The 5 Best Disney Rides You Can Only Experience in Japan
For theme park enthusiasts, there's always something wonderful about experiencing a new park. The magic of discovery. The thrill of fresh attractions. And, if you're a Disney fan, it's even more exciting simply because there aren't that many parks. Only six places in the world (as of now) have Disney Parks, so any first-time visit is special—which is exactly what happened to me last month when I went to the Tokyo Disney Resort.
Consisting of two separate theme parks, Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea, Tokyo Disney has many rides we know and love here in the United States. But, as an adult who not only frequents Walt Disney World in Orlando, but is a Magic Key holder at Disneyland, those weren't why I was most excited. It was the rides I could only ride there in Japan that made me wake up at the crack of dawn, line up, and pay that little extra to ensure I'd get on.
Below, here are the five best Disney rides you can only ride in Japan. They're rides that, I'm happy to say, made the trip worth the visit all by themselves.
The Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast – Tokyo Disneyland
Like most Disney parks, Tokyo Disneyland has a big, beautiful castle at the center. But this park also has a second castle just for its Beauty and the Beast ride. And, once you ride it, you'll know why. Sitting in a large teacup, you are whisked away on a trackless system (like Rise of the Resistance or Ratatouille) through the film. The ride vehicles move around elaborate, stunning recreations of scenes from the animated classic with awesome animatronics and all your favorite songs to boot. By the time you get to the end, and Belle and the Beast are dancing together in the ballroom, it truly might bring a tear to your eye. Simply one of the best Disney rides I've ever been on, if not the best.
Anna and Elsa's Frozen Journey – Tokyo DisneySea
At Epcot in Orlando, Florida, there is a very good boat ride themed around Frozen. If you've ridden it, imagine what that's like, but three times longer with even more of the story, songs, and characters. Basically, you ride in a boat through the Frozen movie, combining all the tricks Disney Imagineers have come up with over the years—animatronics, projections, sets, etc. But what's the best part of Frozen? 'Let It Go,' right? Well, this ride uses three entire rooms to take you through the song, climaxing in some truly epic moments. This isn't a thrill ride of any kind, but the thrill you get in living in this world for a few minutes makes it incredibly special.
Peter Pan's Never Land Adventure – Tokyo DisneySea
Again, the best way to contextualize this ride is to compare it to other, similar rides. So imagine rides such as Universal's Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, Transformers: The Ride or The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man, in which you're in a vehicle on a track that goes between elaborate movie scenes and big, practical sets. That's this ride and, frankly, it's better than all of those. It's an epic retelling of the Peter Pan story with these dynamic technologies and, just when you think the story is over, it keeps going. It's a rousing experience.
Nemo & Friends SeaRider – Tokyo DisneySea
Finding Nemo has a huge presence in Disney parks, with rides in both Orlando and Anaheim. But the one in Tokyo is different. Think Star Tours, but Finding Nemo, as you get into a 'ship' (aka, a sort of movie theater) which is then shrunken down and whisked all through the ocean. Oh, and it's 4D, so expect to get a little wet. It's not the newest or most innovative ride, but it's still really fun.
Journey to the Center of the Earth – Tokyo DisneySea
If Journey to the Center of the Earth was one minute longer, it would be one of the best rides at the resort. As it stands now, it's too short to be on that full list but, if you don't have to wait too long for it, it's very much worth a spin. You basically take a vehicle through a story where you go to the center of the Earth and, once you encounter a big monster, are zipped away in a pseudo roller coaster moment, including a drop that takes you out of the mountain in the center of the theme park. That part happens a little too quickly but it's still great, as is everything before it.
Of course, those are not the only Tokyo-only rides you find in its Disney parks. Aquatopia, a hovercraft ride, is super fun. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea is a relaxing, beautiful trip, with a nice nostalgic boost from the versions Disney has long since removed from its U.S. parks. Plus, there are exclusive rides based on Tangled, Big Hero 6, Monsters Inc., Winnie the Pooh, and many more. (Full disclosure, we were unable to ride the Monsters and Pooh rides, so I was unable to rank them.)
Basically, if you are a Disney or theme park fan and you find yourself in Tokyo, be sure to prioritize the rides you can only do there. Get more information on Tokyo Disneyland here and Tokyo DisneySea here. (And yes, I bought the ride vehicle figures for as many of these as were available. Read more here.)
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