The “World” According to Jack

Before I start describing anything, I need to let you know that I’ve been to Tokyo Disneyland three times, once in 1996, again in 2003, and finally this year. On each occasion, I visited the park multiple days.

I also took a lot of photos on these trips and I will be picking and choosing from all of them to try to give you the best shot that corresponds with what I’m describing. So, don’t be confused if you see a “20th Anniversary” sign when you know that Tokyo Disneyland is actually celebrating their 25th anniversary this year.

Also, as I mentioned in other blogs, the Tokyo Disney Resort is owned by Oriental Land Company, not Disney. However, for simplicity, I may use the name “Disney” when in actuality I mean Oriental Land Company. I hope this doesn’t confuse you too much.

Okay, now that the ground rules are out of the way, let’s get started.

People can get to the entrance of Tokyo Disneyland in several ways. Guests staying at the non-Disney “Official” hotels can either ride the monorail from Bayside Station or take one of the cutest busses you’ll ever see.

The interior of these buses are equally impressive. All of the seats are upholstered in red with yellow buttons that make them look like Mickey’s pants.

Guests driving their own cars use the expansive parking lot situated to the right of the park. Interestingly, Tokyo Disneyland does not offer tram service and guests must walk to the entrance.

Guests staying at the Disney-owned MiraCosta or Ambassador hotels ride the monorail and exit at the Tokyo Disneyland Station.

The new Tokyo Disneyland Hotel is scheduled to open this month. This hotel is located behind the Tokyo Disneyland Station and guests will simply walk to the entrance of the park.

The vast majority of guests visiting Tokyo Disneyland come by train and exit at Maihama Station.

Conveniently located to the train station is the Tokyo Disney Resort Welcome Center. Here, guests can make hotel reservations, have luggage delivered to their room, buy tickets, and arrange for a number of other services.

From the Maihama Station, guests stroll (some run) along an elevated walkway toward Disneyland. A short distance from the train station they will pass the Bon Voyage Shop. Designed to look like a giant suitcase, this store sells a large array of Disney souvenirs. This is the perfect spot for last minute shopping when leaving the park.

Beyond the Bon Voyage Shop, guests pass under an ornate clock tower. From here, it’s just a short walk to the park’s entrance.

On most days, Tokyo Disneyland opens at 9am, and not a minute earlier. Unlike Disney World and Disneyland in California that might open Main Street a half hour in advance to help alleviate the crowds on busy days, Tokyo Disneyland does not.

If you want to be one of the first people into the park, you need to be at the turnstiles 45-60 minutes before opening. The picture below was taken at approximately 8:30am – and you’re only seeing half of the crowd. An equal number of people are out of sight to the right of this shot. It will take the people at the end of these lines 20-25 minutes to pass through the turnstiles.

Once guests have entered the park they hightail it to their favorite attraction for a Fastpass, but more on that in a later blog.

Since Tokyo Disneyland does not have a railroad station at the front of the park, and because World Bazaar (Main Street) is covered, the entrance looks very much different than the other four Magic Kingdoms around the world.

It’s very common to see groups of school children enjoying the parks as Disney often offers special promotions aimed at this group. Most school children in Japan wear uniforms, usually dark blue or black. Don’t assume that just because you’re visiting on a Monday through Friday that there will be fewer children.

Tokyo Disneyland is a busy park. Except during the cold and wet winter months, expect long lines when visiting here.

Next blog, World Bazaar.

I’d like to thank everyone for all the emails you sent regarding my Hong Kong Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea blogs. I’m so glad you have been enjoying the trip report and photos!

BTW, several of you have asked what type of camera I use. All of the pictures shot in Hong Kong were taken with a Nikon D80 camera and a Nikkor 18-200mm lens. The pictures of Tokyo DisneySea shot with the above mentioned camera and a Sony point-and-shot Cyer-shot 4.1 mega pixels.

Here are just a few of the emails I have received:

Monique writes: A big "Thanks!" to Jack for giving us such a terrific tour of the Tokyo and Hong Kong parks. Fantastic photos and great commentary - the next best thing to being there! Tokyo DisneySea in particular has made a big leap up to the top of my "bucket list" - great job!

Morag writes: I am loving Jack's blog about his trip to the Asian Disney parks. It has been very interesting to see how these parks have been developed and the attention to detail in DisneySea is by far some of the best I have ever seen

I have been to all of the Disney parks in America and from what I have seen and read in these blogs makes me hope that Disney will take on board some of these ideas for their American counterparts.

I too miss 20,000 leagues and would love to see some form of water attraction take its place. Keep up the good work you have made, at least me, very jealous of your adventures.

Katsumi in Tokyo, Japan shares:

Hello Jack-san. I'm Japanese and enjoy reading your blog in Tokyo regarding Tokyo Disney Resort. I'm very impressed that you know the details of TDR and Japanese culture/styles/personality.

I'm pleased to read that your most favorite park is Tokyo Disney Sea. I have only been to Tokyo Disney Resort and Walt Disney World, but my most favorite resort is Tokyo DisneySea. As you mentioned, every scenery is beautiful and I feel comfortable just staying in TDS.

Also I'm happy to see that you like Big Band Beat (BBB). The reason I bought annual pass for TDS is that I want to see BBB every week. Singers, dancers, musicians and Mickey & his pals are edgy, and this show seems perfect for me. The section after "Sing Sing Sing" always makes me excited.

