In Japan, Disney has their renowned amusement park set up in the heartland of Tokyo. What is different about this version of Disney is that it is divided into two different parks, DisneyLand and Disney Sea. Disney Sea is much closer to the ocean, hence the name, than Disney Land, which is closer to the mainland. I have not been to DisneyLand (possibly before I leave), but from what I have been told, Disney Sea has a better flow of one part into the next and has a better atmosphere. After attending Disney, I would have to concur with the last statement: Disney Sea is the best Disney park I have ever been to.
I, along with my friend, brother-in-arms, Jeff Panza, woke up on a Sunday morning with no tests, presentations, or anything to do, so we headed to Disney Sea. The ride there was quite easy, as we transferred from one line to the next at Tokyo Station. In order to get to Disney Sea, we had to walk from Disney Land to there, which took a few minutes. Here is a very interesting Disney bus I took pictures of and some of the sights that were yet to come:
When I went to Disney Sea, it was early November and the day we went was when the Christmas celebration festivities were beginning. Decorations, shops, food, events, and other venues of interest were celebrating the prospect of the upcoming Christmas, even though the Japanese are not Christian and really celebrate the holiday in general. We picked up our tickets at the front counter and walked into the square of Disney Sea. For me, it was spectacular, but don't take my word for it, here are some pictures:
The rest of the day was going through the park, having fun, seeing the sights, and riding on roller coasters. While DisneyLand is more for kids, Disney Sea is more geared to an older crowd, with less kiddy attractions. There are more roller coasters, shows, and practically more to do and see at the park. It is smaller in comparison to DisneyLand, it lends itself to blending one themed part into another without it taking you out of the moment. Every aspect of the park is modern and the attractions are fantastic to look at in detail. It is quite a sight when one is really there.
The first ride I went on was Journey to the Center of the Earth. Some of the rides at Disney Sea are good old standards from the States, but this ride was phenomenal. It is one of the most visible aspects of the park, as you can see the volcano from anywhere. The ride, scearny, and atmosphere are top notch. I tried to take a picture of this monster you encounter on the ride because it just left me awe-struck by the detail and movements of this monstrosity. It was a great ride for me and my friend and we rode it twice.
As we traveled from ride to ride, one could see the wonder of the park. There were so many different world perspectives, the park was one part Epcot and another Disney World. Here's what I saw and did in list form:
1. Christmas time: they set up the Disney decorations basically that day and we saw all kinds of decorations and shows
2. 1900s America: The area was the big cruise liner, where fancy restaurants and shows could be seen. I went to the Teddy Roosevelt (my favorite President) Lounge for lunch with my friend and had a fantastic steak there (when you're Teddy, you go big). We experienced an interactive ride there, where people could talk to Crush, the turtle from Finding Nemo, and he would give correct answers and observations of people in the room. We saw a show and the videos are below (shots from ground level and above):
The show that my friend and I saw was in Japanese and was quite sight. My Japanese has been getting better and I could tell what was being said and going on in the show. Here are some videos of what was going on:
Here is the show from above:
3. Venice: This was a well detailed area. It was the hub of the whole park, where the water shows were. I only went on one ride there, 20,000 Leagues Beneath the Sea, and didn't have time to see the rest of the rides in that area. Here are some pictures from the area and the first show of the day, a prequel to the show-stopper for Christmas:
4. Futuristic City: This was quite an interesting area. It had two rides, a cart like course in the water and a flight simulator in tornado. It had some of the best views of the ocean and general area. This area was special in one regard in that one could buy a Duffy Teddy Bear. Who is Duffy the Teddy Bear? Duffy is only special to Japan and the story goes that Mickey Mouse was set to go on a voyage out to sea and Minnie made Duffy the Teddy Bear to be his friend. The teddy bear took off and everyone in the park could be seen with one by the end of the day. Duffy is only avaliable at Disney Sea and is so popular he has his on television show. No need for pictures, as I snagged one myself so I show that when I get back.
5. I only spent the majority of the time on one side of the park, but there was a part dedicated to the Aztecs, Atlantica, and Arabian Nights. There was only one ride at the Aztec part, which was full of twists, a loop, and threw my neck out a little. Here are the pictures I got from these areas:
6. Christmas Show: This was the big finale of the night. These huge water, light floats paraded in the Venice area for our amazement and... wait. Why don't I just show you the whole show, from start to finish? Here it is:
It would not be the end of a night at Disney without fireworks...
7. Tower of Terror: My friend and I had time for one more ride before the end of the night. The Tower of Terror is quite an attraction from a distance and inside as well. At the Disney parks in the U.S. the ride is built off The Twilight Zone franchise. Not so in Japan, as they had to build they own scenario, as the original series was never ported overseas to Asia. It was typical scary fashion: a wealthy man heads to Africa, brings back a cursed artifact, and his hotel and life become possessed. The ride is completely the same, but just different in that respect. At night, a green streak of lightning could be seen when the building became possessed during a ride.
Well, that is all for now, True Believers. This entry was quite an undertaking for me, with all of the pictures and videos I took, it was hard to decide which ones to include and which ones not to put up. I took a ton of photos and I'll upload them eventually. I only have days left in this country and I am wishing it would not end. I have made so many friends and memories, it is hard for me to let go. I haven't even begun to pack because I am just so reflective about what I have done and become since I came here. I am now a better and bigger adult in this world because of my experiences. I have finished up the last bit of sightseeing and I will update my blog before I leave for China. Now, I have two exams left, last minute procedures, and spending time with friends. It is not all bad, as I will not be home for awhile, due to Beijing, and the return to Tokyo. More adventures await, with Meine Mutti, and I cannot wait. For this blog's quote, we're going to leave that to my favorite President, Teddy Roosevelt. Take it away:
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