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We got up this morning to go to DisneySea. Since all four of us were at the resort Hotel, all four of us got “happy hour” passes. These are essentially early admissions to the park. You are put in front of the crowd and let in 30 minutes early. It is not just a select few, though. There is still quite a crowd, but you are beating the majority. It also does not let you on the rides early, but lets you queue up for the more popular ones.
Here is my tip, map out the rides you want your priority passes for, leaving one of them out. Use the early pass to let you get to the line before the rest of the crowd gets in. And when I say “map out”, definitely group them geographically to minimize walking. We did not and found ourselves walking from one side of the park to the other several times. And while Disney land is small(er), DisneySea is quite massive.
There are “lands” and rides galore. Someone said this was like Epcot, but I can’t say I saw that at all. Okay, they have “Soarin”, but I feel like it ends there. They do have rides here that harken to my childhood, like “20,000 leagues under the Sea”. That was on our must ride list. In the mean time, the first ride we wanted was at the far end.
Since the four of us did have different interests, once through the gate, Megan and Mike took off in a different direction than Teresa and I. We knew we’d meet up several times during the day.
So, one thing I forgot to mention yesterday was popcorn. What? You go to Japan and you want to talk about an American Snack? Yes. Not only do the Japanese seem love popcorn, there are stands all over. Each stand has its own flavor. Yes, there is more than just butter and caramel flavors.
I thought about listing all the flavors and comparing them to the US offerings, but that might be too long. What I will tell you is that they have “Roast Beef”, “Butter and Shrimp”, “Curry”, “Garlic Shrimp”, “Soy-Sauce and Butter”, “Strawberry Napolean”, “Chocolate”, and more.
The US? We have “Butter”, of course, but also “Churro”, “Cheddar Cheese”, “Garlic Parm”, “maple” and “Maple Bacon” (thanks Canada), “Kettle Corn” and the most exotic, “Blueberry Almond”. Not so adventurous in the US, eh?
Oh, and did I mention buckets? Yes, you can get a bag or better yet, a bucket and the buckets are themed and collectable. They have a far better variety than the few here in the US (and there is a market for them too, check eBay). I will warn you, the popular flavors (and buckets) tend to have long lines, but they do tend to move quickly. Also, be prepared and check your map/app because I am told the flavors can and will move about (not in the same day, but from one week to the next). Finally, the bucket you are looking for may not have a flavor you like either. You can buy just the bucket, I am told.
But popcorn was not what brought you here, was it? You are more curious about the rides. Like I said before, someone compared DisneySea to Epcot and I am not sure that is fair. Epcot has rides, yes and they are getting more, but they also have exhibits and the “World Show Case” which was lacking here (which is not a bad thing, either).
So, what rides do the have? Well, I am going to tell you the ones we rode (and in no particular order).
This thrilling roller coaster features a 360-degree loop, whisking riders through ancient ruins while delivering a delightful mix of adrenaline and stunning visuals. Think of it as a cultural adventure where you can scream with joy while learning about the mysteries of the past! Unfortunately, the ride was designed for, well, let’s say the averaged size Japanese person and not the sumo size that is me. The attendant at the start of the line recognized and asked us to come back to the test car. I squeezed in and even crossed my legs (being big, this was a trick taught to me and Universal some years back). The attendant lowered the restraint bar and I heard the first click. She said they needed two more. I shifted slightly and heard the second click, but there was no way they were going to get three clicks. I told Teresa to go ahead and ride it without me and she did. She said it was a lot of fun.
This is an immersive dark ride that places guests in the heart of an action-packed quest, navigating through a mysterious temple filled with animatronics and special effects. It’s like stepping into an Indiana Jones film, where every twist and turn invites you to join in the excitement of discovery. The truck takes you through traps and pitfalls and tremendous speeds too. It’s almost like a roller coaster without the track.
Now this is a ride I recognize from Epcot and is one of my favorite rides. The pre-show here was one of Teresa’s favorite. It was not Patrick Burton giving the “safety demonstration”, it was a story of flight, very visual and very immersive. And that was just the pre-show, before you are led to the ride that you might be familiar with. It is a breathtaking flight simulator that takes guests on a scenic (and fragrant) aerial journey across iconic landmarks from around the globe. You experience the thrill of soaring high above breathtaking vistas, reminding you that the world is full of wonders just waiting to be explored. The subject of the pre-show was brought up several times and we all agreed that it was one of the best pre-shows.
Now, I am sorry, but I am old enough to remember the old “submarine” replicas from the book being the vehicles that we rode to the depths. And, they had one of those at the dock. However, I did not see them being loaded or moving. Instead, we were led to an elevator where we were taken to a cavern to board our boats. This was a very updated underwater exploration ride where guests board and to encounter fantastical sea creatures and experience the wonders of Jules Verne’s classic tale. Again, designed for smaller or shorter people, I had to scrunch down to see out the window. Still, the experience was thrilling, bringing back memories of the story/film and the trips with my parents to ride the old ride. This was a very updated production, and had me experience the fears of the deep I had experienced long ago.
Our package contained a themed dining experience, one that transports guests to a grand explorer’s hall and offers a diverse menu inspired by global cuisines. The Magellan’s restaurant reminded me of the “Adventure’s Club” in the old Disney Springs, but with fine dining. Now here is where we ran into our first problem dining (second, if you count the issue in Kyoto, but our first in Disney). As I said earlier, the package we brought had meals pre-arranged. We were assured vegetarian choices would be available which they had been the day before. But here, we had only a few choices and none were vegetarian. We explained this to our waitress who was having trouble understanding. I pulled out the photo of the card Teresa had made explaining she was a vegetarian and what she would and would not eat. The waitress looked embarrassed and stepped away. She brought back another waiter who tried to explain that our package only allowed us to order from the smaller portion of the menu, a “special menu”. We explained that there was nothing on that menu for her and were willing to pay extra to get the vegetarian plate (which actually had a lower price). This waiter left and came back with another woman, I assume it was the manager. She brought a tablet with her and asked Teresa what she would not eat. She checked those boxes off. She stepped away and came back telling Teresa the chef would make her something. It was a pleasant exchange, on all sides, and Teresa got a nice meal. Me? I got a nice sliced beef dish.
