This was our second trip to Japan but our first time visiting Disney Sea and after seeing it rated by many as one of the top Disney parks in the world, we were super excited to see what it was like.
As an avid Disney fan it is hard for me to rank a park higher than Disneyland because it’s of course the original where all the magic started and for me it will always triumph. Disney Sea is very different to Disneyland in many ways. It’s obviously themed totally around water and is definitely not as traditional as Disneyland is, however Disney Sea trumps in a few areas!
I would definitely suggest experiencing both parks if you can because they will offer you something totally unique. People told us Disney Sea was more centred around older children/young adults and although Disneyland does have more rides for younger kids, Leo (three at the time) had a lot of fun here and was able to go on everything we wanted to.
Planning your day here
Disney Sea for us was less about doing all the rides and more about exploring the park and enjoying all of the little magical details. There aren’t as many rides here as Disneyland, however you are still unlikely to get to majority of them due to how big the park is, especially with kids. After a big day at Disneyland the day before, we wanted to spend more time looking around rather than lining up for hours so we picked a few rides for the day and spent the rest enjoying all of the beautiful scenery.
In terms of planning out your day, you can follow most steps from my Tokyo Disneyland guide here. Firstly, avoid weekends at all possible cost. We went on a Monday right before Christmas and the park was surprisingly no where near as busy as Disneyland the day before but I have read it can be just as horrendous in terms of crowds.
The main rule of any successful day at Disney parks is get your fastpasses for your favourite rides (map them out before going) first thing in the morning before they run out. The most popular ride here is Soaring: Fantastic Flight which is a newer ride and had a two hour wait when we arrived early morning so we skipped it. The best one for kids is Toy Story Mania and was also our favourite so we would suggest going straight there when you arrive.
Make sure you are wearing good footwear because this park is huge and you’re going to clock up the steps. Remember to also pack your own snacks and water for in between meals.
What makes Disney Sea unlike the rest
Tokyo Disney Sea is the third largest Disney park and you get that feeling from the minute you walk in. It has so much open space that it feels less crowded to other parks instantly because of this reason, HOWEVER the queues for rides are just as long. The park is surrounded with water and the Mediterranean Harbour at the entrance is where the main shows/fireworks displays are held. Sitting at the back of this is a large man-made volcano that erupts throughout the day.
The parks aesthetics are absolutely stunning. The views are beautiful and I was mesmerised by so many aspects of the architecture and design and how it transported me to some of my favourite Disney films!
My favourite would have to have been the Arabian Coast which was themed around Aladdin (one of my favourite Disney movies!). It truly felt like we were in the film. There was so much detail and the staff were in character which just added to the nostalgia.
Inside here we did the carousel for the kids which they loved and we also did The Magic Lamp Theatre as well as Sinbad’s Storypark Voyage. The Magic Lamp Theatre is a 3D magic show and although it was amazing, everything was in Japanese and you couldn’t follow along. I would suggest skipping this for something else if you don’t understand much Japanese. Sinbad’s Storypark Voyage however was amazing and the kids loved it.
Second to Arabian Coast would have to have been Mermaid Lagoon based off The Little Mermaid. I mean, look at these colours! Here is where you can meet Ariel (prepare to wait) and there are some great rides for the smaller children.
AND the kids favourite area (we loved it too!) was Toyville Trolley Park in American Waterfront, of course themed on Toy Story, my kids favourite movies. The Toy Story Mania ride was a family favourite and although there’s not a lot to do in here, it’s all very cute!
Shows
The shows during the day are spectacular at the centre of the park. They don’t do a parade like Disneyland so you will have to get a good spot for viewing and when it is really busy you will have trouble seeing it.
There is a lottery system which we didn’t know much about but basically guests can use their park tickets to enter to win a front seat for viewing to the more popular shows. There’s a computer terminal designated at each park where you can enter and it will tell you instantly if you’re a winner. You can find more info on the lottery here.
Character Greetings
I definitely felt that Disney Sea did not have as many characters roaming around the park for photos as Disneyland does and some of them we didn’t recognise. However, you can still see Mickey and Minnie at their respective spots but you will need to line up for a photo and you can expect to wait some time.
Our favourite rides
Firstly, all of the rides/shows/entertainment in Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo Disney Sea is in Japanese without an English translation. This won’t impact you on a lot of the rides but you may not follow the shows which can make it not as fun for the kids (as adults we didn’t mind).
Our favourite rides at Disney Sea were:
Toy Story Mania (favourite ride overall for the family)
So glad we made the effort for this ride as it was a lot of fun. You go around in these trams and have to shoot targets for points. It tally’s your points as well so you can have a competition with the family.
Finding Nemo
This was a simulated ride that again was in Japanese, however it was still enjoyable as you moved through the ride with Nemo. Leo was just tall enough for this one as everyone has to sit in their own seat.
Sinbad’s Storybook Voyage
Again, this ride was all in Japanese but the theatrics of it were mesmerising and the kids were entranced. It’s a boat ride and it goes for a decent amount of time providing a lot of enjoyment for the whole family.
20,000 Leagues Under The Sea
This is a submarine ride with no height restrictions and it was a lot of fun for the kids. It is very dark so be mindful, the kids may get a little frightened at times but again the creativity and animation is awesome.
Note: The Indiana Jones ride is also great but it was closed on this occasion.
Food:
We take a lot of snacks to the Disney Parks of course having two hungry boys and then splurge on something cute each. Food in Japan is absolutely amazing regardless and so it is just as tasty at the parks, however expect to pay a price for it. There are heaps of restaurants at Disney Sea as well as little carts along the way with things like hot dogs or sweet treats. Don’t forget your own snacks and water!
The Finale
I have experienced a few firework displays at Disneyland now and they are always a magical experience but experience Disney Sea’s display for the first time was SO awesome. Their night shows are done by boat on the main harbour and the light displays are stunning. We would totally recommend rugging up, grabbing a hot chocolate and getting a spot for this display.
You could also break up your day by popping back to your accommodation for a rest with the kids so that you can attend the night shows which is what we did and the kids were great. The Disney Sea hotel is also right in the park and you can see these shows directly from your windows if you choose to stay there.
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