I hope that we have chance to see BBB together at your next visit to TDS. I'm looking forward to read the rest of your blog.

Jeanine, who previously blogged about her Tokyo Disney Trip shares:

Great blog! For more information about the back-story on Tokyo's Tower of Terror, there's a long and elaborate webpage (in Japanese) on it at www.tot1899.com.

DisneySeas is a fantastic park! I actually wound up buying DVDs and guidebooks in a language I don't even speak just to have more information on it.

Cathy Mullen writes:

I have enjoyed reading your Tokyo Disney World blog. Right now I have a friend visiting a relative in Tokyo and she is planning to visit Disney while there. She has been sending very interesting emails about her adventures so with her emails and your blogs I feel right there too!
Maybe someday I will get a chance to visit myself because the park looks so lovely and they have my favorite parade- the Electric Parade!

Jen shares:

Your blogs about Disney Tokyo and Disney Hong Kong have been extremely enjoyable to read. The pictures are great and you do a tremendous job describing your experience. I look forward to your blog every day. Thanks for sharing your experiences with readers like me.

Debbie Hudson exclaims:

Wow, Jack! Absolutely STUNNING!

I am really glad you wrote the blogs on the Western Parks; I've never seen any of them, and honestly, I had no idea (really) what DisneySea was.

That place is just amazing! I cannot believe the lushness of it. Just stunning--I can't use any other word to describe it. Wow, I think if I could ever afford to visit one of the other Parks, that would have to be it.

V-E-R-Y nice!!

MaryAnn Eckenrode writes:

I just loved it. Your trip to Japan must have been fantastic. Thanks so much for sharing it with us. If you every make book of this trip, keep me in mind. I'm just so impress with everything, words can't describe. Thanks for your time. It was greatly appreciated.

Lastly, Tom Zamorski shares:

I wanted to thank you for a wonderful, comprehensive and well photographed tour of Tokyo DisneySea. Frankly, it's unlikely I'll ever get to see it first hand so your tour let me enjoy it, albeit from afar. Thank you very much for the hard work you put into bringing this exotic destination into our homes.

And from Jack........Again, my thanks to everyone.

Now, on to Tokyo Disneyland!

I saved the best port-of-call for last – at least in my humble opinion. For me, Mysterious Island is the most imaginative port/land Disney has ever created.

This is the home of Jules Verne and Captain Nemo. Iron girders studded with rivets perched precariously on jagged cliffs give this port an ominous feel. Limited access to this area also makes you sense you’ve entered a private sanctuary of some nefarious being.

Any discussion of Mysterious Island must start in Mediterranean Harbor. It’s here that you get the best exterior view of this port. You can see Mount Prometheus to the left and the outer rim of a great crater that houses this port to the right. Periodically during the day, the volcano starts to rumble and smoke begins to billow. Soon, large flames reach skyward and thunderous sounds boom forth.

Look closely under the bridge that leads to Fortress Explorations and you’ll see the Nautilus berthed at its home port of Vulcania.

This is what Disney calls the “draw” concept. By putting something of interest within sight, but beyond your immediate reach makes you want to explore and discover. You can see the “draw” concept used in every Magic Kingdom around the world. The carousel is always placed just beyond the castle. That’s so guests can see it turning through the entrance and are “drawn” into Fantasyland.

Mysterious Island sits in the middle of Tokyo DisneySea. Entrance can be gained through four other ports: Mediterranean Harbor, Port Discovery, Mermaid Lagoon and Arabian Coast. In all cases, access is gained by walking through tunnels, some short and some long. This helps make the port all the more forbidden.

When entering the crater for the first time, most guests walk to one of the railings and just gaze out over the many sights.

A miniature submarine is suspended from the 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea queue.

A unique boring machine is ready to start its “Journey to the Center of the Earth.”

The side of Mount Prometheus is coated with a recent lava flow. Large iron-mesh screens have been erected to stop molten rock from splattering passing guests. Steam pours from crevasses and you can hear hissing sounds as it escapes.

A DisneySea Transit Steamer passes beneath you.

The Nautilus is not counted as an attraction as you can’t actually board the vessel. Instead, this is just a photo opportunity.

I have to admit, this is one of my very few disappointments at DisneySea. At Discoveryland in Disneyland Paris, you can also see the Nautilus berthed next to Space Mountain. There, you can actually board the ship and explore some of its compartments.

There are two attractions in Mysterious Island, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and Journey to the Center of the Earth. Let’s start with the latter.

To get to Journey to the Center of the Earth you must enter a cave that leads directly under Mount Prometheus. Once inside, you can see the drill bits from the boring machine you saw earlier digging into the mountain.

The queue is interesting as it is divided into two sections. The first portion passes by an array of experiments being conducted by unseen scientists. You will also encounter more lava flows inside the volcano.

You then enter an elevator to travel deep within the mountain. Audio and visual effects enhance this ride.

When you exit the elevator, you enter a second queue. Here you’ll see enormous drilling equipment that has been used to excavate the tunnels you will soon be traveling through. Eventually, you board a 6-passenger vehicle that was designed for exploring deep within the earth. This attraction uses the same ride technology as Test Track in Epcot.

As the ride begins, you start downward and encounter beautiful flora and fauna found nowhere else on earth. Lovely crystals and waterfalls delight the eye.

