Wicked, Baby Dinosaurs, Minions, & Raptors, Oh My, at Universal Studios Japan

·59 min·2 clips

Star Wars Celebration returned to Japan after 17 years - the area transformed with so many costumed fans even pre-pandemic didn't look like this.

Chris and Patricia of TDR Now podcast discuss spring 2026 tourism surge at Tokyo theme parks driven by Star Wars Celebration's first Japan return in 17 years, creating packed crowds at Maihama and Ixpiari. They cover Tokyo Disneyland's selective upgrade strategy (walking droids added, but no Ahsoka Star Tours), note Tomorrowland's ongoing transformation, and focus heavily on Universal Studios Japan's Wicked celebration (running March-December) featuring meet-and-greets with Glinda and Elphaba from the film. The episode compares USJ's more modest event to Singapore's version, explaining that USJ's covered areas are fully occupied with shops, limiting stage space for larger installations like the Singapore animatronic Wizard of Oz head. They also discuss USJ's multi-IP Easter programming strategy and announce the launch of two USJ guidebooks designed to help visitors navigate both attractions and typical year-round food options.

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