Why DisneySea is the Best Theme Park
Chelsey Wang (ISB 10)
Chelsey Wang, a staff author, is a sucker for all things Disney related. Her favorite movie being Ratatouille as she is enraptured by the rat and the dishes that the kitchen creates.
While guiding the reader on the wonders of the DisneySea theme park in her eye-opening third Buddy! article, she reminds us to keep ahold of and cherish the child, who delights at old cartoons and movies, in all of us.
Like many others at the age of 13, I thought that I was too old for Disney. And that I had to move on from childish things like “Alice in Wonderland” and “Monster’s Inc,” because, well, everyone around me seemed to be growing up. So I said goodbye to magic, and welcomed more popular interests. I went on like this, convinced that my hobbies needed to match my age in fear of rejection, until last year, when I visited Tokyo DisneySea and it completely changed my mindset. But on top of that, here’s why you need to visit DisneySea (if you haven’t already) if you’re a sucker for amusement parks.
Marine Theme:
I’ll begin with the theme, which is pretty much already given by its title. The park is heavily based around the idea of water, which is very refreshing for those who think that Disney is trite since there are no other Disney parks with the same theme. Upon visiting, I was immersed in a totally unique atmosphere that magically transported me from Japan to varying ports of call in the Mediterranean. It brought me to the Canadian harbors I visited during my childhood, as well as canals that I’ve only dreamed of visiting. Every single section of the park is meticulously designed in a way that gives off a distinctive ambiance whilst still sticking with the marine theme. I’ll let the picture do the talking here:
DisneySea’s Venice Canals in Tokyo
Top 3 Rides:
I don’t know about you but I LOVE rollercoasters. For DisneySea, I would have to highlight Tower of Terror, Journey to the Center of the Earth, and Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Crystal Skull.
Tower of Terror
The Tower of Terror is on the top of my list because my first time on this ride was a pivotal moment in my preteen years. The first time I saw the ride was when I was with my family at Hollywood Studios. I remember seeing the tower looming over me as a sense of foreboding rushes through me, and, to my absolute horror, I see my brother’s hand pointing eagerly towards the tower. As my parents slowly led me to my demise, I’d thought of every possible way of escaping. It was not until when we'd just gotten to the front of the line that I decided to speak up about my increasing fear. By then, we had already waited for 2 hours, but since I was the youngest, my family left the queue together to comfort me. I felt incredibly guilty because they really wanted to go on. I sat on a dimly lit bench surrounded by my slightly annoyed family, and nobody was speaking. As my older brother was bickering about missing the ride, I looked around at the Disney bustle. I saw a girl my age looking absolutely petrified but was still waiting (somehow) excitedly in line. As I watched this girl inch closer to the ride, I realized that my fears shouldn't hinder me from the experiences that life provides. So, regardless of the panic welling up inside me, I decided that I was getting on that ride no matter what. Then, to my and my family's surprise, I marched straight up to the staff member, despite my usual fears about social confrontation, and got us our spot back at the front of the line. My family caught up with me and asked me, "What changed?" and I said, "Well, we're getting on that stupid ride.“
Lobby of the Tower of Terror
(From Flickr)
If you frequently visit Disney parks, you’ll know that the Tower of Terror is in four different parks: Tokyo DisneySea, Disney California Adventure Park, Walt Disney Studios Park in Paris, and Disney's Hollywood Studios. However, unlike the rides in the three other parks, the Tower of Terror in DisneySea offers a unique storyline. The original story follows a group of people who got electrocuted in an elevator and now haunt the tower. On the other hand, in DisneySea, the passengers are on a tour of the hotel that was previously owned by the explorer, Harrison Hightower. The story focuses on his disappearance and perhaps death, which was caused by a cursed idol called Shiriki Utundu. This creative storyline paved the way for designers to fill the lobby with an abundance of artifacts, different pre-show rooms, and newspaper clippings to make the long waiting time much more interesting.
Journey to the Center of the Earth
This ride, in my opinion, is located in the most interesting section of the park: Mysterious Island. This area also holds the very famous ride called 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, which is also a fantastic ride but with a significantly shorter queue.
