Previous to this resort assessment, my ‘greatest’ piece of commentary about Toy Story Resort is that it’s completely hideous. When it opened, I joked that Toy Story Resort jogged my memory of a kids’s hospital or maybe a colourful jail? My view was that the colourful, larger-than-life type of Walt Disney World’s Worth Resorts work significantly better for animated films.
I assumed Toy Story Resort was getting a go from followers as a result of folks love the flicks. A lot in the identical approach that the entire Toy Story Lands are seemingly immune from criticism, regardless of being mediocre and much from the most effective variations of what they could possibly be. (This isn’t to say that Toy Story Land is unhealthy. It’s the alternative–the idea is so unbelievably good for a theme park that it’s disappointing there hasn’t been an enormous price range model. Sorta like Dino-Rama and dinosaur lands–the idea is superior, the execution decidedly much less so.)
After staying at Toy Story Resort, I may double down on my criticism. There have been issues that bolstered my preconceived notions–and who doesn’t like to dig in and cherry decide issues that verify their priors?! As a substitute, I’m going to take what I hope is the upper highway: admit that I used to be flawed about Toy Story Resort–it’s good, truly.
Toy Story Resort at Tokyo Disney Resort is a moderate-type resort with 595 visitor rooms–575 normal rooms and 20 superior rooms. The resort has streamlined amenities and providers to carry visitors a brand new choice between the prevailing deluxe and worth inns at Tokyo Disney Resort.
That is the primary non-Deluxe resort on-site at Tokyo Disney Resort, and is positioned straight throughout from Bayside Station, in between Hilton Tokyo Bay, Resort Okura, and Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay Resort. It’s technically the primary and solely non-Deluxe Disney resort on the monorail loop wherever on this planet.
Location is all the time vital, and Toy Story Resort is definitely higher than Tokyo Disney Celebration Resort (which is off-site and requires bus transportation to the parks), however it’s not so good as Resort MiraCosta, Tokyo Disneyland Resort, or Fantasy Springs Resort, all of that are wanting their respective lands and parks.
Talking of Fantasy Springs Resort, the doorway and exit to this Peter Pan, Frozen and Tangled port of name at Tokyo DisneySea is correct subsequent to Bayside Station–throughout from Toy Story Resort. So that you’d assume that visitors of this resort would additionally be capable of use that entrance, particularly because it doesn’t go inside Fantasy Springs Resort (just below).
You’d be flawed. You however would possibly assume that, if Toy Story Resort visitors couldn’t use the doorway, they may a minimum of exit. In spite of everything, who cares about that. You’ll as soon as once more be flawed. Do you need to know the way we all know?!
Making an attempt to exit, unsuccessfully, via Fantasy Springs whereas staying at Toy Story Resort is likely one of the extra irritating experiences we’ve had with Japan’s inflexible rule tradition shortly. Regardless of staying at a Disney-hotel and shopping for a Fantasy Springs Trip Bundle, we couldn’t exit via these gates. What would’ve been a 5-minute stroll grew to become a 30+ minute ordeal with a mile-plus stroll, monorail trip, and that very same 5-minute stroll on the again finish. However I digress.
From the second visitors arrive at Toy Story Resort, nevertheless lengthy that takes and by no matter route and roadblocks they encounter, they’ll be greeted by a Forged Member verifying room keys on the pathway. Like Fantasy Springs Resort, that is additionally on lockdown for some cause (you possibly can freely enter and exit the nicest two inns at Tokyo Disney Resort).
After having access to the property, visitors will really feel like they’ve been shrunken and are welcomed as “honorary toys.” Because the story goes, Andy has assembled this toy resort in order that his toys have a spot to remain and play whereas he’s away at Cowboy Camp.
Outdoors of the resort, there are outsized toy motion play figures of Toy Story friends. Buzz Lightyear and Jessie are a part of Slinky Canine Park in entrance of the doorway, which is a enjoyable little play space. That is nice for picture ops and options outsized icons that may be proper at dwelling on the Worth Resorts at Walt Disney World. Maybe extra precisely, in Toy Story Land at Hollywood Studios, since among the characters are equivalent to that land.
