Our 2025 Tokyo Disneyland & DisneySea trip planning information presents data for the 2 Disney parks, resort accommodations, and ‘downtown’ district in Japan. We’ve suggestions & methods, the place to remain, how lengthy to go to, must-eat meals & snacks, greatest sights, touring plans, avoiding crowds, and different issues to do. (Up to date December 29, 2024.)
Whether or not you’re wanting to take your first go to to Japan or make a return go to for Fantasy Springs at Tokyo DisneySea, we’re right here that will help you begin planning! The model new $2 billion port-of-call that includes Frozen, Tangled and Peter Pan is now open and is, unsurprisingly, highly regarded.
Fantasy Springs additionally isn’t straightforward to entry. Whereas protocol and insurance policies are probably going to evolve within the coming months and years, the world at present is just not open-access and the rides don’t provide standby strains. See The right way to Enter Fantasy Springs & Get On Rides: Good, Unhealthy & Ugly Entry Choices for a rundown of the right way to acquire entry into the land. That’s in all probability a very powerful Tokyo DisneySea planning publish proper now.
The underside line is that in case you merely present up at Tokyo DisneySea after park opening, there’s a very good probability you will be unable to enter Fantasy Springs, not to mention experience any sights. We can’t emphasize sufficient how vital advance planning is for Fantasy Springs–and possibly will into 2025 and past.
With that stated, there’s cause to imagine issues will change in 2025. Tokyo Disney Resort has introduced that the 1-Day Fantasy Springs Magic Passport, which is a particular ticket kind providing friends limitless entry to Fantasy Springs and precedence entry to its sights, will not be bought after March 25, 2025.
The discontinuation of the Fantasy Springs Magic Passport could also be an indication that the controversial entry course of to Fantasy Springs will quickly finish. For the reason that new port-of-call opened, the one method to enter and expertise its sights is thru a restricted variety of free Standby Passes and paid Premier Entry.
In reality, that is what we count on to occur. We not too long ago had an terrible expertise making an attempt to enter Fantasy Springs, that nearly soured the day in Tokyo DisneySea for us. You may prepared Why Disney’s #1 Park is Getting 1-Star Evaluations for a full recap, however suffice to say, we’re removed from alone in having these points.
Many friends are arriving on the entrance over an hour prematurely and nonetheless aren’t attending to expertise the headliner sights in Fantasy Springs. These opinions and poor visitor satisfaction have probably triggered Tokyo Disney Resort to rethink its method to Fantasy Springs entry. We’ll preserve you posted as soon as a change is formally introduced!
It’s now been two years since Japan reopened to particular person vacationers and we’ve been again to Tokyo Disney Resort on a number of events to expertise every little thing that’s new and see how the parks have modified as in comparison with pre-closure, most not too long ago this Christmas.
Whereas Japan continues to be not 100% again to pre-2020 regular, it’s ‘shut sufficient’ to the purpose that the well being security protocol is not even price mentioning. You don’t want to fret about masks or another guidelines.
Nonetheless, the phased reopening stays ongoing at Tokyo Disney Resort, and issues nonetheless aren’t totally again to regular. The best way to consider operations at Tokyo Disney Resort is that they’re about 18-24 months behind the U.S. parks of their ‘phased reopening’ progress.
That is truly the dynamic all through Japan, not simply at Tokyo Disney Resort. Staffing shortages are an ongoing difficulty, eating places and retail stay closed, leisure is decreased or modified, hours are shorter, and extra. The underside line is that the Tokyo Disney Resort of in the present day continues to be very completely different from the Tokyo Disney Resort of 2019.
If it’s your first go to, you in all probability received’t even discover this–Tokyo Disney Resort nonetheless has extra (and higher) leisure than the U.S. parks. Nonetheless, in case you’re a repeat customer, there are methods that the parks at present really feel lacking or incomplete. The excellent news is that this has gotten higher already, and can probably proceed to enhance.
Extra optimistic progress might be made in 2025, albeit slowly. Tokyo Disney Resort has already introduced the return of a present to the Hangar Stage in Tokyo DisneySea with “Desires Take Flight” debuting on July 16, 2025. Moreover, the scaled-back Huge Band Beat: A Particular Deal with will finish on September 30, 2025…and hopefully one thing will change it earlier than the top of the yr.
In different optimistic information/updates, Tokyo Disney Resort simply introduced again a model of free FastPass, albeit by a distinct identify. Try our Information to Precedence Move & Premier Entry at Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea for every little thing you have to know concerning the new line-skipping providers.
