Like a Child in Glee at The Tokyo DisneySea

I visited Tokyo DisneySea theme park on a February, winter was about to end and spring time was almost looming but oh boy, temperature was still finger cracking cold.

I was going to visit on a Saturday and was told that there could be many school children visiting so I passed by the Tokyo Station the evening before to secure my train ticket in advance. It was nice to have a Japanese colleague with me since he was able to guide me to the ticket counter and walk me through the Disney line.

So on a glorious Saturday morning, I woke up like a little kid, excited for my very first Tokyo DisneySea adventure. With my good ol’ Canon camera and layers after layers of clothes, off I went to the Tokyo Train Station.

From the Yaesu entrance, I turned right and simply followed the signs to the red line, which was actually the Tokyo Disney Line. One can’t miss the platform by following the kids with Disney backpacks marching like ants.

Using the Keiyo Line, travel time is only 15 minutes from Tokyo Station to Maihama Station passing through six stations until where we stopped to embark on this lovely adventure,

From there, I transferred to another train that goes around the Tokyo Disney Resort and got off at the DisneySea. Arriving at about 930am, the line was already surprisingly long with kids and foreign visitors abound. The ticket costs about 75 USD.

As the gate opened, I was immediately charmed by the colors and unique glow that the theme park readily exudes — flowers are so red, the sky so blue and the music is enthralling.

The Tokyo DisneySea is a 70-ha theme park at the in Urayasu, Chiba,Japan, about 20 kilometers in Outer Tokyo. Built in 2001, it is amazing to note that it is the 5th most visited theme park in the world with almost 12 million visitors hosted in 2011. It is one of the two parks nestled on the Tokyo Disney Resort lot, the other being the regular Tokyo Disneyland. Having visited Tokyo Disneyland in Hong Kong already, I decided to check out DisneySea instead for lack of time. Built and owned by the Oriental Land Company, these twin parks are the only Disney parks in the world which are not owned by the Walt Disney Company.

As the name says so, DisneySea has a great nautical feel into the whole theme park. It is divided into seven sub theme areas called “ports” – American Waterfront, Lost River Delta, Port Discovery, Mermaid Lagoon, Arabian Coast, and Mysterious Island.

Visitors are greeted with the iconic “water globe” called the Aquasphere, which conveniently serves as the starting or meeting point. In this area also, one can find the locker rooms where they can keep unnecessary stuff which may not be needed during their daylong sight seeing.

After having my photo taken with the “globe”, I proceeded to explore the park. Upon entry, one will be treated to the romantic allure of the Mediterranean Harbor – with its Italian flavor of al fresco cafes and Venetian gondolas, the port allows lovers to fall in love more and hold hands throughout cobbled pavements. The area also hosts the Hotel Miracosta, an actual functioning hotel and other structures with architecture similar to those in Portofino and other Italian ports.

Like any other theme parks, DisneySea also succumbs to the “long queue” formula. For my first ride on the Gondola, I spent about 45 minutes in the queue before finally getting on.

The Gondola ride was an experience to cherish (for someone who has not been to Venice, at least). Passing through canals and tunnels much like in Italy, the boats are commandeered by tenor voiced boat men who sing romantic ballads all through out the 10 minute ride.

After the ride, I walked through some pavements built to appear like old Italian villages. The cold weather and the awesome music will make you forget that you’re just in a theme park.

After passing through some nice garden walkways, one is led to the Port of Mysterious Island which features Mount Prometheus, a giant volcano whuch also serves as the park’s centerpiece. It also home two popular attractions: “Journey to the Center of the Earth” and “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea”. Obviously influenced by novelist Jules Verne, Victorian style architecture dominates the air.

DisneySea will never be complete without mythical creatures like The Little Mermaid, hence a port of call called the Mermaid Lagoon was strategically placed on the left side of the theme park. Much geared towards the tots and the kids, the area features simulated underwater experience on a mainly indoor area designed like the Palace of King Triton. The younger one s will also have a field day in such attractions like Flounder’s Flying Fish Coaster; Scuttle’s Scooters; Jumpin’ Jellyfish; Blowfish Balloon Race; and tThe Whirlpool. It also has Ariel’s Playground intricately designed with a walk-through attraction that recreates the various settings in the movie; and the Mermaid Lagoon Theater where a musical show “Under the Sea” gives the audience a glimpse of The Little Mermaid.

After a rousing tribute to a beloved Disney movie in Mermaid Lagoon, th theme park gives another nod to a popular Disney animated film “Aladdin” in a port called the Arabian Coast.

Deliciously dark and exotic, this harbor carefully meshed the charm of Arabian Nights and the romance of Aladdin. With attractions like the Storybook Voyage, a boat transit inspired by the “It’s a Small World” staple in all Disneyland resorts, a unique double decker carousel aptly called the Caravan Carousel, and the Magic Lamp Theater, which houses a live-action/animatronic show combined with a 3D movie.

Even more fascinating are the Arabian styled shops and houses which makes one feel like it is actually navigating through the narrow streets of some old middle eastern villages.

At the farthest end of the park, one can find the Lost River Delta. Complete with a Mexican Aztec pyramid which features such atrractions like the Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Crystal Skull, The port also serves as the station for the DisneySea Steamer Line which transports guests back to Mediterranean Harbor. Visitors are also roused from their peaceful walk by ‘Mystic Rhythms’ a live show by the jungle and a scary roller coaster ride called Raging Spirits.

A theme park would not be complete with a zone for futuristic visions. At DisneySea, this is where Port Discovery comes in. With a faux Center for Weather Control, Port Discovery boasts of three major attractions — a simulator ride called the Storm Rider, an overhead train ride called the DisneySea Electric Railway and Aquatopia, a high tech boat ride.

From the future, one is transported back to the vintage era at the American Waterfront. Simulating the early 20th Century US Northeastern Seaboard, this harbour comes like pages from the movie “The Notebook”. Further divided into two sub zones, Old Cape Cod and the New York City Harbor, the area is dominated with two huge pieces – a passenger ship SS Columbia and the Tower of Terror.

With sleepy, laid back American architecture on the background, American Waterfront also hosts musical shows like the Big Band Beat which features swing music with energetic singers and dancers abound.

The lighthouse is good place to looknat the port from afar, and where one can sit comfortably to rest and breathe the fresh retro air.

After the American Waterfront, I was back at the Mediterranean Harbor where a nice elevated walkway provides a good viewing deck to see the The Legend of Mythica, a 25 minute story parade teeming with day time fireworks and amazing special effects.

Unfortunately, on the day of my visit, the nightly fireworks show called “Fantasmic” was cancelled due to the weather. Nonetheless, I will never ever forget the day I visited DisneySea, the cotton candies, the lovely popcorn canisters, the colorful balloons. On that day, I rediscovered my inner child.