Disney has just released concept art for the new entrance for Tokyo Disneyland, set to be ready for guests by 2020.
This seems to be a major style change from the current entrance, matching the architecture of the park after the gate. The changes will also add additional turnstiles. Work is set to begin on the new entrance in Spring 2018.
What do you think of the changes? Let us know in the comments!
Kyodo News is reporting that the Oriental Land Company, the operator of Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea, is planning to spend roughly 300 billion yen ($2.7 billion) to expand the two existing theme parks, sources with knowledge of the matter said Wednesday. The company plans to start constructing the new areas that will expand the existing parks by 30% by 2025, one of the sources said.
This expansion would come after the ongoing projects already announced, such as the Fantasyland expansion, Soarin’, and more.
To free up space, a parking lot adjacent to the parks within the sprawling Tokyo Disney Resort complex in Urayasu just outside of the capital will be turned into a multistory garage. The company is also looking to acquire additional land for these projects.
Oriental Land has entered negotiations on the new areas with Walt Disney Company, which licenses the rights to properties from Mickey Mouse to Star Wars, with the details to be ironed out by next May.
The investment, the company’s largest since pouring 340 billion yen into the 2001 opening of DisneySea, is aimed at attracting older people and visitors from abroad to boost ticket sales that have stagnated amid Japan’s falling birthrate and competition from rivals such as Osaka’s Universal Studios Japan (who has been quite successful with their clone of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and has Super Nintendo World on the way) and other Disney parks in Shanghai and Hong Kong. The expansion will also serve to ease overcrowding at the two existing parks.
The new areas may carry a Japanese theme to appeal to foreign tourists, a source said. So… Disney Japan Adventure?
Earlier this year, we told you about a new scene coming to Star Tours – The Adventures Continue at Disneyland park and Disney’s Hollywood Studios that will place guests in the middle of an epic battle. The action takes place on the planet of Crait, which we got our first glimpse of in the teaser trailer of Star Wars: The Last Jedi earlier this year.
Today Disney announced that this exciting new sequence, inspired by the latest film in the Star Wars saga, will debut at Disneyland park and Disney’s Hollywood Studios on November 17th, at Disneyland Paris November 22nd, and, as previously announced, at Tokyo Disneyland December 15th.
No further details have been announced, but it is likely that this scene will be locked into every Star Tours ride profile for a while following its debut, just as was done for the Jakku sequence when The Force Awakens premiered.
The Tokyo Disney Resort is welcoming two band new events, “Pixar Playtime” and “Feel the Force!” with both Disney Sea and Tokyo Disneyland hosting the events. Here is what to look forward to in these upcoming months:
Feel The Force
December 15th, 2017 to March 19th, 2018
In honor of the worldwide release of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, this event at Tokyo Disneyland “Feel the Force” will bring on a brand new update to Star Tours: The Adventures Continue. This update will shine a spotlight on a new planet from “The Last Jedi”.
Not only will a new ride update be revealed, but a ton of new merchandise will be available for purchase as well! Those popcorn bucket collectors out there will be happy to hear that the Darth Vader popcorn bucket will be making its debut at this event as well.
Pixar Playtime
January 11th, 2018 to March 19th, 2018
This new Pixar themed event, coming to Tokyo Disney Sea in January of 2018, will feature many character meet and greets as well as some fun games! Concept art for some of these booths have been released, and include imagery from some iconic scenes within the Pixar universe.
Some of these being Carl’s house from “Up”, the kitchen from “Ratatouille” and a pit stop from “Cars”. The event will have an overarching board game theme, as guests travel across the game.
The characters that are available for meet and greets include the following:
Toy Story
Monsters Inc.
Ratatouille
Up
Cars
Tokyo Disneyland Park is turning 35 next year, and Disney is celebrating with the Tokyo Disney Resort 35th ‘Happiest Celebration!’, which will span from April 15, 2018 through March 25, 2019.
Disneyland Park will kick things off with the premier of “Dreaming Up!,” a brand new daytime parade that will feature floats decorated to Fantasia, Peter Pan, Beauty and the Beast, Big Hero 6, and more (“Happiness is Here,” the current daytime parade, will end on April 9, 2018).
After an extensive refurbishment, “it’s a small world” will be re-opening and feature over 40 new dolls, all from classic Disney movies. Not only that, but the music will be changed up as well. In addition to the iconic song “it’s a small world” the theme will be remixed to include music to accompany the various films that the new dolls represent. New dolls include characters from Frozen, Mulan, Cinderella, Tangled, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, Aladdin, and The Lion King.
Later in the summer, “Celebrate! Tokyo Disneyland” will premiere as the park’s new nighttime spectacular at Cinderella Castle. The show will utilize newer effects like fountains of water and lights filling the sky. Mickey Mouse will personally come on stage to kick the show off, casting a magic spell on Cinderella Castle to create a world of imagination.
Both Disneyland Park and Tokyo Disney Sea will offer unique decorations and activities to celebrate Easter, Halloween, and Christmas during this year-long celebration. And of course unique merchandise and food items will be sold exclusively for the anniversary. Additionally, Disney will be opening a special anniversary store in Disneyland for a limited time.
Additional events, shows, and seasonal celebrations will take place over the year for the Tokyo Disney Resort 35th ‘Happiest Celebration!’.
The Tokyo Disneyland Grand Circuit Raceway attraction closed forever back in January as the park embarks on its largest expansion ever, but now the vehicles from that extinct Tomorrowland attraction have crossed the ocean and made their way to the Magic Kingdom.
The cars are currently visible from the TTA Peoplemover attraction, located behind Space Mountain.
It is unclear if Disney will reuse the full cars or is simply breaking them down for spare parts for the Tomorrowland Speedway.
The cars are the very same model as those used at Orlando’s Speedway attraction.
