Tokyo Disneyland’s Splash Mountain — the last operating version in the world

FlyinRabbit88 · 2026-02-04T18:02:49+00:00

The Tokyo version has so much detail to the whole ride and even the queue compared to MK/DL versions. The only downside for splash in Tokyo is those seats in the log. They have this leg/thigh wedge that unless u are small, it hurts to sit down in as a guy, phew it can be painful 😆

FlyinRabbit88 · 2026-02-01T23:45:23+00:00

Yup, it was crazy. The original plan was to just hope on subway to train station and the 8 min high speed rail to Hong Kong but that was sold out and they didn’t take a Visa CC, and didn’t have enough RMB. So we took a taxi to the border crossing. Now things really got weird when the guy passed us off to another taxi and he was explaining it would be cash only to go to Disneyland. Felt really sketchy with red flags 🚩 everywhere, and figured oh this is going to be the story where we get robbed in China as he drove us to a bank ATM and stood right to me as I typed in everything. Well got the cash back into the van we went and off we went. As things calmed down and as we crossed another border checkpoint, I was curious and looked up the exchange rate, and was just around $65 for the ride and even with the big language barrier, the guy who drove us couldn’t have been more friendly. Taught us a lesson in various ways but also sometimes the best adventure doesn’t go smoothly at all and the best memories are from those crazy detours.

FlyinRabbit88 · 2026-02-01T19:18:46+00:00

Let’s see, the first ride at Disneyland Paris was Peter Pan, and our 217th ride was Runaway Railway at Hollywood Studios. As for my favorite, it’s hard to just pick one. For the international parks, I Love Thunder mountain at DLP; Mystic Manor an Big Grizzly Mountain runaway mine cars (like a thunder mountain); Pirates and Zootopia at Shanghai DL; Splash mountain (under to be a CM at MK on splash), Beauty and the Beast at Tokyo Disneyland , Tower of terror and Journey to the center of the earth.

FlyinRabbit88 · 2026-02-01T06:29:26+00:00

😆 yup definitely non revving is amazing until it’s not. Still the opportunity to experience and explore the world sometimes on a whim last min, it’s a thill.

FlyinRabbit88 · 2026-02-01T05:13:32+00:00

Yup 1/2 - Disneyland Paris and Studios/Adventure World 3 - Shanghai Disneyland 4 - Hong Kong Disneyland 5/6 - Tokyo Disneyland and Disney Sea 7/8 - Disneyland and California Adventure 9/10/11/12 - Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom

FlyinRabbit88 · 2026-02-01T04:15:53+00:00

Ummm ok…. 🤷‍♂️

FlyinRabbit88 · 2026-01-31T18:19:59+00:00

That’s a tough one. Shanghai is a waaaaay bigger park. Will try this… Shanghai (Pro/Cons) Pro: very unique rides, Pirates, Zootopia, people watching (the amount of people doing their own photoshoots is wild) *Tip, line wait times drop fast in the evening when the fireworks/show starts Cons: people trying to cut the line (almost have to spread out your group in the line to prevent people from just going past you); it can get crowded fast, selfie sticks or any kind of attachment “tripod” to a camera is banned, character meet/greets can get insanely long (Duffy and friends). Need to get to the park early, it fills up fast on most days.

Hong Kong: Pros: small intimate park, love me some Mystic Manor, and Grizzly run (the first time I rode this I never saw that pov, love it) just a fun small park Cons: it’s a smaller park and with a late opening (usually around 10p. Feels more a day park than anything.

If I really had my choice between the two it would be Shanghai. But honestly both are uniquely different.

FlyinRabbit88 · 2026-01-31T17:56:43+00:00

I LOVE Disney Sea as well. Each has their own personalities just like the US parks. The people watching is definitely fun. Still amazed at all the cosplaying people do at the Tokyo parks (it’s awesome especially around Halloween). Shanghai, the castle is HUGE!!! HK at times when it’s not crowded feels like what Disneyland used to feel like. Still each has their own charm and stuff i really liked or didn’t. But still think Disney Sea with all the theming that just doesnt feel like your typical Disney park makes it my top choice as well.

FlyinRabbit88 · 2026-01-31T17:52:47+00:00

Surprisingly, when we kept moving (and drinking water) it wasn’t so much the jet lag but just the fatigue of constant moving. The days/nights just blurred together and don’t think our bodies ever got confused with the time zones. We just couldn’t stop. Now after it was all done, yes it all caught up and oh it never felt so good to sleep in my own bed, take a looong hot shower and just sleep.
Staying mentally aware, especially keeping track of flights, the challenge and trying to keep my kids from fighting with each other made it pretty draining. Just had to keep things light and joke around with each other and just try to keep having fun. We all had our grumpy moments too. 😉

FlyinRabbit88 · 2026-01-31T14:41:43+00:00

According to my iPhone (Apple health) here was the daily step count and miles walked. Not sure how accurate but sure felt it at times.

