A tour of Tokyo DisneySea: Lost River Delta

December 30, 2011, 3:49 AM · Lost River Delta stretches the aquatic theme of Tokyo DisneySea, moving inland a bit from the sea coast setting of the park's other land to an Amazon-like South American river setting. This is where you'll find the park's Indiana Jones attraction and… its copy of an Indiana Jones attraction.

The copy is Raging Spirits, a recreation of the Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril roller coaster from Disneyland Paris. There's no explicit Jones connection here, but we are still at an archeological expedition, uncovering the a lost temple of well, raging spirits who rather be left alone, it seems.

Raging Spirits

This coaster might seem relatively tame…

Raging Spirits

…But it packs a tight loop deep in the middle of this "excavation site."

Raging Spirits

I loved how the Japanese crew at the load platform dispatched every train with a rousing "Adios, Amigos!" Of course, being the smartmouth I am, I returned the farewell with a hearty "Muchas Gracias!," drawing stares as blank as mine was every time someone said something to me in Japanese.

Raging Spirits

This fun little trip might be a good first looping coaster for a thrill-ride rookie. The track's not too far up in the air, so the height won't intimidate anyone. The ride offers some nice airtime, but nothing that floats your gut into your throat, and the whole thing's over pretty quickly. I liked the fire and fog effects, too. Bring a 100-yen coin for the lockers, but you'll get it refunded when you return.

The centerpiece of the land, though, is Indiana Jones - Temple of the Crystal Skull. Before you get concerned, allow me to reassure you that there are no aliens involved in this ride, which was named and opened before the alleged fourth Indiana Jones movie - that I insist never really happened - was filmed.

Indiana Jones - Temple of the Crystal Skull

The Temple of the Crystal Skull

Another view of The Temple of the Crystal Skull

As in the Disneyland original, the queue is packed with interesting sights of its own, though I didn't find any interactive elements.

Part of the temple excavation

Is this a Hidden Mickey? The stuff off to the right seems like some strange Mickey-like hand signals to me, too. Or is it just the flavored popcorn, finally getting to me?

Is this a Hidden Mickey, in the queue?

Detail of Dr. Jones' desk, in the queue

After passing Dr. Jones' desk, it's on to the ride, which is the same motion-base ride as in Anaheim, except that Indy's looking for the Fountain of Youth and it's the Crystal Skull you're not supposed to look at, and that then sends you off toward your doom.

Along the way, you dodge the mummies, snakes, poison darts and, of course, that giant boulder at the end. It's all too much to take in visually on a single visit - but I can't imagine riding the jiggle Jeep too many times in one day. Your mileage might vary.

I hate to mention food after a ride like this, but many fans swear by the roasted meats at the Yucatan Base Camp Grill in Lost River Delta. If you're in the mood for tacos, try Miguel's El Dorado Cantina, but be warned - these are tacos for Asian tastes. Who's up for a teriyaki taco?

Give a bonus point to the Lost River Cookhouse, though, for its smoked chicken legs. As much as I love those turkey legs in the Disney theme parks, they're just too darned big. A chicken leg though (and these are on the large size), is just the right size for a hearty snack.

Tomorrow, like Pocahontas, we're going just around the river bend… to Port Discovery.

Also on the tour: History, layout and introduction, Mysterious Island, Mermaid Lagoon, Arabian Coast, American Waterfront

Replies (7)

December 30, 2011 at 7:10 AM · Both attractions in this "land" look good. A well executed and themed family coaster, and an excellent Indy/Dinosaur jeep ride. I think I would spend quite a bit of time here. And yes, a teriyaki taco sounds awesome! =)
December 30, 2011 at 10:09 AM · I've only seen video of the IJA @ DisneySea, but how do the "fire" effects look in person? Mainly the "smoke ring" and the "tornado" seemed significantly different.

If there is one park that I would love to go to everyday for the rest of my life without being able to go to other parks, I have to say it might be DisneySea over the original Disneyland!

December 30, 2011 at 8:21 PM · Upside on the effects? The Tokyo version looked more dynamic to me than the Anaheim version, suggesting that perhaps more of the show elements were actually working. Downside? I couldn't keep track of them all, and I am a fan enough neither of motion-based rides nor Indiana Jones to want to ride this one more than once in a day. (Indy - the franchise - has too much gross-out humor for my taste.) Sorry. Give me Journey to the Center of the Earth instead.

The fire was pretty neat, though.

December 30, 2011 at 10:41 PM · Is there any real theme to the raging spirits and how is the que and is the fire and smoke are they timed the ride can't find a good link and can't look at vids its hard to get that in,Myakka City Florida.
December 31, 2011 at 10:01 AM · The four photos there, that's pretty much the ride. It's almost Wild Mouse-like in its simplicity - dips and tight turns, but with some bunny hopping and, of course, a dive down below grade for that loop as well.

You're riding on "scaffolding" behind and around that temple from the first photo, and you end by blasting through the fog/smoke you see in the last photo. There's fire there, as well, but it's really tough to get that to show in the photo during daylight. (There's fire coming up the steps toward the top of the temple in the first photo, too.)

January 1, 2012 at 5:29 AM · Are they still showing that Cirque de Soleil-style show on the Hangar Stage? Thought that was the most impressive show I'd ever seen in a theme park! Closely followed by the Broadway show over in American Waterfront.
January 3, 2012 at 12:38 PM · Have enjoyed your reports from Disney Sea, my wife and I visited in Oct 2009 and agreed it was pretty much the best themed park we had ever visited, and we had been to many parks in our time together. Really good rides, staff and food, excellent place.
Bob W-H from England...

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