Tokyo Disneyland // Adventureland and beyond

for my last installment in Tokyo Disneyland week, I'm just going to mash everything else together from Adventureland, Westernland [known in the US as Frontierland] Critter Country and Toontown. I don't have photos from all the rides, but I'll try to give you the lowdown on what we did and didn't do.

Pirates of the Caribbean

this ride was always one of my favorites growing up. in Tokyo it seemed to be less popular, even with the injection of Jack Sparrow into the attraction. since we could pretty much walk right on whenever we wanted, we rode this one 3 times [to escape the rain and just because we could.]

our first day at the park we had dinner at the Blue Bayou, which overlooks the loading area for the Pirates ride. it's indoors, but reminds me of a place I've been near Savannah, Georgia with the giant tree and lanterns. you don't encounter any Priates [or singing of yo-ho, thankfully] but the ambiance has lightning bugs and chirping crickets like you're right in the Bayou.

Jungle Cruise

this ride is another childhood favorite of mine. sadly it was closed for renovations during our visit. we opted for a spin on the Western River Railroad instead, and got our fill of animatronic animals that way...

Swiss Family Treehouse

in California and Hong Kong this attraction has been redone as Tarzan's Treehouse, but in Tokyo it remains as the original. it's not the most exciting thing in the park... but good to walk through for a change of scenery. from the top you can spot the castle and the Tiki Room [which is Stitch themed in Tokyo and all in Japanese, so we skipped it]

Big Thunder Mountain

this roller coaster railroad turned out to be one of my favorites. while indoor coasters make me nauseous, outdoor ones are just plain fun. we rode this twice, both times with fastpass. we ended up with later times, but being able to walk right in was awesome.

they still light the mountain at night, so you can see just fine as you roll past "mineral hot springs" and through a dinosaur skeleton, and watch some adorable possums spin on their branch as you blow by. I never rode Big Thunder as a kid but I really enjoyed it as an adult, and gladly would have gone a third and fourth time.

Splash Mountain

Splash Mountain in Tokyo is identical to the other parks, aside from the story being told in Japanese. the most entertaining part, however, was the pair of tourists in front of us trying to NOT get wet. one of them brought a small towel to cover her face, and they both crouched down low in the seats when we went over the drop.

maybe I'm crazy, but when I go on a ride called Splash Mountain I expect to come away soggy...

Toontown

we didn't go in to see any characters, but we did wander through and look at their houses. I was kind of shocked to hear that they no longer have Mickey's House, etc, at the Magic Kingdom in Florida... but in Tokyo you can still explore where your favorite classic characters live.

parts of the area were under construction, but in the way back we discovered Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin. it was loud and bright... and fun because you could control [to some extent] the spinning of your taxi cab. the theming was really great in the waiting area, and we had to watch the movie when we got home to refresh our memories.

overall, we really enjoyed our trip to Tokyo Disney! we got to ride everything we wanted at least once [of what was open] and discovered some new favorites along the way.

if you missed it: Monday's post on Tomorrowland and Wednesday's post on Fantasyland

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Tokyo Disneyland // Fantasyland Favorites

Tokyo Disneyland week continues today with a visit to Fantasyland. this land contains some of the most iconic attractions [at least in my opinion] and the ride which has been my favorite since the very first time I visited a Disney park, 25 years ago.

Haunted Mansion

our first day at the park we snagged a fastpass for Monsters Inc first thing, then headed back to ride my favorite ride first: the Haunted Mansion. I will say that it lost some of the magic by being 98% in Japanese [and therefore not understandable to me] but for the nostalgia factor it's still a winner. I have heard that the Mansions in other parks have been updated and altered, but Tokyo has kept the original setup as far as I can tell.

we rode this one three times, stopping in during the parade one night while there was no wait, and our second afternoon to escape a rainstorm. it might sound repetitive, but you'd be amazed the little details you notice those second or third times through. during one of these times the ride was stopped for reasons unknown [there was a loud announcement in Japanese] and so thats where the interior photos come from.

and I have to give you a little now and then... the bottom photo was taken on my first trip to Walt Disney World in 1989. I was 4. and maybe a little terrified to go in.

Peter Pan's Flight

this is one of those classic rides, very similar to Pinnochio and Snow White's Adventures, where you just ride through the story. it was entirely in Japanese but it's a little more interesting than the other rides in this area because you fly through it on your own pirate ship. the most fun part of this ride was actually waiting in line and seeing all the little kids decked out and so excited.

