Disney – Insider Irene

June Favorites 2023

Published on July 18, 2023July 4, 2023 by Insider IreneLeave a comment

I went on an EPIC 11 day trip to Tokyo, Japan and had an amazing time. There was so much to do and see, but here are my highlights from my epic trip on things you should bookmark. I cannot wait to go back!

$ Bargain

Egg Salad Sandwich (Lawsons): There are convenience stores basically at every corner in Tokyo; however, Lawsons had THE BEST egg salad sandwich among all the different convenience stores I visited. I think it was a little less than $2 USD and I had at least three times during my Tokyo stay. If you want something more filing, buy a piece of fried chicken there (it’s extremely juicy and tender) and put it between the two slices of bread – you’ll thank me later.

Candy Apple (Candy Apple): Candy Apple is a local Japanese chain that is quite popular among Japanese locals. I went to the storefront at the Ikspiari Shopping Mall and really enjoyed the “plain” candy apple cut. The have many other flavors to choose from but I loved that the apple was so juicy and the sugar on the exterior gave it a nice crunch. The apple was around $5 USD. Click here to read more and here to see more close up photos.

Okonomiyaki (Vanpu): My friend and I stumbled upon this Vanpu somewhat accidentally. We were recommended to try okonomiyaki and this restaurant had open seats. This was my favorite meal on the entire trip. Our seafood okonomiyaki was 1040 yen, which is roughly $7 USD. Click here to read more.

$$ Moderate

Souvenir Shopping (Mega Don Quixote): This is like a massive Target in Tokyo, Japan. This particular branch is in Shibuya and has 7 floors. It can be a sensory overload, but I bought so many snacks, and misc souvenirs here, and honestly probably would have bought more if my suitcase was bigger. Read more here.

Resort Stay (Toy Story Hotel): If you love Toy Story, you HAVE to stay at the Toy Story Resort in Tokyo, Japan. The theming from the lobby, to the parking garage, to the courtyard is straight out of the movie and a one night stay in June was around $200 USD. I also didn’t have high expectations for the breakfast buffet at Lotso Garden Cafe (Yelp Review), but I loved it. Lastly, the room was exactly how I’d imagine Andy’s room to look. Don’t believe me? See a room tour here. To get tips and more info about this stay click here to read more.

Sashimi (Tsukiji Fish Market): Visiting Tokyo wouldn’t be complete without a culinary journey to the Tsukiji Fish Market. I think this probably has turned into a tourist trap, but the raw seafood here is very fresh and and the price was very reasonable. For example you can get a plate of four salmon sashimi for 500 yen ($3.46 USD), which is unheard of! Get tips here!

Theme Park (DisneySea): What an incredible park! They really do take you under the sea with really great aquatic attractions and shows. Ariels Playground (Yelp Review) is a must for all Little Mermaid fans, and Big Band Beat was a Broadway performance (Yelp Review) in English that I adored. Want to read my reviews on all the attractions/restaurants I visited in DisneySea? Click here to read my collection!

Theme Park (Tokyo Disneyland): I’m a big Disney fan so it was a no brainer to include Tokyo Disneyland on my itinerary and I am beyond impressed with this park. Tickets were 8400 yen for an adult (Approx $62.68), which is reasonable compared to California Disney Adult ticket price which ranges from $100-$160. Everything from the merch, to the rides, to the cues was magical. The Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast (Yelp Review) was my FAVORITE ride and I did it twice. The Disney Harmony in Color Parade (Yelp Review) was the highlight of the entire day, which should speak volumes. I ate a LOT of food at this morning and the curry from Hungry Bear Cafe (Yelp Review) and the Mike Wazowski Melon Bread from Sweet Heart Cafe (Yelp Review) were delicious! If you want to read about all the Tokyo Disneyland attractions/restaurant that I visited click here to see the collection!

$$$ Splurge

Shopping (Shibuya 109): Retail therapy! If you love fashion this mall that’s dedicated to J-pop, lolita, street wear and more is the place to be. Read more here.

Resort Stay (Tokyo Disneyland Hotel): If you want a very luxurious Disney stay Tokyo Disneyland Hotel will certainly fit the bill. They have regular rooms, but the character themed rooms are very popular and with good reason! At around $500 USD a night, I made a reservation for the Alice in Wonderland themed room and the room was perfectly themed and incredibly comfortable. Get a room tour here and read my full review here.

