{"id":1350,"date":"2009-11-08T22:29:01","date_gmt":"2009-11-08T13:29:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/2009-11-08\/1350"},"modified":"2009-11-08T22:29:01","modified_gmt":"2009-11-08T13:29:01","slug":"visit-to-tokyo-disneyland-the-first-night","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/2009-11-08\/1350","title":{"rendered":"Visit to Tokyo Disneyland: the First Night"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n
\nNOTE<\/b>: Images with an icon next to them have been artificially shrunk to better fit your screen; click the icon to restore them, in place, to their regular size.\n<\/div>\n\n\n

So, yesterday's post about the start of a\nshort<\/span> overnight trip to Tokyo Disneyland<\/a> ended with us arriving at the\ntrain station. The station<\/span> is “right at the entrance”, but as with all\ndistances in a Disneyland,<\/span> things are relative, and it was a fair<\/span> hike...<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Sigma 30mm f\/1.4 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>250 sec, f<\/span>\/3.5, ISO 6400 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nHiking Toward Disneyland<\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n

I should point out up front that I do<\/span> realize that the picture quality\nin today's post is hovering somewhere around “pathetic”. We arrived<\/span> at\nnight and it was quite dark, and I didn't<\/span> have my good lenses with me (due\nto our hotel, which was also pathetic; more on that later). I did try<\/span> using\nmy Sigma 30mm\nf\/1.4<\/a>, but it was generally so dark that I couldn't<\/span> see to focus. This\nwouldn't have been a problem<\/span> before the D700 and its amazing\nlow-light prowess<\/a> because I simply<\/span> wouldn't have bothered with the\ncamera, but now that I have<\/span> hope even in darkness like this<\/a>, I need to<\/span> work on\nmy technique to make the best of it. Put another<\/span> way, the limiting factor\nin these situations used to be the equipment, but now it's me. It's always<\/span> been me, but it sounds more dramatic to pretend it used to be the equipment.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

Anyway, I mostly<\/span> just wanted to document for our family memory what I\nknew<\/span> a modern<\/span> trip to Disneyland means for any family: a wonderfully<\/span> fun\nexperience for the kid, and a hellatious<\/span> experience for the parents.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Sigma 30mm f\/1.4 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>50 sec, f<\/span>\/3.5, ISO 4000 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nEntrance<\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Sigma 30mm f\/1.4 — 0.3 sec, f<\/span>\/3.5, ISO 6400 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nStart of the “Parade of Lights”<\/span>\nor some such nonsense\n<\/div>\n\n

We got there right at the 7:30pm start for the evening parade. Of\ncourse, we should have gotten there hours earlier if we wanted to watch it\nfrom a reasonable<\/span> vantage, but we got lucky, and with the help of a patch<\/span>\nof flowers where people couldn't stand, we found a place<\/span> from where we\ncould see it fairly well...<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Sigma 30mm f\/1.4 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>40 sec, f<\/span>\/3.5, ISO 6400 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nWhoopee<\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Nikkor 18-200mm f\/3.5-5.6 VR @ 50 mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>20 sec, f<\/span>\/4.8, ISO 6400 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nThere Goes Nemo<\/span>\nHey, even I<\/i> know that one!\n<\/div>\n\n

The photo above is pretty amazing, I think,<\/span> for its sharpness at 1\/20th\nof a second<\/span> at 50mm. Yes, the lens has VR stabilization, but I had<\/span> a\nseven<\/span>-year-old child sitting on my shoulders, so I think<\/span> they sort of\ncancel each other out. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n\n

Anthony has seen a bunch of Disney films, but is not “into” it much, so\nhe eventually got bored, so we moved off to try some rides and attractions. The first<\/span> we came across was the Star-Wars adventure “Star Tours”, where\nyou sit in what's supposed to be a big<\/span> shuttle craft, and the room shakes\nand moves and pitches to the view projected up front, giving the strong feeling\nthat you're actually in a moving<\/span> vehicle.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Nikkor 18-200mm f\/3.5-5.6 VR @ 18 mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>5 sec, f<\/span>\/3.5, ISO 6400 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nChecking Out R2-D2<\/span>\non the way to the ride\n<\/div>\n\n

What was most amazing about this was that the long and twisty pathway\nfrom the entrance to the actual attraction — designed to be as long\nas possible to hold as many people in line as possible — was\ncompletely empty. I'm sure that<\/span> it could have easily accommodated 1,000\npeople in line, but since everyone was watching the parade, we just\nstrolled right through. I almost<\/span> felt guilty stopping to check out the\nstuff they put along the way in an attempt to distract you from how long\nyou've been waiting.<\/p>\n\n

Anyway, the ride itself was fun, though Anthony was a bit<\/span> scared at\nfirst, not sure whether it was real.<\/p>\n\n

The next thing we tried was the Autotopia<\/a>,\nwhich is my fondest memory from when my folks took us to Disneyland (in\nCalifornia) when I was<\/span> 10. Sadly, the thing that made it most fun –\nsmashing into the cars ahead and behind – was not possible here, due\nto proximity sensors that cut the engine if you got within 15 feet or so of\nanother car.<\/p>\n\n

Still, as one might expect<\/a>, Anthony enjoyed it immensely....<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Nikkor 18-200mm f\/3.5-5.6 VR @ 18 mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>6 sec, f<\/span>\/3.5, ISO 6400 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nStarting Out<\/span>\non parallel lanes, as kindly arranged by the staff\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Sigma 30mm f\/1.4 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>125 sec, f<\/span>\/2, ISO 5000 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nSerious Business<\/span>\nfor the driver\n<\/div>\n\n