But as you venture deeper and deeper into the shaft, things become more foreboding. Now the plant and animal life take on a treacherous look. What was once tranquil is now dangerous. Lightning bolts spark nearby followed by a loud clap of thunder. Flames explode beside your vehicle. Suddenly, a lava-monster rises up and starts his attack.

Your once leisurely ride has been turned into a nightmare. To escape, your vehicle shifts into high gear and lurches upward through the mountain. Suddenly, daylight is in sight and you burst outside and down a steep slope.

Still at top speed you re-enter another tunnel that travels the perimeter of the crater. You burst outside one more time to traverse a bridge then plunge back into darkness. Your vehicle slows quickly and you’re finally back in a safe environment.

This is a must-see attraction. Lines can be very long during busy periods.

The other attraction in Mysterious Island is 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.

The outdoor queue for this attraction is architecturally magnificent. You enter at the upper level of Mysterious Island and spiral your way down to sea level. Suspended from this structure is a miniature submarine – the type you will soon be boarding. On busy days, there is a secondary queue that passes by appropriate props and maps.

The mini-subs hold six people. Two people face out a window to the right, two face a window on the left, and two face a forward window. Definitely, the forward facing window offers the best view and it’s worth requesting and waiting for. Also, the seats in these subs are small. Larger Americans might also want separate seats. In addition, the windows are low and anyone over 5’7” will have to scrunch down to see out. In other words, it’s cramped in here.

These subs are suspended from an overhead track (similar to the Peter Pan attraction) and they do not actually enter any water. But special effects built into the viewing windows make you believe you’re actually descending and surfacing. Also, the track rises and falls along your journey adding to the illusion of submersion. Since there isn’t any real water involved with this attraction, Disney has better control of the environment than its predecessors at Disneyland and Disney World.

Captain Nemo narrates your journey, entirely in Japanese. I’m sure I’m missing a few nuances, but here’s the story as best as I can make out.

Your voyage begins peacefully enough. You see beds of kelp, coral, and a fish here and there. You also pass over a sunken ship. Then, in the distance, you see a large eye peering at you. As you get closer you discover it’s a giant squid, intent on wreaking havoc on your sub. In order to repel your attacker, you electrify your vessel. As you do, you see the current spread across the ocean floor and eventually shock the monster.

Your sub continues on its journey, but is now dangerously low on power. As you approach the City of Atlantis, you start to see strange alien-like creatures staring at you from behind rocks and plants. You also start to see specks of light coming from crystals. Then you see the shadow of one of these creature swim by your sub, holding a crystal in his hands. You soon discover that these keepers of Atlantis are friendly and can use these mystical crystals to repower your sub and send you home.

Photos are not allowed on this attraction. And even if they were, it would be difficult to snap a good picture as the lighting is extremely low and your vehicle is moving at a steady clip.

The main eatery in this port is a restaurant called Vulcania. Built into the side of the crater, this is a buffeteria that serves Chinese cuisine. The interior of the restaurant is as spectacular as the rest of Mysterious Island and is designed to look like a geothermal power station that provides energy for Captain Nemo’s base.

Lastly, there is a shop called Nautilus Gifts. Here you’ll find souvenirs with a nautical or science-fiction theme.

This is my last blog about Tokyo DisneySea. I hope you’ve enjoyed reading a little about this magnificent park. I know I enjoyed sharing it with you and I can’t wait until my next trip – probably in another five to seven years. Sigh.

Next, I'll share some of the emails I have received from all of you and then I will move on to Tokyo Disneyland.

Mermaid Lagoon is the one port at Tokyo DisneySea that caters to young children.

That’s not to say that teenagers and adults won’t get a smile from the whimsical atmosphere, but the attractions are simple and geared towards the little ones.

The exterior of Mermaid Lagoon looks like Ariel’s underwater kingdom. Spiraling towers, in a rainbow of colors, reach to the sky. Seashells abound and interesting rock formations weave their way from grotto to tide pool. Numerous waterfalls complete the setting.

Look closely at the tile work, you just might find the Little Mermaid gang and a hidden Mickey.

Before entering Triton’s Kingdom, let’s first explore the two attractions outside of his underwater lair. The first is Flounder’s Flying Fish Coaster. This is a “kiddy” coaster comparable to “The Barnstormer at Goofy's Wiseacre Farm” in the Magic Kingdom in Florida. This is a visually appealing attraction.

You board a coaster that looks like Flounder – well, Flounder if he’d been flattened by an iron. The coaster is bright yellow and travels on a track of blue, to resemble the sea. This 60-second ride makes several spins around a rock formation and over a variety of plants that are supposed to be reminiscent of the ocean floor. There is a nice viewing spot so as one parent rides with their child, the other can snap some great pictures.

The other outdoor attraction is Scuttle’s Scooters. On this attraction you board “Sand Crabs” built for two. Your journey takes you round and round and up and down. And if that’s not enough, your Crab Shells also rotate this way and that with each revolution. Overhead, Scuttle keeps a watchful eye on the activities. Although this is a tame ride, if you’re prone to motion sickness, I’d skip this one.

It always amazes me when I get home from a vacation and look at my pictures. No matter how many I take (hundreds), I still miss things and Scuttle’s Scooters is something I missed. Here’s the best I have. Sorry.

Now it’s time to go deep “Under the Sea” and enter Triton’s Kingdom.

You enter a cave-like opening and come face-to-face with Triton being pulled in his carriage by two dolphins. From here, you continue down a ramp as you venture further beneath the sea. Occasional openings in the rocks give you a glimpse of his kingdom below.

