What We Love About Tokyo Disneyland

We have a full post and podcast that celebrates what we love about Tokyo Disneyland. It includes scores of photos and videos, plus a terrific podcast with David Zanolla and I that you will not want to miss.

You can find podcast number 77 here on Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, MyTuner, and ListenNotes. Be sure to subscribe and share with others!

World Bazaar

What should be Main Street, U.S.A. has a very striking difference. A massive canopy provides protection from the weather. It’s feels different, but trust me, when it rains, you’ll be grateful for it.

Let’s strike up the band. It sounds wonderful under that same World Bazaar canopy.

In the podcast we spoke of the Emporium being replaced by a gift store specializing in tins of cookies and crackers.

And here is the “bank” where you complete your purchase. This is only one aisle of this checkout area.

The street wraps around and is accessible on all sides. It isn’t like Main Street which is primarily one-sided. That affords plenty of places to move about and visit. Here’s a favorite mentioned on the podcast.

Here’s the view from Central Plaza. As mentioned on the podcast, it is not a straight shot from the front of the park to the center of the park. It’s also a very large central plaza.

Attractions, shops and restaurants like the Crystal Palace below make you feel like you have returned to a Magic Kingdom of 1971. Everything seems as fresh and new as opening day.

Adventureland

There is a primary entrance from the plaza into Adventureland, but it’s only one of two:

The other takes you directly into a New Orleans Square area, which isn’t a separate themed land, but is part of the larger Adventureland.

The theming is as charming as Disneyland’s but unlike that French Quarter, it doesn’t wrap around with lots of winding streets.

The segue between New Orleans and the tropical traditional look of Adventureland is this section, which is sort of “Typhoon Lagoon” looking in style.

Now we arrive in what looks like a traditional Adventureland.

In the podcast we talked about The Enchanted Tiki Room taken over by Stitch. You can see a full version of the show below.

We also spoke of how the Jungle Cruise is similar to the Magic Kingdom but different. You can see that especially played out in this segment where they enter the temple.

Westernland

It’s called Westernland here in Tokyo, but its look is distinctly Frontierland.

Many of the attractions are familiar, yet different, such as The Hungry Bear, specializing in curry dishes.

Here’s the first shooting gallery to feature infrared targets.

The Country Bear Jamboree offers not one but two theaters like the old Disneyland show. But it has a distinctly Magic Kingdom looking entrance. You can see the show in full below. Note the quality of the animatronic performances.

David also talked about the theming while you wait for the show. In particular, he mentioned the Goldilocks poster shown below. We have a podcast where Imagineer Tom Morris talks about the work done on that. Much of the work was done by Anne Telnaes, a Pulitzer Prize winner who now works for The Washington Post.

In the podcast, we both talk about our love of Camp Woodchuck Kitchen. This is a must for both of us when visiting Tokyo Disneyland.

Rafts, canoes and the Mark Twain all ply the Rivers of America.

Tokyo Disney is the only park outside of the United States to have a Tom Sawyer Island. Definitely check it out when you go there, but know that the experience will be a more sterile version of the wilderness.

Critter Country

While New Orleans Square is not a separate land, Critter Country is. Let’s check it out.

The unique attraction here is Grandma Sara’s Kitchen. Sara appears to be a possum. On the podcast we have no ending adulation for how unique this space is. It’s like dining in Splash Mountain. It’s very themed, but unassuming as a space on the outside.

Here’s what the two-story restaurant looks like on the inside. It’s huge!

Recall that in the podcast we mentioned David’s friends love Disney restroom signage. Well…here it is:

Fantasyland

To step into Fantasyland is to step back into time itself. Some of the attractions look like they not only belong in a Magic Kingdom of 1971, but a Disneyland of the 1960’s. Here is beautiful Cinderella Castle:

We did a comparison of Castles earlier, so definitely check that out to see what is inside. Here is the view from the upper floors in the rear of the Castle. It’s stunningly colorful.