He did that a few times, but with the parade over, the wait was getting\nlonger and longer. Eventually we wandered around and found a little<\/span>\nroller-coaster tucked into a far<\/span> corner of ToonTown that had no wait at\nall.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Sigma 30mm f\/1.4 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>8 sec, f<\/span>\/1.4, ISO 6400 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nFirst Roller-Coaster Ride<\/span>\nwith that great Tck-Tck-Tck-Tck ratchet sound as you're brought to the top of the first hill\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Sigma 30mm f\/1.4 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>25 sec, f<\/span>\/1.4, ISO 6400 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nPhotography for Dummies<\/span>\non a flying roller-coaster\n<\/div>\n\n

Anthony loved<\/i> it.<\/p>\n\n

Like I said, it was really empty in this off-the-main-drag corner of the\npark. We'd had the<\/span> whole coaster to ourselves, and as we pulled into the\n“station”, only two people were waiting. I thought<\/span> we'd just go again, but\nthe moronic robot staff said no.... we had to get out, walk all the way around through the\nentrance and the long twisty passageway designed to keep 500 people\nplacated while in line, then wait for the next coaster to arrive. Ridiculous.<\/p>\n\n

The coaster that arrived when we got there again was empty... they'd\nrather run an empty coaster than to let people actually enjoy it. I guess<\/span> the whole concept of “enjoyment without waiting” is antithesis to the whole\nDisneyland experience (and, indeed, we didn't run into this “problem” again\nduring our two-day visit to the park).<\/p>\n\n

We rode (and ran) several times, and one last time I stayed<\/span> behind to\ntry to get a picture.<\/span> I could<\/span> barely see to focus (there was no way\nauto-focus would work), so I just<\/span> took a guess.<\/span>... and failed. But you can<\/span> still get a sense<\/span> of the joy in Anthony's face, in the front car\nwith Mommy...<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Sigma 30mm f\/1.4 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>100 sec, f<\/span>\/1.4, ISO 6400 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nWeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!<\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Sigma 30mm f\/1.4 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>25 sec, f<\/span>\/1.4, ISO 6400 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nSwoosh<\/span>\nif you look carefully, you can actually see him in this one as well\n<\/div>\n\n

Eventually the park closed, and we took the monorail the five-minute\nride to one of the on-site hotels. The five-minute ride cost the same as an\nhour-plus train ride from Kyoto to Osaka.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Sigma 30mm f\/1.4 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>250 sec, f<\/span>\/2, ISO 1400 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nUp Way<\/i> Past His Bed Time<\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n

We stayed at the Disneyland Hilton, which provides very slow service,\nrooms that aren't too run down, and prices that are 5× what they\nwould be anywhere else.<\/p>\n\n

Fumie had reserved a room that was supposed to be some kind of magical\nexperience for kids, and indeed the elevator lobby had some\ninteresting scenes painted on the walls. The room extras<\/span> left a bit<\/span> to be\ndesired, though, with the highlight being this black box on the wall with a\nbig<\/span> rubber\/wood “key”...<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Sigma 30mm f\/1.4 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>250 sec, f<\/span>\/2, ISO 900 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nAbout To Get Magical<\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n

When inserted and turned, the shamrock lights up and a bell<\/span> chimes.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D700 + Sigma 30mm f\/1.4 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>250 sec, f<\/span>\/2, ISO 2500 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nMagical!<\/span>\n( not )<\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n

Woohoo. The big orange<\/span> shirt-jammies thing was also provided, and he\nliked that, too.<\/p>\n\n

Anyway, most any hotel in the world will allow you to store your bags\nafter you check out, such as if you wanted to visit Disneyland without\nall your luggage<\/i> before heading home. The Disneyland<\/span> Hilton does not\nprovide this service, at any price; I guess<\/span> with a room<\/span> rate of “only” $450\/night\nfor a semi<\/span>-shabby room, they feel we should count ourselves lucky merely to be there.\n(Rolls eyes<\/i>). I grew up<\/span> at a time<\/span> when a hotel<\/span> was $20, so that's sort of my benchmark,\nand my head spins thinking about spending $450 for a week,<\/span> much less a day,<\/span> and it just about\nexplodes when I compare<\/span> the slightly-below-bland room we got here with, say,\nthe less expensive and 1,000× better\n“Deluxe Executive Suite” at the Four Seasons in Whistler, Canada<\/a> that we stayed at last year.<\/p>\n\n

Sigh. Anyway, knowing that I'd have to schlep all the luggage around the park the\nnext day, I went light<\/span> on camera stuff, bringing only my D700 (without the\nvertical grip that I normally<\/span> keep on it), the 18-200VR lens that I hadn't<\/span>\nused since a camping trip a year<\/span> ago May<\/a>, and the aforementioned Sigma\n30mm f\/1.4.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

So, yesterday's post about the start of a short overnight trip to Tokyo Disneyland ended with us arriving at the train station. The station is \"right at the entrance\", but as with all distances in a Disneyland, things are relative, and it was a fair hike...<\/p>

I should point out up front that I do realize that the picture quality in today's post is hovering somewhere around \"pathetic\". We arrived at night and it was quite dark, and I didn't have my good lenses with me (due to our hotel, which was also pathetic; more on that later). I did [...]","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,2,3],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1350"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1350"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1350\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1350"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1350"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1350"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}