Hi everyone, we just go home a few days ago and adjusting back to LA time. lol Wanted to start our TR. I hope you enjoy it.
Flew out of LAX on United airlines, the flight took 11.5 hours. I did upgrade to Economy Plus for $50.00 each way for more leg room and I was very thankful for that. Even with the extra leg room its a long flight all cramped up. There is just never enough space to really relax in Economy seats. I now am looking into learning how to use your miles for seat upgrades to bus. class. I saw those seats and was very jealous. :-)
They played four movies thought out the flight and some other tv show, I didnt know. We were served two warm lunch meals and snack of chips, cookies and something Ive forgotten. The only problem I had is they did the first meal around ,1:00pm once the plane was up and going. Then the other meal at 9:00pm(LA time) about an hour and half before landing. 8 hours with no meal, ended up making me sick. So next time I run pass Mc Donalds on the way to my termal, Im picking something up and putting it in a zip lock bag just incase they don't feed us for a long time. I understand why they did it this way, its so people can sleep. But it didnt help me on this trip.
Another thing about the flight that bother me, was there were two
young men, in their early 20's. Headed for Singapore to report for our
mlitary. They were drinking a bit to much, in fact they got cut off
in the last hour in half, so one guy brought his big bottle of
something down from the over head compartment with out a flight
attendance seeing it and started to drink that. Even though he was
told he couldn't drink what he had brought with him. Anyways to what
bothered me, wasn't the drinking, to each their own. These two guys
who were pretty drunk, were seated at an exit seats. So if we had
trouble, they were the ones to open the door and do what ever.
Scared me. I wanted to say something to a flight attend, but really
what could be done, they were so far gone, they weren't going to
switch seats with someone else. And I was afraid they come after me.
I could just see a flight mid-air. So I said nothing hoping it didn't
matter. And in the end, we landed fine. But it has left me to wonder
and will ask United their policy on drinking and sitting at an exit.
I don't think you should be allowed to sit there and get drunk. A
drink or two fine, its a long flight, but if you one to help people,
you should be sober.
So landing in Tokyo and going thought customs was a breeze. They
gave us the two papers we need to fill out. So right off the plane,
went thought customs. Then on to get your checked luggage, handed off the last paper and out to where you can meet up with people, grab a bus, your cell phone, what ever.
Oh just for those of you who have allergy meds or other medication that is not allowed in Japan, here my story on that. I applied to bring my allergy meds and Vicodin (a narcotic) with me. Took some paper work and $100.00 to UPS it over night to Japan. (Fed-ex was more) Which was really two days. Well it was $50.00 for each package sent. I sent two, due to the voicodin is a narcotic and has to go to a special place. A week later I got my paper work back from Japan saying I could bring my meds with me. I carried this paper work with me at all times while in Japan and had no problems. No one ask me for it, even customs just took note of the fact I had it. It was easy. The only kicker to the whole thing is while submitting your paper work for approval, you have to have a copy of your plane reservations. So they lock you in to going before they approve your meds.
We rented cell phones thought Soft Bank. Was really easy to pick up.
They are right by exit C1. Gave them my paper work, they handed me the zippered pack that contained the phone, charger and some information on the phone and I was off to find my driver. I received my phone number two days before I got there (they give it out two days before) it was the same number when I got the phone, so that worked out perfectly. They don't guarantee the number.
Tokyo Air porter (tokyoairporter.com)
I then went to look for my driver. I had a privet driver pick me up, due to I thought I would be to late for the Limousine bus. Turns out I wasn't, but I have to say the privet car was nice after a long trip. Lugging luggage around, taking into the bathroom with you(I was by myself at this point of the trip). Having someone there with your name on a sign, grab your bags and go get the car was heaven. lol
Nice driver, spock pretty good english, there were times we didn't know how to say something, but it all worked, even had some chit chat.
Once we arrived at the Sheraton Grand Tokyo Bay, someone helped with my luggage as I checked in. The preson helping me spock perfectly good English, maybe even better then me. lol No problems there. Then I quickly bought my TDL ticket for the next day at a counter at the hotle. Then I was escorted to my room with my bags. I was asked if I had any questions, was as helpful as can be, very welcoming and friendly. Since I was so hungery and tired. I ordered room service, had a nice club sandwhich. I decided to wait till the next day before trying really Japanese food. Room service is costly so I wanted to make sure I would like it. But well worth it after the long day.
