A (2019) HalloXmas trip to Asia - Shanghai, Hong Kong, Tokyo! - COMPLETED 5/1!!!

[KEK1]

Looks fun, cool gymnasts. Enjoying the little clips you are putting in too!

 

[KathyM2]

That New York show looked interesting!! I'm sure some of the stereotypes were a bit silly but...still nice to be able to see some different shows. I love the ship idea, really cool.

 

[Lesley Wake]

Looks fun, cool gymnasts. Enjoying the little clips you are putting in too!

Yeah it was a fun show. Thanks - I took little videos for instagram so it's good to share them here too!

That New York show looked interesting!! I'm sure some of the stereotypes were a bit silly but...still nice to be able to see some different shows. I love the ship idea, really cool.

I do like different types of shows and that ship was very cool!

 

[Lesley Wake]

(Lots of updates here to make up for no posting due to Hackers this weekend)

Part 6 – Evening Wanderings and a show

It had been a decent amount of time since lunch, so I stopped to get some food at Dockside Diner. The theming is cool inside, really looking like the ship terminal. There was a sizable wait, but the Tokyo Disney app had introduced “wait times” at quick service restaurants, so I could see nearly every place had a longer line.

It was annoying trying to find a seat though, as there were several areas where people had pulled together lots of chairs and were laying on them like a bench! Very aggravating when I had a tray of food and wanted to eat!

To eat, I got a seasonal dish – the Roast Beef and Shrimp Sandwich. I think it was interesting. Not my favorite, but not horrible. I’m pretty sure there was lots of sauce on it though, so I had to wipe it all off. Cute wrapping though!

Looks like I also got a dessert, looks like some type of strawberry cake and cream puff?

After resting my feet for a bit, I decided to go on some nighttime photo wandering.

Starting in American Waterfront

I ran into the jokestore custodian (not sure if he has a real name), but it was awesome!

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[Lesley Wake]

And Toyville Trolley Park. This is where Toy Story Mania is located, however it is such a popular ride (and wait), I never bothered to try and ride.

Some more in the NY area

New Duffy windows. Super cute!

And of course Scrooge McDuck had to decorate with lots of gold!

Interior Duffy decorations. Stella Lou’s winter outfit was so cute I ended up getting one of her plushes and that outfit.

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[Lesley Wake]

Lots of light reflections everywhere

From one of the bridges, you could see the lights of Tokyo itself across the bay.

And over to Cape Cod, which had some lovely lights!

And a quick stop at Port Discovery.

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[Lesley Wake]

As I continued up into the Lost River Delta I came across a relatively empty popcorn stand, which was exciting since it had a bucket I had wanted, the new Tangled one! I also got a carton of caramel popcorn with it, though I only had a few bites of that (it was getting too caught in my teeth). But considering how it was regularly 1 hr wait for these buckets, I considered myself lucky!

And some photos of the lights. Very pretty!

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[Lesley Wake]

And over to the Arabian Coast. I ended up getting a ride on Jasmine’s Flying Carpets (same basic ride as in MK but themed like a more elegant fountain), though the CMs were adamant that I couldn’t take photos/video while on the ride…

The top of the fountain had a lovely peacock whose tail was part of the fountain

And also went ahead to ride the double decker carousel. I don’t know if it’s actually a double decker, or just two on top of each other, but it’s a fun different effect, and really fits the whole Arabian theme.

Of course, I had to ride on the second level! They actually have a separation within the queue and proper concrete stairs, so you don’t walk up/down stairs on the actual carousel. They have some Genie figures you can ride on (you can see I was in the row behind one of them), but I think I picked the elephant instead.

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[Lesley Wake]

While I was walking thru the land I realized Fantasmic was going on (I had decided to skip that this evening so I could enjoy the evening ambiance). So I was able to catch the volcano exploding at the end of the show.

I also stopped for snacks in Mysterious Island. Two classics: the Potato Churro and Gyoza Dog. The potato churro is sort of like the dough is pressed potato, and then the interior is a ribbon of a savory sauce (maybe demi-glace). But I liked it a lot! And Gyoza Dog is like a gyoza dumpling inside a bao bun. Also, a fan!

I think while I was eating the “churro” I sat on the dock down on the water to try and catch the Fantasmic floats being brought back into the docks (they are stored under the volcano)

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[Lesley Wake]

Lots of people cleared out after Fantasmic, so as I walked around the corner I was able to get a “front row” spot for the Christmas evening show, NAME. This was the final year (because they reuse some of the Fantasmic boats, and with Fantasmic ending in 2020, it made sense for this to end too). While it was a front row, unfortunately there was a railing between me and the water, and unlike Disneyland Fantasmic, we weren’t allowed to be right up next to it, so I had some bars blocking my photos. (Don’t worry, I took much better photos a couple days later.)

The show – basically the big Sorceror’s Hat from Fantasmic becomes a Christmas tree, there are a few other smaller Christmas trees scattered around the harbor, and three boats come out (one with Mickey and friends, one with Duffy and co, and one with Pinnochio, Jiminiy cricket, Genie, and Abu). Overall it’s cute. Not sure if there is a real story, but it was pretty to look at!

After the show the “tree” stays illuminated, which is very pretty.

A POV of the full show

Time to head out for the night. I collected all my purchases, admired the monorail platform tree, and back to hotel to crash!

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Coming up: Christmas at Disneyland...how many parades can I see in one day, lol?

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[missjackiemcg]

How exciting that you were able to get the Rapunzel popcorn bucket--that's super cute, and I haven't seen it anywhere else!! Is the little Pascal a clip on the lanyard? He's adorable!

Weird they wouldn't let you take pics on the ride...do you think people often drop their stuff doing that or ?? Just so odd that they specifically mention it at this ride.