Have you been to Tokyo? Did I miss something? Let me know below!

Until Next Time,

Irene

Comparing Disney Resort Character Themed Rooms in Tokyo, Japan

Published on July 7, 2023July 4, 2023 by Insider IreneLeave a comment

Japan is well known for themed cafes and kawaii packaging, but did you know that their Disney Resorts have themed rooms? I decided to investigate and booked two different character themed accommodations and compared them side by side. I booked an “Alice in Wonderland” themed room (Yelp Review) at the Tokyo Disneyland Hotel and a Toy Story room (Yelp Review) in the new Toy Story Hotel, they just celebrated their 1st anniversary last month!

If you’d like to see a Room Tour of each click here for the Alice in Wonderland room and here for the Toy Story one. But without further ado lets check ’em out side by side!

Price

Alice in Wonderland: A Monday Night stay for two in June was ¥58,000 ($400.81 USD) and required a ¥20,000 deposit ($138.23). This is definitely a high end luxurious stay.

Toy Story: A Tuesday Night stay for two in June was ¥30,000 ($207 USD) and required a ¥15,000 deposit ($103.66 USD). This is a more moderate priced resort experience. Between the two the availability of rooms went faster for this one (I think because it’s a newer hotel and it’s more moderately priced)

Similarities: You’ll need to make your online reservation 3 months to the day on when you’d like to stay there. Call your credit card company in advance to let them know you’re going to Japan and to allow for foreign transactions. I was so stressed when my card wouldn’t go through. Both required a deposit to secure a reservation.

Lobby

Alice in Wonderland: All are welcome to this hotel. It’s very spacious and grand. It kind of evokes a Club 33 taste to me and the ceilings are very tall. At the center of the hotel is a big fountain and since they are celebrating Disney’s 40th Anniversary there are several banners and statutes of Mickey and friends throughout the hotel lobby area. On one side of the lobby there’s a very elaborate dollhouse that is also Disney themed.

Toy Story: Only Toy Story Resort guests are allowed on property. Be sure to have proof of reservation at all access points. The lobby itself is very colorful and the ceiling of the lobby looks like a board game with Bo Peep and her sheep. There are also other details such as Colored pencils as the pillars. There are two elevator entrances depending on which side of the hotel you’re staying on. One side is space themed, and the other is cowboy themed.

Similarities: The checkin desk is near the back, and there’s ample places to rest and relax. Also, both have very clean bathrooms on the 1st floor.

Courtyard

Alice in Wonderland: This courtyard is located next to the Hotel entrance, valet side. It’s very pristine and classy. The shrubbery is all geometric shaped and the shrubbery is designed just like the card suits.

Toy Story: There are two courtyards and both are very playful. Between the RC Racer Garage and Hotel Entrance there’s a playground with giant Jessie, Buzz, and Slinky Dog’s Doghouse. Between two of the hotel towers is another courtyard with Woody and Bo Peep. Both courtyards have ample spaces for kids to run around, and there were a lot during my stay.

Hotel Restaurants & Gift Shops

Alice in Wonderland: There are two restaurants (one buffet style, and one fine dinning) inside this hotel; however, since my friend and I did not want to splurge on calories and dough we ate off the hotel property. They have one large gift shop that featured many items from Tokyo Disneyland. Sorry I forgot to take photos – opps!

Toy Story: This hotel has one buffet styled restaurant called Lotso Garden Cafe (Yelp Review), which can only be accessed by Toy Story Resort guests. I made a reservation online, but since you pay at the vending machine outside I don’t think you need to make a reservation. The cafe is only open for Breakfast and Dinner. This hotel also has a gift shop that’s on the smaller side; however, they have a couple of Toy Story Hotel exclusive items such as a handkerchief, bag, and Lotso plush.

Similarities: They both also have a convenience store so if you forgot something or would like to have a bento box for breakfast or ramen for dinner this could be an option.

Checkin/Checkout

Alice in Wonderland: This counter reminded me a lot of any high end Vegas hotels. The staff on a whole spoke very fluent English and were very proper. There were a lot more foreigners from all over the world here. A gentlemen I spoke to in the checkin line was a diplomate stationed in Greece. I believe there were 10+ cast members helping with checkin. I do believe this is a much larger hotel.

Toy Story: The counter was incredibly playful and the staff here as a whole spoke slightly more limited English, but were really friendly and kind. I saw a lot more Japanese local tourists here as well as kids. I think if memory serves me right there were maybe 4 cast members helping with checkin.

