The Magic Of Happiness Is Here! A Tokyo TR Update 8/19

Marathon Around The Sea

The front has a few shops that connect, from a home shop to a treat shop to your basic clothing/plush toys/ ears and hat shop.
The fanciest shop award goes to the home shop

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The ceiling was pretty awesome

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At the time I thought I picked up a lot of merchandise and thought I was over doing it, but once I got home I wish I got more. What I learned, if you want it don’t put it down because you never know when you will be back and tokyo merchandise is so kawaii!
Marisa was not winning at all with trying to find the toy story shirt. I decided to ask a CM to see if they had it in the park. The CM wasn’t understanding what I said and instead just pulled out a map and circle toy story mania. Not exactly what we wanted. Marisa decided to just give up on trying to find the shirt (another reason why not to put something down that you want)
So instead we headed to the bakery.
Everything looked delicious but I knew what I wanted to eat so I passed on the bake goods. Marisa picked up a few goodies and a cup of joe.

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By this time it was 6:30ish and we basically walked the whole park. We knew people would be starting to hold spots for Fantasmic so like the good friend I was I made Marisa hold our spot while I ran back to get a Chandu tail.
She didn’t seem to mind and had a meal to eat while I ran the entire back of the park. Not only did I need to go to the arabian coast for my chandu tail but I also headed to cape cod to get me some berry milk tea, which had real mixed berries at the bottom.
while I was away Marisa took the opportunity to become the photographer of the trip.

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I did my fast walk pace and got emotional that this was my last time seeing everything. I never knew how much I needed Disney sea in my life or how much it would mean to me. I fell in love the moment I walked into it and it breaks my heart that I don’t know when I’ll be back, or if I’ll ever be back.
My emotional state of mind quickly turned to happiness because I had received the best dinner. (honestly I miss the chandu tails SO MUCH!)

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I headed back to the front of the park and found Marisa sitting on the dividing wall. From the fence to the wall was for those who wanted to sit and watch the show, behind the divider was for standing.
By the time I got back we still had a little under an hour for Fantasmic. We took this time to check into our flight back home tomorrow and get our heating packs working. The cold nights affected my lower back this week so having the heating pack made it feel amazing.

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More and more people came and it was soon time for the show

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Good to know about the divider wall!!! I know we'll probably want to stand? at least for one! Any suggestions on a good place to watch Fant from??
 
I am debating about whether or not Fantasmic is worth seeing or not. I LOVE Fantasmic in Florida but hate it in California because you have to watch the whole show peering through through bars on a railing and that is super annoying. Did you find it was really worth it or is the Florida version better?

I always get sad on my "last Disney Day" too. I always know I'll be back but I know it won't be soon. I usually go 2-3 years between Disney trips. It may be a few years before you make it back to Japan but you're a Tokyo Disneyland fan now, I'm confident you will find a way to make it happen again in your lifetime :). Maybe you can convince your sister to go back with you for nostalgia reasons.
 
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Good to know about the divider wall!!! I know we'll probably want to stand? at least for one! Any suggestions on a good place to watch Fant from??
Yes you will definitely want to get there somewhat early to stand. Because I feel like sitting on the ground, your view is blocked by the bars of the railing. If you were to walk into the park we sat on the right hand side, because this is where Jasmine and Aladdins float was. It really just depends which character you want to see. And if you can sit on the divider I would highly suggest that

I am debating about whether or not Fantasmic is worth seeing or not. I LOVE Fantasmic in Florida but hate it in California because you have to watch the whole show peering through through bars on a railing and that is super annoying. Did you find it was really worth it or is the Florida version better?

I always get sad on my "last Disney Day" too. I always know I'll be back but I know it won't be soon. I usually go 2-3 years between Disney trips. It may be a few years before you make it back to Japan but you're a Tokyo Disneyland fan now, I'm confident you will find a way to make it happen again in your lifetime :). Maybe you can convince your sister to go back with you for nostalgia reasons.
I LOVE Fantasmic, it is my favorite night time show in Disney World. I would say go see it because it is so different yet still pretty cool. I've never seen it in Disneyland but if you only had an option of sitting on the ground at Sea I would assume it would be like Disneyland with peering through bars. So I would definitely suggest sitting on the dividing ledge, people sit in front of you and those who stand are behind you, giving you the best view.
I'm such a Tokyo Disney Fan that I totally believe I will go back one day. I've seen Disney sea in person and I can't stop thinking about how amazing and wonderful a disney park can be.
 