The entrance aspect can also be dwelling to RC Racer Storage, which is the resort’s parking construction. Oddly sufficient, all the things on this parking storage remains to be common measurement, so don’t spend an excessive amount of time hanging on the market except you need the phantasm ruined. I do know you’ll’ve been tempted had I not talked about that.
Toy Story Resort’s foyer is a colourful, toy-filled house. Visitors will discover slot vehicles racing on tracks overhead, a large Bo Peep sport board on the ceiling, puzzle items used to brighten the ground, colourful furnishings and extra.
Whereas the outside was largely what I anticipated (in all probability as a result of I’ve seen most of that in Toy Story Land), I’ve gotta admit that the foyer exceeded expectations. It’s clearly not the head of themed design, however there’s far more depth, element, and dimensionality than I anticipated.
Not solely that, however it’s all intelligent and charming. You’re feeling compelled to spend time poring over the small print and exploring to see all the things; it appeals to the youngsters at coronary heart in us all, a lot in the identical approach that Toy Story Land does.
The resort’s entrance desk has an oversize Lite Brite-style toy behind it. I had by some means by no means seen images of this, and was mesmerized by it in particular person.
It actually pops, punctuating the entire space and making a powerful first impression as you’re checking in. It’s good that there’s eye sweet on this space, as check-in may be excruciatingly sluggish.
Talking of which, check-in time for Toy Story Resort is 3:00 pm, whereas check-out time is midday. You possibly can retailer your baggage on the visitor providers desk within the foyer earlier than and after your check-in/out occasions.
We did exactly this. As talked about above, we had been doing the Trip Bundle throughout our keep right here, and since that is all bodily (somewhat than digital) that meant arriving to Toy Story Resort earlier than rope dropping Tokyo Disneyland. We repeated this course of on checkout day, which was after we did Fantasy Springs.
Toy Story Resort’s lone restaurant is Lotso Backyard Cafe. With an inside impressed by Lotso the pink teddy bear from Toy Story 3, this restaurant is open for breakfast and dinner. The colourful (and colossal) eating space options murals depicting Lotso elevating smiling vegatables and fruits. The seating space affords views of Tokyo Bay.
Lotso Backyard Cafe is a buffet and boy is it a great one. We did the buffets at Tokyo Disneyland Resort, Hilton Tokyo Bay, and Toy Story Resort all inside fast succession and, shockingly, this was the most effective. Approach higher than it had any proper to be.
The buffet serves all the things from Japanese to Chinese language to American delicacies, with meats, noodles, curry, fish, salads, contemporary fruit, and extra. There’s additionally a ton of desserts, self-service beverage station, and extra. My solely grievance is that the espresso–all of it–was past disgusting.
Lotso Backyard Buffet is open for breakfast from 6:30 am to 10:30 am, after which for dinner from 5 pm to 9 pm. At this level, Lotso Backyard Cafe remains to be unique to Toy Story Resort visitors. (We’re actually a bit dissatisfied by this, as we’d actually love to return and check out dinner!)
When it comes to different visitor facilities, Toy Story Resort additionally has a few reward outlets, one among which is extra precisely a comfort retailer (konbini) the place you should buy packaged meals and different sensible items. Foolish because it might sound, konbini are a key a part of the Japan expertise, so remember to make a cease at Lawson, 7-11, and Household Mart (all three).
The intense colours and theming proceed via the elevator areas and visitor corridors. The resort has two wings: one aspect is themed to Buzz Lightyear and the opposite is themed to Woody’s Roundup.
Toy Pals Sq. is a backyard accessed from the foyer, that includes outsized toy motion figures of Woody, Bo Peep, and different Toy Story characters.
That is even higher than Slinky Canine Park exterior the entrance entrance, and is a quasi-playground. By that, I imply that it’s not likely a playground…however that doesn’t cease the entire households with young children from treating it like one.
Megatron’s favourite factor about this space was the grass. I’m wanting ahead to taking her again when she would possibly need to play cover and search, tag, or the opposite video games different children had been enjoying. Everybody appeared to be having a ton of enjoyable.
