Jump to content
  TPR Home | Parks | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram 

PTR:Japan - larrygator goes to Japan (11/6 update)


Recommended Posts

  • Replies 134
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Top Posters In This Topic

Posted Images

Sorry for the delay in taking a couple of days off from this PTR. The next park is famous for being the home of Steel Dragon 2000. To be quite honest I liked it, but then again I like all the big Morgan except Wild Thing. The park has a good selection of flat rides so ther is plenty to do when you are done with the coasters.

PICT0780.JPG.f54c5d40d427f06860172c8a0907bd17.JPG

White Cyclone is white.

PICT0794.thumb.JPG.3a0645830afa7d9eabe24cfd9de31a32.JPG

I still love these drop towers.

PICT0885.JPG.b0046207976d80e2d0733e5eb3d6169e.JPG

Unless someone, Paul had no trouble getting in a red car. Paul's trouble was driving.

PICT0849.JPG.cf033edd7bf15a68fcf38c453d54d8ae.JPG

The haunted house was good, but a little off the beaten path.

PICT0859.JPG.5fe4c4d824af82278c1c2eb8416f107d.JPG

Wild Mouse from the Ferris Wheel

PICT0860.JPG.35f9572b688504b1428f7e443f7fdd9c.JPG

Ultra Twister from the same location.

PICT0855.JPG.c2545c581d4a03095cc2c1d9e31fa85e.JPG

From the Ferris Wheel, White Cyclone is still white.

PICT0876.JPG.6ca4837c48f8285235a51bbad3478777.JPG

Closed coaster #1

PICT0857.JPG.a2b7cb7eb5c0e138801d23b61e2c55b7.JPG

Closed coaster #2

PICT0877.thumb.JPG.510372269be7159caaee47cb15f68842.JPG

Inverted Flying Carpet - one of my favorite flats.

PICT0872.JPG.d533f1bffa2f87665a49afea0961e3b0.JPG

Control Panel from the Skyliner.

PICT0873.JPG.64ecf968a5196a657f85f4fab115146b.JPG

Kevin enjoying the Skyliner.

PICT0836.JPG.a4aef6d7abe497d30f8d0d3f1b027949.JPG

A bunch of lazy park enthusiasts.

PICT0814.JPG.064ffdd0d9381c4d4e1f144437429031.JPG

Hey Fran - It doesn't matter if it is a swan or a duck, it's not alive.

PICT0799.JPG.a6d96d87daaadecb4cd3c7425da9658b.JPG

This version ofthe park's Rok n Rol did not have OTSRs

PICT0847.JPG.febcab02228ee10d02d2a17cacce93d8.JPG

This one did

PICT0856.JPG.cc3c3f6fa010e398cb5ffb6a02d26be1.JPG

and White Cyclone is still white.

PICT0889.JPG.8bbf0bd956756f0a1e88b294c212f648.JPG

A-gah-gah-gah-gah-gah-gah!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

As I recall, the haunted house has some sort of psychotic cat demon, which made me feel right at home.

 

Thanks for clearing up the "what color is White Psyclone?" controversy. Now if we could only figure out who's buried in Grant's Tomb.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I recall the haunted house being very dark upon entering because the sun was so intense. I don't recall the demonic cat, but that doesn't mean it wasn't there.

 

I remember that somethng had to trigger it to "pop out."

 

 

Maybe it isn't there anymore.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

I have returned to continue my PTR, after taking a few days to recover from following the TPR bus for 4 days.

 

Nagashima was the last park on the Southern Japan Trip. The next 4 days were spent at Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea while staying at the Tokyo Bay Hilton.

 

I am not a Disney fan and I'm usually let down when people rave about something. However, everything that had been said about DisneySea is true and it is now my #1 park.

 

I'm going to group all my Disneyland photos in this post and put up my DisneySea photos in a day or two.

 

Enjoy!

PICT0890.JPG.33f81219c377d0ca36972e02640a5198.JPG

There are lines to get into the park 90 minutes before the park opens, but everyone lines up in an orderly fashion.