I didn't sleep on the plane, once I ate, I went to sleep. It was about 7:30pm local time. Woke right up at 2:00am local time, which is about 11:00am LA time. Oh my body took a few days to get use to the time change. Weird thing, waking up at 2:00 am hungery because your body thinks it lunch time. lol Had a hard time sleeping so I just got up. Ate breakfast down stairs at the hotel at 6:30am. Buffet was really good, its pricey at $33.00 but there is no tipping involved.
Left the hotel at 7:15 and got to TDL by monorail at 7:30, already a big line up, but not to bad. I was worrened by TDR fans on line that this day was going to be supper busy, so I was ready for it. It was Oct 31 and everyone was there for the last day of Halloween.
Walking into the park is very different then walking into DL or MK. First off you think, wheres the train? Wheres the burm? :-) Well they couldn't do it that way due to some regulations Japan has, if there is public transerptation that is "X" amount long, they have to charge you. So the train at TDL is an accrual ride(more on that later).
Pitchers say more then I could. I have about 8gb of photos and video, that I havent gotten to yet, but will. Im still trying to get use to LA time. I think its much harder getting back to LA time then it was getting on to Tokyo time. My theory is its because I dont have two spectacular parks to keep me up and going.
I was just in aww, due to I had planned this trip in 2006 but never made it. And planed it again this time. So for awhile it was hard to believe I was really there. Knowing the day was going to be so busy, long lines and my husband wasn't with me. I decided it was shopping and photo day. With a few rides thrown in here and there. My husbands, not a shopping fan and I couldn't resist hitting the stores first thing. Plus it gave me some direction and time to get over the shock of just how beautiful this park really was.
What can you say, the shopping was wonderful, due to its so different to what we have in the states. Cell phone charms are huge there. Its like the equlaiant to trading pins in the states. What I loved as I went though the shops was seeing what people buy due to their culture. How they use things different then from where I was from. Like little hand towels, you would carry in your pocket. I found these all over the place. And I later found out why(or at least I think so). Most restrooms I found had hand dryers, we all know they don't work that well. Half the time I dry them to a certain point and then use the inside of my pockets. lol Well thats where I saw a women using her little towel and the light went on in my head, so thats why there are little towel. So do as the natives do, I bought a towel and use it the rest of the trip and it was nice.
Western River Rail Road line was short(and it wouldnt be a week later) so I jumped on. :-) I really enjoyed it.
Fast Pass HHM for later in the day. I took advice given and saved my fast pass for the end of the day.
Ate lunch at Tomorrowland Terrace, good burger and fries. (later on the trip found out they have good chicken nuggets. Found the great spot to watch the Halloween Parade. This spot was told to me by a fellow poster. Thank you for the info. It really is a good spot. The spot can be found by entering TLT and going outside where the parade will go by and there is seatting. You can only get to this spot from inside TLT.
After the paraide, walked around ToonTown and TL taking photos and just seeing where paths lead me. It was nice and relaxing.
About 2:30 pm I was getting tired so I headed back to the hotel, which was easy on the monorail. Oh I just bought a one day pass at this point, about $6.50 and it made my life easy, not going to the machines each time you wanted to board and I wasnt sure how often I would use the monorail with a day. Relaxed at the hotel for a few hours and then back into the park. Stopped by Cokes Corner, grab a hotdog. I was eating as cheap as I could because breakfast was so costly.
I used my fast pass for HMH at this point. It was done up very nicely. I enjoy seeing the differences between TDL and DL. Then I went to see the Tiki Room, although it was in Japanese and had a bit of a different story line with Stitch in it, it was still very good and fun to see. Missing Countery Bears at DL I had to go see them in TDL. Brought back old memories. Cute show. Yes it was in Japanese, but I still knew what was going on.
At this point I went back to TLT and found a spot to watch the electrical parade. At which time I received a phone call from my husband, so we chatted till the parade started. The electrical parade is so good. There are more floats then we have at DL. There is Nemo, Crush, Woody, Buzz, a boat looking float that has its a small world music coming from it and many more, Im forgetting at the moment.
After the parade was over, I headed out of the park back to the hotel. At this point as we all know the shops were loaded with people gathering things to take home with them. I was happy to have done my shopping early.
Bookmarks