Your adventure begins once you reach the ocean floor. Dark blue walls, purple floors, and green vegetation, combined with numerous lighting effects create a fanciful feeling of being beneath the sea. Once again, the attractions here are intended for the young.

Jumpin’ Jellyfish is a cute ride that relies more on atmosphere than thrills. Here, two guests sit in a seashell suspended from the tentacles of the giant jellyfish. The ride consists of the jellyfish rising and falling slowly. The best seats are near the front of the attraction as this will give you a better view of Triton’s Kingdom.

The next attraction is Blowfish Balloon Race. On this ride, guests sit in a four-person carriage, suspended beneath a colorful blowfish – or should I say, hot-air-balloon blowfish. When the blowfish begin their circular race, they “float” up into the air and centrifugal force pushes your carriage outward. Once again, the thrill is mild, but perfect for children.

The Whirlpool is a reworking of the Mad Tea Party in Fantasyland. But instead of riding in teacups, you ride in kelp cups (huh?). Six, four-passenger kelp cups move in a figure eight while the spinning is controlled by a wheel in the middle of your cup. The capacity for this attraction is low so lines can be long. Definitely not for anyone who doesn’t like to spin.

Like most of Mermaid Lagoon, Ariel’s Playground is also for the children, although adults are welcome. Here, they can explore a number of vignettes from Disney’s animated film The Little Mermaid. See a statue of Prince Eric. Explore a dark cave. Watch Grimsby get seasick. This is a great spot for little ones to wear off some energy.

The one attraction in Mermaid Lagoon that adults will enjoy as much as their children is a live show called Under the Sea presented in the Mermaid Lagoon Theater. This production is presented “in the round” and a good deal of it is presented overhead, affording everyone an excellent seat. Live performances, large puppets, and audioanimatronics are combined to recreate an abbreviated telling of the Little Mermaid. The acrobatics of Ariel swimming through the ocean are amazing and the puppetry of Sebastian the Crab is inventive. This is a very popular show and lines tend to be long.

If you get hungry while in Mermaid Lagoon, stop for a bite to eat at Sebastian’s Calypso Kitchen. This is a counter service restaurant specializing in pizzas and calzones, many with seafood toppings.

One of the cutest shops you’ll every see is the Sleepy Whale Shoppe. As you might expect, much of the merchandise sold here has a Little Mermaid theme.

Mermaid Lagoon has a number of very cute signs.

Mermaid Lagoon is another option I’d like to see Disney consider for the unused land that used to be the “20,000 Leagues Under The Sea” attraction in the Magic Kingdom. This would be a perfect fit for Fantasyland.

Next stop, Mysterious Island.

Arabian Coast is a sprawling port full of minarets, colorful domes, pointed arches, and winding streets.

The buildings all look like they were built out of sandstone and clay bricks. There is a sense of being very far away, in a hot and arid desert.

If approaching Arabian Coast from Lost River Delta, the first attraction you come to is Sinbad’s Storybook Voyage (SSV).

This is a boat ride comparable to Pirates of the Caribbean, minus the waterfalls. Disney expected SSV to be a major draw as its scope was large and encompassing. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out that way. From what I understand, the Japanese people aren’t all that familiar with the story of Sinbad and this attraction often had minimal lines while the rest of the park was busy.

To try to remedy this, last year the attraction was closed for a major refurbishment. One of their first goals was to change the storyline and soften the foreboding feel. In the original version, Sinbad had a beard. In the second incarnation, he’s clean shaven for a less sinister look. The Giant in the first version was vengeful. Now he’s grateful. And Sinbad was given a sidekick in this second go-round, Chandu. This is a cute little tiger cub that helps Sinbad conquer evil. And finally, a very melodic song, written by Alan Menken, was added for Sinbad to sing. I really like this new music, but unfortunately, it hasn’t been released on CD yet.

To be honest, I thoroughly enjoyed the previous ride, but with the addition of the new song and Chandu, this is now one of my favorite attractions at Tokyo DisneySea. However, I’m not so sure that the Japanese agree with me since this attraction still had minimal or no lines during my visit.

I must apologize. I had a new camera on my latest trip to Tokyo and I was still figuring out how to use it. Unfortunately, all of my interior pictures of the new SSV were out of focus. The following pictures were all taken five years ago, before the refurbishment. For the most part, they will still give you an accurate depiction of the attraction.

I know that the audioanimatronics look very “Small Worldish.” Trust me, this is not the case. These AA’s have full body movement. They are very sophisticated.

For sale in a nearby shop, you can buy a plush Chandu (imagine that). Since I love this attraction so much, I just had to have one. However, I bought the smaller version as I had no idea where I was going to put it once I got home.

After leaving Sinbad’s Storybook Voyage you walk through the streets of Agrabah.

As you’d expect, this area is filled with shops and eateries. You’ll also find several humorous props such as a magic rope and a silly camel. If you're wondering why there are no people in many of these pictures, it's because I was in the park during "early opening" for MiraCosta guests.

At the far end of Arabian Coast is a beautiful courtyard. This is a festive area that makes you feel like you’re in the center of a vast marketplace. It’s in this area that you’ll also find a major food court and two more attractions. I’m hungry so let’s start with the restaurant.

The Casbah Food Court is a large eatery that offers beef and chicken curries, tandoori chicken, seafood chow mein, salads, and desserts.

