Reliving Your Childhood Dreams at Tokyo Disneyland

Tokyo Disneyland Park is the first Disney Park built outside of the US and opened on April 15, 1983. Modeled after the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World and Disneyland Park in California. Tokyo DisneySea is the second park at the resort. It opened on September 4, 2001 and is dubbed as the crown jewel of Disney Parks. It is also the 4th most visited theme park in the world. Planning your trip to Tokyo Disney Resort is an overwhelming experience so download the Tokyo Disneyland Travel Guide and Offline Map.

1. Dreamlights

Nighttime light parade a la SpectroMagic and the Main Street Electrical Parade. Dreamlights takes the light parade concept to the next level, and adds a couple of revolutionary floats to the mix, making Main Street Electrical Parade look antiquated by comparison. Dreamlights combines a great soundtrack with some plussed versions of the standard floats stateside guests are used to, and then throws some truly astonishing floats into the mix.

2. Minnie Oh! Minnie!

Live show featuring Latin music and dancers, as well as Disney characters. This is basically a high energy show with performers and other characters swooning over Minnie Mouse as a very loose plot (or perhaps ‘musical motif’ is better). The costuming is gorgeous, and the human performers are really talented. Choreography is great and the songs are really catchy.

3. Monster’s Inc. Ride & Go Seek

Interactive dark ride in which guests use flashlights to trigger effects and reveal monsters. Along with Pooh’s Hunny Hunt, this is the flagship attraction at Tokyo Disneyland. Reactions to Ride & Go Seek have been somewhat mixed, but we absolutely love it and consider it in the same caliber as Hunny Hunt. Its Audio Animatronics are advanced and lifelike (well, assuming a big blue monster is somehow “lifelike”), with very fluid motions. Sets are immersive and include a ton of detail.

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Three Compelling Sites You Shouldn't Miss in Kakadu National Park

There's nothing like exploring the Australian outback, but we say there's truly nothing like exploring Kakadu National Park. Kakadu is a whole lot more than a national park. In just a few days you can cruise on billabongs bursting with wildlife, examine 25,000-year-old rock paintings with the help of an Indigenous guide, swim in pools at the foot of tumbling waterfalls and hike through ancient sandstone escarpment country. Download the Kakadu National Park Travel Guide and Offline Map and start exploring.

1. Ubirr

Ubirr is 39km north of the Arnhem Hwy via a sealed road. It'll take a lot more than the busloads of visitors to disturb Ubirr's inherent majesty and grace. Layers of rock-art paintings, in various styles and from various centuries, command a mesmerizing stillness. Part of the main gallery depicts images of kangaroos, tortoises, and fish. Predating these are the paintings of mimi spirits: cheeky, dynamic figures who, it's believed, were the first of the Creation Ancestors to paint on rock.

2. Cahill's Crossing

It may be small, but there can be few more dramatic frontiers in Australia. This shallow causeway, which is impassable when the tide's in, crosses the East Alligator River from Kakadu National Park on the west bank to Arnhem Land to the east. And watching you as you cross is the river's healthy and rather prolific population of saltwater crocs. If you're not going across, wander down to the slightly elevated lookout on the west bank, but go no further as crocs lie in wait right by the riverbank.

3. Injalak Arts & Crafts Centre

At this center, artists and craftspeople display traditional paintings on bark and paper, plus didgeridoos, pandanus weavings and baskets, and screen-printed fabrics; the shop is excellent and half of the sale price goes directly to the artists. Take the time to wander around and watch the artists at work. The women usually make baskets out in the shade of the trees on the center's west side, while the men paint on the verandah to the east. Some of the works come from remote outstations throughout Arnhem Land.

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