Family Vacation @ Tokyo - Day 1 & 2, DisneySea

Finally! The day for our much anticipated family vacation arrived. Janelle woke up in the morning and asked excitedly if we are going to Japan that very day and I said YES! Imagine her excitement and she had to wake her brother up to share her excitement.

The flight was scheduled to depart in mid-noon so we have ample time to take our breakfast, checked and packed any last minute stuff that we may have missed out, prep the kiddos before we leave for the airport.

We had lunch with my MIL who came to send us off before boarding the flight.

Lunch before flight: a failed picture attempt with the kids as they were so distracted

Me and my princess (the boy was too busy with his food)

An indoor playground at departure hall

Family photo on board SQ635

Arrival at Haneda Airport: still fresh & wide awake at 11pm

We reached Haneda Airport at 11pm and hopped onto a mini van (kindly arranged by my mum's friend who stayed in Japan) to Hotel Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku, our accomodation for the next 7 days.

The next morning, we woke up at 8am. The itinerary for the day is to explore DisneySea. However, it was drizzling and the rain became heavier when we stepped out of the hotel. At this point, we realised that we have only brought one umbrella but there are 4 adults, 2 kids and a stroller. Hence we ran to seek shelter and had our breakfast at the nearby McDonald's. Yes, I can't believe we are having McDonald's on our first morning in Tokyo. But well, the weather has not been nice to us and I figured that it may be good for the kids too (familiarity in food).

The kids were so tired that we had a hard time waking them up (jet lag perhaps?)

Janelle enjoying her McDonald's fresh milk for breakfast

The rain continued though. Lucky there is a Family Mart across our hotel hence we managed to buy another 2 umbrellas to shelter us across to Shinjuku Train Station, which is approximately 10minutes walk from the hotel. We took the JR Chuo line from Shinjuku Station to Tokyo Station, walked for a good 10-15 minutes to Keio Line then take the train to Maihama Station. There are many confectionery shops and cafes along the walk to Keio Line and all the cakes and pastries looked so lovely and yummy.

It took us approximately slightly more than an hour to reach Maihama Station. DisneySea is situated further away hence we have to take the Disney Resort Line to DisneySea whereas it is just a walking distance to Disneyland.

We managed to catch 2 shows, Big Band Beat in Boardway Music Theatre and The Legend of Mythica in Mediterranean Harbour. Both shows are impressive and I was wowed by the performances.

We also took a ride in the electric railway and enjoyed the scenery while on board Venetian gondola.

Sadly, it was drizzling most of the times when we were at the theme park. With 2 kids on tow, we have to seek shelter whenever the drizzle came along. Thus, we did not manage to cover much in DisneySea.

Getting all excited on board the train to Tokyo Station

The happiest girl (a pity her brother was asleep)

The ticket for Disney Resort LIne

On board Disney Resort Line, the curious duo had fun looking out the window

She just want to hold onto the Mickey's handle

Overview of DisneySea entrance

Halloween theme @ DisneySea

Enjoying the Venetian gondola ride

"Volcano eruption" @ DisneySea

It looked stunning when the lights came on (it was only 6pm then)

One of the magical displays in Disney souvenir shop

As we have dinner appointment with my mum's friend, Aunt Shujun in the hotel (which was a very last minute arrangement), we have to head back at 6pm. Dinner was at the restaurant in Hotel Sunroute Shinjuku Plaza. The food was not too bad except that it was not Japanese food. First full day in Tokyo and we had not eaten Jap food at all.

During dinner, there was a lovely Australian lady who was charmed by my 2 kids. She walked over to our table and gave both of them a lil koala bear. She even requested to have photo taken with them so I gladly obliged.

Photo taken with the lovely lady and Janelle holding onto the koala bear

My greedy boy with his food. He took a while to warm up.

After dinner, I bathed the kids and left them with my parents while my hubs and I decided to explore Shinjuku. We have booked a day tour and the meeting point was in another hotel located near us. Hence we took the opportunity to locate the hotel so that we will not be lost on that day.

I expected the lil ones to be asleep by the time we returned to the hotel but I was wrong. They were still playing. So I brought them back to the room and they dozed off almost immediately. They must have been very exhausted after a day of travelling and fun.