2. It doesn’t shy away from original attractions… and characters.

Image: Joel, Flickr (license)

If it’s traditional dark rides and outer space roller coasters you want, you’re better off trying your luck at Tokyo Disneyland, Hong Kong Disneyland, Magic Kingdom… really, any park that isn’t Tokyo DisneySea. While there are a few overlapping attractions with other parks—most notably Toy Story Midway Mania! and Indiana Jones Adventure—DisneySea prides itself on a slate of innovative rides and shows that you simply can’t find anywhere else. Some of its best include Journey to the Center of the Earth, which winds through the steaming volcano at the park’s center, as well as a 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea dark ride, Nemo & Friends SeaRider simulator, and Peruvian Raging Spirits roller coaster. And a lovable baby tiger, Chandu, easily eclipses the cuteness of Mary Blair’s “it’s a small world” figures during a meandering boat ride dubbed Sindbad’s Storybook Voyage.

Not only does DisneySea offer its guests a veritable smorgasbord of unique attractions, but it improves on old classics, too. Its version of The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, shortened to “Tower of Terror,” features a new story about a greedy hotel owner plagued by a sinister (and self-induced) curse and is widely considered the best version of the attraction to date. DisneySea will also get the opportunity to rework a few more of Disney’s most popular stories—Peter Pan, Tangled, and Frozen—when it opens an eighth port of call sometime in 2022. For the first time, guests will be able to step inside Elsa and Anna’s castle in Arendelle, grab a bite to eat at the ruffian-friendly Snuggly Duckling pub, and shrink to Tinker Bell’s size in a Pixie Hollow-themed attraction as Disney finds new ways to recycle some of its older films and characters.

3.  Its diverse cuisine and elaborately-themed restaurants are unparalleled.

Image: Martin Lewison, Flickr (license)

Turkey legs, Dole Whips, Mickey pretzels, and fresh churros may be the basic staples of every parkgoer’s diet, but there’s far, far more to explore when it comes to the rest of the Disney Parks’ dining options. Disneyland’s Blue Bayou offers bone-in rib-eye and crème brûlée along the dusk-trimmed river of Pirates of the Caribbean, while Be Our Guest serves charred octopus and “the grey stuff” cupcakes in the very ballroom where Belle and her Beast once waltzed together.

DisneySea takes themed dining to a new level, however, one that may only be rivaled by the eateries throughout EPCOT’s World Showcase. Immersive experiences await diners at every quick-service and reservation-only spot, from classic “mile high” sandwiches at the deli counter of the American Waterfront’s New York Deli to gourmet three-course meals at Magellan’s, a premier table-service restaurant so immaculate that it somehow eclipses even Carthay Circle and Monsieur Paul for in-park dining.

An entirely separate top-5 list might be dedicated to DisneySea’s snacks, too: Little Green Men mochi rice cakes, Mickey ice pops, and shrimp-filled Ukiwaman can be found at various locations throughout the park, while their flavored popcorn (black pepper, cappuccino, and curry are just a few of the truly odd and delicious flavors offered) remains the one can’t-miss item on the menu.