Tokyo Disneyland
Topic: New Dreamlights floats coming March 17

#	Author	Message
51	TDRboy38 Sun 2/4/2007 12:47p	Die hards for Broadway shows in Tokyo, and other theater can be just as much of a die hard going to shows once a week or more to support the performers they love. There are no AP's for B-Way by the way. I think that if someone decides to become a "FAN" of something (or someone) in Japan, they feel they will let that person or show down if they do not show their support on a regular basis. This is just what I have observed for the last 12 years or so.
52	leemac Sun 2/4/2007 1:02p	^^ that would be my observation too. I just don't see that type of fanbase in any other culture. Except for sports I guess. It is an interesting debate. Although it has nothing to do with Dreamlights getting new floats. :-p
53	MagicalNezumi Sun 2/4/2007 1:03p	^^ The fanaticism of Japanese people is something that can be a whole thread onto itself. I may be doing a sweeping generalization here, but part of this need for Japanese to envelope themselves in something they like or like to do may come from an "need" to be part of a group. It can be seen in the groups of goth/lolita fans that meet in Yoyogi each Sunday, the current wave in popularity of Korean pop culture by older women, or the guests who come to the TDR to see the same stage show 4-5 a day, -- MagicalNezumi
54	leemac Sun 2/4/2007 1:06p	Spooky MN. Great minds obviously think very much alike. Next time we see you I'd love to continue this discussion. I remain mesmerized and fascinated by Asian social culture and the more I see of the rest of Asia (particularly China and South Korea) I realize it is not endemic just to Japan. It seems to be a collective obsessive compulsion disorder for many.
55	SuperDry Sun 2/4/2007 1:22p	<<< I know that TDR has the highest average use rate amongst APs and they have thousands that visit the park weekly at least. >>> Part of this I'm sure is due to the cost. Until recently, a DL AP could be had for as little as $99 (now $124). As you know, TDR APs aren't cheap: the single-park AP is $372 and the two-park AP is $620, and there are no discounts off of those prices as far as I know. So it would seem natural that people would use them more on average than those sold at the US parks, as you'd have to be a rather committed parkgoer in order to justify to yourself that an AP is worth it.
56	SuperDry Sun 2/4/2007 1:31p	Leemac, the next time you're in Tokyo during baseball season, you must make it a point to go see a game. Be sure to get a ticket in the home team rooting section. The fans bring their own brass section (!) and lead everyone in cheers. There will be little doubt about Japanese fanaticism left after that experience.
57	SuperDry Sun 2/4/2007 1:35p	<<< That is exactly what OLC wants and you obviously get a great kick out of it. For me it is more about quality in my mind than quantity. I don't need a celebration all the time at every park. I just get tired of seeing banners scattered around the parks that are unthemed to their location but tied to an event. Reason why I'm so glad that the YOMD campaign [hasn't] blanketed the parks with banners. >>> But you're assuming that a special event's stuff isn't themed to where it's placed. Take a look at the TDS 5th banners and so on: they're very well themed to each port. So having the special event items not being themed is just a matter of choice - not wanting to spend the money on the extra design and manufacturing involved.
58	TDLFAN Sun 2/4/2007 3:03p	>>why are Cirque so insanely popular in the US? They can sell out virtually every touring show and most of their resident shows (including La Nouba) are still packing them in. I've never seen anyone leave early from La Nouba. So I totally dispute your point.<< Coincidentally, I have never been interesting in seeing LaNouba, but I suspect that a show like "Mystic Rhythms" WITHIN a disney park may not be a popular as a stand-alone venture like La Nouba is at DTD, especially when people dish up the money to see just that, as opposed topaying for a passport ticket that includes the entire park's offerings. But not until we get a TDS style show like Mystic in a park at WDW, would we really know. >>Same for the Japanese audience. They love Cirque and big musical shows like Phantom, Cats and TLK. That is why I'm so confused as to why they accept such poor shows (particularly the special events) at TDR.<< Could it be because, unlike you, they know they are not going to Broadway when they step inside TDL/TDS??? If you are going to Disney, it's to see DISNEY stuff, not Broadway (unless the theme was apar with the setting as was "Encore!" to American waterfront. Plus the bottom line is.. if a special event show is fun and engages the audience..then why knock it?? They really do not have to spend millions on a special event show, but the fact they put some thought and budget into is good enough for me to appreciate. >>Oh our definition of creativity is definitely different. Very very different.<< I know that very much...but just because you have a different, more artsy-fartsy expectation, doesn't mean my simplistic expectations are any less important, and TDR seems to be able to deliver both just fine. Again, we are not in Broadway, nor should we expect to be when we go to any Disney park.
