Who is going to volunteer to be on hand with reports of opening day at TDS? I have cancelled plans to return to DL/Anaheim or WDW next year to see this wonderful new park and I want NEWS! :) :) :) HOORAH Disney Tokyo!!

i wish

"Still, word is that the Mouse is doing all it can to avoid seeing California Adventure unfavorably compared to the Tokyo park. It's been alleged that senior Disney officials have asked Oriental Land Co. not to treat any members of the Western press to the usual expenses-paid grand opening event. That way, the Mouse hopes to limit the number of stateside stories expected to rave about the Tokyo experience."

It's from a Jim Hill story found at:
http://www.orlandoweekly.com/news/eyedrive/

If it's true, all I can say is...No suprise here!!!

Anyone have any comments about this??

-JRob

I swear when I visit WDW this coming Dec. to ask every CM I come across what they think or what they have heard about TDS/TDL AND.... I am going to tell them right up front I think that is where I will be spending my next vacation at.

Originally posted by JRob2k1
"It's been alleged that senior Disney officials have asked Oriental Land Co. not to treat any members of the Western press to the usual expenses-paid grand opening event."


Hmmm... From what I can tell, there will be a western media contingent reporting on opening festivities for Tokyo DisneySea arriving soon, and you will probably see stories aired early-mid August and then of course on Opening Day September 4. I believe that it IS a relatively small contingent, however.

As for the allegation, it is highly unlikely that OLC wouldn't wish to publicise their magnificent park. They have a lot to be proud of. And hey- they paid for it 100%.

Originally posted by TokyoInsider
As for the allegation, it is highly unlikely that OLC wouldn't wish to publicise their magnificent park. They have a lot to be proud of. And hey- they paid for it 100%.

I totally agree with you. I think that OLC should do everything to show off what looks to be a truely amazing park.

The quote came from an article that is trying to say that it's not OLC who doesnt want the publicity, it's Disney. Disney doesn't want people finding out about this new beautiful park when they just opened a park that has been getting less then steller reviews. See what Im saying? Disney doesnt want to be upstaged!!(Thats what the article was trying to point out in my opinion.)

-JRob

JRob- I see your point, but I find the reporter's alligation highly questionable because Disney does not have that kind of power over OLC. OLC considers Disney as being more of a vendor, rather than a partner. (Disney doesn't think of it in those terms, though). But bottom line, Disney provides services, technology, and design for a percentage of OLC's profits, and that's all! Thus if OLC wants to dump loads of their own cash for international exposure, Disney doesn't have anything to say about it.

The more likely scenerio is that (perhaps) Disney didn't use any of their OWN money to comp reporters for a trip to Tokyo.

The reporter's view does bring up an interesting angle: is it possible that Tokyo DisneySea and the Tokyo Disney Resort may start to take away Guests who might have planned a trip to Walt Disney World or the Disneyland Resort instead?

I'm not sure about American Guests, but I think it will make more than a small impact in the number of Chinese Guests to Disneyland Resort. Perhaps that has a small part to play in why Disney opted to partner with the Chinese government and build a park in Hong Kong. After all, since they will own around half of that park, they will get a bigger cut of the profits than if those same Guests went to the Tokyo Disney Resort.

Thats an intresting point about The Tokyo Resort taking away from the stateside resorts. I go to Disneyland a lot but usually my major vacation is to WDW. We skipped it this year so we could save up and go to Tokyo next spring. I really look foward to TDS and I think a LOT of people can agree to that! Now TDS has to start advertising so more people know about it then just the regular Disney fans.

-JRob

Originally posted by JRob2k1
We skipped it this year so we could save up and go to Tokyo next spring. I really look foward to TDS and I think a LOT of people can agree to that! Now TDS has to start advertising so more people know about it then just the regular Disney fans.

-JRob

JRob-
I'm happy to hear that you will be taking a trip out to see this great Park! Tokyo Disneyland is nice, but Tokyo DisneySea is a MUST see.

After having been to the Park during a sneak preview, I must admit- Tokyo DisneySea has an allure that I have never felt with any other park. Tokyo DisneySea just begs repeat visits, because there is just so much to enjoy that is NOT an attraction. As I mentioned before- the views in Tokyo DisneySea are just amazing. I have passed hours of time just wandering around, looking at things. I've been to Disneyland, Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, MGM Studios and Tokyo Disneyland- but none of those parks have the jaw-dropping 'oh-my-gosh-I-can't-believe-my-eyes' views that Tokyo DisneySea has.

When you walk through Tokyo DisneySea, you will find yourself saying, "I wish [so and so] could see this," because I guarantee you that you have NEVER seen a park like this, and you wish everyone you know could see it for themselves!

If only Walt could see this one- he would be insanely proud of what OLC and Walt Disney Imagineering have done here.

As I see it an average stay at WDW is 5 or more days, DL about 3, does anyone have an idea of a liesurely vacation time needed for both TDS and TDL? One week? Also I wonder why the suits at Disco would want a news blackout of this excellant park when after all they do get about 7% of tickets sales I believe. I wish there was some American promotions such as a contest or sweepstakes for TDS/TDL. I get tired of hearing about that blue-light special of a theme park called DCA.

Originally posted by Mr D
does anyone have an idea of a liesurely vacation time needed for both TDS and TDL? One week?

I would say that if you are planning to go to Tokyo Disney Resort during the slow season (January-February), then plan on perhaps 2 days per park. But if you are coming to the park during a more busy season (almost any other time), 5 days or even six days if you are really easy going would be best. Tokyo Disneyland is very similar to her sister parks in the United States, so if you usually take 2 days to explore in the States, it will take you the same amount of time to explore in Japan. Be advised though, that Tokyo Disneyland is very spread out- think Magic Kindom, not Disneyland. Be prepared to walk a lot!

Tokyo DisneySea however is something really special. If you are like me, you will feel drawn back to that park, and will want to spend at LEAST 2 days there just soaking it all in. Yes, the park will be crowded, and lines will of course factor into the amount of time you spend in the park, but you may really just want to hang out in Tokyo DisneySea, just relaxing and enjoying the atmosphere without caring about following a set schedule (and thus standing in lines) for a full day of your stay.

The only drawbacks:

1. Tokyo Disney Resort will sell only up to 4 day passports. For the first 2 days, you must specify a park you wish to visit at the time of purchase. The last 2 days are park-hopper. This means if you plan to visit the parks for 5 days, you have to get a full priced one-day admission passport in addition to the 4 day passport.

2. Yes it can be VERY crowded at Tokyo Disney Resort. You may be shocked at how long Japanese guests are willing to wait in line, even for things as mundane as popcorn. (on busy days, the lines of guests waiting at the entrance for Pooh's Hunny Hunt is comparable to the lines of guests waiting in line to buy honey flavored popcorn (in a special Pooh souvenir 'hunny-bucket', of course!). This is probably because such a high percentage of Tokyo Disneyland guests are repeat visitiors, and as a result will flock to anything new (be that an attraction, or even a new merchandise store or restaurant) that opens. Imagine how they will react when Tokyo DisneySea opens...

So far it looks like none of the media wants to touch the opening ceremonies at TDS, thanfully we have an "insider", This almost sounds like when the resitance during WW2 listened for news about the war on radio listening for the secret codes and messages. ihave spent all day looking for news and very very little to show for it, almost nobody is even talking about it on the other website discussion boards. I guess we should just forget about it and start spending more time at DCA so we can get "motivated" to enjoy it. I take that back, I refuse to follow the Ei$ner regime, he sold us crap and I can see a feast somewhere else.