A Magical Day at Tokyo Disneyland

Welcome to Tokyo Disneyland Love this entry way that looks like one Mickey Ear.

Disneyland Hotel

Welcome Arch

Main Street, called the International Bazzar.

The Castle=classic of Disney

Where are we? Tokyo? Anaheim? Orlando?

One happy girl.

30 minute wait for the "horses."

Mommy got to ride too. She wanted me to sit like she saw the others doing.

It's a Small World After All--yes it is!

Pooh Ride--really long wait.

Toontown was very cute

Crowded Toontown

Eating some lunch. She actually wanted to wear the bib they gave her with Mickey on it.

I love this photo! New favorite!

We all had to wear ears.

Have some refreshing sherbert while waiting for the parade.

Entering Adventureland and what is Savannah looking at?

This Monkey. She has always loved monkeys.

Monkey hugs and kisses! She was laughing.

Snow White's Wishing Well--Savannah threw in 2 yen and made wishes.

3 year old highlight--the water fountain.

Big Thunder Mountain

In awe of It's a Small World

Entering the grandest of them all--The Tokyo Disneyland Hotel (you can walk from Disneyland)

This is a mosaic of Alice in Wonderland--breathtaking.

Of course Mickey welcomes you to the Disneyland Hotel. It is so elegant and then you see Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Pluto.

This is the shopping area comparable to Downtown Disney.

We decided to take a day trip to the happiest place on Earth to take our mind off missing our baby boy. Unfortunatley, the rest of the population of Tokyo had the same idea. It was so crowded. We did not realize that school is off for 2 weeks and it is the end of the 25th Anniversary celebration (ends April 15th). We are going to go back on the 16th or 17th becasue there are two parks Disneyland and DisneySea and we only got to go to Disneyland. They also have a shopping area with 140 shops and restaurants including Planet Hollywood and Rainforest Cafe.

The day was beautiful and we had such a good time. We only got on a few rides and saw a few shows, but that is ok. We just enjoyed walking around and seeing everything. The longest wait time we saw was for Splash Mountain--3 hours and 20 minutes. Space Mountain was 2 hours and 20 minutes. Luckily Savannah is still young enough not to ask for rides and not be disappointed if we don't go on many. I am not a rides person anyway. The shows were all in Japanese, but Savannah loved the music, so she did not care at all. She got on the merry-go-round, which is her favorite, so that is all that is important. We also went on It's A Small World, which I think is the top child's ride. She loved the characters this time and saw a monkey up close and Mickey and Eeyore from a short distance (just did not get to hug them). She loves Minnie and Mickey now and enthusiastically points them out.

We went over to the newest and most elaborate and elegant hotel, The Tokyo Disneyland Hotel, which opened in April 2008 and is modeled after the Grand Floridian in Orlando. It is gorgeous and class all the way.

We ate dinner at Planet Hollywood and had the nicest server ever who spoke fluent English and again loved Savannah. Savannah had--shocking--pizza! She had her plain spaghetti for lunch.

On the subway back from Disney we met about 6 college students from Chicago doing a semester abroad here. It was fun to talk to them (first time that we met people that spoke English on the subway). They were going into Tokyo to party. Oh the college days. The guy we were sitting next to said he has been studying Japanese for several years but felt immersion was the best way to really learn it.

Today is our last day without our sweet baby boy. In about 24 hours he will back with us for 10 days until he has to go again, but the next time he comes back it will be forever.

Miss You

Things are not right without you. The sun doesn't shine as bright. Our family isn't complete. Our smiles aren't as wide. We miss you our baby boy and love you. Even Savannah ask where you are and looked for you. One of the hard parts of the process, but necessary to bring you home. In 3 weeks we will all be together as a family always and forever. We are so very lucky that we get to be here though and meet you so young. See you on Sunday. You are in our hearts and minds always. We had to leave your sister for an unknow amount of time in a foreign country. We know that you are coming home with us and when. We are just a few hours away waiting for you to come back.