(From Disney Fandom)
Like all the other attractions, this ride is amazingly detailed from the queue line to the final ride. While waiting, the guests are taken through the cobbled-together workshop where Nemo and his friends have been analyzing their findings in a recent excavation. Finally, guests are loaded into mini excavation pods deep below the earth that take them from a forest of mushrooms with magnificent creatures, to a staged malfunction that envelops guests in a sea of fire (artificial, of course). Journey to the Center of the Earth is for anyone like me who loves intense and thrilling rides.
Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Crystal Skull
This ride is the same ride system as Indiana Jones Adventure at Disneyland and Dinosaur at Animal Kingdom; however, much like the Tower of Terror, DisneySea’s ride also offers several unique qualities. The queuing area of DisneySea’s ride is significantly more detailed than the other two, making it an incredible experience even for those standing in line. The main area’s design centers around a painstakingly carved statue with strips of low-hanging olive green moss around it, which immediately sets the setting for the journey. The ride itself is a thriller (just how I like it!) that takes guests on a wild experience of flashing lights, shrieking underground creatures, and sharp drops, which ends with a gigantic stone ball being thrusted at the guests for one final scare. 10/10 would go on again.
Outside view of the Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Crystal Skull
(From Youtube)
Shows:
Shows are constantly going on at DisneySea. Whether it’s the famous Big Band Beat show located in American Waterfront or flappers from the 90s just randomly dancing on the street, there is never a dull moment at the park. Depending on the time you visit DisneySea, you’ll likely find limited-time shows that tie into the event the park is currently undertaking. For example, since I visited during the winter season, I stumbled upon the park’s Christmas events, where there was an increase in parades and unadvertised street performances as well as a Christmas themed fireworks show in the evening.
DisneySea’s Special Christmas Show!
(From Matcha)
Food:
The sheer variety of food at DisneySea makes me want to get on the first plane to Japan and experience this park all over again. At other Disney parks, restaurants either have great food or cool atmosphere, but usually not both. But Tokyo DisneySea has got it all! There are almost a dozen awesome counter service restaurants that have both great food and great theme. At Casbah Food Court, you can dine in an Arabian open-air bazaar while having excellent curry. Or you can devour a scrumptious chocolate cake at Mamma Biscotti's Bakery.
Other than counter service restaurants, DisneySea also provides its guests with a large selection of street snacks ranging from Chinese Gyoza Dogs to plain old churros. On top of that, the food is not just cute, but absolutely delicious, and surprisingly affordable compared to other Disney theme parks! I personally recommend the Green Alien Mochi and the Mickey Ice Pops!
ANYWAY. I. Absolutely. Love. DisneySea.
After that cacophony of Tokyo DisneySea facts, which by now should’ve convinced you to want to visit this amazing establishment (!!!), let’s go back to why I chose to write this article in the first place.
DisneySea made me realize that I needed to stay true to myself. Although it might be cheesy, my visit reminded me of all the times I’d grown from my experiences. Throughout middle school, I found it hard not to be influenced by others (istg, if I get another lecture about peer pressure…) and I often found myself following whatever was trendy at the time, whether it’d be a popular haircut or artist. I would also scoff at topics that I thought were too niche or weird regardless of whether they interested me or not. Eventually, it started to become tiresome to keep up with the hype train. But it wasn’t until I visited DisneySea that I remembered the kind of happiness I’d experienced when I did something I actually enjoyed. And I decided that it was time to stop. So I did. I stopped trying to keep up with what others liked, and instead focused on what I wanted. I discovered indie bands that I never thought I would listen to and obscure topics that have basically changed the course of my life. Although nobody else around me really noticed (at least I don’t think they did), I found myself to be much happier than before. I know I sound silly when I say that Disney gave me an epiphany that changed my entire life, but it really did happen!
Staying true to myself has been one of the best things I’ve done. If you’re feeling like what I felt before, you should ask yourself whether the things you’re chasing is what you really want or if it is what you’re trying to impress others with. If your answer is the latter then, trust me, it’s not worth it.
Works Cited
https://www.flickr.com/photos/23879054@N00/3812123968
https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/Mysterious_Island?file=Mysterious_Island_02.jpg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OEkTOubp8g
https://matcha-jp.com/en/3606