[Question] Looking for General Advice and Dialog on TDR

[HydroGuy]

Hi all, first post on this forum. I will be at TDR for 3 1/2 days with my DS13 in mid-November after a business trip in China. That works out nicely that we will already be time zone adjusted.

I am a lurker and sometimes poster on the DLR and WDW forums here. DLR is my home resort (born and grew up in SoCal). I go to DLR about once a year with my family and we usually stay a few days. Have been to DLR many times over the years.

I have been to WDW twice (2006, 2008) and DLRP once (2007). This will be my second trip to Asia and first to TDR. I have been lurking here for a few weeks and reading posts from recent months.

I bought Kevin Yee's TDR book and decided my best bet was a TDR official hotel. The business trip just came up two weeks ago and I was short of time and unfortunately going to TDR over a holiday period in Japan so rooms were hard to find and pricey. I did get a room at the Sunroute Plaza at a higher rate than I would like. But I was glad to have any room at all. First choice would have been Hilton or Sheraton but they were booked even at the very high rates.

All I have at this point are flight and hotel reservations. Kevin Yee recommended the "limousine" service from Narita and I am planning to do that. No restaurant reservations yet. Planning to buy park tix at the hotel upon arrival. Based on what I have read I think we will spend two full days at TDS and 1 1/2 at TDL.

In any case, I am an avid Disney forum reader and will be glad to share my pre-trip and post trip perspectives and read yours as well. Some dialog would make this trip more fun. Feel free to share any and all thoughts and advice!

[Fukai]

Re: Looking for General Advice and Dialog on TDR

Welcome to this little corner of the world.

I've heard that there are few English-speaking staff members at Sun-Route Plaza, so don't be surprised if you have to be extra patient in making yourself understood. It's not one of the hotels recommended for Western visitors because of that.

The hotel is also the furthest from the Bayside Station for the Resort Liner (monorail). I am not sure if it's shorter to walk to the front of Tokyo Disneyland from your hotel rather than taking the monorail, so you might want to check if there's a pedestrian path.

Make sure that you are on line at the entrance to the park 45 minutes before park opening. Don't be slack on this or you'll find yourself facing rides with two and three-hour waits. You can find posts on this part of the board with specific directions on which rides to head to first, which to get Fastpasses for first, etc. For the Tokyo Disney Resort, you must use FastPass and use it wisely in order to see all that you want to see and avoid spending your whole day waiting on long lines. It is not uncommon for a Japanese visitor to see only three or four rides in an entire day. We can help you see everything in your time at the park.

You say you have 2 days at DisneySea and 1.5 days at Tokyo Disneyland. The lines at DisneySea tend to be shorter than those at Disneyland, and if your half day at Disneyland starts at noon or later, then you'll want to swap that half day to Tokyo DisneySea, when it matters much less if you arrive late. There are also far fewer attractions to visit at DisneySea.

You can't miss the counters for the Airport Limousine Bus when you exit the customs and baggage area. A one-way ticket to your hotel (and make sure you take the bus that hits the Sun-Route Plaza at the Tokyo Disney Resort) should cost 2,400 yen. (Arrange for your return bus tickets at the bell captain's desk at your hotel a day or two BEFORE you leave--don't wait until the last day.) It's about 40 minutes from Narita airport to the Tokyo Disney Resort with no traffic.

[rkj1969]

Re: Looking for General Advice and Dialog on TDR

I hope I'll get to see your trip report before we head out to TDR for Thanksgiving! Have a great time!!

[HydroGuy]

Re: Looking for General Advice and Dialog on TDR

I've heard that there are few English-speaking staff members at Sun-Route Plaza, so don't be surprised if you have to be extra patient in making yourself understood. It's not one of the hotels recommended for Western visitors because of that.

Thanks for the advance notice. Did not know that.

The hotel is also the furthest from the Bayside Station for the Resort Liner (monorail). I am not sure if it's shorter to walk to the front of Tokyo Disneyland from your hotel rather than taking the monorail, so you might want to check if there's a pedestrian path.