Imagination

Out of the Mist, floating on Velvet Blue

Carried Away to a Place where Dreams Come True

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Visions Appear as dreams rise up and fly
And Mysteries Unfold Painted on the Sea and Sky

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Imagination Follow Your Dreams
Imagination Catch a Ride Upon a Moonbeam

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We are Swept Away this Night

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In Light and Magic

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Visions Fantastic Now Take Flight

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Into the night, sailing on silver skies
The journey begins only when you close your eyes

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We’ll fly and soar among the stars tonight
And chase the bolt across the blue, blue sky

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Suspended in time, it’s magic you’ll find

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In light and magic, visions fantastic now
Take flight…Imagination


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Fantasmic is my favorite night time show and it definitely did not disappoint.
After the show ended we waited till the crowds died down. Plus I didn’t mind taking in the last moments of being in this beautiful park.

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The real dream is sitting in your nice warm hotel room and watching fantasmic.

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Getting off that stoop was the worst, the chilly air was effecting my bones and I felt 50 years older. We took our poor aching bodies out of the park and too the monorail station where we bought another ticket to ride back to the train station.

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A monorail was at the station when we were there but decided to wait for another so we didn’t have to be sardined on.

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The monorail stopped and dropped us off at the dtd/outside mall area and we walked back to the station where we met up with Alicia. How she managed to leave work so quickly beat me.

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We hopped on our last ride on the train and before we made the walk home we decided to browse the 100 yen store which was so much better than our dollar stores in america. We didn’t have much time before the store closed for the night, so we added it to the plan of things to do before we left tomorrow in the afternoon.
Since it was our last night, we were cold and tired, and luckily we still had some yen on us, we decided to take a bus home instead of making that 15 minute walk. The bus driver was CRAZY, thank goodness I have somewhat mastered the skills of bus surfing. When we got back to the apartment in one piece it was time to pack up our lives. This was the biggest struggle of my life, onesies are not small and I thought I wasn’t going to be able to get all my souvenirs home. Some how we managed, even with all Marisa's breakables.
After so long planning this trip, it went by in a blink of an eye and we were headed back to the good ol America the next day.





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I was legit listening to Tds's fant right before I read this update, SO EXCITED for it, ugh!!

Waah! How sad that your trip's already over!! I'm glad you managed to fit everything into your luggage!! I was super stressing about that with how long we'll be gone for, but when I did a trial run of packing I have SO much extra room lol! Kara wants to buy a onesie though and her bag is considerably smaller, so I'm a litle worried about that lol.
 
I was legit listening to Tds's fant right before I read this update, SO EXCITED for it, ugh!!

Waah! How sad that your trip's already over!! I'm glad you managed to fit everything into your luggage!! I was super stressing about that with how long we'll be gone for, but when I did a trial run of packing I have SO much extra room lol! Kara wants to buy a onesie though and her bag is considerably smaller, so I'm a litle worried about that lol.
I was able to get 2 of the onesies home, so she should be able to get one back.
 


Last Morning In Japan

It was our last morning in Japan before we had that lovely, horrible long plane ride back home. This morning I was rudely waken up at 8:28, 2 minutes before my alarm went off. This is one of the worst things ever.
Alicia had to go to work but before she did we went to that great little bake shop across the street. Pan jewel is the best!

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We got our goods and headed back to the apartment. Of course I got some melon bread because it is delicious

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Marisa and I also got a little bake good that Alicia told us to get. It was basically bread with chocolate in it.

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After breakfast we did the last of our packing. Then walked Alicia to the station to send her off to work.

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Alicia had to take off but before she did we took one last photo that resembled a photo we took together 14 months before the morning she left. And clearly not much has changed

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Alicia was off and it was time to figure out how to return our suica cards.
Note: Do not take it to the kiosk they don’t take them. Right near the kiosk was a small office that gave us 500 yen for turning in our card.

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And with that 500 yen we headed back to the 100 yen store to pick up some more stuff that we probably didn’t really need.
Honestly we spent way to much time picking up way to much stuff that we didn’t have room for. And I wasn’t shocked or surprised when Marisa picked up more bowls and cups and all the breakables.

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We finally got ourselves out of the store and headed back to the apartment.
I’ll miss these wonderful sidewalk walkways

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We passed the apartment and kept headed straight until we hit Tokyo Bay

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And if you didn’t think we took a million photos, you clearly don’t know us

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Fetchingly draped against Tokyo Bay

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we didn’t spend too much time here because we had a bus to check back to the airport. So back we headed to the apartment for last time

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We grabbed all our belongings, cleaned up are small area we lived in for the week, took a polaroid and left a note for Alish (who didn’t see it for a good week) and made our way out.

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Before leaving the apartment for good we had to hand in our id passes. Then we were off. It was actually quite brutal rolling 2 full suitcases and carry a duffle and backpack. But thats the price I pay for helping my sister move back some of her stuff.
By this time it was 12:30 and the bus was arriving at the hotel about 3 blocks down at 1:18.
By the time we got to the hotel I was dead. So marisa went to the front desk to pick up our bus tickets. A worker then came over and took our luggage for us

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We had a few minutes to walk around the resort and found a gift shop full of Disney merchandise.
Don’t say I didn’t warn you when I say they love their key chain/iphone dangly charms.

