Filled with musical masterpieces, wonderful rides and all your favourite characters, Disneyland, the happiest place in the world, has all you need to relive your childhood! Among all the Disney parks in the world, the ones in Japan have been labelled to be the best of the best thanks to its maintenance and high Japanese standards of customer service among other factors. Even if you don’t know a single word of Japanese, the fantastical atmosphere of the family-friendly place is sure to make you feel the magic of Disney. Tokyo Disneyland is the first ever Disneyland to have been built outside of America equipped with the iconic Disney rides like Space Mountain and its own unique attractions that are simply not to be missed. Read this ultimate guide to Tokyo Disneyland for you to make full use of every moment you have in the wonderland for a whale of a time.
About Tokyo Disneyland
With more than 40 attractions and seven distinct themed areas, there is no shortage of things to do in this fun theme park. In fact, Tokyo Disneyland which has been open since April 1983 has been so good at what it does that it has been named to be one of the top 3 most popular theme parks in this word.
A tour of Tokyo Disneyland
This park boasts an impressive seven themed areas:
World Bazaar is located at the main entrance to the park and designed with the theme of 20th century America.
Adventureland, as its name suggests, contains things that you would consider to be adventurous. From the jungle cruises to the pirate ship ride, this area lets you feel like an explorer going into new territories.
Westernland was made to resemble the western frontier of the US along the Rivers of America. You can find the popular rollercoaster Big Thunder Mountain and Tom Sawyer Island right in the middle of the river.
Fantasyland is based on the most iconic animated films by Disney. It has Tokyo Disneyland’s castle — the beautiful Cinderella’s Castle — right at the center of the park, and other rides such as Peter Pan, Snow White, It’s A Small World and Pooh’s Hunny Hunt, an original Fantasyland attraction unique to Tokyo Disneyland.
Tomorrowland is home to one of the Disneyland favourites - Space Mountain
Critter Country may feel more kiddish as compared to the other areas and is one of the perfect places catered to younger children from three to seven years old but it is also where the every-so-popular Splash Mountain log ride (a must-try for people of all ages) is located. As compared to all the other areas, while the rest of the six areas are more suited for older kids and adults. If you ever find yourself in the unfortunate situation of only having time for one area, FantasyLand is the place to go. By far the favourite of park guests, FantasyLand includes popular rides like Peter Pan’s flight, Alice’s Tea Party, and Snow White’s Adventures that you surely would not want to miss.
Toontown is the place where all your favourite Disney characters like Mickey, Donald, Chip and Dale, live, work and play. This other area dedicated for younger guests has attractions like roller coasters for kids.
Fortunately for those who want to spend as much time in Disneyland Tokyo as possible, the park opens from 9 am to 10 pm daily (though it may differ slightly on certain days like public holidays) so there’s definitely enough time to cover a substantial amount of rides and attractions during the opening hours. However, with the many Tokyo Disneyland rides, shows and parades, you should plan beforehand so you don’t miss anything out.
Although Disneyland Tokyo contains the same themed areas as other Disney Parks around the world, there are two must-try rides that are unique only to this park - Pooh’s Hunny Hunt and Monster’s Inc. Hide and Go Seek. They often have the longest lines but it is definitely worth it for Disney fans looking for that special experience you can’t get anywhere else.
Tokyo Disneyland has also been said to have the most extravagant parades of all the Disney Parks. The earliest outdoor show is the “Pirate’s Midsummer Battle”, the show for the popular ride and movie “Pirates of the Caribbean”, which is often held in the morning right after the park opens (but exact times differ from month to month). But perhaps the most unique and majestic of them all is the Electric Parade Dreamlights which is held in the nighttime where the floats (decorated with LED lights) are themed with different famous Disney works like Aladdin.
Tokyo Disneyland tickets (from USD 70.0)
Tokyo Disneyland tickets come in different packages depending on how many days or when you want to use them. The official website sells (adult prices) 1-day passport for 7400 yen (70 USD), a 2-day passport for 13 200 yen (124 USD) and a 3-day magic passport for 22 400 yen (211 USD which is extremely worth it given the time you get to spend at the magical wonderland). They also sell special passports like the starlight passport for 5400 yen which allows the guest to enter the park after 3 pm for a reduced price of 5400 yen (51 USD) and an after 6 passport for 4200 yen (40 USD).
