Jaunted

Tokyo Disneyland Getting Older, Not So Gracefully

4/22/2008 at 9:15 AM
Tags: Disneyland, Disney, Japan Travel, Theme Parks (all tags)

Happy belated birthday to Tokyo's very own Disneyland, which turned 25 last week. In a country where even grown women are allowed to go manic about Mickey, Tokyo Disneyland has long been attracting Japanese visitors, many of whom go dozens or even hundreds of times throughout their lives.

But the bosses of Tokyo Disneyland can see change coming. Japan's aging population means there will be fewer and fewer visitors for Disneyland, so they're looking further afield to keep their company going strong. Various sites in Southeast Asia are in the shortlist at the moment so you never know where the culture of Disney will strike next.

In the meantime, Tokyo Disneyland is adjusting for its elderly customers. They've started a special "Flowers and Trees Tour" because that's what gray-haired Japanese like to look at, and some of their current special packages focus on couples in their 60s. Perhaps they'll even let Mickey go gray?

Related Stories:
· Magic Goes On, Tokyo Disneyland 25 [AFP]
· Tokyo Offers Free Pizza to Pensioners [Independent]
· Disneyland coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: aida]