Monsters, Inc. Sponsor Lounge on Deep Disney

The folks at Deep Disney have some behind the scenes pictures of the private lounge inside the Monsters, Inc. "Ride & Go Seek!" attraction. The ride's sponsor is Panasonic and its invited guests can visit the appropriately-adorned facility. Many other attractions at both Parks feature similar lounges as well.

New Disney Fan (#203 - June 2009)

The newest issue of Disney Fan Magazine published by Kodansha was released on the April 22nd. It features Mike and Sully in front of the new attraction building at TDL. This month's issue (available for order from Amazon Japan) includes:

- Pictures of Monsters Inc. "Ride & Go Seek!" at TDL. Attraction-related merchandise, menus and campaigns.
- Guide for TDS's Spring Carnival. Special event-related merchandise, menus and campaigns.
- "Fun with Children at the Resort" information
- "Hot Hot Now!" introduces a new line of shirts and hats, some with a Westernland motif.
- There's a report on the "Disney Academy" for training new Cast Members.
- Small article on this year's Disney on Classic tour "Promise".
- Panasonic has a large advertising section featuring TDL.
- The "Disney Shin-Seiki" section is about Disney's Blu-ray Discs.
- The Sheet Music section has "We Rock" from the film "Camp Rock"
- "Disney Cafe Recipes" has a soy pulp and spinach donut in the shape of Mike Wazowski.
- "The Disney Store" prepares for Donald's Birthday with new merchandise.
- "Disney Fan Readers Selection: Disney's Best of Best" CD to be released on May 20th for ¥2,548.
- "My Tokyo Disney Resort" Issue #62 called "Tokyo Disney Resort New Attraction Guidebook"

"Club Monsters, Inc." Coming This Summer

The new summer event at TDL has been announced in the latest issue of Disney Resort Times and the "Monster Eye" special issue handed out at the Monsters, Inc. attraction. The new castle show, named "Club Monsters, Inc. Waraitte Cool!", runs from July 8th to August 31st. Sources tell us there might be a daytime and nighttime version of the program. Based on the released artwork (pictured above), the shows will contain lots of water and dancing but only the nighttime show will have pyrotechnics as well.

In some Japanese message boards and blogs, visitors are discussing the meaning of the phrase "Waraitte Cool!" People are trying to undersstand since it's not a regular Japanese phrase. Translating into English is a bit tough, too. Perhaps it means, "Laughter is cool?"

New TDR Times (Vol 15. Apr-Jun 2009)

In the latest edition of Tokyo Disney Resort Times, Mike, Sully and Boo take center stage for the new attraction which opened on April 15th. Inside this issue there's event calendars for both TDL and TDS, "Magic Rally Campaign" showcasing the new Annual Passport designs and the re-screening of the Disney/Pixar film "Monsters, Inc" at Cinema Ikspiari. Also featured is information on TDS's "Spring Carnival", "Adult Wednesdays" Passports, and the official Disney Fairies website.

Issues of Tokyo Disney Resort Times are published quarterly and are available free of charge at Disney Store locations around Japan.

Official Site Updates (Apr 11 - Apr 17)

Here's a list of official TDR website updates. As always, links are in Japanese.

New Monsters, Inc. Commercial
A new television spot for the new attraction is available for viewing. NOTE: Adobe Flash Player required.

New Spring Carnival Commercial
A new TV commercial is also available for the upcoming TDS special event. NOTE: Adobe Flash Player required.

May 2009 Photo Calendar
Download the newest photo calendar wallpaper for your PC or Mac desktop.

Shashin de Meguru Tokyo Disney Resort
(Around TDR in Pictures)
The photo essay pages are updated with the new theme "Michi" (Paths). Click on the "Enter" button.

Dance Showcase Performers Wanted
As part of the Performance Dream Festival, TDS is hosting the Dance Showcase (pictured above) featuring amateur dance teams. Deadline for video submissions is Friday, May 29th. The shows run on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays between July 22nd and August 29th.