Past that, a whole lot of different little adjustments have occurred since 2019. A number of that is coated not directly by way of our 101 Nice Suggestions for Tokyo Disneyland & DisneySea, which presents a wealth of random recommendation that can familiarize you with a ton of suggestions & methods that you must know for navigating the quirks of Tokyo Disney Resort. Our aim with that publish is to assist first-timers and repeat guests really feel like they’re touring the parks like locals. That covers a whole lot of issues which are vital however simply too granular for a information like this, similar to:
- Cell Order
- Entry Request (Present Lotteries)
- IC Playing cards
- Trip Packages
- Fantasy Springs Suggestions & Tips
Clearly, there’s much more floor coated than simply these 4 bullet factors. The salient level is that expertise (the Tokyo Disney Resort app specifically, however not simply that) has modified the sport since 2019, as has the opening of Fantasy Springs. In consequence, visiting TDR in 2025 is far completely different than it was 4 years in the past.
With the most recent updates out of the way in which, let’s dig into planning a visit to Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea…
We’ve spent a ton of time in Japan over the past decade-plus, and replace this virtually neurotically as we be taught from our travels and analysis. This Tokyo DisneySea and Tokyo Disneyland Information has been refreshed dozens of occasions since we first wrote it, and extra might be added over time as sure components are clarified or expanded. We’re barely obsessed followers of Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea.
Previous to the closure, we visited Japan a number of occasions per yr for 7 consecutive years, together with a number of multi-month stays. We had been Tokyo Disneyland & DisneySea Annual Passholders (till TDR cancelled these) who’ve dined in virtually each restaurant and stayed in most accommodations at Tokyo Disney Resort.
We not too long ago spent over a month in Japan for our child’s first journey journey, which included the opening of Fantasy Springs. In fact, we didn’t spend all of that point at Tokyo Disney Resort. The journey began with per week in Tokyo, adopted by 3 weeks in Kyoto, earlier than returning to Tokyo for a bit over 2 extra weeks.
If you happen to’re simply beginning to plan a visit to Japan, there’s so much to contemplate. We advocate planning your time at Tokyo Disney Resort in tandem with the place else you wish to go to in Japan. Seek the advice of our Final Tokyo, Japan Metropolis Information for suggestions within the metropolis. Whereas we like Tokyo, we far favor Kyoto.
Kyoto is our favourite metropolis on the earth, and a spot that we view as important to a visit to Japan. In our Final Information to Kyoto, Japan, we provide our “gross sales pitch” as to why we adore it a lot, and canopy every little thing you have to know for planning a go to to that fantastic metropolis. Whole, we’d advocate Disney followers allocate round two-thirds of their journey to the cities of Kyoto and Tokyo–with extra time in Kyoto.
In fact, all of this assumes that you must go to Japan within the first place. Let’s backtrack and deal with that threshold query…
Ought to You Go to Japan & Tokyo Disney Resort?
When you have the means to go to Japan or can save for it as a once-in-a-lifetime journey, we predict you may be very glad with the choice to go. Whereas there’s no query that worldwide journey is dear, touring to Japan may not be fairly as costly as you may suppose; you actually ought to crunch the numbers earlier than ruling out the potential of swinging a visit to Japan. With out query, it’s definitely worth the cash for Walt Disney World regulars to go to the Japan parks.
Since we go to Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea recurrently, we’ve been accused of being biased in direction of the Japanese parks. That isn’t true in any respect. We’re biased in direction of excellence. From upkeep to meals high quality to Solid Member friendliness, Tokyo Disney Resort is in a league of its personal. Furthermore, now we have but to come across anybody who has advised us they regretted visiting Japan. (If you wish to be the primary, be at liberty to say so within the feedback.)
Indubitably, touring to Japan is exterior consolation zones and one of many largest issues holding individuals again from visiting. From the lengthy worldwide flight to the prospect of navigating a international nation with out talking its native language, a visit to Japan may be overwhelming. That is regular, and there’s completely nothing improper with being anxious about touring someplace as a result of it’s exterior of your consolation zone.
Tokyo is an extended flight to a spot the place English is a second language (at greatest). Nonetheless, the Japanese are among the universally nicest and most useful individuals on the earth. When you perceive the ‘system’ at one Disney theme park, you perceive it in any respect of them, no matter their dominant language.
