Does Disney deliberately downplay Tokyo Disney in the United States?

[Spokker]

Hence the attraction of TDS, it's a Disney park, but they've moved from the general cloning you see everywhere else.

TDS is not a Disney park, hence the reason Tower of Terror was plussed so heavily. The exterior of the DCA and Paris versions look bare and unfinished while the one at TDS is ornately detailed.

TDS also decided to build a Winnie the Pooh attraction but improved on it heavily. There is no track and there are many effects upgraded over their US counterparts.

The new Monsters Inc attraction isn't a clone of the one in DCA, but an entirely new ride where you use flashlights to find hiding monsters. Not really sure whether you get points for doing it or not like on Buzz.

Indiana Jones is the closest thing to a clone at TDS, but they've improved on it in subtle but effective ways that build on an already perfect attraction

In recent years Buzz was cloned at TDL, but that's about it. It looks like the resort as a whole is moving away from cloning to build bigger and better experiences over their American counterparts. Tokyo Disney was, after all, built as an International clone but now they have an identity all their own, and reasons worth seeing even if you've already seen all the other parks.

[1FoolishMortal]

^ No, TDS is a Disney park, hence why it's called Tokyo DisneySea, part of the Tokyo Disney Resort. Just because it's owned and operated by the OLC doesn't mean it isn't a Disney park. Disneyland Paris is owned by a completely separate company, so does that mean it isn't a Disney Park? Oh, and HKDL is half-owned by the HK government, so is half of it not Disney?


Regardless of who owns it, it's still Disney when all is said and done. After all, everything at TDS (and TDR for that matter) was designed by Disney. I don't see how that removes the Disney name from that park.

[Spokker]

Regardless of who owns it, it's still Disney when all is said and done. After all, everything at TDS (and TDR for that matter) was designed by Disney. I don't see how that removes the Disney name from that park.

The OLC bought the Disney name and plussed it. It took a foreign company to deliver that Disney level of quality again.

If Tokyo Disney is Disney, it's not the Disney I know.

[MoonRakerSCM]

The OLC bought the Disney name and plussed it. It took a foreign company to deliver that Disney level of quality again.

If Tokyo Disney is Disney, it's not the Disney I know.

Well, perhaps you should stop visiting the american parks (which you obviously have some major beef with and from what I've seen say nothing postive about) and only visit Tokyo?

[Disneytom]

Why?

Well, just for the parks: Tokyo DisneySea is amazing, but Tokyo Disneyland is actually quite ugly and "fake" looking, it's too sterile...
Disneyland is also amazing and DCA is very, very nice, I love that park!!!
DLR has Downtown Disney, which is the best "downtown" district from all 5 resorts!

Overall, I think the combination of two great parks, an amazing downtown district and very nice hotels is what makes DLR the best Disney experience in the world for me!

Of course TDR is very very nice, but the "weak" Tokyo Disneyland park makes the whole resort a littlebit less magical!

[Spokker]

Well, perhaps you should stop visiting the american parks (which you obviously have some major beef with and from what I've seen say nothing postive about) and only visit Tokyo?

I'm on my way to that goal actually. I've not purchased an annual pass to Disneyland this year and I am always saving up for a future trip to TDR.

Well, just for the parks: Tokyo DisneySea is amazing, but Tokyo Disneyland is actually quite ugly and "fake" looking, it's too sterile...

I wouldn't say that Tokyo Disneyland is ugly, but that it's too sterile is a valid criticism I think. When I think about TDL it's like a Magic Kingdom that is stuck in the 80s. The only real unique "wow" attraction is Pooh's Hunny Hunt. Everything else is pretty much a time capsule.

But if someone loved the Magic Kingdom in the 80s then Tokyo Disneyland is the place for them. It's impeccably maintained and operated and is still a great Disneyland experience. I've never been to the Magic Kingdom and I thought it was a real treat to see Cinderella Castle and some of that Magic Kingdom style that is so inherent in TDL's design. I mean, the ground is still painted flat colors for each land. That's old school.

What I can't go along with is Downtown Disney. It's a tacky mall, and I think the space should have been used for the second gate to be honest. I've been to Downtown Disney many times, but only to catch the monorail into the park. The Grove in Los Angeles is more "Disney" than Downtown Disney. If they had built it in that style I wouldn't have a problem with it and might spend some time there.

[ismael flores]

The OLC bought the Disney name and plussed it. It took a foreign company to deliver that Disney level of quality again.

If Tokyo Disney is Disney, it's not the Disney I know.

sorry but OLC did not buy the Disney name.

there is a diference between buying a corproate name and paying royalties.

Also OLC did not take Disney's name and plus anything. Disney is still the designer and builder of those parks. OLC just pays the bill that is needed when WDI proposes an attraction.

Oh and i would not say that they are completely staying clear of complete cloning or at least minor cloning.

They are proposing a Soarin for TDS as the next attraction.
Walt Disney Imagineering was also the one that came up with the changes for TOT. They knew the Japanese were not so familiar with Twilight zone. They then aproached OLC with the new storyline. The theming was then done to match the surrounding land.

If the gothic look would had worked in Paris or DCA then they might had gone in that direction but it doesn't. Both Paris and DCA have their towers in a Hollywood environment.

[ismael flores]

What I can't go along with is Downtown Disney. It's a tacky mall, and I think the space should have been used for the second gate to be honest. I've been to Downtown Disney many times, but only to catch the monorail into the park. The Grove in Los Angeles is more "Disney" than Downtown Disney. If they had built it in that style I wouldn't have a problem with it and might spend some time there.

WOW, i completely disagree. The grove is nothing special but just a replica of malls everywhere. DTD has a unique european look and feel and i agree with TOM its the best design Downtown Disney in all the resorts that have one

[Goin2Disneyland]

Gonna have to go with Spokker on this one...I'd much rather visit the Grove than Downtown Disney. The Grove is flat out beautiful...fountains, trolley, foliage. It's just nice. Downtown Disney is very, um, fake leafy?

[Mickeyman187]

But out of the 3 RESORTS I have been to, I would have to say DTD still is the best one out of them [TDR, DLPR, and DLR]. It feels more natural and blends in better with it's environment.