RV Travel Poll: Would You Ride A Roller Coaster At An Amusement Park?

Above, my second roller coaster ride ten years ago.

The first time I rode a roller coaster was when I was about eight years old. It was Disneyland's Matterhorn Bobsleds. 

I did not enjoy the ride, but at least I survived it. I didn't ride one again until ten years ago when I was talked into taking a ride on the Revenge of the Mummy roller coaster at Universal Studios. I was quite apprehensive at first, but I ended up enjoying it more than I thought I would. 

The reason I am bringing this subject up is the RV Travel has a poll: Would your ride a roller coaster at an amusement park?

They start it with:

Some of us love roller coasters, and some of us are terrified of roller coasters! Where do you stand?

Some people chase the thrill—the rush of wind in their hair, the clack-clack-clack of the climb, the heart-pounding plunge into the first drop. Others prefer to watch from the ground with a churro or corn dog in hand, perfectly happy to let others do the screaming.

And then there are the in-betweeners, the ones who get talked into “just one ride” and end up loving (or regretting) every second.

To read the rest and participate in the poll, go here. 

Would I do it again? Probably not.

Mr. Toad's Wild Ride and Superman

One of the classic Disneyland (Anaheim) rides is Mr. Toad's Wild Ride in Fantasyland. 

It opened at Disneyland on July 17, 1955 and refurbished in 1983. It was closed at Walt Disney World and was replaced by The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.

Speaking of Disneyland's opening day of July 17, 1955, here's Walt Disney chatting with Adventures of Superman star George Reeves:

Palisades Amusement Park

Above, a vintage photo of Palisades Amusement Park.

Back in the 1960s, I used to see frequent ads for Palisades Amusement Park in New Jersey featuring Superman in DC's comic books.

The following is an example (from 1960):

 

I have never been to Palisades Amusement Park, for good reason. It no longer exists. It closed down in 1971.

At the time of its closing, the park was still a moneymaker, but the remaining owner died without any heirs.

From Wikipedia:

Palisades Amusement Park was a 38-acre amusement park located in Bergen County, New Jersey, across the Hudson River from New York City. It was located atop the New Jersey Palisades lying partly in Cliffside Park and partly in Fort Lee. The park operated from 1898 until 1971, remaining one of the most visited amusement parks in the country until its closure, after which a high-rise luxury apartment complex was built on its site.

Along with rides, the park boasted the world’s largest outdoor salt water pool.

To read more, go here.

Old Tucson Studios Has New Operator

A post in the Facebook Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Fan Group caught my attention.

It was about Old Tucson Studios outside of Tucson, Arizona and that it would be celebrating 80 years since its creation.

It has been closed down for the past two years due to the pandemic. 

But the Facebook post got me to to do some checking around and I found that a new operator has signed on to run it.

According to TucsonLocalMedia.com:

Old Tucson Studios, Tucson’s iconic movie filming location in Tucson Mountain Park, will be managed by a new operator.

The Pima County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on April 5 to approve American Heritage Railways as the new park operator.

Old Tucson Studios was the backdrop for multiple feature films and television shows after Columbia Pictures chose to build an 1860s replica of Tucson in 1939. Old Tucson Studios was built just before the Western movie era in the 1950s, making it the perfect location for new productions. Iconic films like Winchester 73, The Lone Ranger and the Lost City of Gold, Arizona, Tombstone, and Three Amigos were filmed at Old Tucson Studios.

Pima County Attractions and Tourism Director Diane Frisch wrote in an email that Old Tucson Studios has hosted concerts and recreational events in the past, and “these tourism dollars are important to the region as hotels, restaurants and local attractions welcome our visitors.”

The County began looking for a new operator after the previous operator, Old Tucson Company, notified the county it would be terminating its lease due to the impact of COVID-19 restrictions.

One of the companies to show interest in the site was American Heritage Railways (AHR). Established in 1998, AHR has experience in the entertainment, filming, and hospitality industries. Frisch said AHR has ties with film studios that are shooting at other properties. The County wants AHR to bring those relationships to Old Tucson Studios.