The visitor rooms are impressed by Andy’s bed room from the primary Toy Story movie, that includes his iconic blue sky and puffy white cloud wallpaper.
There are additionally Woody’s Roundup impressed headboards, an outsized Mickey Mouse wristwatch hanging on one of many partitions, plus different toy-like fixtures and furnishings.
Customary Rooms that sleep as much as three visitors have two common beds and a trundle mattress. Superior Rooms for as much as 4 visitors have three common beds and a pull-down mattress. These are the 2 fundamental room varieties, with a varied subcategories based mostly on the view.
The rooms are sufficiently spacious, however in all probability not for a celebration of 3-4. There’s a particular lack of space for storing for baggage, and what you see within the far nook of the above picture (3 hangers) is basically about it when it comes to a closet. That is the largest sensible weak point of those thematically-stellar visitor rooms.
The TV is framed to appear to be a large Etch A Sketch, which is a intelligent concept. It additionally implies that this tv won’t ever be upgraded as expertise evolves. That’s a lesson we’ve realized from varied themed rooms at Walt Disney World and Disneyland Paris.
It in all probability isn’t an enormous consideration right here. I’d hazard a guess that over half of the inns or Airbnbs we’ve stayed at in Japan are nonetheless rocking televisions from the primary half of the Heisei period.
There are additionally two (2) seating choices within the visitor rooms. One desk with one normal chair and in addition that blue seat beneath the desk. So should you’re a celebration of two who desires to eat collectively in your room, however separated by a little bit of distance, you’re in luck.
Under the tv, the pull-down mattress is positioned in what resembles Andy’s toy field. None of that is the head of themed design or luxuriousness, however you possibly can inform that thought was put into each element. Like Toy Story Land, it punches above its weight because of having coronary heart.
The toilet is separated from remainder of the room by a sliding door.
The toilet is then subdivided into three subareas, every of which is separated by doorways. To the left is a bathe room. The middle is a sink space with a mirror and counter house. To the suitable is the bathroom room.
The washing room has each a normal bathe and a bath. The form of setup you see above is widespread of all of the Disney-branded inns at Tokyo Disney Resort, in addition to most Airbnbs and inns that aren’t a part of western chains.
On the counter in the primary space, you’ll discover with cotton swabs and hair ties, toothbrushes with paste, and hairbrushes. These aren’t as good because the amenity kits on the high tier TDR resorts, however as with these, housekeeping will refill these as you employ them…or stash them in your baggage to take dwelling, because the case could also be. (Our houseguests could or is probably not supplied comparable amenity kits from previous stays at inns in Japan.)
As with each resort in Japan, the bathroom is the place these rooms shine. This can be a fully-loaded Japanese bidet, full with heated seats and a stream of heat water to do the soiled work so that you don’t need to.
It’s just like the form of factor you’d see on Existence of the Wealthy & Well-known or Cribs. (Or South Park, which was 100% proper about bidets. Critically, recover from any apprehensions you might need and take full benefit of this little pet. You’ll marvel how one can ever return to boring ole American bogs once more.)
Whether or not we expect Toy Story Resort is best for you relies upon upon just a few issues: 1) your price range, 2) why you’re visiting Tokyo Disney Resort, and three) with whom.
Should you’re visiting with children, Toy Story Resort is fascinating choice for a similar cause that the Worth Resorts at Walt Disney World are interesting. It has all of the subtlety of a huge pig working heavy equipment. It’s shiny and daring, with coloration and characters in every single place. If your loved ones’s definition of “Disney” is moving into the world of their favourite films, look no additional.
Nevertheless, should you’re adults or making the pilgrimage to Japan since you’ve heard that Tokyo DisneySea is the most effective theme park on this planet…this simply isn’t it. For the entire very same causes.
Though there are particulars that talk to the child at coronary heart and Andy’s room type is basically intelligent, Toy Story Resort is actually the antithesis of Tokyo DisneySea-style themed design. That is largely ornamental, with the most effective visuals reminding you of one thing else somewhat than transporting you to a distinct time or place.
