MiraCosta Hotel – Tokyo DisneySea

My favorite Disney theme park, worldwide, is Tokyo DisneySea. I tell anyone who will listen, “You can pay your $58 admission, never go on one attraction, and you will still get your moneys’ worth. This park is so beautiful, so packed with detail, so lavish in scope that a person will walk from one land to another in utter awe. This park is comfortable to be in. It wraps its arms around you and hugs you. It’s a sheer delight to visit.”

Okay, enough gushing.

Tokyo DisneySea also has the distinction of being the only Disney Park to have a hotel actually inside the main gate – The MiraCosta.

This hotel is lavish beyond belief with prices to match. Standard room prices range from $300-$700 per night depending on the season and view. Balcony rooms and suites run even higher. Since I love Tokyo DisneySea so much, for me it was mandatory that I stay at the MiraCosta (this was my second time). I visited in mid-May and paid “Regular” rates for a Porto Paradiso Side, Piazza View room – at a mere $520 a night. Ouch!

Here are some pictures of the lobby.

Is it worth it? Well, yes, maybe. If you’re a true Disney fan, I think it is. When I visit a Disney Resort, I want to be immersed in the entire package which is why I always recommend that people stay “on property” when visiting Walt Disney World.

Currently, Tokyo only has two “Disney” hotels, the MiraCosta and the Ambassador. In July, a third hotel, the Disneyland Hotel, will open.

There are also six “Official” hotels that are run by outside companies. These hotels are connected (sort of) to the theme parks via monorail and are less expensive than the Disney hotels, but they lack that special magic that can only be found in a Disney resort.

The MiraCosta has three sides, the Tuscany, Venice, and Porto Paradiso.

The Tuscany is the least expensive and faces the entrance of the park and the Aquasphere. The Aquasphere is a large, rotating globe of the Earth with water cascading over the oceans. It’s a magnificent work of art.

The exterior of the Tuscany side of the building was constructed to look like it was built on a hillside and the rooms appear to stair-step back from one another.

The rooms on the Venice side of the hotel look over canals, bridges, and gondolas. As you might expect, the exterior of this section reflects all the charm of Venice. I think the views from this side of the hotel are the most romantic.

The Porto Paradiso side of the hotel has the best views of Tokyo DisneySea and prices to match. From these rooms you can look out over Mediterranean Harbor and have a ring-side seat for the daytime and nighttime shows that are presented here. And the best rooms have a view of Mount Prometheus. These three pictures were taken from my room.

The exterior of the Porto Paradiso side of the hotel is supposed to reflect a seaside community. Don’t let all the intricate detail on the building fool you. Most of the scroll work and statues are trompe-l’Å”il. Trompe-l’Å”il is an art technique that fools the eye into believing that a two-dimensional painting is actually a three-dimensional object. The effect is exquisite.

The guest rooms of the MiraCosta are very nice. Most rooms have two queen-sized beds and a trundle bed that can be pulled out from underneath one of the beds. Keeping with the Italian theme, Pinocchio characters can be found on the wallpaper, bedspread, and toiletries.

Rooms at the MiraCosta also offer free internet access. However, connecting your computer isn’t as easy as you might think. First, you need to call the front desk and request access. A few minutes later, a bellboy will show up at your door with a screwdriver in hand. He then crawls underneath the desk and opens up a small portal in the floor. It is here that you plug in your Ethernet connection and electrical cord. Interesting”¦

The bathrooms are an experience I’ve never encountered in a “western” hotel. A sink and mirror is situated in the middle of the arrangement.

Through a door on the left you’ll find the bathing area. This is a large room where you can take a regular “western” shower, or you can choose to bathe Japanese style. A plastic stool and pale are available to sit, scrub, and rinse yourself. When finished, a large bathtub is on hand for a relaxing soak.

Through a door to the right of the sink is the toilet area. Excuse me for being a little crass, but these toilets are worthy of an “E” ticket. First, the seat is warmed. Then, when you sit down, an exhaust fan starts automatically within the toilet to whisk away any unpleasant orders. And finally, when you’ve finished your business, a spray of warm water finishes the job. I’ve read that these toilets are so popular in Japan that 50% of the households have them.

The hotel also has a wedding chapel. After a ceremony, the bride and groom step out onto a balcony overlooking Mediterranean Harbor and bells are rung from a nearby tower.

The MiraCoasta has three restaurants, The Silk Road Garden which serves Chinese cuisine specializing in Cantonese dishes.

The Oceano, with views of Mediterranean Harbor offers a Mediterranean-style buffet as well as course menus. The ocean theme of the restaurant is reflected in the menu.

The Bellavista Lounge, which means beautiful view, is the ideal spot to enjoy a meal or drink. With spectacular views of Mount Prometheus, this is one of my favorite restaurants. I enjoyed a buffet breakfast here twice (at $30 a pop).

The MiraCosta has two swimming pools, one indoors and one out. The statuary surrounding the outdoor pool is Mickey and the gang dressed in Roman garb.

Something else that helps make the expense of staying at the MiraCosta worth the price is the fact that you have your own private entrance into the park. This is a very nice perk. In addition, Tokyo DisneySea opens one hour early for hotel guests.

Reservations can be made by calling 045-683-3333. A prerecorded message in Japanese will start the call. Eventually, an English recording will tell you to press a certain key to be connected to an English speaking operator.

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