American Heritage Railways operates the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad in southwest Colorado.

The Old Tucson website has it listed as "temporarily closed". I will have to plan a trip there when it reopens. The plan is to reopen starting with the "Nightfall" Halloween attraction around September-October. This is certainly good news!

To read more, go here.

Disneyland and Disney World: “The Most Expensive Place on Earth”

Above, Disneyland's Mark Twain steamboat in Frontierland in 1988. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

There was once a time when a visit to Disneyland in Anaheim, California or Walt Disney World in Florida didn't require taking out a second or third mortgage, or even a co-signer. 

Not anymore. 

I used to go to Disneyland quite often with family or friends from the 1960s to the 1980s. The last two times I was there were both in 1988. The admission price for one day in 1988 was $28.00. 

The last Disney theme park I visited was Tokyo DisneySea in Japan in 2015. Since it seemed like half of Tokyo's population was there, we didn't go on any rides. The wait times were excessively long.

Today, the powers-that-be of the Walt Disney Company has seen fit to raise their prices again for Walt Disney World and Disneyland, practically to the stratosphere, and people are raising hell.

The New York Post reported:

“The Most Magical Place on Earth” is being rebranded as “The Most Expensive Place on Earth” by angry customers who slammed Disney for price hikes at its Disney World and Disneyland theme parks.

Disney customers took to Reddit over the past week to rip the Mouse House’s theme parks over higher admission fees, as well as a subpar experience that includes more expensive, lackluster food and staffing shortages.

Disney, which has been hit hard by the pandemic, has been increasing prices in order to make up for the loss of business.

Late last year, Disney said it would increase ticket prices at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure in Anaheim, Calif., this year, noting that its popular single-day ticket price would jump 6.5% to $164 for admission to one park, while a two-day park hopper pass would cost $319, up nearly 9 percent.

That's not all, the food concessions and souvenirs at Disneyland has also become more expensive, but you'll have to read the full article to see just how expensive they've become.

Just to bring a date to Disneyland, for a halfway decent time for two, one should at least have $600 in their wallet. Imagine what a family of four would cost!

Walt Disney would probably spin in his grave if he knew how expensive it is to spend a day at Disneyland.  

To read more, go here.

World's First Permanent Godzilla Theme Park Ride Coming May 19

Well, if we can ever get back to Japan for vacationing, there's one new attraction that's sure to draw Godzilla fans from around the world to look forward to.

It is the “Godzilla the Ride: Great Kaiju Decisive Dominance Battle.” Riders will be thrown into the midst of a battle between Godzilla and King Ghidorah.

SoraNews24 reported:

There are a lot of amusement parks in the Tokyo area, but it’s often hard for them to compete for attention against Tokyo Disneyland and Disney Sea. However, the recently renovated Seibu-en, located right over the prefectural border from Tokyo in the town of Tokorozawa, Saitama, has a plan to step out from the Disney parks’ immense shadows by recruiting a character Uncle Walt has no claim to: Godzilla.

When Seibu-en holds its grand reopening next month on May 19, guests will get to walk through a large-scale replica of a nostalgic shopping street from Japan’s Showa era (1926-1989). At the end of the street is a suitably retro-style theater building, and inside is the world’s first permanent Godzilla theme park ride.

To read more, go here.

Savvy Tokyo: Everything About Visiting Tokyo DisneySea With Children

Above, a crowd gathers to watch some of DisneySea's entertrainers. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Tokyo DisneySea. I've heard about it over the years before my 2015 visit to the park, which sits next door to Tokyo Disneyland.

We visited the park on a Saturday and it seemed that half the population of Tokyo also had the same idea. At best, the wait time for the park's rides were 30 minutes, so we didn't go on any. But we did wander around to take in the shows in different sections of the park.

Savvy Tokyo has posted an article on everything one needs to know about visiting Tokyo DisneySea with children, including some valuable tips.

