Fantasy Springs is receiving rave opinions, and understandably so. The brand new port-of-call that includes Frozen, Peter Pan, and Tangled is unimaginable, with 4 points of interest starting from nice shock to trendy masterpiece. And at over $2 billion in value, the realm is the most costly growth in Disney historical past and a worthy addition to Tokyo DisneySea, already the perfect theme park on this planet.
We’ve been singing the praises of Tokyo DisneySea for over a decade, imploring anybody who will hearken to recapture the Disney magic by visiting Japan. Since we achieve this repeatedly, we’ve been accused of being biased in the direction of Tokyo Disney Resort. That isn’t true in any respect. We’re merely “biased” in the direction of excellence. And for some time, TDR was in a league of its personal because of completely different requirements for every thing from upkeep to meals high quality to visitor service.
Whereas Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea are nonetheless Disney’s two finest parks on this planet, it’s additionally pretty plain that the parks have suffered some notable losses and cutbacks since 2019. They’re very a lot nonetheless in ‘phased reopening’ mode, and a few 12 months or two behind the U.S. parks in that regard. Level being, we each reward and criticize the place applicable. Now that additionally extends to Fantasy Springs, which is a incredible addition however removed from flawless.
We’ll cowl the highlights and lowlights (there aren’t many!) of Fantasy Springs in a future overview of the port-of-call as a complete. For now, we need to give attention to the largest disappointment, which for us is certainly the brand new in-park luxurious resort: Tokyo DisneySea Fantasy Springs Resort.
The sixth Disney lodge in-built Japan, the Tokyo DisneySea Fantasy Springs Resort is located close to the magical spring on the reverse entrance (non-park facet) of the port-of-call. Work depicting Disney Princesses in addition to floral motifs may be seen all through the inside of the lodge, permitting the world of Fantasy Springs to proceed from the park to the lodge.
Fantasy Springs Resort is comprised of two buildings: the Fantasy Chateau and the Grand Chateau. The Fantasy Chateau gives “deluxe-type” rooms adorned with motifs of the wildlife of Fantasy Springs, whereas the Grand Chateau gives “luxury-type” rooms which offer visitors with the best lodging expertise at Tokyo Disney Resort.
Tokyo DisneySea Fantasy Springs Resort is comprised of 419 rooms within the deluxe wing. As well as, there are 56 rooms within the luxurious wing, providing visitors the best lodging expertise at Tokyo Disney Resort.
To offer you a body of reference so what follows makes some sense, let’s begin with the above map of Fantasy Springs Resort. Visitor rooms are divided into 4 sides based on their location: Bay Space Facet, Resort Entrance Facet, Rose Courtroom Facet, and Springs Facet.
For many who haven’t visited Tokyo Disney Resort earlier than, the Resort Entrance Facet faces the monorail station, in addition to the Toy Story Resort, Hilton, Sheraton, and different third celebration lodges. The Springs Facet overlooks Tokyo DisneySea and the Bay Space facet overlooks the parking zone and the bottom of House Mountain building.
My greatest criticism is with the outside of the Fantasy Chateau. It’s thematically underwhelming, an enormous field lodge that makes the outside of Disney’s Riviera Resort look well-themed. Essentially the most apt comparability might be Gran Destino Tower, albeit a distinct form and elegance. Regardless, it seems like an enormous field.
Whereas there’s some ornamentation alongside the roofline and elsewhere, the issue with the Fantasy Chateau is its massive expanses of uninterrupted sameness. Stretches of the constructing all have uniform preparations of home windows and no balconies on one facet and there are blocky areas which might be fully with out home windows.
It seems very very like a lodge you can discover in Tokyo. You don’t even must look far–simply throughout the best way at Bayside Station, Resort Okura is strikingly related–and with a facade that arguably seems higher. It’s the same story with the Hilton or Sheraton over there, too.
Some defenders of Tokyo Disney Resort may argue that this doesn’t matter, because the Fantasy Chateau facet is usually seen from Bayside Station, these third celebration lodges, or the parking zone. And that’s true, for essentially the most half. However you too can see loads of the constructing from inside Fantasy Springs, and it seems blocky and underdone even from there.
