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Despite having lived in Japan for eight years now, I’ve never actually been to Tokyo Disneyland. I was lucky enough to be taken to Walt Disney World, Florida when I was a kid, but now that I’m older and infinitely more cynical, I don’t think I have the stomach for an entire day of cheery music and giant mice.

One thing people often ask me (after whether McDonald’s is any different here) when they learn that Japan has its own Disneyland, though, is whether the park is anywhere near as good as those in Florida or California. In the past, I’ve only been able to shrug and tell them that “the kids here go nuts over it, so probably,” but now, with this time-lapse video made by the folks at Tokyo Disneyland, I can safely say that it’s pretty much exactly the same.

Whether “the same” is a good thing or not depends entirely on your tolerance for cute (and waiting in long, long lines for rides), but as this video proves, Japan’s version of the Happiest Place on Earth certainly doesn’t do things by half.

It’s all here, beginning with the sun rising behind Big Thunder Mountain.

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Before long, the throngs of visitors arrive.

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And we mean throngs.

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Viewed from up here, the park looks like a model village.

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There are all the usual parades,

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rides,

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and light shows to be enjoyed.

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And of course there’s the ceremonial bombardment of Cinderella’s castle at the end of the day. (Fear not; due to its magical properties, the castle is immune to the effects of manmade weapons.)

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Here’s the video in full. Strap yourselves in for a day of Disney!

I’m far too miserable to be convinced to spend a day at Disneyland, but if you’re thinking about paying a visit to Tokyo and wondering whether the Japanese version of Walt Disney’s epic fun park will be able to match the California original, rest assured you’d be hard pushed to tell the difference.

Just be sure to pick the right day to visit or you may end up spending most of it standing in line…

Source/screenshots: YouTube – TDR Official Channel