Disney and Oriental Land Plan Tokyo Disney Resort's Largest Expansion in 20 Years !

Although Disney or Oriental Land did NOT announce it officially - there is no press release on the Oriental Land website, i checked - the exciting news that Tokyo Disney Resort will add a third theme park, with works starting in 2023 or 2025 depending of the articles is all over the net.

Editing 12/1: Apparently it's won't be a new theme park but an expansion of the size of the park(s) by 30 percent to help deal with rising visitor numbers, including an influx of overseas tourists, according to Japanese business daily the Nikkei. The expanded area - which will be the largest expansion in 20 years - will include new attractions, and is set to open in 2023.

Here is the full original Kyodo News article about this new Disney park in Japan:

"Tokyo Disney parks operator is planning a 300 billion yen expansion:

Oriental Land Co., operator of Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea, is planning to spend roughly 300 billion yen ($2.7 billion) to expand the two theme parks, sources with knowledge of the matter said Wednesday.

The company plans to start constructing the new areas - a 30 percent expansion of the existing parks - by 2025, one of the sources said.

To free up space, a parking lot adjacent to the parks within the sprawling Tokyo Disney Resort complex in Urayasu just outside of the capital will be turned multistory. The company is also looking to acquire additional land.

Oriental Land has entered negotiations on the new areas with Walt Disney Co., which licenses the rights to properties from Mickey Mouse to Star Wars, with the details to be ironed out by next May.

The investment, the company's largest since pouring 340 billion yen into the 2001 opening of DisneySea, is aimed at attracting older people and visitors from abroad to boost ticket sales that have stagnated amid Japan's falling birthrate and competition from rivals such as Osaka's Universal Studios Japan and other Disney parks in Shanghai and Hong Kong.

The expansion will also serve to ease overcrowding at the parks. The new areas may carry a Japanese theme to appeal to foreign tourists, a source said.

The company's consolidated sales have seen virtually no growth since fiscal 2013 and visitors to both parks combined in fiscal 2016 fell slightly from the previous year to 30 million."


To know what will be in this new park you'll have to wait, according to the reports, until mid 2018, but it won't be a surprise if it will include some of the new lands that TDR currency don't have room to build, like a Marvel, Star Wars or Avatar land, for instance. Let's wait and see what will be announced!

Tokyo Disney Resort Announces Its 35th “Happiest Celebration!” - Full Program from April 15, 2018 to March 25, 2019

Tokyo Disney Resort will celebrate its 35th anniversary next year! A new parade titled "Dreaming Up" will be launched as well as a new night show, "Celebrate Tokyo Disneyland"! AND It's A Small World will reopen on April 15 with the addition of Disney characters. Here is the FULL official program for Tokyo Disney Resort 35th “Happiest Celebration!” from April 15, 2018 to March 25, 2019!

URAYASU, CHIBA—Tokyo Disney Resort® has announced the entertainment, special events and programs to be offered during the “Tokyo Disney Resort 35th ‘Happiest Celebration!’” taking place from April 15, 2018 through March 25, 2019. This major celebration marks the 35th Anniversary of the Grand Opening of Tokyo Disneyland® Park. Guests visiting the Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea® Parks will be able to experience the happiest time ever with the Disney Friends and Cast Members during this milestone year.

Kicking off the celebration at Tokyo Disneyland Park will be the premiere of “Dreaming Up!,” a brand new daytime parade, and the reopening of the iconic attraction “it’s a small world” after being temporarily closed for extensive enhancements. Then in summer, “Celebrate! Tokyo Disneyland” will premiere. This new nighttime spectacular at Cinderella Castle will feature more new effects and a grander scale than ever before. A special theme song created just for the 35th Anniversary will be used in various programs.

Over the anniversary year at both Parks, Guests will find elements of “Tokyo Disney Resort 35th Anniversary ‘Happiest Celebration!’” in the special events for Easter, Halloween and Christmas,as well as in other exciting programs. In addition, not only will Guests discover special merchandise and special menu items just for the 35th anniversary, but also a special shop opening at Tokyo Disneyland for a limited period only. The Disney hotels and the Disney Resort Line will also celebrate the event, adding to the excitement around Tokyo Disney Resort. Tokyo Disneyland Park opened its gates on April 15, 1983 and grew from a single theme park into a resort that includes Tokyo DisneySea Park, four Disney Hotels and more.

Tokyo Disney Resort 35th “Happiest Celebration!”

Disney Resort has continued to be a place filled with happy moments where people of all ages can have magical experiences, a place “where dreams come true.” In 2018, Tokyo Disney Resort will create even more happiness and even brighter dreams as it celebrates 35 years of fun and joy with the “Happiest Celebration!” Please see the attachment for more details on “Tokyo Disney Resort 35th ‘Happiest Celebration!’” For inquiries from the general public, please give the following contact number: Tokyo Disney Resort Information Center 0570-00-8632 (9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.) Note: From overseas, and from some mobile phones and IP phones, please call 045-330-5211.

Programs to be Presented in Fiscal Year 2018 at Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea Parks

Starting April 15, 2018

Daytime Parade at Tokyo Disneyland “Dreaming Up!” Kicking off the “Tokyo Disney Resort 35th ‘Happiest Celebration!’” is the premiere of this grand daytime parade. Spectacular floats brimming with the colors, dreams and imagination of Disney films will feature characters and images from Fantasia, Beauty and the Beast, Peter Pan and more, including for the first time Big Hero Six. Mickey Mouse and his Disney Friends will take Guests to this world of dreams.