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1:18 came and our bus arrived. Then we took the lovely long hour ride back to the airport. The one view I did like however was seeing cinderella’s castle, it was beyond weird to see it from a distance in the middle of the city. (you can see it on the left side of the street lamp)

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Goodbye Japan


Once arriving to the airport it actually wasn’t all that difficult to figure out where to go like I though it would be. First we checked our bags then I had to find the post office to drop of the pocket wifi. The process was so easy, I just handed them the prepaid envelope and that was it.

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Then we were a mission to find flavored kit kats and find some food, specifically ramen!
After walking around in circles and looking at maps we finally found a small little counter serving ramen. Of course we weren’t in Disney anymore and everything was in Japanese. Our only option was to look at the pictures and point to the one we want.

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By this time I was starving and it took a bit to get our order. So we found some seats by the window so we could watch the planes take off.

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Our buzzer soon went off and we were given a bowl of deliciousness

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One thing we learned is that most food servings are very small but when it comes to ramen be prepared to eat.

After our meal we found a small drug store that sold a good amount of kit kats. I bought cherry blossom green tea ones (which we great) and more green tea ones.
It was about time to go through security and immigration. By this time it was 3:45. Security went really smooth. One thing I noticed right away was that they didn’t make you take off your shoes, however I did because of my boots but then they gave me shoes to wear to walk through the metal detector.
After security we had to go through immigration. We headed downstairs and there was just a sea of people in lines. They had tables of papers to fill out but we weren’t sure if we needed to fill these out. Luckily someone was just a clueless as us and went to find out what the deal was. Turns out we didn’t need to fill out anything because we did that when we arrived and it was put in our passport. So we went through security pretty fast and headed to our gate.

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We started boarding the plane at 5, it was a full plane but when we were about to take off we still had an empty seat in our row. This was beyond exciting because we would be able to stretch out and not be cramped. Well buzzkill the girl came running in and I was moved into the middle.
I prepared myself for the long 14 hour flight ahead of me. Then the pilot came over the speakers and said we were ready to take off for our 10 hour flight. Marisa and I just looked at each other and excitement washed over us. only 10 hours? that seems like a piece of cake compared to 14 or the 12 it took to get here.
After our first flight we got our schedule down, watch a move, eat, sleep, repeat.
First up Hunger Games Mockingjay part 2, I died when Marisa jumped and practically had a heart attack when the mutts popped out.
After I put on Hamilton Act 1 and fell asleep.
Then woke up, had a snack and watched Pan (which was bazar but not horrible)
turn on Hamilton act 2 and slept.
We were almost to our destination, so I put on Pocahontas and tried eating. My stomach wasn’t really feeling like a full course meal so I just ate the fruit and bread, I couldn’t even tell you what the main dish was.

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We landed in Minneapolis and had to go through customs. We all entered a line, went to a kiosk that took your photo and you declare what you brought into the country. Then we got in another line where you handed in your paper. Security in America is not as not as in Japan. The guy I went to seemed really bothered with what was in my arms and “laughed” when I lifted it up and said “its my pillow” because thats all it was.
The worst thing about customs was you had to go to the luggage claim, wait for your bags, then take them and go back through security. It’s basically the worst.
We left Japan at 5pm sat night and arrived in America 3pm sat. That was some serious time traveling that took a toll on us.
Before we left for Japan we decided once we got back we would get some mimosas upon arriving, however that changed when we saw the prices. Marisa got some food because she slept through the meal on the plane.
With 3 hours to kill we found a nice comfy couch to relax on. Marisa passed out right away and i took the time to start working on the video and compiling all my photos.
Around 6:15 we parted ways Marisa headed back to Maryland and I was headed back to New York. But before I did I needed to grab some chickfila to bring home.
With a bag of goodness I headed to my gate. The plane started boarding at 7 and once I got on some biddie stole my seat. Cool cool. I ended up just taking her seat ahead of my original one and passed out until we were preparing for landing. I woke up so crotchety and was just sick of traveling and just wanted my bed.
The airport was dead quiet, I got my luggage, found my mother and arrived back home around 11pm.
I was re-energized, I pulled out all the goodies I brought back, showed my photos and told some stories about my trip. My family then all went to bed leaving me up by myself stuck on japan time.

I didn’t think jet leg would get me as good as it did. The next Sunday was Easter so while everyone went to my aunts I spent the whole day sleeping. Literally the whole day. It took me a good week to get back to a normal sleeping schedule, but I would do it all over again if it meant I could go back to Japan.

