Tokyo Disneyland, the first Disney park outside the US, has been a commercial success since its opening in 1983. The park is owned and operated by the Oriental Land Company and features similar attractions to American parks, as well as unique rides like Pooh’s Hunny Hunt. The park’s expansion led to the creation of Tokyo DisneySea, which is considered one of the best second-door Disney parks in the world. The park has been criticized for importing Western actors to play major Disney characters.
Tokyo Disneyland is one of the most popular theme parks in the world and was the first Disney park to be built outside the United States. Since its opening in 1983, Tokyo Disneyland has been a commercial success and a fan favorite. With the addition of a second park, Tokyo DisneySea, in 2001, the park has become more and more popular with each passing year.
The history of Tokyo Disneyland is closely linked to the development of Disney World’s second park, Epcot. The World Culture theme park has been a problem for the Disney company from the start due to conflicting design concepts, and the company has invested an incredible amount of money into the park. Japanese businesses, hoping to capitalize on Japanese citizens’ adoration of Disney, initially lobbied the company to build a new park in Tokyo. For budgetary reasons, Disney would not commit to a Japanese park.
The Oriental Land Company offered Disney a licensing agreement, which would have brought substantial profits to the American company, preventing them from allocating additional money for the Tokyo park. The deal meant that the new park would be designed by Disney Imagineers and have Disney characters, but be operated by the Oriental Land Company. Disney agreed to the deal, which made Tokyo Disneyland the first Disney park owned and operated by a separate company.
Most of Tokyo Disneyland’s attractions and rides are similar to those in American parks. Guests enter the park through the somewhat confusingly named World Bazaar, a glass-and-steel-roofed enclosure that contains elements nearly identical to Disneyland’s Main Street, USA. The central castle is modeled after Disney’s Cinderella Castle, similar to the one found at Disney World. The remaining space is dedicated to six thematic areas: Tomorrowland, Critter Country, Adventureland, Westernland, Toon Town and Fantasyland.
Tokyo Disneyland is much larger than the California or Florida version, at 115 acres. The park is known for its wide paths and gathering spaces, built in anticipation of huge crowds. It is said to have a hidden members club in the World Bazaar area, similar to the original Disneyland’s Club 33. Because it doesn’t feature an American waterfront area like New Orleans’ Square, the Haunted Mansion ride has been transplanted to Fantasyland, while Pirates of the Caribbean resides in Adventureland.
One of the most innovative rides in the entire Disney franchise exists only at Tokyo Park. Pooh’s Hunny Hunt, inspired by the popular Winnie the Pooh series, puts riders in giant vehicles that run without a track system. Racing works through a master computer, which develops randomized racing courses for each vehicle. This new technology ensures that your ride will never be the same twice.
Some criticism has been leveled at the park for its practice of importing Western actors to play major Disney characters. While some find this to be understandable, as Western actors more closely resemble cartoon characters, critics find it alienating to Japanese children. In the 21st century, this practice has changed somewhat, but despite continued criticism, “major” actors are still used.
In the 1990s, Oriental Land Company began construction of a second park for the Tokyo Resort. The resulting park, Tokyo DisneySea, has been acclaimed for its beauty and innovation and is considered by many to be the best second-door Disney park in the world. Between the two parks, shopping complexes and hotels, the Tokyo resort remains the most popular Disney attraction outside the United States. Tokyo Disneyland, the first Disneyland outside the control of the Disney company, had a major impact on the world of theme park entertainment.
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