Tokyo, Japan 2014: Tokyo DisneySea

If I had the luxury of time and money, I’d have decided to take the whole Tokyo Disney package: Disneyland and Disney Sea. Unfortunately, I didn’t. On both counts. So I just had to pick one. Fortunately, it was a very easy choice on my part. I picked Tokyo DisneySea.

Tokyo DisneySea is a theme park that can only be found in Japan. It has a water/ocean/aquatic theme, and is said to be geared towards the older demographic. One other proof: they sell alcoholic drinks. I don’t think you’d find them in other kiddie-themed park.

It is located just outside Tokyo, in the Chiba Prefecture. To get there, I had to transfer trains at the vast Tokyo Station towards Chiba, stopping at the JR Mahaima Station, which immediately brings you to the Resort Gateway Station.

And, yes, it was still rainy. If the previous day had a constant drizzle, today, it was actual rain. I finally gave in and borrowed an umbrella from the hotel. Haha!

The Tokyo Disney Resort is comprised of Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea. They are the only two Disney-themed resorts that are NOT owned by the Walt Disney Company. Instead, they are owned by the Japanese corporation The Oriental Land Company, Ltd.

Another trivia: Tokyo Disney Sea is also said to be the most expensive theme park ever built.

Part of the thrill of visiting a Disney resort is the ride. You know, those trains with Mickey-shaped windows and handles? Too cute!

Since it spans two resorts, there is a monorail loop line called the Disney Resort Line. The loop has 4 stops: the Resort Gateway Station (the station for the JR Mahaima Station, Ikspiari, and the Disney Ambassador Hotel); the Tokyo Disneyland Station (the station for Tokyo Disneyland Park and Tokyo Disneyland Hotel); the Bayside Station (the station for Tokyo Disney Resort Official Hotels); and the Tokyo Disneysea Station (station for Tokyo DisneySea Park and the Tokyo DisneySea Hotel MiraCosta).

A single ticket (valid for any stop, but can be used only once) costs 260 yen for adults. If you plan on hopping and going all over the place, you can get a day pass instead. A 1-day pass costs 650 yen for adults. Since I was headed only to the Tokyo DisneySea, I chose single tickets.

View from the Tokyo DisneySea Station viewdeck. I was amazed at how there were still so many people going to the park despite the rain. I guess I’m not the only crazy one.

Closer. Somehow this reminded me of the Universal globe.

A one-day passport costs 6,400 yen for adults. It’s the same price at Tokyo Disneyland.

A funny story. I only had a pouch for my camera and an umbrella with me. See this guide map? I dropped and lost four of them. Which means I had to go back three times to the sweet lady to ask for an English guide. Haha! When I lost my fourth one, I didn’t bother going back to ask for another. I was already pushing it. 🙂

At the main entryway, the MiraCosta Hotel, a marching band was welcoming guests with Christmas carols. On the other side, right in the Mediterranean Harbor area, are various characters doing a meet-and-greet. This is where I saw for myself just how much the Japanese love mascots. People of all ages, even elderly ladies, were going, “Minnie-chaaaaaan~!” in high-pitched voices. So cute.

The different areas or sections of Tokyo DisneySea are referred to as “ports of call”. Remember, this park has a nautical exploration theme.

Seeing as there was quite a crowd – despite it being the middle of the week, a school day, and a rainy day, to boot – I knew I had to proceed immediately to the rides “worth taking”. So I headed straight to the Mysterious Island port.

I went on the 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea ride. Here, you’ll have to descend on foot until you reach a cavern below the water surface, and ride on a submarine with 5 others to join Captain Nemo as he searches for the lost city of Atlantis. It appears that there are all sorts of weird (and creepy) things 20,000 leagues under the sea. Unfortunately, taking pictures while inside the submarine was not allowed.

By the way, one other fun way to get to the Lost River Delta (aside from walking) is to take the Transit Steamer Line.

I then proceeded to Mount Prometheus to go on the Journey To The Center Of The Earth. The queue took 30 minutes. Phew.

It’s similar to The Mummy ride in Universal Studio Singapore, but instead of a pyramid, the rollercoaster ride takes you through the inside of a volcano – Mt. Prometheus. And, just as the volcano erupts, you will be “spewed” out of the crater. I swear my heart fell to my throat when it did. FUN.

Spot the “subterranean vehicle” shooting out of the side of the mountain. Basically, the ride descends down, down, down, then round, round, then down again, then it’s a fast, speedy ascent towards the blinding light, and off you go, then swoop down again. As I said, FUN.

In this fortress, you can take the Leonardo Challenge, where you have to unravel clues and discover secrets. Unfortunately, the challenge is in Japanese.

At the Port Discovery is the Aquatopia, which looked like a bump car on water. The water was swirling, which makes it more thrilling.

There is also the DisneySea Electric Railway, which you can take to get from Port Discovery to the American Waterfront, or vice versa.

Speaking of the American Waterfront, you will find yourself smack dab in the middle of a romantic setting. Well, kinda.

The gondoliers could sing Italian, though. 🙂

My next stop was to catch a show at the Broadway Music Theater.

The show was called Big Band Beat, which features live performances of Big Band Music. The performers were excellent! You have to go through a lottery to get a ticket, though. At the lottery place called Biglitteria beside the canal, insert your day pass, input the show time you want to be in, and if you’re lucky, you’ll get a reserved seat. I was able to get a reserved seat on the 1pm show. Unfortunately, taking photos during the show is not allowed.

After the show, I took the steamer to go to The Lost Delta area.

I wanted to take the Indiana Jones ride, but it had almost an hour-long waiting time. DRATS. So I just passed on it and proceeded to check out other areas of the park.

At The Mermaid Lagoon were “child-friendlier” rides, such as the Flounder’s Flying Fish Coaster.

The highlight, however, would be Triton’s Kingdom. Outside is an installation featuring the little mermaid, Ariel, and friends.

There are also indoor facilities in Triton’s Kingdom, and he will personally welcome you inside.

Inside the indoor facilities are various attractions and rides that are really geared more towards kids. There was also Ariel’s Playground, which is like a walk through Ariel’s world. The Mermaid Theater show was suspended, though. To get a bird’s eye view of the whole indoor facility, take a ride up the Jumpin’ Jellyfish.

I have my suspicions, though, that the place was crowded because it was a respite from the cold and wet outside. Haha! While walking outside, I also saw a path leading to “Ariel’s Grotto”, where you could have a meet-and-greet with the Little Mermaid character. It, too, had a 50-minute waiting time. That’s INSANE. Pass.

I wonder if these kids are playing hooky.

This has gone so long I should wrap it up.

I had such fun exploring this park, despite the weather – and yes, my umbrella was destroyed by the time I was headed back to the DisneySea Station, so I just stowed it in the trash bin. (Sssh, don’t tell the hotel!) A day is definitely not enough to check out everything. I suppose if you are a sucker for rides, then make sure you get the Fast Pass. But I’m really more about quality than quantity, so… 🙂

This is definitely filed under my Must-Return-To places.