The only one in the world! Our second day in Japan was dedicated to a whole day at Tokyo DisneySea.
How to get there:
E-Hotel Ginza to Tokyo DisneySea
- Toei Oedo Line: Tsukijishijo Station (E18) to Tsukishima (E16) *subway pass
- Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line: Tsukishima (Y21) to Shin Kiba (Y24) *subway pass
- JR Keiyo Line: Shin Kiba Station (JE05) to Maihama Station (JE07)
First shots in Tokyo Disney Resort 
Spot Alice in Wonderland
Total travel time was around 45mins to an hour. Quite long, but we decided to stay at that hotel for its proximity to Tsukiji. And we’d only spend a day at DisneySea anyway. The initial plan was spending another day at DisneyLand but there was so much more to do in Tokyo. DisneySea was an obvious choice over DisneyLand for me. Maybe on the next trip to Tokyo I’ll get to visit Disneyland?
Resort Gateway station was up ahead and you can start feeling that Disney vibe already. Mickey patterns are very visible on the decor. DisneySea was a little further back the resort unlike DisneyLand whose gates are walking distance already, so we rode the DisneyLand Monorail to Tokyo DisneySea. You can use your Pasmo/Suica card for this. Note that this isn’t a park ride yet and the fare is not covered by your regular park passes.
Arrival:
We arrived at around 8:15 before the park opened and there were already a lot of people lining up at the entrance. Not just a single file line at one specific gate, but hundreds of people positioned at different gates. It’s true. The rumored lines are not just rumors.
Waiting in line was already the start of the Tokyo DisneySea experience (plus you’re gonna do it for a good fraction of the day).
8:30 am. Gates opened. Cast members (not only one!) were holding up signs to remind people to Walk only, for safety. I bet there were previous incidents of running that didn’t turn out well.
Upon entering the plaza, you can immediately see the AquaSphere – the fountain globe. Then we walked through the stores that lined up Mediterranean Harbor, the first area at DisneySea.
Two ongoing park events
Halloween decor (it was early October) lined up the streets mixed together with the decor from the yearlong 35th Anniversary celebration of Tokyo Disney resort.
We entered an alley underneath some Mediterranean inspired structures. And at the end of the alley was a wide open sea, I mean space, with a view of a man made volcano surrounded by bodies of water – Mt. Prometheus. This is the equivalent of the castle centerpiece in other Disney parks.
It was orderly, quick, and everybody had a sense of where they would like to go. Us too. Our plan was to get FastPasses for Toy Story Mania first thing in the morning since Fastpasses for this run out easily, then regular wait times can be hours. Turned out our plan was the same as a few hundred more people. We were like a whole herd heading towards the same direction.
Another queue now, to skip the queue later
Lined up for an hour and we finally got our fastpasses – timeslot was for 14:10-15:10, already after lunch, considering that we lined up for it right after the park opened.
A lot of people were at least wearing Disney headgear like different variations of the Mickey ears, to fluffy pig hats inspired by Mr. Pork Chop of Toy Story, to full on hair and costume (including adults)! Compared to Hong Kong Disneyland, Tokyo DisneySea had more costume wearing guests. There was even a pair of adults dressed up as Maleficent (Sleeping Beauty) and Frollo (Hunchback of Notre Dame). Back at HK Disneyland, I only saw little kids wearing princess dresses.
What is a Fastpass?
It is a reservation system where you don’t have to wait in line for hours. It’s free! You just have to get a Fastpass ticket from the machines near the attraction queue. Just return to the attraction at the designated time indicated on your Fastpass and off you go to the Fastpass lane. Fastpass return time slots and average wait time for the regular queue are displayed outside the ride so you can make your decisions from there. To get a Fastpass, go the the Fastpass machine of your chosen attraction then scan your party’s tickets. Not all attractions have Fastpass. You can check out their website for the latest info on Fastpasses and ride closure.
Well, for Toy Story Mania, there was a line even to get a Fastpass. Cast members were ready to assist, one was stationed per machine.
You can get your next Fastpass when:
1) After using your current Fastpass / start of the return period for your Fastpass
2) 2 hours after getting your previous Fastpass
Our day:
Warning *spoiler on how the rides go*
First attraction: Journey to the Center of the Earth
Location: Mysterious Island
Wait time: about an hour
First ride in DisneySea? Inside the volcano! 
To the center of the Earth!
Set inside Mt. Prometheus, the queuing area was made to look like you were underground. Then you ride an “elevator” to the floor where you board the carts. It’s an indoor coaster ride that starts slow, journeying to the center of the earth, then goes full on dark and thrill ride. Before it all ends, you get shot out the side of a volcano and back in again. There’s a split second where you get to see a view of the park from the volcano, that is, if you keep your eyes open.
