Tokyo Disneyland
Topic: Do the Japanese know what they have?

#	Author	Message
1	barboy Wed 4/9/2008 11:01a	I was on this fairly small island(maybe smaller than EPCOT-- but hard to say) in the Bahamas just outside Nassau and there were a handful of locals who looked like they had never been off the island and definitely never outside of the the Bahamas(I don't know because I did not ask). It was the most beautiful Island one can imagine.....you know the rules......the finest white sand, crystal clear water, vast vegetation on the island with a mini mountain which offered breathtaking views of the open water. The few locals there didn't seem to fully appreciate what they have. People all over the world save for years, travel great distances just to get a piece of paradise like that and here this clan gets it daily, for "free" even. Do the Japanese fully understand and appreciate that they have easy access to the best of Disney? Or do the Japanese Disney fans think that thier resort is just another link in the Disney chain-- not necessarily stronger and certainly not weaker? Or do they take the "grass is greener in Orlando's backyard" approach or see WDW as the "promised land"?
2	FerretAfros Wed 4/9/2008 1:47p	Given how rabid some of the Japanses fans get, I would say that they have a pretty good idea that they know what they have. The pushing and shoving an hour before the park opens, every single day, says that those folks know that they have something special. A lot of them make people like us in the US just look like casual visitors in comparison.
3	Malin Wed 4/9/2008 4:14p	Interesting topic, but I think this topic should be aimed at all the Annual Passholders that visit both Disneyland and Walt Disney World who clearly don't seem to apreciate just how lucky there are to be able to jump in the car and within 30 minutes be inside one of the parks. As for the Japanese I don't think they hold OLC or the TDR Resort in quite as high regard that many Westerners do. During my recent trip to Paris I spotted many Japanese guest from Japan enjoying the parks. I think this proves that while most do love the Resort, they also are not ignorant to its many faults either. And certainly don't visit the other Disney park complaining about how the standards are much higher back home.
4	Mr X Wed 4/9/2008 6:11p	***And certainly don't visit the other Disney park complaining about how the standards are much higher back home.*** Exactly. I think most Japanese would prefer going to DisneyWorld (who wouldn't!?), and see the Tokyo resort as just "the local parks". After all, unlike in vast America, Japan is small enough that virtually anyone can visit Disney at least once pretty easily, and most have. It's more like your local amusement park (and feels like it too, with the mad pushing and shoving and weird customs), whereas DisneyWorld is truly the "dream vacation". Many Japanese people dream of honeymooning at WDW, by the way, and often do so following a Disney themed wedding. By the way, Barboy, that island sounds awesome. I can understand how locals wouldn't care so much. It's just "there", and the economy is probably not so hot and they're likely all stuck in crappy jobs serving the tourists...so while for us it's "getting away from it all", for them it's just "away from it all". :p
5	WorldDisney Wed 4/9/2008 11:29p	Well, to be fair, that could said of ANYONE who has the oppurtunity (that is interested anyway) of visiting a Disney theme park. For all the AP nerds slamming WDW, DLR and etc because they spend waaaay too much time there, there are people all around the world who dream they could just one day there, a trip-of-a-lifetime if possible and would probably pop their eyes out the second they see that sphere in Epcot, marvel at Soarin at DCA or delight in taking a dip in Splash Moutain. Again, this stuff is ALL subjective! Yes, I believe TDR is great (and been there too many times to count now), but hell, I been to them all minus one park (WDSP), but I think on average entering a Disney park is a very special thing, regardless which one it is, to most. I think people question *how* special it by the price/number of attractions/upkeep etc, but overall, most would love to just experience ONE of them in their lifetime. The problem is Disney *KNOWS* this and think they can dumb down the experience and water it down so badly, ala DCA, WDSP, HKDL, etc and they mistake high interest for nieve interest and that people would just be happy to have one regardless how bad it really is. Sure, people might be willing to see it ONCE to see what the hype is all about, but its really the second, third, fourth and etc that's a true marker and fortunatly for resorts like TDR, it fits that bill over and over again.
6	Bob Paris Thu 4/10/2008 2:01a	"Do the Japanese fully understand and appreciate that they have easy access to the best of Disney?" I remember reading about some TDR execs who flew to California and were VERY excited about finally being about to visit the original, "Walt's park". Now, bear in mind this was back before the 50th, about three new coats of paint and certainly tens of millions of dollars of maintenance ago - we're talking the dark days of the Pressler era here. Apparently they came in, all a-buzz but as they were toured arounf the park their demeanor grew more sombre and their disappointment more palpable. I just hope those particular execs flew back to Tokyo and shouted from the rooftop of Worl Bazaar exactly what they have there!
7	trekkeruss Thu 4/10/2008 7:53a	^^That could be true... or it could be one of those urban legends. When I was on the plane coming back from my trip to the grand opening of TDS, I met a Japanese couple on their way to WDW. I hope they liked it, because they had to stay there awhile, because the events of 9/11 prevented them from leaving.
8	Mr X Thu 4/10/2008 7:58a	Sounds rather urbanlegend-ish, fwiw. Most TDR executives have been to Anaheim and Orlando many times. Those that haven't have surely had conversations about the resorts, including probably a lot more detail about conditions/situations/updates than any of us would ever have. For them to show up (all excited, like kids!) and feel disappointed or something...well, yeah. That sounds like urban legend territory to me. I'd bet that Japanese couple was in heaven, actually...I'm sure they were well treated, and I assume they enjoyed their extra few days assuming they had enough money to cover things (if not...yikes).
9	trekkeruss Thu 4/10/2008 8:05a	There is no denying that WDW has all that S P A C E, making TDR seem very un-resort like.
10	Mr X Thu 4/10/2008 5:12p	Sure. Actually a TDR guy said just that when he returned from his first trip to Florida. Specifically he said "well, we call this place a "resort", but in Florida is really IS a resort".

All times are Pacific Time (US)

Note: Information on the discussion boards is sometimes based on rumors or incorrect information and should not be assumed true. Messages do not necessarily reflect the opinion of LaughingPlace.com or its editors.

More messages:

1-10

11-20

21-25

< Previous Topic

Next Topic >

You must be a registered user to post messages.
Click here to register.
After registration you will automatically be brought back to this topic

Laughing Place Podcast
A Happy New Year from the LPP. This week it's Lion King in Vegas, new Johnny Depp movies, Adventurer's Club last night, recent dining experiences, our favorites at Hollywood Studios, reader mail, the Captain's Challenge and more.

What's on
The Latest
A Frightfully Good Time Awaits Disney Cruise Line Guests this Halloween
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Welcomes Fourth Baby Giraffe This Year
El Capitan Theatre presents The Nightmare Before Christmas Oct 17-23 and Oct 30-Nov 1
The NAMM Foundation and Disney Channel Announce Sequel to 'Disney's High School Musical: The Music in You' Grant Program
“Entertainment Facility Project” To Be Discontinued
Disney & More One Day Sale October 18th
High School Musical 3 European Premiere photos
Disney Cruise Line Sets Sail For Russia, Northern Europe and Mediterranean in 2010
LP Guide to Sleeping Beauty 50th Anniversary Platinum Edition update
Tokyo Disneyland Resort record attendance

Click here for The Latest