And this my friends it where this story ends. Overall I never knew I needed Japan in my life, it was never a place I was dying to go. After experiencing it I know want to go back all the time. And knowing me I’ll get back there someday.
I’m also so grateful for having such a wonderful friend who was willing to spontaneously buy flights to Japan and experience what may be one of the best trips in our book (and this trip also made us make a list of next places to visit)

Thank you to all that took time to read about my adventure. If you ever have the opportunity to go to Japan go! Like me you will never want to leave Disney Sea.
 
oh, I'm sad your trip is over....I so enjoyed reading about your adventures. Japan is a place I'd love to visit but I'm not sure I'll ever get there, so it's been nice to live vicariously through your trip report. I hope you get a chance to return someday!
 
Thanks to you, I have this new obsession with Japan and now I must go! Sad it's over but I am ready to read about your next adventure! Quick Question; Do you know if we are able to use Disney Gift cards at Tokyo Disney?
 
Thank you so much for sharing your trip with all of us. I will probably never make it to Japan but it was so nice seeing all the Disney pictures and comparing them to Disney World. I just love reading your reports. Where to next?
 
Thanks again for sharing your report... it's kept me from being too impatient for my big fall trip. And I still love all the Hamilton mentions. I'm always quoting Hamilton at work but no one gets it, so it basically just amuses me. I mean, obviously, when I needed a coworker to assist me for a demo, I had to tell everyone that I was going to need my right hand man, right? :)
 
Waaaahhhh reading the ending actually made me so sad! It must have REALLY SUCKED to have to leave!!

Ugh i'm so not excited about the travelling home part, it's gonna take forever!!!!

I'm so glad you shared this adventure with us, esp since it's helped a lot with the planning, so thank you for that!!! Can't wait to read the next one!!
 
I have been reading, lurking, and most of all enjoying your report. I did 3 days at TDL a couple of years ago at the end of a Tokyo business trip and remember it very fondly. Thanks for putting this together! :goodvibes
 
Awesome TR, I really learned a lot for my October trip! Also. You kind of made me want to write one of my own...keep an eye out on these part of the boards...I may be here!
 
oh, I'm sad your trip is over....I so enjoyed reading about your adventures. Japan is a place I'd love to visit but I'm not sure I'll ever get there, so it's been nice to live vicariously through your trip report. I hope you get a chance to return someday!
I'm sad it's over too. But heres to hoping I can get there again someday!

Thanks to you, I have this new obsession with Japan and now I must go! Sad it's over but I am ready to read about your next adventure! Quick Question; Do you know if we are able to use Disney Gift cards at Tokyo Disney?
Everyone should go! It is one of the nicest places ever.
I did't have any gift cards on this trip so I actually am not sure about that one.

Thank you so much for sharing your trip with all of us. I will probably never make it to Japan but it was so nice seeing all the Disney pictures and comparing them to Disney World. I just love reading your reports. Where to next?
That was my favorite part about this trip was comparing the 2 parks. Thank you for joining along!

Thanks again for sharing your report... it's kept me from being too impatient for my big fall trip. And I still love all the Hamilton mentions. I'm always quoting Hamilton at work but no one gets it, so it basically just amuses me. I mean, obviously, when I needed a coworker to assist me for a demo, I had to tell everyone that I was going to need my right hand man, right? :)
Thank you for reading! I don't think there will ever be a day I don't quote Hamilton.

Waaaahhhh reading the ending actually made me so sad! It must have REALLY SUCKED to have to leave!!

Ugh i'm so not excited about the travelling home part, it's gonna take forever!!!!

I'm so glad you shared this adventure with us, esp since it's helped a lot with the planning, so thank you for that!!! Can't wait to read the next one!!
First of all I hope you have the best time on your trip! I mean you're doing all the Asia parks so that is going to be a blast! If you have any more questions you know where to find me!

I have been reading, lurking, and most of all enjoying your report. I did 3 days at TDL a couple of years ago at the end of a Tokyo business trip and remember it very fondly. Thanks for putting this together! :goodvibes
Thanks from coming out of lurking but most of all thank you for reading along!

Awesome TR, I really learned a lot for my October trip! Also. You kind of made me want to write one of my own...keep an eye out on these part of the boards...I may be here!
Have a great time in october! You will have a blast! I will be sure to keep an eye out because Halloween time there must be extra magical

Awesome please tell me your planning another Disney related trip !!!!!
You're just in luck because I can now start my next TR from my last trip to wdw this past may
 
Gonna bump this because I just finished reading it and it was fantastic! Thanks for sharing your adventures. Also, you've really got to get to Disneyland! I was struck by how similar Tokyo Disneyland was to Disneyland (aside from the whole Main Street and castle thing :rotfl:)
 

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