Rare Art for Tokyo's Mysterious Island

What do you get when you take a classic Jules Verne story, put it into the hands of Disney's world class Imagineers, toss in a seemingly endless budget, and built it at the Tokyo Disney Resort known worldwide for being the epitome of upholding Walt Disney's standards? The 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea attraction found in Mysterious Island at Tokyo DisneySea!

The top piece of Imagineering art is pretty rare- and it was quite the find when I stumbled upon it. Can you imagine what is "in the vaults" for the Tokyo parks and all the things that haven't been built? At least for now... but back to the attraction.

With a unique "dry-for-wet" presentation, the guests ride in submarines which never actually go under the water. Not only is this a thrilling and beautiful attraction, it operates as any other dark ride,  keeping maintenance crews and park accountants very happy- in stark contrast to the problems encountered by similar and very wet attractions for both Disneyland in California and in Florida's Magic Kingdom. 

Of course, since this is Tokyo and the money comes from the Oriental Land Company, Disney just didn't design a beautiful attraction, they placed it in an incredible setting at the near center of the park. This enclosed, premier location almost guarantees the attraction will have a long life span. Think of it just as Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Disneyland Paris. 

My business and pleasure travels have not taken me to Japan for several years. That may change soon. You can rest assured that Tokyo Disney Resort, Hong Kong Disneyland, and soon Shanghai Disneyland will one day be my destination. 

Until you can travel there yourself, Robb Alvey's Theme Park Review has one of the best on-line videos to be found of the attraction. Watch it below and be on alert for wanting to spend the money to take off for Tokyo!

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)