The food-ordering area was designed to look like the marketplace from the Disney animated film Aladdin.

The dining area is elaborate. Ornate chandeliers, intricately carved tables and chairs, tile floors and sumptuous wall coverings make you feel like you’re dining with royalty. Unfortunately, I don’t have a picture of this dining room. Sorry.

Next to the Casbah Food Court is the Magic Lamp Theater. This show is unique for Disney as it mixes live action performances and a 3D movie. But before you actually go into the theater, you enter a preshow area. Here, an audioanimatronic snake and an animated, genderless character, dressed in Arabian garb, set up the story to come.

Inside the main theater, you don your 3D glasses and the animated character from the preshow is now a real human being and is joined by a somewhat insane magician. Antics pursue until the Genie from Aladdin appears overhead on a large screen. The effects are seamless as the real live performers interact with the animated 3D Genie.

This show is presented entirely in Japanese and the audience laughs often. But even if you don’t speak the language, you will still enjoy the antics and special effects. This attraction is popular and often has long lines.

Note: When I returned home and finally got around to reading the DisneySea Guide Map that is available everywhere, I found that English Subtitles can be arranged by seeing a Cast Member before the show starts. Silly me.

The last attraction in Arabian Coast is Caravan Carousel. This is a two-story merry-go-round where young and old can ride many of the characters from the Aladdin movie. The upstairs section of this ride is more popular than the lower section and thus, has longer lines.

Next stop, Mermaid Lagoon.

Deep in the jungles of 1930’s Central America you’ll find El Rio Perdido, “The Lost River.”

This river actually splits Lost River Delta in half as it runs through a lush tropical forest, by ancient ruins, and finally, past a shanty town.

This is an area ripe for discovery by the archeologists of the day. Look closely at the river and you might just spot the seaplane that rescued Indiana Jones in his very first adventure. Also, pay attention to the plane’s identification number.

The first attraction you’ll come to on the upper bank of the river is Mystic Rhythms. This is a big production show presented five times a day in the Hangar Stage.

The exterior of Hangar Stage looks run down – as if it’s been abandoned and left for the jungle to reclaim it. A crashed airplane sits nearby, rusting in the elements. Inside the hanger, you’ll find a large theatre that holds 1,140 guests.

The setting for the show is deep within a Central American jungle. Here, actors take on the roles of many animals, including jaguars that skulk along the ground and birds that gracefully fly through the trees or swing from vines. Indigenous people of this area celebrate life by dancing and chanting. A beautiful set that features waterfalls, fire effects, and smoke help add to the lush atmosphere.

This show has elements of Cirque du Soleil, La Nouba as actors “dance” in the air while swinging from ribbons of cloth. The music is primitive with a strong tribal beat. It’s more about “setting a mood” than telling a story.

Down the road from Hanger Stage you’ll wander into a small, run-down village. On one side of the road you’ll find Miguel's El Dorado Cantina. This is a counter service restaurant that serves unauthentic Mexican food.

When I ate here five years ago, I found white, sticky rice in my burrito. Not exactly what I’m used to. I ate here again on this last trip and I’m happy to report, the food has improved. But as someone who grew up in Southern California, it still has a long way to go to be considered “authentic.”

There is plenty of seating divided between two levels. On the upper level you’ll often find a mariachi band performing while the seats on the lower level are more tranquil and afford a peaceful view of the river.

Next to the restaurant is Lost River Outfitters. This shop offers Indiana Jones merchandise as well as Aztec and Mayan jewelry and bric-a-brac.

Across from the shop is the third station of the DisneySea Transit Steamer Line. This is a scenic boat ride that circles the many ports around the park. Guests boarding here will be required to exit at the Mediterranean Harbor station.

There are three bridges that cross El Rio Perdido. It’s on the lower banks of the water that you’ll find the real excitement of Lost River Delta.

Dominating the skyline is an ancient Mayan pyramid and this is where you’ll discover the Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Crystal Skull.

Much of the queue for this attraction winds its way through the jungle outside of the pyramid, until you finally enter this foreboding structure. The remaining queue wanders through labyrinth of Mayan statues and artifacts.

For those of you who have ridden the Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Forbidden Eye at Disneyland, this attraction is VERY similar – in fact, the tract layout is identical.

The storyline in DisneySea is that you’re looking for the Fountain of Youth but it’s protected by the unforgiving, mystical spirit known as the Crystal Skull. Taking pictures while on the attraction is not allowed so I have nothing to show you here.

For those of you who have not ridden the Disneyland version of this ride, it’s similar to “Dinosaur” at Disney's Animal Kingdom. You ride in motion-simulator jeeps and travel from one harrowing adventure to the next. Dart-blowing statues, large snakes, blasts of fire, thousands of insects, and a dozen other evil forces try to thwart your efforts as you search for the Fountain of Youth.

This is a must see attraction. In fact, I list the Tokyo and California version of this ride as one of my absolute favorites. Unfortunately, I think “Dinosaur,” which uses the same vehicles and track layout, pales in comparison.

As you venture along the exterior of the pyramid and decaying temple, you’ll come across Yucatan Base Camp. This is another counter service restaurant that serves barbecued specialties, fresh salads, and desserts. Live entertainment is also on hand while you enjoy your meal.

I especially like the atmosphere here. The outside tables are interspersed between a current archeological dig. Look carefully and you’ll find ancient statuary, pottery, picks and shovels, lanterns, and human skeletons.