Personally, I wouldn’t discover this argument persuasive even when 0% of Fantasy Chateau have been seen from inside Fantasy Springs. From each angle, Tokyo Disneyland Resort has meticulous consideration to element and exterior ornamentation. I used to be staying at that lodge for the media preview of Fantasy Springs–in a daily room that will be categorized as an equal to these within the Fantasy Chateau.
Whereas looking my window, I used to be struck by simply how far more detailed the Tokyo Disneyland Resort constructing is as in comparison with the Fantasy Chateau. I additionally stayed on the Ambassador Resort, and it’s the same story there.
Then, in fact, there’s Resort MiraCosta. Tokyo Disney Resort’s ‘I can’t imagine that is an precise lodge’ that overlooks the entrance entrance of the ‘I can’t imagine that is an precise theme park!’ The distinction between Resort MiraCosta and Fantasy Chateau is evening and day. I’ve spent a ton of time exploring Resort MiraCosta, and from each route, it’s painstakingly themed. No element or expense was spared.
Whereas I don’t essentially take challenge with the outside of the Grand Chateau, there’s even a transparent high quality distinction between that and any portion of Resort MiraCosta’s facade. There are areas the place even Grand Chateau seems boxy and underdone, and that stands in stark distinction to Resort MiraCosta.
With that mentioned, this put up wouldn’t exist if Fantasy Springs Resort have been all of the Grand Chateau. There’s undoubtedly sufficient there there for it to cross thematic muster. Not each lodge goes to be on the identical stage as MiraCosta. Even my different favorites–Wilderness Lodge, Animal Kingdom Lodge, Grand Californian, Crescent Lake Resorts, and so on–don’t maintain a candle to the outside of that lodge.
I don’t blame Imagineers for the outside of the Fantasy Chateau being bland and boring. Likewise, I don’t suppose they’re at fault for selecting the peak, location, or design of the Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Resort. (If you happen to disregard location and examine the designs on their deserves…the Island Tower truthfully seems higher than Fantasy Chateau.) Identical story with Gran Destino Tower or Disney’s Riviera Resort.
It’s arduous to imagine that Imagineers–the identical ones who created breathtaking points of interest within the new port–have been requested to dream huge with Fantasy Springs Resort and this was all they may muster for the outside design. That rationalization strains credulity, particularly after we’ve seen what this staff was able to with extra advanced work within the port-of-call itself. Does anybody actually imagine the Imagineers have been able to the wow moments within the rides however solely this ho-hum lodge? After all not.
The difficulty, simply as with lodge designs at Walt Disney World, is sort of definitely that the companies–Disney and OLC–have realized that visitors will e book up the resorts no matter theme. That it’s the placement that basically issues, which permits the resorts to ‘coast’ or relaxation on the laurels of their environment. (I’d personally argue that’s a slippery slope that may solely go thus far earlier than it eats up an excessive amount of visitor goodwill–however that’s a extra looming drawback on the Poly than it’s at Tokyo DisneySea.)
There are undoubtedly different explanations which might be extra charitable. Development prices have gotten astronomical, pushed by increased costs for labor and supplies. Had the present setting existed within the late Nineties, I doubt OLC may’ve made Resort MiraCosta as lavish and ornately-detailed as it’s. The price of doing so would’ve crippled the venture. To make sure, increased wages are an excellent factor–however they do necessitate compromises.
It’s additionally doable that OLC has realized one thing from the continuing upkeep prices of Resort MiraCosta and, to a lesser extent, Tokyo Disneyland Resort. The maintenance to maintain these lodge facades trying pristine has gotta be astronomical, particularly when you think about the sensible actuality that they’re located alongside Tokyo Bay and there are 4 distinct seasons to which they’re topic. (It’s sunny, wet, and even snowy in Japan!)
On high of all that, the development of Fantasy Springs occurred in the course of the pandemic. I’ve talked about in different posts that we started watching web site prep work in 2019 and didn’t return till Japan reopened in late 2022 to see the land totally vertical. Even at that time over a 12 months in the past, Fantasy Springs Resort seemed 90% completed on the surface.