I looked on Google Earth last week and was wondering the same thing. The Sunroute seemed pretty close to TDL. Guess I will find out.

Make sure that you are on line at the entrance to the park 45 minutes before park opening. Don't be slack on this or you'll find yourself facing rides with two and three-hour waits. You can find posts on this part of the board with specific directions on which rides to head to first, which to get Fastpasses for first, etc. For the Tokyo Disney Resort, you must use FastPass and use it wisely in order to see all that you want to see and avoid spending your whole day waiting on long lines. It is not uncommon for a Japanese visitor to see only three or four rides in an entire day. We can help you see everything in your time at the park.

I always arrive early and get FPs at the American parks so this will work for me. Kevin Yee said FP works the same as at DLR and WDW - they have the one-hour windows and accept them even after the window expires. Is that your experience?

You say you have 2 days at DisneySea and 1.5 days at Tokyo Disneyland. The lines at DisneySea tend to be shorter than those at Disneyland, and if your half day at Disneyland starts at noon or later, then you'll want to swap that half day to Tokyo DisneySea, when it matters much less if you arrive late. There are also far fewer attractions to visit at DisneySea.

All day Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, and then the morning of Wednesday. This is November 22-25. Monday the 23rd is apparently a holiday in Japan and I expect that to mean it will be very busy on Sunday and Monday. Then Tuesday is a non-holiday and I expect the crowds will be less. On Wednesday we have a flight at 5:30PM from Narita. I thought we could get in a half day at TDL until Noon or 1PM.

From Kevin Yee I understand I need to specify which parks I will visit on the first two days. Unless there is a reason otherwise I think we will do Sunday at TDL, Monday at TDS, Tuesday at TDS and then early Wednesday at TDL. Does that seem reasonable?

You can't miss the counters for the Airport Limousine Bus when you exit the customs and baggage area. A one-way ticket to your hotel (and make sure you take the bus that hits the Sun-Route Plaza at the Tokyo Disney Resort) should cost 2,400 yen. (Arrange for your return bus tickets at the bell captain's desk at your hotel a day or two BEFORE you leave--don't wait until the last day.) It's about 40 minutes from Narita airport to the Tokyo Disney Resort with no traffic.

Thanks for the tip.

[HydroGuy]

Re: Looking for General Advice and Dialog on TDR

I hope I'll get to see your trip report before we head out to TDR for Thanksgiving! Have a great time!!

We fly back on Wednesday November 25 so I do not think I can help! We leave at 5:30PM and then get back to Colorado still on the 25th at 2:30PM with the backwards change in date. I may post some real time updates while there if I have time.

[DuffyGuardian]

Re: Looking for General Advice and Dialog on TDR

Welcome to a fun board. DLR is my home park too,but I am in love with TDR. You will have an amazing time.

The day you are there that is a holiday, I would think you would want to do TDS that day. Correct me if Im wrong guys. The reason I say that is TDR is always busy and holidays its packed, where I have read that TDS is not quite on holidays but better then TDR.


What we did to save on some time, was eat breakfast at our hotel or on the run(like in line waiting to get in). We didn't make any reservations. We ate where ever we were and it worked out well. I think next time I like to eat at one of the Disney Hotels. From post I have seen the food looks great and cute.

If you are a shopper, shop as you go through the park. Although you will see some items again and again in different stores. Its not like the state side park. You may see an item in one store and never see it again. To save you time, just pick up your items as you see them.

What we did that helped during our 3 days. Is instead of going back to the room mid day. We just found a place to sit, with something to drink and some yummy popcorn and relaxed for an hour or so. People watched, took in the surroundings. We really like the Cape Cod area of TDS. We ate lunch at some place(forget the name) but its right next to the store that sell Duffy and has red chairs outfront. We enjoyed that area, we stayed for a while. It was nice to be off your feet, relaxing but not having to go back and forth to the hotel. Which we normally do in the stateside parks.

