Day Five - DisneySea
Day Five - DisneySea
Bob Roginski - Scranton, PA USA
My experience with DisneySea was Far more enjoyable than I expected. My favorite ride was the Journey to the center of the Earth, which I rode a total of six times with John Covan. The ride was excellently themed and had many thrill elements. We also enjoyed the Indiana Jones ride which we rode twice. We made an effort to sample as many of the major attractions as possible.
Malcolm Marr
Islands of Adventure is NOT the best themed park in the world. DisneySea really is stunning, everything is themed, even the paving for blind folk (who will never get to see it) changes around the park and they've even gone so far as to have a full-sized ship to explore. Best attraction is probably the 20,000 as under the Sea ride which is very cleverly done and different depending on where you sit in the vessel. Journey to the Centre of the Earth is a great adaptation of Test Track. The park lacks a great coaster, Raging Spirits isn't it, but this does not detract from the day's enjoyment. Staff are still super friendly, and I'm starting to get the confidence to converse in Japanese with the locals, albeit in pigeon form. Park was quiet enough to get onto everything, without overexploiting the fast pass. In fact towards the end of the day they gave us no benefit whatsoever as the queues were so short. I have taken loads and loads of pictures today, it's that good a park.
B. Derek Shaw
The Imagineers worked overtime on this one. DisneySea is STUNNING! I was impressed with the overall presentation, compared to the Disneyland clone next door in the parking lot.) Even though I'm typically not a Disney-holic, I can appreciate the package they assembled. Details were well done.
Every park employee is trained to say, Have A Nice Day! Also they love to wave and wave and wave (until my hand started to hurt. "Journey" is fantastic - half dark ride, half launch-type coaster experience. Indiana Jones was fun. Flounder's was good and Raging Spirits was tolerable (get rid of the over-the shoulder restraints and loop and the ride would be more respectible.) Again, minimal souvenirs with park logo. Apparantly they don't want or need the additional advertising - the merchandising department missed the boat on this one.
Eric Sakowski
DisneySea was a nice surprise with the best, most extensive theming ever put into a theme park anywhere in the world. The harbor inside of the Journey to the center of the earth ride is ground zero for an ultra realistic Disney created fantasy environment. Ironically the windy weather only added to the oceanside theming within the harbor area where the remnants of the typhoon were still releasing a wrath of violence. The scary weather resulted in short lines and for most, some of the best memories ever to be had at a Disney park.
Martha and AL
I continue to be amazed at the beauty of the japanese theme parks. The employees are so friendly that we are worried that they put something in the drinking water. We are shipping home several gallons just in case. Toyko DisneySea is such "not" a yucky park. It is a combo of BGW, Europa, and Phantasialand. Real pisser was the backlash from the Typhoon that sent tropical storm winds that shut down some water related rides. Raging Spirit sucked. Have to go now-am writing on the coach, Wild Bill Marion is talking about the restaurant that serves cooked bull penis.
Andreas Lindemuth
Disney Sea takes theming and service to a new level. The only amusement park where trays are carried to your table in a self service restaurant. Ride operators still smile and wave at you even if you are rider number 784,766 on that day. Theming is more realistic than the real thing, including painted "rust" on steel constuctions. Don't go to this park for its coasters. Raging Spirits is slightly better than its counterpart in Paris, but still bad. The coaster part on "Journey to the Center of the Earth" is smooth and fun, but "20,000 Leagues under the Sea" is the better ride experience overall. But the park highlight is the theming, and it's just stunning.
Richard Bannister
What on earth is a monstrosity such as Raging Spirits doing in such a high class park? And more to the point, why on earth did Disney spend what is reported to be fifty million dollars on a ride with all the comfort and fun value of the average travelling Pinfari? This little whinge aside, it is a rare thing indeed to see such a spectacular park. It is truly a testament to what the Disney Imagineers can do when they're given a blank chequebook. Superb shows, excellent dark rides, beautiful theming, and more made for a truly immersive experience. In fact - to make this a perfect park, perhaps the two coasters could be removed? :)
Patrick Flumet
Back to Disney!!!!! C'est comme prevu incroyable et les deux parcs rivalisent d'inventions pour etre plus beaux et plus attractifs les uns des autres. Disney Sea est mon favori surement parce que c'etait la premiere fois que jy allais vu que c'est le seul du genre. Les coasters sont OK mais les attractions comme "Le voyage au centre de la terre" vous coupent le souflle par leur theming et leur ingeniosite. Sans parler de la surprise!