It's a Small World

yes, the song gets annoying and will be stuck in your head for days. but when it's just a 10 minute wait it's hard to resist. it also becomes infinitely more entertaining when your World History and Geography teaching husband decided to take a series of disapproving selfies in front of the not-so-politically-correct portions of the ride.

Alice's Tea Party

we did not ride the tea cups this time around [remember how I said I easily get nauseous?] but the Wonderland theming has expanded to include the nearby Queen of Hearts banquet hall. given the popularity of the Cheshire Cat [or at least from what we saw] it's not surprising that Tokyo decided to add the "buffeteria" restaurant to their Fantasyland.

Pooh's Hunny Hunt

and now we come to the most magical moment of my Tokyo Disneyland experience. I grew up watching Winnie the Pooh on Saturday mornings, but what I remember and love best is the original movie from 1977: The Many Adventure of Winnie the Pooh. and in this unique-to-Tokyo ride, you are transported - literally - into the story.

you enter the ride through Christopher Robin's storybook and are seated in an enormous honeypot. and as you turn around the corner and into the hundred acre wood, you realize that your honeypot is not moving on a track or attached to your fellow pots. this ride uses a trackless technology that allows each pot of riders to spin off and explore their own corners of the scene!

the scenes are incredibly well done... you find yourself floating through a blustery day, bouncing with Tigger, and trapped inside the honeytree. but my most favorite part of this ride is when Pooh drifts off to sleep and you are transported into a [slightly neon and disco] version of the heffalumps and woozles song. your honeypots spin around in an intricately planned dance, and for a moment you are interacting with the groups of pots ahead and behind you. the details that they took from the film were spot on, and by the time we wheeled past "The End" I was in tears.

magical. there is no other word.

we rode this one twice, though I gladly would have gone again if time allowed. being a newer [and incredible] attraction, you will want to snag a fastpass. we waited over an hour on standby at 8pm our second day because the passes were out before noon.

if you missed it: Monday's post on Tomorrowland 
next up we'll be mashing all the other lands together, from Adventureland to Toontown...

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Tokyo Disneyland // Tomorrowland

Happy Monday and welcome to what I'd like to dub "Tokyo Disneyland week!" all this week I'm going to share details on the rides and attractions we enjoyed while at Tokyo Disneyland, starting today with Tomorrowland.

as a kid visiting Walt Disney World in Orlando, I never had much interest in Tomorrowland. it was just a place to walk through on our way to Toontown and Fantasyland. I was happy to find that as an adult [and with a few additional attractions] this land held a lot more appeal for me. Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blasters was unfortunately closed during out visit, but there was still plenty left to do...

Space Mountain

this ride was one of Husband's favorites, so we decided to endure the hour long standby wait. I was getting a little nervous, because every 20 feet or so there is an "escape pod" where you can chicken out and exit the line. but I figured if the 8 year olds in front of me could handle it, so could I. we lucked out and ended up in the very front row.

I thought that I had once ridden Space Mountain, but it turns out I was actually remembering Spaceship Earth from Epcot [the one inside the big dome.] Space Mountain is an indoor roller coaster, and the entire ride is completely in the dark aside from the "star" lights that you blaze past. it feels like you are flying through space at warp speed [or in hyperdrive, depending which reference you prefer.]

to be honest, it made me a little nauseous to be enclosed the whole time. but according to Husband it was just as much fun as an adult as he remembered as a kid. we only rode once but it would definitely be worth another go, especially if you have a spare fastpass or find a short [15-20 minutes] standby wait time.

Star Tours: the adventures continue

Star Tours was another attraction that I never rode, but was a favorite of Husband's. the concept behind the Star Wars themed ride is that you are taking a transport led by C3PO that suffers a few mishaps along the way. the attraction had been recently updated, and the theming was incredible. the waiting line was like going through a space age airport, complete with safety videos and ads for flights to Alderan and Coruscant, crates of cargo, and a thermal imaging security scan.

the actual ride itself was a combination 3D video and simulator... which of course made me nauseous. [have I mentioned that I'm a complete baby about getting nauseous?] anyway, the presentation was all in Japanese but I could still grasp what was happening. if you are a Star Wars fan [or have at least seen the original movies] this one should be entertaining for you.

Monsters Inc, Ride & Go Seek!

