Journey to the Center of the Earth — Attraction in Urayasu

While "Journey to the Center of the Earth" has Jules Verne-inspired visuals, it actually has little to do directly with Verne's novel of the same name; DisneySea has its own canon that imagines this as a side project of none other than Captain Nemo, to explore the Earth's interior with burrowing mole vehicles (more like Burroughs' "At The Earth's Core"). You do, as in Verne's novel, explore a strange subterranean world and then get blasted up through a volcano, but that's about the extent of the direct inspiration.

This ride uses the "Test Track"/"Radiator Springs Racers" slot-car system, so if you've ridden those you have some idea what to expect. It starts out as more of a dark ride, with the cars swerving around phantasmagoric underground scenery with glowing crystals and fungi, culminating in an arthropoid animatronic lava monster.

Then it gets fast. Instead of shooting down a straightaway and around a curve like "Test Track", the thrill section consists of being blasted rapidly up a spiral ramp, to emerge briefly into the open near the top of DisneySea's Mount Prometheus, and then plunging down a roller-coaster-like drop into the darkness. While it is not extreme, this drop has a bit of a kick to it, so people who don't like thrill rides may want to avoid it.

There is audio narration on the ride but (as with all of the ride at Tokyo DisneySea) it's all in Japanese apart from the safety announcements, but I found that this was not much of a hindrance to my enjoyment.

This ride is one of the big draws at Tokyo DisneySea, so be prepared for substantial waits in standby (it was marked as 40 minutes when I rode and that number was accurate, not padded). The queue is entertaining, though--it's all in an indoor cave-like area decorated with steampunk scientific bric-a-brac. The flavor text on these decorations actually does include...

Unforgettable Kindness at Tokyo DisneySea – Thank You, Yamagiwa!

I had one of the most touching and genuinely kind experiences of my life at Tokyo DisneySea, all thanks to a Cast Member named Yamagiwa at Journey to the Center of the Earth. As a bigger American guest, I’ve grown used to quietly worrying about ride restrictions and fit—but Yamagiwa completely turned that anxiety into one of the most positive interactions I’ve ever had at any theme park.

Without hesitation, she offered to escort me before I entered the 77-minute line, taking me all the way to the ride’s exit area where a manager graciously allowed me to try the ride vehicle in private to ensure I would fit. It was discreet, respectful, and deeply thoughtful—something that went far beyond standard guest service.

Yamagiwa's kindness wasn’t just professional—it was human. She showed empathy, care, and above all, a level of hospitality I’ll never forget. Disney magic is real, because of people like Yamagiwa.

Thank you, Yamagiwa. You made my visit truly...

This used to be my favorite ride at Tokyo DisneySea.

It still is, but it used to be as well. ;)

It's been 13 years since the last time I rode the Journey to the Center of the Earth ride, so I didn't remember how short it is. Then again, I didn't remember how short all the other rides at DisneySea are, either, so I guess that's just par for the course.

Anyway, the ride is very aesthetic and atmospheric, and in terms of tour versus thrill, it's about half Pirates of the Caribbean, half Big Thunder Mountain Railroad; you'll see what I mean when you're done with it.

My advice: pay for the Premier Pass, skip the line, experience it, and judge for yourself if you want to go back, or if it would have been worth the wait (my time is always worth more than my...