Excellentes journees que ces deux dernier jours.
Bob Armstrong
DisneySea was the best Disney day Cheri & I have ever had. Journey to the Center of the Earth was probably the best attraction in the park. I think we did it three times. The park has many really neat attractions.
Christopher Smith
Two days of Disney, and we were transported to the worlds of Jules Verne, Indiana Jones, and Buzz Lightyear amongst others. These parks provided great themed rides, and the rain provided opportunities for Disney induced shopping sprees. Dave, Ivan, Jenny, myself and a few others took a shopping trip to 'electric town' following Disney world, and although we were very late and 'specialist' shops with only magazines, videos, hand held devices and costumes were open, we were not deterred and had a look around and in many places purchases were made!! I'll sign off with a shout out to Anna, Kat, Kirsty, J and Sal, see you soon...
Marlon Scott
Had my first "Japanese Breakfast" this morning. Miso soup, asst veggies, something that looked like seaweed, fish, some kind of chewy, twisted noodle, White gooey stuff (yuck!), cold pork soup with an egg, and roasted tea. It was mostly good, but more like something I'd have at the end of the day. The buffet they have at the other restaurant is absolute top!
Mike & Kammy Sislofsky
Since we haven't written since the beginning of the trip, we will summarize quickly. It has been a great start, except for a little rain on Monday. Hanayashiki was a great little park with attractions spread out over the small plot of land the park occupies. Great little coaster with lots of action, some great flat rides, dark rides, walk-thrus, and one of the fastest haunted swings we have ever done. The shrine area around the park was very interesting as well. Toshimaen looked fairly average, but we were not able to do much there because of the rain. Tokyo Dome City (part I) was very nice. There was not a whole lot to do there, but each attraction was very well done, and the spokeless ferris wheel was excellent.
The two Disney parks were very nicely themed (as usual). The prize of Disneyland is certainly the Winnie the Pooh Hunny Hunt ride. It is trackless, and the cars (honey pots) each intermingle with each other. The whole park was a lot of fun.
DisneySea is definitely one of the best themed parks anywhere. Everywhere you look is so overwhelming and dramatic. We really enjoyed the thrills of the Journey To The Center of the Earth attraction. The only unfortunate thing is that they did not put as much thought into their coaster lineup as they did with the rest of the park's theming and attractions.
Dan Harvey
Tokyo Disney Sea was very enjoyable. It's amazingly clean, and as with all parks so far, the people are extremely kind and very polite and helpful. The attention to detail at each attraction in the park was quite impressive! The Little Mermaid show was terrific! The way the characters moved around on their wires and trapeze apparatus was very fluid. The food in the park was interesting as well as compared to US park food. It's the first time I ever had a salad with jellyfish in it. That was a unique flavor and texture. The Dim Sum was pretty good as well. It was unfortunate that the winds were so strong that they cancelled the water parade and fireworks. We were told the winds were around 40MPH sustained. At least the rain held off most of the day, unlike at Tokyo Disney, although at least all attractions were open! I ventured into the Japanese breakfast this morning, which was different, but I enjoyed it. All but the vinegar soaked plumb... pucker up!