59	TDLFAN Sun 2/4/2007 3:26p	>>TDLFAN I suspect the answer is that you have a mindset very similar to the local Japanese audience. You love the character shows, special events and free gifts to such a degree that you fanatically plan your schedule around it.<< I am not ashamed of that one bit. And doing so helps me get more value out of my very expensive premium AP. Why not? "If they build, people will come". BTW... I can not even begin to tell you how many free gifts and lesser events I have missed at TDR over the past year or so.. Oh well.. C'est la vie. Can't have it all. Besides... what do you think this YOMD campaign really is?? Promises of FREEBIES to get more victims to come to WDW!!! Hey! they finally learned how to do something right like OLC!!! Difference is...every guest who visits TDR on a free-gift day goes home a *winner* at the end of the day. Now, how many guests who visit WDW/DLR during YOMD will end up going home with a price??? >>I don't need a celebration all the time at every park. I just get tired of seeing banners scattered around the parks that are unthemed to their location but tied to an event. Reason why I'm so glad that the YOMD campaign has blanketed the parks with banners.<< Excuse but have you not the see million YOMD banners all over WDW (and going up at DL) that simply do NOT fit the theme of the parks??? I think any of the other parks are just as guilty as TDR. It just happen more at TDR because of the larger amount of seasonal events. And not, it does not bother me because it gives me variety. Maybe a reason why TDL doesn't get stale for me as opposed to the MK? >>You have already indicated that the want a 25th celebration for Epcot. Me I'm not bothered at all. I'm happy to see the small fixes like Mexico and Canada go unmarketed so that guests will get a pleasant surprise when they see them.<< For the record... I am not advocating a 25th anniversary celebration, but it would be nice to see WDW throw an anniversary bash every 5 yrs for their resort as a whole as has been historically done. That is more than sufficient for me, as opposed to marketing-made Million Dream bribes and the like, disguised as events. >>It certainly seems that a huge percentage of day guests are there purely to wait for hours to see the special events and nothing else. You just don't seem to get that elsewhere even at DLR where there is a big AP base. I know a lot of DLR APs who are happy to just wander around the parks at the weekend soaking it all up. It is a different tack in Maihama.<< You seem very clueless about japanese culture and behaviors Lee.. I spend enough time in Japan to tell you that these patterns of behavior are seen *everywhere* in Japan, not just at TDR. I have seen extremely long lines of people waiting for Matsuzakaya to open on a big sale day, I have seen long lines to get into beauty salons in Ginza..etc etc etc. I also believe that in regards to TDR, many guests do educate themselves and follow thru on tips offered by TDR fanatics who have published books about "how to" do the resort and these guests follow instructions to a tee. The japanese can also just walk around and suck in the atmosphere and they seem to do that well in the city, during festivals and such and cherry blossom season.. IT's CULTURAL MINDSET! Just like the euros love to light up all over the place, or turn DLP into a trash can and it's hub into a camping field. CULTURAL! In DLR, just like for me at WDW, we are LOCALS! and we don't have the need to go into the parks and be commando about them, therefore choosing to just walk around and enjoy the sights. I am willing to bet that, if DLP went back to presenting special events like it did before (Country Fair, Blast to the Past etc etc) such as they do at TDR... I can garranty you the locals and APers will show up with the same abandon the japanese guests show at TDR. It's a given.. There is no need for DLR to be slow at this time of the year if they did little things like they do at TDR to fill the parks after holiday periods. For anyone who is in business to make money, that notion should be a given. But that's only my opinion which means nothing to you until someone else comes around to explain the same idea to you in bettter grammar and intellect.
60	TDLFAN Sun 2/4/2007 3:35p	>>I forgot to add that I believe the other issue with Sindbad is that it is neither: a) a recognizable storyline or character piece; or b) one of the marketable E-tickets in the park. So much of TDS is driven by either Disney characters (like Mermaid and Aladdin) or properties that the Japanese know such as Indy or the "thrill" rides like Journey. I just think Sindbad slipped through the cracks and down the priority list of most guests.<< I agree with you 100%, but in my case, I saw the showmanship and quality of the Sindbad ride and proclaimed it a favorite right away, with out even understanding the topic and storyline. I never had issues with it as those you claim many people had, but I am just a fan. >>the next time you're in Tokyo during baseball season, you must make it a point to go see a game. Be sure to get a ticket in the home team rooting section. The fans bring their own brass section (!) and lead everyone in cheers. There will be little doubt about Japanese fanaticism left after that experience.<< VERY TRUE SuperDry. I love it when they release balloon and go "NIPPON!! *clap*clap*clap*!! :D >>I just don't see that type of fanbase in any other culture. Except for sports I guess. It is an interesting debate. Although it has nothing to do with Dreamlights getting new floats. :-p<< True but it should make you understand many of the things you question about TDR and the fanbase and how things are the way they are. This resort was meant for the japanese first and foremost..and not for us westerners with our close minded opinions. ....and TDRBoy38 and MagicalNezumi, thanks for your insights on this cultural issue... Very good points of view. I wish I was as good as you both (and SuperDry as well) in putting thoughts into writting with such finesse and logic.

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