Friday, September 9, 2011

JICA FRIENDSHIP PROGRAM SCIENCE STUDENTS 1987: PART 12: TOKYO DISNEYLAND! (UNOFFICIAL TRIP)

Today, most of the other ASEAN Delegates are on their way back to their country. 
As I understand, there were no flights to the Philippines that day, so we had our third free day!

It is our 31st day in Japan and of course, this extra day meant TOKYO DISNEYLAND... and that made our Japan trip a very complete journey indeed!

This is also my first Disneyland experience!

from Wikipedia: Tokyo Disneyland (東京ディズニーランド Tōkyō Dizunīrando?) is a 115 acre (465,000 m²) theme park at the Tokyo Disney Resort located in UrayasuChibaJapan, near Tokyo. Its main gate is directly adjacent to both Maihama Station and Tokyo Disneyland Station. It was the first Disney park to be built outside of the United States and opened on April 15, 1983. The park was constructed by Walt Disney Imagineering in the same style as Disneyland in California and Magic Kingdom inFlorida. It is owned by The Oriental Land Company, which licenses the theme from The Walt Disney Company. Tokyo Disneyland and its companion park, Tokyo DisneySea, are the only Disney parks not owned by The Walt Disney Company.
There are seven themed areas in the park: the World Bazaar; the four classic Disney lands: AdventurelandWesternlandFantasyland and Tomorrowland; and two mini-lands: Critter Country and Mickey's Toontown. The park is noted for its extensive open spaces, to accommodate the large crowds that visit the park. In 2009, Tokyo Disneyland hosted approximately 13.65 million guests, ranking it as the third-most visited theme park in the world, behind its American sister parks, Magic Kingdom and Disneyland.[1]
We were glad that Kumi I. joined us in Disneyland! 
We finished all the rides in a day, and I would attribute this to Ed C. who planned our Disney rides!... of course, we had to run fast from one ride to the next!


Happy 50th birthday, Donald Duck!!!
Donald Duck was celebrating his 50th year in 1987. 

These are the Five Themed Lands in Tokyo Disneyland in 1987.

We started with Tomorrowland, the world of the future.
We rode the Space Mountain, enjoyed the Captain EO 3-D show and drove in the Grand Circuit Raceway.

SPACE MOUNTAIN here we come!
I guess someone who goes to Disneyland has to try the Space Mountain at least once. It is a classic roller coaster ride. 
A friend told me, you have to ride it several times. First time, all you would see is darkness because you would close your eyes from fear. Second time, you hang on too much to the roller coaster and all you see is the roller coaster. The third or fourth time, maybe, you are now more relaxed in the ride and can now appreciate the planets and the stars in Space Mountain! 
Do I intend to ride it again to see the stars, moon and planets?
SPACE MOUNTAIN: the classic, of course!



CAPTAIN EO: Do you remember this? 
From Wikipedia: Captain EO is a 3-D science fiction film starring Michael Jackson and directed by Francis Ford Coppola (who came up with the name "Captain EO" from the Greek, cf. "Eos", the Greek goddess of dawn) that was shown at Disney theme parks from 1986 through the 1990s. The attraction returned to the Disney Parks in 2010, as a tribute after Jackson's deathThe film's executive producer was George Lucas. The film was choreographed by Jeffrey Hornaday and Michael Jackson




CAPTAIN EO is a 3D Science Fiction Film starring Michael Jackson!
From Wikipedia: Captain EO made full use of its 3-D effects. The action on the screen
 extended into the audience, including lasers, laser impacts, smoke effects, and starfields that filled the theater. These effects resulted in the seventeen-minute film costing an estimated $30 million to produce.[3] At the time, it was the most expensive film ever produced on a per-minute basis, averaging out at $1.76 million per minute.[4]

The 2010 version does not include the in-theater laser and starfield effects. It does utilize hydraulics previously used for Honey, I Shrunk the Audience! to make the seats shake along with Captain EO's spaceship, as well as LED flood-lighting which is new to the theater. They are also used for the bass heavy musical numbers. The seats also bounce to the beat of Jackson's song.
We also rode the Grand Circuit Raceway.
GRAND CIRCUIT RACEWAY " Drive a race car up, down and around a challenging network of twisting curves" .



We are on our way to Fantasyland.
This is Cinderella's castle.
I thought there was only Sleeping Beauty's Castle and I was surprised that I put Cinderella's castle in my Japan album. When I went to the Disneyland website, there are actually two kinds of castles and the one is Tokyo is Cinderella's Castle.

CINDERELLA'S CASTLE
From Wikipedia: Cinderella Castle is the fairy tale castle at the center of two Disney theme parks: the Magic Kingdom at the Walt Disney World Resort, and Tokyo Disneyland at theTokyo Disney Resort. Both serve as worldwide recognized icons and the flagship attraction for their respective theme parks.
It is generally considered to be a carbon copy of the Magic Kingdom's castle. However, from 1986–2006, a popular walk-through attraction called the "Cinderella Castle Mystery Tour" was featured within the castle. In June 2006, the castle was repainted, to differentiate it from Cinderella Castle at the Magic Kingdom. The castle now has gold trimmings, the rooftops have been painted a different shade of blue, and the white stone of the turrets now has a tan/dirty-pink color.
Sleeping Beauty Castle is the fairy tale structure castle at the center of Disneyland Park and Hong Kong Disneyland. It is based on Neuschwanstein Castle[1],with some French inspirations (Notre Dame de Parisand the Hospices de Beaune especially).
Inside the castle's archway, a series of five mosaic murals tells the story of Cinderella





