We have some news to share from Tokyo Disneyland following last month’s earthquake. The Tokyo Disneyland theme park, Tokyo Disneyland Hotel and Disney’s Ambassador Hotel are all scheduled to reopen to guests this Friday, April 15. A portion of every ticket sold through May 14 will be donated to the Japanese Red Cross and the park will operate during daylight hours only in an effort to conserve power.

Tokyo DisneySea and Hotel MiraCosta will remain closed but officials with The Oriental Land Company (owners and operators of the Tokyo Disney Resort) are working to reopen both as soon as possible.

Please check back here on the Disney Parks Blog for future updates from Tokyo Disney Resort.

Tagged: Tokyo Disney Resort, Tokyo Disneyland, Tokyo DisneySea

Filed: Hotels & Resorts, Tokyo Disneyland

That’s right, the first Disney Park is celebrating the New Year. Our friends in Tokyo Disneyland just started 2011 and soon we will too. And as our parks begin the new year, we’ll be sharing special wishes for a joyful new year from each location – ending with Disneyland Resort. Be sure and check back tonight.

Tagged: Holidays, Tokyo Disney Resort, Tokyo Disneyland

Filed: Tokyo Disneyland

Last week, we kicked off our “holiday” version of this series with a look at snow-covered Disneyland Paris. Today, it’s Christmas at Tokyo Disneyland and Cinderella Castle is decked out for the occasion. The special event Christmas Fantasy 2010 has a unique “White Holiday Parade” featuring Disney characters in a snowy winter wonderland as well as fireworks in Christmas colors of red and green. Take a look at a few of our favorite park images.

The Christmas tree at the center of World Bazaar is beautiful. Check back for the next post in this series of sights you won’t see at Disneyland Resort or Walt Disney World.

Tagged: Holidays, Tokyo Disney Resort, Tokyo Disneyland

Filed: Tokyo Disneyland

UPDATE: We’ve added more unique sights from Disney’s Halloween at Tokyo Disneyland.

Last week, we kicked off this series with a look at the “Halloweenmosphere” created by our friends at Disneyland Paris. Now, here’s another treat – some unique sights from Tokyo Disneyland where the entire park is decked out for Halloween. They’re celebrating the season with a special event called “Disney’s Halloween” at both Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea.

There’s a new parade at Tokyo Disneyland this year called Disney’s Halloween Street “Welcome to Spookyville.” And as you can see, Mickey, his friends and guests are part of the celebration. Stay tuned for our next post in this series featuring sights you won’t see at Disneyland Resort or Walt Disney World.

Tagged: Halloween, Tokyo Disney Resort, Tokyo Disneyland

Filed: Tokyo Disneyland

Hi everyone…some 7,000 miles away, our sister park Tokyo Disneyland celebrated the grand opening of its first Disney Vacation Club Model Showroom at the Ikspiari shopping and dining complex.

In the 15,000-square-foot showroom, visitors can walk through an actual model room of Aulani, Disney Vacation Club Villas, Ko Olina, Hawai’i. Kids can revel in the fun with a play area and other interactive zones. Here is an image from the opening ceremony.

Tagged: DVC, Tokyo Disney Resort, Tokyo Disneyland

Filed: Disney Vacation Club, Hotels & Resorts

Once Upon A Time…as every good story starts, the Disneyland Resort opened its doors to reveal a magical boutique where every little girl’s dream of becoming a Disney princess can come true.

Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique opened April 17, 2009, and in the past year, many magical moments have occurred in this enchanting location that’s nestled inside the corridors of Sleeping Beauty Castle. On a walk through Fantasyland one day, I had the chance to meet up with Store Operations Complex Manager, Stacey Gentz, who shared some of the stories from our cast and guests.

Every now and then, it’s so nice to hear our guests say that no matter the age, it made them feel like a princess, says one of Fairy Godmothers-in-Training, who has been on hand since the opening. It’s why we’re here, and it’s what we do, every day, we create magical memories for our guests during their stay.

Another cast member recalls, “Today when giving a Princess her big reveal, she was so happy that she shouted ‘I guess dreams really can come true.’”

Inside these doors, a guest can say three magical words — “Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo” — and in an instant, the magic that we all hope to create actually happens. “We give them the royal treatment,” Gentz says, “from hair and make-up to costumes and accessories. If you’re wondering whether it’s worth it… all you have to do is see the smile on their faces. That alone is worth a thousand words.”

The magic of Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique isn’t just here in California. For those of you visiting other parks around the world, there are Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutiques at Walt Disney World (inside Cinderella’s Castle and in Downtown Disney at World of Disney store) and at Tokyo Disneyland.

How can you book a reservation? Call 714-781-STYLE (714-781-7895). Transformations start at $44.95, plus tax. We can transform Princesses from age three and up. For details on the different levels of packages visit ArtofDisneyParks.com. And, Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique isn’t just for girls. The location at the Disneyland Resort currently offers a “Cool Knight” package for all of our noble young gentlemen.

Congratulations Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique on a year of making magic come to life!

Do you have a story to share about your experience at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique?

Tagged: DL, DLR, Downtown Disney, Tokyo Disney Resort, Tokyo Disneyland, WDW

Filed: Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World Resort

Tom Staggs has been on the move this month, touching ground in Hong Kong, Tokyo, Paris and Germany during his first “world tour” as chairman of Parks & Resorts. And at each stop, there’s been a recurring theme: people passionate about building the future.

That’s certainly happening in Germany where construction on the Disney Dream cruise ship has been moving right along. Tom arrived right as they were beginning to join the hull sections together to form a ship structure that will feature 14 decks and 1,250 staterooms with a capacity of 4,000 guests. It’s hard to imagine, but there will be approximately 66 million pounds of steel cut and welded together, some 37,000 pipes produced, and nearly 5,000 miles of cabling used by the time it is complete. The ship will sail from Germany to its new home in Port Canaveral, Florida later this year before embarking on its maiden voyage in January.

Tom also visited Disneyland Paris just in time for the launch of The New Generation Festival. The year-long celebration will highlight a new generation of heroes from Disney films such as “The Princess and the Frog” and “Lilo & Stitch,” as well as Disney•Pixar’s “Toy Story,” “Ratatouille” and “The Incredibles.”

Tom also got a status report on the new Toy Story Playland coming to life at Paris’ Walt Disney Studios this August.

Earlier in March, the team at Hong Kong Disneyland also welcomed Tom during his first visit to Asia as chairman. Tom met with Cast Members, dived into the operational details of the resort and was briefed on Hong Kong Disneyland’s celebration honoring the Chinese Year of the Tiger. Tom said one of the highlights of his visit was meeting with Hong Kong Disneyland’s very first Cast Member, Mariam Im, and presenting her with a 10-year service pin.

And during his visit to Tokyo Disney Resort, Tom managed to pack in more than even our most seasoned guests by touring both Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea. He met with several Cast Members and Imagineers – and tried all eight flavors of popcorn sold at the parks.

Tom summed up his recent travels this way: “When you spend time at all our properties, you appreciate how unique each one really is. Of course, there is a lot that is the same. Our properties share the same DNA. But at the end of the day, each has its own identity, its own heritage. And each has its own individual challenges. One thing stands out above all else though, and that is the quality, strength and passion of our Disney Cast members.”

Tagged: DCL, Disney Dream, Disneyland Paris, Hong Kong Disneyland, Tokyo Disney Resort, Tokyo Disneyland, Tokyo DisneySea, Video

Filed: Disney Cruise Line, Hong Kong Disneyland