We decided to visit Tokyo Disney Land on 14th of August. We got up early around 5.30 in the morning and got ready. Thankfully, Bharathi's wife Padma too got up very early, did some hard work and prepared us a nice lunch pack. Disney Land opens as early as 8:00 AM and closes around 10:00 PM. We did not buy the Disney Land entrance tickets in advance and so decided to start early from home so that we can avoid standing in a long queue since we anticipated a hunge crowd due to the holiday season.
Though we got ready very early, it was bit late as usual and by the time we left home it was around 7:00 AM. Bharathi informed that commutation time will be little more than an hour. He dropped us by car at Aobadai station.
We boarded the Tokyu Den-en toshi Line. We planned to travel by this line until Nagatacho, head towards Shinkiba by Yurakucho subway line and then board JR Keiyo Line to Maihama and the estimated time was around 1 hour and 9 mins. With the Japanese Railway networks punctual timings, we thought we will be on time at the Tokyo Disney Land.
But things went the other way. When we were near Mizonokuchi station, there was an announcement in the train about Power cut in some parts of Tokyo and Chiba. Most of the trains in Tokyo are not much convenient as in Osaka. One thing is the big crowd and the other thing is there is no in car display (車内表示) on the side walls about the next station. With unclear announcement and unfamiliar station names, it was real hard time to figure out what's going on. Then came another annoucement by the conductor the Train's air conditioner stopped working. But fortunately, it started working after 10 mins but the train speed reduced. It is an express train and it skipped stopping in many stations. But there was no light in the stations. Then the conductor announced that the train will stop at Ikejiri-O^hashi station rather than the planned Nagatacho. When the train reached Ikejiri-O^hashi we were in a bit confusion to get out of the train and look for some other commutation. But there seems to be no connecting train lines in that station and we decided to stay inside the train. After few minuts the conductor announced that the train will run till Shibuya but won't proceed further. We got down at Shibuya but the station was complete dark and it already started suffocating. Escalators and elevators were not working and we managed to get out of the station as quickly as we can. Once we reached Shibuya, there were sirens and Fire station vehicles started entering Shibuya station. This is the first power cut, I ever witnessed in Japan over the past 5 years of stay. It really showed the vulnerabilities and how Tokyo is not prepared for a major power cut.
A little panic in Shibuya with Firestation vehicles beside
Luckily the JR lines were running. We purchased tickets for JR line and boarded the JR Yamanote Line. We got off at Tokyo Station. A portion of the station was closed due to power cut and was dark without lights. I changed our Shinkansen return tickets timings for 15th August from 4.30 to 7:40 pm. By the time I got back to the place where my family was waiting, the JR Keiyo Line area was opened to the public stating the services will resume shortly. We reached the platform and waited for about 20 min for the first service to resume after the power blackout. It took about 15 mins to reach Maihama.
The train as it is was not much crowed but once we reached Maihama there was a big crowd moving towards Tokyo Disney Land. There were humans everywhere and we slowly strolled along with the crowd only to witness large queue's of people standing already to buy the tickets.
A view of the parking area from Maihama station
A portion of the crowd before Tokyo Disney Land
Nandhini and Akshaya standing on the small flyover connecting Maihama to Disney Land
I asked my wife and kid to wait near a small tree and stood in the queue for about 45 mins.
Akshaya waiting under a small shelter infront Disney Land Main Gate
Finally we got two tickets paying 5100 JPY for each. Thanks to Bharathi's discount coupon, we got a discount for 800 JPY as a whole. There is no ticket for kids below 4 years and so Akshaya did not need a ticket. Later we came to know that most of these people came late due to power blackout and part of Tokyo Disney Land rides are still not functioning.
Akshaya in front of Disney Land ticket booth
Finally we got into Tokyo Disney Land three hours beyond schedule at around 11:15 am.
Nandhini and Akshaya with Donald Duck Character
Another photo with Shimajiro, the Tiger
We just strolled inside Disney Land thinking of where to start from. To begin with we entered the Adventure Land to watch Pirates of the Caribbean. There was a large queue in that area. The staff informed that the show has not started yet due to power cut and she could not inform when it will start. It was a scorching summer and we decided not to wait there without knowing when it will start. We got a hint from the staff that the other side of Disney Land is functioning. So we moved towards the Tomorrow Land
Tomorrow Land is in the right front corner of Disney Land. We reached the Micro Adventure pavilion. There was not much crowd there and lot of people were buying Fast Pass from a vending machine. Fast Pass allows you to book your timings in advance so that you can wander and enjoy other parts of Disney Land till your alloted time. Seeing the crowd inside Disney Land and the crowd waiting outside we thought it will be very difficult to either watch one or two shows or take one or two rides that day. So without thinking further or inquire about Fast Pass, I got two tickets one for myself and the other for Nandhini. It was around 11:45 that time and the time alloted to was around 1:20 to 2:00 pm.
Micro Adventure Pavilion
My daughter started running here and there and it was very difficult to chase her in that big crowd. So I asked my wife and kid to wait in the Micro adventure pavilion shelter and I started checking other rides and shows nearby. Earlier Bharathi told us that Space Mountain is a ride worth to try. There was a long line to get the Fast Pass since the ride has not started due to the morning power cut. I joined the queue and waited for 15 min to get my turn. I inserted the Disney Land tickets inside the machine to get the fast pass. But the machine spit out a paper saying that I can book my next fast pass only after 1:00 o'clock since I already have one. But by around 12:00 noon, the fast pass time is around 18:30. So I thought all the timings will be closed by the time I can book for another fast pass. I returned to the Micro Adventure pavilion and we decided to move around and join the queue to give a try.
There was a queue with about 100 people for Grand circuit raceway. We joined the queue and after a wait of 20 mins, we got our chance. It was a nice ride and my daughter drove the car while I sat nearby. Nandhini drove another car.
Akshaya driving a car in Grand circuit raceway
Another view with myself and Akshaya in the car
Micro adventure (show time 18 minutes)
Grand circuit raceway
Roger Rabbit's Cartoon Spin
Infront of a small fountain opposite to Cartoon Spin
