Tokyo DisneySea is my favorite theme park in the world. The sights and details are unlike any other park I’ve been to. Along with that, DisneySea boasts an impressive attraction roster. In this post, I’m going to rank the park’s rides from worst to first! If you’ve missed any other post in this series, you can click here to catch up.

Instead of a typical top-ten list, this will include all of the DisneySea attractions because thoroughness is next to Godliness. Don’t quote me on that. Every attraction DisneySea offers, including the Fantasy Springs expansion, is on this list. Of course, there’s a chance that some are closed during your visit. You can check the refurbishment schedule at the bottom of that page link. For the sake of clarity, Indiana Jones Adventure has been down for a long chunk of time with no end in sight. Aquatopia is also rumored to be closing at some point to make way for expansion but that’s far more gray than a black and white announcement, despite what some overeager social media accounts might say.

Before we get to the actual ranking, here are some rules:

• No Meet & Greets – These are impossible to rank and I don’t particularly like them in the first place.
• No Live Shows – Nighttime shows are almost always better than rides, in my eyes. Also, big stage shows are impressive and don’t fit the profile of a typical ride. I will include 3D movies though.
• These are all my opinion – I can’t account for other people’s memories in these rankings and will try (probably unsuccessfully) to take some of the nostalgia out of my views of these attractions. You’ll likely disagree with these rankings. Please let me know what you disagree with in the comments.

I’ll add in a few sentences about each attraction and why I put it there. Here we go, from worst to first:

27. Jumpin’ Jellyfish – That a children’s ride that does no harm and isn’t all that bad is in last place speaks to the quality of DisneySea’s attractions. This does move painfully slow and is easily the most boring attraction on the list. Fortunately, Jumpin’ Jellyfish looks pretty cool inside of King Triton’s Castle in Mermaid Lagoon.

26. The Whirlpool – Another attraction inside of Mermaid Lagoon that is basically the teacups reincarnated. You can’t spin your own car here but it still looks pretty nice.

25. Turtle Talk – This is no different from the American version of the attraction except that it is in Japanese. Turtle Talk resides in the gigantic S.S. Columbia and that makes the attraction slightly more interesting. Otherwise it is skippable.

24. Scuttle’s Scooters – The Scooters are a children’s ride in Mermaid Lagoon that is a caterpillar ride system. Not much separates all of these kid attractions but I do like the way this one looks at night, outside sitting along the water. It adds another bit of kinetic energy to a park full of it. The actual ride might not be worth doing though.

23. Jasmine’s Flying Carpets – The flying carpets are the same as those stateside but this one looks better, with a beautiful color scheme. This is an obvious case of how well Tokyo Disney Resort maintains their attractions compared to Disneyland and Walt Disney World.

22. Blowfish Balloon Race – I’m not sure how this Mermaid Lagoon ride made it so high, but I found it very fun. This is the same ride system as Emotional Whirlwind (or the superior Flik’s Flyers) in California Adventure but seems to move a little faster, maybe because it is inside. That attraction is relaxing and entertaining for being a kiddie ride.

21. Flounder’s Flying Fish Coaster – A family roller coaster that resembles The Barnstormer or Gadget’s Go Coaster. This one is slightly longer and would be a blast for kids. It is off to the side of Mermaid Lagoon and stays away from being intrusive to the beautiful park.

20. Caravan Carousel – The best carousel I’ve ever been on is a double-decker that is slightly themed to Aladdin and, more aptly, Arabian Coast. Caravan Carousel features a beautiful domed roof and everyone knows that riding on the second floor of a carousel is way better than riding on the first floor. This may have ended up too high but the vibes are fantastic.

19. Raging Spirits – Raging Spirits is the most disappointing attraction in the whole park. The ride looks great with a beautiful facade and other interesting props. That’s why it made it this high on the list. Raging Spirits is a bad coaster though and doesn’t match the build-up at all. The speed really lacks and, while there is a loop, Raging Spirits is far from a thrill. It is more fun at night!

18. The Magic Lamp Theater – A bizarre 3D show that I could be talked in to moving up or down depending on the day. This is slightly based on Aladdin and in Japanese. The plot circles around a magician, who seems somewhat evil, and his assistant.

17. Fairy Tinker Bell’s Busy Buggies – This Fantasy Springs attraction is an outdoor ride taking guests through the different seasons of Pixie Hollow. It looks really good and is a fun kiddie ride. It ranks this highly mostly because of the incredible animatronic mouse, Cheese, at the end.

16. Nemo & Friends SeaRider – I should state that the biggest jump in attractions is between 17 and 16. SeaRider is a fun simulator attraction where guests ride through the ocean with their favorite characters from Finding Nemo. It is nothing ground breaking but is well worth a ride.

15. DisneySea Transit Steamer Line – I love boat transportation and this is no exception. The Steamer Line runs through most of the park, taking guests from port to port. It is a convenient way to get off your feet for a while and gives guests a different view of the ports that they wouldn’t get otherwise.

14. Aquatopia – SeaRider’s neighbor, this is a fun trackless ride that looks similar to bumper boats but is far more fun. The ride vehicles spin and swoop around without guests knowing what is coming next. The ride itself is fun but where Aquatopia really excels is fitting in with the spirit of Port Discovery. With kinetic energy abound, the area feels exciting and full of ingenuity.

