I've got a special update about Tokyo Disney Resort for you today as Oriental Land did some new announcements and revealed the program for both parks up to 2017!
Let's start with Tokyo DisneySea which celebrate its 15th Anniversary “The Year of Wishes” from April 15, 2016, through March 17, 2017. And to mark the 15th anniversary of the grand opening of Tokyo DisneySea Park, a major celebration, entitled “Tokyo DisneySea 15th Anniversary: The Year of Wishes,” will be held at the Park from April 15, 2016, through March 17, 2017. For this milestone year, a variety of must-see programs will be presented. Kicking off the celebration will be a brand new show “Crystal Wishes Journey.” And the special events for summer, Halloween and Christmas will be highlighted with elements just for the 15th anniversary.
The theme of the 15th anniversary is “wishes.” “Wishes” are people’s dreams for the future and give a feeling of hope and excitement. Through a variety of new experiences this anniversary year, Guests will find that their wishes shine even brighter with the help of their navigators – Mickey Mouse and his Disney friends – as well as all of the Tokyo DisneySea Cast Members during the 15th anniversary year.
For this anniversary, colorful crystals will symbolize everyone’s wishes. The Disney characters will wear crystals, each having a different color of crystal, representing their wishes. Decorations around the Park will feature crystal motifs and merchandise will sparkle with crystals as well. Special menus will be offered just for the 15th anniversary.
Premiering on April 15, the anniversary event’s opening day, will be “Crystal Wishes Journey,” a brand new show to be presented at Mediterranean Harbor. The Disney characters, each with their own wish, will appear in this show that celebrates the start of the Guests’ journeys of adventure, sparkling with hope, this milestone year.
Also on the first day of the event, a new version of “Big Band Beat,” the popular show presented at the Broadway Music Theatre, will debut with new music, costumes and scenes, including
one with Goofy singing and dancing to jazz. Revamped for the first time since it opened in July 2006, the new show will be even more attractive while retaining all the excitement of the original.
In addition, on July 9, 2016, a brand new musical show, “Out of Shadowland” will premiere at the Hangar Stage in Lost River Delta. This colorful show with an original story created specifically for the Hangar Stage will incorporate vivid images and powerful, moving live performances as dynamic scenes unfold leading Guests to a world never experienced before.
The Tokyo DisneySea Hotel MiraCosta, where Guests can continue their journey to make their wishes sparkle, will also be celebrating its 15th anniversary in 2016. Besides the festive decorations around the hotel interior, the hotel will offer a variety of programs to celebrate this milestone. There will be special menus at the restaurants and the lounge as well as a banquet plan for small parties entitled “Private Dining Plan.” Additional banquet plans will come with items designed especially for the hotel’s 15th anniversary. Also, wedding rings with a special design commemorating the 15th anniversary will be available for a limited time.
More details on the Tokyo DisneySea 15th anniversary programs, in chronological order:
April 15, 2016 – March 17, 2017
“Crystal Wishes Journey”
Kicking off the “Tokyo DisneySea 15th Anniversary: The Year of Wishes” event will be “Crystal Wishes Journey,” a brand new show to be presented at Mediterranean Harbor during the special event period only. Appearing before the Guests who anticipate going on adventures that will make their wishes sparkle, the Disney characters, each with their own wish, will appear in this show that celebrates the start of the 15th anniversary journey of adventure guided by shining crystals.
From April 15, 2016
“Big Band Beat” at Broadway Music Theatre
This popular show presented at the Broadway Music Theatre in American Waterfront features swing jazz, which was the dominant form of popular music from the 1920s through the 1940s. “Big Band Beat” will debut in a new version, with new music, costumes and scenes. This will be the first time that the show has been changed since it opened in July 2006. This revue with swing jazz by a live big band will continue to dazzle with stunning vocals, energetic tap dancing and the climactic drum performance by Mickey Mouse. New scenes such as a jazz number with Goofy dancing and singing, as well as Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse in new costumes performing a rhythmical dance, will enhance the appeal even further.
From July 9, 2016
“Out of Shadowland” at Hangar Stage
Based on an original story by Disney expressly for the Hangar Stage in Lost River Delta, this brand new musical show is brought to life through colorful images and powerful live performances. “Out of Shadowland” tells the story of Mei, a timid young girl lost in a world of shadows who finds confidence and strength through her sojourn there.
Mei has lost her way and finds herself in Shadowland where the evil Kagetori has taken control. She meets a boy named Yu who leads her to discover within herself a mysterious power that she was unaware of. Mei’s power brings light and life back to Shadowland. Fighting against her own fear and insecurity, Mei is able to bring down Kagetori. At the end she realizes that Yu and Shadowland have helped her gain the confidence she now feels.
Through the moving live performances, vivid images and other elements that create colorful, dynamic scenes, Guests will experience a world unlike any seen before.