Nige Harness
Konnichiwa! Japan - WOW! Firstly the people are absolutely charming. So polite, willing to please and serene - as ride ops they are as close to perfection as you could imagine. Food... interesting, jellyfish salad being a good example! The absolute highlight thus far is Tokyo Disney Sea - the most incredibly well themed park in the world. Impossible to describe with just words - you need to see the pictures. Journey to the centre of the earth presents a new level in theming - from the descending lift to the earths core to the final fast launch its magnificent. Indiana Jones and the crystal skull is just as good effects wise, as is 20,000 leagues under the sea - a really unusual submarine themed ride. A truly awesome park in every way. Other things of note: Tokyo - forget the hype - traveling around on the trains is easy and cheap once you understand the system. Cabs are great for short hops and nowhere near as expensive as in the UK!!! It is pretty humid however and this proves tiring after a day's coastering. That's all for now - looking forward to finally riding Thunder Dolphin, it's spectacularly sited in Tokyo Dome City. To Hil, Abi and Ben - Yeeeeeehaw!!!!!!
David Hamburger
Tokyo DisneySea is absolutely gorgeous. Easily beats any other park in terms of design and attention to detail, especially in the Mysterious Island section with the volcano and all of the Jules Verne theming. Journey and 20,000 Leagues were incredibly well themed and fun rides. Raging Spirits - well, the theming was nice, but Advil should sponsor the ride! It's a real shame that we missed the parade and big show, but that's life. At least both Disney parks were dead and we got FAR more rides in at both parks than I ever dared hope to get. And most importantly, TDS actually had tons of cool merchandise, unlike Tokyo Disneyland. I spent well over $100 on merchandise alone! We also did a quick run outside the park on the monorails with the Mickey heads for windows and hand grips. Real cool!
Lisa Broadrick
Still can't believe we're in Japan, keep thinking that I'm going to wake up in the airport and find out that I've missed my flight. DisneySea is the most incredibly themed park on the planet!!! I must get back to it in the future!
Stefan Rothaug
DisneySea ist perfekt! Die Thematisierung ist so unglaublich, dass der Park sogar ohne Attraktionen einen Besuch wert waere. Die fantastischen Darkrides haben mich wieder einmal so begeistert, dass es mir voellig egal ist, dass dieser Park keine grosse Achterbahn hat! Gestern Pooh-san, heute Indy: Nippon-wa darukuraido-no tenkoku desu (Japan ist das Darkride-Paradies)!
Florian Kragl
Meine Lieblingsrides in Disney Sea sind Indiana Jones und die Reise zum Mittelpunkt der Erde.
Die Reise zum Mittelpunkt der Erde ist ein Jules Verne inspirierter Darkride, bei dem man mit toll designten 6-Personen Fahrzeugen das Innere unseres Mutterplaneten erkundet. Erstaunlich was tief unter uns alles kreucht und fleucht. Bei der abschliessenden rasanten Flucht zurueck an die Erdoberflaeche beschleunigen die Vehikel so vehement und erreichen eine so hohe Endgeschwindigkeit, dass dabei die meisten Powerd Coaster alt aussehen wuerden. Bei nicht voll besetzten Fahrzeugen erlebt man sogar Airtime.
Zur diesjaehrigen Neuheit Raging Spirits gibt es nicht viel zu sagen: Wie erwartet ein Konglomerat aus gelungener Thematisierung und rauher Fahrt.
Rob Derman
DisneySea is just amazing, the most beautiful park I have ever seen. It puts anything in the US to shame.
In both Disney parks it was really cool how the Japanese ride ops and the other park staff react to us. I think they are genuinely excited to see us! Also, it is really neat to ride rides like Star Tours and Indiana Jones in Japanese - it's really neat.
If all of you at home and Viacom are reading this, hi, "wish you were here" really cool!
Sayonara...
Bob Hoffman
DisneySea is one of the best themed parks I have been in. The park is well run except for the single rider line on Raging Spirits. We took are time making are way to Raging Spirits, stopping to take lots of pictures. By the time we got to the ride, it was a 1 hour wait in the stand by line. We decided to try the single rider line. We got to go to the front of the line, they put is together anyway and in the front car. I don't think they get the single rider concept.
Steve Gzesh
Disney does know how to do parks. Tokyo Disneyland was much more of an exact clone of California than I expected, but it was great nonetheless. Pooh's Honey Hunt was way cool! Gotta get one of them in the US parks! DisneySea was totally unique and cool. Major theming (no surprise really) and has some great rides including Journey to the Center of the Earth and Indiana Jones. Tons of restaurants, but not many snack vendors. Popcorn is plentiful, however, with some of the most unusual flavors I've ever seen for popcorn: caramel, honey, sea salt, curry, strawberry, cappuccino, coconut, and apple!