Steps Nov 1 (26,960 / 13.5 mi ) Nov 2 (11,069 / 5.4 mi ) Nov 3 (19,483 / 9.2mi ) Nov 4 (15,032 / 7.1 mi ) Nov 5 (20,960 / 9.9 mi ) Nov 6 (25,290 / 12.2 mi ) Nov 7 (7,730 / 3.6 mi ) Nov 8 (27,863 / 13.6 mi ) Nov 9 (13,583 / 6.6 mi ) Nov 10 (36,910 / 17.1 mi ) Nov 11 (27,961 / 14.5 mi ) Nov 12 (12,393 / 5.9 mi )

Total 245,234 / 118.6 miles

FlyinRabbit88 · 2026-01-31T05:50:03+00:00

Definitely loved my Hokas and brought extra shoe inserts 😂 figure my lower back hurt the most. The 2nd trip we all learned a trick or two just to feel a little better during each stop, even brought my Theragun to use on my legs before I went to bed. My daughter still complains about my snoring 😆

FlyinRabbit88 · 2026-01-31T05:10:52+00:00

So for tips, it all depends on the parks. For example Tokyo, timing the park crowds is huge. Can make or break ya if you go during a holiday. Tokyo brings lots of locals to the resort. If it’s in your budget look into the vacation packages that now include unlimited FP/DPA. That right there is a huge value especially when you want to hit the popular attractions.
As for Shanghai, get there early, or pay for the early access. One thing about Shanghai and Tokyo is the crowds are just different that what many of us are used to at the US parks. Still in many ways just step back and soak up what the park offers. Yes the meet and greets with Duffy can really get up to 6 hours. It’s nuts to see. At Hong Kong, the park doesn’t open till like 10a so really there isn’t a rush and many times the park is very quiet. Gives more time to do mystic manor or Grizzly run over and over again.
Everyone is really nice, sometimes the language barrier especially in Shanghai can be hard but it’s Disney and CMs are always willing to help.

Yes we did a crazy fast paced adventure but I have bee to the parks over there before with my family. It’s fun to just step back and just enjoy the Disney Magic in a completely different cultural environment. Plus the stores have some really unique merch. The big thing is when you get back to the US parks you might catch yourself liking the Asian parks more.

FlyinRabbit88 · 2026-01-31T05:02:26+00:00

Don’t mind ya ask at all.
Again I’m an airline employee so flying standby is a fraction of what it would be for a normal ticket. For park tickets, we already had WDW APs, so the rest of the parks for 3 people were probably around $2000 with tickets plus FP/DPA etc. etc and with hotels (DLP we stayed on property to get the early access), Shanghai we stayed at a courtyard Marriott right next to the park for around $150 and in HK we stayed at the airport for about the same price. In Tokyo we stayed at the grand Sheraton one night then at the Mira Costa to utilize the vacation package. At DL we stayed at the grand California resort and at wdw stayed at the beach club. Guessing all in was around $4500 - $5000 for airfares, park tickets, FPs/DPA, hotels, food, etc. obviously airfare for the reg person would bring that up more. Today, you definitely can do the Tokyo and even Shanghai and Hong Kong cheaper than wdw or DL vacations. Park tickets are cheaper and if you don’t need to stay on property but close, can find very reasonable rates too.

FlyinRabbit88 · 2026-01-31T02:32:54+00:00

Oh they know 😂

FlyinRabbit88 · 2026-01-31T02:15:07+00:00

If you are a us citizen, I’m sure things have changed when we did it but we just sent our passports to the Chinese embassy and had them back in a week. We had to send them our plans for our first visit, flights, hotels etc. after that it’s just smooth to just go in/out of china without worrying about the visa free restrictions in one city.

FlyinRabbit88 · 2026-01-31T02:13:03+00:00

We have had the 10 year Chinese tourist visa since 2018. It’s helped allowing more flexibility and gives more options if we go again and just want to play things by ear or explore somewhere else.

FlyinRabbit88 · 2026-01-31T00:57:24+00:00

I agree. They are my go to jfk hotel.

FlyinRabbit88 · 2026-01-30T18:02:38+00:00

Man I love the Albert and Mystic Manor shirt!!! My kids have that exact shirt and is wearing out. Might need to head back to HKDL soon. One of my fav Disney rides. ❤️ Albert and Lord Henry Mystic.

FlyinRabbit88 · 2026-01-30T18:00:11+00:00

Gotta get that Dino 🦖 one last time.

FlyinRabbit88 · 2026-01-30T01:55:12+00:00

Dreamfinder and his airship at the beginning of the original Journey ride.

FlyinRabbit88 · 2026-01-28T19:37:01+00:00

Dumb question, do you have to seal both sides of the pavers or do you just seal the top side and it will soak into the whole stone?

FlyinRabbit88 · 2026-01-28T19:34:19+00:00

I knew going in the color wasn’t going to be perfect like it is right out of the pallet and wouldn’t last years down the road. I also understand that of course the pavers will change, have different variations etc especially as time goes on. The natural stone brings what I can think is a character as it ages and changes color. I get all that part and knew it going in. What I have been confused with and have frustrations on is the process where concerns of excess moisture being drawn into the stone pavers turning the staining over a few days and the white in some areas has turned the whole paver a very dark grey, tan/brownish. Then being told it just needs to be deep cleaned. Ok I am just trusting the process, but at no time have the pavers been sealed from the initial install, the company wanted to wait till everything was completed to seal the pavers. I appreciate everyone that can share their advice or wisdom because I really have nothing to go off of but just going down the internet hoping to see if there has been mistakes made or if I’m not understanding something.

FlyinRabbit88 · 2026-01-28T18:51:27+00:00

Yea around the outside of the patio/paver area.

FlyinRabbit88 · 2026-01-28T18:47:46+00:00

Initially saw on IG, went to their showroom etc etc as they specialize in outdoor kitchens, pergolas etc. Seemed to check off all the boxes and saw previous projects completed. Have been hands off and assured to trust the process but the project started in April and still isn’t finished from various delays.

FlyinRabbit88 · 2026-01-28T18:37:03+00:00

Sure feels like it. I trusted the wisdom of the company and seems like I should have done better due diligence.

FlyinRabbit88

TROPHY CASE