Dreaming Up!” will be sponsored by NTT Docomo, Inc. Happiness Is Here,” the daytime parade currently presented at Tokyo Disneyland, will end on April 9, 2018.



Starting April 15, 2018

Tokyo Disneyland Attraction “it’s a small world” Re-opening A favorite with Guests of all ages, the newly enhanced attraction will feature around 40 new figures representing characters from Disney films. The attraction’s iconic soundtrack will be remixed with additional music that evokes memorable scenes from the films. As before, Guests board boats for the “happiest cruise that ever sailed ’round the world” and are welcomed by doll-like children andanimals. Elsa, Anna and Olaf from the Disney film Frozen join the cast, together with characters from other Disney films including Alice in Wonderland, Cinderella, Peter Pan, Tangled, Mulan, Aladdin and The Lion King. to greet Guests. at Tokyo Disneyland “it’s a small world” is sponsored by NTT Nippon Express Co., Ltd. and will offer the Disney FASTPASS service.

April 15, 2018 – March 25, 2019

Greeting on the harbor at Tokyo DisneySea [Title to be announced] Dressed in their special costumes for the 35th Anniversary, Mickey Mouse and other “it’s a small world” Disney characters, including Duffy and Friends, will greet Guests from on board a special boat on the waters of Mediterranean Harbor. The greeting will take place to the music of the 35th anniversary theme song.

Starting July 10, 2018

Nighttime Spectacular at Tokyo Disneyland “Celebrate! Tokyo Disneyland” Premiering this summer is this new entertainment presented on a grand scale. The show will feature fountains of water and lights filling the nighttime sky in addition to the colorful images projected onto Cinderella Castle. The show begins with Mickey Mouse appearing on stage and a magical spell that turns the castle into a world of imagination. Guests will experience various areas of Tokyo Disneyland through images and music.

Starting July 10, 2018

New Show at Theater Orleans at Tokyo Disneyland [Title to be announced] A new show featuring Mickey Mouse and his pals will premiere at this open-air theater in Adventureland. Guests and the Disney Friends will share the excitement as lively music plays. During the 35th Anniversary event period, the show will also feature the 35th Anniversary theme song and other elements.

Starting July 10, 2018

New Show at Dockside Stage at Tokyo DisneySea [Title to be announced] The Dockside Stage in the New York area of American Waterfront will offer a new show with Mickey Mouse and his pals. Guests will be able to enjoy the ambience of this themed port through this show which will also feature the 35th Anniversary theme song and other elements during the 35th Anniversary event period. Performances of “Steps to Shine,” the show currently being presented, will end on March 19, 2018.

January 11 to March 25, 2019

At Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea “Tokyo Disney Resort 35th ‘Happiest Celebration!’” Grand Finale The Grand Finale of this milestone celebration, which ends on March 25, 2019, will immerse Guests at Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea in an ambience celebrating all the happy feelings generated over the anniversary year. Merchandise exclusive to the Grand Finale will add to the excitement of the 35th Anniversary.

More about TDL and TDS seasonal events awaits you in the full official PDF that you can download HERE.

Is Oriental Land Thinking to Bring Star Wars Land at Tokyo Disney Resort ?

A statement both mysterious and interesting was released by Tokyo Disney Resort yesterday. Here is the TDR statement:

December 22, 2015
Publicity Department Oriental Land Co., Ltd.

Extension of Period to Consider Development Plans for Tokyo Disneyland® Park and Tokyo DisneySea Park

URAYASU, CHIBA— Oriental Land Co., Ltd. announced that it will extend the period to study the two-large scale development plans, the redevelopment of Fantasyland at Tokyo Disneyland® Park and development of the new themed port at Tokyo DisneySea® Park.
Oriental Land Co. has been examining these two major development plans including revisiting some of the plans and concluded that it requires the extension of the consideration period, which was originally scheduled to end during 2015, in order to create a long-term and sustainable value of the theme parks.
Oriental Land Co. aims to create a long-term and sustainable value of the theme parks and will continue to examine the development plans to bring completely a new value to Tokyo Disneyland Park and Tokyo DisneySea Park and offer more wonderful experiences to Guests.

- The review process for the development plans was scheduled to be completed by the end of 2015 in the release announced on April 28, 2015.
- The extension of the consideration period has not been determined at the moment. 

( end of TDR statement )

So, what all of this mean, you ask? It mean they are extending the study of the previously announced development plans at TDL Fantasyland and TDS ( with the new Frozen land ) and my feeling - wrong or right - is that they extend the "consideration period" to most probably reconsider their previous plans, meaning that the new rides or lands that were announced could eventually be changed. 

Now, the main problem of TDR is, as we know, the lack of space available. Which mean they really need to be sure when they build something new, not only because of the cost but also because each square meter is precious. At Tokyo Disney Sea they still have some land available behind Port Discovery and on the left of Lost River Delta, but at Tokyo Disneyland it's not the case, they have to sacrify something already existing to build new attractions.