They begin it with:

A popular opinion about Tokyo Disney Resort differentiates its two parks: Tokyo Disneyland is for children, while Tokyo DisneySea is for adults. But don’t believe the hype! While it’s true that DisneySea has more adult thrill rides and date spots than Disneyland, DisneySea has some enchanting, unique-to-Japan attractions for kids that make it well worth a visit. 

This article includes attractions that may or not be currently open at DisneySea due to the Covid-19 pandemic. We’ve included our top recommendations, but also provided additional resources to aid your planning. 

To read the full article, go here. 

Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea: Top Tips

Above, Mediterranean Harbor at Tokyo DisneySea. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back in 2015, during my last trip to Japan, our group arrived back in Tokyo after a trek of a few days to Atami, Kyoto and Osaka. We decided to take in a Disney theme park.

Since (at the time) I lived in Southern California and have been to Disneyland in Anaheim many times, it was decided to go see Tokyo DisneySea instead of Tokyo Disneyland. Tokyo Disneyland is patterned after the one in Anaheim, so it was preferred to see something new.

The two parks are next door to each other outside of Tokyo, so it takes a commute to get there. We went on a Saturday, so it seemed like half the population of Tokyo was there.

The Japan Times has an article with the "top tips" for visiting the parks.

They begin with:

Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo Disney Sea are special theme parks, being the first Disney parks built outside of the United States. As the third and fourth busiest theme parks in the world, with Tokyo Disneyland seeing 17.9 million visitors in 2018, it’s a good idea to do your research before you visit the happiest place on Earth — or, at least, the happiest place in Japan.

To read more, go here. 

Fodor's Tips For Surviving Tokyo DisneySea

Above, Tokyo DisneySea's Mediterranean Harbor. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Three years ago, when I visited Tokyo DisneySea, it seemed like half the population of Tokyo were also there.

The lines to the rides were so long that we rode none of them. The problem was that we visited the park on a Saturday. We should have gone mid-week. Nevertheless, we enjoyed it anyway.

But if one insists on visiting Tokyo DisneySea, Fodor's has some tips on "surviving" it.

They begin with:

Before you read any further–do you love Disney? No, like, dress-up-as-Mickey really love Disney? Because if you hesitated at all in answering that question, you will not survive Tokyo’s iteration of a Disney park. Between the masses of tourists, the price-gouging at every turn, and the endless waiting (OMG THE LINES!), you will need a level of patience that rivals the worst traffic on the 405 in Los Angeles, the most horrific day ever at the DMV, and airport security on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving all wrapped into one magical place! 

But if you are a megafan, Tokyo DisneySea is something you’ll need to cross off your bucket list. Here are our tips on how to survive.

To read more, go here.

5 Tips For Saving Money At Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea

Above, Mount Prometheus erupts at Tokyo DisneySea. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

During my last trip to Japan, one of the things I did was to visit Tokyo DisneySea. I heard much about it and wanted to see it for myself.

The visit was on a Saturday (big mistake) as it seemed that half of Tokyo's population was there and the lines for the rides were very long. But, it was a fun excursion anyway. Your best bet for fewer crowds is going during the work week.

Tokyo DisneySea is next door to Tokyo Disneyland. Like all Disney parks, they're both pricey. But there are ways to saving money and Tokyo Cheapo has five tips on saving your yen.

They begin with:

Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea are bucket-list destinations for many, and while prices will always be high, there are some easy methods to save some yen—maybe for a second helping of that delicious caramel popcorn. Japan isn’t exactly a deal-a-minute, but with some wily ways and a few tricks up your sleeve, you can get the full Tokyo Disney experience with money to spare.

Above, my sole glimpse of Tokyo Disneyland was during the monorail ride to Tokyo DisneySea. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To find out what the five tips are, go here. 

TripAdvisor: Japan's Top Ten Theme Parks

Above, one of the top ten theme parks is located inside Tokyo Tower. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

TripAdvisor, possibly the Internet's biggest travel website, has come up with their list of the top 10 theme parks in Japan.

