Earlier this week I had the opportunity and pleasure of going to Tokyo DisneySea for the first time as I continue to have adventures throughout Japan. This first visit was everyone one could hope for. It was full of magic, beautiful vistas, amazing food, and incredible cast members (and guests for that matter)!
For this first visit, I went with my sister. We woke up quite early and made the drive up to the Tokyo Disney Resort. It took probably an hour and twenty minutes. We arrived about an hour and a half before the park opened and right from the get-go with the parking lot attendants, I could tell we were in for a magical day. I immediately noticed how happy all of the cast members were. As we paid for parking, the cast member first greeted us with a smile as we pulled up and then was quite excited and happy about my bow tie. While I didn’t understand most of what she said, the encounter was a very happy one. It just continued as more cast members directed us to our parking spot.
Once parked, we made our way down a short flight of stairs and within moments we found ourselves waiting in line outside of a security berm where we would wait until they opened. A little less than an hour ago, security cast members were doing a fun and happy routine with guests ahead of the opening of the security gates. It involved waving hands and cheering and really was quite cute. After this magical little routine, guests were let in through security and then in through the main gates. The excitement in the air was palpable and people could be seen rushing into the park presumably to get in line for some of the bigger rides like Soarin’, Tower of Terror, or Journey to the Center of the Earth. A band played near the globe in the entrance that just added to the magic.
Once we were inside the gate, we made our way over to see the TokyoDisneySea Maritime Band play. It played several classic Disney songs. Their set wound up with the Mickey Mouse March, which really was perfect. I really don’t think there are many things more magical than getting to hear a band play the Mickey Mouse March. Once finished, they waved at everyone who was watching before they made their way somewhere else. At this point, I started observing more of the entrance. A giant globe was the centerpiece with occasional waves splashing up from underneath. Behind that, the walkway into the park went underneath the Hotel MiraCosta. A 40th-anniversary logo could be seen while walking through, celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Tokyo Disney Resort.
Once through Hotel MiraCosta, we found ourselves in the Mediterranean Harbor looking at Mysterious Island and Mount Prometheus. I had seen photos of this before but did not realize just how impressive this viewpoint would be. With the lovely morning sunlight coming down and the accompaniment of Disney background music themed to the region, this was an incredible entry into the park. I spent a few minutes grabbing some pictures of this area and just absorbing the beauty of the view and the atmosphere.
The first destination of the day was the Tower of Terror in the American Waterfront. This seemed appropriate as it really does set the table for the rest of the park. It seems like the details found in this attraction really connect with the rest of the park. I could easily have spent a considerable amount of time just looking through the details of Harrison Hightower’s adventures. This version of the attraction takes place in New York City in 1912 at Hotel Hightower. Its story utilizes the Society of Explorers and Adventurers, which is a recurring storyline found throughout the park. The storyline for this specific attraction really was awesome and definitely the best version of the attraction that I’ve experienced! The story was great, the effects were great, and the whole experience was amazing! It was a GREAT way to start the day!
As we exited the attraction, we continued to snap pictures. Several Disney characters could be seen wandering around and meeting guests in front of the Tower of Terror in the street and a courtyard. Their costumes really were cute. The guests who were taking pictures with them had equally cute costumes. In fact, throughout the day it was amazing to see the details and artistry that guests had with their outfits. It really was mind-blowing and unlike anything I had experienced in other Disney theme parks. I would say they were the best cosplay/costumes/outfits I’ve ever seen in one park and that includes going to Oogie Boogie Bash at Disney California Adventure!
The next destination was CafePortofino for a cup of coffee. The cast members here were very charming and very excited to learn this was my first visit. The theming in the restaurant was stunning as well, especially for it basically being a quick-service restaurant. I was very impressed. This was a theme that would continue throughout the day. Once we had received our coffee, we made our way outside to enjoy it. And enjoy it we did! One thing we learned from our visit at Tokyo DisneySea was that it may take a little while to find the coffee at times but the coffee they serve is really good!
Suitably caffeinated, we made our way over to Mysterious Island to explore the fortress (appropriately called Fortress Explorations). The fortress on Mysterious Island was a gem that was hidden in plain sight! There are many interactive elements to be found throughout the fortress along with many different levels. There are also some beautiful views of the mountain and the park as well here. For those who can’t do stairs, there is also an elevator. The fortress was surprisingly quiet as people walked by it but that worked to our advantage. It was a blast and we could have spent more time there. However, knowing that there is only so much time in a day, we continued exploring the area.
We wandered back into the Mediterranean Harbor area to see an area that seemed heavily inspired by Italy. There were some fun 40th-anniversary murals to be found in this area. Some of them were painted murals of the logo, and others included the characters. This is also where Soarin’ is found. Some characters could also be seen wandering around here too, which was a lot of fun. We couldn’t stick around too long though as we had to run back to the island for our lunch reservations at Magellan’s.