We'll see what will be announced in the future but i wouldn't be surprised if they were considering to build a Star Wars land at TDL or TDS instead of something else previously announced. The problem is where. I've never be a big fan to have a Frozen land at TDS because i think anything "Frozen" should be in Fantasyland, so TDL, but Frozen is hugely popular in Japan too, so if they don't build the Frozen land at TDS they'll probably need to find another place at TDL. A Star Wars land won't have really its place either at TDS because SWL it's not a "port", not even an extra-terrestrial one, at least with the design it has now. And i'm not sure they have the room available at TDL Tomorrowland to build a Star Wars land, and if they have it it will anyway create some serious issues of visual intrusion. 

So? So, i wouldn't like to be at the place of the Oriental land execs right now as IF they want to build a Star Wars land the choice is not gonna be easy... Well, i suppose we'll have the answer in a few months from now.

Picture: copyright Disney

Tokyo Disney Resort Update : New Shows Announcement, TDL and TDS Programs Until 2017 !

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

Tokyo Disney Resort Counter Attack Universal Studios Japan in 2015 With a Series of Shows, Events...

Tokyo Disney Resort announced today that the total combined attendance at Tokyo Disneyland Park and Tokyo DisneySea Park during the first half of this fiscal year (April 1 to September 30, 2014) amounted to a figure of 15,099,000 persons (a decrease of 260,000 persons or 98.3% of the attendance figure for the same period last year). Although this is the second highest figure ever recorded for the first half of a fiscal year, they probably didn't liked the "decrease" so, in 2015 Tokyo Disneyland will counter attack to Universal Studios Japan spike in attendance - due to the opening of Harry Potter Wizarding World at USJ - with a series of new events, shows, and one ( small ) attraction.

So far, TDL didn't  provided a lot of information about these new events, but it seems that some of them might bring a little more traditional Japanese culture to The Happiest Place in Japan. Here is the list of the new planned events for Tokyo Disney parks in 2015:



Mermaid Lagoon Theater (4/24/15)
I've announced it to you last week, “King Triton’s Concert,” the new production at Mermaid Lagoon Theater will be themed to Disney’s The Little Mermaid. In the new show, “King Triton’s Concert,” King Triton hosts a musical concert with Ariel, Flounder, Sebastian and other familiar characters from the Disney film creating a mesmerizing world under the sea with music, songs and dynamic performance, just as in the movie. Ariel will “swim” above the audience to the beautiful music and will even “swim” down and approach guests in this lively and sensational musical show. For this show, Mermaid Lagoon Theater will be renovated with upgraded stage and lighting technology, as well as new display screens to be installed around the audience seating area.

Disney Easter (4/2 – 6/23/15)
Although Easter is more an occidental tradition than a japanese one it looks like TDR is aiming to popularize it at TDL with a new Disney Easter event that spans a way longer time than the Easter season in France or in the U.S. It all makes sense when you remember that the Japanese will take any excuse to dress up like cute critters (bunnies, in this case).

Disney Natsu Matsuri (“Summer Festival”)(7/9 – 8/31/15)
This Natsu Matsuri is probably the one which will have a distinctly Japanese spin on it. Summer is the season of festivals in Japan, so it will be interesting to see what TDL have scheduled for us here.

Disney Summer Festival (7/9 – 8/31/15)
This other one will be at Tokyo Disney Sea and will probably be more in line with the Western-flavored events and festivals usually on display at the resorts. Apparently there will be a lot of fruity new food and drink items, Latin-inspired song and dance, and a lot of chances to get wet.

Disney Tanabata Days (6/24 – 7/7/15)
Based on Japan’s Tanabata holiday which takes place on July 7, Tanabata Days will fittingly give guests a chance to fill out “wish cards” and hopefully see their wishes come true. Mickey and Minnie will also put on a daily show re-enacting the tale of literally star-crossed lovers Orihime and Hikoboshi – two deities separated by the Milky Way who are allowed to meet only once a year on, you guessed it, July 7.

Stitch Encounter (Summer ’15)
The only real new attraction for 2015, Stitch Encounter will be most probably the same interactive attraction, during which young guests will be able to talk and interact with Stitch.

Tokyo Disney Electrical Parade (From 9/7/15)
A new nightly parade with floats and Disney’s characters iand all the question is to know if TDL will have the same "Disney Paint the Night" parade that currently started at HKDL.

Disney Halloween (9/8 – 11/1/15)
You can't expect the same scares as in Universal Studios Japan’s annual Horror Nights, but we can count on TDR and its high production values to provide a great Halloween season.

Christmas Fantasy/Christmas Wish (11/9 – 12/25/15) + New Year’s (1/1 – 1/5/16)
Culminating on Christmas Day, this season is already anticipated to be the most romantic time to visit the park, since Christmas is a holiday for couples to spend together in Japan.
Following the Christmas events, an “Oshogatsu” (Japanese New Year) event will take place, with Japan-inspired decorations and costumes for major characters.

Anna and Elsa’s Frozen Fantasy (1/12 – 3/18/16)
Like all Disney parks in the world TDR is capitalizing on the success of Frozen in Japan and this will be a park-wide event with original decorations, show schedules and more – all themed on the world of Frozen.

Welcome, Little Princess (1/12 – 3/18/26)
Supposedly this attraction/event combo will let little girls realize their dreams of becoming a Disney princess. It’s too early to say if it will carry a separate cost to park entrance, or require reservations, but chances are that it'll be the case.

So, lots of seasonal events at Tokyo Disney Resorts for 2015, a bit like they do at DLP when no new ride is planned, and if except Stitch Encounter the most interesting thing will be indeed the King Triton Concert starting next April!