According to an article in SoraNews 24:

There’s more to theme parks in Japan than just Disney Resort and Universal Studios; there’s also ninjas, go-karts and looking through your legs.

Think of theme parks and there’s a good chance that the the local versions of big American theme parks come to mind. However, travel site TripAdvisor’s list of the ten most popular theme parks in Japan shows that a) there are other theme parks worth a visit beyond Tokyo Disneyland, Tokyo DisneySea and Universal Studios Japan in Osaka; and b) what constitutes a theme park is open to interpretation.

To see what they are, go here. 

Tokyo DisneySea: What To See and Do

Above, Mediterranean Harbour at Tokyo DisneySea. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Almost three years ago (was it really that long ago?), we visited Tokyo DisneySea.

Unfortunately, since we went there on a Saturday, it seemed like half of Tokyo's population was there and we were unable to go on any rides. But, it was a fun excursion anyway.

The Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) has an article with plenty of pictures of Tokyo DisneySea.

It begins with:

There’s no escaping the fact that Tokyo boasts not one, but two Disney themeparks: Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea. Leaving it off your itinerary if travelling with kids in Japan is sacrilege to some. Having visited Disneyland in Anaheim, we were keen to provide the kids with a Japanese spin on the amazing theme park. We found it to be just as quirky as we had imagined. 

Tokyo DisneySea is touted to be a park most suited to those eight years and up. There are less rides than its Tokyo Disneyland counterpart and it has a more distinct mature flavour. It is the only one of its kind in the world and can easily be covered in a day. If you’re kids are still obsessed with Disney Princesses, head next door. If you’re after a unique experience, this is the park for you as there is nothing quite like it anywhere else.

To read more, go here.

"10 Best Tokyo Disney Resort Attractions"

Above, Mount Prometheus erupts at Tokyo DisneySea. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One of the last things foreigners even consider visiting in Japan is the Tokyo Disney Resort. To do so is actually something people are really missing out on. We visited Tokyo DisneySea in 2015. 

Although it seemed like half of Tokyo's population were in the park that day (the ride wait times were too long for us to bother), it was still enjoyable.

Gaijinpot.com has an article on the "10 Best Tokyo Disney Resort Attractions".

They begin with:

Though it has a ¥300 billion expansion on the way, Tokyo Disney Resort might not be the first place on the average adult’s list for sightseeing in Japan. However, the resort is a fun pocket of escapism with first-rate Japanese service and elaborate theming. 

It’s not just for kids. At Tokyo DisneySea, the second-built of the resort’s two parks, you can drink alcohol and enjoy shows along with more adventurous rides. This park’s central landmark is an active volcano. In a first for Disney, it actually has a hotel located inside its ticket gates: the luxurious Hotel Miracosta. Vacation packages are available. 

The resort kicks off its year-long 35th anniversary celebration on April 15, the date Tokyo Disneyland first opened in 1983. In honor of that, let’s take a look at 10 attractions with elements unique to the Japanese Disney parks. This is your theme park survival kit — the beginner’s ride guide to Tokyo Disney Resort.

To read more, go here. 

App To Help Relieve Crowding Issues At Tokyo Disney

Above, a crowd enjoying a show at Tokyo DisneySea. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

When we visited Tokyo DisneySea (part of the Tokyo Disney Resort complex) in 2015, it seemed that at least half the population of Tokyo were also attending. Wait times for rides exceeded 30 minutes on average. We enjoyed the park anyway.

To help alleviate this problem, the resort operator is resorting to an app.

According to Nikkei Asian Review:

Tokyo Disney Resort operator Oriental Land will roll out a smartphone app in fiscal 2018 to relieve crowding issues that have frustrated guests at the popular theme park. 

The app will offer a single platform on which customers can buy tickets, book hotel and restaurant reservations, and view park maps with estimated wait times for attractions. It will also be compatible with the smartphone-based e-ticket system introduced Tuesday. 