We were incredibly lucky with our reservations for Magellan’s. My sister had been trying to get us ANY reservations but had been unsuccessful. However, she just happened to check the app the day before we headed to the park and got lucky with lunch reservations for us. This was a very pleasant and unexpected surprise! We just didn’t know how pleasant it would be! We arrived a bit after 11:00 AM and were greeted in a very friendly way and ushered into a lounge that was on the upper level of Magellan’s and circled around a big globe in the center of the room.
Within minutes we were ushered downstairs to the main dining room where we were seated along one wall. We were definitely one of the first tables to be seated and the room was mostly empty. This was great for looking around and seeing the decor. Within minutes our server, Ito, had arrived to help us navigate the menu and start our dining experience (a full review will be found here). This began a dining experience that was absolutely beautiful with exemplary service. By the end of this multi-course meal, we had stickers celebrating our visit to Magellan’s, a first-visit sticker, and incredibly satisfied stomachs. To say this dining experience was delicious and magical would be a major understatement. It was a wonderful meal and experience and I highly recommend a visit!
Following our most excellent lunch, we decided to explore the park some more. We wandered through the Port Discovery, where we saw Aquatopia and Nemo & Friends SeaRider. From there we continued into the Lost River Delta where we saw a plane that would be recognizable to Indiana Jones fans. This was of course near Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Crystal Skull. The area was absolutely beautiful and I took a TON of photos. Unfortunately, we had to cut this portion of the visit short as we had been able to get an Entry Request Experience for the 2:20 PM showing of Big Band Beat: A Special Treat. Along the way, we took a ride on the DisneySea Electric Railway and saw some more characters in front of the Tower of Terror. The Electric Railway was a LOT of fun and I could ride it all day! Once in the theater, we made our way to our reserved seats (they are assigned with the Entry Request Experience process).
Big Band Beat: A Special Treat is exactly what it says it is. This is a show that showcases dancing and performances that are a nod to the big band era. By my count, there were 15 dancers that joined Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald, and Daisy. This show has a lot of classic songs from the big band era and really was a lot of fun to watch. I was very pleasantly surprised with this one. It also is really cool seeing Mickey Mouse going from tap dancing to playing drums, to more dancing. This is definitely a show that should be seen when visiting DisneySea.
Once Big Band Beat: A Special Treat was over, we ambled over to the Mediterranean Harbor again to see Let’s Celebrate with Colors. This is basically a water cavalcade/show with Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and friends as they celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Tokyo Disney Resort. It has a VERY catchy theme song that will be stuck in one’s head for quite some time. It also can be heard in other moments throughout the day as well. This show was very cute and it is fun to see the Disney characters up high on a barge circling the harbor. Even more impressive is how un-level that barge gets when making some of its turns! I’m sure it took Mickey some time to get used to that!
With the song from Let’s Celebrate with Colors in our heads, we made our way toward Mysterious Island to see the Nautilus. Along the way, we grabbed some drinks in a vending machine and watched Pinocchio delight guests. Properly hydrated again, we headed to Mysterious Island and Mount Prometheus where Captain Nemo had built his hidden base where the Nautilus was found. This really was impressive to look at! There were two attractions found there as well, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and Journey to the Center of the Earth. Both of these were based on Jules Verne’s novels. We didn’t go on either of these attractions. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea was closed and Journey to the Center of the Earth had a VERY long line. Instead, we kept exploring as the afternoon began to wane.
Mermaid Lagoon was the next stop on our adventure through the park. This was incredibly charming and a must-visit location for anyone who is a fan of The Little Mermaid. Really, any Disney fan will enjoy it. There are lots of places to explore with nods to the animated classic. There are also multiple young-family-friendly attractions to be found here as well. It was almost like a version of Mickey’s Toontown mixed with A Bug’s Land that was themed to The Little Mermaid. In a word, this area is very cute.
Arabian Coast was the next stop. The sun was getting lower so this area really looked even more beautiful than it already does. It was very easy to get lost in one’s imagination while in this land as it looks like it is straight out of Aladdin. There are lots of places to explore here and also some really fun photo ops. Oh, there is also a double-decker carousel! This area is also the home of Sinbad’s Storybook Voyage. This is another attraction at Tokyo DisneySea that is incredibly charming and also has music that will get stuck in one’s head. I’m not entirely sure what it was all about but I found the whole thing very sweet. I may need to go back and reread that book. It also is fun because the main song, Compass of Your Heart, was written by Alan Menken!
As we walked out of Sinbad’s Storybook Voyage, the sun was definitely starting to set. I really wanted to try and get some sunset photos of this beautiful park. My instinct was to get closer to the American Waterfront and the S.S. Columbia. Along the way over there, we enjoyed seeing the sun set on Cape Cod Lighthouse in the American Harbor. This little area was absolutely beautiful and pleasant to walk around. Eventually, we saw the Columbia and the Tower of Terror being painted with golden light as well. This is a great park for sunsets it seems!