Snow White’s Adventures (they don’t use the word Scary in the title) looks just like the old one at Magic Kingdom–only it’s perfectly polished.

You can see the full ride below, though note that some of the sections are very dark (that’s what makes them scary).

Take a look at Dumbo–this is old school design going back to the early days of Disneyland. Behind it looms The Haunted Mansion. You can see an overview of Dumbo across the globe here.

Speaking of The Haunted Mansion, it sits at the intersection of Fantasyland, Frontierland and Critter Country. Here during the holidays it has the Nightmare Before Christmas overlay.

While Haunted Mansion follows the look and feel of Magic Kingdom, “it’s a small world” follows more the look of Disneyland on the outside, and Magic Kingdom on the inside. In our Comparison of “it’s a small world” I noted that this is the best version of the attraction to be found anywhere across the globe. See for yourself below:

Tokyo also has a couple of attractions that are truly unique. One of them is a definite dining experience, Queen of Hearts Banquet Hall.

It’s like you stepped into Wonderland.The detailing is magnificent.

The most popular attraction in Fantasyland–and perhaps the entire park–is Pooh’s Hunny Hunt. It’s a variation of Winnie the Pooh, but with a completely different ride system. One that renders the attraction almost completely unique. Check out the complete ride below:

Note that in the podcast I mentioned that Woozles and Heffalumps had their own ride vehicle. You can see that below:

Toontown

Toontown is almost identical to Disneyland’s, but flipped over, so that Mickey’s and Gadget’s Go Coaster is one direction, and Roger Rabbit’s is another.

There are also a couple of attractions that are a little different like Huey, Dewey and Louie’s Good Time Cafe and this Squash & Stretch furniture building.

In the podcast we talk about the fact that there are few character meet ‘n’ greets like at Magic Kingdom. But there are many Disney characters walking around.

Again, because it’s Tokyo, everything is beautiful, colorful, and well kept–like it was opening day for the attraction.

I have a great article about Gadget’s Go Coaster and the reality of doing Dog and Pony Shows. Check it out!

Tomorrowland

Tomorrowland’s entrance is also is a step back in time to the original look and feel of Magic Kingdom’s version.

This plays out in a crazy way at the Tomorrowland Terrace. This is an interior restaurant that looks as chill as the 1970s.

Other spots in Tomorrowland, such as this area known as the Astrozone, is distinctly different from previous Tomorrowlands.

This area of the park was added when Star Tours came into Tomorrowland.

In the podcast, we mentioned Hitchhiking droids. Here they are:

We also mentioned Pan Galactic Pizza Port. The star here is Tony Solaroni. You have to see it below to believe it:

As for myself, I prefer Alien Mochi, which comes in a trio of vanilla, chocolate and strawberry. Unbelievably delicious!

Rounding out Tomorrowland on the way back to World Bazaar is Monsters Inc. Ride & Go Seek! We offer a complete look at this attraction, which uses technology from an Innoventions attraction, called “Where’s the Fire”. Check it out!

…& More

Tokyo Disneyland is getting ready to premiere a new land based on Beauty and the Beast. This includes a major ride through attraction and other offerings shown below:

There are also daytime parades…

Holiday parades…

And night time parades, including a version of The Electrical Light Parade that will make you quickly forget the quaint original. Check out this video that showcases the beauty of this parade. It is the exclamation point to why Tokyo Disneyland is such an amazing place.

That does it. You may want to also check out our other “What We Love About” podcasts/posts that we did for Shanghai…

…and for Hong Kong. Check them out!

Let’s Travel

Has all this chat made you hungry for a Disney adventure? Now is the time to dream and plan for your future travels. Be sure to reach out to David Zanolla, owner and agent of of Out The Door Travel, LLC to make arrangements. There’s no cost–but it could save you a lot of time–and even money–especially when you put it in the hands of someone who really knows Disney and travel. Call today at 309-863-5469 or reach out to him via zanolla@otdtravel.com