Day 3: DisneySea - The best theme park in the world

On our third day we had tentatively planned to drive to the base of Mount Fuji, but the weather had other plans. From the webcams there was no mountain to be seen. We had a generally lazy morning and some Indian food for lunch and contemplated what we could do on a rainy day. Eventually we settled on going to DisneySea which has discount tickets in the afternoon. It's about a 30 minute drive from Nicole and Akash's, and why not? If it was raining hard we could just stand in line for some rides. 

I was designated navigator while Akash drove us the 30 minutes to the park. Using google maps in Japanese is both challenging and impossible. We made it without much issue. We drove through the high end Ginza shopping district on the way. 

What I did not realize at the time is that DisneySea is consistently rated the best Disney park in the world and the best theme park in the world. When we arrived it was clear why. It is a completely unique, immersive theme park experience. The park is an exceptionally high quality and very fun to explore and walk around. The concept centers around different sea ports (real and imagined). 

Madhu, Akash, and Timm contemplating the globe entrance. 

 

The entrance theme is Mediterranean. Think Italian village on a bay, with an actual erupting volcano in the background. 

 

 

 

When you cross the sea, you get to the Fortress of Exploration. A castle like structure with winding stairs and hidden rooms containing science themed exhibits. Think Galileo or Davinci era. 

 

 

Far view of American coast. 

 

Closer view of the full size steamer ship. You can explore it as if you are real passenger. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Journey to the center of the earth. 

Little mermaid 

 

 

Aladdin

 

 

 

Mexico/Indiana Jones

 

 

The thing about Japan Disney is that people who go together dress alike. It could be a pair (couple or not) or group of five. It could be as simple as a t-shirt or an elaborate weird ensemble. Also, there are these guys who walk around picking up trash who pretend trash falls from the sky and hits them on the head and people love it. Here is a huge crowd forming around one:

And finally, Fantasmic (in Japanese!):

   

Overall DisneySea was unbelievably fun. It was one of my favorite things we did in Tokyo.