Trip Report TDR Christmas 2012 First Hand Observations

[Roger55]

Since I'm at TDR for the past week I thought I'd give a first hand opinion on this year's offerings as opposed to the Internet picture and video based opinions posted thus far.

Tokyo Disneyland has a modest and for the most part repeat of last year's Christmas offerings. The center hub display is new but the other hub displays are nearly identical to last year. Other decorations are very sparse.

Good to see Its a Small World Holiday return after a one year hiatus. Haunted Mansion Nightmare makeover and Country Bear Jingling Jamboree are also being offered this year.

Mickey's Santa's Village Parade is nearly identical to last year's version as is the
Dreamlights Christmas version parade.

The castle light and projection show also is back but isn't anything that spectacular.

TDL Christmas merchandise has be slightly refreshed bringing in Donald and Daisy gingerbread characters. Mickey and Minnie snowmice and gingerbread character from before are still in use.

Over at DisneySea, the modest offerings spill over from TDL.

Decorations this year are sparse. Some of the seven port's Christmas trees are being reused.

Lido Isle Christmas greeting show is cute but very simple. The large scale nighttime lagoon show "Colors of Christmas" is in person very pretty and technically well done. However the lack of any real story and simplicity has it falling short of expectations usually associated with TDR.

Big Band Beat Christmas version is back offering the same show as past years.

The most interesting Christmas offering at TDS this year is the new Christmas version of "Table is Waiting-Christmas Cuisine". The addition of a Christmas meal at the end is cute and the Japanese Guests love the new costumes.

There is also the typical Christmas merchandise but nothing that stands out.

Overall a very modest offering thus raising hopes that the 30th anniversary offerings will be spectacular. We will have to wait to see if this comes true.

[Fukai]

Re: TDR Christmas 2012 First Hand Observations

Thanks for the update!

[Malin]

Re: TDR Christmas 2012 First Hand Observations

Since I'm at TDR for the past week I thought I'd give a first hand opinion on this year's offerings as opposed to the Internet picture and video based opinions posted thus far.

Thanks for the first hand views. Although you've just confirmed what we already know by viewing the online pictures and videos. The Tokyo Disney Resort annual Christmas Event is a huge let down!

[Roger55]

Re: TDR Christmas 2012 First Hand Observations

Thanks for the first hand views. Although you've just confirmed what we already know by viewing the online pictures and videos. The Tokyo Disney Resort annual Christmas Event is a huge let down!

I would say mild let down. It would have to be a lot worse for me to say huge.

TDR is still the best Disney resort in the world, hands down. Even when the high expectations we all have of TDR are not met, it is still head and shoulders better than what the other resorts have to offer.

[Fukai]

Re: TDR Christmas 2012 First Hand Observations

Roger, can you confirm that there are no balloons being sold in the parks since yesterday?

[Roger55]

Re: TDR Christmas 2012 First Hand Observations

Went ahead and responded in the discussion thread specifically about the balloons.

[TravisMT81]

Re: TDR Christmas 2012 First Hand Observations

Thanks for the first hand views. Although you've just confirmed what we already know by viewing the online pictures and videos. The Tokyo Disney Resort annual Christmas Event is a huge let down!

Can always count on you for the dramatic posts!

[Malin]

Re: TDR Christmas 2012 First Hand Observations

If criticising the Resort for its lack of an effort to this years Christmas Event makes me dramatic so be... I'd much rather tell it like it is then make excuses up for them. I attended last years event and had great memories. Much of this has returned this year including the wonderful Santa Village Parade. Unfortunately most of the decorations and other seasonal offerings remain the same despite a great year for them attendance wise. The Christmas Wishes show at DisneySea has been replaced by a show many people find very underwhelming. For anyone that cares and enjoys the Resort's offerings we should be very concerned by this and the recent Halloween event and hope we will get something special next year during the Resorts 30th Anniversary. These small signs of decline is exactly why WDW is where it's at today.

