This article is about the theme park located at Tokyo Disney Resort in Japan. For the cancelled theme park, see DisneySea.
“Where imagination and adventure set sail.”
―Official slogan.
Tokyo DisneySea (東京ディズニーシー Tōkyō Dizunīshī) is a 176-acre (712,246 m²) theme park at the Tokyo Disney Resort located in Urayasu, Chiba, Japan, just outside Tokyo. It opened on September 4, 2001. It is owned by The Oriental Land Company, which licenses the theme from The Walt Disney Company. Tokyo DisneySea attracted an estimated 12 million visitors in 2009, making it the fifth-most-visited theme park in the world. Tokyo DisneySea 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. Tokyo DisneySea was the fastest theme park in the world to reach the milestone of 10 million guests, having done so in 307 days after its grand opening. The previous record-holder was Universal Studios Japan 338 days after its opening. Tokyo DisneySea is also the most expensive theme park ever built, estimated to have cost over U.S. $4 billion. Tokyo DisneySea and its companion park Tokyo Disneyland are the only Disney parks in the world not owned by The Walt Disney Company.
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 chart a course for Adventure, Romance, Discovery and Fun and journey to exotic and fanciful Ports of Call. May Tokyo DisneySea inspire the hearts and minds of all of us who share the water planet, Earth. - Michael D. Eisner, September 4, 2001
Concept[]
Tokyo DisneySea has an overall nautical exploration theme to it. The idea for the park can be traced to a proposal to build a second theme park in Southern California called "DisneySeas" in Long Beach, California. However the idea was scrapped after the company endured financial trouble with the Euro Disney project, as well as opposition from environmental groups regarding the amount of landfill that would be required for the entire Port Disney 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. By the time Tokyo DisneySea opened in 2001, its concepts and designs had been in development at Walt Disney Imagineering for well over 20 years.
Layout[]
There are seven uniquely themed areas or "ports of call". The entrance to the park is Mediterranean Harbor, which opens up to six more nautically themed ports: American Waterfront, Lost River Delta, Port Discovery, Mermaid Lagoon, Arabian Coast, and Mysterious Island.
In 2015, it was announced that an eighth port, based around Frozen, would open in 2017 under the working name "Scandinavia". In 2018, it was announced that this concept was revised to include Tangled and Peter Pan as a new area called Fantasy Springs and serve as the biggest expansion to the park to date. Additionally, a new hotel would be connected to this port. It is planned to open in 2023.
Symbols[]
The park's two symbols are the DisneySea AquaSphere, similar to the Universal Studios metal globe - a water fountain with a large model of the earth - in the entrance plaza, 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 exactly the same height.
Tokyo DisneySea is perhaps one of the most popular non-western Disney parks among western Disney fans nowadays in general, because the original American Disney parks did not have their own "DisneySea" park at all.
Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Crystal Skull • Song of Mirage • Raging Spirits • Saludos Amigos Greeting Dock • Mickey & Friends' Greeting Trails
Port Discovery
Aquatopia • DisneySea Electric Railway • Nemo & Friends SeaRider
American Waterfront
Toy Story Mania • Tower of Terror • DisneySea Electric Railway • Turtle Talk • S.S. Columbia • Big City Vehicles • Big Band Beat: A Special Treat • DisneySea Transit Steamer Line • My Friend Duffy