13. Toy Story Mania – The actual ride is no different than the other versions, which is a fun interactive ride but far from groundbreaking. This Toy Story Mania gets a whole area to itself in the American Waterfront called Toyville, reminiscent of Coney Island. Toy Story Mania has crazy lines and may not be worth going on if you have done other versions of the ride but you should at least visit the area at night, it’s stunning.

12. Rapunzel’s Lantern Festival – It will be interesting to see how this Tangled ride ages. The attraction is carried by some absolutely gorgeous scenes but falls a little flat otherwise, not holding up to the long waits. The whole ride leads to the beautiful lantern festival, one of the prettiest rooms in any ride I’ve ever been on. Unfortunately, the rest of the attraction is more of a miss.

11. DisneySea Electric Railway – The Electric Railway is similar to the Steamer Lines in that it is just a mode of transportation but I like this one quite a bit more. This railroad runs from the American Waterfront to Port Discovery and vice versa, but rises above the rest of the park offering incredible views of Mediterranean Harbor, American Waterfront and even the Pacific Ocean.

10. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea – This is an undersea adventure where guests go exploring in pods that are kind of like submarines. 20,000 Leagues is very interesting and tells a great story while guests explore Mysterious Island. While not the most popular ride, this is a must.

9. Soaring: Fantastic Flight – DisneySea’s version of Soarin’ is largely the same as the Around the World edition outside of a final scene or two that involve Tokyo and their own parks. But before you’re on the actual ride, the queue is drastically different. Different is one word for it but better is probably the more applicable word. Soaring: Fantastic Flight takes guests through a flight museum that’s both beautiful and a little bit quirky. That’s enough to vault it into the top ten, as the setup is wonderful.

8. Venetian Gondolas – Mediterranean Harbor’s Venetian Gondolas is one of the most transportive attractions in any Disney Park, taking guests through the back canals and into a wide open harbor. The attraction offers some of the best views in the park and is the most relaxing attraction I’ve ever been on. Where the Venetian Gondolas really set themselves apart is the interactions with the Gondoliers who are charming and have the perfect amount of reverence for the beautiful scenery.

7. Fortress Explorations – Part Tom Sawyer Island, part science museum, Fortress Explorations is unlike any other Disney attraction. There is a giant ship for a playground, a planetarium and several other breathtaking exhibits throughout the beautiful walking trails. On top of that, the whole attraction offers wonderful views. I could spend a whole afternoon here without any reservations.

6. Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Crystal Skull – Indiana Jones Adventure is similar to Disneyland’s version with a few plot differences and is generally just in better shape than the original. The attraction is one of the better thrill rides ever created and is a blast. Lost River Delta is a perfect home for the attraction as the pyramid fits in perfectly.

5. Tower of Terror – Tower of Terror utilizes a similar ride system to those stateside but the story is entirely different. While the whole attraction is in Japanese, the story comes through better than any other Disney attraction I’ve ever seen. The plot involves a statue that ends up haunting the hotel owned by Harrison Hightower, a collector of many different artifacts. Tower of Terror warns of greed, a theme that not many attractions hold. All of this combined with a fun ride and a beautiful building earns Tower of Terror the highest thrill ride spot at DisneySea.

4. Peter Pan’s Never Land Adventure – An absolute joy to ride, Peter Pan’s Never Land Adventure takes guests sailing and soaring with the Lost Boys and Peter. The ride system is fantastic, the story is concisely told and the queue is a perfect mood setter. In a very strong top 5 (or 10) of this list, Never Land Adventure manages to stand out.

3. Journey to the Center of the Earth – DisneySea’s flagship attraction is a dark ride/thrill ride combo that takes you deep into Mount Promytheus. The volcano is on the verge of eruption and guests meet surprises along the way before taking off out of the volcano. Journey is a blast and could be ranked higher if not for some of the best attractions in the world ahead of it.

2. Sinbad’s Storybook Voyage – One of Disney’s best dark rides, this is a wonderful story about Sinbad traveling through different difficulties to help out his homeland. The ride is a little strange and full of beautiful animatronics. Sinbad has a beautiful original song that plays throughout the attraction. I could ride this all day.

1. Anna and Elsa’s Frozen Journey – Sinbad can no longer boast being the best dark ride in the park because this Frozen attraction narrowly beats it out. In fact, Frozen Journey is one of the best rides in the whole world. This is a classic boat dark ride with a few tricks and some incredible animatronics. This attraction feels both classic and modern, which will make it a timeless ride moving forward.

Overview

DisneySea has one of the best attraction slates of any Disney Park. There isn’t a bad attraction on the list and the top 18 are must-do attractions for first timers. If you are going with kids then there isn’t an attraction I would skip here. Turtle Talk and Mermaid Lagoon are skippable for adults but fun to do at night when the crowds die down. Overall, with the additions of the Fantasy Springs attractions, DisneySea can make a claim for the best attraction roster in the world.

Where did I go wrong in my rankings? Let me know that, as well as any questions, in the comments below! Planning a trip to Tokyo? Check out our guide to help you along the way! For those interested in going to Tokyo Disney Resort and Japan with us, fill out this form! If you enjoy what you are reading here on Wandering in Disney please share this post with your friends, as well as like our social media pages. You can also subscribe to the blog via WordPress or email. All of those links are on the right side of this page. Thank you for reading, we really appreciate it!