking incredible there (and includes regular 'rumbling') that we really thought it was part of the attraction. No one acted strangely. The park didn't close. Nothing strange at all. Only at dinner with some special Spirits (some known in these parts!) did we learn that there had been a significant shaker that was felt in the park and actually caused some buildings to sway in downtown. So ... there you have it. Karma? Fate? A twisted higher power with a great sense of humor? But I experienced my first real earthquake today and missed it because I was convinced it was a Disney special effect. What can I say? I completed my Disney parks circuit, saving one of the absolute best (possibly the best non-MK park) for last. Oh, I think I'm ready to debate Leemac on the TDS vs. DCA subject now that I have actually spent a day here. ;-) I did finally manage a ride on JTTCoTE later in the day (and could have done multiples as I spent two hours this evening just walking around the park ... mostly Med Harbor and American Waterfront before heading over to the Miracosta) ... and it lived up to its billing. One amazing E-Ticket. TT whole attraction is its ride system. No show. Nothing really. But in TDS, you see just what this system is capable of doing (when not shut down by quakes) ... and the lava monster may not be the Yeti, but he also works perfectly and doesn't need disco lights to hide the fact he is a large yetican. What else can I say? The park is jawdropping incredible. Everywhere you look the sightlines and scenary are breathtaking ... it's just such a complete park. Something I haven't experienced since EC debutted. Something that DAK comes close to in some ways, but not nearly enough. There were almost no crowds by Tokyo standards. Never saw a wait come close to an hour. Well, maybe ToT and Journey did hit 50-55 minutes. Walked on 20K twice and was very impressed. Walked on Sinbad twice and was very impressed. Don't get why this isn't a huge hit after they added the 'cute kitty' (yes, I hate the whole obsession with cute here and I have only been in Tokyo since Saturday!) Walked on Stormrider ... oops, that was after a 10-minute wait ... and was very impressed. Saw Mythica and was blown away. Just an incredible show on so many levels. Saw the Magic Lamp Theater show and was very impressed. Too bad I didn't know you could get an English language device. Walked thru Mermaid Lagoon and, you guessed it, very impressed. Rode Raging Spirits. Single rider walk-on. Enjoyed it for the views, but it basically is a very basic coaster with some light fire and water effects. They could have done better. Won the lottery for the new Christmas Wishes show ... albeit standing room. Enjoyed it a lot ... the entertainment budget for the two Tokyo parks must be greater than all USA parks combined with maybe the two Paris parks thrown in for good measure. Had two overpriced small meals, but they were at least quality today unlike TDL. Much more to come ... provided we don't have any more shaking! ~Spirit: Now Proud Owner of the Disney Empire Parks Complete World Tour Collection LE Duffy Plush~
Originally Posted By tashajilek Hey good thing you didnt notice that it was an actual earthquake!! Sounds like you had a nice time at TDS.
Originally Posted By leemac <<The park is jawdropping incredible. Everywhere you look the sightlines and scenary are breathtaking ... it's just such a complete park. Something I haven't experienced since EC debutted. Something that DAK comes close to in some ways, but not nearly enough.>> Glad you enjoyed it. Be glad that you haven't experienced a typhoon - I'd take a quick shake over the various typhoons I've experienced in Japan any day!
Originally Posted By barboy2 ///6.9 temblor just off the coast of Tokyo a little after noon today. A friend and I were in line for Journey to the Center of the Earth/// Fitting.... most fitting indeed! I had one of those too---- but it happened during the preshow(queue) in the "holding tank" on Stormrider. Our quake derailed a train somewhere in the metropolis and caused a death or three and a few injuries.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer I think it's a perfect attribute to that park that you were fooled by a special effect! I would have been glad to miss it. LOL. And all these posts do is make me want to go to Tokyo. VERY, very, very badly. Glad you are having fun!
Originally Posted By Anatole69 Raging Spirits was the only ride that disappointed me at TDS. Did you ride Indy? I like how the one in TDS has enough differences that it's well worth going on even if you have been on the one in DL. - Anatole
Originally Posted By SuperDry Glad you had a great time, and that TDS lived up to your expectations. Now be sure to spread the word in the WDW and DL sections that we're not just blowin' smoke when we talk about TDS. <<< I just mentioned this was typical as it uses Test Track's very unreliable ride system and is often down. >>> I've heard that it's expensive to maintain, but not that it's particularly unreliable in the sense that that it causes frequent downtime. Maybe by Tokyo standards. I can think of just a couple of times that it's been down unexpectedly when I've been visiting, and they always managed to get it fixed the same day (even once when it broke down toward the end of the day on the day right before the annual refurb - they could have easily just left it down and not repaired it only for 2-3 hours of service before the refurb, but they went the extra mile and got it working again). <<< Won the lottery for the new Christmas Wishes show ... albeit standing room. Enjoyed it a lot ... the entertainment budget for the two Tokyo parks must be greater than all USA parks combined with maybe the two Paris parks thrown in for good measure. >>> Consider not only the depth and breadth of the entertainment, but that as I've mentioned before, most of the seasonal entertainment is changed out every year. The TDL Christmas Parade you saw is for this year only, as is the stage show at TDS. <<< Walked thru Mermaid Lagoon and, you guessed it, very impressed. >>> One thing notably absent from your report is "Under the Sea", performed in the Little Mermaid Theater. Even if you normally skip stage shows, please make a point of seeing this one. It's only 12 minutes long, and runs like an attraction, not a show (that is, shows back-to-back the entire time the park is open). It's one of TDS's shining gems. Also, even if you don't eat at Magellan's, consider going into the bar for a drink just to spend some time in there. There's almost never a wait. They have "bar" seating at tables on the bar level, or "bar counter" seating at the bar itself. There is a small menu of light snacks, and one entree option if you choose to make a meal of it. <<< ~Spirit: Now Proud Owner of the Disney Empire Parks Complete World Tour Collection LE Duffy Plush~ >>> Are you going to bring him back to TDS and carry him around on future days?