PICT0916.JPG.79dce43c989a1233cbd2cc3c24ad55b9.JPG

Near the front of the park is a ride board listing wait times for all rides and the availability of Fast Passes. At Disneyland practically all Fast Passes are gone by noon.

PICT0913.JPG.71825f008f809d603df805a7de6054e4.JPG

Behind the scenes: Divv taking his signature shot.

PICT0909.JPG.a074472732bede9f4737c28e3873d8ba.JPG

Yup, you still have to deal with strollers, but the Japanese efficiently line them up.

PICT0917.JPG.9679555406492dcd0badc1e10b7c52ae.JPG

One of them tasty Mickey Waffles with chocolate.

PICT0921.JPG.5aa5e3faf2b15bfa06c7adec4ec114e0.JPG

I spy "TPR celebrities"

PICT0919.thumb.JPG.c09233dcae7128d73dbfc896db7c126e.JPG

Even though this one is in disguise.

PICT0925.JPG.4d3b5df730bbe8f6fd96d24de134469f.JPG

If you want to ride Monsters, Inc. GET A FAST PASS.

PICT0927.thumb.JPG.2ede313fa99e999e01ce052cef6489b6.JPG

I know she is not going to read this, but Hi Lou!

PICT1061.JPG.1dd63aeaeb1200df4b13d2ceab39b3ba.JPG

When the group I was with went to see Captian EO, I decided to sit outside and roast in the heat and humidity instead.

PICT1063.JPG.cc9f026932c1b406f0d5a89e9e56ff70.JPG

Space Mountain had no wait, but that's because it was down for rehab. Elissa found this out ahead of time and helped many people get to Disneyland a day before the Southern Japan Trip started.

PICT1114.JPG.f2cd9e97aa4241caf6160637e9b490fd.JPG

Themed checkout station in the Pooh Hunny Hunt gift shop.

PICT1132.JPG.fed3376fbd85ba3ad16381eb3498bdb9.JPG

On Grand Circuit Raceway some cars have steering wheels on the right, some on the left.

PICT1135.JPG.9555bfb1d538fe808c39549fd8293ce7.JPG

I would tell you to e-mail Dan if you know who's parking spot this is, but you never need a reason to e-mail Dan.

PICT1165.JPG.4cac6d5998c0405e95e1d349bb14b3e2.JPG

Practicing to ride the Roller Coaster at Hayanishi. Stroke, Stroke, Stroke.

PICT1166.JPG.42a135cb89052fe6688f4213157aff7e.JPG

A rare photo of both a Beaver Brother Explorer Canoe and a Tom Sawyer raft. I waited 36 minutes to get this exclusive shot.

PICT1159.JPG.890d934b8aa1216612ef29a2bb53aebd.JPG

I see room for a new E ticket attraction.

PICT1154.JPG.b10375aab90a87ce2e489ddbb7e69211.JPG

Did Elissa buy this shirt?

PICT1153.JPG.01a0e33b641fd4d7cc0df0bad3fd9739.JPG

Keep on the lookout for DisneySea, coming soon.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Nice pics. I really like the one that lists all the attractions and the waiting times. At what time of day was that taken (I'm guessing around 2PM)? Those are crazy long lines for most the rides except for old Star Tours. And the only Fast Passes left are Haunted Mansion and Captain E.O. I would be Fast Passing Haunted Mansion and riding Star Tours at that time of the day hoping lines for the other rides get shorter or that they are high balling the waiting times like Disney tends to do.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think I took the ride board photo around 12:30 -1:00 on a Saturday. The ride times were fairly accurate. Luckily when I got to Disneyland the first night, before the Southern Japan portion of the trip, it was pouring and I knocked out a lot of the major rides in 3 hours.

 

Also, Splash Mountain has a single rider line that is a big time saver. The interesting thing about single rider lines in Japan is the grouper asks permission of the person you'll be sitting next to before match up the single rider. Most riders didn't object, but I did encounter some families and kids/teens opting not to be matched with a single rider.

 

Lines do decrease quite a bit during the parades. I have a really interesting story about Journey the The Center of the Earth wait times, but I'll get to that when I post my DisneySea photos.

