8.9 earthquake hits Japan, reports of flooding in Tokyo Disney Resort
Japan was hit with a massive earthquake (now estimated to be a magnitude 8.9) Friday afternoon (local time), and tsunami warnings have been issued. Sky News is reporting that a tsunami "has obliterated Tokyo's Disneyland car park." We're monitoring the internet for reports from the park, and there have been no reports of injuries at the Tokyo Disney theme parks.
We will update this thread as additional information is available, and as new photos and video are posted online. Readers are welcome to reply to this thread to share photos they have found online.
Aerial view of Tokyo Disney Sea (From @Eminem_JP on Twitter)
Update 12:00 Pacific - Imagineer Steve Davison is in Tokyo right now, and has sent out a message that the theme parks have closed, but that the cast members are guests are safe. Twitter user @Boy33 posted two photos Steve shared from the parks.
News reports (right now they are all reporting the same story - the parking lot flooding - but they may update their articles as additional information is available.
There were 69,000 people at the Disneyland and the adjacent Tokyo Disney Sea, built on a landfill in Tokyo Bay, when the quake occurred, a spokesman at the local Urawa police station said.
If you're the smartest person in the room, you're in the wrong room.
MousePlanet CEO, writer and photographer. Foster and Adoptive Mom. Owner of MouseShoppe and CharmingShoppe. Long-distance walker. Not in that order. In my spare time, I try to sleep.
My daughter just got back yesterday from Japan after working in a Disney show there for 7 months. She's been talking to her friends there who are fine, but she is trying to find out the location of the Disney Kirin tour. Has anyone got any info on this?
@MrDaps reported on Twitter that the Tokyo Disney Resort will not open on Saturday.
Reports from people still in the parks, including @rezaikram, indicate that thousands of guests are still in the park. We believe these guests are unable to leave because of transportation issues, either due to their cars being damaged in the parking lot or because the trains that service the Tokyo Bay area are not running.
Update 2:00am
We're hearing that Cast Member apartments near Tokyo Disney Resort have been evacuated. All cast members are reportedly in a safe location.
@rezaikram just posted the following photo, and wrote "update:we are not allowed to leave TDL.have to spend a night here.no transportation outside.what a horrible exp"
If you're the smartest person in the room, you're in the wrong room.
MousePlanet CEO, writer and photographer. Foster and Adoptive Mom. Owner of MouseShoppe and CharmingShoppe. Long-distance walker. Not in that order. In my spare time, I try to sleep.
There have not been many more photos from Tokyo Disney since the last update, and it's now after midnight in Japan.
The Examiner posted a brief interview with a guest who was inside the park during the earthquake.
People at the park are inconvenienced, but nobody seen hurt. We are calm and so is everyone else. Cast members and security helped us to safety and everyone seems fine.
@rezaikram posted that his cell phone battery was drained, and would not be able to send more photos.
If you're the smartest person in the room, you're in the wrong room.
MousePlanet CEO, writer and photographer. Foster and Adoptive Mom. Owner of MouseShoppe and CharmingShoppe. Long-distance walker. Not in that order. In my spare time, I try to sleep.
New York Post travel editor David Landsel (@davidlandsel on Twitter) is at Tokyo Disneyland right now and is posting his experiences. Some of his recent Tweets:
Our neighbors here in the cafe are group of schoolgirls eager to practice English. Lots of laughs #Tokyo#earthquake3 minutes ago via txt
@bastable Can you imagine? What a bizarre (and wonderful) place to be trapped! Cast is being so good to us. 25 minutes ago via txt
Everyone in decent spirits - anyone who ever wanted to run around a Disney park all night uninhibited has their chance now #Tokyo#earth ... 29 minutes ago via txt
Crowds still inside DisneySea at close to midnite - restos now shelters. Dinner: seaweed rice and chocolates #Tokyo#earthquakeabout 2 hours ago via txt
Nothing takes the sting off a severe rattling like the way staff at Tokyo Disney handle the whole thing #earthquake
If you're the smartest person in the room, you're in the wrong room.
MousePlanet CEO, writer and photographer. Foster and Adoptive Mom. Owner of MouseShoppe and CharmingShoppe. Long-distance walker. Not in that order. In my spare time, I try to sleep.
We found out the Kirin tour was in the air leaving Sapporo when the earthquake hit and have flown back to Sapporo. I'm so thankful that everyone is fine, and that they were in Sapporo this week instead of Sendai like they are supposed to be next week.
In this most recent pic from @MrDaps .. where is this at TDL?