I am not sure how to describe this one except to say it felt very much like an underground roller coaster. It was an adventurous ride that took us deep into the Earth’s core. The production featured stunning visuals and thrilling encounters with fantastical creatures. The vehicle took us into some dead ends, rushed us through some dark areas with mysterious creatures, and every moment was filled with wonder and excitement. It was an adrenalin rush that we both enjoyed.
If you are in the US and have done the Orlando or the California version of this ride, forget what you know, this is not it. You do get into a car that looks like a boat, but this one is not suspended. It does not have to be. It starts as a charming dark ride that allowed us to fly over London and into Neverland, experiencing the magic of Peter Pan’s story. That is where the similarity stops. The boat is similar to those other non-track rides, where the car moves suddenly, tilts, turns, and gives you the experience of flight as you soar through enchanting scenes, celebrating the timeless spirit of adventure and imagination. You feel like you have to duck the cannon fire and you get too close to the water as you hear the ticking just before the crocodile lunges for your hand. It was exciting and had a very good production value. I know DisneyWorld Orlando updated theirs recently (2018), but it was nothing like this. I guess they wanted to preserve their original charm and experience, but in my opinion, they (DisneyWorld) missed their mark.
Japan loves Rapunzel and this is a tribute to that story, with a distinctly Japanese flair. This whimsical attraction celebrates the story of Tangled and featured vibrant lantern displays and interactive elements. This one surprised us. The line was long and the ride seemed short. It had a pre-show though that was spectacular. Put them together and it made for a good ride. It is also just past the entrance of “Fantasy Springs”, a large rock bridge formation with several carvings on each side of the mountain entrances that showcase classic Disney characters. Find Bambi, if you can.
We had passes for this ride, but when we go there, the ride was temporarily closed. The standard line was filled and extended outside the normal queue and back to almost to Rapunzel’s and with queue times ranging from 130 to 150 minutes. We were told our passes would be honored anytime later in the day. We did not want to walk too far away, but went to explore just a bit more. We checked back about 20-30 minutes later and the found the standard line was gone, that they were only taking priority tickets. This made us happy, but then we were directed to the back of the line, which was very long. It took about an hour to get to the ride. Like Frozen at Epcot, this was a boat ride that brings guests into the world of Frozen, showcasing beloved characters and musical moments. Unlike Epcot’s ride though, this one was much more immersive, feeling the heat and the cold, riding through the port, through the snow, and more. The animatronics were amazing too.
We had met up with our friends, Megan and Mike, a few times and it was getting late. Mike wanted to ride “Tower of Terror”, but Megan was not so thrilled. Teresa and I had ridden the one in Hollywood Studios more than once, so we went while Megan waited. For those that don’t know, Tower of Terror is a thrilling drop tower ride that plunges guests into darkness, combining a spooky storyline with sudden drops and breathtaking views of the park. In the US, it is based on “The Twilight Zone”. In Japan, there is a folklore story of a collector of ancient things. You are led through a basement of the tower, showcasing many artifacts, some still in shipping containers, while the story unfolds. You are taken up to a gallery room where you see the curator unboxing something and then a beam of light envelops him and he disappears. Sparks fly and the windows open with a view of DisneySea for a moment before the slam shut and the elevator drops. It stops and lifts you up again before you are dropped a few more times. This reminded me of how the Orlando version used to be. Now, it is a single drop, maybe two and the ride is over. This felt much more complete.
It was late now, Dinner time and Teresa and I had our last reservation at “Ristorante di Canaletto”. There was a wait, but it was not long before we were seated. Like the afternoon seating/selection, we were given a special menu and there was again, nothing for Teresa. I know Teresa, I know she would have asked for that when she was booking, but the word never got down. It’s a mistake and those happen, it is how they are handled that makes the difference. And no, we do not “Karen” our way out. We are always polite and respectful. This time, like the last saw the waitress escalate it to what I assume is a head waiter, and again to a floor manager. Again, the tablet came out. I had shown her Teresa’s card and pulled up the menu and showed the lady the Margherita pizza saying this would be a good substitute, was even cheaper—and we weren’t asking for a refund. She said she would see what they could do and left. The next thing we see is the waitress coming back with not one, but two of these pizza’s. I guess she assumed we both wanted one. I had my heart set on the “homemade pasta with beef”. The pizzas were large too. In the “old days”, I would have been able to eat one by myself. But, the new meds have me feeling bloated when I eat too much, especially breads. I ate two slices and forced a third down before I had to tap out. Teresa, not wanting to see it go to waste or be rude after they went out of their way for us, ate all of hers (and even tapped into mine). It was good, don’t get me wrong. I guess my tip here is to verify your menu if you are “presetting” it.
We left in time to see people lining up along the lagoon. It was time for the closing ceremony/parade.We were by the shops near the entrance, and there were a few things we saw earlier that we wanted to get before we left. So, we decided with the crowds outside, now would be a good time. We picked up the few things and the lines were light before we stepped back out. The show had just started. I was expecting fireworks, and there was some, but a lot of it was like the “Electric Parade” on waterways of the Resorts, but with lasers and live characters. The production was amazing. I captured some video and it is below. Enjoy!