Edited by larrygator
Link to comment
Share on other sites

^Correct, I was searching for Hidden Mickey's when I came across this box in the Raging Spirits queue. I recall some Hidden Mickeys in the Indiana Jones queue, but since I was always rushing through in the single rider line and can not take decent indoor pictures I neglected to get a good picture of it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

OK, Hanno's photos are not making this easy on me. Since I can't compete on quality so I'm going to rely on my wit and show some unusual photos from DisneySea.

 

I think Robb pointed out that DisneySea is the preferred park of the Tokyo locals while Disneyland has many more tourists from within the country and foreigners. Through put on the DisneySea attractions is fantastic and Fast Passes are generally available until later in the day. Indiana Jones has a great single rider line, unfortunately Tower of Terror's single rider line was not available the final two days we were in the park. Someone mentioned that one of the "elevators" was down causing this issue but who knows what the real story is.

 

I mentioned before that I had a story about the Journey to the Center of the Earth queue. I'm not a show guy, so I was waiting for others outside the Journey queue during the parks extravaganza. I watched the stand-by line go from 30 minutes down to a walk-on while the show was happening. As soon as the show ended the mobs stampeded the Journey line and I watched as every minute the cast member changed the stand-by time from 5 minutes to 10 to 15 to 20 all the way up to 45 minutes within 5 minutes to the show ending. So the next night I rode 5 times as pretty much a walk-on during the show.

 

Unfortunately, I tried to take some photos that could possibly pass for hidden Mickey's, but none of them came out well.

PICT1053.JPG.ffc91ca187be01dc04566ce25713a672.JPG

Inside these doors is a scavenger hunt/exploration area.

IMG_0002.jpg.f4ffcfa61f280dfa4fcd73deb9c03f2f.jpg

While I did not partake, this brochure explains the quest.

IMG_0001.jpg.aaa31065874f9de7a9a6e1a3c4efd880.jpg

and shows you where to go.

PICT1084.JPG.8fdfb04ebc2028d5697be1653104fac1.JPG

Sometime during the visit I went to look for the single rider line for Tower of Terror (before I was informed that is was not operating during our visit).

IMG_0003.thumb.jpg.282214288909b36b1d4677d6e1596ac7.jpg

Either the Cast Member didn't understand what I was asking, or she felt compelled to give me a consolation prize. The Back Story of the ride.

IMG_0004.thumb.jpg.7eafa2e3f5aa919993e6b5bba726d0fb.jpg

Double-sided for your pleasure.

PICT1082.JPG.eb28217beb3fd689843a842ff34cb981.JPG

Future home of the next Midway Mania, right next to Tower of Terror.

PICT1092.JPG.b798d3060c0c29d0e9b068cac226dbcb.JPG

The Fast Pass area for Tower of Terror is themed as a Carriage House.

PICT1086.JPG.6869afab9c14b2f84eb8d9a8aae66753.JPG

The Carriage House, um Fast Pass area.

PICT1087.JPG.b088bd59fce79c5bd4d0ad368776f7b8.JPG

I hope he doesn't shoot me next time I see him, but this gargoyle reminded me of Elissa's dad, Russ.

PICT1093.JPG.8914d9ba257a46d0807f99d64da2849e.JPG

Shiriki Utundu souvenirs.

PICT1090.JPG.de4a115c1549c8d3e152696775efeab4.JPG

Is case you were wondering which sub-station powers the Hightower Hotel

PICT1188.JPG.15c5e38ed4ac03dfd17aa9a232c9d558.JPG

I'm counting it as a Hidden Mickey.

PICT1180.JPG.b14612ea7c142010a5155eab2caaed8c.JPG

Inside joke on the themeing.

PICT1026.JPG.076d7e35a8a38ab8380d11a3306d7b47.JPG

The DisneySea Steamer Line has 4 different routes, so 4 boat ride credits.

PICT1028.JPG.e5d990e73849df70af194d9681c1fa8e.JPG

TPFail doing his Jersey Shore "Come at me Bro" pose.

PICT1032.JPG.9d89a94451949f3b82b2150116f01920.JPG

One of those crappy pictures from the Indy queue, where I saw another Hidden Mickey, but not easy to see now.