There's no English caption to the photo, so I don't know for sure. Looking at the image, I am going to guess that it's the parking lot of Tokyo Disneyland. That looks like a waiting / loading area for a bus - the yellow concrete is similar to what is used at the US Disney parks to make a "do not cross" line at the tram loading areas.
AVP
If you're the smartest person in the room, you're in the wrong room.
MousePlanet CEO, writer and photographer. Foster and Adoptive Mom. Owner of MouseShoppe and CharmingShoppe. Long-distance walker. Not in that order. In my spare time, I try to sleep.
In this most recent pic from @MrDaps .. where is this at TDL?
My daughter says that it is Maihama train station outside of Tokyo Disneyland. She recognized the pillar to the left since she walked by that area all of the time to go to work, and that area wasn't really in good shape to begin with.
My daughter says that it is Maihama train station outside of Tokyo Disneyland. She recognized the pillar to the left since she walked by that area all of the time to go to work, and that area wasn't really in good shape to begin with.
Thank you for the update!
AVP
If you're the smartest person in the room, you're in the wrong room.
MousePlanet CEO, writer and photographer. Foster and Adoptive Mom. Owner of MouseShoppe and CharmingShoppe. Long-distance walker. Not in that order. In my spare time, I try to sleep.
If you're the smartest person in the room, you're in the wrong room.
MousePlanet CEO, writer and photographer. Foster and Adoptive Mom. Owner of MouseShoppe and CharmingShoppe. Long-distance walker. Not in that order. In my spare time, I try to sleep.
I've just received through unofficial channels an update that Disney gave to cast members regarding the earthquake in Japan, and the impact on other Disney operations. This is not to be considered an official statement from Disney.
Only minor damage was reported in Tokyo Disney Resort. Oriental Land Company has decided not to open Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea tomorrow (Saturday) to allow for teams to thoroughly inspect the parks.
Disney's Aulani Resort is still under construction, and has not opened to guests. No damage has been reported.
The Disney Wonder itinerary has been altered, and the ship will spend today at sea instead of visiting Cabo San Lucas, which closed its port to cruise ships today.
There are no Adventures by Disney trips operating in the impacted areas.
Disney Cruise Line is telling callers that the Disney Wonder is still expected to return to the Port of Los Angeles Sunday as scheduled, and that they continue to monitor weather and sea conditions.
MousePlanet is focusing on the impact of the earthquake on the Tokyo Disney Resort and other Disney destinations, but the damage and inconvenience there pales in comparison to the destruction and deaths elsewhere in Japan.
If you are looking for a way to help, here are some options:
Disney Cruise Line is telling callers that the Disney Wonder is still expected to return to the Port of Los Angeles tomorrow as scheduled, and that they continue to monitor weather and sea conditions.
You do mean returning Sunday, right?
Pin trader/collector; member, Carolwood Pacific Historical Society; member, D23; Walt Disney Co. shareholder.
I used to go to Disneyland three times a year, then it was three times a month. Now it's once every three years.
If you're the smartest person in the room, you're in the wrong room.
MousePlanet CEO, writer and photographer. Foster and Adoptive Mom. Owner of MouseShoppe and CharmingShoppe. Long-distance walker. Not in that order. In my spare time, I try to sleep.
You Tube user bounonushi has posted two videos taken at Tokyo Disneyland during and immediate after the earthquake. In the first video you can see the reaction of cast members and guests during the quake, and hear an English-language announcement repeated several times.
Ladies and gentlemen, your attention please. We have just experienced an earthquake. Please move away from the buildings to an open area and wait there until our cast members can instruct you further. Please be assured that the park has been designed with earthquake safety in mind. We will provide you with more detailed information as soon as possible. Thank you.
The second video is much shorter, and includes a lengthy announcement in Japanese. We don't have a translation of that announcement - if you can help, please let us know.
Edited to add: MousePlanet's Lani Teshima was able to provide a rough translation of the announcement in the second video:
This is an announcement for all Tokyo Disney Resort guests. At approximately 14:46, there was a large earthquake with a magnitude of 7.9. In addition, because there is a threat of tsunami, we are currently diagnosing the safety of our structures, so we ask that you follow the instructions from the CMs. Presently, the JR Keio line and Musashino line are not operational. Nearby road conditions: The highways have all been closed. As we receive more information, we will notify you.
Last edited by AVP; 03-11-2011 at 06:10 PM.
Reason: Added translation
Jarrod Lentz, (@JarrodLentz on Twitter) is a Walt Disney World performer who just moved to Japan last week to work in the Tokyo Disney Resort. He has posted extensively about his experience in the quake, and was interviewed by several US media outlets. Jarrod took a walk to Tokyo Bay this morning and posted this video. It does not contain footage from the theme parks, but it's very much worth watching.
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