So, Wednesday April 19 was my day for Disney Sea. I was pretty excited about checking out this park as I've heard that there is nothing else like it in other Disney parks. Using my trusty Google maps app, I charted a route using the fewest transfers. I got there without incident.
The last train on the route is the dedicated Disney loop. It's still run as part of the Tokyo system, but is very Disney themed as it only serves Disney Resort stops. I arrived in the afternoon, so it wasn't very crowded and I was able to take a picture to clearly illustrate how cute it is.
The train from Tokyo lets you off at an area that is kind of like Disney Springs. Lots of high end shops, a resort Hotel, and a Disney store.
This is where you either transfer to the Disney train line to get to Disney Sea (which I did) or just walk to Disneyland (which I did the next day)
There are 4 total stops on the Disney loop. 2 are the parks, 1 is where the other train drops you off with the shopping and hotel, and the other is just a hotel stop. Disney Sea was the second stop.
From the get-go you kind of get the feeling that this park was a little bit inspired by Epcot. The entrance has a big globe. You enter right into an area designed to look like Italy. It's called "Mediterranean Harbor" but it's all Italian, from the pasta restaraunts to the gondola rides.
I was lucky enough to arrive at the right time to get to see a miniature marching band right at the entrance.
You know me, first thing I did was check out some shops and got myself some 40th anniversary gear, including these cute ears.
This is the main Mediterranean Harbor area, which is mostly filled with shops and places to eat. I had some seafood pasta here for lunch.
This is the harbor area with some Italian themed boats and a gondola coming out of the canal area.
Here is the canal with the gondolas
Turn the corner and you're in the American Waterfront area. This small area is meant to look like a boarwalk in the northeastern US, but entirely Toy Story themed. One of my favorite rides is here, but the line was looooooong and I was a bit freaked about walking into Woody's mouth.
This is the Tokyo version of the Tower of Terror. Again, a long line, but it would have been cool to see what was inside. It's less of a fake ruin of a hotel than the Florida version and it looks a lot bigger.
There was a cute downtown waterfront with old timey cars and busses to ride around in.
There was also a fake old New York area as well. It was too clean to be *actual* New York, but it was very pretty.
Toward the back, in front of the Tower of Terror, you can see the elevated electric train. This does not go all around the park, like the steam train does in the Magic Kingdom in Disney World, but it does go between American Waterfront and Port Discovery. The line was short, so I hopped on.
The train takes you to Port Discovery, which is entirely water themed and where you will find Aquatopia, a really cool ride. It's actually on a magnetic track and every time you ride it, it's different. I did go on once so I only got to experience one version.
Part of the way between Port Discovery and Lost River Delta I found the infamous Alien Mochi. They are as yummy as they are cute. The strawberry was my favorite. I really didn't do much in Lost River Delta, it was kind of an Indiana Jones kind of place with a big roller coaster...with one of the few long lines in the park.
The next section was the Arabian Coast. Very Aladdin themed. There was an Aladding dark ride that appears to be pre-animated movie as the characters were definitley not based on it. It more reminded me of It's a Small World.
Some of the animatronics were pretty cool.
The genie was huge and green with bushy eyebrows. Definitely not the Robin Williams version that we all know and love. Still, pretty cool
Of course, Aladdin emerges victorious after all of his adventures...as he should.
This section is also home to a two story carousel. This is the first one I've ever seen and it was amazing. This was defnitely movie themed as there were Robin Williams Genies intersperced with the horses and hawks to ride on.
I thought the hawks cool, so picked one as my steed. Took a selfie with him.
Post ride photo of my hawk with Genies in the background.
From the Arabian Coast, you can see Mermaid Lagoon, which is mainly an area for small children.
It's mainly an indoor area with lots of tiny rides for tiny people. There was a gift shop in the shape of a whale that you walked into you were Jonah being swallowed.
Finally, we came to my favorite section, Mysterious Island. Based on 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, it's designed to be Captain Nemo's volcanic island submarine base. Complete with the Nautilus floating in the enclosed bay in the middle of fhe volcano.
There is a 20,000 Leagues ride there that I was really looking forward to. I knew nothing about it, but the 20,000 Leagues ride at Disney World was a favorite of mine when I was a kid. I was really upset when they first turned the area into a Little Mermaid ride, then got rid of it altogether. The line for this ride went in a spiral from the main walkway around the inside of the "volcano" down to the ride entrance, which was near water level.
The ride was not actual submarines, but pods that looked somewhat like this (it was way too dark inside to take pictures) that had fluid in the windows to fake the illusion of going underwater. Gotta say, it was much more comfortable than the actual tiny submarines that used to be in Florida.
I managed to get video of the part where the giant squid attacks your submarine and is chased off by electricity. Just like in the movie...only in Japanese.
The attention to detail here is awesome. There is a bar and restaurant in the volcano as well.
After Mysterious Island, we were back at Mediterranean Harbor. I hit the shops hard here as I needed to have my suitcase picked up the next morning in order to have it at the airport on Saturday. I got a ton of ears, which are nicer and cheaper than those we have here in the US. Got some snacks and some 40th anniversary merch because I, apparently, don't have enough anniversary Disney Merch.
I wanted to get the heck out of there before the nighttime show. People were already camping out around the main lake waiting for it, so I headed back to the train with my hugenormous bag of goodies. This was the sky over Disney Sea that night...lovely.
I managed to figure out how to top off my Suisa (subway) card and made it back without incident. This was the one time I actually ended up experiencing a full subway train, but not to the extent that we got shoved into cars. It didn't last long and I was, eventually, able to sit down.
Back in the room, I dragged out the big suitcase and stuffed it full of my dirty laundry, tax free skincare and makeup, and Disney goodies. I went down to the front desk to arrange the pickup the next day and was done for the day. Next, it's my birthday and Tokyo Disneyland!
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