These tickets can be bought from many different areas like the Tokyo Disney Resort official website, Klook, getyourguide or Viator. Each of the avenues have their own benefits - the tickets sold on the official website can be mailed directly to your house (which is great especially for those who like keeping hold of the physical copies of their tickets), Klook and Getyourguide have great deals for express tickets and Viator has great packages of Disneyland as part of a Tokyo tour. In general, if you decide to buy a ticket that is not an “after 6” or a “starlight” ticket, the other websites may present a better chance of getting the tickets at a cheaper price. Tickets are also cheaper for juniors (12 to 17 years old) and even cheaper for children (4 to 11 years old).
In addition, should you only make the decision to go to Tokyo Disneyland at the last minute, fear not because they can be purchased over-the-counter at many places even if they are sold out online they are all available at select Disney Stores in Japan or even from ticket machines in Lawson Convenience Stores or Family Mart.
Tokyo: Disneyland 1 Day Admission Ticket
Duration: Wheelchair accessible
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Tokyo Disneyland fastpass system
The fastpass system is a very useful one to help you minmise the time you have to spend on the queue by allowing the pass holder to skip the line for a specific ride during the assigned one-hour time slot through using the priority line. The fastpass can be gotten for free by inserting the park passport into a fastpass machine in front of the desired attraction and the designated time will be displayed on the machine.
It is a great system for experienced users to allow them to make full use of their time in Disneyland!
Tokyo Tour Guide
Ayano
Hello! I am Ayano, a local host in Tokyo. I have been living in Tokyo for over 10 years, so I know a wide range of restaurants, bars, cafes, and tourist spots! Leave your Tokyo sightseeing to me. I have traveled to various countries and had unforgettable experiences. Being passionate about traveling, I really want to take you to the captivating places in Tokyo. As photography is my hobby, I will capture beautiful photos that will become lasting memories. Join my tour and let's explore Tokyo together!
Tours by Ayano
Best time to visit Tokyo Disneyland
As the “friendliest place on Earth”, Tokyo Disneyland is almost always a great place to visit but there are certain times that might be better for especially if you prefer not to be swarmed by the hordes of people going to this magical attraction. For the best weather, it is best to go to Tokyo Disneyland during Spring or Autumn when the temperature is most pleasant but each season carries its own charm. In summer, the weather much hotter, but it brings about a pleasant atmosphere barring the crowd that the summer holiday brings while in winter, the crowd may be the smallest but waiting in line in the cold may not appeal to everyone. In general, the times to avoid going to Disneyland are the school holidays, national holidays and weekends (if possible) and going to the park in the middle of the week like Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday would probably give you the shortest queues.
Tokyo Disneyland lottery system
As exciting as it sounds, the lottery system is actually a way of crowd control. Visitors who wish to catch the numerous popular shows in Disneyland can choose to enter this lottery and they will be assigned a designated time for the show if they win the lottery. This works very similarly to the Fastpass system as the guest uses a machine that will scan their ticket and tell them if they have won.
Must-try foods in Tokyo Disneyland
Apart from all the exciting rides and unique shows, Tokyo Disneyland is also home to many special Disneyland food. For Disney park enthusiasts and foodies, there are certain foods in Tokyo Disneyland that are simply not to be missed.
1. Mike Wazowski Melon Bread. More commonly known as melon pan, the melon bread is one of the popular Japanese food items that can be enjoyed at any item of the day. The sweet crust of the bread is decorated to look like the lovable one-eyed alien and is sure to make your day. The bread can be purchased at Sweetheart Café, World Bazaar or Tokyo Disneyland.
2. Little Green Alien Mochi Dumplings. These Mochi dumplings are an adorable take on the traditional Japanese food. The soft rice cakes are moulded into the shape of those little green aliens from Toy Story and are filled with different filling such as chocolate, strawberry or custard. These are available at designated food stands in Tokyo Disneyland and Mamma Biscotti’s Bakery in Tokyo DisneySea.
3. Churros. Just like the other Disney Parks, Tokyo Disneyland sells their extremely popular churros. However, in this park, the churro are Mickey-shaped; when you bite into a churro, the cross-section is shaped like the iconic Disney character. The churros can be bought at the various popcorn and churro carts in both Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea Parks.
