Tokyo Disneyland – Tomorrowland and Space Mountain

Tokyo Disneyland’s Tomorrowland is a minimalist fantasy of the future. As strange as this might sound, the area doesn’t feel very futuristic in today’s world – it features very clean lines and muted colours (with some graduated blue accents) across its architecture.

Disney park fans will appreciate how it resembles the “classic” Tomorrowland. Cube shaped plants and cream/white buildings (on the other side).

Grand Circuit Highway – for some reason it’s not called Autopia here.

Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters has one of the longest queues in the park. This is almost the same as the one in Hong Kong Disneyland, but with a key difference – much longer lines.

The most popular attraction here is Monsters, Inc. Ride & Go Seek, which is covered in a separate feature. The newest attraction is Star Tours: The Adventures Continue, a refreshed simulator ride (and Star Wars experience).

Tokyo Disneyland has its own Space Mountain attraction – a staple in Tomorrowlands around the world (with the exception of Shanghai). This is based on the one at Disneyland: Only one track, and a smaller building.

The attraction was rebranded in 2007 after an incident, but still has traces of the “past” in some areas. This is the updated logo, but you can find the older one in some signs.

A travellator brings guests to the second level of the building, where the queue really starts.

Before entering the building, there is a short balcony that looks over Tomorrowland. A nice overview of one of the park’s expansive open areas.

This is how the ride entrance looks like at night.

Once inside, it seems to be like Star Tours, somewhat. Like a walk around a space port.

It doesn’t get interesting until the loading platform, though. There’s this spaceship, instead of the random planets and plasma-things hanging off the ceiling in Hong Kong.

I’m more fascinated by the loading platform. Customized gates, with glass panels. I thought Transformers was supposed to get this.

Having gone on Hong Kong Disneyland’s Space Mountain (which is the “newest”), Tokyo’s version seemed oddly silent. There is no on-ride music to drown out noise from the track and wheels, making this journey through space much darker (literally, too) and more mysterious.

This ride is really designed to soak up the crowds. I was quite surprised at how long the walk was (then again I’m too used to the ride in Hong Kong).

Loading and Unloading is very efficient, thankfully.

Not all attractions in Tomorrowland has a dedicated gift shop. Monsters, Inc. has its own company store, while Buzz Lightyear exits into Planet M.

The place where universes collide.

Lots of Toy Story stuff here.

And amusing crossover stuff.

I didn’t have time to properly take photos here, but the Pan Galactic Pizza Port (which you can walk from the exit of Star Tours) is too cool for a quick-service restaurant selling pizzas. Because there’s an audio-animatronic show happening at the second level.

We did grab dinner at Tomorrowland Terrace – home of the world-famous Mickey Burger. This burger (Pineapple & Beef Patty) goes for ¥650. For ¥1050, you can get the set meal, which comes with small serving of fries and a soft drink.

This fast-food joint has carpeted flooring (odd), so that years-old smell of fried food lingers.

The burger is decent – Only the bun is mickey-shaped, but at least the park has a decency of not serving flat burgers.

At night, Tokyo’s Tomorrowland is nowhere as spectacular as Hong Kong’s.

Lack of trailing lights aside, I find that the architecture isn’t cohesive. Particularly this spot, where Star Tours clash with Monsters, Inc.

And with that, we’ve come to the end of the walk around Tokyo Disneyland. Happiness is Here, the park’s 30th Anniversary Parade (and a total spectacle), will be the highlight in the next entry. Please look forward to it!

An Introduction | Getting There and Around | Pocket Wi-Fi | Tips and Tricks

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Tokyo DisneySea

Mediterranean Harbor | Mediterranean Harbor at night | Fortress Explorations
Magellan's | American Waterfront | Tower of Terror | Toy Story Mania!
Port Discovery | Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Crystal Skull
Lost River Delta & Raging Spirits | Sindbad's Storybook Voyage
Arabian Coast | Arabian Coast at night | Mermaid Lagoon
Mysterious Island | Journey to the Center of the Earth
Mysterious Island at night & 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

Tokyo Disneyland

World Bazaar | World Bazaar at night | Adventureland | Pirates of the Caribbean
Westernland & Big Thunder Mountain Railroad | Splash Mountain
Haunted Mansion | Pooh's Hunny Hunt | Fantasyland | Fantasyland at night
Cinderella's Fairy Tale Hall | Toon Town | Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin
Monsters, Inc. Ride & Go Seek | Star Tours: The Adventures Continue
Tomorrowland & Space Mountain | Happiness is Here Parade