Happy!

I am so HAPPY!

Why?

Because I went to the `Happiest Place on Earth:` Disneyland Tokyo.

Disneyland Tokyo is actually two parks, Disneyland and Disneysea. (Yes, I will wait as you reread those names.)

Tokyo Disneyland is larger than the original in California, but it is laid out in the same manner and has many of the same rides, usually reproduced exactly. It was funny to be on a couple of the rides and know that only me and a handful of others could understand what was being said. The gravestones at the Haunted Mansion, in English, is a prime example.

Fortunately, on Star Tours, C-3PO was translated into Japanese--he is, after all, fluent `in over six million forms of communication.` R2D2 still spoke in bleeps. Many of the filmed characters such as the ghosts in the Haunted Mansion or the humans in Star Tours were still the original American actors, sometimes dubbed, sometimes not.

I was disappointed by Disneyland, not only was it so similar to every other Disneyland on the planet--and way too crowded--but it was hard to compare after visiting Disneysea the day before.

Disneysea is only six years old. Instead of having areas based on land themes (Adventureland or Tomorrowland) they are all water-based. There was American Waterfront and Mysterious Island. It was the most expensive park ever built and it shows. It is absolutely gorgeous.

Arriving an hour after opening made me sad, but we quickly got into the swing of things. It is more adult-styled--even having alcohol for sale.

The park emptied at dusk and we had a great time enjoying it in the dark. Unfortunately they closed at 10. Or maybe that is good, my feet were really tired from walking.

I would like to show you pictures from Disneysea, but I accidentally deleted them all. Oops.
Disneyland Tokyo is celebrating its 25 Anniversary, but I suppose it would have been crowded anyway! Not only were the lines longer at Disneyland than Disneysea.

One good thing, I never had to compete with adults for silly things...
The adults were constantly amused that I, a gaijin, would try any old silly thing. I even got my friend Mutsumi do a few too. Most Japanese adults seemed to be way to wary of the eyes of others on them to do anything though. Toontown, the place with the best silly places to be, is a place I had never been before. Yes, I have not been to Disneyland since Who Framed Roger Rabbit came out! The rides might be for kids but I am always happy to clamber over any obstacle and play with any toys. And no, no children were harmed in the shooting of these pictures.

It was an exhausting 2 days, but well worth it.

Wish you were here!