I would assume you would need to dress warm. I did layers. (was there Oct 31 & Nov 3-6)

If your camera shoots video(my point and shoot did) bring lost of memory cards. Each day I fill at 5 gig. And I still wanted to shoot more. Each night i would have to down load photos and video, so I could shoot more the next day. Its just so very different and well its hard to put into words. But its a great place and you will have an amazing time.

[Fukai]

Re: Looking for General Advice and Dialog on TDR

Yes, FastPasses work the same way--although some people have reported that they could not use their Fastpasses after the end return time in Tokyo, I have done this hundreds of times ever since they first installed FastPass and NEVER had a problem (and I always come back to the attraction long after my specified FastPass return time).

I assumed your half day would be afternoon rather than morning, so ignore my advice on that. The other poster's advice about Tokyo DisneySea is correct: it is always less busy than Tokyo Disneyland, and on busy days you should always do DisneySea. So, I would revise your schedule to do DisneySea on Sunday and Monday, then Tokyo Disneyland on Tuesday and Wednesday morning. Remember that the Tokyo Disney Resort is, like Disneyland in Anaheim, essentially a local resort, so you want to avoid weekends if possible (my trips always last from Monday morning to Friday night). So, Sunday will be very busy at Tokyo Disneyland while DisneySea will very likely have many fewer attendees.

Many of our most experience folks haven't posted here yet, so perhaps they'll have some additional advice.

[rkj1969]

Re: Looking for General Advice and Dialog on TDR

We fly back on Wednesday November 25 so I do not think I can help! We leave at 5:30PM and then get back to Colorado still on the 25th at 2:30PM with the backwards change in date. I may post some real time updates while there if I have time.

You're right! Maybe I'll see you in line somewhere!

Since you're coming into Narita at 5:30, were you planning to try the train from the airport? we're still debating limo or train....we're at the Sheraton for our Disney Days and then will move to Shinjuku for the weekend - so I imagine we'll have plenty of train time and might as well just do the limo bus to make things easy....

[HydroGuy]

Re: Looking for General Advice and Dialog on TDR

You're right! Maybe I'll see you in line somewhere!

Since you're coming into Narita at 5:30, were you planning to try the train from the airport? we're still debating limo or train....we're at the Sheraton for our Disney Days and then will move to Shinjuku for the weekend - so I imagine we'll have plenty of train time and might as well just do the limo bus to make things easy....

I was planning limo both ways as it seemed more straightforward. The thought of getting on a train in Japan scares me frankly. )

[GUYNYC]

Re: Looking for General Advice and Dialog on TDR

Couple of observations for you.

Seriously, get to the Parks early. Grab a piece of the ground and just relax. Write postcards, review your pics from the day before, eat a snack (make sure you clean up after yourself--this isn't the US where people just drop stuff-not that you would)...whatever you want. But get their early. And be prepared for the mad dash when the gates open. Avoid the characters at entry. (They come out right before opening and wave and such to the crowd, and then hang around for pictures and autos.) Avoid them, and run...yes run to whatever the hottest attraction at the time is--Probably still Monsters Inc (as it's very different from DCA and a cool ride to begin with on your first venture to TDR). Grab a fastpass and then head off and do whatever you can in that time. I did Fantasyland cause it's closest. But seriously, be prepared for the run--its fun, fast and you'll laugh at yourself the whole way if you're over twenty. I found it just funny (I'm 40) and was used to the DL or WDW orderly progression of traffic. I honestly thought I was going to be killed or cause someone to faceplant if I didn't run. It's hysterical. You can't help but laugh at yourself....

Another piece of advice that you see on this forum--is to play the FP game. I was rarely a player at DL of that. But at TDR it makes all the difference. Seriously. Play it, and play it well.

My flight arrived at like 5pm and I was nervous about catching the last Disney bus from the airport and then figured my backup would be the train. (I did miss the Disney bus). But when you come out of customs you can't help but walk right into the limo bus service counter. Tell them where you are going (they speak very good English) and you pay them the fee and off you go. It's so easy. (Save yourself some time and have some Yen already by ordering it from your local bank). The limo bus service is not like transportation here in the US. Its very organized and orderly. Absolutely no pushing or shoving or line cutting. (fyi--same goes for the Parks). Get your ticket, go to the numbered sign, and get in line. It's that simple. And traffic, I worried about that, but there was no need. It was very simple--I'd reco doing it this way than taking the train...the train requires some thinking and translating and navigating. Not to mention crowds. Too much to do after the flight. Do the limo bus service.

