Tokyo 2010 - Day 6 & 8 - Tokyo DisneySea

One of the things we were really excited about with going to Tokyo was a visit to the Tokyo Disney Resort. If you're as big of a Disney fan, this of course is a must visit! Earlier in the trip we went to the Disney Store at Takashimaya Square to pre-purchase our 3 Day Passport. Yes we were being Kiasu (Google it), but we were literally afraid that we came all this way to get to Tokyo Disney only to be told that tickets were sold out. I have no idea what the maximum guest capacity is in the parks, but having experienced a ticket sell out at Universal Studios Singapore when my Mum came to visit, we definitely didn't want to risk it with Tokyo Disney (TD). The weird thing with TD's 3 Day Passport is you actually have to specify which parks you intend to visit on the first 2 days and the 3rd is free as you please. I'm sure it's a park crowd control thing, but it doesn't make too much sense to me when on the 3rd Day you can go back and forth between the two parks as you please. Anyway so we chose to go to DisneySea on the 1st day and DisneyLand on the 2nd day and the 3rd day is to do catch up on anything we missed at the 2 parks.

To get to TD Resort from Shinjuku we had 2 options. One way is via bus (direct to DisneySea or Land) that costs about 800Yen per person or by train which costs about 380Yen per person. Bus would definitely have been a more convenient choice had we known what we knew now. The bus has luggage space underneath and transfers you directly there, but on the down side you have to strictly adhere to the bus timings and the last bus is about 9.50am if I remember correctly. The train is actually more troublesome as you have to transfer at Tokyo station. If you're bringing your luggage, it can be a bit of a hassle as the walk between the transfers is REALLY far! If you do take the train with luggage and there's a few of you, take the front/first carriage because there is more room and remember to avoid rush hour at all costs!

We booked 3 nights at the Hilton Tokyo Bay Hotel which is an official Disney Hotel. One of the advantages of staying at an official Disney Hotel is you can check in your luggage at the Welcome Center. They will process your check-in, give you your room key and send your luggage directly to your room so you can directly proceed to the Parks and maximise your play time. I think it's a pretty awesome service. At HKDL, you can leave your luggage at the hotel and do your check in and go to the park. But they won't send your luggage to your room for you.

One of the things that I found surprising (and annoying) was how the Disney monorail wasn't free even for hotel guests! We had to buy a 4 day unlimited ride monorail ticket for about SGD$15 per person. From the monorail station to the various hotels there is a free Disney shuttle bus.

DisneySea is like no other Disney park in the world and in true Disney style it is perfectly manicured and beautifully crafted. When we were there, the Spring Carnival was taking place so there were lots of pretty flowers everywhere. The highlight of the Spring Carnival is the Fairies Primavera show across the harbor. We were quite lucky to have caught the Spring Carnival, as this year is the last year Tinkerbell and her fairy friends bring Spring to the Park. Wonder what next year's one will be like?

This song is sooo catchy, now I know why the Japs got really into it when the song came on.

"Jump, Jump, Jump!"

What I've noticed is Japanese Disney fans are not like your 'ordinary' Disney fan. They really really get into the parades and shows and they know all the songs word for word. When it came to the "Jump Jump Jump" bit, they literally jumped up and down! I'm talking about grown adults here - there were more of them jumping up and down than the kids! And when Mickey and Minnie comes out, they go crazy like groupies cheering for their favourite pop star. They squeal, jump up and down, and wave their hands in the air at the star characters.

Just like Disneyland, DisneySea has various popcorn carts selling yummy popcorn of different flavours - like Black Pepper Popcorn, Strawberry Popcorn, Chocolate Popcorn, Curry Popcorn, etc. Buy yourself a cute souvenir bucket to hang around your neck and get refills from each land. They're great for snacking on when waiting in the long queues. Best popcorn bucket (and the most expensive is the Duffy the Disney Bear one!

There is way too much stuff to do here, and we really didn't get to finish everything even after coming back on the 3rd day :( Here are some highlights:

Tower of Terror: Truly terrifying....I really really hate rides that just go up and drop like that. I dunno what I was thinking of! I have ridden the one at WDW and this one is more 'to the point' whereas WDW one has more of a ride through and story before the plunge. Darn kids made it even more terrifying for me when they screamed every time the door opened eventho it wasn't dropping yet.

Aquatopia: An original ride, have not been on any ride like that in any theme park before and it is so much fun! Each time you go on it, it could be a different path to the one you took previously.

Indiana Jones Adventure: My favourite ride here. Can't remember if it's the same as the US version.

Raging Spirits: Wooden roller coaster with an upside down loop. This was quite fun too.

Caravan Carousel: your standard carousel with 2 levels and you ride characters from Aladdin.

Sinbad's Storybook Voyage: like It's a Small World. Great animatronics, but skip it and come back to it if you really really have time or love those little boat rides (or if you have young kids).

Various rides from the Mermaid Lagoon, which in itself is a very pretty place. This is a perfect play area for young kids.

Scuttle's Scooters. The ride spins faster than originally anticipated. 

 Mermaid Lagoon Theater. Not to be missed! This musical production is outstanding!

Jumpin Jellyfish

Blowfish Balloon Race.....dizzying

The Whirlpool....dizzying.....

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea....interesting ride....but not suitable for the claustrophobic or for small kids cos it's dark and intense. Those giant squids with electric tentacles are a bit scary...

And we sadly missed Journey to the Center of the Earth as it was closed for maintenance.

NEXT: DAY 7&8 - Tokyo Disneyland