Another feature, in-park online shopping, should do much to help with the congestion problem. Visitors looking to buy souvenirs and the like tend to crowd stores after the park closes for the day. The app will let guests shop during their time at the park, such as while waiting in line, then pick up their purchases when they leave or have them delivered. 

The app will initially be in Japanese, with Oriental Land to add other language options for international visitors later. It plans to collect and analyze data on users' activities within the park for use in developing new services.

To read more, go here. 

"Jurassic Island" To Open April 28 Near Sasebo

Above, the Saikai Bridge near Sasebo City in Nagasaki Prefecture. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

There's one thing about Japan, they seem to have new amusement park attractions opening annually.

A new one is set to open in April near Sasebo.

According to the Asahi Shimbun:

SASEBO, Nagasaki Prefecture--“Jurassic Park” will move one step closer to reality on an uninhabited island here, where an innovative theme park attraction will bring dinosaurs to life using augmented reality. 

Dutch theme park Huis Ten Bosch (HTB) here will open Jurassic Island from April 28, where Nagashima island and its woods will provide a stage for thrill-seekers to do battle with fierce “dinosaurs” in a realistic outdoor setting. 

The venue in Saikai, which occupies about 39,000 square meters in Omura Bay next to HTB, is about 6 kilometers from the main park. 

Willing “warriors” must first take a 40-minute ferry ride to embark on the adventure.

Fans of Japanese kaiju movies are familiar with Sasebo City. In the 1956 movie, Rodan, two flying giant monsters attack Sasebo and demolish the Saikai Bridge. I am curious if something involving Rodan will be included in the new park as a "hat tip".

To read more, go here.

New Disney Theme Park Coming To Tokyo

Above, performers at Tokyo DisneySea. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For those who love amusement parks, particularly those of the Walt Disney Company, a new theme park will be joining Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea in the next few years.

Business Insider reported:

There are plenty of new attractions worth traveling to Disneyland and Walt Disney World for in the next few years, but if you want to experience a completely new park, get ready for a long flight. 

According to Kotaku, Tokyo Disney Resort will be adding a third theme park to its Urayasu, Japan complex. 

Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea are already among the most successful Disney parks worldwide, and the addition of a third gate — with new characters and large-scale attractions — could bring even more tourism to the overseas location. 

The newly announced park, which is said to take on a Japan theme, could bring rides and experiences that touch upon the history, art, and unique terrain of the country. With an eye towards tourists and overseas visitors, the early concept draws similarities to the original focus of Disney California Adventure, as well as Epcot’s World Showcase, which highlights the culture and culinary flavors of 10 foreign countries at Walt Disney World, in Florida.

To read more, go here. 

Disneyland's Tower of Terror Shutting Down

Above, the Tower of Terror at Tokyo DisneySea. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Until I saw the one last year at Tokyo DisneySea, I didn't know much about the Tower of Terrror ride.

According to Travel + Leisure, the Tower of Terror at Disneyland in Anaheim ride will soon be no more. It will "embark" on its last ride January 2, 2017.

Travel + Leisure wrote:

Back in July, Disney announced that they would be closing the iconic Tower of Terror ride to make room for a new Guardians of the Galaxy experience. The park has promised a "free-fall sensation with all-new audio and visual affects," according to a blog post on its website. 

While we're all excited to see how the replacement ride ranks among the others, but for many this is an event worth mourning. 

Tower of Terror has held its statuesque location at the northwest corner of Disney's California Adventure park since its first ride on July 22, 1994.

But all is not lost, the article states:

You can still get a taste of the ride at Disney's Hollywood Studios, Walt Disney Studios Park in Paris, and Tokyo DisneySea, which all have a version of the Tower of Terror.

To read more, go here. 

Labor Day Evening At City Walk

Above, Universal City Walk tonight. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For Labor Day, the crowds at Universal City Walk in Studio City weren't too bad tonight.

For something to do, Asya and I went to City Walk to wander around. This was Asya's first time visiting there and she enjoyed it very much.

