5/27: The Guests here need Sherpas!

Well just as expected, this is the MOST magical place on Earth! Full day, open to close with a break for less than an hour to walk back to the hotel for a shoe change and sweatshirt addition. I am fairly certain I am going to sleep for several days upon my return home, but it will be all worth it!

My morning started out with me trying to figure out the hot pot, water dispenser in the room for some coffee! Plugged it in, nothing, then I tried to pour water into the top of it (there is water in it already and it doesn't go in thru where I was trying to pour it), finally the genius thought to check the plug and see if it was attached...bingo! Hot coffee coming my way finally...had a blonde moment/I'm so pretty sometimes.

We walked out of the hotel to partake in our 15 minutes early entry privilege...you don't realize how precious this opportunity is until you walk up and see thousands of people waiting to be let into the park...at 8am. I can only imagine when they got there!! Then it was off to the races...lucky for us Star Tours just opened this month so that's where everyone went to. Walking into the park was so fun though, there were Cast Members all over the entrance area and down the main street just there to smile, wave and say hello...seriously magical people!!

But truly...these Guests took off running and sprinting towards Tomorrowland, we hit up the first Fastpass machine we could get...and then we were off for the game of Fastpasses for the day. When you use the opportunity you will never wait in a line more than 30 minutes! The majority of Guests spend their time in lonnggg lines. Splash Mountain got to a 190 minute wait this afternoon, this seems common with the large attractions, waits well over one hour and most over two hours....that's dedication and a lack of understanding the greatness of Fastpass! My favorite was walking up to Haunted Mansion to find a 70 minute wait but Fastpasses available for use within 40 minutes...the math just doesn't add up to me but ah well! Serves me better!

Wanna experience something super crazy right away in the morning? How about Buzz Lightyear speaking in Japanese!

This is definitely a culture of fantasy as I have said before and this culture also has some interesting habits that I'm picking up on being immersed in Disney as the minority. Here are some fun ones:
1. Popcorn buckets: this country LOVES popcorn, and different flavors at that. Most everyone has a popcorn container that is reusable/refillable for a good rate. I have never seen such a variety of one item...my mom is now the proud owner of a 30th anniversary balloon popcorn bucket. We had honey and caramel popcorn today...other kinds that exist in Disneyland include salted and curry. More to try tomorrow!
2. On the topic of balloons.......there are NO real balloons. Not a single one! Just the decor of Mickey balloons on the castle and in select locations throughout the park.

3. Stuffed animals, particularly Duffy the Bear. This bear gets carried around EVERYWHERE, so does his girlfriend ShellieMay. Adults are carrying this bear around all dressed up...in addition to their bag, fun Disney hat and other bags, the bears also get to sit and have tea and have their pictures taken. I saw three plush sharing a plastic sheet that Guests use for sitting on the ground.

4. Plastic sheets: when sitting on the ground for parades people use plastic sheets to save seats and sit on (since the ground is oh, so dirty...not really....I've seen people scrub them before)! When people get a spot for the parade they don't move...it's a sitting area to watch the parade. All strollers have to be folded down. One of the best places to be today!

5. No flash photography actually means no photography....I learned this one in the Country Bear Jamboree after I got asked to stop taking pictures. Classic American country songs, mostly in Japanese...like Achey Breakey Heart, On the Road Again and Workin' on the Railroad...but then throw in some songs in English!

6. Masks: for as many people as we saw with face masks throughout Tokyo (hundreds), I saw 3 today. I am having a hard time understanding where the logic is and what makes people decide to not wear theirs to come to Disneyland.

I love when Cast Members try out their English (which they do frequently!) and ask where we are from. I always say Florida and then they reference WDW in FL and I tell them I work there...people get SOOO excited about that here. Pretty fun to have convos with the Cast, they are all soo sweet!

This park feels like Disneyland in CA and WDW in FL got together and had modules pulled from them to create a new park with some original attractions as well. And between English and Japanese, it seems to fluctuate between the two. It's a strange feeling when on your first day you think, oh I know where the nearest bathroom would be and getting there with no map and then you confirm your prediction! The animatronics here are amazing...need to tell my brother to youtube some and see them!

Sadly the fireworks were cancelled tonight but we did get to see two parades (both amazing) and do nearly every singe ride in the park. Also, if you think there are lots of merchandise and food locations at WDW...come over here...every attraction has a store and lots of cool original merchandise! I am having to hold back on buying stuff just yet. Off to DisneySea in the morning!