Bob Englander
Had an interesting adventure at DisneySea yesterday. One member of our group got height-checked (he was just touching the bar at the upper limit, so the op at the FastPass gate called her manager and eventually walked us up the exit ramp and put him & my brother on the next train, leaving me to get on the one after that). The ride chose that time to break down, so they got stuck on the final brake run while I got stuck on the mid-course brakes and had to be walked down off the coaster, giving me the best ride on this coaster since I missed the loop and most of the shoulder-harness-induced roughness (yes, I was crazy enough to ride it again).
Gage Knor
Today I went to Disney Sea. My favorite ride was Journey to the Center of the Earth. It was short and I wish it was longer. It had good theming.
Maggy Linka
Getting to feel Japanese, a bit. The food tastes more normal nowadays, but still can't read a single sign! Makes one feel a bit like a non-reading pre-schooler. Braved the subway during rush hour, which was quite an experience - not as many obvious kooks as in New York's subway, but lots of stand-up sleepers.
The teens are very trendy. Most of the girls wear pointed high heels to the amusement parks. The guys wear a chain as a belt. And the in thing to buy at Tokyo Disney are head bands with a variety of Disney-character ears.
Today is a more suburban-park day. Several school groups of little children in the park with us. Really fun day today! Hooray for sunshine!!
Jeff Waters
Incredible park, like EPCOT on steroids; had a great time there; people were very friendly; the ride operators were to the point of almost being automatons. The Japanese people I find are very reserved, but you can loosen them up very easily, and they really know how to have a good time. Most of the rides in the park were really good, especially Journey to the Center of the Earth and Indiana Jones. Little disappointed with Raging Spirits; very rough for a new coaster. In fact, I don't know anyone on the trip who ventured back a second time. Managed Journey four times; Indiana Jones three times; other than the shows they were the highlights. Miss my family; see you soon.
Chris Penn
I should be at work. I'm off sick!
Dolores Damm
As sunset approached, DisneySea captivated me. Standing by the mediterranean harbour area at evening looking at the crescent moon and the entire vista was truly a breathtaking postcard-like setting. The most beautiful park I've ever been to; not to be missed.
David Cornell
Today we hit the second Disney park in Tokyo, DisneySea. This is Disney's version of Islands of Adventure with a Mountain in the middle instead of a lake. It has fantastic rides that reapply proven Disney technology like Star Tours and Test Track but with loads of improvements in size and theming. There were lots of places to explore and climb on. Unfortunately the big roller coaster was not great. It was a reapplication of Indiana Jones in Paris. The restraints we not shaped like a person but rather an oil drum. The circular curve poke the front of my upper ribs many inches in from my side. Plus, the 6 clicks on the bar were not enough they had to puch it down two more. But I rode it and now that is done. Overall it is a wonderful park to explore, relax in, and enjoy a wide variety of food from around the world.
Talhat Mahmood
When you hear horror stories about how long the lines are at the Disney parks; while we were there the two days we were very lucky to be able to complete both parks by mid afternoon. DisneySea is probably the most superbly themed park in the world; the rides are all great. The only black spot is probably the coasters. The weather is really hot. It looks like becoming one of the great trips.
Brian Sisk
Hi everyone! The Disney parks were great; DisneySea is especially outstanding. Loved the duck, mushroom, and asparagus pizza. Glad the Typhoon has moved on.
Andycoasterboy-san
Tokyo DisneySea, with a gazillion yen thrown at a piece of land, you can create DisneySea. Not the greatest park for world class coasters, but nevertheless some unique attractions. Jeff, you would love the sushi and sake.
Owen Rees
DisneySea - what a beautiful park!