PICT1039.JPG.5ec77dd4555ae1dac630046a0e764d71.JPG

Wile E Coyote was called in to set-up the falling anvil stunt on Raging Spirits.

PICT1036.JPG.c1f537d2004305849b53fdd88d04db1d.JPG

Through the ferns!

PICT1007.JPG.3bc0f7ab15c163f80900e9035f497382.JPG

The Electric Railway is a nice transportation ride.

PICT1000.JPG.0610b6c85203ac3bb32442f600808583.JPG

Nautilus photo op area.

PICT1111.JPG.99361ea4f5d08de46d1195a645a98584.JPG

I flipped this picture upside down for another Hidden Mickey. I know the picture is from Disneyland and not DisneySea, but I'm still posting it here.

PICT0976.JPG.c5fa0ac1d8d90808738a4650a5c0110d.JPG

The building holding the double decker carousel.

PICT0962.JPG.2d135322392b04124ea8b68f3b256284.JPG

Pier 33 where you can get an ice cold beer.

PICT0974.JPG.5def35616409030c270e65e76611c96f.JPG

We missed the ride opening by a couple of days, but Coming Soon in this thread will be a relatively good day at Fuji-Q. Well as "good" as it can be.

Edited by larrygator
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I mentioned before that I had a story about the Journey to the Center of the Earth queue. I'm not a show guy, so I was waiting for others outside the Journey queue during the parks extravaganza. I watched the stand-by line go from 30 minutes down to a walk-on while the show was happening. As soon as the show ended the mobs stampeded the Journey line and I watched as every minute the cast member changed the stand-by time from 5 minutes to 10 to 15 to 20 all the way up to 45 minutes within 5 minutes to the show ending. So the next night I rode 5 times as pretty much a walk-on during the show.

 

I remember you running up to us when this was happening. We practically ran from Broken Fantasmic to Journey to beat the crowds when we such the huge rush. We got in line at 45 minutes and that turned into an hour already for us. One of the only rides I think is actually worth the long wait.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Enjoying all these random shots tremendously and the story/amazing tip about the Journey queue made this thread golden.

 

(I could never keep one of those Shiriki Utundu souvenirs in my house. Still can't shake the whole "Trilogy of Terror" killer doll out of my head...)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think that looking for, and (sometimes) finding the "Hidden Hightowers" in all the themeing through-out

Disney Sea was great! A definite (IMHO) better change from the Hidden Mickeys etc etc. everybody expects to find.

 

Next time I am there, I intend to photograph them like you did at Indy, larry.

 

Great TR by the way. I liked how you've found things that a lot of us never did.

Like that beer place on the pier! I mean, "33"? How in heck did I miss that one, LOL?

Must check that out, hopefully still there, next visit.

 

Looking forward to more photos and commentary.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

That thing the cast member gave you at Tower of Terror is one of the "story papers". There are ones for Turtle Talk, the Venetian Gondolas, Journey, Stormrider, Mermaid Lagoon Theatre, Magic Lamp Theatre, Sinbad, Mystic Rhythms, Indy, 20,000 Leagues, Raging Spirits and the Transit Steamer as well. They're for those who speak English to have an idea of what's going on since most things are in Japanese. I have a friend in Japan who sent some to me, which are pretty cool souvenirs in themselves.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

^^I don't even take note of the number 33 on the pier, and only commented on the number because it is there, not sure of the significance.

 

^I still wish the cast member had pointed me to a working single rider line instead of the story papers. If I had known the story papers existed for other rides I would have searched them out. A good thing you mentioned the Venetian Gondolas as I forgot to post a picture of this under represented attraction. Near the Venetian Goldolas is a place that serves excellent Gelato, but alas no picture,

PICT1175.JPG.04a14b4ab432c6f8a8e06f0622d47eb6.JPG

PICT1178.JPG.e6b2c9bd487464fdcc5b7d1ad2a74b6e.JPG

Edited by larrygator
Link to comment
Share on other sites

^ Sorry Larry, I immediately thought that the naming of that beer spot

might be a 'nod' to that upscale private restaurant Club 33 at Disneyland,

above the Pirates of the Caribbean?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Terms of Use https://themeparkreview.com/forum/topic/116-terms-of-service-please-read/