The annual Halloween event is coming back to Tokyo Disneyland from September 8th – October 31st with Mickey and friends starring in a Halloween music festival.
Parade and Decorations
With two daily 45 minute performances, the “Halloween Pop’n LIVE” parade will be making a return this year with all new music and costumes.
To go along with the Halloween parade, the World Bazaar along with Westernland, Fantasyland, and Toontown will be decorated with huge cobwebs, Jack-o-lanterns, and ghosts. When nightfall hits, you can expect the Cinderella Castle will be lit up to match it’s spooky Halloween surroundings.
Costumes
The rules regarding costumes during the Halloween season at Tokyo Disneyland have changed slightly. This year will mark the 20th year that the event has been held, but the first year that both parks at the Tokyo Disney Resort will be allowing guests of all ages enjoy wearing costumes.
Any day during the time the event is running, all guests are encouraged to get into the Halloween spirit and dress up, as long as their costumes do no cover their face, follows safety and theme policy and be representing a Disney Character, or guests may not be admitted into the parks.
Other Programs
Starting on September 2nd, 2017 and continuing until January 3rd, 2018, the Haunted Mansion will be receiving the Nightmare Before Christmas overlay, to be transformed into the Haunted Mansion “Holiday Nightmare”. At the Westernland Shooting Gallery, guests will get the chance to win a limited time Halloween themed Goofy sheriff badge as well.
Easter festivities are once again coming to Tokyo Disney Resort for “Disney’s Easter” at Disney TokyoSea, March 27 – June 6, 2018. The event will feature shows, merchandise, special restaurant menus, an egg hunt and decorations throughout the park.
“Fashionable Easter” show
The Fashionable Easter show returns to Mediterranean Harbor. During the show, Mickey and Minnie sail into the harbor, followed by artists from the four ports – American Waterfront, Lost River Delta, Mermaid Lagoon and Mysterious Island – dressed in Easter fashions representing their ports. Mickey and his Disney friends change into new costumes based on the fashion tips they receive. The 25-minute show will feature about 115 performers, 5 boats, kites, pyrotechnics and Easter-themed music.
Atmosphere entertainment includes the Tokyo DisneySea Maritime Band wearing bunny-eared Easter “Bunny” Bonnets and colorful costumes as they perform at Waterfront Park, as well as performances of the “Fun Custodial” Cast Member at American Waterfront.
Bunny Ears headband and hair clip.
Special merchandise for the event will be available beginning March 20, including “Fashionable Easter” items featuring designs of the Disney Friends as fashion models. Bunny Ears Headbands are returning this year in four colors, which guests can mix and match with the Easter “Bunny” Bonnets and eight different types of hair clips. Stationery, tableware and other items will feature Easter designs as well.
Carbonara pasta dish at Cafe Portofino.
Shrimp and taramo salad at New York Deli.
Easter menus will also begin on March 20, including a carbonara pasta dish at Cafe Portofino and shrimp and taramo salad on a pink bun at New York Deli. Special cocktails will be available at Barnacle Bill’s, and guests can find a special drink in a Miss Bunny and Thumper cup at Sebastian’s Calypso Kitchen and Tropic Al’s. Restaurants at the Hotel Miracosta will also feature special Easter-inspired menus.
Easter egg hunt.
Bunny Ears hair clip exclusive to the egg hunt.
The annual egg hunt will move to Tokyo DisneySea for the first time in 2018. For 900 yen ($7.95 US), guests will receive a special map with hints leading them to Easter eggs hidden around the park. The eggs are designed with Disney Characters and feature motifs of each themed port. Those who successfully find the eggs will receive an exclusive Bunny Ears hair clip.
Decorations at Mediterranean Harbor.
Mediterranean Harbor and American Waterfront will feature spring decorations that have Easter egg, Easter “Bunny” Bonnet, and colorful flower motifs, as well as with posters depicting images themed to fashion. There will be a new photo location at Waterfront Park inspired by a fashion show runway, where Guests can request Easter “Bunny” Bonnet photo props from a photographer. Guests will also find decorated eggs with motifs representing each themed port, as well as baskets and old-fashioned vehicles filled with colorful flowers and eggs.
Disney Resort Line guests visiting the park will be able to purchase day pass tickets with limited-edition Disney’s Easter designs as well.
“The Rock” Dwayne Johnson was already announced to be a part of Disney’s upcoming film based on The Jungle Cruise, but it seems he will also have a role in changing the attraction at Disney Parks…
It is assumed any changes would be tied into the film, but it is interesting that these changes will be made at some point ahead of the film’s release and at every Disney Resort that has the attraction apparently.
We’ll keep you in the loop as more information on this story becomes available.
As of today, the Tokyo Disneyland Resort has broken ground for a multi-year expansion that will all be finished by 2020. This is the largest investment to date that the Tokyo Disneyland Resort has made since the opening of Tokyo Disney Sea in 2001.
Offerings to expect in this new development is a ‘Beauty and the Beast’ Inspired land that will place you into the village of Belle, will feature a brand new attraction, restaurant, a new merchandise location, and you will even be able to meet your favorite characters from the film, conquer Beast’s Castle, and also be able to see live performances in an outdoor theater.
There’s also a video walkthrough of the 3D model for the entire land:
Not only will there be a land for Beauty and the Beast, but also for a first in any Disney Park, there will be a brand new ‘Big Hero 6’ attraction that will be made in Tomorrowland. Similar to Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree, guests will swing and swirl around the beloved Personal Healthcare Companion.
Lastly coming to Toontown will be a ‘walkthrough design studio’ where you will be able to meet the 2nd most famous mouse of all; Minnie Mouse.
Stay posted on WDWNT for any more news and updates regarding this major project as well as the Tokyo Disneyland Resort as a whole.