Take into account that the Tokyo parks scaled again operations even additional than Walt Disney World and are nonetheless in restoration mode, working in the direction of returning to regular. Regardless of that, it was full steam forward on Fantasy Springs building–fairly the distinction to a few of the doubtful choices Walt Disney World made.
However, there have been undoubtedly some robust choices that needed to be made with Fantasy Springs. OLC is famously prepared to spend huge, however even they weren’t resistant to the financial realities of 2020. Finances cuts with initiatives are nearly all the time a factor, and that will’ve been doubly or triply true in the course of the pandemic years.
The truth that the rides emerged seemingly unscathed and stuffed with wow moments is spectacular. If cuts needed to be made, the place to make them is on the outside of the lodge that (principally) shouldn’t be seen from the park.
This isn’t to excuse OLC or Tokyo Disney Resort for the outward look of the Fantasy Chateau. On the contrary, this put up is criticism about it not being as much as snuff. Even when there are legitimate causes to justify it, these are primarily immaterial to a crucial appraisal of the lodge. It’s the tip product that issues, and this one is underwhelming. That’s very true given each its location and the way it’s being positioned because the top-tier lodge by Tokyo Disney Resort.
I can perceive this having a distinct theme than Resort MiraCosta that doesn’t lend itself to that diploma of element. And that’s wonderful. However the pendulum swung too far within the different route and, whatever the excuses, Fantasy Springs Resort seems extra on par with the Ambassador than it does the opposite two park-adjacent lodges.
Notably, the Ambassador shouldn’t be seen from contained in the parks. Against this, Fantasy Springs Resort is seen from inside the new port-of-call and the sightlines–even of the Grand Chateau–go away one thing to be desired. I’m not a stickler for sightlines, so though that is one thing that bugs me, it’s additionally not the tip of the world or my capability to understand the realm. I don’t suppose it ruins suspension of disbelief, immersion, and so on. It simply could possibly be higher completed.
On condition that the lodge is seen from each Peter Pan’s By no means Land and Frozen Kingdom, I feel a extra “springs-centric” theme for the lodge ought to’ve been chosen, versus ‘Artwork Nouveau luxurious lodge’ so the lodge is a greater thematic match all through the land.
There’s clearly no single theme that works for each Peter Pan and Frozen, however having or not it’s extra fantastical so the facade is thematically coherent from each areas would’ve been an excellent transfer. Because it stands, it’s only a bit jarring to see Fantasy Springs Resort towering behind the Village of Arendelle facades.
One other little bit of criticism I’ve for Fantasy Chateau is that the central courtyard shouldn’t be open to the general public. This space incorporates a ‘magical spring’ themed to Magnificence and the Beast, and is basically fairly beautiful. It’s pitched as being solely for the enjoyment of lodge visitors, which is sweet or a disappointment relying upon whether or not you’re a part of the in-group.
I believe that’s solely a part of the story, although. It’s additionally doable that Tokyo Disney Resort didn’t need to open that courtyard up from the park facet as a result of it could imply exposing park visitors to the ocean of plain pink dotted with home windows, and so they know that’s less than snuff from inside Fantasy Springs.
That is actually too unhealthy–the Magnificence and the Beast springs have just a few cool results, and having extra sq. footage inside Fantasy Springs would’ve been a win for everybody. It’d be the equal of creating the Venice space of Tokyo DisneySea reserved solely to visitors staying at Resort MiraCosta.
I’m holding out hope that each one of this adjustments down the highway. That Tokyo Disney Resort paints on exterior gildings or trimming, very like Resort MiraCosta makes use of trompe l’oeil on its facade. Or, they may add some vines to the outside or plant extra flowers and foliage–loads may nonetheless be completed down the highway with out essentially messing with the construction of the lodge.
The excellent news is that, regardless of us fixating on the negatives, Fantasy Springs Resort is usually positives! (In relation to Tokyo Disney Resort, the bar for “disappointment” is loads decrease than elsewhere. Honest or unfair, however every thing is judged by completely different requirements and something in need of perfection is topic to critique.)
Talking of these magical springs, they’re incredible. That is extra a characteristic of the port itself, so I don’t need to fixate on them, however I used to be very pleasantly shocked by the magical springs. Getting into, my expectation was that they’d be window-dressing to supply a framework for Fantasy Springs becoming into Tokyo DisneySea and transitioning from the park to the land to the lodge.
