It is July 30, 2001. I am at the airport preparing to leave for my honeymoon to Hawaii. I am scanning thru the Los Angeles Times one more time before we depart for “paradise”. My eyes catch an article about the Tokyo Disneyland Resort’s newest park, Tokyo DisneySea. As I read thru the article, I have decided my next vacation destination. Tokyo, Japan.
Since then, I have been to the Tokyo Disney Resort three times (2002, 2011, and 2015). Haiing from Southern California, I have been a Disneyland annual pass holder for over 5 years and traveled to Disney World several times, but I believe the Tokyo Disney Resort, particularly Tokyo DisneySea, is the “diamond in the rough” of Disney resorts.
The Tokyo Disney resort consists of two parks: Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea. It is situated in an oval shape monorail system that consists of four stops, Tokyo Disneyland, Tokyo DisneySea, Bayside Station (nearest to the Tokyo Disneyland Official Hotels) and the Resort Gateway Station (Shopping Complex and central subway station to Tokyo). The resort is not owned by Disney; both are instead licensed from Disney by the Oriental Land Company. I view this as an advantage, as it keeps the costs of admission and food lower.
Tokyo Disneyland opened in 1983 and is similar rides as those found at California Disneyland and Orlando’s Magic Kingdom. However, one difference is One ride to highlight is Pooh’s Honey Hunt, a fantastic trackless ride using magnetically driven honey pots. Despite it opening 16 years ago, it continues to have some of the longest wait times of any attraction at Tokyo Disneyland. Depending on which honey pot you get in, you experience different visuals throughout the ride along with Winnie the Pooh. 
Opening in 2001, Tokyo DisneySea is a park unlike any in the world. The architectural detail put in to the park is both inspiring and breathtaking. Arriving at the monorail station to enter the park, guests are greeted by the Aquasphere, a globe of the Earth revolving in a fountain of water. Moving on, guests enter the park thru a Mediterranean themed building to find a harbor punctuated by Mount Prometheus, a volcano that will erupt fire throughout the afternoon and evening. To the left is the American Waterfront where a large passenger ship is docked. To your right looms Mermaid Lagoon that is King Triton’s Castle where a Broadway level production of a Little Mermaid musical is performed several times a day. Other themed ports include the Lost River Delta, the Arabian Coast and Port Discovery.
Rides at DisneySea are similar to those in the California and Florida Disney parks, but they are themed differently. This includes the Aquatopia (think Autopia, but using boats on water), Sinbad’s Storybook Voyage (a variation of It’s a Small World), Journey to the Center of the Earth (a ride inside a volcano similar to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Animal Kingdom’s Dinosaur), and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage). There are also familiar rides like Indiana Jones and Toy Story Mania.
To get to the Tokyo Disney Resort, an airport Limousine coach bus can be reserved from Tokyo Narita Airport. For more information, see https://www.limousinebus.co.jp/en/bus_services/narita/tdr.html The cost is about $21 for adults and $11 for children. The bus ride takes approximately one hour and have set departure times throughout the day.
There is the choice of one of six “Tokyo Disney Resort Official Hotels” that are located one monorail stop away from the parks two of which are major world hotel chains, the Sheraton and the Hilton. During each of my trips to the Tokyo Disney Resort, I have chosen the Hilton Tokyo Bay. I consider this hotel to be the “flagship” of the Hilton chain, setting the standard by which I judge all other hotels.
Hotel rates in May of 2017 are as low as US$202 a night. A great bargain compared to Disney hotels on any Disney resort site. The hotel has exclusive themed rooms that are ideal for families. Last year’s room included FOUR twin bids side by side with a window view that overlooked Tokyo Bay. Per it’s Facebook page, it boasts the Square, the largest restaurant in the any hotel in the world of 1,700 square meters with an impressive 25 meter long buffet. For Hilton Honors Gold and Diamond members, the breakfast buffet was complimentary. The Dynasty Restaurant, another hotel restaurant, is a sumptuous Chinese Restaurant. Here, one may feast on Shanghai specialties and decompress after a long day at the Tokyo Disney Resort. Finally, for those who still want to visit central Tokyo, it is only a 30 minute subway ride from the hotel.
The food at both theme parks have been the subject of various internet blogs and websites. In my opinion, the popcorn flavors sold throughout the park are what to look out for. The popcorn flavors are so popular and unique that the different selling location are found on the resort maps. There are 10 flavored popcorns being sold at the Tokyo Disney Resort including Milk Tea, Soy Sauce, Cappuccino, Curry, Honey, Strawberry and Milk Chocolate. The Tokyo Disney Resort also sells various themed popcorn containers for guests to bring on their return trips to refill. 
About the Author
Randy, and his wife Cynthia, have three boys. When he is not busy traveling as a family throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia, he can be found residing in Diamond Bar and working in the courtrooms as a lawyer.