June 16 – July 7, 2016
“Disney Tanabata Days”
The Japanese star festival known as “Tanabata” will be celebrated with a special program in a manner
unique to the Disney theme parks in Japan from June 16, which is eight days earlier than last year. “Disney Tanabata Days” will feature traditional Tanabata decorations in the New York area of American Waterfront where Guests can write their hopes and wishes on Wishing Cards and tie them onto the Wishing Place, which will be set up for this occasion. In Mediterranean Harbor, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse will appear in a greeting show dressed as Hikoboshi and Orihime, the festival’s two star-crossed lovers. In addition, special menus themed to Tanabata will be offered.
July 9 – August 31, 2016
Special Event “Disney Summer Festival”
This summertime festival of tropical fruit and Latin rhythms will be presented with the main venue of Mediterranean Harbor wrapped in a celebratory mood for the 15th anniversary. While volumes of water spray around the area, everyone can join the Disney characters in singing and dancing to the rhythmical music of the tropical summer carnival led by Minnie Mouse.
September 9 – October 31, 2016
Special Event “Disney’s Halloween”
This 15th anniversary year, Tokyo DisneySea will offer a “cool” but ominous Halloween with the
Disney villains. The Park will be transfigured into an eerie, other-worldly place where Mickey Mouse and his Disney friends along with the villains put on a gorgeous and stylish Halloween. Guests can enjoy a show on the waters of Mediterranean Harbor that creates a frightfully cool Halloween from the world of the villains.
November 8 – December 25, 2016
Special Event “Christmas Wishes”
In each of the themed ports, Christmas trees and other monuments put up by the Disney friends with
their Christmas wishes will create a heartwarming and romantic atmosphere in the Park. Besides a daytime show presented at Mediterranean Harbor, a nighttime show will feature colorful Christmas trees for the 15th anniversary on the waters of Mediterranean Harbor creating a fantastic atmosphere. Guests are sure to enjoy a Christmas event full of variety.
January 1 – 5, 2017
New Year’s Program
The Park will celebrate the start of the year with colorful Japanese-style New Year’s decorations at the entrance and merchandise featuring roosters, the zodiac animal for 2017. The Disney characters will be dressed up in kimono to welcome Guests in Japanese style and special New Year’s menus will be offered.
January 13 – March 17, 2017
“Sweet Duffy”
Guests can enjoy the gentle and heartwarming world of Duffy in this program that offers merchandise with cute designs, tempting sweets and photo spots where delightful keepsake photos can be taken.
Tokyo Disney Resort now, as they announced that a brand new facility for Disney character greetings and a new restaurant will be built in Westernland at Tokyo Disneyland Park in fiscal year 2016 ( April 1, 2016 to March 31, 2017 ). These facilities will be themed to the world of the “Junior Woodchucks” series as shown in Disney comics and animated short films.
The “Junior Woodchucks” series features Donald Duck and his nephews Huey, Dewey and Louie as members of the Junior Woodchucks of the World, an organization dedicated to the appreciation of nature, camping and the outdoors. The series showed them having comical adventures in the American wilderness.
With the introduction of these two new facilities, Guests will be able to enjoy the atmosphere of a Junior Woodchucks of the World campground. Guests will feel immersed in classic Disney stories that celebrate activities in a natural, rustic setting on the Rivers of America.
This new Disney character greeting facility will be the second dedicated greeting facility to open at Tokyo Disneyland since Mickey’s House and Meet Mickey opened about 20 years ago in 1996.
The new restaurant will be located at the existing Lucky Nugget Cafe that will be renovated with a new two-story indoor dining area on the second floor and a campfire setting. Guests will be able to relax and enjoy a meal while taking in the scenery of the Rivers of America.
Opening is scheduled for Autumn-Winter 2016. Total investment is estimated at 3 billion Yens. Note that TDL Lucky Nugget Cafe will close in autumn 2015. With the opening of these two facilities, Tokyo Disneyland will have two Disney character greeting facilities and a total of 53 restaurants.
TDL also announced its annual schedule for fiscal year 2016 (April 1, 2016 – March 31, 2017), in chronological order:
March 25 – June 15, 2016
Special Event “Disney’s Easter”
This regular springtime event is back again this year at Tokyo Disneyland. At the secret Easter garden, Guests can enjoy a whimsical atmosphere full of flowers and plants, where Mickey Mouse and his Disney friends along with the Easter bunnies take part in an “egg race.” Guests will be able to celebrate the springtime season in a colorful way in the main entertainment, a parade featuring Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and the Disney friends wearing bunny ears and new costumes. In various places around the Park, Guests will find decorations, merchandise themed to the “egg race.” Also, the popular “Egg Hunt” program can be enjoyed again this year.
