Founded in the 1960s, Oriental Land Co., Ltd. (OLC) was created to reclaim land in Tokyo Bay with the express purpose of developing leisure facilities for the citizens of Japan. Deciding to build on the popularity of Disney television shows and products in the country, OLC approached The Walt Disney Company and entered into a licensing agreement to build a Disneyland in Tokyo. OLC would own and operate the park, Disney would provide intellectual property, design, and technical expertise and receive approximately 7% of total revenue from the theme park operations. Opening in 1983, Tokyo Disneyland was a hit, and to build on this OLC decided to open a second gate by adding Tokyo DisneySea, a theme park Disney proposed building in Long Beach, California. DisneySea opened in 2001 was also a hit and is considered by some the best theme park in the world. I read that the Tokyo Disney Resort is the complex Disney would build if Disney had the money, and from what we saw OLC is a great steward of the Disney legacy.
This is where we caught up with Sydney and Leo who are in Japan on their own trip as part of Sydney’s college graduation gift (She is now a full R.N.) They have been in Japan for a week visiting Tokyo and Leo’s family in Gunma. After Disney they are off to Kyoto and Osaka. Being born in Japan, Leo knows his way around and it was nice to have a translator again. Locals take Disney visiting Disney seriously and some dress for the visit. In the Disneyland park Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast, was the favorite of all and I got a chance to ride my odd target, Pooh’s Hunny Hunt. Both are trackless rides which gives one a more expanded experience. Low picture taking day at this park.
In DisneySea, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea was the clear winner with its unique ride system. We also liked Sindbad’s Storybook Voyage. Leo whooped everyone’s butt in Toy Story Mania. Twice. A rather unique thing to do in the Mediterranean Harbor section is Fortress Explorations“The Leonardo Challenge” where you are given a map and have to look for clues in a fortress to Society of Explorers and Adventurers membership. You can wander the fortress without doing the challenge and with its sailing galleon ship. towers, Foucault pendulum and astral observatory it is the closest thing to being in the game Myst I have ever seen.
DisneySea is also noted for flavored popcorn and being a bit of a popcorn fiend I had to try as many as possible. The group thought the Szechuan pepper popcorn (says Chinese Chili Flavor on the website) was the winner. I had more hopes for the Roast Beef Flavor and the Soy Sauce & Butter Flavor but we felt they did not match up to the name. But I consumed it all anyway…