When it comes to the language barrier, there may be not a lot of 1 in any respect. All indicators are in English, park maps can be found in English, and plenty of sights have dialogue in English. Even the sights which have dialogue solely in Japanese principally convey their message by visible means.
Extra importantly, most Solid Members both converse sufficient English to successfully talk with English-speaking friends or can discover somebody that will help you who does. Failing that, a little bit of pantomime will get the job performed. Verbal communication and pantomime with the primary Solid Member you encounter is all you’ll want.
My social abilities are poor and I can barely talk with individuals in English, and I nonetheless do exactly high-quality. No matter that, Solid Members in Tokyo are by far the nicest and most useful on the earth, and they’re going to do every little thing they will to make your expertise optimistic, as long as that doesn’t contain breaking guidelines.
The Japanese idea of guidelines is completely different than the US idea of guidelines. Calling them “guidelines” is likely to be a little bit of a misnomer, as a result of it some circumstances they’re rigid insurance policies. For instance, you is likely to be used to creating substitutions to your meals within the US parks due to a meals allergy or desire.
What’s on the menu is what’s on the menu in Japan, and makes an attempt at substitutions or adjustments will usually be met with resistance or confusion. Individuals usually tend to query the “why?” of a rule or coverage right here within the US and have a look at whether or not it actually is smart given the circumstances. In Japan, adherence to each rule/coverage/process is universally anticipated, regardless of how arbitrary it might sound.
More often than not, this ends in a extra orderly, satisfying expertise. Solely in Japan is there no line leaping, and everybody sits down for the parades! Generally it does have unintended penalties. We all know some vegetarians who’ve gone to the parks and didn’t have the most effective of occasions as a result of there have been restricted vegetarian choices they usually had been unable to make substitutions as a result of a substitution goes towards established coverage.
How Many Days?
A part of answering this query requires figuring out how a lot time you’ll be able to spend in Japan. If you happen to’re touring midway around the globe, hopefully you’re planning on seeing extra than simply the 2 Disney theme parks in Japan. Along with these, we’d additionally strongly advocate spending a very good period of time in Tokyo and Kyoto on the very least.
The opposite a part of answering this query is contingent upon whether or not you’re a Disney fan planning a pilgrimage to the 2 greatest Disney parks on the earth, or a daily individual visiting Japan who stumbled upon this publish by way of Google. If the latter, two days is ample. We’ve itineraries under for seeing all the highlights in a single day, and this information might be greater than you need or must find out about Tokyo Disney Resort.
These itineraries cowl every little thing from the order you must do rides to expertise them effectively, to the place you must eat, and extra. Following these touring plans will enable you take advantage of your time within the parks and see as a lot as attainable in solely 2 days.
If you happen to’re a diehard Disney fan questioning what number of days you must spend at Tokyo Disney Resort…that’s a trick query. No variety of days is sufficient…and that’s solely a half-joke. Tokyo DisneySea is the most effective Disney park on the earth and Tokyo Disneyland can be close to the highest (second greatest, in case you ask me). Consider these parks as “high-quality moonshine.” It’s important to sip them slowly sufficient that you’ve got a pleasant intoxication, as a result of in case you drink them in too shortly, you’re more likely to go blind.
Hardcore Disney followers nonetheless shouldn’t overdo it, and may purpose to spend not more than one-third of your journey to Japan at Tokyo Disney Resort–or a most of 4 days, whichever is much less. Two days in every theme park might sound extreme, however we don’t suppose a visit to Tokyo is for the kind of fan who views the parks as a set of rides to “full” as shortly as attainable.
In our view, a balanced journey to Japan for a Disney fan consists of 4 days at Tokyo Disney Resort, 3 days in Tokyo exterior the parks, and 5 days in and round Kyoto. If something, we’d be inclined to drag a day or two from the TDR and Tokyo portion of the journey to reallocate to Kyoto and different areas of the Kansai area (Osaka, Kobe, Nara, and many others). Cheap minds might range on that, although.
These parks, DisneySea, particularly, are supposed to be slowed down and brought in. The most effective “attraction” at Tokyo DisneySea isn’t an precise attraction that you simply’ll discover on any park map. It’s the sense of place that it has, and that is one thing that you simply’ll wish to spend a while savoring.
With regards to precise sights, the strains may be lengthy at each parks. These strains truly beginning earlier than the parks open, and friends operating for common sights instantly. Tokyo Disney Resort’s most important demographic is locals, they usually don’t thoughts ready hours in line for a single attraction as a result of they will all the time come again later to see others.
