Confirmed: Tokyo Disneyland to reopen on Friday, April 15, 2011
Submitted by Nick Sim on Wednesday, April 13, 2011 08:37
The Tokyo Disney Resort will take measures to conserve power when it reopens. Image © Tokyo Disney Resort
The operator of the Tokyo Disney Resort has confirmed that Tokyo Disneyland will reopen on April 15, with Tokyo DisneySea set to follow later in the month.
The Oriental Land Company says that Tokyo Disneyland will operate on a reduced schedule initially, in order to save power. The park has been closed since a devastating earthquake hit Japan on March 11, and its reopening date is timed to coincide with the anniverary of its opening in 1983.
Tokyo Disneyland's opening hours will be cut back, with the park closing at 6pm instead of the usual 10pm. In addition, lighting in both indoor and outdoors areas will be reduced where safe to do so, while air conditioning, escalators and water fountains will all be used in a restricted way. Some electrical equipment, such as hand dryer units, will be switched off altogether due to the impact of power shortages in the surrounding Urayasu City area.
Two resort hotels, The Disney Ambassador Hotel and Tokyo Disneyland Hotel, will reopen on April 15. The Cirque du Soleil Theater Tokyo will also resume shows on April 23. Tokyo DisneySea and the Tokyo DisneySea Hotel MiraCosta will reopen "as soon as possible", with some reports claiming that this will be April 28.
The reopening has been made possible by an end to rolling power blackouts in the local area. To help it operate a fuller schedule during the peak summer season, the Tokyo Disney Resort is considering installing on-site generators at both Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea.
In recognition of the severity of the earthquake's impact, the Tokyo Disney Resort will donate 300 yen to the Japanese Red Cross Society for every guest admitted to Tokyo Disneyland through May 14. It will also donate 1000 yen per room, per night for visitors staying at its hotels.
The resort has opted to go ahead with planned price increases, with the cost of a one-day adult pass rising from 5,800 yen to 6,200 yen on April 23. It is the first time entrance prices have been increased in four-and-a-half years.
The Oriental Land Company released a document last week confirming that the resort suffered minor damage during the earthquake, but that it was largely contained to its car park. All elements of the resort that were affected, including the Big Thunder Mountain rollercoaster, have now been repaired.
Around 20,000 guests spent the night at Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea on March 11 after the earthquake caused massive disruption to public transport systems. No injuries were reported, with staff providing supplies for those who needed to stay overnight. This included food, water, blankets, heaters and even free merchandise to help entertain and calm frightened children.
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Source: Nikkei
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