Tomorrow is Definitely NOT the Right Day to Visit Tokyo Disney Resort

If you're in Japan and have schedule to go to Tokyo Disney Resort tomorrow Friday it might be a good idea to cancel your trip as super-typhoon Neoguri is expected on Tokyo tomorrow with winds up to 130 km/h as it weaken a bit since it landed in the south of Japan yesterday. Expect strong winds, lot of rains, and even giant waves, everything which definitely don't make tomorrow the right day to have fun at Tokyo Disneyland or Tokyo DisneySea.

So, stay safe at home or the hotel and wait a day or two until Neoguri will have moved up to the North...

Tokyo Disney Resort Announces Plans for TDL and TDS Spring Celebration !

Tokyo Disney Resort announced their plans for the Spring Celebration which will run from April 2 to June 23 at both TDL and TDS. At Tokyo Disneyland guests will enjoy “Disney’s Easter” celebration, "which will include visits to a secret Easter garden, a new “Hippity-Hoppity Springtime” parade that features Disney characters and Easter bunnies. Guests can also participate in an egg hunt, in which they use a map to track down Easter eggs hidden all around the park".

And at Tokyo DisneySea, guests will enjoy “Mickey & Duffy’s Spring Voyage” a celebration in which "Mickey, Duffy, Minnie Mouse and Shellie May embark on a cruise from Cape Cod to see how spring is celebrated around Tokyo DisneySea. Dressed in seasonal costumes, they visit Mediterranean Harbor, travel to American Waterfront for a lively Easter party, and then arrive at the Arabian Coast for a magical celebration of the season. At each of port, guests can enjoy the springtime festivities with the characters."

Pictures : copyright Disney

News From Around The World !

Today, an update with news from all around the world - the world of Disney Parks, of course.
Let's start by Disneyland Paris and the new mini-season which will start April 3 and last until July 4. Called "Spring festival" it will look like the previous "Flowers Festival" which happened back in 1997. A new "mini-season", so, for DLP and it"s not a bad idea, even a good one, which is expected to be enhanced each year like they do on the Halloween and Christmas seasons. And flowers in the park are always welcome!

Back in 1997 here is how looked Main Street Station...

...and here is a concept of how it could look this year ( from DLPWelcome )

Remember when i told you a few months ago that DLP had scheduled to rebuild entirely in real stone the Indiana Jones Temple du Peril? Well, it was hard to believe but works started January 6 and the attraction will be closed until May 28. And yes, a big part of it will be rebuilt in real stone and the looping section will be changed for a brand new one.

In my previous DLP update you saw pictures shot by Max Fan, D&M contributor and DLPWelcome webmaster of the new LEGO Store still in works and expected to open this month at the Disney Village. I'm sorry to report that the store grand opening which should have happened January 14 to 19 has been postponed for "unexpected circumstances". No big of a deal, we can wait for this one.

Apparently the acclaimed Tarzan show at Chapparal Stage that many hoped it will be back this summer... won't be back finally in 2014. But in July the awaited Ratatouille ride will at last open, so...

Let's move to the U.S and you better don't miss Mice Age latest update which is full of insider news from the start to the end of the article. According to Mice Age the Star Wars Land at WDW Disney's Hollywood Studios is more than "on hold", may be cancelled. But not for Disneyland Anaheim where will start the remodel of Tomorrowland buildings, the section from Central Plaza to the Astro Orbiters. Mice Age reveal much more about all this so jump to the full Mice Age article HERE.
And by the way, it seems that the real size Millennium Falcon with a walk-through visit is still in the plans. It might look a bit like this old Tim Delaney rendering except that the Falcon will be located up in the air on the platform where the Astro Orbiter stands now.

As we know Disneyland announced that the Subs will close for refurbishment for four months but Mice Age doubt that it will reopen this year, specially if WDI finally got the green light for the Star Wars Land. Another ride will close next month for four months, but this one will reopen and it is Soarin' at DCA. Mice Age explains in details the technical enhancements with a new digital projection system, and more, so the ride could be ready for its new Soarin' over the world version scheduled to open in 2015 or 2016. The only thing that is not confirmed yet is if the new version will include several different movies that will be projected randomly, like they do in Star Tours 2. On these two rides, much more to read too on Mice Age HERE.

The good news according to Mice Age is that the enhancements of old Disneyland dark rides might finally get the green light to be ready for Disneyland 60th Anniversary next year. Alice in Wonderland, Mr Toad's Wild Ride and Peter Pan's Flight are on the list and i'm particularly interested by the enhancements on the Peter Pan ride as they will include new projection effects not only on almost all the scenes but also rear projection effect on the faces of the ride main characters. More details about this in a future article if the ride finally get the green light for the new version, and in the meantime more details about Disneyland 60th Anniversary HERE.

At Tokyo Disneyland Captain EO will close down "forever" June 30 to make way for a Stitch Encounter attraction, the same one that exist already at DLP WDS and HKDL and which use the same technology than "Turtle Talk with Crush". Kids will love it.

A last news - a "merchandise" news - which will please those of you fans of Vinylmation figures as DLP will put on sale January 10 some cool Indiana Jones Vinylmation figures. And more to come all along January!