When to Go to
Selecting the most effective time to go to is a very powerful facet of planning a go to to Tokyo Disney Resort. We extremely advocate studying our When to Go to Tokyo Disneyland publish, as that covers this important matter in a lot higher element. Every little thing from climate (Tokyo has extremes in each instructions–it might even snow there!) to seasonal occasions to crowds is mentioned in that publish.
When selecting our days to go to Tokyo Disney Resort, the very first thing we take into account is what season we wish to go to. For subsequent journeys, we needed to see Christmas, Halloween, Easter, and Pirates Summer season. We’ve now visited throughout each season, they usually’re all very effectively performed.
Halloween and Christmas are the 2 hottest seasonal occasions at Tokyo Disney Resort, and the parks look superior for each, with a whole lot of particular seasonal leisure. You may “double dip” by planning a HalloXmas Journey to Tokyo Disney Resort that coincides with each Halloween and Christmas. That’s our absolute favourite time to go to!
With it narrowed all the way down to which season we needed to see, take into consideration crowds…
As with climate, Tokyo Disney Resort is a spot of extremes in the case of crowds. This makes it actually vital to decide on the least-crowded dates. As soon as we select the time of yr we wish to go to (see our ‘When to Go to’ publish above for suggestions), we typically seek the advice of Crowd Calendars for Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea to choose particular date ranges throughout the season which are predicted to be calmly crowded.
Extra vital than the time of yr is the times of the week you go to. Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea are least busy Monday by Thursday. Friday is the busiest weekday, and weekends are extremely busy. Keep away from weekends it doesn’t matter what time of yr you go to.
If you happen to’re researching a visit, you might need encountered pictures of insane crowds that make you apprehensive about visiting. Crowds in Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea have taken on “city legend” standing as these pictures unfold. The truth is that weekends and holidays may be very busy.
However, low-season days in the course of the week can really feel extra nice than mid-January at Disneyland. The crowds at these parks fluctuate greater than any different Disney parks on the earth, which actually underscores the significance of rigorously selecting days to go to.
What to Pack
For any Disney journey, the issues on our Distinctive Disney Packing Record might be useful. There’s probably not something particular to Tokyo that you’ll want. No voltage converter is important. Nonetheless, there are some things you may wish to pack for the lengthy worldwide flight.
Sarah had hassle sleeping on our first couple of flights to Japan, so she bought these reusable earplugs, this sleep masks, and this inflatable airplane pillow. Now she swears by all 3. I may sleep on a pile of hay throughout a demise metallic live performance, so I don’t use earplugs or a particular pillow–simply noise cancelling AirPods Professional.
If you happen to’re visiting in the course of the summer season, issues like Frogg Togg Chilly Pads may also turn out to be useful, as will moisture wicking clothes as a result of Japan will get actually humid in June, July and August. Seek the advice of our Beating the Summer season Warmth at Disney publish for more information. Within the winter, it’s chilly and may even snow in Japan, so learn our Packing for Disney in Winter publish for recommendations on visiting then.
Outdoors of the summer season, friends in Tokyo Disney Resort usually costume very properly, which is one thing to bear in mind when packing your individual garments. Novelty Disney hats are additionally widespread with these good garments (fairly the distinction), however you’ll wish to purchase your novelty hat within the parks.
We’d warning towards overpacking. That is very true in case you’re doing extra in Japan than simply Tokyo Disney Resort. The rail system in Tokyo is extremely advanced, with a whole lot of transfers. You’ll do a whole lot of strolling, using the rail, and many others., and you actually don’t wish to be encumbered by extra baggage, particularly throughout rush hour on the trains.
Maybe the most effective recommendation we can provide you is to pack gentle. Lay out every little thing you’re planning on taking earlier than you pack it, and decide in case you actually want it. Not if it “may turn out to be useful, perhaps,” however in case you truly will use it. Don’t pack belongings you received’t use. If you will be staying in a number of accommodations throughout your journey to Japan, we advocate packing cubes or compression luggage for group. You may learn extra of our “carry-on philosophy” and which sorts of luggage we use right here.
Shopping for Park Tickets
There are a number of ticket choices at Tokyo Disney Resort, we talk about them in additional depth in our Cash-Saving Suggestions for Tokyo Disneyland Park Tickets publish. In case you are occurring weekdays throughout non-holiday season, the simplest choice is buying your park tickets on the day-of on the entrance of Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea. Nonetheless, this isn’t with out threat, as tickets can and do promote out for common dates.