Evan Hoagland
Name comes from it being by the sea and all the areas have wome sort of body of water theme. Yesterday and today were wet and these were fine parks to be in as most of the attractions were inside and they ran the coasters in the rain. Very short to nonexistent lines at both parks. And fast passes were usefel for the rides with longer lines, even so I think the longest estimated line was 40 minutes. These parks each had rides not available at the US parks and the theming at DisneySea is of the highest quality.
Hector Jimenez
This is the best park I have ever visited. Nothing I can write can do this park any justice. All I will say is that Journey to the Center of the Earth is even better the 25th time and it was the first time. If anyone ever has an extra day in Tokyo I would recommend visiting this park. BTW typing on a moving bus is not as easy as it sounds. I have had to rewrite this several times as it keeps disappearing on me. I hope you enjoy my short review.
Para todos mis amigos hispanos le tengo que decir que Japan es el pais mas efficiente que e visitado. Si tienen solamente un dia en Japan tienen que visitar Tokyo DisneySea el parque major del mundo.
Keith Johnson
Tokyo Disneysea was a fantastic park. The theming was absolutely amazing. I know that I will be coming back to experience this park all over again since I did miss a few things. Oh yes, to my good friends the Hoys... I found quite a few 7 Eleven stores, but unfortunately they do not sell Slurpees:)
Tim Herre
Tokyo DisneySea is by far the best themed park in the entire universe. OK, there may be a cool place on Pluto nobody knows about, but around here, there is absolutely nothing that could come close to this beauty. So, it would very appropriate if anybody who has not been to this park yet would shut up forever when it comes to theming. Thank you, Mike. Also, the prices where absolutely OK - I do really wonder what all this hype regarding overpriced Japan is about? 1600 Yen for a three-course meal is surely not too much, isn't it?
John Gerard
I really enjoyed Hanayashiki. It was very interesting to see such a complete park stuck right into the middle of an urban setting. There were some very interesting attractions there, especially the Circus walkthrough. The whole park was like a miniature Blackpool Pleasure Beach.
LaQua was also pretty cool. I was disappointed at not being able to ride Thunder Dolphin because it looks like a fun ride but I have my fingers crossed that we will be able to ride it tonight. The flume ride there was really unique, as there is a dead end right after exiting the lift. Then, a turntable positions the boat in the right direction and off you go. At the end, the ride operators actually wipe down the log before allowing the next set of riders in. Think you'll ever see that at an American park? GeoPanic was a hoot-more like an updated Fire in the Hole than a coaster-hence my criticism: "Less toaster, more coaster!" The over the shoulder restraints folded back from the front, rather than being pulled down from above. Honey Coming rocks!
Tokyo Disneyland was most excellent-especially the Pooh ride, which defies description. I couldn't get enough of that one. Many of the rides seemed similar to the US park. Lunch at the Queen of Hearts was like a long version of the Alice in Wonderland ride! Try the soft-serve green apple or grape sherbets located across from the Jungle Cruise entrance.
DisneySea blew me away! Right from the main entrance with the Mediterranean seaport to the Volcano, the minute touches were very impressive. Theming equal to, if not greater than, IOA. My favorite parts were the Journey to the Center of the Earth, 20,000 Leagues, Indiana Jones, Aquatopia, Triton's Kingdom, "Encore!", the "Under the Sea" show, and the Teddy Roosevelt Lounge located on the USS Columbia (which was very elegant and looked like it belonged on the Titanic). Tiramisu ice cream sandwiches, mmmm!
Tim Galvelis
DisneySea, Completely amazing park, that is extremely well themed. It's almost on par with Efteling as the most beautiful park that I've ever been to. Journey to the Center is probably the best powered coaster that I've ever ridden. Raging Spirits is almost worth the credit. Got to ride my first Indiana Jones dark ride, had to travel half way around the world to do so. It's a great ride.
George Greenway
the forecast was rain, but the sun was out, Disney Sea cannot be believed. It is the most amazing elaborately themed park you'll ever see. careful planning of the day is needed to cover all the major dark rides, we collected fast pass tickets for journey to the centre of the earth, the best ride in the park. beware it takes allot of walking to do this park in one day, and of course it rained in the afternoon, a good time to do the aquotopia water ride.