[TravisMT81]

Re: TDR Christmas 2012 First Hand Observations

The sky is falling

[Roger55]

Re: TDR Christmas 2012 First Hand Observations

The sky is falling

Lol!

i will agree that the trend for just the last two events was disappointing, I am not going to overreact and start bad mouthing TDR and making overly dramatic decisions like canceling trips based on this apparent trend

Christmas and Halloween are disappointing, but Natsu Matsuri and Spring Voyage were huge NEW hits. People are quick to forget that these two new things were introduced this year.

And even though Christmas is disappointing, what other park in the world would introduce a brand new show the scale of Color of Christmas? Yeah, it doesn't meet expectations for TDR... but it still blows away most "new" offerings at the US parks as far as holiday seasonal entertainment goes.

While I agree that some of the responses are overly dramatic, I can just chalk that up to personal opinion and high praise of the expectation level that has been set by TDR.

[TravisMT81]

Re: TDR Christmas 2012 First Hand Observations

Thank you Roger, for always being the voice of reason around these parts :-)

[StarKodama]

Re: TDR Christmas 2012 First Hand Observations

Roger55, I just read this post and I have to say I agree with you completely. I was at Tokyo Disneyland today and was seriously underwhelmed by the Christmas decorations (or lack thereof). And I thought the new Christmas-themed Country Bear Jamboree was just awful, though I'm not a fan of the original CBJ either.

[Aotphks]

Re: TDR Christmas 2012 First Hand Observations

The sky is falling

LOL!! Really!! Have these posters been to the Magic Kingdom's Very Merry Christmas lately? Does not matter I guess because if they did the pricey (pay for) Christmas party.. say... 6 years ago, they would be seeing pretty much the same exact thing the did back then.

Really folks, I suppose the reason for the disappointment is because we all know the good people running Tokyo Disney Resort are probably capable of doing much better, but they too have been subjected to many problems..such as declining economy and natural disasters.

For what I have seen in pictures, the quality of the decorations seem quite elaborate and impressive. They are offering a daytime Christmas parade, In addition to the regular one, plus a night time holiday version of what is already the best electrical parade of any park, which included 4 new floats re-done for the holidays this year. Country Bears perform a holiday show, and "It's a Small World" and Haunted Mansion have both been re-done with Christmas overlays. The Castle Christmas interlude is simple but enjoyable and so are the Holiday fireworks (even if in a smaller scale). Compare all of that with what the Magic Kingdom park in Florida is doing at a premium hard ticket price and what they are offering, and it's quite clear that the japanese are getting a much better entertainment package at REGULAR day passport prices.

Those of you who are lucky to go should enjoy this for what it is as opposed to complain about it's shortcomings, even if some of it is familiar. Even "dramatic" poster Malin has stated on another topic here that the "Celebrate the season" show at the Magic Kingdom (a disappointing, minimal offering compared to previous years' holiday shows at the Castle stage)is "worth repeating" year after year. end quote. I'm sure that given the chance, poster Malin would totally go to Tokyo Disney Resort if s/he had the chance, regardless of their offerings. So would I in fact.

Over at Tokyo Disney Sea, they offer new lagoon greetings in the daytime and night time, and special holiday tags for "Big Band Beat" and "Table is Waiting"... While Disney World's secondary parks offer the exact same entertainment they have offered for over ten years, and people eat it up under the excuse of "tradition".

Sorry but I don't understand the criticism towards Tokyo Disney Resort, when clearly other Disney parks in the USA continue to give us the same stuff for over a decade. Criticize where it's due and not where we actually visit. This is the reason why we decided not to visit Disney World this holiday season, as the place is not worth spending money to visit to see the same stuff from 10 years ago. But would go to Tokyo in a heartbeat if given the opportunity.