Second Attraction: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
Location: Mysterious Island
Wait time: IT WAS CLOSED FOR MAINTENANCE 😦
I was excited for this one since it was made to feel like you are in a submarine, under the sea. Too bad it was under maintenance. Instead of this thrill ride, we decided to take photos in Mysterious Island, walked around, passed by a souvenir shop (window shop only), before we left the area.
Food break: Nautilus Galley
Location: Mysterious Island
What we ate: Limited Edition Queen of Hearts Gyoza Dog Halloween Snack
**more details in the DisneySea food review blog**
Second Attraction: Indiana Jones Temple of the Crystal Skull
Location: Lost River Delta
Wait time: about an hour
Aztec pyramid and the river of Lost River Delta 
Up close 
Details inside the Aztec Pyramid
The Aztec pyramid is one of the best photo spots in the park. Just as photogenic is the indoor queue inside this pyramid. An action packed ride combined with the elaborate designs and special effects completes the 4D adventure – into the darkness, past poisonous darts, through a fire at the end. For thrill seekers, this is a must ride.
Since we can get another fast pass at that time, we decided to get one for the Raging Spirits ride. Our slot was for 12:00- 13:00
Food break: Sultan’s Oasis
Location: Arabian Coast
What we ate: Curry Bun Chandu Tail – it wasn’t a Chandu tail anymore, it was a Chandu face 🙂
**more details in the Disneysea food review blog**
Third Attraction: Sinbad’s Storybook Voyage
Location: Arabian Coast
Wait time: virtually none
Scenes from Sinbad 
Animatronics, music, and, lights
Indoor slow boat ride featuring animatronics (like Disneyland’s It’s a Small World) telling the story of Sinbad through songs and dioramas. It’s all in Japanese but you still get to appreciate the story through the different scenes portrayed by the moving dolls. Perfect ride to slow down and relax a bit.
Fourth Attraction: Raging Spirits
Location: Lost River Delta
Wait time: a few minutes (fast pass!)
Lost River Delta’s Aztec themed roller coaster behind some ruins
An outdoor roller coaster with a 360 degree loop. I was looking for the loop, expecting something big above ground like the Red track in Human vs. Cylon ride in Universal Studios Singapore. I did see the loop when we got closer to Raging Spirits’ track but it seemed quite small. It gave that right amount of thrill though. So far, I’d still prefer Indiana Jones or Journey to the Center of the Earth for a dose of thrill.
Food break: Bayside Takeout
Location: Port Discovery
What we ate: Sushi Roll – Chicken Shrimp Katsu
**more details in the DisneySea food review blog**
Photo time at American Waterfront – the light house and a backdrop of S.S. Columbia Dining (a restaurant inside a ship!). Occasionally, a streamer passes by which makes the scenery feel a little more alive.
A steamboat and S.S. Columbia (actually a restaurant) 
Spot Tower of Terror 
View of the town
Photo time at Mediterranean Harbor – Fortress Explorations.
A lot of people in costumes were taking photos in this area. Maybe I should have dressed up more for this day to fit in with the ambiance of the whole park. I was casually and comfortable dressed in a Minnie mouse shirt and plain jeans. I think there are some more attractions further inside the fort that require additional payment but we didn’t get to explore that part.
on the way to the next attraction 
drizzling already
Warm colored buildings line up the road as we entered the other side of Mediterranean Harbor. This is also where Hotel MiraCosta is located.
Fifth Attraction: Special Show for Tokyo Disneysea 35th Anniversary
Location: Mediterranean Harbor
Wait time: It was a scheduled show at 14:00, we started waiting around 20 mins before the show and sat at one of the ledges along the harbor.
Aboard a specially designed boat/float, Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, and Goofy greeted everyone. Although beautifully designed, it was just one boat going around for this show that took around 12 minutes, capped off with an eruption from Mt. Prometheus and a few shots of fireworks. Yes, Mt. Prometheus is capable of staging man made volcanic eruptions.
Sixth Attraction: Toy Story Mania
Location: American Waterfront
Wait time: around 15 minutes (fast pass!)
Time to use the Fastpasses! 
Oversized toys as if you shrank and became a toy yourself 
The score
It’s a ride, but it is game. The player rides a cart then is brought to various 3D screens to play different shooting games. You get a cumulative score at the end along with percentage of accuracy. It brings out competitive fun. The colorful queuing area is a good photo spot while waiting for your turn.
If only the lines were shorter, I would have played a few more times.
Tried Lottery for Bigband beat – Failed 😦
yeah, it was a bit gloomy
For the Broadway style Big Band Beat show, the lottery system decides if you get a guaranteed seat or not. You scan your tickets at a machine and enter your party’s headcount. Tickets will be printed out of the machine if you win. Sadly we didn’t. Another option is to wait in line for 90+ minutes for a chance of being seated but we decided to explore other parts of the park instead.