And enjoy!

[HydroGuy]

Re: Looking for General Advice and Dialog on TDR

Yes, FastPasses work the same way--although some people have reported that they could not use their Fastpasses after the end return time in Tokyo, I have done this hundreds of times ever since they first installed FastPass and NEVER had a problem (and I always come back to the attraction long after my specified FastPass return time).

I assumed your half day would be afternoon rather than morning, so ignore my advice on that. The other poster's advice about Tokyo DisneySea is correct: it is always less busy than Tokyo Disneyland, and on busy days you should always do DisneySea. So, I would revise your schedule to do DisneySea on Sunday and Monday, then Tokyo Disneyland on Tuesday and Wednesday morning. Remember that the Tokyo Disney Resort is, like Disneyland in Anaheim, essentially a local resort, so you want to avoid weekends if possible (my trips always last from Monday morning to Friday night). So, Sunday will be very busy at Tokyo Disneyland while DisneySea will very likely have many fewer attendees.

Many of our most experience folks haven't posted here yet, so perhaps they'll have some additional advice.

I will have to think more about the "which days" part. It will be hard to wait until the third day to go to TDL. I wish I could have scheduled around the holiday weekend better but was locked in by business in China beforehand and Thanksgiving at home which we want to get back for.

If we do TDS on the busy Sunday and holiday Monday as you suggest will we get a solid experience there? My original thought to do TDS on Tuesday was to give us at least one less crowded day there and then with TDL on Wednesday an uncrowded half day there too.

[HydroGuy]

Re: Looking for General Advice and Dialog on TDR

Couple of observations for you.

Seriously, get to the Parks early. Grab a piece of the ground and just relax. Write postcards, review your pics from the day before, eat a snack (make sure you clean up after yourself--this isn't the US where people just drop stuff-not that you would)...whatever you want. But get their early. And be prepared for the mad dash when the gates open. Avoid the characters at entry. (They come out right before opening and wave and such to the crowd, and then hang around for pictures and autos.) Avoid them, and run...yes run to whatever the hottest attraction at the time is--Probably still Monsters Inc (as it's very different from DCA and a cool ride to begin with on your first venture to TDR). Grab a fastpass and then head off and do whatever you can in that time. I did Fantasyland cause it's closest. But seriously, be prepared for the run--its fun, fast and you'll laugh at yourself the whole way if you're over twenty. I found it just funny (I'm 40) and was used to the DL or WDW orderly progression of traffic. I honestly thought I was going to be killed or cause someone to faceplant if I didn't run. It's hysterical. You can't help but laugh at yourself....

Another piece of advice that you see on this forum--is to play the FP game. I was rarely a player at DL of that. But at TDR it makes all the difference. Seriously. Play it, and play it well.

My flight arrived at like 5pm and I was nervous about catching the last Disney bus from the airport and then figured my backup would be the train. (I did miss the Disney bus). But when you come out of customs you can't help but walk right into the limo bus service counter. Tell them where you are going (they speak very good English) and you pay them the fee and off you go. It's so easy. (Save yourself some time and have some Yen already by ordering it from your local bank). The limo bus service is not like transportation here in the US. Its very organized and orderly. Absolutely no pushing or shoving or line cutting. (fyi--same goes for the Parks). Get your ticket, go to the numbered sign, and get in line. It's that simple. And traffic, I worried about that, but there was no need. It was very simple--I'd reco doing it this way than taking the train...the train requires some thinking and translating and navigating. Not to mention crowds. Too much to do after the flight. Do the limo bus service.

And enjoy!

Thanks again. I am a master FP collector at DLR and WDW and that experience will come in handy it appears. We always arrive early at DLR and WDW parks as well.