Popping out, my view is that the magical springs are one of many highlights of your entire port. They’re fantastically completed and left me wanting extra, therefore the criticism concerning the Magnificence and the Beast springs being cordoned off for lodge visitors.
By and huge, the inside of Fantasy Springs Resort is great. It’s a combination of Artwork Nouveau and whimsy and opulence that simply works. It feels without delay lighthearted and enjoyable, whereas additionally being fancy and indulgent. It’s incredible as a female counterpart to the extra masculine Resort MiraCosta, and I believe Tokyo Disney Resort’s goal demographic is completely going to eat it up. Actually, visitors will most likely favor it to Resort MiraCosta even after the brand new lodge scent wears off.
There are little nitpicks that could possibly be made from the inside, however it’s principally excellent to nice. I’m additionally certain that the identical could possibly be mentioned of Tokyo Disneyland Resort and MiraCosta, regardless of them being high 5 Disney lodges in your entire world. Regardless, the inside shouldn’t be what this put up is about. It isn’t disappointing. It’s brimming with extravagant design and ornate element that’s kind of on par with the opposite high two lodges at TDR.
Lastly, I additionally recognize that the inside design has a sure sense of confidence to it, and doesn’t really feel focus grouped to dying. One among my points with Walt Disney World resorts is that the latest generification is seemingly guest-driven, responding to hospitality developments as a substitute of delivering one thing distinctive and particular that visitors by no means knew they’d need.
As quickly as you enter the entrance door of Fantasy Springs Resort and see the big dragon fly within the rotunda, you realize that is one thing completely different. One thing (principally) particular. Simply don’t have a look at the outside too lengthy or too arduous.
Finally, Fantasy Springs Resort left one thing to be desired for me. Past the Fantasy Chateau facade, which is simply objectively underwhelming, the lodge doesn’t appear to be my cup of tea as in comparison with its counterparts. And truthfully, that’s completely wonderful. The resort undoubtedly will maintain super attraction for the goal demographic, and even lengthy after the ‘new lodge scent’ wears off and Fantasy Springs is not the new ticket that requires next-level strategizing and entry. (So, what, within the 2030s?!)
Tokyo Disney Resort undeniably wanted extra high-end lodge capability, particularly given the occupancy charges of each Resort MiraCosta and Tokyo Disneyland Resort. Relying upon while you’re visiting and the way early you e book, reservations may be robust to attain for these present, decades-old lodges. As somebody who would sooner keep at both of these, I’m glad to have Fantasy Springs Resort to (hopefully!) assist relieve the strain and make these simpler to e book.
However, I do want Fantasy Springs Resort have been extra bold and on par with Resort MiraCosta and Tokyo Disneyland Resort. Though the Grand Chateau is technically categorized above each, classifying it as luxurious lodge and pricing it as such doesn’t essentially make it so. Not less than, not thematically. (Which is essentially what this put up is about–and never service or the standard of the expertise, since I haven’t stayed there.)
I’ll all the time marvel ‘what may’ve been’ with Fantasy Springs Resort, suspecting that the COVID closure and price range constraints or value overruns elsewhere contributed to cutbacks in its design. In a world of finite budgets and a troublesome setting the place one thing most likely needed to be minimize, I’d undoubtedly slightly or not it’s on the outside of this lodge (particularly dealing with the bay) than the substance of the land itself. Nonetheless, if OLC and Tokyo Disney Resort can’t ship an ornately themed luxurious resort in 2024…what hope do we’ve as Walt Disney World followers of ever getting one thing on par with Wilderness Lodge or the Crescent Lake Resorts?!
Planning a visit to Tokyo Disney Resort? For complete recommendation, the perfect 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 save cash on tickets or decide which kind to purchase, learn our Ideas for Saving Cash put up. Our What to Pack for Disney put up takes a novel have a look at intelligent gadgets 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 Tokyo DisneySea Fantasy Springs Resort? Suppose its exterior facade is disappointing, or is that this being too nitpicky? Are you excited to remain right here, or does it not attraction to you? Agree or disagree with our evaluation of the resort? Any questions? Listening to your suggestions is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