Talking about merchandise the long promo on my Disneyland Paris book is now over but all January you still can order the book and enjoy a free shipping. The full price is now 75 euros including free shipping worldwide which help to save 15€ / $20 , so it's still time to order your own copy at the best price on the market and to don't miss the great Disneyland Paris "From Sketch to Reality" book which will tell you all about the creation of Disneyland Paris with 320 pages including 500 pictures of the park and 250 WDI renderings!

You can order the book by sending me an email at: neverlandeditions@gmail.com or send directly your Paypal payment of the 75 euros either by the Paypal button below or directly from your Paypal account at the same email address.

Disneyland Paris From Sketch to Reality - Include shipping

1 Copy English NORMAL Edition Disneyland Paris book inc shipping €75.00 EUR 1 Copy English COLLECTOR Ed Disneyland Paris book inc shipping €115.00 EUR 1 Ex Signé Collector Français Livre Disneyland Paris + envoi €100.00 EUR 1 Ex Collector Français Livre Disneyland Paris + envoi €75.00 EUR

Tokyo Disneyland 30th Anniversary Celebration Video

Tokyo Disneyland celebrated yesterday their 30th Anniversary and as you will see on the video below they did it with literally all the main characters of each Disney movie! TDR had a record attendance of 27,5M visitors in 2012 and they expect to break this record this year with the 30th Ann celebrations.

Star Tours The Adventure Continues will open on May 7, but even more interesting, Oriental Land has announced that they are planning to invest $1.5 billion into TDR theme parks between 2011 and 2020! that surely is a lot of money for a lot of rides!

TDS Journey to the Center of the Earth Queue Decor Artwork

Tokyo Disney Sea Journey to the Center of the Earth is undoubtedly one of TDS top E-ticket ride, a non-to-be-missed attraction - even if there is a two hours wait! - and today we will have a look at some of its artwork. Not the WDI "concept-arts" artwork - these you can see them in a previous article HERE - but some of the artwork that guests can see in the queue decor, part of the decor itself. They are done in the old fashioned way, like the 19th century images you could se in Jules Verne original printings, and they look great. The first one below is showing "the crystal caverns"...

...and this next one - i should say  three - are three artworks showings three different scenes of a journey going down to the center of the earth.

You're going to like the one below as it is showing the famous "Terravator", the elevator that TDS guests take to go down "to the center of the earth" where the ride boarding room is! Sorry, the picture is not perfectly sharp but these are located in pretty dark area and they were shots at TDS opening, more than ten years ago at a time where the high-def digital cameras that are available today didn't exist yet.

If you like Tokyo Disney Sea, i remind you that my TDS Wallpapers app for iPhone - iPad with hundred of stunning HD pictures is always available on the App Store HERE for $1.99 only! You can see a preview of it in a previous article HERE. 



Artwork: copyright Disney

Tokyo Disneyland 30th Anniversary Celebration will start April 15, 2013 !

Tokyo Disneyland has announced that TDL 30th Anniversary celebrations will start on April 15, 2013, and that it will be called "The Happiness Year". What's on the menu? A new parade called "The Happiness is Here" and in terms of rides the arrival of Star Tours : the Adventures Continue. Looks exciting, will you be there?

Talking about Tokyo Disney Resort, if you have not download yet on iTunes my great TDS Wallpapers application for iPhone or iPad - see below - it's still time to do it! Click HERE for direct access to the TDS Wallpapers HD iTunes page or READ my article first HERE.



Picture: copyright Disney - Oriental land Company

Disney Shuts Down Operations at Tokyo

Tokyo Disney theme parks won't reopen on March 22, we already knew that, and now according to the Los Angeles Times "The Walt Disney Co. said it has temporarily suspended administrative and store operations in the city.

"Our top priority is the wellbeing of our employees and their families during this challenging time and we will continue to closely monitor the situation as it develops," Disney said in a statement.

The development comes amid growing concerns about Japan's nuclear crisis. The U.S. State Department announced late Wednesday that it had approved the departure of its personnel in certain regions of the country and was making charter flights available to evacuate them.

The Burbank media company (Disney) did not immediately respond to requests for information about how many Disney employees in Tokyo are affected and whether it plans to help relocate workers and their families."

This WDC announcement is in fact referring to the operations of Walt Disney Co and the Disney Stores in Tokyo and not the parks which are ruled by Oriental Land Co. Still, two of the most beautiful Disney theme parks in the world are now closed and we'll probably have to wait some weeks before they re-open.

Text: copyright Los Angeles Times

TDR : Is the Unthinkable Becoming a Possibility?

Let's put it this way: if i had posted this article only one week ago probably everyone would have thought "Tokyo Disney theme parks in danger of radioactivity? Is he totally insane?". The devastating Japan earthquake and tsunami happened only six days ago and it's a catastrophe of such gigantic proportions that in less than six days what was unthinkable is becoming possible.

The nuclear reactors of Fukushima nuclear plant are almost out of control, the nuclear agency declared yesterday that the accident is now considered to be on "level six" - next level is level seven which indicates a nuclear accident as serious as the one which happened in Tchernobyl - and when you hear a president saying that the situation is "totally dramatic" or a minister who declares after a meeting with his Japanese counterpart that the situation "is extremely serious" you begin to understand that they know something that we don't know. In two words, the gates of hell have just opened at Fukushima nuclear plant and the situation is almost totally out of control. Which means that the risk to reach a situation similar to what happened in Tchernobyl in 1986 - with radioactive elements sent in the air - exist and can't be exclude. And at Fukushima they have problems on four nuclear reactors instead of one...



