Wherever you see an* there will be a corresponding photo at the link.
When you wake up in Tokyo there are a few minutes of disorientation. Your first thought is where am I, and why does the clock say 4:35AM when there is bright daylight coming through the curtains? Oh, right, Japan Land of the rising sun.
To get to Tokyo DisneySea from the Miracosta Hotel you take the elevator to the first floor and simply walk outside. The lobby is on the second floor; the entrance to the park is on the first. The ticket turnstile is manned by at least 4 very pleasant and helpful cast members. I know Im being repetitive here, but all of the Disney employees I encountered were just wonderful. The maintenance workers, vendors, ride operators, bus drivers, and restaurant cast, all seemed dedicated to insuring the best possible guest experience. At times their courtesy seemed almost formal, but always with a smile. Additionally the high ratio of cast members to guests was amazing! To be received this way traveling so far from home was very, very, comforting.
As you enter the piazza you can go left or right around the harbor and into the park. Go right and youll come to a boat landing where the Transit Steamer docks. The *boathouse is richly detailed. There are antique photos of the captain and his crew; crates of merchandise (some pried open for inspection) cargo manifests and a table full of navigation equipment. It all makes you feel as if you are hitching a ride on a tramp steamer to some exotic land. This ride is a great way to get an overview of the park. You cruise the Mediterranean Harbor and are treated to a *great view of the hotel. Next the *Fortress with its sailing ship at anchor (the cannons on this vessel actually fire! Just pull one of the fuses). Slowly your steamer makes it's way along the *American Waterfront, a charming representation of a new England fishing village with boat builders, a lighthouse, fishing boats and the SS Columbia-a cruise liner from a bygone era and home to 2 great restaurants. You steam past *Port Discovery, home to the StormRider. As you approach your destination the theme changes to the jungles of South America. Once you disembark you can stop at the cantina or continue on across the rope bridge. Up ahead ruins honoring mischievous spirits and long forgotten gods. Soon you will find yourself standing in front of an imposing Mayan temple
INDIANA JONES! BIG FUN! The ride itself is similar to the Indy ride at
Disneyland in Anaheim with slightly different themeing. You are exploring a temple, a god is offended, and you are sent speeding from one life threatening close call to the next. I couldnt quite tell what offended the god of the temple, but I loved hearing Indy speak Japanese. A few steps from Indy, you discover a roller coaster called *Raging Spirits. This is my kind of coaster! I am not a big fan of extreme thrill coasters. This one is just right for my taste. Imagine a wilder version of Big Thunder with one loop. Perfection.
Next up, the Arabian Coast. You will never see a more beautifully themed land in any park. It was like stepping into the world of Aladdin. Fine tile work, imaginative architecture, a beautiful *central fountain, and a carousel. You will absolutely lose yourself. The main attraction here is Sinbads Seven Voyages. The cue for this ride is almost as fun as the ride itself. The line moves past several *lovely murals depicting Sinbads travels.
The ride is a boat trip through Sinbads many adventures. I loved this attraction. It may be the longest lasting ride in any Disney park. The boat moves at the pace of Pirates. The animatronics are stylized and the scenes are gorgeous. Smaller than those in POC, the figures are very simple but expressive. There are storms, ship wrecks, magic, monsters and villains. A relaxing ride that children will love.
Another great attraction for the kids is the Magic lamp Theatre stage show. This is a live show in Japanese, with 3D effects. The Genie from Aladdin is a central character and he seems to be up to his old tricks along with a wizard and a young apprentice. Theres lots of magic, lots of fun, and a few surprises. Like many areas of the resort, the atmosphere of the Arabian Coast area is very romantic after dark and I'm not sure why. Maybe it's the Sinbad ride, maybe it's the carousel or maybe It just makes me think of Jasmine and Aladdin, sitting by the fountain on a summer night.
This brings to a close part 2. Ive added another photo page to the web site with a few pictures of the Arabian Coast. Ill finish up next week. Thanks for all you kind posts! Its been so much fun for me to relive my trip with you.
See ya real soon!
Here's that link to the photos. I've added a few.
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