So what are the options? In case your price range permits for them, Resort MiraCosta and Tokyo Disneyland Resort are unbeatable–two of the highest 5 Disney inns in your entire world–and price each penny. There’s a enormous hole between these two and the remainder of the Disney-hotels at Tokyo Disney Resort.
In case your price range doesn’t enable for these, it could possibly be price contemplating Toy Story Resort due to the worth level. After we stayed right here, it was by far the most cost effective of the on-site Disney inns, considerably lower than even the Ambassador. When compelled to decide on amongst these two and Fantasy Springs Resort, our choice is probably going going to return right down to price–and we’d in all probability decide Toy Story Resort.
You may additionally think about reserving the Hilton, Sheraton, and even one of many on-site Japanese inns that’s close to Bayside Station. As a lot as we thought Toy Story Resort punched above its weight, we are going to fortunately take the Hilton Tokyo Bay for much less.
The Hilton Tokyo Bay is one among our favourite inns on this planet, and we’ve logged extra nights there this yr than wherever else. It’s not practically as luxurious as Resort MiraCosta, however it’s additionally a fraction of the fee. It executes on the entire fundamentals flawlessly (nicely, nearly–among the visitor rooms may use refreshes), and is only a very nice enterprise class resort. I’d take the Hilton over any Deluxe Resort at Walt Disney World. And though we don’t keep there as typically, we really feel the identical in regards to the Sheraton.
We have now Tokyo Disney Resort Resort Opinions & Rankings for the entire third get together properties at TDR. They is probably not “Disney,” however we’ve by no means felt like that has been an obstacle to immersion. The entire third get together on-site inns have Disney outlets, in-room TDR channels, exemplary service, gorgeous views of both the parks or Tokyo Bay (and Mt. Fuji on a transparent day), and are positioned on the monorail loop.
Finally, our perspective on Toy Story Resort is similar to how we view Pixar Place Resort at Disneyland. Neither are high of their class, as Toy Story Resort is trounced by Resort MiraCosta and that doesn’t maintain a candle to the Grand Californian. But it surely’s additionally pretty apparent that neither of those Pixar properties are pretending to be flagship inns within the first place, making it a somewhat ridiculous comparability!
Extra to the purpose, we’ve been listening to from a variety of Disney followers who completely adore Pixar Place Resort and like it to the GCH. It’s simply extra whimsical and enjoyable to them–extra “Disney” than the luxurious and lavishly themed flagship. They haven’t any illusions about what every resort is or isn’t–they identical to the one with overt film and character references extra, warts and all.
We suspect it’s a really comparable story with Toy Story Resort. The important thing distinction is that this isn’t a warts and all state of affairs. Toy Story Resort is precisely what it aspires to be, and executes that idea on a excessive degree. Much better than we anticipated, in all honesty. Though this isn’t our most popular type, Toy Story Resort received us over. (Undecided what I’m going to do if these Pixar inns I’m ready to hate preserve stealing my coronary heart.)
Toy Story Resort goes to be the popular choice of a variety of households visiting Tokyo Disney Resort, particularly given the mix of value level and placement on high of the Disneyfied design. Even should you’re a solo traveler or couple, it’d simply shock you. Toy Story Resort has a approach of chatting with your internal little one, and successful you over with its whimsy and reminders of bygone youth and innocence.
Planning a visit to Tokyo Disney Resort? For complete recommendation, the most effective place to begin is our Tokyo Disneyland & DisneySea Journey Planning Information! For extra specifics, our TDR Resort Rankings & Opinions web page covers lodging. Our Restaurant Opinions element the place to dine & snack. To economize on tickets or decide which kind to purchase, learn our Ideas for Saving Cash publish. Our What to Pack for Disney publish takes a novel take a look at intelligent objects to take. Venturing elsewhere in Japan? Seek the advice of our Final Information to Kyoto, Japan and Metropolis Information to Tokyo, Japan.
YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you consider the Toy Story Resort? Should you’ve been to Tokyo Disney Resort, what’s your favourite on-site resort? Planning on disregarding our recommendation and reserving it anyway? Assume it is a good addition to the Tokyo Disney Resort resort lineup, or do you additionally want it remained a demolished occasions corridor? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions? Listening to your suggestions–even while you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
