MARCH 23, 2017
We've finally reached the end - the finale to an incredible 13-day trip. Luckily, our last day gave us a chance to park hop so we could properly say "see ya real soon!"
This first thing on our agenda was a quick breakfast (Chandu tail!) and light shopping at the Arabian Coast.
Can you believe this is a quick service?
The Agrabah Marketplace is the best place to find, you guessed it, Aladdin merchandise. It's also one of the few places to carry Chandu goodies as well.
Sou gokigen na besuto furendo!
That shirt in the back is actually what we picked up while we were there. ( ˘͈ ᵕ ˘͈ )
Some more Arabian Coast glamour shots because why not.
About an hour later we wound up at Mermaid Lagoon for our King Triton's Concert Fast Pass. If you know me, this show means everything to me, but it was closed for the entirety of our trip. Luckily, this was the first day of operation after their refurbishment.
If you plan to see this show, which I HIGHLY recommend you do, please be respectful as they ask for no photography or recording during the show. I quickly snapped these before the performance commenced.
In 2015, the Mermaid Lagoon Theater reopened after a 4 billion Yen refurbishment. This incredible production features puppets, harnesses, screens, and a gigantic King Triton animatronic. Since my childhood, I've had such an attachment to The Little Mermaid, and to say this show blew me away is an understatement. I want to thank Tokyo DisneySea's creative team for completely understanding their source material (all three TLM movies!) and fully realizing it into reality. I truly felt submerged into Ariel's world and in a blink of an eye, we were apart of her story. I was brought to tears the first time I saw this show back in 2016 and needless to say I left crying again this time around.
Mermaid Lagoon may not have the most thrilling attractions, but this area has everything that nostalgic fans could ever ask for. What they lack in e-ticket rides, they make up with obscure TLM references. Everything is referenced here - the original trilogy, the animated series, CDs from the early 90s, and even some of the short stories. Like I said, Tokyo DisneySea's creative department doesn't miss a beat.
Sad to say, but our time at Tokyo DisneySea had come to an end.
Of course, this also happened to be the day Stella Lou was announced.
A small press conference and fan celebration were held at Mira Costa earlier that morning. This was the first glimpse of Stella Lou we got before leaving.
From TDS to TDL it's only 2 stops away, but the Monorail always service runs smoothly.
Back again for the last time.
One of my favorite windows in World Bazaar.
Our goal for the day was to catch up on the show we missed. Coincidentally, both shows we planned to catch were closing in 2018...
First on our list and it didn't disappoint.
Super Duper Jumpin' Time is a feel-good playful stage show featuring Mickey and friends. This show, while mainly aimed at children, is enjoyable for anyone who loves characters.
And as you can imagine, there's a lot of jumping in this show.
In this show, puppet versions of Mickey, Minnie, Chip, Dale, and Donald help 2 frogs (portrayed by the Jungle monkeys) find a rainbow. 🌈
TFW your lens is too close and cuts off Dale... o(´д｀o)
Also, there's a super cute game show segment that left all the kids screaming at the monkeys.
♪ Forever friends, you and me ♪
JUMPING into the finale
At the end, Mickey and pals come out to greet the children. Although, get out if you can because it's a stampede.
Right after Super Duper ended, Happiness is Here started.
We caught the parade from the bridge, which is a unique view point since there's no one else around.
(●❛3❛●)
🐝
Shortly after the parade we wandered into Adventureland. I just adore this umbrella that resembles a pineapple.
What I find unique about this Adventureland is that it's a little bit of everything - the Caribbean with a little bit of Cajun and Jungle influence.
They've also got these fantastic murals featuring The Jungle Book characters.
With the weather being so unpredictable and our stomachs begging us for food, we spared about thirty minutes to grab a quick bite before the next showing of Minnie Oh! Minnie.
There's plenty of choices when it comes to quick service, but finding one with a short line isn't always easy. We were lucky that Plaza Pavilion was slow that afternoon. Can we talk about Tokyo Disney Resort's obsession with trays? I love it!
We ordered their seasonal set, which included a beef patty, breaded chicken, onion soup (not pictured), and dessert. I noticed that TDL really loves beef patties and they're not half bad. I enjoyed the sauce but could do without the mushrooms because I cannot handle the flavor or scent of them. This goes without saying, but the potatoes were fantastic.
This dessert was included: mixed berry mousse and cheesecake. Oishii!
Even though we just ate a meal, we grabbed snacks. This is why you shouldn't save all your to-do list items until the end. (一。一;;）
This Mickey Mouse steamed bao filled pork & teriyaki chicken can be found at the Boiler Room in Adventureland. Three buns are great for sharing.
Of course we couldn't leave without getting this iconic treat: the Mickey shaped churro from Pecos Bill Cafe in Westernland.
By the time we finished our treats, the attendants at Theatre Orleans were already filling in seats. This was our first time watching Minnie Oh! Minnie. Even though we were quite familiar with the show itself, in terms of where to sit and how early to arrive, we were not prepared.
I would say we were lucky with our seats (center and just about 10 rows back), but we still couldn't see well. I have a lot of heads in my photos because all the benches are level.
In my honest opinion, Minnie Oh! Minnie is something you experience. It's a vibe.
I'm positive that photos could never do this show justice. Here are some choice words to describe the performance: lively, exciting, emotional, and hysterical.
Carnival Queen and King
By far my favorite segment in the show is during Cuban Pete. Goofy, Chip, Dale, and Donald all encourage the crowd to mimic their dance moves. Everybody, adults included, gets up and just has a blast.
All the songs from Minnie Oh! Minnie originated from Latinx artists and are performed live in Japanese, English, and Spanish.
Even more costumes!
Minnie's finale dress also has a few extra embellishments toward the end. After all, it's her party.
Sadly, Minnie Oh! Minnie's final curtain call will be this coming March. Theatre Orleans is home to fantastic entertainment (Sebastian’s Caribbean Carnival!) and I’m sure it’ll be a party no matter what comes next.
After experiencing an all-time high because of Minnie Oh! Minnie, we slowly made our way to World Bazaar for one final Dreamlights of 2017. Although we arrived about an hour before the parade’s kick off, we enjoyed sitting on a bench and people watching.
🚂
RIP Snow White Unit
RIP old Cinderella unit
Well, that’s it. Our last full day at Tokyo Disney Resort left me absolutely emotional and exhausted. Thank you all for reading and watching my trip diary. It’s embarrassing how long it took me to finish and I’m so excited to write here in the future.
Enjoy,
Mary! (❛▿❛✿)