A Tiny Obsession: Ride Vehicles of Tokyo Disney
Our home is a testament to the magic of Disney, perhaps a bit too much so. One room serves as a dedicated shrine to Disney posters and memorabilia. Elsewhere, shelves overflow with treasures from Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge, relics of Robin Hood, and tokens of Toy Story adventures. It’s a delightful overload, a vibrant celebration of beloved stories. But in the face of such abundance, we knew our bucket list trip to Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea demanded a conscious effort to restrain our buying impulses.
We anticipated the allure of exclusive merchandise, the temptation to bring home tangible reminders of our adventures. We braced ourselves, resolving to be selective, to resist the urge to accumulate more trinkets for our already bursting collection.
Then I saw it.
Emerging from the immersive Indiana Jones ride at DisneySea, a thrilling experience remarkably similar to its Disneyland counterpart but with a Crystal Skull twist, my eyes were drawn to a captivating display. Nestled among the other park souvenirs was a miniature replica of the ride vehicle, a tiny, Matchbox-sized version of the jeep that plunges through the temple’s treacherous depths.
I was immediately captivated. It was small, perfectly themed to something I genuinely loved, and incredibly specific. This wasn’t a generic Indiana Jones t-shirt or a mass-produced keychain. It was the ride vehicle, an exact miniature of the vehicle that transported me through the adventure. The specificity, the unique connection to the actual ride, was irresistible. I scooped it up without hesitation.
A few rides later, the same scenario unfolded. After experiencing the enchanting Frozen ride, I discovered its own miniature ride vehicle. And then, again, after soaring through the skies on the Peter Pan ride. The pattern was established, the temptation undeniable.
By the end of the day at DisneySea, my backpack was weighed down with eight newly acquired ride vehicles. The next day, at Tokyo Disneyland, the collecting continued, fueled by the same irresistible combination of nostalgia and specificity. By the end of our trip, I had amassed a collection of twelve vehicles, each costing approximately $15.
My treasures included miniature versions of vehicles from iconic rides: the Haunted Mansion, Indiana Jones, Beauty and the Beast, Frozen, Peter Pan, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, and Jungle Cruise. My collection also included Soarin’, the resort Monorail, Aquatopia, Happy Ride with Baymax, and Toy Story Mania.
These miniature masterpieces are crafted by Tomica, a company that has been collaborating with Disney since 2001, according to online sources. I certainly wasn’t the first to stumble upon these charming collectibles. They have been around for decades, enjoyed by countless Disney enthusiasts. But for me, it was the size, the exclusivity, and the specificity that truly resonated.
These tiny vehicles offered a unique way to capture the essence of my favorite rides. They were small enough to be easily displayed, allowing me to integrate them into our already Disney-filled home without overwhelming the existing decor. They would be carefully curated additions, miniature representations of cherished memories.
However, I understood the importance of setting limits. A key part of my buying strategy was being selective. I wasn’t simply buying every vehicle I encountered. I was focusing on vehicles from rides I had actually experienced and truly enjoyed.
While I certainly indulged in my new collecting passion, I remained aware of the vast array of options available. In one of the stores at Tokyo Disneyland, I encountered a sprawling display showcasing what seemed to be every vehicle currently available. There were far more than the twelve I had purchased. I knew I needed to remain disciplined, to focus on the rides that held personal significance.
You might notice the absence of one famous ride vehicle from my collection: the StarCruiser from Star Tours. This omission was not accidental. From the moment I started collecting these miniature vehicles, one of my first thoughts was, "Is there one for Star Tours?" I diligently searched the area around the ride and throughout the park, but I came up empty-handed. At least, not a current version.
Later, I discovered that out-of-print vehicles for Star Tours did exist, tempting me with the possibility of expanding my collection through secondary markets.
That "later date" almost arrived much sooner than anticipated. Later on our Japan trip, I found myself in Nakano Broadway, a legendary geek mecca just a short distance from Tokyo. This four-story mall is a labyrinth of shops filled with every conceivable kind of geek merchandise. You could easily spend days exploring its hidden treasures.
Lost in the maze of collectibles, I stumbled upon a store and saw what I believed to be the elusive Star Tours ride vehicle I had been searching for. This particular vehicle looked slightly different from what I had imagined, and it was accompanied by a sign with the number "330." Intrigued, I asked an employee for more information.
It turned out that the "330" on the sign didn’t represent 330 yen, nor even 3300 yen. It was 330,000 yen, the equivalent of approximately $2,300 in U.S. currency. According to a translation of the sign, this was a discontinued version of the vehicle, a rare and highly valuable collector’s item.
"Do you still want it?" she asked, her expression a mixture of curiosity and amusement.
The answer, of course, was yes. But my budget said no. My inner collector yearned to possess this rare piece, but my financial constraints held me back. I reluctantly replied, "No, thank you."
The employee then took the sign and, with a knowing smile, clarified the price, ensuring there was no misunderstanding.
That was the pivotal moment, the defining point in my burgeoning obsession. In the brief period before realizing the exorbitant price, knowing only that it was more expensive than the ones in the park, I was ready to commit. If it had been $200, or even $300, I likely would have rationalized the purchase. I was on vacation, after all! I wanted the Star Tours vehicle to complete my collection!
Ultimately, I resisted the temptation and left the store empty-handed. But the experience was transformative. I realized that I had officially added miniature ride vehicles to my ever-growing list of collecting obsessions. The allure of these tiny treasures, the thrill of the hunt, and the satisfaction of acquiring a unique piece of Disney magic had taken root. The quest continues.