Above and below new pictures of Fukushima nuclear plant showing the damaged reactors



As you probably all watched these last days on TV this dramatic event i'm not going to play the "Bill Nye the Science guy" to explain what would be the worst scenario, you all know that the risk is to have highly radioactive elements like xénon, krypton, césium-137 and iode-131 being sent in the atmosphere, without a possibility to stop them. To give you an idea how long the effects of a "level 7" nuclear disaster can last, in Tchernobyl, 25 years after the nuclear accident there is still a forbidden zone 30 kilometers all around the site where NO ONE can enter and another zone more than 100 kilometers all around the site in which it is always forbidden to live. And this will last for a looong time... Because the japanese reactors have a different design than the one at Tchernobyl the same kind of explosion that happened 25 years ago might not be possible but unfortunately that's not the problem. The problem is to have radioactivity elements leaked and moving in the atmosphere whether it is by an explosion or gentle winds.



The picture above show the location of towns with more than 500000 inhabitants and distances from Fukushima nuclear plant

Let's come back to Tokyo. I wish with all my heart that we won't reach the worst scenario - we will know that in the next days - but if it happens it will be a tremendous tragedy. Tokyo, one of the biggest city in the world with 13.5 million people, is only at 200km from the Fukushima nuclear plant and chances of contamination by radioactive elements sent in the air are high - yesterday, radiation levels in Tokyo were 10 times higher than normal but this is still an "acceptable" safe level. In case of a radioactive cloud the contamination might touch not only Tokyo but also, depending of the winds, a big part of the country, not to mention foreign countries near Japan. The impact on Japanese economy will be dramatic - just look to what is happening at Tokyo's stock exchange since last Monday - and as Japan is the third economy in the world it will have an effect on other countries economy...



If radioactive elements reach Tokyo what do you think that will happen to Tokyo Disney Resort? I hope you don't think that TDR is living under a bubble which won't be affected by what will happen outside. If there is a radioactive contamination through the air which reaches Tokyo it will also reach TDR, there is little doubt about that. Depending of the level and dangerousness of the radioactivity Oriental Land Co will have to decide if guests can enter the parks or not, right? Do you think they will say "come in the parks, don't pay attention to the césium-137 and iode-131 floating in the air, just enjoy the rides and take a good shower when you'll be back home and everything will be fine"? Probably not. What we will see - although i doubt they will accept anyone to be a witness - is surrealistic scenes with TDR people all around the parks checking the radioactivity level with Geiger counters and then announce that parks are closed "until further notice" if the radioactivity is too high.

I know it looks unbelievable, but what is even more unbelievable is how - in less than six days - what was so unthinkable that it didn't even enter our minds just became a possibility that we can't exclude - even if, once again, i really really hope that it won't happen and that we will never see "Warning! Radio activity!" signs at TDL or TDS.

There is something fascinating when you look at the destiny at work: you understand that we don't control anything, that man is not stronger than nature, that it was just an illusion. An illusion which, when everything goes awry, can have serious dramatic consequences.




EDITED : I will update this article with the latest news of the situation. For those of you who might think that this article is excessively alarmist (it's not my goal but i know that some of you will think it is) here is the latest facts:

But first, you can watch the latest news, live on the site of the japanese NHK TV HERE. It's translated in english. Also, for all donations to help japanese people please go HERE.

- LATEST: Director of Nuclear Security Institute announced today that, so far, the radioactivity released at Fukushima nuclear plant is equal to 10% of what has been released at Tchernobyl in 1986.

- LATEST: Taiwan and South Korean authorities announced thursday March 17 that unusual high radioactivity levels were detected on passengers coming from Japan.

- LATEST: Tadashi Nishimura, an official with the Osaka Ryokan and Hotel Association, said Wednesday that "Due to last Friday's quake, our members have been reporting increased cancellations. But we do need to start thinking about what would happen in the event Osaka suddenly sees large numbers of people from Tokyo looking for rooms," he said.

In Kyoto, where hotels and ryokan over the next couple of weeks were previously almost fully booked for the cherry blossom season, the prefecture said it is starting to consider measures to deal with sudden spikes in mid- and long-term demands for hotel rooms. Kyoto is only about two hours and 20 minutes from Tokyo Station by the fastest trains. "Discussions on a scenario that requires responding to the arrival of refugees from Tokyo are expected to begin soon," said Shinya Iwako, a prefectural official.

In Kyoto and Osaka prefectures, there are more than 500 hotels and ryokan, plus another 340 or so in Hyogo Prefecture. Over the past few days, a number of people from Tokyo have been arriving at Kyoto Station and Kansai and Itami airports with plans to stay in the region for an indefinite period.

- LATEST: UK Foreign Office asked british citizens living in Tokyo and North-East Japan to move away from these regions. The German government suggests to all Germans in the area to leave Tokyo and go south of Japan as soon as possible.

- Japan prime minister Naoto Kan announced this morning that "radioactivity levels have considerably increased in north-east region of Japan and up to Tokyo. At Ibaraki, north of Tokyo, the radioactivity level was 300 times superior to the normal level with 15,8 microsieverts per hour". Nevertheless, Japan authorities consider that this level of radioactivity is not dangerous for human beings. So why is the "normal radioactivity level" has been fixed 300 times lower than the one currently measured at Ibaraki? And this is just five days after it all began. We'll check the radioactivity level in one week, let's hope it go down.

