AIR JAMAICA FLIGHT STATUS

American Waterfront
Tokyo DisneySea

I hope the fact that there's a damn steamship in this park speaks for itself. A steamship! A steamship with a wonderful restaurant. A steamship with my favorite bar on Disney property in the entire world. You need to see this for yourself.

So let's talk about doing that. Yes, you, visiting the Tokyo Disneyland Resort. One reason, if not the biggest reason, Disney Parks fans don't consider a trip to the Tokyo Disney Resort is cost. Everybody knows a trip to Tokyo is astronomically more expensive than a trip to Orlando. But Is this actually true? Well, yes and no. I compared a 6 night stay at Tokyo to a 6 night stay at WDW for some random dates in September. I assumed flying out of LAX (which is where I happen to live)

Florida (6 nights): $2700
• Booked as package via Disney website
• Wilderness Lodge
• 7 day base park ticket
• Delta flight

Tokyo (6 nights): $2827
• Flight: $935 (United)
• Hotel: $1562 (Sheraton Grande, Disney resort official hotel)
• Park tickets (6 days): 330

Comparing these two trips, Tokyo is only $127 more than the trip to Walt Disney World. Not much more expensive at all! How is that possible? The trick is that Tokyo isn't necessarily more expensive than a trip to Florida for most Americans, it's just that a trip to Tokyo can't be done as cheaply as a trip to Florida. There's a big difference there.

If your conception of WDW is discount airfare, quick service meals, and value resorts, then Tokyo will have a bit of sticker shock. However, If your conception of WDW is deluxe resorts and some table service meals, a trip to Tokyo Disneyland Resort is only going to sting slightly more than usual.

There's obviously many details hidden in this simplistic comparison (free dining plan offers, airport transportation expense, variation depending on what airport you're leaving from, etc.) but the general idea is that Tokyo Disney is not necessarily more expensive than a trip to Walt Disney World. In fact, it can be pretty comparable to a mid-range deluxe WDW visit. If thinking about it that way helps reduce the mental barrier, then I've done my job.

Note: I have no clue how this works out financially for DVC members. I'm sure Tokyo is a less efficient use of points, but how badly I couldn't say.

Walt Disney World's Castle looks more like the one out West in this one!

Okay, a bit of a cheap shot. Just as I don't buy into the Canon v. Nikon debate, I'm not one of the diehard defenders of WDW over DLR. We're taking our first-ever trip to DLR in August, and we're quite excited to experience everything out there. I'm a little worried that we might like it more (I don't expect this, but I'm worried nonetheless), as airfare and accommodations are significantly more expensive (at least in my limited experience) for us to get out there!

My apologies about the lack of comments lately. We've been extremely busy, and the moments I have been able to "steal" for Disney-related things have gone towards photo-editing and posting. I will be back in "full force" in early August. I really appreciate the views, comments, and faves that you all have made to my photos despite me having neglected yours for...well, a while now.