After the sun went down but before the light was entirely gone, we hopped on the DisneySea Transit Steamer Line. We got on board in the Mediterranean Harbor and enjoyed a cruise to the Lost River Delta. There were still some remnants of the sunset as we cruised around the park. The experience was delightful and relaxing.
It also was getting to a time when we realized that the sun had gone down and we hadn’t eaten since lunch. Rather than hopping back on the Steamer, we walked back to Mysterious Island to get a Gyoza Sausage Bun at the Nautilus Galley. It had been suggested by several friends in the States that we should try this. It was definitely different than anything I had eaten before and was quite pleasant. I would love it even more on a cooler night. However, it was enjoyable and an easy food that will appeal to lots of different people. The coffee that we got to accompany it was also good.
Dinner finished, a few more pictures were taken (this happened throughout the day, who am I kidding?) and we made our way back to the Mediterranean Harbor to get in line for our Disney Premiere Access for Believe! Sea of Dreams. This is the nighttime spectacular that is now being shown on Mediterranean Harbor. We arrived to hop in the queue well before the return time and that was a very good choice. We ended up with a spot front and center. We did have to wait about an hour in that spot but it was totally worth it.
Believe! Sea of Dreams is a wonderful montage of Disney stories. It uses multiple different ways to bring these stories to life on the water. This includes LED-screened barges, light effects, a light/pyro tower with circles on it, and pyrotechnics. The show is framed with Peter Pan and Wendy on board the pirate ship. While most of the show is in Japanese, that is ok. It really is magical and pretty much everything is fairly easy to follow. It culminates with a plethora of Disney characters coming together along with Mickey Mouse and friends. It is delightful and definitely worth checking out. We also both thought the Disney Premiere Access was worth it. This show is definitely a can’t-miss offering for anyone visiting Tokyo DisneySea.
After the show, there was only about an hour left before the park closed. We hadn’t really explored the Venice-looking portion of Mediterranean Harbor so we did that while the crowds cleared out of the area after Believe! Sea of Dreams. We then continued to make our way around the park with a stop to see more of the boats/ships on the American Waterfront.
We then went up on the bridge between Mediterranean Harbor and the American Waterfront to watch the fireworks. These were about five minutes long and utilized quite a wide range of Disney tunes from several different eras. They also utilized the 40th-anniversary theme song that we had heard in Let’s Celebrate with Colors earlier in the day. I would say that this is the one show that probably could be skipped potentially. Watching it I realized how spoiled we are in the United States with our fireworks spectaculars at Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts. While these weren’t bad, they were a little underwhelming.
Fireworks over, we decided to make one last circle around the park before it closed. We headed once again through Port Discovery, Lost River Delta, and finally arrived at the Arabian Coast. This area was simply beautiful at night. As we wandered through the area, you could see guests rushing to get one last ride in before the park closed.
We found a new path that would take us closer to the front of the park so we decided to wander that way. As they announced that the park would be closing in five minutes, we had a lovely view of the outside of Mermaid Lagoon from across the water. As the park officially closed, we were inside Mount Prometheus. Throughout the day, we watched this mountain erupt multiple times. It really was pretty cool. We kind of hoped that there would be one last eruption before the park closed, or perhaps as it closed. This didn’t happen, however. This wasn’t a huge deal, however, as we had seen it a half dozen times throughout the day.
The park was now officially closed, and we slowly made our way to the front of the park. As we did, we took quite a few pictures of the different views at night. The park is beautiful during the day, and equally beautiful at night. As we made our way toward Hotel MiraCosta, we could see people waving their lights from windows in the hotels. Down below, people waved back as they departed the park after a magical day. Once through and on the other side, we took a few more photos before heading home. As we took a selfie, a young Japanese girl offered to take our photo in front of the globe. We thanked her and she grabbed my phone and very carefully worked to get the perfect shot. The moment she started to get the look just right, two of her friends appeared over her shoulder to help. I don’t know that I have ever seen more care in getting the perfect picture from an iPhone. It was very kind and the perfect end to a perfect day.
Our photo taken and multiple thanks given to our new Japanese friends, we made our way back out to the car (which was wonderfully close) for the drive back home in the night. As we headed home, it was impossible to not think about the experience of the day. The park itself is absolutely beautiful and magical. However, the cast members who work there elevate that magic to a completely different level. Time after time throughout the day we witnessed acts of kindness and friendliness from cast members. I couldn’t help but think of it’s a small world and the line “and a smile means friendship to everyone.” The cast members at Tokyo DisneySea know the power of the smile and use it expertly. This made for a welcome and warm first visit to Tokyo DisneySea and was instrumental in making me smitten with this beautiful Disney park. I cannot wait to go back again! I absolutely loved my first visit there and all of the Disney magic I was able to experience there!
Have you ever been to Tokyo DisneySea? What was your favorite part of your experience? If not, do you want to or are you going to? What do you most want to see or do there? Share your thoughts, opinions, and memories in the comments below!
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