Monsters Inc is insanely popular in Asia [or at least in Taiwan and Japan that I've seen] but the real reason this ride is so popular is because it is truly interactive. the Monsters Inc Ride & Seek is not like any Monsters themed ride at the other Disney parks, and some people come to Tokyo Disneyland specifically for this ride.

this attraction was probably the most fun I had our entire visit, and I don't say that lightly. there is a reason why standby wait times can go as long as 3 hours... so this is definitely a ride you want to get a fastpass for. you also want to get one early on in the day, because there are a limited amount available and they go quick.

the waiting area for this ride is the reception area of the Monsters Inc building, pretty much straight out of the movie. we rode twice, both times with fastpass, and waited maybe 15-20 minutes.

all the characters speak in Japanese, but you can easily grasp the concept. you are loaded into a cart which is equipped with working flashlights. by spotting blue helmets and flashing your light onto the Monsters Inc logo, monsters will come out of hiding and the scenes will come alive.

they don't actually keep score, but at the exit they display your photos temporarily under a "high score/ all stars" type board. Husband and I were killer at finding monsters, and we had so. much. fun. that my face hurt after from all the laughing.

we rode it again our second day, and while it loses some interest when you know where to find all the helmets, it was still really fun. so much that even thought the Haunted Mansion has been my favorite for 25 years [and will always be my favorite classic ride], this might be my new favorite.

stay tuned this week for more rides and tips on visiting Tokyo Disneyland... next up will be Fantasyland!

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jetlag thoughts

flying for 14 hours in the opposite direction that the earth turns means that you see both a sunset and a sunrise, but somehow land on the same day as you left. 

this time travel is tricky stuff. I can't keep straight what day it is. I'm falling asleep at the dinner table and waking up at... well, this morning it was 3:30am. around 5 my cat Beau came in to harass me, and by 6 I decided that coffee and bacon sounded better than tossing and turning.

in one week I head to the west side of Michigan, then one week later back to the east. three days after that I'm headed to the north [of the LP at least] for a long weekend... then another week west, another week east before a week each in California and Texas. 

but next week I'm going to smother you in Tokyo Disney, because at the moment I'm having trouble thinking any thought through to its conclusion. I didn't do much planning ahead on the blog front, and with my brother visiting the past few weeks it piled up. I'm kind of sorry, but also not. I'd rather slack on blogging than slack on life. so here are some jetlag thoughts for you, far too early on a saturday morning...

I gave up and hit the "mark all as read" button. sometimes, you really just have to. 

I keep feeling the walls outside of rooms for light switches, and am surprised when people at the checkout counter actually TALK to me. in English.

having a working US cell phone again is confusing. people are calling/texting me, and things are happening on social media sites all day long. in my head I keep trying to re-calculate 12 hours behind... but I'm already there.

all of the kitten snuggles. so much fluff.

Target, I missed you. Meijer, I love you. Jimmy Johns unwiches and gluten free beer, and oh my tasty Chipotle. and bacon. bacon so black and crispy it practically crumbles in your hand.

digging clothes out of storage is like unwrapping Christmas presents. especially when you discover the pair of jeans you left behind last summer [as being too tight] now fit perfectly. 

we just booked airfare this week to travel to NEW ZEALAND for three weeks next February. obviously I want to enjoy my current trip, but I am super excited for this one next year.

old home videos are awesome. you guys, I was one spunky nine year old, let me tell you. 

no one does blue summer sky like the Midwest. it's so wide and clear and gorgeous... the complete opposite of the hazy humid cloud of Taiwan. it's good to be back, jetlag and all.

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life is good: may reflections + june goals

is anyone else outrageously surprised that it's June already? my May was pretty jam-packed and it just flew right by... but it was full of some amazing moments. today I'm joining Belinda's new life is good linkup in an effort to share not just goals and things checked off a list, but the everyday goodness that can sometimes be overlooked. in that spirit, here are some of my favorite feel-good moments of May:

+ being a kid at Tokyo Disneyland +
+ wine and macarons on the train +
+ interviewing myself +
+ my first Taiwanese baseball experience +
+ visiting a kitten cafe +

I'm flying back to the US in 2 days [have I mentioned that lately?] and beginning my travels to every corner of the country. it's going to be a crazy messy busy wild and beautiful summer. I can't wait.

my goals for last month were to enjoy time traveling and with visitors, soak up as much Taiwan as I can get before I leave, and to just let go and do what I can. I think I definitely got the first two down, though I've been a little panicky about being ready to leave.

this month I want to:
+ get packed and get back to the states +
+ participate in Rachel's instagram photo challenge +
+ print a paper copy of my book manuscript to edit +
+ run a 10k race [or drop down to the 5k depending how my foot feels] +
+ come up with a blog plan for summer +

of course, these goals are all contingent upon not burying my productivity under a pile of bacon and kitten snuggles once I arrive back in Michigan. is anyone else excited for the start of summer? what are your plans and goals this month?