with Cinderella and Prince Charming... 
with Sleeping Beauty...but I remember we called her "Sleeping Bruha" (pardon us!)
from Tokyo Disneyland site: CINDERELLA'S GOLDEN CAROUSEL
          " In a kaleidoscope of colour ninety hand-painted horses whirl to the tunes from a calliope".   
Here in Fantasyland is the Haunted Mansion.
From Wikipedia: The Haunted Mansion is a dark ride located at Disneyland, the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World and Tokyo Disneyland. A significantly re-imagined incarnation of the ride, known as Phantom Manor, is located in Disneyland Paris. Each incarnation of the attraction features a ride-through tour of a haunted house in Omnimovervehicles called Doom Buggies, preceded by a walk-through show in the queue. The attraction showcases a number of age-old tricks, advanced special effects, and spectral Audio-Animatronics

HAUNTED MUSEUM in the background
We rode Dumbo, the Flying Elephant!
Ed C. said it is one of his favorite rides.
DUMBO, THE FLYING ELEPHANT" Fly high in the Fantasyland sky on the amazing circus elephant."
Then, we visited the "It's a Small World" classic boat ride... very relaxing!




"IT'S A SMALL WORLD" " Enjoy the 'happiest cruise that ever sailed' as children of the world sing and dance to the song 'It's a Small World'" .
We are now in Adventureland.
Pirates of the Caribbean is our first stop in this land.
Pirates of the Caribbean - " Take a thrilling voyage back to when pirates ruled the seas and ports" . The animatronic dialogue is mostly in Japanese, with the exception of an occasional " Me Hearty" etc.! A near replica of the American versions.
Then, we move to the Jungle Cruise.
Jungle Cruise - " Venture deep into mysterious danger-filled jungles and experience the perils of the wild." 
We rode the Western River Railroad.
Western River Railroad - " Climb aboard a real steam train for a trip around the wilderness and through the fantastic Primeval World." 
We entered the Enchanted Tiki Room.
The Enchanted Tiki Room - " Singing birds and flowers, chanting Tiki Gods, and rich tropical music provide delightful entertainment" . 










And here in the fourth land, Westernland.
We rode Mark Twain's Riverboat.
Mark Twain Riverboat - " Enjoy a leisurely trip down the Rivers of America on a romantic showboat."
Then, we proceeded to the Tom Sawyer's Island Rafts.
Tom Sawyer Island Rafts - " Take a log raft across the Rivers of America to embark on your adventure on Tom Sawyer Island."


Then, we went to the Country Bear Theater to watch the Country Bear Jamboree.
Country Bear Theatre - " Real down-home bears put on a hilarious hillbilly revue." 
World Bazar here we come.., for shopping and dining!
That was a great day! We felt like kids again... and Tokyo Disneyland is really a place where everyone can feel the joys of childhood over and over again!!!


Really, this is our last day in Japan and we enjoyed it a lot.
Indeed, we ended the month-long trip with a BANG!!! 


The JICA ASEAN-Japan Friendship Program for the 21st Century indeed opened the doors and windows for us in so many ways. We are thankful for this experience !!!

3 comments:

  1. can really relate to you Dra and misty eyed!!step-by-step recollection of places we've been also with my JICA (Osaka U/OITC Center) batch of 1988. Sana magkareunion.It's just now I realize ka batch mo pala Dr Lawas' wife Madam Eva Lawas of DSWD. You had visited also other areas but probably not able to post?? ung sa me mines riding a single 4 wheeler what? ala Indiana Jones! hi3a train ride across Indian Reservation Camp or was that the same passing thru the wild outdoor maybe also with Davy Crocket (parang song) watching us passing thru with lots of artificial but almost real wild animals that give us the creeps and waving Indian groups/families. Of course Minnie and Mickey Mouse, aside from the other classic characters.An added information which I believe is very important and classic is the Captain EO (MJ) experience where everyone wore those 3D (my first time, coz now it's being done in MOA theaters in Mla)Spiders suddenly appear, that's probably the only thing I can recall, senior moments hi3!! and my favorites... scary roller coaster rides which my classmates esp. the Latinos don't want/are scared to ride if at all.and many more Disney experiences like the Viking, which Mla copied lamo nman Friend mga Pinoys pra mas mura, ung parang replica nung nasa Universal na mga mirrors ba un? the old west hay endless memorable.unforgettable experiences when we were younger
    I also am impressed with your comprehensive documentation and something I could really keep as T Disneyland Memorabilia, coz I took photos too, but not as many as you/your group did. One of our staff Aileen and family is now in Hongkong Disneyland (sidetrip for their Macau 4-day tour). incidentally,one sister and cousin are working in the "Happiest Place on Earth"(Disney in Anaheim) including Florida's as well. If you by chance would go back there you can contact them thru me .Perhaps we can get discount tickets/coupons coz' they got access to some,I was just informed. Breathtaking experience d ba Dra?!!and you want to go back for more. Incidentally that same year we watched MJ's concert at Budokan? where the Beatles also did one?

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  2. ** Wow! I didn't know you were Friendship Program alumni also!
    ** Di kami kasabay ni Eva.We were together ni Eva L. sa alumni group because I was active in the early 90s... and I also joined the alumni group last 2007. That's why nagkakilala kami ni Dr. Noel.
    ** Thanks for the comprehensive comment...

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