Tokyo June 2013 trip

[mushu mama]

Hi guys,

Given the specials on flights to Tokyo at the moment, the accommodation we've been thinking about is disappearing at a rapid rate and we want to book asap.

Just a quick question for those who have booked directly on the Hilton site for their accommodation, I can't figure out if they require a deposit or if they just secure your accom and then pay on arrival or departure?

Anyone booked through the website before rather than an agent or cut price site?

Thanks

[KeithS]

We always just book through the Hilton website. They don't take a deposit, you just pay in full on departure.

What are your dates Lisa? Good to see you heading to Japan again, great place!

[mushu mama]

Yep, excited to be heading back there, we haven't seen Disney Sea so that will be all new for us.

We're heading over 24th June for a week. Just a quick trip but I've had to promise it won't be ALL Disney and had to agree to multiple non-Disney Days, but am thinking I'll buy myself one of the Starlight passes for those evenings.

[mushu mama]

Trying to plan this trip with little lead in without a laptop is proving quite a challenge... so today while I have access to one, I'm going to ask a few quick questions on stuff that I still need to find out.

A quick update : we're traveling from 24th June returning on the 1st July so its just going to be a quick visit. We're spending the first 4 days at Disney and then heading kind of all over Tokyo in pursuit of all the manga/anime/Harajuku girl/vintage stuff that Millie insists we do, which will be fun.
We've booked in at the Sheraton Grand which we got at a great price.

We'll be getting a Suica card to use on our days tripping around on the trains and was wondering if anyone knew if it can also be used on the monorail for our Disney days? I'm thinking perhaps yes, but haven't been able to find out, and was wondering if anyone else had used one for that purpose.

Also, how do you take your money over there? last time (1999) we took travelers cheques but they were a pain in the butt trying to exchange them. A lot of places I've asked have suggested that given that most ATMs don't take foreign cards, taking travel money on a card can be difficult too. I don't have a traditional credit card, and won't be getting one but the thought of taking all our money in cash is also giving me the heebee jeebies. Anyone had issues using a travel card in the ATM's over there? If there was one at TDL I guess it woudn't be an issue cos we could just withdraw money there.

Also, we're thinking of doing the character meal with Lilo and Stitch , but can't find out if we need to book that before we go or if we do it on the day? Any info on the details of the 'how to' would be great

Everything was organised for us last time because we won the trip, so the planning part is all new for me this time around. Thanks to anyone that might be able to help

[Tigger71]

We have been to TDR twice. Last time was June 2012.
We used a combination of credit cards and travel card (ANZ). There is an ATM at Iksperi (shopping/entertainment area right next to train station) that we used whilst at TDR. We also used an ATM at a 7-11 convenience store somewhere near Sunshine City shopping centre in Tokyo. English is used on the ATM and it was easy to navigate.
The Suica cards were not valid on the monorail. You must buy a special pass just used on monorail. If you stay at one of the three Disney hotels they are included in room cost. We stayed at the Disneyland Hotel then for last three nights at the Hilton where we had to buy the pass. Easy to get at machine or ticket vendor (and we don't have big grasp of Japanese language).
Hope you have a wonderful trip! I'm so jealous.

[Tigger71]

Sorry forgot to add we did the Lilo & Stitch meal and we booked it at the hotel once we arrived. You need to show up to the actual window to get the tickets no later than 1hr before the show. You pay on the day 1hr prior to showtime. This means you have to be in the park at least 2hrs before the time of your meal. The Lilo meal was terrible! No western foods. The show is well worth the cost though! Characters come to your table for photos but no autographs (they give you a signed photo of the group). We had a ball!

We also did the Woody's Roundup show but the food was much more to our taste. Characters did not attend individual tables for photo ops and no signed photos were given. However we did (ALL of us even adults) get Woody bandanas.

[mushu mama]

Thanks so much for the info

We may re-think our character meal options, as it was one of the only times we had intended splurging on the food, so if the food is not something we'd be likely to enjoy, I doubt my daughter would sit through the show, she's not as much the Disney-file that I am

Back to the drawing boards with that one.