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currently

it's been a while since I've done a "currently" type post, but I'm taking a break from travel stories to share a few updates on everyday life. [or as everyday as things have been lately.]

creating: things with stamps. not that I really need more crafty things... but I picked up these tiny letter stamps the other day. the stationary store here is one of my major weaknesses. at least I didn't buy any more washi tape?

considering: a blog redesign. ok, I'm pretty much always considering a blog redesign. but lately I've been thinking it's time to either suck it up and learn how to do some proper coding, or bite the bullet and shell out some cash for a professional. recommendations on designers [or coding tutorials] are welcome.

recovering: from a "get your foot stuck in some rocks while crossing a stream and fall in" incident. my brother and I went hiking by Wulai Falls yesterday and in our quest to adventure my clumsiness got the better of me. my foot has a lovely bruise developing, but thankfully the rest of me [and my camera] escaped unharmed.

packing: for my flight back to America next week. last summer before flying back I was sick, so just grabbed clothes and shoved them in a bag. there was no planning, and when I arrived and unpacked I found my summer wardrobe quite impractical. but this year I have a list! I may not get everything together to do a "3 months traveling the USA" version of my "10 days in Bali" packing post, but I'm confident that the right things will at least make it into my bag this time.

sweating: every day, all the time. summer is here in full force. it's been hot and humid... so much that even the tigers were swimming when we visited the zoo. I'm definitely looking forward to the cooler temperatures of a Michigan summer!

reading: Game of Thrones. I read books 1-4 back in 2008, but I had pretty much forgotten everything that happened after the Red Wedding. I've caught back up and passed most of what is happening on the show this season now, though I'm saving book 5 for the flight back to the US. usually I'm a huge fan of books over movies/shows, but HBO has really done a great job of editing and streamlining the story. they cut out a lot of extraneous things and give you more of what you want [in my opinion]

adventuring: all over Taiwan. last weekend we went to a baseball game in Taichung, have been in or through Taipei at least twice this week, and have been exploring Hsinchu as well. I love having visitors and getting to play tourist. a part of me is definitely ready for a break from Taiwan, but traveling around and seeing all the sights reminds me that despite all the challenges I really do love it here.

planning: for upcoming posts. I have plenty of Disney and then the non-Disney of Tokyo left to share, as well as Taroko Gorge and our current Taiwan travels. it seems to me that I always encounter a stretch of time where I travel a lot, and the posts end up stretch out over the following months. hopefully you won't be too confused as I post about Japan and Taiwan while back in the states!

craving: some Din Tai Fung soup dumplings. thankfully I'll be able to indulge my craving in a few hours, as we have plans to take my brother there tonight. DTF is on our "must-do" list with visitors, and I need to get my fill before leaving for summer.

what are you up to currently?

the cup of coffee that fueled the writing of today’s post was sponsored by Amy. she drinks her coffee americano style, extra hot, with steamed soy and a bit of honey and blogs about gluten free cooking, marriage, and life in Alaska over at Lovely Does It.

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Tokyo Disneyland // easter egg hunt

I know what you're thinking... wasn't Easter over a month ago? well, in the magical world of Tokyo Disneyland, Easter lasts from March until the end of June. there was an Easter-themed parade that ran through the park several times per day, and plenty of decorations and merchandise to match the theme.

throughout the park they also scattered small statues of various characters transformed into eggs. we quickly became obsessed with finding these adorable statues and snapping photos. if you read Japanese, you can purchase an official easter egg hunt game and win a special prize. but for us, we just had fun.

usually the characters can be found in the garden/landscaped areas near their themed rides, but there are a few we spotted hiding in odd locations. they have both standard and expert egg hunt courses, so you'll have to look both up and down and in the shrubbery to find them all.

I won't give away all the magic, but seriously. these things were too cute not to share. what's better than your favorite character made even more adorable by compressing it into an egg shape?

and now that you've had your dose of Disney, let me take a moment to introduce my featured sponsor this month...

Jess is the mother, expat, and traveler behind The Flyaway American. her adventures have taken her all over Europe and North America, and soon to Indonesia and India! she has also recently started a series on traveling in the Netherlands, full of information if you are planning a visit there. I love that she strays from just the typical attractions and visits unique and out-of-the-way places such as the Old Operating Theatre and London's most haunted house. read more about her travels below, then hop over to her blog and say hello!