Similarities: The check-in stations were all located near the back of the hotel entrance, and you can drop off your hotel key in the box when you’re ready to checkout. A perk of staying at a Disney Resort is that they will hold your luggage/shopping bags after you checkout and play at the park, which was a BIG relief!

Room Space & Stay

Alice in Wonderland: The room very whimsical and about twice the size as the Toy Story room, and probably more similar to what you might expect at a US hotel. There’s a closet as well as a vanity for guests to do their makeup. Additionally there is a full bathtub. I believe this was also carpeted.

Toy Story: There is no closet in this room. Instead they have an area where you can hang your clothes against the wall. They have a pushpin detail which is kind of clever and the TV looks like an etch-a-sketch! In the bathroom they have a half bathtub. The floor in this room is wood.

Similarities: Both had twin size beds and were equally comfortable. They both had separate rooms for the toilet and shower/tub, and a mini fridge in the main room. The shower water pressure and temperature were the same at both resorts, which were wonderful, and both had bidets.

Amenities

Alice in Wonderland: On the table they provided two eco-friendly reusable bags with the Tokyo Disneyland Hotel design and souvenir cups. They offered slippers inside the closet and I believe there were 6 pairs. All had Mickey Mouse designs on it.

Toy Story: The house slippers all had Andy written on the bottom of the shoes – so on theme! There were three pairs of slippers here.

Similarities: Both offered nightgowns to wear (can’t take home), and house slippers. Additionally, they both had wash cloths, toothbrush/toothpaste, and cups. Both had tvs, though all the channels were in Japanese.

Theming

Alice in Wonderland: The room itself blew my socks off. It was so whimsical and I really felt like it was a luxurious getaway. I think if I wanted to only stay at the hotel I would a book a nice to pamper myself in this room.

Toy Story: Everything is Toy Story themed! and honestly I cannot think of anything to make it even more thematic. They understood the assignment!

Resort Perks

Alice in Wonderland: Happy Entry for either parks (Disneyland or DisneySea). It’s directly across from Disneyland and they have a separate entry to in essence cut in front of the general public line.

Toy Story: Happy Entry for Tokyo Disneyland only. You can take the monorail to both parks as it’s directly across from the hotel.

Similarities: Buying Disney park tickets is a pain because it’s all in Japanese. If you stay at the resort all of the staff can help you purchase a ticket and depending on which park you want to visit you can earn a “Happy Entry” voucher which entitles you an extra 15 minutes head start in front of general admission, which doesn’t’ sound like a lot, but it makes a HUGE difference.

Summary: I really enjoyed both stays, but I had the biggest smile across my face when I went to the Toy Story Resort since everything was the same theme. At the Tokyo Disneyland Hotel I felt that it was somewhat disjointed since the theme wasn’t consistent across the resort, but it did feel a lot more luxurious. If you can only stay at one I’d recommend the Toy Story Resort, since it really brought a magical element that made you feel like a kid again. But if you want all the bells and whistles Tokyo Disneyland Hotel has three different themed rooms: Alice in Wonderland, Beauty and the Beast, and Pixie Hollow – and I wouldn’t mind staying there either!

Which stay would you prefer? Tokyo Disneyland Hotel or Toy Story? Let me know!

Until Next Time,

Irene

Getting the VIP treatment at Disney’s Exclusive Club 33

Published on September 5, 2018August 29, 2018 by Insider IreneLeave a comment

Disneyland is known as the Happiest Place on Earth, but did you know that it’s also home to one of the most exclusive restaurants as well? Yup! Club 33 is a private club with an initiation fee of $40k, $10k annual renewal fee, and a rumored 10 year waitlist! Whew! Talk about exclusive! Thankfully, a friend recently got off the waitlist and I was fortunate enough to get an invite to check it out!

As a first timer I was extremely excited to finally see what this was all about. There were some strict guidelines on what we could photograph so I did my best to abide by the rules while also showcasing some of the details for you to enjoy. Nested right in New Orleans Square my friend and I rang the doorbell and were directed to the garden with a glass of ice cold water and a towel. It was so hot that day, so the gesture was greatly appreciated. We then took an elevator upstairs and were given a tour of the facility before being seated.