- Yesterday, as the level of radioactivity became too high at Fukushima nuclear plant they decided to send water on the reactors from helicopters. This morning it was announced that it was no longer possible to do it with helicopters because the radioactivity which is released from the reactors is now too high to get close to them even from an helicopter. Hopefully this might change but i wouldn't bet on it.

- It's now almost sure that TDR Parks will not re-open on March 22 and apparently Oriental Land might decide to don't resume parks operations before the end of April. All this situation is smelling so bad that yesterday Oriental Land has announced that "they offer to send any international cast member back home if they want, with the promise that their job would be available when the situation returns to normal".
They have to check everything in the parks to make sure there is no hidden damages, repair the damages caused by the earthquake on the parking lot, and not to mention reduced power supply which makes park operations difficult if not impossible. The hidden truth is that they're probably just like everyone in Tokyo, praying that the unthinkable don't become reality.

Official Oriental Land Company press release confirms that Tokyo Disneyland Resort will be closed at least until March 21

The Oriental Land Company has issued a press release which confirms that Tokyo Disneyland Resort will be closed at least until March 21:

"Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea suspended operations today due to the effect of the Tohoku Region Pacific Coast Earthquake on 3/11. Theme park operations will continue to be suspended tomorrow and thereafter. We will target 3/21 for a decision and notification on when to expect operations to resume.

This earthquake did not cause major damage to the facilities and buildings in the theme parks, and we have already begun safety verifications. We will make a decision on the timing of restarting operations carefully, taking into account the safety of the parks, and the recovery of transportation systems as well as neighboring infrastructure".

It couldn't be more clear, and not only it confirms that the parks will be closed until March 21 but also may be after that date as Oriental Land still have to decide and notify when parks operations will resume.

Here is some new reports from people who were at TDR last Friday:

"No injuries and only superficial damage, but of course the situation is near chaotic...We were fortunate here at TDR to avoid major injuries among Guests and Cast, and while safety inspections are ongoing there was no catastrophic damage to the infrastructure. No tsunami waves reached the seawall surrounding the property, either.

The parks closed after the quake (which occurred at 14:46 JST Friday) and have remained closed. Several thousand Guests and Cast were stranded due to transportation disruptions and had to spend the night in various park and hotel facilities, but all were kept warm and provided with simple food and beverages. Train service is being gradually restored and roads are reopening throughout Tokyo.

The damage in northern Japan is devastating, from the violent shaking of the quake and its seemingly endless aftershocks, as well as from the numerous tsunami waves that have hit virtually the entire coastline of Japan. We're simply lucky that the epicenter wasn't closer to Tokyo - it could have been a lot worse."

Another report:

"Everyone at OLC is safe. Those who were at work that day ended up staying at the office overnight. Among the Guests there were NO injuries and the Resort only had some minor damage. But outside the Parks and Backstage areas there was a lot of damage and liquefaction. Water and mud flooded the street between the Parks and Ikspiari. The Cast Members and everyone at OLC and WDAJ did a great job taking care of the Guests and all of the Cast Members, too. There was electricity, water, heat, food and drinks for everyone."

I remind you that you can see many TDL and TDS videos filmed during Japan's earthquake in my previous report HERE.

First Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo Disney Sea videos filmed during Japan Earthquake - 3/14 : Updated with new videos

The first videos filmed inside Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo Disney Sea during the earthquake or the aftershocks are appearing on Youtube. As the damages in the parks appears to be relatively minors - which is good news - don't expect to see a collapsed Tower of Terror. The cast members in the parks seems to be well prepared for this kind of dramatic event and it seems that the instructions from TDR cast members to the guests during an earthquake is: "Everybody down!".



The earthquake happened while TDL guests were waiting for the day parade and as you can see on the first videos above and below everyone has been asked to remain sit on the ground. The message coming out TDL loudspeakers is not the one you generally hear in a Disney Park: "Ladies and Gentlemen, your attention please, we have just experienced an earthquake...Please move away from the buildings to an open area..."



New and interesting video showing what happened to the poor TDL guests who were stuck in the park and the cold weather during all the afternoon and early evening. Apparently the guests were allowed to leave the park five hours after the earthquake.



Inside Tokyo Disney Sea now with this video filmed during the earthquake while the show on the lagoon was happening. The show stopped almost instantly.



NEW VIDEO: During the earthquake, near the Tower of Terror. At TDS too, everyone was asked to sit down, wherever they were.



NEW VIDEO: JTCent of jtcent.com web site was at Cape Cod in TDS when the earthquake happened, here is his video and you can have more infos on his site HERE.



This next TDS video was filmed during the earthquake aftershocks.



This next one shows TDL guests inside the Tower of Terror after the first earthquake.



Hours later, at sunset, TDL guests stuck in the park as the main rail line from Tokyo to TDR, Keiyo Line, has been damaged. "We"re all homeless!" say the video title.



NEW VIDEO: On this next video entirely from TDR monorail going all around the resort you'll see clearly at 4.10 minutes the liquefaction damages in TDR parking lot. TDL and TDS buildings looks in good condition.



Two other videos showing minor damages on the ground, apparently in the streets around the parks.