If you zoom in close enough, you’ll see Jafar atop a float, exiting the parade waters 
no photos of the villain parade… here’s a photo of this Halloween sign instead
While walking to another area, we saw a glimpse of the villain parade for Halloween, on boats on water of course. There were several boats but the show was already ending when we arrived.
Souvenir shopping part 1 while people at the shops are relatively few. We shopped at the main avenue of the park but there are lots of shops in the various areas with area-theme specific items.
Food break:Restaurant Sakura
Location: American Waterfront
What we ate: Tempura meal and Udon meal
**more details in the DisneySea food review blog**
Seventh Attraction: Mermaid Lagoon Theater
Location: Mermaid Lagoon (Triton’s Kingdom)
Wait time: maybe 30 mins
What I thought was a usual theatrical production actually had a twist. We arrived right after the doors were closed for the earlier show so we waited a while, seated at what I guess was supposed to be coral benches. We thought that the show might not be that popular because there was no line. But as next show time got closer, people began to arrive. The seats inside the theater were arranged like a planetarium only that instead of a projector in the middle, there was a clam shell where Ariel was supposed to show up. On the ceiling portion were projections of Ariel’s sisters, ready to greet her. Little did we know that Ariel will come swooping down for her grand entrance as if swimming in air. She ‘swam’ down towards the audience for a few times. If only we were seated two rows further back, I would have gone face to face with her. Maybe that was why the cast member motioned that we sit in that area (which we initially thought was too further behind).
Eighth Attraction: Magic Lamp Theater
Location: Arabian Coast
Wait time: maybe less than 30 mins
Magic Lamp Theater 
Carousel – a classic theme park ride
This was another show type of attraction. It features the Genie from Aladdin, and some magician and his assistant. For the venue, it was a one level theater type of seating. The show was okay but not as good and engaging as other attractions (or maybe we were already tired). It was still a nice way to relax seated a bit before we go watch Fantasmic.
Souvenir shopping part 2
Night Photos~
Mt. Prometheus 
Tower of Terror and S.S. Columbia 
Mermaid Lagoon
Ninth Attraction: Fantasmic
Location: Mediterranean Harbor
Wait time: around an hour, under the rain
My phone camera can only capture this much for night shots
Lights, boats, characters performed to tell a story of Mickey as the Sorcerer’s Apprentice creating various stories of Disney, and at the end, defeated a fire breathing dragon. First time visitors must watch this.
To get a good view, we sat on the plaza floor about an hour before the show, a few rows of people already in front of us. There were no seats. Then it started to rain a bit. So there I was, holding the umbrella on one hand, while eating snacks with the other. The Japanese kids beside me bought two Disney mats for them to sit on (I’m a bit of a cheapskate for those kind of stuff). Show started at 8:00pm
We were reminded to keep seated while watching the show so as not to obstruct any view.
Tenth Attraction: Brand New Dream Fireworks
Location: Mediterranean Harbor
Wait time: maybe 10 mins
To the tune of the 35th Anniversary celebration theme song, a fireworks show capped off the whole visit. Unlike in Disneyland where the fireworks served as a backdrop to a projection on the castle, this show was behind the buildings of Mediterranean Harbor. We couldn’t appreciate the view that much because of where we were standing. Too close to the building I guess. Maybe we should have walked towards the opposite direction (towards Mt. Prometheus) to get a better and fuller view: the man made water, lined up buildings, and a sky with fireworks. This was at around 8:30pm, after Fantasmic.
Conclusion:
Some say that this is a grown up sibling of Disneyland. Yep, I agree. Go on and have beer while walking around the park. Seriously, it’s sold on some food shops (not to sold to minors of course).
It didn’t have the same magical feel of Disneyland. Rather, it was more of an adventure. There was a different kind of romance. Not the typical princess-meets-her-prince romance, but more of the romance in finding hidden treasure, solving mysteries, setting out to follow your dreams, meeting new people and making new friends along the way type of romance.
(disclaimer: I’ve only been to Hong Kong Disneyland so far and I’m basing my opinion on this)
Would love to have an overnight stay here someday…
I would have loved to stay at one of the Disney hotels. It’s a whole different attraction on its own. Especially the Venetian ambiance of Miracosta! Or for a more classic fantasy vibe, Tokyo Disneyland hotel. I just need to save up for it…which might take some time …Unless, I suddenly win a lottery or raffle for a trip.
A lot more can still be explored in this park especially the shows and water vehicles, it’s DisneySEA after all. I planned on riding the Venetian Gondolas towards sunset but it didn’t work out. We were supposed to ride the streamer line to get to Mediterranean Harbor but it was already closed to give way for preparations for Fantasmic. If you have time, and if you love theme parks, spend two days here. Not being able to ride 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and Tower of Terror still leaves reason for me to come back. Not so soon, but in the future (need to save up!).
Arrivederci
The Gastronomer's Diary 