Tokyo Disneyland
Topic: Kevin Yee Announces His TDR Touring Book

#	Author	Message
51	KevinYee Thu 4/10/2008 6:40p	Hey, I'm all about equal opportunity. X got a chance for a preview copy, to weigh in and help make the book stronger - would you like that too? Email me if so.
52	WorldDisney Fri 4/11/2008 1:51a	>>>putting in to the first restroom upon arrival in Narita out of the blue a cleaning lady pulled up to the very next urinal and started cleaning.<<< <<This is very common in Europe too. i think only the US is prudish in that way.>> Yeah, this is common in Korea too and since I lived in both places (and experienced it in Europe as well) its not a big deal. Of course, in my university we had unisex bathrooms and showers ;D.
53	WorldDisney Fri 4/11/2008 1:56a	And hey Kevin, don't know if you know me and I don't post here often anymore, but I if any extra help you need, I'm up for it. I'm not an expert like MN or Mr.X is on the place, but I been there well over a dozen times (a few times WITH Mr. X and others here lol) since it opened and lived in Tokyo for awhile as well. I'm there about once a year, so any help would be happy to offer input :). Email in my handle if you like, but if not don't worry about it. And congrats on writing a book regardless. I have a feeling its quite difficult first time or not!
54	Malin Fri 4/11/2008 2:24a	<<< 1. Any guide is better than no guide, particularly for first timers. A repeat visitor like GoddessMara will find little value in the book. >>> With that sort of talk I think you have talked your way out of a sale. I really wanted to buy your book to see how it comes across, but with two trips already under my belt, plus you already handing out books to everyone else I have lost the interest, why should I spend good money on a book that is not aimed at me and is being given away for free to other members. I think your going to have trouble selling these books because of your lack of experience, what does your book cover that isn't already available online with a couple of clicks. Also whats to stop people from just posting a question in one of the many forums, with the advantage that the experts will also be able to follow up on questions. Sorry for the negative outlook but I really don't see why in the years to come I should be recomending this book to first timers. After all I've done the trip before and so have many others without the need for this guide. If it offered more than just a guilde for first timers it may be worth buying but again you are not really qualified to sit here and write that book, which is why I think its going to have very limited apeal. And I don't feel the need to recomend your book to anyone when I can offer the advice for free. <<< 2. In a curious twist of logic, someone who is VERY experienced is exactly the wrong person to write a book for a first timer. That experienced person has forgotten what the first timer agonizes about, what the uncertainties were, and so on. In a weird way, being a first timer was an ADVANTAGE. It helps anticipate what other first timers would think. >>> Thats all well and said Kevin but from what I gather you have gathered a great deal of advice from experts which will surely reflect in the book. With 2 trips already taken it would of been nice to of been asked for my advice as I visited as a first time visitor in 2006, so its still all fresh in my mind. With gathering advice from the real so call experts your no longer writing this book from a beginers point of view!
55	WorldDisney Fri 4/11/2008 2:55a	Oh, and to make this CLEAR, I wasn't asking you for a copy of the book lol. Just if you want to send me samples or something or any direct questions you may want to ask to see if it correspond with others have told you was more of what I was thinking to provide any info, advice, tips, etc :).
56	Mr X Fri 4/11/2008 2:57a	***After all I've done the trip before and so have many others without the need for this guide.*** Well, if you look at it that way you don't really "need" a guidebook to anywhere. I'm sure I could find plenty of forums to answer questions about my trip to NYC, or the Bahamas, or wherever. What remains to me seen, I suppose, is if there really is any market for it. Obviously there's a HUGE market for these things in Japanese, they are all over the bookstores here. But for foreigners? I don't really know. There certainly is a niche of people who are Disney fans and dedicated enough to travel to Tokyo for Disney, I just don't know how big it is (not very big, I'd wager). Anyway, people who are complaining about it certainly don't have to spend any money on it, I don't see what the anger is all about. Is it because some here are getting free copies? I gather Kevin is doing this for the purpose of consulting knowledgeable people so he can improve the product. I think most authors do that sort of thing. I for one am glad SOMEONE is bothering to do it anyway. So long as the book doesn't contain any misinformation that could steer people in the wrong direction, what's the harm? If it sucks and nobody buys it, so be it. But I don't think the attitude of "how dare he try and do it!" is a little silly. The guy can do what he wants. I must say though, I do think a title such as "a first timers guide for first timers" would be appropriate. This really is an interesting angle, as I do agree to a point with Kevin and his statement that multiple visitors or travel guide pros can often lose sight of what might concern a first timer...particularly traveling to somewhere as foreign as Japan (albeit the most Americanized corner of the place lol).
57	Mr X Fri 4/11/2008 3:05a	***Thats all well and said Kevin but from what I gather you have gathered a great deal of advice from experts which will surely reflect in the book.*** I would hope that he would use the "expert" advice to simply clear up anything that is blatantly "wrong" and leave the rest to his viewpoint. Since he has offered me a chance to read and review it, that's all I really plan to do..correct real errors, if any. **Obviously there's a HUGE market for these things in Japanese, they are all over the bookstores here. But for foreigners?** To expand on my own thoughts here, have you considered publishing this in Japanese Kevin? That might be a neat take on things for locals here, and could sell very well if it's written cleverly. You could even segue into "and here's what first timers should look out for at WDW", dividing the thing essentially into two parts. Just an idea.
58	The Goddess Mara Fri 4/11/2008 7:24a	It's possible that the book is being self-published via a print on demand process like lulu.com--it costs the author next to nothing aside from the preparation. You don't have a lot of money invested in stock that must be stored. If you like to write and can churn stuff out easily, this is a great way to get 20 books on your resume quickly.
59	KevinYee Fri 4/11/2008 7:26a	Malin, I understand completely if you feel the product isn't right for you, and I'm OK with that. It's difficult or even impossible to write a book for everyone - you have to pick an audience, and be true to that. This particular book spends as much time on how, exactly, to get from the airport to the hotel as it does on shows and parades. It's built to remove uncertainties, not provide comprehensive information. "I think your going to have trouble selling these books because of your lack of experience, what does your book cover that isn't already available online with a couple of clicks." I did several dozen hours of research online about what to expect when I got there, and then *as I experienced the surprises* (most were small), I jotted down notes. Just to give some examples: 1. What are those painted lines next to the Airport Limo bus? Do I stand there? 2. Should I be worried about signing a blank charge draft when I check in at the hotel? 3. Where at the Maihama station can I activate my JR pass? (it's a trick question!)
60	gurgitoy2 Fri 4/11/2008 7:46a	Hey, Kevin, I have a question for you. Since this book is aimed at the first time (English-speaking) visitor, are you making comparisons to the US resorts? I mean, since you've only had the one trip, maybe an angle in the book would be to point out the differences or similarities you noticed between TDR and the US parks? I know a lot of US Disney fans who just dismiss TDR as being just like the Magic Kingdom or Disneyland, and not really knowing that there are differences. I'll be curious to see how the book does, since it's such a niche market.

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