Thanks for all the good advice. I need to bone up some more on the rides and come up with a base strategy of where to start each day, and also figure out which shows to see. Back to Yee's book and the TDR website.

[HydroGuy]

Re: Looking for General Advice and Dialog on TDR

So, I would revise your schedule to do DisneySea on Sunday and Monday, then Tokyo Disneyland on Tuesday and Wednesday morning.

If I understand the multi-day ticket policy, we must choose TDL or TDS on day 1 Sunday and the other park on day 2 Monday - the holiday. Any reason to do TDL or TDS first?

[DuffyGuardian]

Re: Looking for General Advice and Dialog on TDR

If I understand the multi-day ticket policy, we must choose TDL or TDS on day 1 Sunday and the other park on day 2 Monday - the holiday. Any reason to do TDL or TDS first?

Others will know better then me. I know that you want to do TDS on which ever day is the busiest at TDL. With out a holiday on Monday, I would have chosen to do TDS on Sunday(due to TDL should be busier on a weekend) But with a holiday on Monday, Im not sure which day is the best day for TDL.

If it wasn't for the crowd issue, it doesn't matter which park you did first. IMO I think TDS will just take your breath away and you will fall in love with the park. Which may lead you to wanting to spend all your time there. With that said TDL is also a great park. Different in a lot of ways then the other Disneyland Parks. So its breath taking in its own right. So I don't see why one park would be better first then the other. Someone else may know.

[HydroGuy]

Re: Looking for General Advice and Dialog on TDR

run to whatever the hottest attraction at the time is--Probably still Monsters Inc (as it's very different from DCA and a cool ride to begin with on your first venture to TDR). Grab a fastpass and then head off and do whatever you can in that time.

I see that MI is new at TDL. Is it very good? I was going to try for Pooh's Hunny Hunt first. Is MI a better choice to go first?

[TDLFAN]

Re: Looking for General Advice and Dialog on TDR

I see that MI is new at TDL. Is it very good? I was going to try for Pooh's Hunny Hunt first. Is MI a better choice to go first?

YOU MUST GET A FASTPASS for Monsters first, and don't wait to get there late. You must arrive before the park opens and run to it as soon as you enter the park. The FPs for MI will be gone by 10am. HUnny Hunt's FPs will be available until around 12 noon.. so you can always get a FP for Pooh as soon as your FP restriction window is lifted.

So I don't see why one park would be better first then the other. Someone else may know.

If the Xmas event at TDS is as crowded as it was for TDS' Halloween, it won't matter. Truth is.. TDS is almost as crowded as TDL during weekends... so that idea of visiting TDS over TDL on weekends and holidays is really not "the law". I would always start with TDL simply because there is much more to do at TDL than TDS. Again.. weekdays may see less people at TDS over TDL but the fact remains...during special holiday events, it just doesn't matter which park you should do first.

[DuffyGuardian]

Re: Looking for General Advice and Dialog on TDR

If the Xmas event at TDS is as crowded as it was for TDS' Halloween, it won't matter. Truth is.. TDS is almost as crowded as TDL during weekends... so that idea of visiting TDS over TDL on weekends and holidays is really not "the law". I would always start with TDL simply because there is much more to do at TDL than TDS. Again.. weekdays may see less people at TDS over TDL but the fact remains...during special holiday events, it just doesn't matter which park you should do first.

I get what you are saying. Makes senses. Hope you are enjoying your trip. :-)

[TDLFAN]

Re: Looking for General Advice and Dialog on TDR

I am not on a trip, yet. I am home. I won't be in Tokyo until this coming week. Plus it's a business trip, not pleasure. If I can spend more than 4 hours at TDR, it'd be a miracle.

[DuffyGuardian]

Re: Looking for General Advice and Dialog on TDR

I am not on a trip, yet. I am home. I won't be in Tokyo until this coming week. Plus it's a business trip, not pleasure. If I can spend more than 4 hours at TDR, it'd be a miracle.

For some reason I though you were there. I hope that your business trip goes well and that you get a few hours in the park.