For those of you impressed with Iromnan Competitions, I have tell you, it is nothing compared to challenging Disney in Japan. LOL
My wife had a business trip to Tokyo (about 600 miles from home) and we decide to all go up and visit Tokyo Disneyland (which is actually in Chiba about two hours from Tokyo by subway/train-and also two hours from the airport.) For those of you not familiar with Japan, travel is a pain in the butt, as well as holiday time. To maximize our Disney time, we were left with two options, a night bus or drive all night (600 miles in NOT a six hour drive in Japan, closer to 10). Decided on the night bus, so here is the “endurance tour”.
Since my wife was going on business she was not around much the first two days (a few hours on the first morning and a few hours the next night), so I was “on my own” with Nick (7) and Ed (3). Anyway, after being sleepless for weeks because of the world cup (games were on at 12:00-2:00am and 4:00-6:00 am and the overtimes and shoot outs made it longer) and we took a night bus on Wed 10pm and arrived at the Disney Complex at 8:00am on Thurs (not much sleep for me on the bus).
We sent our bags to the hotel and went straight to DisneySea, (only in Japan, geared more to Adults with an “ocean theme”). You can even buy beer. Straight thru until about 3pm, back to the hotel, power nap for the kids, I unpacked got organized, then back to DisneySea until close (10:00pm). Back to the hotel, baths, and I got to sleep around midnight.
DisneySea
Friday, up at 7:00am, get organized arrange bag delivery (we couldn’t get reservations at the Disney Hotel the first night and stayed at a partner hotel.) Off to Disneyland (same as Disneyland in CA) at 8:00.
Straight thru till 4, back to the next hotel, check and powernap for the kids, wife arrives, thank go, back to DisneyLand until 10:00 am, hit Planet Hollywood for a bite,
back to the hotel at 11:30.
Saturday up at 6:00, breakfast with Mickey Mouse and the boys at 7:00.
The Disney Store, arrange the bags, and then off to Disneyland again till 6:00pm, hope on the night bus at 7:00pm arrive home 5 am on Sunday! Of course Eddie was over tired and wired and could not sleep well on the bus- so neither could I….
BUT it was fun, the kids really enjoyed themselves, Ed really loved breakfast with the Disney characters, Nick loved Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, Splash Mountain and Journey to the Center of the Earth. Great time, but I am DEAD!
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Peter
After all, diamonds are a girl's best friend…
I am proud to say I was nearly kicked out of Tokyo Disneyland once. That story will be told for generations
Jeezuz Peter, you even vacation like a Japanese! haha
Chiba is the last place I would go on vacation, but of course I lived there. Dirsty nasty Chiba... blechhh... my wife & I still joke about moving back there.
Night buses... *shudders*...
But I bet your kids loved Disney and you are quite the good dad.
Thanks for posting the pics
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Working "hard," or the perception of working hard, doesn't really mean anything. Sweating, vomiting, and breathing hard could be a good workout or a tropical disease kicking in.-Dan John
I am proud to say I was nearly kicked out of Tokyo Disneyland once. That story will be told for generations
Jeezuz Peter, you even vacation like a Japanese! haha
Chiba is the last place I would go on vacation, but of course I lived there. Dirsty nasty Chiba... blechhh... my wife & I still joke about moving back there.
Night buses... *shudders*...
Hey Chris,
Gotta laugh! It is pretty hard to get kicked out of Disney (unless you are drunk, tsk tsk..) Fess up!
Yeah, gotta go to the asswhole of the earth to have a vacation. Hmm Chiba, right up there with a tire fire!
As for the Japanese vacations, I guess you got me there (I considered hoping a flight LA and going to Disney there - almost the same price LOL) Especially the Disney Hotel is "pretty Japanese Tourist stuff". But Eddie LOVED breakfast with Mickey and the boys which made the unjustifiable price justifiable LOL!
Night Buses - I knew I should have driven- but I do not know if I could have stayed awake for the next day had I done the drive- but I would have preferred it I think. All in all the bus was not as bad as I had anticiapted because it was " superseat bus" (reclines like a business class seat but not as wide) AC was strong- Yeah who am I kidding- I do not want to do that again!!!!!
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Peter
After all, diamonds are a girl's best friend…
looks fun, reminds of a couple years ago when me and my sister went, i was at the parks by myself all 3 days, and never once ate breakfast or lunch. i just met them for dinner and ate, went back to sleep and repeated.
Those kinds of vacations will always be good memories, as much for the endurance aspect as for the fun and the enjoyment of seeing the kids have a good time. Thanks for sharing the great pics!
Needing a little vacation from your vacation Pete? I'm off this Friday to 5 days of driving, camping, waterskiing and hanging with my parents, sister (and her 2 kids), brother & his new wife (and their 4 kids) and of course my family (Lisa and the 3 kids). I may have a similar experience.
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Today's mighty oak was once just some nut who held his ground!
God have mercy on your soul Joe. By chance you won't have access to OLN there will you? (just gotta rub it in)
Peter, I bet your kids loved it. It says alot that you were willing to brave the bus rides and lines at Disney just for them.
You probably made the right call in not driving though. That is a whole nother form of torture I've been caught in more monsterous traffic jams around Tokyo then I care to remember.
And if you want to hit Disney in Anaheim just let me know & I'll meet you at LAX and give you map and a "good luck." No way I'm venturing behind the Orange veil:p
And no I wasn't drunk, just a 20 yr old punk at the time getting stupid with some friends. It was fun though!
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Working "hard," or the perception of working hard, doesn't really mean anything. Sweating, vomiting, and breathing hard could be a good workout or a tropical disease kicking in.-Dan John
Thanks for the nice comments
Jokerz.. in Tokyo?
ODB, good luck and yes I do need a vacation fro the holiday, but it is always like that. But like the true corporate samurai that I am, I will sleep at my desk, LOL
Chris- driving- naw I love it- I drive a Yakmobile with the tinted windows, so out of my way. I went through Tokyo on my way to Hokkaido (ferry to Tokyo) on a motorcycle in "bon yasumi" . There was a traffic jam all the way to Sendai (200+ km) But in Japan you can drive between lanes so it wasn't so bad- wave at the cars as you drive by. Pretty funny I thought until I got to the gas station!!!! LOL
Not drunk?? And you call yourself an Expat- I think I spent the firts 3 years or so drunk LOL
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Peter
After all, diamonds are a girl's best friend…
We are about to put our two kids (3 years, and 13 months) in the minivan and drive 16 hours to Missouri to meet RedLefty's family (parents, brother plus wife and kid, aunt plus husband and 3 kids, and grandparents) for a vacation that they have had for close to 30 years in a row. We'll all be in the same house Sunday thru Friday!
It will be lots of fun, but absolutely insane!!! The four of us get 1 room and it's attached to the main family/gathering room. Woohoo!!
oh no, i thought i put california there my bad ;p. Still from what i've read its pretty much the same thing
Actually Tokyo Disneyland is EXACTLY the same, and Tokyo DisneySea is completely NEW. It is a full on seperate Disney Park, only in Japan. You can even drink Beer there!!!
Ironman??? Piece of cake
I've been caught in more monsterous traffic jams around Tokyo then I care to remember.
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