Fun Monsters, Inc. Downloads Available
Disney Ambassador Hotel has a campaign for the new attraction opening. Fun printouts of the characters are available for download as well as mobile phone wallpaper images.

Osusume Souvenir (TDL)
(Recommended Souvenirs)
Focusing on TDL menu items this time, Refreshment Corner is offering a Lilo & Stitch Lunch Box Set with course-ground sausage dog, french fries and soft drink for ¥1,460 (meal only for ¥830). Captain Hook's Galley has an Aristocats Lunch Box Set with a slice of chicken with mozarella and tomato pizza, small cream puff and choice of soft drink for ¥1,470 (meal only for ¥840). The popular Mickey Box Lunch Set at Huey, Louie and Dewey's Good Time Cafe now features a hot bologna sausage sandwich, french fries and soft drink for ¥1,680 (meal only for ¥700).

Osusume Souvenir (TDS)
(Recommended Souvenirs)
Over at TDS, Sebastian's Calypso Kitchen has a really cute Mermaid Lagoon Box Set Lunch that includes a prawn cutlet sandwich, french friends, strawberry mousse with jelly and a soft drink for ¥1,850 (meal only for ¥990). The Donald Duck Lunch Box Set sold at Cape Cod Cook-Off features a sesame sauce and fried egg burger, french friends, chocolate cake and soft drink for ¥1,950 (meal only for ¥990). The same Lilo & Stitch Lunch Box Set mentioned above is also available at Miguel's Eldorado Cantina with a chicken and cheese wrap, french fries, mango pudding and soft drink for ¥1,620 (meal only for ¥990).

Mickey to Tsukuru Saikou no Omoide 2 Days
(Two Days of Making the Best Memories with Mickey)
The Ambassador Hotel has a campaign from June 1st to July 16th where guests can buy a vacation package and spend a special time with Mickey. The package includes a one-night stay, special meet-and-greet with Mickey and original goods and menu options. Sales begin from Thursday, April 23 at 11:00am.

Gift Passports for Mom
For Mother's Day in May, special gift passports are being sold only online until May 17th and allow Guests to include a special message on the passport media. Special cocktails (alcholic and non-alcholic) will be sold May 1st through 10th. Themed merchandise for mothers is on sale at Figaro's Clothiers (TDS) and Town Center Fashions (TDL).

Monsters, Inc. Attraction Media Day

Wednesday, April 9th was the first media preview day for Monsters, Inc. "Ride & Go Seek!" The first new TDL attraction to open in five years opens officially on April 15th for the Park's 26th Anniversary. The new merchandise shop was also open for the press.

The ride has been opened for public sneak previews since March 19th. It was closed on this day to give media outlets a chance to cover the new ride. There were also several media crews filming feature spots for upcoming variety and morning programs for Japanese television. More pictures are available on the Japanese site of MSN/Sankei News.

A poster on Micechat.com has added pictures from her visit that day. It also features new merchandise being sold ahead of the official opening.

TDLFAN Reviews New DVD & Monsters Inc. Ride

A good friend of mine, the world-famous TDLFAN, has just posted his detailed reviews of two new offerings from the Resort. Recently, he's had a chance to view the newest DVD-set release "Dreams of Tokyo Disney Resort 25th Anniversary Year Magic Collection" and he also experienced a sneak preview of TDL's newest attraction "Monsters, Inc. Ride & Go Seek!"

On the MiceChat forums, TDLFAN simply loves the two-DVD set that includes 25th Anniversary footage of all the special events and parades from the past year. Each DVD is also sold separately as the "Packed with Highlights" disc and the "Two Shows in their Entirty" disc.

He also gives a positive review of the Monsters, Inc. ride scheduled to open officially on April 15th for TDL's 26th Anniversary. While he enjoyed the ride and gave it a score of 3.75, it doesn't compare with the 5-point Pooh's Hunny Hunt.