4.Popcorn. The popcorn in Tokyo Disneyland come in a large variety of flavours - from the popular favourites like caramel to bizarre must-try’s for the adventurous souls like soy sauce. In addition, the flavours available may differ from cart to cart and across the different seasons, making it an interesting endeavour to savour all the flavours they have to offer.
5. Omiyage boxes. These boxes are specially packaged to allow the guests to bring them back as souvenirs or gifts. Omiyage which can be purchased in many places in Japan especially train stations and tourist attractions, are usually an essential item when a Japanese person returns form a vacation. The ones at Tokyo Disneyland are specially packaged with Disney characters like Winnie the Pooh and they have an extremely wide variety of flavours to choose from, sure to please even the pickiest palate.
Where to stay in and around Tokyo Disneyland
In order to have the best experience, a decent accommodation near to the park would be the most convenient. There are is a wide array of choices to choose from, catering to different budgets and levels of luxury. Here are some well-review selections starting with the most luxurious.
The most convenient option of them all would be staying at Tokyo Disneyland Hotel. The specially themed hotel keeps the Disney magic alive even when you’ve left the amusement park. With different themes available for different rooms, ranging from character-themed to super luxurious ones, the rooms here can cater to even the most fickle guest. It also contains themed facilities like Alice’s Garden and the Misty Mountains Pool for children and adults alike.
Following the theme of the Disney experience, another amazing hotel to stay at would be the Disney Ambassador Hotel. With its elaborate decorations and atmosphere, the hotel will have you transported to the early 20th century United States, with the big old glamour. This hotel also features the very popular Chef Mickey buffet restaurant - a must-try for kids who want to meet their favourite Disney characters!
Other relatively luxurious family-friendly hotels would be some of Tokyo Disneyland’s official partner hotels such as Hilton Tokyo Bay. Like the other hotels in the chain, this one is sure to pamper you with amazing rooms and fine service. It is conveniently located just 10 minutes from the park and has a gigantic lagoon style pool, ideal for a relaxing after a day of amusement.
Tokyo Disneyland also has some “good neighbour hotels” which are located relatively close to the park and offer shuttle bus rides to and from the attraction. Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo which is located in Shinjuku is an extremely popular choice for park-goers with its excellent reviews and great location.
For more budget-friendly alternatives near to Tokyo Disneyland, there also Airbnbs near the park that can cost as little as 43 USD per night!
Tokyo Disneyland Hotel
Disney Ambassador Hotel
Hilton Tokyo Bay
Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo
Tokyo Disneyland tips and tricks
Here are some little tips and tricks to help make sure your trip to this wonderland is as smooth as possible:
1. Buy tickets in advance. The tickets can easily be bought in convenience stores or online from Disney. The advance purchase would save you from having to wait in the ticket line at the park so you can head ride on to the attractions.
2. Get there early. Other than having more time for your rides and making full use of the day, getting there early allows you to make better use of the fastpass system. Since you can only apply for one every hour or so, reaching early would give you a higher chance of getting more of those passes before they run out.
3. Stay at a Disney hotel area. In order to make the best out of the Disney experience, staying in this area will allow you to get to the park as soon as possible and arrive comfortably back without going through the hassle of public transport after an eventful day at the resort.
4. Carry as little as possible. As much as you want to go prepared for anything, you also wouldn’t want to big bogged down by any baggage. Just pack light and have fun!
5. Check the official site before booking. To ensure that you get the experience that you want, check the Tokyo Disney Resort website for information on any closures.
How to get to Tokyo Disneyland
The closest station to Tokyo Disneyland is the JR Maihama Station which is connected to Tokyo station with the JR Keiyo and JR Musashino lines. It takes just 15 minutes from Tokyo station. After reaching Maihama Station, you can choose to walk or take the Disney Resort line to reach Tokyo Disneyland. In addition, certain overnight buses from Tokyo to cities like Kyoto and Osaka also make a stop at the Disney Resort.
Time to start your journey in the magical Tokyo Disneyland
This guide will hopefully give you all the information you need for a great time at the resort. Enjoy your time at the magical theme park!
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