[Malin]

Re: TDR Christmas 2012 First Hand Observations

You can look at my post as dramatic and mock and be naive towards them but it doesn't change the fact the recent trend hasn't been good. Some of you might be happy to get new Character meet & greet shows each season like the newer Spring, Halloween and Christmas events. But I'd much prefer a different presentation like the standards of Christmas Wishes or Mysterious masquerade. Again it's all down to preference and how much your willing to defend them no matter what's put in front of you to watch. In my post I have also taken into account how in the last year not only has attendance been good by statements released by the OLC but ticket prices were raised quite a lot. The next year is the 30th and I have no doubt Tokyo Disneyland will get a lot of new entertainment. The new Parade for instance sounds like great fun. But where DisneySea fits in with the plans, I'm un sure about right now. And so is TDS going to become the Forgotten Park?

For myself I'm giving next year a miss. The crowds are always worst during an Anniversary Year and by sitting it out I can plan what out of the new entertainment is going to be worth seeing the following year. While I'd be happy to watch Celebrate the Season any day of the week over Colours of Christmas. I also don't believe in comparing WDW to TDR. The Tokyo Disney Resort should be compared only to its own previous high standards. And unfortunately that's what's lacking this year... Although for the record it seems to be DisneySea suffering the most here.

[Fukai]

Re: TDR Christmas 2012 First Hand Observations

I was watching the 25th Anniversary of TDL blu-ray last night and during the Halloween segment was startled to see how much more extensive the Halloween decorations were throughout Fantasyland than they were this year.

Combined with Roger's report on the Christmas events, it's pretty plain that they're cutting back for economic reasons. We know it's not because of poor attendance, but there are many other possible reasons. I'll be there on opening day of the 30th anniversary celebrations and am curious what the offerings will be.

[TravisMT81]

Re: TDR Christmas 2012 First Hand Observations

I hope we are surprised by what they have to offer. I will also be there opening day of the 30th.

[Aotphks]

Re: TDR Christmas 2012 First Hand Observations

Even if Tokyo Disneyland's 30th anniversary celebration disappoints, it'll still be MORE than what Disney World has offered us for their 30th, 35th and 40th anniversaries. Plus, as disappointing as the holiday shows may be, there are more new shows (greetings) at Disney Sea this year, which I can't say for Disney World's decades old holiday offerings in 2012.

However, I am not making excuses for Tokyo Disney, as they probably can and should do better since they are at a higher plateau when compared to the other Disney resorts.

[almandot]

Re: TDR Christmas 2012 First Hand Observations

So I have a few issues with Santa's Village Parade this year, none of which is so much to make it a bad parade or anything.. just things like I think the new underliner overpowers the floats too much, the new and old styles match notewise but i don't think the orchestrations match well enough and wish they would've reworked the music in the portions from last year a bit....yadda.

But more importantly... Can other people confirm that the Three Little Pigs float is playing "Three Blind Mice" as their individual float music portion? Is that considered a Christmas song by anyone? Am I mistaking it for another song?:P

[almandot]

Re: TDR Christmas 2012 First Hand Observations

Ok was mistaken when I heard 3 blind mice.. was actually Frere Jacque.. I still wondered what that has to do with Christmas but...

Where Is Santa?


Where is Santa? Where is Santa?
Here I am. Here I am.
Merry, merry Christmas. Merry, merry Christmas.
Ho, Ho, Ho. Ho, Ho, Ho.

[MANEATINGWREATH]

Re: TDR Christmas 2012 First Hand Observations

If the economy is as bad as it sounds, perhaps the proposed addition of Cars Land is a solution to bring in more guests. If it did so for California Adventure, it can do so for Tokyo, regardless of Tokyo's position as the third most visited theme park in the world with 13,966,000 visitors this year alone, followed by DisneySea in fourth place with 11,930,000. That's quite a lot. Statistics from August show that DCA only reeled in 6,341,000 visitors up to that point. I'm sure that'll be a much higher number by the end of the year.