Tokyo Tower

After they picked up the baby (he will be back on Sunday a.m.), we walked about a mile to the Tokyo Tower (after getting Starbucks--don't think we are not still patronizing Starbucks on our trip--we are). This structure was built in 1958 and is modeled after the Effiel Tower, yet it is taller-333 meters (including the lightening rod). It is really interesting and amazing (and we can see it from our window of our apartment).

We went up to the observation deck at 150 meters. The higher one was closed due to the winds. This is a entire complex with an aquarium, wax museum, amusement park, etc. The amusement park was closed either due to wind or the time of year. Savannah just wanted to see the fish and loved the aquarium. There are also restaurants and shops. Savannah had lemon sherbert at Baskin Robbins and they had a place called Pink Dot that makes gourmet belgium waffles in all types of flavors and they make them fresh while you wait. You can get them with ice cream or various toppings, but we got them plain and saved them for breakfast and are going to enjoy them soon.

Savannah and I were not able to enjoy the observation deck for very long because is was extremely crowded since a Princess Cruise Ship was in port and there was a huge tour. So, she couldn't see and it was too hard to maneuver the (broken--thanks airline) stroller. So, we had to look quickly and then go down to see the fish and daddy joined us.

She loved the fish, but the lemon sherbert was her favorite. You can only get Baskin Robbins lemon sherbert in Tokyo, so that was special for her (ha, ha).

There are a lot cuisine options in Tokyo. However, Savannah will only eat spaghetti, pizza, penne, yogurt, grapes, bread with olive oil (if it doesn't have olive oil she asks for it), red peppers, kiwi, orange, banana, carrots, and apples. So, we have eaten Italian every night. We found a wonderful place last night where they all speak clear English and we got exactly what we wanted and they catered to Savannah and loved her. We will frequent there! Rich if we go to Italy are we going to eat Japanese every night and I said, "Whatever the kids are eating at that moment." At least she is eating here. In Florida she ate nothing but popcorn, oranges, bananas, and apple sauce.

Savannah and Addy at the Aquarium Savannahand Mama looking at the fish in the pond at the Aquarium at Tokyo Tower

FEEEEESH!!!!! Otherwise known as fish.

Aquarium

Getting close to the Tokyo Tower

Tokyo Tower Character

Views from the Top of the Tokyo Tower

Quite an impressive city.

Great overview

More beautiful views on a sunny and clear day

Walking to the tower

From the rooftop

Another view from the roof

Up, up, up--impressive structure

We went to the Tokyo Tower today. It was clear but windy. It was also very crowded

Referral and First Meeting Photos of Our Children

What do you think of our children around the same age?

Harajuku

Start with a sleeping baby--anything sweeter? Night night in his cradle.

Savannah and Daddy in Harajuku

The streets of Harajuku

Nice architecture in Harajuku

Harajuku

1964 Olympic Stadium--Tokyo is being considering for the 2016 Olympics

On an overlook

Mommy and her kids walking around Harajuku

Enjoying the sights.

Playing Lego at Kiddie Land

Really enjoying Kiddie Land

Choo Choo

What fun!

Rain, rain go away, but you can't spoil our day. We flawlessly took the train to Harajuku which is a Tokyo neighborhood that reminds me more of Boston, Seattle or Portland. Lots of upscale shopping and American stores. We went so Savannah could go to the five story toy store known as Kiddie Land. She loved it. Disney Princesses, Hello Kitty, Snoopy, and Barbie--what's not to love. They also had Thomas, Legos and lots of dolls. She picked out a Snoopy purse, a princess backpack, and a Barbie kitchen. Little guy got some Snoopy stuff too. Then we went to Baby Gap and everyone spoke English and both kiddos got really cute clothes. I wanted to go to H & M too, but it was pouring rain. We walked around the mall until the rain stopped and then took some hazy photos. It thunderstormed all last night.

Today they have to pick up the baby to take him to get his passport and it is two hours away, so he will be gone for a few days. Boo hoo! We are going to miss our little boy. We love him so much. We are going to take Savannah to Tokyo Disney.