I LOVE the double-decker carousel!! We have one in IL at Six Flags Great America, and any time we visit, I always have to ride up on top. (I actually just looked it up to see a picture of it, and found a fun fact--there is apparently a twin to the one at our Six Flags at California's Great America.)

What a cute little Christmas water show/parade. I'm excited to see your better pics the next time you were able to see it. And PS forgot to mention above how much I love the Feliz Navidad area decorations--they were awesome in the daytime, but even better at night, all lit up!!!

 

[KathyM2]

As usual you have some great pics and it looked like a great day! That shrimp and roast beef sandwich looked interesting...I'm all about the food and merch lol. Yay for popcorn bucket!!!

 

[Lesley Wake]

How exciting that you were able to get the Rapunzel popcorn bucket--that's super cute, and I haven't seen it anywhere else!! Is the little Pascal a clip on the lanyard? He's adorable!

Weird they wouldn't let you take pics on the ride...do you think people often drop their stuff doing that or ?? Just so odd that they specifically mention it at this ride.

I LOVE the double-decker carousel!! We have one in IL at Six Flags Great America, and any time we visit, I always have to ride up on top. (I actually just looked it up to see a picture of it, and found a fun fact--there is apparently a twin to the one at our Six Flags at California's Great America.)

What a cute little Christmas water show/parade. I'm excited to see your better pics the next time you were able to see it. And PS forgot to mention above how much I love the Feliz Navidad area decorations--they were awesome in the daytime, but even better at night, all lit up!!!

I was psyched about the popcorn bucket! They had so many cute ones, but I knew I needed to limit myself to a max of 2 due to luggage space! And yes, that was a pascal clip!

Sometimes it was weird - like they felt like they knew better than you did about keeping things secure. Flying Carpets and Aquatopia were both things you weren't supposed to take photos on.

That sounds fun about the carousel! I do wonder if it was a true double decker because it felt like a proper building so could have been two different carousels on top of each other, but it also could have actually been a double decker. I just liked how it was something a little different and really fit the land!

The Christmas colors show was so pretty! I definitely took lots more photos and video

As usual you have some great pics and it looked like a great day! That shrimp and roast beef sandwich looked interesting...I'm all about the food and merch lol. Yay for popcorn bucket!!!

Thanks! The sandwich was definitely interesting. I had to go out of my comfort zone a lot with the food at the parks but it mostly turned out ok!

 

[Lesley Wake]

Day 20
Friday, November 8, 2019

Part 1 – Another Rope Drop

Today was the first official day of Christmas at Tokyo Disney Resort! Also, it was my last day at Disneyland (I would be going to DisneySea the following day).

Even the hotel shuttle was decked out with special Christmas stuff. These buses go back and forth from one hotel to the monorail station. The Sheraton was right across the street, so I only used them if the bus was literally loading as I walked out the front door, though I did occasionally use them to get back at the end of the day if I was too tired!

Plenty of people at rope drop. But I got in relatively quickly and grabbed a fastpass for Honey Hunt good in about an hour.

Since it was my favorite ride at TDL, I went ahead and rope dropped it too!

Walked through Fantasyland. Not too many crowds just yet.

But I did come across the break dancing custodians, which were a fun duo!

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[Lesley Wake]

I think I grabbed a parade spot, leaving my bag to hold the spot (again, this is totally common practice in Tokyo), while I made a quick stop at Toontown. Some Christmas decoration photos.

For breakfast I stopped at Toontown Treats, where I got the “Long Nan”. At Halloween this was purple dough and filled with curry, but at normal times it’s a plain Naan style bread filled with a tomato meat sauce. It was really good! Very chewy and flavorful.

I didn’t get the Pizza Spring Roll, which is a staple at Tokyo Disney, because I think I was worried there would be pepperoni inside (I don’t like that), but I think now they are just cheese. (Can someone who has had one correct me?). So this photo isn’t from me.

Coming up - Christmas Stories parade
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[KEK1]

Great updates. I love that you can dump your bag to reserve your spot (presume you took wallet out though?)
The snacks look very fun.
Lights are gorgeous. Wonder of the entertainment is all back at TDR yet..

 

[Lesley Wake]

Great updates. I love that you can dump your bag to reserve your spot (presume you took wallet out though?)
The snacks look very fun.
Lights are gorgeous. Wonder of the entertainment is all back at TDR yet..

Yeah I definitely kept anything valuable with me! Though I never saw anyone go thru or pay any mind to anyone else's bag.

The snacks did look and taste fun!

I think the parades may have just restarted last month? But not as big as before - just the shorter easter seasonal one. And they weren't doing Dreamlights; instead they did the shorter Nightfall Glow one (which normally runs when it rains). Basically a longer evening character cavalcade. Tokyo has been having occasional surges so sometimes they severely reduce capacity! (Also they have a longer procedure to approve vaccines so they only have hit up 0.9% of the population with at least one dose.)

 

[Lesley Wake]

Part 2 – Christmas Stories

For the Christmas parade this time I decided to check out the first show stop, rather than the second one in the hub. I was on the Fantasyland side of the boundary between Fantasyland and Westernland.

I think these were my favorite dancer costumes! So quirky!

The trees reminded me of something we wore as girl scouts in our town’s Christmas parade, lol!

Pluto and the reindeer always looked like they had fun

The gingerbread suits were also cute

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[Lesley Wake]

It was cool how they had a Stitch float. Though I realized they didn’t have Winnie the Pooh and friends, who would seem like a good fit for a Christmas parade.

I was hoping to be near Snow White’s float but I ended up being next to Beauty and the Beast. Not a bad spot, just not as fun as seeing the dwarves dance around!

And post-show stop

Overall still a lovely Christmas parade.

Coming up - Westernland attractions and more food, of course! ​

 

[missangelalexis]

Great parade pics!!