[Tigger71]

I have photos of the Lilo meal but I cannot figure how to post them here. (If you want to PM I can email them).

The Woody meal was similar to the Hoop dee doo meal at WDW. Served family style and refilled if required. Rolls, chicken pieces, vegies and apple pie style dessert.

[mushu mama]

Hmmm.... what to do... what to do...

do I cancel the trip given the unrest in the region right now or buy yen while it is so deliciously high? Really not sure which way to go right now.

[ajp]

YOLO

[mushu mama]

YOLO

LOL, yep, but hopefully longer than my trip to Japan.

[ajp]

We left for DL the week after the US invaded Iraq and the US was at the highest alert of attack. I know this is somewhat different but we never thought once of changing plans. I understand it is a difficult thing to think about and to contemplate.

[mushu mama]

only two months to go now and I'm really please North Korea has settled down on the sabre rattling. It was kind of nerve wracking waiting it out though. I've been OS when stuff 'went down' before too and it didn't overly bother me ( I was in Bali when Soharto was overthrown..you know, riots in the streets, mayhem and looting etc) but for some reason it worried me more taking Millie into that arena.

Anyhoo, with most of the decisions made now its just a matter of waiting for the magic to begin. -/

[KeithS]

Countdown is still ticking along Lisa, how is the planning going?

You'll get to see all the 30th anniversary excitement and the new parade. Can't wait for your updates!

[mushu mama]

Yep, the trip is hurtling towards us, and they usually crawl. Mostly because I've had a lot of time off work with a back injury, which has also effected the budget we'll be traveling on.

But in that time, I've arranged a little wifi machine so I can post where ever the mood takes me and fine tuned our itinerary.

So the plan so far:

Monday 24th June: fly from the Goldie to Tokyo, arriving late at night and paying a fortune to get to the hotel

Tuesday 25th: Tokyo Disneyland

Wednesday 26th: Tokyo Disneysea

Thursday 27th: TDL or TDS - whichever we decide on at the time.

Friday 28th: which ever park we didn't visit the day before.

Saturday 29th : Tokyo Day trip - Catching the train to Asakusa, shopping, visiting the Senso-ji shrine; taking a short rickshaw ride ; possibly walking to the Skytree ( although this is just if we feel like it) Then possibly heading to the Pokemon centre for Millie the rabid fan to battle in the motherland ( still working out how much time this will take to get there though, so it might not happen) ; Then down to Shibuya to be total tourists and walk the crossing, do some shopping/looking/photographing. Heading back to the hotel and depending on time and exhaustion levels, I may head into the parks for an evening session.

Sunday 30th: Tokyo Day trip 2: Staring at Sinjuku and wending our way to Harajuku will be the order of the day. With a manga/anime obsessed teen drooling the whole day most likely. There could be costumes and will be comics involved. This is 'her day' to make up for all the Disney I have apparently forced upon her ( but of course, we all know she will love it). She has even worked out where all the McDonalds are in the places we're going and found the menu online which she has already chosen. I'll definitely be heading into the park tonight, with or without said teen.

Monday 1st: Our last day. As we fly out in the evening, we have a good half day to do whatever with, but we still haven't decided what yet. Probably heading out to Mitaka ( out in the west of Tokyo) to the Ghibli museum. Then of course, the ususal stuff to get home and let the post-trip trauma begin.



Very excited about the 30th 'stuff' that will be available. We arrive in the last week of the 'spring voyages' so the last of the Easter parades etc as well. We also will be there for the Tanabata program which will be very interesting given that we're more likely to see characters in traditional dress.
The only thing that I am a little sad about is that Mystic rhythms will not be showing while we're there and also Space Mountain will be down for the time we're there too.
I'll probably set up another blog for our travels as well, but am yet to do so. I'll keep you posted for anyone that wants to follow along.