In an excellent situation, you can purchase tickets on-line about 30-60 days prematurely of your journey (tickets will not be at present bought past 60 days out) to keep away from any points upon arrival. To economize and purchase tickets earlier than leaving residence, we advocate Klook (if they’ve stock–which isn’t all the time the case). Not solely are their tickets discounted, but it surely’s simpler to navigate than the official (and dearer) Tokyo Disney Resort web site.
If Klook is bought out, we advocate utilizing the official Tokyo Disney Resort On-line Reservation & Tickets web site or the TDR app. Truthful warning: these may be tough to make use of, and sometimes have points with bank cards issued by U.S. banks.
Failing all of that, you’ll be able to wait till you arrive to buy your park tickets. Simply be warned that Tokyo Disney Resort does promote out of park tickets prematurely. Nonetheless, friends of monorail loop accommodations (just like the Sheraton and Hilton Tokyo Bay) might normally buy tickets from their lodge’s concierge even when the parks are bought out to most people.
(This was assured pre-2020, however has grow to be rather more hit and miss. Though the Hilton not advertises it on-line, they usually do have tickets obtainable. We simply confirmed this once more at Christmas. It’s nonetheless true.)
The place to Keep
We’ve stayed at 10 completely different accommodations in and round Tokyo Disney Resort, plus Airbnb residences. Suffice to say, now we have a whole lot of expertise at accommodations in Japan, and virtually all of it’s optimistic. For our ideas on lodge choices, learn our Resort Evaluations & Rankings at Tokyo Disneyland publish, as that covers the subject in higher depth, and gives hyperlinks to particular lodge opinions.
As for an outline, you principally have three choices: off-site, on-site “official,” and on-site Disney. We’ll begin by protecting the Disney accommodations. These are Disney’s Ambassador Resort, Tokyo Disney Celebration Resort, Tokyo Disneyland Resort, Resort MiraCosta, Toy Story Resort, and Fantasy Springs Resort.
They’re all very expensive. When you have the cash, take into account an evening or two at Resort MiraCosta or Tokyo Disneyland Resort. We’ve stayed at each, and they’re two of essentially the most unforgettable lodge experiences we’ve ever had. (We’ve not but stayed at Fantasy Springs Resort, however now we have toured it. We had been unimpressed.)
If you happen to’re approaching them solely from a cost-benefit or worth perspective, it’s tough to justify any of the Disney accommodations. Their large benefit is location, and that’s largest by way of the view out of your room (which may be into the park at each Tokyo Disneyland Resort and Resort MiraCosta) and never from entry, for the reason that on-site official accommodations are additionally situated on the monorail loop and now have theme park views in some circumstances.
Is it price probably $200-300/night time extra than the official accommodations for that view into the park? Most likely not, except cash is not any difficulty otherwise you’re viewing this as a as soon as in a lifetime journey.
As for the on-site official accommodations, these are accommodations which are on the monorail loop, and usually provide giant, Western lodging, and are reasonably priced given the circumstances. Many evaluate very favorably to a Walt Disney World Deluxe lodge. Massive, good rooms. Cinderella Citadel or ocean views. Location on the monorail loop. All for $130-180/night time, more often than not. (Costs do spike for these accommodations sure occasions of yr and on the final minute, so e book early.)
Lastly, there are the off-site accommodations, which we don’t advocate. There’s nothing improper with a whole lot of the off-site accommodations, however they’re a extra unknown amount with rooms that can usually skew in direction of small, Japanese lodging. Plus, most of the ones closest to Tokyo Disney Resort are overpriced contemplating what they provide.
There’s additionally the factor of attending to and from the parks on public transportation, which could be a actual trouble. Public transportation can be utilized by enterprise individuals and college students across the similar time you’ll be heading to the parks, making it chaotic.
If you happen to should keep off-site as a result of the on-site accommodations or full, or since you’re on a decent price range, we extremely advocate doing an Airbnb rental as an alternative…
We’ve a publish that discusses our Suggestions for Utilizing Airbnb in case you’re unfamiliar with the service. We’ve used it quite a few occasions in Japan, close to Tokyo Disney Resort in addition to in Kyoto and Osaka. We usually apply it to Friday and Saturday nights close to Tokyo Disney Resorts, as lodge charges usually skyrocket for these nights.