Official Site Updates (Mar 28 - Apr 3)

Here's a summary and links for the latest TDR Official Site updates between March 28th and April 3rd, 2009. All pages are in Japanese unless otherwise indicated.

Tokyo Disney Resort Perfect Guide (TV/Satellite Broadcast)
The early April 2009 edition of the 30-minute broadcast focuses on the last part of the 25th Anniversary celebrations. Present giveaways include Mickey and Minnie plush dolls dressed in 25th Anniversary costumes. Check local TV listings for show broadcast times.

New Spring Menu at the TDL Hotels
Until April 30th, the restaurants inside Tokyo Disneyland Hotel will be offering special menus for spring. Sherwood Garden Restaurant has buffet menus for lunch and dinner. A glass of Pommery Springtime is available for ¥1,850 or the bottle for ¥11,000. Canna offers special courses and a la carte items focusing on seafood. Recommended is the Spring Fanfare with white cacao liquer and strawberry hibiscus syrup for ¥1,400. At Dreamer's Lounge between 2:30pm and 9:00pm, the Spring Afternoon Tea Set for ¥3,000 feature 35 items such as finger sandwiches, green tea scones, the "dessert medley" and black tea.

Guest with Disabilities Attraction Videos (links below)
Videos showing how guests with disabilities are accommodated in certain attractions are available for viewing. The TDL videos feature Western River Railroad, Pooh's Hunny Hunt, Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blasters and Monster's, Inc. "Ride and Go Seek!" TDS videos feature Sindbad Storybook Voyages and Caravan Caroussel.

Flower and Green Selections for April/May
These months feature the oriental white oak (in the Picnic Area) and the Japanese yellow rose (by Pooh Corner) at TDL. TDS has the mirato rose (in Cape Cod) and the king proteas (near Raging Spirits).

Monsters, Inc. Pages Updated
- The TDR Dream Cruiser will be touring western and central Japan to promote the new attraction.
- Attraction sponsor Panasonic presents a postcard drawing to promote its "Evolva" cell batteries. Entrants may win park passports, hotel stays or attraction-related merchandise.
- From April 15th, learn to draw Mike Wazowski in Disney's Drawing Class inside the Disney Gallery.
- A Monsters, Inc. Mobile Photo is available for guests that use their mobile phones to photograph a postcard with the silhouette of a monster. After sending it to a certain email address, guests will receive a surprising monster image!

TDR Hotel Restaurants Pages
The Disney-brand hotel restaurants and lounges have their own site with new information and features for each location.

Your Memories of TDR
Guests are able to submit short reports of their memories and memorable experiences of their Resort visits. Submissions allowed until the end of April.

Ambassador Hotel Monsters, Inc. Fun Time
The four restaurants and one lounge will feature special meny items and presents to celebrate the opening of the new attraction. Chef Mickey has "It's Laughter", a non-alcoholic drink with mango juice, apple juice and pear syrup for ¥1,600. Empire Grill has a special lunch set and character-themed desserts. Hana offers a Monsters, Inc.-themed drink coaster with its teppanyaki lunch. Tick Tock Diner has a set which includes shrimp-avocado-potato salad sandwich with mild chili sauce, a cinnamon churro and soft drink for ¥1,850. Hyperion Lounge has a special dessert set and special drink until the end of May.

TDL Restaurant Recommendations
Plaza Restaurant has some new items available from April 10th, they include: pork curry bowl, korean namul bowl, (Mickey) glove-shaped chicken pao sandwich and Mike "Wa"zowski soft rice cake.

TDR 25th: Magical Reports
A recap of some of the events that comprise the 25th Anniversary celebrations. This latest reports by participants in the events focus on the Christmas-time performances of Little Angel Carolers and Voices of Christmas.

"Remaining in the Heart" Special Movies
A short film featuring a Birthday Magic (#3) experience for a guest during his visit to the Resort.