Above, Asya "rides" a broom at the Harry Potter store. I face off against the real
"Wicked Witch of the West" in a couple of days on Hot Bench. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

We wandered around different stores after we arrived. Of particular interest to her were the Lush, Zen Zone and a Universal Studios souvenir stores that had Harry Potter goods.

Above, before getting into the aqua massage chamber, Asya gets
a back and shoulder massage at Zen Zone. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

At Zen Zone, she had a ten-minute aqua massage. She had done some hiking this weekend (and managed to come almost face-to-face with a rattlesnake that was rattling two feet away from her) and she was still sore. The aqua massage felt great, she said, although it left her dizzy for a few minutes.

Above, Asya in the aqua massage chamber before the cover is lowered. Photo by Armand Vaquer

Following our store browsing, we headed to the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. restaurant. We had an enjoyable meal there (I had jambalaya for the first time in ages). We talked about the upcoming October 2 party at the Odyssey Restaurant.

Above, while Asya is getting her aqua massage, I get a  shoulder heat treatment.

Asya said that there are Cinnabon stores in Russia when we passed one. She also said there are Lush stores in Russia.

After dinner, we wandered around some more before heading back to L.A.

We had a good time and Asya is looking forward to visiting City Walk again.

Definitive Guide To Japan's Theme Parks

Above, a show at Tokyo DisneySea. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Generally, whenever I've visited Japan, including a visit to an amusement park had not even registered on my radar.

Last year, since I brought [Censored] and her son [Censored] with me to Japan, I included a day at Tokyo DisneySea on the itinerary. [Censored] is a big fan of amusement parks (particularly Disney parks) and wanted to see it.

We went to Tokyo DisneySea on a Saturday and had no luck in being able to get on any rides as it seemed that half the population of Tokyo was there. But, we had fun anyway when we wandered around and saw some shows. It would be much better to go during a workday.

Inside Japan Tours has an article on the best theme parks in Japan that you may want to consider if visiting one is one of your priorities.

They begin with:

Theme parks aren’t everybody’s cup of tea, but there’s no denying that they’re a hit with the kids – and Japan has an excellent haul of weird and wonderful ones. Though many of Japan’s theme parks closed down after the country’s economic bubble burst, the biggest and best weathered the recession to remain in operation today.

You might not want to plan a whole trip around theme parks (like we’ve done here) but including one or two amusement parks in your itinerary is a sure-fire way to delight your kids and an excellent tactic for breaking up the sightseeing. Below is our whistle-stop (and certainly far from exhaustive!) tour of our favourite theme and amusement parks in Japan, so you can decide which is best-suited to your family.

To read more, go here.

Tokyo DisneySea Celebrating 15th Anniversary

Above, a big crowd enjoys a DisneySea show. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Tokyo DisneySea is celebrating the 15th anniversary of its grand opening starting April 15.

The Japan National Tourism Organization posted:

Tokyo Disney Resort® will hold celebrations to mark the 15th year anniversary of the grand opening of Tokyo DisneySea® Park, from 15th April 2016 to 17th March 2017, entitled “Tokyo DisneySea 15th Anniversary: The Year of Wishes”. 

Tokyo DisneySea first opened its doors on 4th September 2001 as the only Disney Park themed to the sea. The theme of the Park’s 15th anniversary is “wishes”, representing people’s hopes and dreams for the future. During the celebration, colourful crystals symbolising individual wishes will decorate the Park. These “Crystals of Wishes” will also be worn by Mickey Mouse and their Disney Friends. For example, Minnie Mouses’s red crystal represents her wish for love. Donald Duck’s blue crystal symbolises friendship and Goofy’s green crystal represents his wish for energy. Mickey Mouse’s clear crystal represents all of these wishes.

We visited Tokyo DisneySea last October (and so did what seemed like half of Tokyo's population) and enjoyed the park. We were unable to go on any rides due to the long lines, but we did enjoy several shows. We went on a Saturday, so it would probably be better to go on a weekday instead when fewer people are there.

To read more, go here.