After we are touring all through Japan however aren’t at Tokyo Disney Resort, we favor Airbnb to reserving accommodations as a result of it offers us the choice for a a lot bigger room, normally a complete condominium. Japanese lodge rooms (that aren’t Western chains) are typically very small, and utilizing Airbnb is one of the simplest ways to keep away from this difficulty.
Plus, the worth is normally cheaper than a lodge room, and Airbnb hosts typically embody free MiFi so you should utilize the web on the go. We’ve had some enjoyable experiences staying at distinctive Airbnb areas all through Japan, too. (The photograph above is from an Airbnb we rented in Japan that was transformed from a bar downstairs.)
Attraction Technique
Even in case you go at a less-busy time of yr, we advocate arriving at both park half-hour earlier than it opens to your first couple of days. There’ll already be an extended line (or strains) to get inside once you get there, so don’t be alarmed. When you get inside, stroll briskly (or run calmly) to your first experience of the day.
That is coated within the technique guides above, but it surely’s good to reiterate. When you knock out the principle headliners, you’ll be able to take the ‘sleep in and go late’ method, on subsequent days in case you so want–however your first day in every park you must arrive previous to opening.
We’ve already written in depth attraction guides for each parks, so there’s no level in rehashing these right here. These guides comprise technique in addition to opinions of the sights. There might be only a few sights you’ll wish to skip in Tokyo DisneySea, maybe extra in Tokyo Disneyland (the place there are extra clones). Listed below are these guides:
Refurbishments are widespread at Tokyo Disney Resort, so be sure to seek the advice of the Tokyo Disney Resort Refurbishment Calendar earlier than reserving. It’s good for about 6 months out, so it might not be of a lot assist.
The place to Eat
Eating at Tokyo Disney Resort is a big matter unto itself, and this information is already getting actually lengthy, so it will simply cowl the fundamentals. First, for particular eating places, be certain to take a look at our Tokyo Disney Resort Restaurant Evaluations.
We’ve particular person opinions from each Tokyo Disney Resort restaurant, plus restaurant rankings for each parks. We’ve eaten at each single restaurant within the parks, plus many within the accommodations and Ikspiari, so that ought to assist.
Snacking needs to be a giant a part of your journey. The price of this could shortly add up, but it surely’s an integral a part of the Tokyo expertise. Tokyo Disney Resort has some loopy popcorn flavors, they usually’re undoubtedly price making an attempt so you’ll be able to type your individual opinion.
We additionally like stopping for full meals. In our expertise, Tokyo Disneyland is the place to do counter service and Tokyo DisneySea is the place to do desk service (its counter service choices are additionally good, although). Each parks have some actually wonderful eating places which are experiences in themselves.
The Tokyo parks have a status for small portion sizes and excessive costs, however that’s hit and miss. Parts may be small, however they aren’t all the time. We predict costs are similar to the US parks for counter service meals (for related portion sizes and high quality), and desk service is cheaper at Tokyo Disney Resort. There’s no tipping (and it’s a strict rule–they received’t allow you to tip) in Japan, which performs a component within the value variations.
If you happen to do plan on doing desk service, know that eating places typically are absolutely booked prematurely. Sadly, the one method to make eating reservations is thru the Tokyo Disney Resort web site (in Japanese) or by emailing the lodge in case you are staying at a Disney-owned lodge.
As talked about above, substitutions will not be a ‘factor’ in Tokyo, neither is accommodating these with particular dietary wants or preferences. In case you are a vegetarian, eating within the Tokyo parks might be a problem, as there are restricted vegetarian menus. When you have different restrictions or preferences, you will have an much more tough time.
Neither of us are vegetarians so now we have no first hand expertise on this regard, however we’ve heard tales from others. In case you are a vegetarian, the buffets are your best choice, however vegetarian choices at counter service eating places are beginning to grow to be extra widespread.
Buying
Merchandise at Tokyo Disney Resort may be very completely different from what you’ll discover at Walt Disney World or Disneyland. As an alternative of things with the park logos or attraction names, most gadgets at Tokyo Disney Resort are character-themed or kawaii. Relying upon who you ask, Tokyo both has the most effective or worst merchandise of any Disney vacation spot on the earth.
It’s price noting that in the previous couple of years, Tokyo has elevated the quantity of brand merchandise and both issues interesting to broader tastes. We’ve discovered ourselves “embracing the kawaii” of Tokyo Disney Resort’s merchandise increasingly more, but it surely’s undoubtedly an acquired style that isn’t for everybody.