Originally Posted By karlg First, its great you had a good time. Definitely going in the middle of the week is the way to see the Tokyo parks. But you really need to go on Saturday to TDL and Sunday to TDS and get the "full" experience. To really get the full experience you need to see all the fast passes gone and 2 hour waits for everything other than Country Bears. . . oops, sorry back flashback. It does make a big difference in the experience based on how crowded the parks may be. While I'm not as bowled over by TDS as I thought I would be, I will say, I probably had the best visit there the last time partly because it happen to not be so crowded. I was willing to wait 40 minutes in the JTTCOTE queue and enjoy it when before I would almost always take a FP to avoid a 2 hour wait and that made a big difference as I really enjoyed that queue. The atmosphere of TDS is really well done, but I'm more of an attractions fan and there I find the park more wanting. While JTTCOTE has a fantastic queue including the 2 parts and the elevator (I think the best at any Disney attraction) but the main ride to me is a bit underwhelming. The Indiana Jones at TDS is a notch below Disneyland's (they shouldn't have left the flames out). The ToT preshow and queue is good but the ride itself did not seem as good (fewer drops) as DL or WDW. From there the attractions fall off. I have been on Storm Chaser exactly once. The Little Mermaid show is enjoyable but I hate the rest of the area. 20K is more of a glorified C-Ticket. I think DL has better fireworks and DL's Fantasmic, while old, is better than anything in Tokyo. I do have problems with DL's World of Color (incoherent show and lousy viewing area) but it is still better than most of the shows in Tokyo. Gad, I'm getting old and crotchety, but that is how I see TDS. I don't dislike the place, or I wouldn't keep going back. Its just that while the atmosphere is great, the attractions are someone limited compared to say DL (my favorite park).
Originally Posted By TDLFAN It was nice seeing you yesterday and today at TDR. Glad youhad a great time. It was the meet to end all..reason why the Tiki Gods paid attention and made the Earth move in honor.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros "Are you going to bring him back to TDS and carry him around on future days?" If you do bring your Duffy back, please remember that he prefers his milk fresh from the source. There's nothing that will ruin your day quite like a hungry/grumpy teddy.
Originally Posted By TokyoSweets ***It was nice seeing you yesterday and today at TDR. Glad youhad a great time. It was the meet to end all..reason why the Tiki Gods paid attention and made the Earth move in honor.*** Agreed! TDLFAN, MagicalNezumi and Spirit together, what a great meet! It was so lovely to meet you and your companion Spirit! See you at TDS tomorrow!
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Sounds like you guys are having a great time. wish I could have joined you all. And I have a few queries, but they can wait until we next speak. I did wonder what Gary would make of the Kwai culture.
Originally Posted By TokyoSweets Spirit we forgot to set a meeting place and time is 10am where we met the first time at TDS ok? If not let me know where and when is convenient for you by e-mail and I will check it in the morning.
Originally Posted By Bob Paris 1 And somewhere a whole bunch of Disney theme park executives' ears are BLEEDING with apprehension at what such a hallowed gathering could foretell.....
Originally Posted By Lee hisownself >>It's the Ultimate Doom and Gloom Meeting. Sheesh. I wanna go!<< Seriously. We're gonna need a mega D&G meeting upon Spirit's return.
Originally Posted By SpokkerJones "Walked on Sinbad twice and was very impressed." I would love to see some rider counts for this attraction since many seem to think it's some kind of failure. I chalk it up to the same reason you're able to walk on Pirates sometimes, high capacity. "Saw the Magic Lamp Theater show and was very impressed. Too bad I didn't know you could get an English language device." Same here. Should have probably paid more attention to the map, haha.
Originally Posted By SpokkerJones I'm also guessing BraviSEAmo! is gone now since you didn't mention it, but I find that that show is better than anything in Anaheim. It just suits my own sensibilities better than cartoons and Disney films. Mickey sets things off and it's kind of an abstract love story between two elements. I have no idea what its designer was smoking, but I don't care.