June 16 – July 7, 2016
Special Program “Disney Tanabata Days”
The Japanese star festival known as “Tanabata” will be celebrated with a special program in a manner unique to the Disney theme parks. Offered from June 16, which is eight days earlier than it started last year, “Disney Tanabata Days” will feature traditional decorations in World Bazaar. Guests can write their wishes on “Wishing Cards” to be hung from the grand centerpiece. Mickey
Mouse and Minnie Mouse, dressed as Hikoboshi and Orihime, the two star-crossed lovers of this festival, will greet Guests along the parade route.
July 9 – August 31, 2016
Special Event “Disney Natsu Matsuri”
Natsu matsuri means “summer festival” in Japanese and Guests will be able to enjoy the hot summer with the Disney characters in this energizing special event. In the show presented at the Plaza in front of Cinderella Castle, everyone will get soaking wet as they enjoy the group dancing and the summertime heat. Guests can find Japanese banners as well as photo locations that enhance the festive atmosphere even more.
September 9 – October 31, 2016
Special Event “Disney’s Halloween”
The special event, “Disney’s Halloween,” will take place with a new theme featuring the Disney characters and mischievous ghosts. Guests can join the Halloween ghosts and the Disney characters in an exciting Halloween.
November 8 – December 25, 2016
Special Event “Christmas Fantasy”
Guests will be able to enjoy the special event “Christmas Fantasy” with the theme of “Christmas Storybooks.” Guests will find happy Christmas scenes with their favorite Disney characters that have come right out of a storybook world. The main parade will bring to life pages from storybooks showing the Disney characters having fun at Christmastime. Guests will find a 15-meter-tall Christmas tree at the center of World Bazaar, as well as holiday photo locations, garlands and other decorations in each themed land.
January 13 – March 17, 2017
Special Event “Anna and Elsa’s Frozen Fantasy”
This special event will be themed to the Disney film Frozen. In addition to entertainment programs, Guests will find decorations of ice and snowflakes that help transform the Park into a world inspired by the film.
Tokyo Disney Resort also announced that performances of “Once Upon a Time: Special Winter Edition” at Tokyo Disneyland will be extended through July 7, 2015 due to popular demand. While the show contents will remain the same, the title will change on March 21 to “Once Upon a Time: Special Edition.” The special version includes scenes inspired by the popular Disney film Frozen and two of the film’s memorable songs “For the First Time in Forever” and “Let It Go.”
Since the debut of this special version of the nighttime entertainment “Once Upon a Time,” an unprecedented number of Guests have visited the Park to see it. This extension will provide even more Guests the opportunity to see this spectacular program. The special version was originally scheduled for a limited period as part of the Tokyo Disneyland special event “Anna and Elsa’s Frozen Fantasy.” This special event started on January 13 and will end as scheduled on March 20, 2015.
As in the regular edition of “Once Upon a Time,” scenes from Tangled, Beauty and the Beast and other Disney films are projected onto the 51-meter-high Cinderella Castle using projection mapping technology to create a veritable “storybook come to life” on an awe-inspiring scale.
There is more as TDR announced the development of a new hotel named Tokyo Disney Celebration Hotel, with an opening in June 2016, in the Shin-Urayasu Area close to Tokyo Disney Resort. It will be the fourth Disney hotel to operate in Japan. Brighton Corporation Co., Ltd., a 100% subsidiary of Milial Resort Hotels, will redevelop the existing Palm & Fountain Terrace Hotel for this new hotel that will specialize in accommodations.
Currently the three existing Disney hotels have an annual occupancy rate of over 90%, which indicates the extremely high demand for Tokyo Disney Resort accommodations. Accordingly, the decision was made to develop a new hotel that will allow more Guests to enjoy a stay at a Disney hotel.
The development of the hotel will be based on a new concept that is different from the existing hotels. The designs will celebrate the magic and imagination of Tokyo Disneyland Park and Tokyo DisneySea Park in the guest rooms, the lobby and the courtyards. Guests staying in the Tokyo Disney Celebration Hotel will be surrounded by the ambiance of their favorite Disney Park memories, inspiring them to relive moments from their time spent in the Parks, as well as anticipating the experiences awaiting them the next day.
Tokyo Disney Celebration Hotel will offer attractive accommodations while making a casual resort stay possible by simplifying its facilities and services. With the opening of this new hotel, even more Guests will be able to enjoy a wonderful, unforgettable time at Tokyo Disney Resort.
The Disney hotels will continue to evolve as the hotels of choice that are favored by many Guests.
In preparation for the opening of the new hotel, the two buildings of the Palm & Fountain Terrace Hotel will close separately. The Fountain Terrace Hotel will close on February 27, 2016 and the Palm Terrace Hotel will close on June 1, 2016. After the new hotel opens, the management and operations will continue to be handled by Brighton Corporation Co., Ltd.
Pictures: copyright Disney, Oriental Land Co