Hey there! I'm Jess, a former Texan now living the expat life in a small town on the coast of England. I am married to a Dutch guy I met at college and we have a five year old daughter with a very British accent. My blog The Fly Away American chronicles my life living abroad and my travels around the world.

any travel plans or goals you have for this year? I just got back from a trip to the US and Canada and have been exploring more of England during my free time. I head to Italy, Indonesia, Canada and India later this year which I am incredibly excited about.

what is your favorite trip/vacation you've ever taken - where to and why? My favorite vacation was probably a trip shortly after I arrived in Europe a little more than five years ago. We stayed at Lake Lugano in Italy and I truly enjoyed eating and exploring and getting to know the country in a more relaxed non-touristy way. We also climbed a local mountain and I went paragliding over the waters below. Good memories.

two of your favorite blog posts: I went to Norway on a solo-trip last year and it was one of the most incredible countries I have ever visited. This is a post on taking the train from Oslo to Bergen, definitely one of my lifetime highlights. I also love this post that chronicles my arrival in England and growing to love my new home.

where would your dream trip take you? I have so many places I want to see but Tibet is definitely at the top of my list.

describe yourself in 3 words: Indecisive, Happy and Impulsive

read more about Jess on her blog: The Flyaway American

or follow along with:

twitter + facebook + instagram + google+

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interview with an author

I'm linking up with Melyssa today for another edition of the creative collective. this week's prompt was to interview someone and take some editorial photos to go along. well... I miscalculated on the date and so was not able to interview my initial intended. but I do have someone special answering questions on the blog today: me! I thought I'd use this as a chance to catch you up on my book news and give some info to my newer readers, who may not know that I've been writing a book.

so you're writing a book. what's that all about? well. as the book currently stands, it is a personal travel memoir. it describes our move to Taiwan and how I've both dealt with culture shock and grown through the process. it covers the time leading up to the move and the first year and a half of our life here, with chapters covering everything from adjusting to not having a career to accidentally staying in love motels. I've been working on it off + on for the last 9 months and it truly has become my baby.

isn't that kindof like your blog? yes, and no. it covers the same time frame and a lot of the same events, but the blog tends to focus on photos and information. the book is more personal, dives in deeper, and written more like a story. I know some people publish their blogs as ebooks, but that's not what this is. I want it to read like a novel, not a collection of standalone stories. I think that makes it more challenging for me to write, but I hope will result in a better book.

do you have a title yet? no. I have a few half-formed ideas, but I'm hoping as I organize things something will jump out at me. if all else fails, I can cop out and name it after my blog, right?

how long is the book going to be? right now I'm around 55,000 words, which qualifies as a full-length novel. I'd like to expand up to around 75,000 words but in truth - it will be as long as it needs to be.

what inspired you to start writing this book? I've always loved to write. I grew up keeping journals, have been blogging for over 12 years, and the idea of writing a book has always appealed to me. I knew that moving to Taiwan [and not working 9-5 anymore] was my best opportunity to have the time to do so. it took me a while to start because I wasn't sure what I wanted to write. but sometime around last March I realized that the story I needed to tell first was my story. it took a few more months and a lot of encouragement before I actually started writing. I've had great support from my Husband and family, along with both real life and blogging friends. when I get discouraged I look back at emails and comments and remember conversations I've had, and it keeps me going.

do you actually write in bed, or are you just trying to Carrie Bradshaw in this photoshoot? nope, this was totally staged. though the pen poses are all natural movements for me. I typically write in my office [which is a hot mess right now] or at Starbucks. I'd love to find a local coffee shop to support, but none of them in Taiwan open before noon.

what do you use to write? I started by digging through all my blog entries and journals to create a timeline, then started typing in a Word document. I have a few notebooks full of book notes, and of course the journal and blog content that has been expanded on. right now my 7-year-old MacBook isn't capable of using iAuthor, but when I get my new Air in a few weeks I'll be able to move everything into that program.

when can we expect to read this book? hopefully in the fall. my first draft is a little rough, but it's just about complete. I hope to flesh it out and do some editing + organizing this summer, possibly have it professionally edited and formatted, have a cover designed, and then self-publish on kindle. I'm writing this book mostly for me - if I can tell my story authentically and put it out there, then that's success. [though if a publisher wants to pick me up and make me famous I'm cool with that too.]

do you plan to keep writing in the future? yes. I've written a few fiction short stories that I might try to expand, and I've considered dabbling in historical fiction or fantasy or even romance novels. maybe I'll try them all, who knows? but I do know that I want to keep writing, and hopefully publish more books after this one.

any advice for someone who wants to tackle writing a book? just do it. the hardest part about writing is convincing yourself to sit down and actually write. you'll have good days where the words will fly from your fingertips, and other days where it feels like you're just pounding against a brick wall. just keep writing, and keep reminding yourself to keep writing.

so that was only moderately awkward for me to interview myself, right? hopefully you enjoyed the update :)

linking up with Nicole, too!

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