It’s also in this area that you might just find a crate addressed to Harrison Hightower.

A little further down the road you’ll come to Raging Spirits. This is a roller coaster fashioned to look like runaway mine cars. For those of you who have been to Disneyland Paris, Raging Spirits uses the exact same track layout and cars as the Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril roller coaster in Adventureland. However, I think the DisneySea version is visually more appealing.

The storyline is that vengeful spirits have been awakened by the archeological dig and are angry with all who pass this way.

Personally, I think this attraction is a disappointment. From what I understand, when it first opened, it jostled guests around so much that there were constant complaints at Guest Relations. To remedy the problem, the restraints were padded, and then padded some more. Now when you’re secured in your seat, you have absolutely NO movement whatsoever. So it really doesn’t matter what the coaster does, you’re “glued” in. All the excitement is gone.

This attraction does have some nice effects including a 360 degree loop and a blast of steam as you make your final turn. But overall, there is very little thrill here.

That’s it for Lost River Delta. Next stop, Arabian Coast.

It’s difficult to describe Port Discovery.

I’ve heard it called the “Tomorrowland” of DisneySea and the “Marina of the Future.” Either way, it weaves science and fantasy into an intriguing mix. The storyline for Port Discovery is that it’s home to the “Center for Weather Control.” Here, new experiments to manipulate the climate are always underway.

There are three attractions in Port Discovery, Aquatopia, StormRider, and DisneySea Electric Railway.

Let’s start with Aquatopia.

Aquatopia is one of the most visually appealing attractions you’ll ever see. Its thrills are mild, but watching these little vehicles maneuver in what looks like absolute chaos is delightful. This is an open-air attraction with many good vantage points from which to take someone’s picture.

Each vehicle holds two people. As you leave the loading area, you enter a giant lagoon of water that’s approximately four inches deep. There is no track as the vehicles are controlled by a master computer that relays directional information to each individual unit from a number of towers positioned in the lagoon. This allows different vehicles to take different routes, adding to the confusion of the experience. As you move about the lagoon, you spin, travel forwards, travel backwards, almost get wet from random jets of water, and nearly hit the other cars as you maneuver your way through an unknown route. This attraction is a lot of fun for kids and adults.

At night, Aquatopia is especially beautiful as each vehicle is lit from underneath, giving it an eerie glow as it moves about the lagoon.

I was very disappointed when Disney removed the 20,000 Leagues attraction from the Magic Kingdom in Florida. But after the decision was made, I was hoping that they might replace it with Aquatopia. Maybe make the vehicles look like fish and give the attraction a “Little Mermaid” theme. I think this would have made a great ride for all ages and been fun to watch from the sidelines. But alas, Disney doesn’t call me and ask for my opinion. LOL. Below is a rendering I created of what this attraction might have looked like if built in the Magic Kingdom.

The big draw in Port Discovery is StormRider.

The story line is this, The Center for Weather Control (CWC) has invented a “Storm Diffusion Device” that when detonated within a disturbance neutralizes the energy and renders the storm harmless. While watching a small-scale demonstration of this new technology in the pre-show area, guests are informed that a large typhoon is approaching Port Discovery and everyone is invited to board one of the CWC’s flying laboratories and observe this new invention first hand.

After we board the plane, we secure our safety restraints and wait for take off. We’re afforded a good view from a large window positioned at the front of the plane as we become airborne and fly directly into the approaching typhoon. The new “Storm Diffusion Device” is fired, but a mishap occurs and the missile crashes into our cabin, ready to detonate in a matter of seconds. But being a Disney attraction, a happy ending is eventually achieved and the CWC can proclaim success with their new invention.

This attraction can best be described as Star Tours on steroids. It is a motion simulator ride that holds about twice as many people as its space counterpart. In addition, there are more on-board special effects than on Star Tours.

No picture taking is allowed in either the pre-show area or the plane’s cabin so I have no photos that I can share with you. But here’s what the attraction poster looks like.

The last attraction in Port Discovery is DisneySea Electric Railway. This is the same ride I mentioned when talking about the New York City section of American Waterfront. This is an elevated electric trolley line that shuttles guests between these two ports. Guests board these trolleys from the upper level of Port Discovery for a one-way trip.

The Horizon Bay Restaurant is a buffeteria-style eatery that serves steaks and seafood from an open kitchen. At times, the seating area is split and half of the restaurant offers character dining.

The last few pictures are just some props and backdrops that make up the overall atmosphere of the area.

Next blog, Lost River Delta.

The next section of American Waterfront I’m going to discuss is the New York Harbor area.

The most prominent feature here is the S.S. Columbia.

This ship harkens back to the Gilded Age when luxury liners sailed between New York and Southampton. You can board this ship and wander around several of its outside decks. You will even find a shuffleboard court, a standard on all passenger liners of the time.

One of the things that helps make this ship look so real is that it backs up onto Tokyo Bay. When viewing the Columbia from a distance, you can see the ocean in the background so it takes on a realism that would be difficult to recreate in a landlocked park. Also, this ship is large. You don’t feel like you’re looking at a scaled-down version.

Along side of the Columbia is a tug boat, maneuvering the ship into port.

The interior of the ship is elegant, just as you’d expect from a first class ocean liner. Dark woods, damask wall coverings, and ornate statues greet guests as they enter the ship.