In your arrival or departure day, take into account visiting Ikspiari, which is a eating, purchasing, and leisure advanced situated inside strolling distance of Tokyo Disneyland, the JR Maihama railway station, and with its personal monorail station. It’s Japan’s tackle the Downtown Disney idea.
Ikspiari has over 150 eating places and retail outlets, the highlights of which we cowl in our Buying Information to Ikspiari at Tokyo Disney Resort. Be aware that whereas we referred to Ikspiari as Tokyo Disney Resort’s twist on Downtown Disney, it’s decidedly not Disney. Oriental Land Firm purposefully developed Ikspiari with out Disney branding to keep away from paying licensing charges.
For many who are large into purchasing and wish to do a few of that in Japan, we’d encourage you to take action in Tokyo correct. Actually each main prepare or subway station in Tokyo has an above or underground labyrinth of retail and eating. Highlights may be discovered within the stylish storefronts of Ginza and Roppongi Hills, and the otaku gadgets of Asakusa and Harajuku.
Nonetheless, none of those locations might be as compelling for Disney followers as Nakano Broadway, which is filled with second-hand shops that cater to collectors and geeks, together with Disney followers! We go to Nakano Broadway steadily to purchase nice Tokyo Disney Resort collectibles. For more information & suggestions, see our Buying Information to Nakano Broadway on our non-Disney weblog, TravelCaffeine.com.
Flights & Transportation
Flights to Tokyo from the USA are 10+ hours, which is a whole lot of time within the air. Fortuitously, the bigger planes used for these flights are rather more comfy than your regular planes used for home flights. Complimentary in-flight leisure (together with the most recent films and tv exhibits) additionally makes issues simpler.
If you recognize your journey dates and haven’t any flexibility as to once you journey, we advocate ITA Software program to seek for flights. ITA is one of the simplest ways to search out the bottom costs on airfare for set dates of journey. Both HND or NRT will work as arrival airports. HND is situated nearer to the town middle, whereas NRT is (barely) nearer to Tokyo Disney Resort, however farther from downtown.
If you happen to’re within the preliminary levels of researching your flight, use fare alerts on Airfarewatchdog.com. You may set some parameters for the alerts right here (though not as many as I’d like) and obtain e-mail updates after they deem costs to be low.
Airfare costs are all the time altering and are extremely dependent upon metropolis of origin, time of yr, and many others., however with round-trip airfare out of Los Angeles to Tokyo recurrently within the <$600 vary, your full airfare package deal ought to value below $1,000/individual in case you put effort into choosing the proper occasions to journey. If you happen to’re reserving on the final minute or don’t do any work to search out offers, the sky is the restrict on the higher finish of airfare pricing.
In case you are searching for a method to get extra bang to your buck, you should utilize it so as to add stopovers to go to a number of areas. We cowl this in our “The right way to Go to 3 Disney Locations on 1 Airfare” publish. It might sound difficult at first, however it’s effectively price studying that publish and figuring it out. That publish covers the right way to incorporate Shanghai Disneyland, Hong Kong Disneyland, and Tokyo Disney Resort right into a single journey.
That covers airfare. Now for utilizing floor transportation in Japan…
Out of all the cities on the earth we’ve visited, Tokyo has by far essentially the most difficult transportation community. This could come as no shock, because it’s the world’s largest metropolis. Nonetheless, enhancements to Google Maps since we’ve began visiting have made this a breeze. (Google now has crowd predictions for trains at completely different occasions of day, and recommends sure ones to take!)
To get from both Tokyo airport to Tokyo Disney Resort, it’s comparatively straightforward. You simply take the Airport Limousine Bus, which you catch exterior the airport after buying your ticket close to the exit at a desk or the ticketing machine. It’s dearer than public transit, however simpler and direct. Be aware that whereas this bus runs recurrently, its schedule typically stops round 5 p.m. Right here’s the complete schedule to TDR from Narita. In case your flight arrives into Tokyo after 4 p.m., you must in all probability have a look at different choices.
If you happen to’re getting in actually late, the simplest different is a taxi. These are ready exterior the airport and straightforward to search out. The draw back is value. Our understanding is that the price of a taxi to a Tokyo Disney Resort space lodge from Narita is $200.
The most cost effective different is to make use of public transportation. It’s intimidating at first, as Japan’s public transportation system may be very advanced, however we in the end have had no points and it’s a comparatively easy route from the airports to Tokyo Disney Resort. Simply use Google Maps.
