Well after the relatively eventless day of Tuesday, Wednesday was like an overload for me. 'Cause Wednesday is the day we went to DISNEYLAND!!! Tokyo. Alright so I wasn't overly anxious to go, it was a take it or leave it thing for me to start with. But I have to say I'm am glad I did go, if only for the experience. We took a train, blah blah blah, we arrived and walked in.
The place is so Fairytale like, though I'm sure that is how it is meant to be to give the impression of walking into a different world. Walking in the front doors you are greeted by the well manicured gardens and beautifully clean buildings, much like I'd expect in my fantasy world. So our first decision was where do we go? Well I suggested that like a maze, we should stick left, then we'll find our way out eventually, but Conrad's desire to go "to the world of tomorrow, TODAY!" was overuling. So we took a right instead. We walked down a little alley with different shops on either side selling their wares. Some lovely displays in the windows but completely misleading to what was actually through the door (Merchandising).
We arrived into the world of tomorrow and we were eager to get onto a ride, so up first was the Star Tours!(TM) ride. I thought I could get lifetime membership at the Skywalker Ranch because I noticed that they were using the same font as Star Wars (a registered Trademark of the Lucasarts Corporation). However my hopes were quickly dashed when I found out it was a Disney/George Lucas joint project. Oh well, a Star Wars ride is at least a little cool. So after lining up for about 30 minutes we made it onto the ride (Steven, Conrad, Whitney and I, but didn't want to go on in case it was a rollercoaster, and the signs were a little misleading). It was a moving shuttle/video screen affair, however, as it was all in Japanese I'm not quite sure what the droid flying the shuttle was saying, however I did say to him at 1 point "just stop apologising and fly the damn shuttle". I figured at this point that "rides" in Japan are probably a lot more tame then I'd like/i'm used to.
So after departing that ride we wandered around till we got to a GRAN PRIX RACING ride. WOOOO. Everyone jumped on this ride, though mum and Whitney "shared" the experience. It consisted of engined cars that you drive around a track, however they had a top speed of nothing, and they were technically on a track, however you could steer, within reason. Yay.
Well after some more walking around we made it to Toon Town, where we took a few photo's with us acting the fool and doing silly things, and any ideas to get on one of the rollercoasters was quickly cut down when we saw the 100m long line extending from the entrance. And the wait from the entrance was 40 minutes. So with that idea squashed we headed to another area where we found Alice in Wonderland references, and decided that as it was 12 or so, we should eat.
Walking into the Wonderland themed restaurant was an experience. It was so, surreal. All the way from the entrance to the exit (which was technically the same door) was themed and it really sort of dragged you kicking and screaming into the experience. Although I would have preferred it to be a little Cheshire Cat creepier. After having a roast beef and Caesar Salad though (typically theme park prices, but the quality was at least good) we left and made our way to... dun dun dun... a shop. Whitney wanted to find something to buy, although she already had a pair of Minnie Mouse ears. Well, we walked into the Aristocats store and back out again, and into Fantasy Land, or whatever it was called. Sure, great, except for 1 thing, the huge big castle in the middle of Disneyland, the one they show as their Image, well, you couldn't climb it. Hell they didn't even have "Buy a ticket to see the tower" tours. Disappointment. And if I was any more honest I guarantee I would have jumped the fence and climbed up the stairs to get some shots from the balconies.
Anyhow, as we walked from under the castle we took a few photo's at the entrance, before me Whitney and Mum where asked to pose for a photo with some nice young Japanese girls. Now, I don't mind, I like having photo's with young ladies, even if they are complete strangers. I would prefer it actually, rather then the sideways glances I'm always getting. Sure, blond hair and blue eyes is extremely unique in Tokyo/Japan, but it doesn't mean I am a monster and I really, really don't mind if you come up and say Hi. I'm friendly. I promise. But I digress. A photo or 2 and we are on our way again. By this time we are walking up the main path where the parade is going, and the parade is about to start, meaning 1 thing, the rides will be quieter. So off we go back to toon town to get on the RESCUE RANGERS ROLLERCOASTER!
Well, it was still a wait of 30 minutes, but better then the hour we would have had to wait. I even found out that I can do a pretty good Mickey Mouse voice, thanks to Conrad trying to talk like him. I've always known I could mimic most voices, but Mickey Mouse was new to me. But none-the-less I used this new ability to the full. As we were getting on the ride I said "oh boy" (Mickey Mouse voice), and the 2 ladies (Well, 1 was probably my age, and I think she had her mum with her) started to laugh a little. The ride set's of and as we get to the top, I yell once again in Mickey character "Oh boy, here we go, this'll be fun" and the 2 ladies start bursting out laughing. It's nice to have a new audience. However I can't say the ride was as fun for me and Steven. 30 minutes of waiting and a 1 minute ride doesn't do it for me. Our conversation consisted of "I think you car has more G force then this ride Steven", "Yeah, and it goes faster too", "Yep".
Well the ride ends, and as we roll around the last corner into the station, I look at one of the young guys walking onto the ride, I get eye contact, and say once again in character "Oh boy, this is the best ride ever, your going to love it". This kid just stairs in confusion at me. And we all start laughing. What was I supposed to do?
Right well off the ride, and it's a walk to Westernland, and a pitstop for us all. Wander around some more, over to Adventureland. Swiss Family Robinson house, then we look in a couple of shops, take a River Cruise (the guy driving the boat was speaking Japanese, and everyone was laughing, so I just smiled and didn't understand anything), a few more stores, and it was about called a day. We had a quick peek at the musical that was going on, and after lasting 2 minutes of assault to our ear drums, we walked back to the main entrance area. Whitney and Mum wanted to look in some shops for souvenirs, so us Boyz!(TM) went to a cafe to get a coffee. I loved the Cafe, not for the coffee, but for the full Art Deco interior. Also the waitresses were wearing period clothing, and it looked awesome.
A quick wander out the doors and we were back in reality. We got on a train, and went to Super Autobacs to find Steven some breakpads (they are open till late so, but we were getting drained quickly) so after another hour we were all ready to break. Back to Tokyo station and we stopped at the Sushi place we had gone the previous year. The one where the old guys love to pile on the Wasabi (I love it). A few beers and 8 plates of Sushi and it was time to crash.
We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of the dreams.
Disney don't make anything, they just "Borrow" ideas.
I "borrowed" one of theirs display, be right back.
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