is a theme park at the
Tokyo Disney Resort located in
Urayasu ,
Chiba ,
Japan , just outside of
Tokyo . It opened on
September 4 ,
2001 . It is owned by
The Oriental Land Company , which licenses the theme from The Walt Disney Company. It, along with its companion park,
Tokyo Disneyland , are the only Disney parks not owned by
The Walt Disney Company . Tokyo DisneySea has become one of the world's most visited theme park and one of the most popular Disney Parks in the world. An estimated 12.2 million visitors visited the park in 2004
{Link without Title} . It was the second theme park to open at the Tokyo Disney Resort, and the ninth park of the eleven worldwide Disney theme parks to open.
The park has a nautical theme - the idea came from a proposal to build a waterfront theme park in
Long Beach, California called "DisneySea", but the idea was scrapped after the company endured financial trouble with its
EuroDisney project. Later the idea was passed on to the Oriental Land Company to expand their resort. Unlike, Tokyo Disneyland, the overall intention was to create a more adult-themed park, including faster, scarier rides and shows designed more for an older audience.
''"Welcome one and all to a world where Imagination and Adventure set sail. Tokyo DisneySea is dedicated to the spirit of exploration that lives in each of us. Here we charter a course for Adventure, Romance, Discovery and Fun and journey to exotic and fanciful Ports of Call. May Tokyo DisneySea inspire the hearts and mind of all of us who share the
Water Planet , Earth."'' -
Michael Eisner , September 4, 2001
There are seven themed areas or "ports of call", each complimenting each other yet unique in their style. The entrance to the park is Mediterranean Harbor, and from there, six more unique lands with nautical themes: American Waterfront, Lost River Delta, Port Discovery, Mermaid Lagoon, Arabian Coast, and Mysterious Island.
Mediterranean Harbor is the entrance "port-of-call" and themed as an Italian port city. The layout greatly differs from the entry "lands" of other Disney parks (such as Disneyland's Main Street, U.S.A. or the Disney-MGM Studios' Hollywood Boulevard) as it is a large "V" shape. If followed to the right, the path leads to Mysterious Island, while if followed to the left, the path leads to the American Waterfront.
This "port of call" represents the northeastern seaboard of the United States in the early 20th century. It features two themed areas, an "Old Cape Cod" section, and a "New York Harbor" section. This land is dominated by the large passenger ship, "S.S. Columbia", and the large skyscraper, Hightower Hotel. Apart from the "Big City Vehicles" which travel around the area and the DisneySea Electric Railway, the land features no attractions. However, in Autumn 2006, the
Tower Of Terror will open on the site of the Hotel Hightower.
- Indiana Jones Adventure : Temple of the Crystal Skull Presented by Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.,Follow in the footsteps of Dr. Indiana Jones in a harrowing, life-or-death quest for the legendary Fountain of Youth.But beware the Fountain is purported to be guarded by a vengeful, supernatural spirit known as the Crystal Skull!
- DisneySea Steamer Line Presented by Nippon Oil Corporation,Take a leisurely cruise to Mediterranean Harbor aboard Transit Steamers leaving from this dock. Other routes are available from docks in American Waterfront and Mediterranean Harbor.
- Mystic Rhythms,Enjoy a live theatrical performance in an abandoned hangar that has been reclaimed by the jungle.Let the animals and living spirits of the rainforest tell you the tale of this land far from civilization.
- Raging Spirits ,A new adventure awaits you at the mysterious Lost River Delta! This roller coaster attraction takes everyone on a high-speed ride through the ruins of an ancient ceremonial site.As you pass by the vengeful spirits awakened during the excavation, the bursting flames, encompassing steam, and spine-tingling 360-degree loop will make it a truly thrilling experience!
- StormRider Presented by JCB Co., Ltd,The Center for Weather Control has recently developed a "Storm Diffusion Device," a new invention that is detonated in the center of powerful storms and dissipates their energy. As there happens to be a rather large typhoon approaching Port Discovery at the moment, Guests at the CWC are invited to board one of the Center's flying weather laboratories and observe a mission to test one of the new "Fuses" by delivering it right to the center of the storm!
- Aquatopia,The Center for Weather Control usually uses this facility for testing out new types of navigation systems. However, to commemorate today's festival, the scientists at the CWC have made some special modifications. Guests can board one of the experimental watercraft and embark on a twisting, whirling, wild ride through a labyrinth of fountains, rock formations and whirlpools.
- DisneySea Electric Railway Presented by TOMY Co.,This nostalgic electric trolley takes Guests over the horizons of time back to the turn of the century in American Waterfront. No matter where you sit on the elevated train, you'll be able to enjoy the beautiful scenery of Tokyo DisneySea passing by outside the windows
Mermaid Lagoon is home to many of the characters of
The Little Mermaid . This "port of call" has two areas, one indoors and the other outdoors, both featuring attractions suited for children. The area is bright and colorful and features fanciful architecture designed after the undersea palace of King Triton.
This "port of call", like Mermaid Lagoon is themed after a popular Disney animated film, this time
Aladdin . It recreates an exotic Arabian harbor combined with an "enchanted world from 1001 Arabian Nights." There are two attractions in the land, Sinbad's Seven Voyages and Caravan Carousel. Sinbad's Seven Voyages, a boat ride much like "it's a small world", is notable for being the only attraction in the land not themed to Aladdin.
Mysterious Island is a "port-of-call" within Mount Prometheus, the giant volcano that is the Park's centerpiece and most prominent feature. It relies heavily on the storytelling of
Jules Verne . Although it is the smallest area of the Park, it holds two of the biggest attractions: "Journey to the Center of the Earth" and "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea". While appearing to be a volcano on the water, Mysterious Island is not an island at all. It is instead built into the side of Mount Prometheus, which is part of the showbuilding of the two attractions.
The park's two symbols are the - a water fountain with a large model of the earth - near the entrance, and the gigantic
Volcano , '''Mount Prometheus''', located in the center of the park. The volcano and
Cinderella Castle in
Tokyo Disneyland , the other park in the resort, are just the same height.