Getting round Tokyo Disney Resort, you’ll wish to take the monorail. It prices cash, but it surely’s environment friendly, dependable, and clear. (That each one may sound weird to Walt Disney World followers…particularly the “dependable” half!) There are additionally Resort Cruisers, that are buses, which are freed from cost. Simply pay the minor price for the monorail except you will have a big celebration. It’s enjoyable and completely price it. Strolling can be an choice, though it may be convoluted to get to Tokyo DisneySea.
Cellphone/Web
There are three good choices for this: renting a SIM card, renting a pocket WiFi/MiFi, or utilizing your service as regular. We now use T-Cell and easily use that as there’s no further cost to make use of our information in Japan. It runs a bit slower, however we’ve discovered it completely usable for normal web shopping. It’s changing into extra widespread for mobile suppliers to supply worldwide day passes which are comparably priced to MiFi, so take a look at that.
Renting a SIM card is a good choice for some individuals, however we actually favored the MiFi rental for our journeys previous to switching to T-Cell. For these unfamiliar with the system, it’s principally a pocket WiFi hotspot, offering you with limitless LTE web. MiFi/Pocket WiFi rental is fairly straightforward. You merely select what number of days you wish to lease, what number of units, and specify at which airport you’ll wish to decide it up.
We advocate renting one MiFi per individual in your group, so you’ll be able to talk in case you separate. If you’ll not–below any circumstances–separate, simply get one MiFi. A single MiFi can deal with just a few telephones on it concurrently. We extremely advocate renting prematurely of your journey. If you happen to wait till you arrive and easily decide one up from the outlets on the airport or at a comfort retailer, costs are larger and information is usually restricted.
Whereas the web can generally be spotty in Tokyo DisneySea, the MiFi general is admittedly dependable. We’ve used it recurrently for iMessage for speaking with each other, e-mail, Dropbox, and even importing to YouTube. Most significantly, having the MiFi gave us the power to make use of Google Maps on our telephones for public transportation, and this was an enormous lifesaver.
There isn’t any publicly-available WiFi web at Tokyo Disney Resort, besides on the entrance to every park. Free public WiFi is rare in Japan. (Against this, it’s quite common in Hong Kong, in case you’re going to each.)
Cash/Credit score Playing cards
Tokyo Disney Resort (and most Japanese retailers) accepts commonplace US magnetic strip bank cards, or chipped bank cards. Chipped playing cards aren’t required. With the parks, Tokyo Disney Resort accepts Visa, Mastercard, and American Specific. (If you happen to’re making an attempt to pre-book one thing on-line, you’ll want a bank card issued in Japan or a Mastercard. Even then, it may be a painful course of.)
If you happen to want an ATM, there are two at Tokyo Disney Resort that settle for American Visa debit playing cards. One is within the basement of Ikspiari close to the meals court docket, and the opposite is within the foyer of the Tokyo Bay Maihama Resort Membership Resort (pictured above). If you happen to’re staying at one of many official accommodations on the monorail loop, the second location goes to be much more handy to you. Usually, you don’t want to hold money at Tokyo Disney Resort, however you may want it within the metropolis of Tokyo.
Different Assets
For normal journey recommendation to Japan, now we have one other weblog: TravelCaffeine.com, the place we share our non-Disney experiences. We’ve written extensively about our favourite metropolis on the earth: Kyoto, Japan on TravelCaffeine. Kyoto has one thing for everybody, and presents so much by way of Japanese tradition and historical past. As talked about above, our Final Information to Kyoto, Japan additionally gives a wealth of planning data.
If you happen to’re additionally visiting the Hong Kong or Shanghai parks, be certain to seek the advice of our Hong Kong Disneyland Journey Planning Information and our Shanghai Disneyland Journey Planning Information. There’s much more you’ll must know for these visits!
There’s much more we may embody on this information, however that is already the longest publish on the weblog thus far, so let’s lower it off there. We will certainly add to this primarily based on widespread questions, and I’m very happy to supply help and recommendation within the feedback when you have questions. Need to see extra pictures or examine Tokyo Disney Resort in agonizing element? Try our Tokyo Disney Resort Journey Report from our very first go to to Japan over a decade in the past, after we too had been newbies!
Your Ideas
Planning a visit to Japan is a whole lot of work, but it surely’s in the end effectively definitely worth the effort! Hopefully this information gives a very good leaping off level. If you happen to’ve visited Tokyo Disney Resort, do you agree or disagree with our recommendation? Any questions? Listening to your suggestions–even once you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