The intimate space was certainly very classy and the restaurant rotates its menus seasonally. The Summer 2018 dinner menu was inspired by Italian flavors and guests selected one item from each category: Primi, Insalata e Zuppa, Pasta, Entrata, and Finale, although I opted to forgo the Insalate e Zuppa section and doubled up on the Primi. Service was impeccable and the Sauteed Snow Crab Claws and Ahi Tonnato Carpaccio were the highlights of my meal.

Have you been to the elusive Club 33?

XOXO,

Rockstar

Minnie Mouse Haute Couture Fashion Collection at D23 (Disney Convention) in Anaheim

Published on July 19, 2017September 1, 2017 by Insider Irene1 Comment

Minnie Mouse is known for her iconic red dress with white polka dots (pink depending on which version), but for special occasions she debuts some bold fashion choices. At the bi-annual D23 Expo (Disney Convention) in collaboration with Honda the expo showcased some of her flirty fashion choices throughout the years.

Disneyland Paris 20th Anniversary 2012 – This bell-sleeved pink-and-purple ombre dress is decorated with a night motif of stars and crescent moons.

Disneyland Resort 60th Anniversary 2015 – In Spring 2015, Minnie Mouse wore her traditional red dress silhouette with rhinestones and crystals to celebrate the Diamond Celebration.

Shanghai Disney Resort Grand Opening 2016 – With a Grand Opening, it’s expected for the host to debut a stunning number. Minnie Mouse certainly didn’t disappoint with her Asian inspired ensemble. With soft pinks and gold embroidery this piece is inexcusably royal

Minnie’s dress is unmatched by her iconic oversized bow. I feel that this feminine accessory really makes any outside complete and of course Honda wouldn’t be doing Minnie justice without it.

In this photo I’m wearing my recently purchased clip-on bow from D23. They had designs inspired by all the Disney Princesses as well as some multi-colored one. Mine is the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland and this design will be available at the parks at the end of the year!

Paris, Rock the Dots 2015, Rock the Dots 2017

Disneyland Paris Fashion Parade 2013 (Designed by Alber Elbaz of Lanvin Paris) – Minnie wouldn’t be a household name without taking some fashion risks and at Fashion capitol of the world, Minnie debuted an incredibly presidential attire. She adorned a form-fitting royal blue with symmetrically patterned jewels.

Rock the Dots 2015 (Designed by Christian Siriano) – Project Runway Winner and “Fierce” Haute Couture Designer created a one of a kind ensemble for this “Fierce” one of a kind mouse. He drew inspiration from her bubbly, but girly personality and added bows and rhinestones to show off her playful nature.

Rock the Dots 2017 (Designed by Olumpia Le-Tan) – This custom dyed blue dress was created with 53 custom appliquéd polka dots and paired with a signature monogram leather belt buckle of Olumpia Le-Tan. This little sequin dress is both flirty and fierce.

Hong Kong, Fashion LA, Russian Vogue Magazine

Hong Kong Disneyland 10th Anniversary 2015 – Wow! If you’re ready to party, this dress will definitely turn heads. This brightly colored and festive ensemble was designed by the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort and designed to dance the night away.

Fashion Los Angeles Awards 2017 (Designed by Stacy Bendet of Alice + Olivia) – I definitely see nods to Jackie Kennedy here. This hight-low gown is covered with 14,000 hand-applied jet black crystals and accessorized with oversized glasses. The look is complete with red patent pumps – a staple in every girls closet.

Mink and Roses Russian Vogue 2008 (Designed by Oleg Ovsiyoy) – When Minnie took a vacation away from her sunny Southern California home, she certainly dressed to impress. WIth her faux mink fur and accented with sequins, this warm, fuzzy look is functional and stylish.

I loved Minnie’s daring Disneyland Paris Fashion Parade ensemble. Which outfit was your favorite?

XOXO,

2013 D23 Expo Teaser @ Anaheim Convention Center, CA

Published on August 17, 2013August 17, 2013 by Insider Irene1 Comment

I love Mickey and friends, so when my girlfriend invited me to tag along to check out the D23 Expo this past weekend, I couldn’t resist. Photos and write-up are still in progress so you’ll need to wait in eager anticipation for a bit longer. Expos are never cheap, but they’re a great way to see new products and launches for your favorite brands/business- Disney is no different. With the mouse in charge of the Avengers and Star Wars you better believe that they have a ton in store for the upcoming year.

Stay tuned for the full review!

XOXO, Rockstar