Located on “B” Deck you’ll find the S.S. Columbia Dining Room. This is an elegant restaurant, worthy of the millionaires that sailed on these ships in the early 20th century. This is a full service restaurant, offering multi-course meals, an impressive wine list, and soft piano music.

Several times a day, a show is presented on the Dockside Stage called “Over the Waves.” The story revolves around the Columbia setting sail on a “dream cruise” when the Disney characters get involved in the festivities.

Next door to the Columbia is a freight terminal. Here, guests can enjoy an elaborate, all-you-can-eat buffet while sitting beneath cargo from ports around the world.

Much of the rest of the harbor area is devoted to wharfs and piers where you’ll find water craft from dinghies to schooners tied up to the docks. This is truly a wonderful place just to wander and soak up the atmosphere.

To get to the Cape Cod section from the harbor area, you must cross a bridge and round a piece of land that juts out into the “ocean.”

You see, in order to keep the realism alive, Cape Cod cannot be seen from the bustling New York section of American Waterfront, so it’s tucked away in a secluded cove. And while crossing the bridge, keep a watch out for interesting plaques posted on the stone supports.

There are two attractions in Cape Cod, Big City Vehicles and the DisneySea Transit Steamer Line.

The Big City Vehicles are vintage automobiles that take a small number of guests on a leisurely drive to the New York City section of American Waterfront. This is one-way ride and the distance is sizable so plan accordingly.

The DisneySea Transit Steamer Line is a scenic boat ride that circles the many ports around the park. There are three stations and depending on which station you board, you will be required to exit at a different place. However, when boarding in Cape Cod, you make no stops and return to your original station.

Cape Cod feels like a real town as it has many of the facilities you’d expect to see in a seaside village such as a church, cannery, fire department, boat builder and numerous other places of business. In order to make the volcano in the background blend in, the rocks on this side of the mountain are reminiscent of the boulders you’d find in New England.

Inside the church and fire department you’ll find a counter service restaurant called Cape Cod Cook-Off. The menu is typically all American, serving hamburgers, sandwiches, and salads. What makes this eatery different is the live entertainment that’s presented in the dining area. While enjoying your meal you can watch continuous shows featuring Donald Duck cartoons and live performances starring Donald and many of his friends. This is a fun spot for lunch.

Humor is also alive and well in Cape Cod.

First, there’s Mickey mimicking the classic pose of the Fisherman Statue found in Gloucester, MA. Musicians singing sea chanteys can also be found performing in front of this statue throughout the day.

Then there’s this interesting sign.

For those of you who don’t get the joke, D.B. Cooper was the man who hijacked a Boeing 727 in 1971 and parachuted from the plane with $200K in ransom money. What I find interesting about this joke and so many others scattered around the park is that the typical Japanese guest, even those that read English well, would never understand the humor because they don’t share our background.

A lighthouse stands guard over this small harbor. This is also a popular “make out” spot for young lovers after the sun sets as the location is rather remote.

Next port of call, Port Discovery.

American Waterfront can be divided into three sections, New York City, New York Harbor, and Cape Cod.

The time? Just after the turn of the 20th century.

Let’s start with New York City. This is the first section of American Waterfront that you come to when leaving Mediterranean Harbor. McDuck’s Department Store greets you as you start your walk down either of two streets.

The street to the left would be considered the “better neighborhood” of the two. Here, the buildings are nicely kept and the paint is fresh. Take the time to read some of the advertisements in the windows. There are so many clever signs and very often, the same name pops up again and again as a story starts to emerge.

The street to the right is closer to the docks and part of it runs underneath the elevated railway. These aspects contribute to give this area a seedier feel. The street has a more run-down atmosphere to it. The detail here is outstanding. Both of these streets are far superior to the “Streets of America” at Disney's Hollywood Studios.

The New York City section of American Waterfront is also where you can board one of the Big City Vehicles. These are old fashioned automobiles that take you on leisurely drive through the City, along the Harbor, and finally ending in the Cape Cod section. This is a one-way trip so plan accordingly.

One of the big attractions in this area is the Broadway Music Theatre. This is a first-rate theatre. The kind you’d actually find on Broadway – not what you’d associate with a theme park. The stage has multiple elevators, a huge fly area, and seating for 1,500 people. The shows produced here are top notch and professional in every sense.

Currently playing at the Broadway Music Theatre is “Big Band Beat.” An energetic group of tap dancers and singers are backed up by a twelve-piece orchestra that sits at the back of the stage. The thirty minute production is presented in English and climaxes with Mickey Mouse on the drums and then he joins the dancers in a big finale. This is a “must see” show!

Close to the theatre you will find the DisneySea Electric Railway. This is an elevated electric trolley reminiscent of those found in many east coast American cities in the early 1900’s. The trolleys run from American Waterfront to Port Discovery. This is a one-way trip and you must exit and re-queue to return.

One of the most recent additions to Tokyo DisneySea is the Tower of Terror. However, this tower varies in several ways from its cousins in other Disney parks. In Paris and California, the exterior of the buildings have a Spanish motif while in Florida the building has a Moroccan flavor. The Tower in Tokyo is built of red brick and has a gothic feel. To me, the Tokyo Tower is the most elaborate and beautiful of the four.

Another change to the Tokyo attraction was necessitated because the Japanese are not familiar with the Twilight Zone television series. To remedy this, the Imagineers came up with a completely new storyline. Since the tours of the hotel are presented in Japanese, English speaking guests are given a handout explaining the storyline. The following five paragraphs are a direct quote from that handout.

