Exploring Tokyo Disney Sea

I've always been curious about Tokyo Disney. On previous trips I've been told that the resort is used primarily for dating, and up until this year I had always gone for work or with friends which made dating highly unlikely! So this year, when I got to show the lovely Bry around Tokyo, the forbidden fruit of Tokyo Disney Sea was an absolute must.

The complex is situated around 20 minutes from Maihama station, though you can find buses direct from Shinjuku station. We took the latter option which was comfortable and saved us a walk, arriving for 10am, just as the park opened. Upon arrival, you go through the main gates into an open area surrounded by shops on either side, filled with souvenirs and snacks if you want to start your buying spree early. The main attraction here is a beautiful, huge globe in front of a massive lake which forms the heart of the complex. The other zones are scattered throughout the site, and it was our job to discover as much as we could before closing. Game on!

Deciding to move clockwise around the lake, we passed a beautiful Venetian area complete with iconic bridges and gondolas, which zipped passed us carrying tourists to other areas of the park. We pressed on to an area modelled on New Orleans, with shops, food stalls and the centerpiece, a Tower of Terror from which you would fall at speed in a doomed elevator! Sadly, since Bry was pregnant at the time, this challenge would have to wait for another day, but the amazing architecture and pure scale were exhilarating enough.

Pressing on, we arrived at a Mediterranean area that had a strange and slightly lacklustre spinning-saucer style ride which followed along a track and failed to really excite, but further along was a ride new to the park, a virtual reality Finding Nemo experience that took you on a journey into the sea, shrunk to fish size in your submersible, and being thrust headlong into an underwater world. It's a terrific experience and highly recommended.

Further along we came to one of my favourite areas, Captain Nemo's Lagoon. The famous Nautilus submarine is docked at the harbour by a food area, and the theme was one of huge man-made caverns tunneled into the rock by Victorian machines. This are also contained two amazing rides - a rollercoaster that launches you from a volcano (sadly had to miss this too) and an underwater exploration ride that takes you through an animatronic underwater world filled with rare sea monsters. Even the queue was entertaining, as the good Captain's office was on display, full of brass instruments, leather-bound books and exotic maps.

Exiting this area brings you to Ariel's lagoon, a wonderful underground area with family-themed rides and restaurants. This was also home to a wonderful live show with a young woman suspended by wires perfectly capturing the essence of Ariel as she glided above us performing a song to Kind Trident. I haven't seen The Little Mermaid but I enjoyed the show which was, of course, performed in Japanese.

The next location featured a European themed Fortress, complete with moored boat and a fine dining restaurant with eye-watering prices! It's a wonderful looking area, and you can even fire cannons from the battlements. There's a remote-controlled ship area and a puzzle challenge that proved somewhat impenetrable thanks to the language barrier. Boo. We didn't spend long here but I loved the atmosphere.

Next up: The Arabian Coast! This recreation of Aladdin's hometown is fantastic. There are merchant stalls lining the streets, and these open up to a large square that houses a theatre and a two-storey merry-go-round. The show, which is of course a magic show, features a crooked wizard and his sidekick, the latter of which discovers the Genie and attempts to free the imprisoned master of trickery from the lamp. It's a terrific blend of magic, slapstick and special effects that use 3D glasses to really bring the action to life. A terrific addition to the park. There was also a shop that sold glass goods, and I was sorely tempted to spend up in here. In the end I managed to resist and save my money for later, but this is a unique shop in the park and a good stop if you want something fancy to take home.

By the time we had explored the main areas, it was time for a show on the lake. Mickey, resplendent in his Wizard outfit from Fantasia, arrives on a huge tower in the middle of the lake, and is warned that his powerful imagination can be harnessed for good... or evil. Queue a display of incredible fireworks, themed boats and parades of characters waving to the assembled onlookers. This was Disney Resort on top form and a highlight of the entire trip.

We finished our trip, which had lasted a full 12 hours, with some shopping in the biggest boutique in the park. The amount of people grabbing souvenirs here was utterly insane, but among the scrabble for merchandise, I managed to uncover two items that made the trip worthwhile; the first was a simple but elegant white box emblazoned with the Pixar logo in black. Inside is a collection of incredible Pixar themed stationary, including pencils, notebooks, sticky notes and pens. It's just too beautiful to use! Secondly, and I had to sneak this one, I picked up a Little Mermaid pocket watch made of bronze and glass for Bryon. Well, it was Valentine's day after all :)

Tokyo Disney Sea is a thrilling way to spend a day in Tokyo and I highly recommend it. I haven't visited a Disney theme park in 30 years - I won't leave it anywhere near as long next time.

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