On this second video, recorded near Tokyo Disneyland Maihama-Station, TDR workers are already repairing the damages due to the earthquake.



However, another threat may come from the North as Japan nuclear agency announced that the Fukushima nuclear plant exploded this morning and there is fears of a nuclear meltdown after the plant blast. The blast happened while workers tried to cool nuclear rods as the plant have been damaged by the earthquake. A huge radioactive cloud - as you'll see on the video below - came out from the nuclear plant and dozens of thousands of people living nearby have been evacuated. As it happened when Tchernobyl nuclear plant exploded in 1986 the radioactive cloud will move and it's not known yet in which direction - but whatever the direction it will move it will be bad. This earthquake was already a tragedy of gigantic proportions, now it seems that the gates of hell are open.



Also, and i don't want to be too pessimistic, but all earthquake experts are saying that yesterday's earthquake probably had effects on another tectonic plaque located in the south, closer to Tokyo. It's too soon to tell how big the effects will be and if the earthquake had increased the tension on this other plaque but the experts seems to be afraid that it might increase the chances of another earthquake, this time close to Tokyo who didn't had a major quake since 1920. Yesterday's earthquake was really big but it might be nothing in comparison with the "big one" that earthquake experts are awaiting and afraid of. As always, no one can predict when this "big one" will happen although quake experts are saying they might be able to know more about the risk when they will have finished to study the infos collected from yesterday's earthquake.


Finally, it seems that the official TDR web site has deleted all opening hours until March 21 which could mean that both TDL and TDS might be closed until March 22.
I'll try to post more TDR videos when they will be available. Yesterday's article with the latest news about Japan devastating earthquake and its effects on Tokyo Disney Resort is HERE and you'll find below a new video to be watch full screen of the massive tsunami destroying a whole town of north-east Japan.

Devastating 8.9 Earthquake hit Northern Japan - Tokyo hit by Tsunami - Minors structural damages in Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo Disney Sea

Breaking News: An 8.9-magnitude earthquake AND a major tsunami hit northern Japan this Friday morning sending a massive body of water filled with debris that included boats and houses inching toward highways. The epicenter was 373 kilometers (231 miles) away from Tokyo, the United States Geological Survey said. This is a MAJOR earthquake which have already (and will have) important "replicas" . If you are in Japan, i hope you're safe. All my thoughts and prayers are with the people of Japan and those of other countries who will be hit by the tsunami.

No news yet about TDL and TDS. Did the park have been damaged by the earthquake? Did Tokyo Disney Sea which is close to the sea been hit by the tsunami? If you're a D&M reader living in Japan, thanks to let us know!

Update: According to Jiji, press agency TDR parking lot is completely flooded.

According to JoeInJpn, a mice chat member currently inside TDS "In this part of TDS, lots of people shaken up but no one hurt. No visible damage anywhere. Had a big aftershock 30 minutes after the first quake. I'm still stuck in Cape Cod in front of Aunt Pegs... We are just waiting outside for further info from CMs. It's currently 3:50pm sun is shining with some clouds, cool weather still.

From another person: "I'm looking at Sendai airport where the terminal looks like it is in the middle of a lake. People all on the roof of the terminal...". Here is a short video of the devastating tsunami in Sendai.



Steve Davison is saying on his Facebook fan page: "Rehearsal for Fantasmic tonight has been canceled due to the earthquakes here in Japan. It was crazy. The team is fine here. A little shaken up but doing fine. The parks have shut down".

Steve Davison posted two Tweeter pics HERE and HERE, the last one showing damages from the quake.



You can see HERE a picture of TDL visitors waiting out their fate after the 8.9 Earthquake. Right now TDL and TDS have been shut down which is probably the best thing to do, knowing that important quake replicas will happen in the next hours.

Those of you who live in countries or islands at risk to be hit by the tsunami in the next hours you can find the "tsunami arrival time" HERE . Just scroll down once on the page.

Update: "TDR Crowds are being properly evacuated. The tsunami only reached the parking lot and has seemed to settle. The park will most certainly be closed for an extended period of time".

Update: "Lots of structural damage in both Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo Disney Sea. Parking lots flooded, can't confirm the carpark was destroyed, No injuries reported. The evac and process has been very organized".

Latest from TDL: The latest twitter reports are saying that people are not allowed to leave Tokyo Disneyland and have to spend night in the park as the main rail line from Tokyo to TDR, Keiyo Line, has been damaged. Picture of people stuck in TDL HERE and HERE. According to a TDL cast member, there is a huge logistics issue at the parks with so many people stuck there with no where to go.

You can watch live video coverage of tsunami hitting japan on CNN.com HERE.

Today's earthquake is now supposed to have been the strongest earthquake in Japan's history. If you're living in countries that are supposed to be hit by the tsunami be extremely cautious. You can see on the picture below the arrival time of the tsunami wave, depending where you're living. And yes, this also include U.S California coast.



Considering that this is the biggest Japan earthquake in decades, if not in history, there is no doubt that TDR will have to check and test all rides and infrastructures in days to come. I will not be surprised if the parks remain closed during the next days. If you were planning a trip to TDL and TDS this month it might be a good idea - if you can do it - to postpone your trip.

Latest: TDR confirmed that both parks will be closed tomorrow and probably Sunday too. No injuries were reported by TDR management and apparently damages could be minor - although this remains to be confirmed.

More news on Mice chat HERE.
Developping.....