“Welcome to the ‘Tower of Terror’ tour, presented by The New York City Preservation Society. On New Year’s Eve in 1899, explorer, antiquities collector and multi-millionaire Harrison Hightower III held a press conference in the luxurious Hotel Hightower to announce his latest find – a statue called ‘Shiriki Utundu’ which he had acquired in a remote region of Africa.

That very night, the hotel’s main elevator crashed to the ground with Hightower and the idol inside! Shiriki Utundu was recovered from the shattered elevator, but of Harrison Hightower III there was no sign. He had vanished. After his disappearance, Hotel Hightower was closed. People began calling it the ‘Tower of Terror.’

Rumor has it that Shiriki Utundu is a cursed statue, and that it may have something to do with the disappearance of Mr. Hightower.

As you tour this magnificent building and view Harrison Hightower’s collection of rare art from across the globe, you will also hear about the mystery of his disappearance.

The tour climaxes with a ride on the service elevator up to the top floor to see Mr. Hightower’s penthouse. Please enjoy the ride.”

In the pre-show room, we see a stained-glass likeness of Harrison Hightower and a statue of Shiriki Utundu sitting on a pedestal. As the story unfolds Mr. Hightower’s image changes from an arrogant robber-baron to a very fearful man. Then the lights dim and Shiriki Utundu disappears from sight. The effects are excellent and sets the stage for the terror to come.

From here we enter the storerooms that house Mr. Hightower’s vast collection of art that he’s commandeered from around the world. Eventually, we’re taken to an elevator for our journey to the penthouse. An interesting note, the elevators in Tokyo’s Tower have shoulder harnesses as well as lap restraints.

The exterior of the building also adds a bit of excitement to the show. Before each elevator drops, a flash of green light erupts from Mr. Hightower’s penthouse and then the light travels to the window of the next elevator to fall.

Photographs of Harrison Hightower can be seen throughout the attraction. A keen eye will notice that Mr. Hightower bears a striking resemblance to Joe Rhode, designer of the Animal Kingdom.

I can’t say that the Tokyo version of this attraction is better than the other Towers around the world. But with the storyline being so different, it does add a new excitement level. The Tokyo attraction does not have the 4th dimension room like the one in Florida. Instead, the elevator makes a second stop on its way to the top as do the Towers in California and Paris.

To give you an idea of how detailed Tokyo DisneySea is, check out the excavation site in the Lost River Delta section of the park. You might stumble across some crates address to Harrison Hightower.

My next blog will discuss the New York Harbor and Cape Cod sections of American Waterfront.

I guess you could call Mediterranean Harbor the Main Street of Tokyo DisneySea.

You enter this port of call by walking underneath the MiraCosta Hotel (instead of a train station), and to either side and beyond this walkway is an array of shops.

There is a Japanese custom to bring gifts home to give to family and friends when traveling, and cookies and candies make the perfect remembrance. To accommodate this need, a number of shops sell nothing but decorative tins full of these taste treats.

A cute sign can also be found in this area that says, Piazza Topolino Nord. This translates to North Mickey Mouse Square. You see, the Italians call Mickey Mouse, Topolino.

For those of you who haven’t caught on, DisneySEA is all about the oceans and seas of the world. Each area of the park represents a different water-related locale. Thus, Mediterranean Harbor is a seaside village overlooking a sizeable marina. This is the largest body of water in the park and this is where the daytime and nighttime pageants are performed. There are no parades at DisneySea.

The current nighttime show is called BraviSEAmo. This is the story of how the “Spirit of Water” meets the “Spirit of Fire” and they fall in love. The show begins with elaborate fountains erupting around Mediterranean Harbor. Then, the “Spirit of Fire” rises from the sea in all its glory, eventually setting the entire harbor on fire. This show gives Illuminations in Epcot a run for its money.

Mediterranean Harbor is also the area where you’ll watch the fireworks.

Since Disneyland and DisneySea sit somewhat back-to-back, both parks watch the same firework display, but to different music.

Disney planned this area well and built excellent viewing spots all around the harbor. Many of these locations are either raked or stair-stepped to afford excellent views to as many guests as possible.

Another nice detail, Disney hid sound and lighting equipment underground and in various structures around Mediterranean Harbor. Then, right before a show begins, trap doors open and up rises large poles with spotlights and speakers attached. Below is an example of one of these structures.

Hidden away in a back area of Mediterranean Harbor is the Venetian section. Here, guests can board authentic gondolas for a trip along a canal, under bridges, and out into the harbor. All the while, your gondolier sings and tells jokes. Since I don’t speak Japanese, I don’t have a clue as to what he was saying, but everyone else on the boat seemed to be amused. These gondolas are not on tracks and are propelled by the gondolier.

Separating Mediterranean Harbor from American Waterfront is a bridge reminiscent of Ponte Vecchio, the old bridge in Florence, Italy. There really isn’t much on this bridge except a few vendor carts. Its real function is to add more viewing for the water pageants and provide a walkway to other areas of the park.

Another attraction in Mediterranean Harbor is the DisneySea Transit Steamer Line. This ride has three stations, the other two being in American Waterfront and Lost River Delta. This is not a hop-on, hop-off attraction. Depending on which station you load, you will be required to exit at another station. In this case, if you load at Mediterranean Harbor, you will exit at Lost River Delta.