Hi everyone! Japan was so amazing, and I’m so excited to share some of the things I did and saw with you all! So here goes!
Tokyo Disney Must Dos
If you have time, I 100% recommend planning two days to spend at Tokyo Disney. There are 2 parks with so much to see and do! We spent one full day at Tokyo DisneySea and we used the after 6pm passport ticket to go to Tokyo Disneyland one evening. If you have limited time, the after 6pm ticket allows you entrance after 6pm and is cheaper than the regular tickets. It was the perfect option for me since I only had a week in Tokyo but still wanted to see both parks.
Also, if you are going with someone, I highly recommend being twins for the day! Being twins at the Tokyo Disney Parks is huge, and people coordinate entire outfits, right down to their shoes. People here go all out, so show your Disney love and go crazy!!
First: tickets.
It’s best to get your tickets in advance since lines tend to get pretty long at the parks and you don’t want to waste any time! You need to select the exact day and park you want to go to. If you get the 2-day passport ticket, it must be used on consecutive days and you have to decide which park you are doing each day. They limit the number of people that come in because it gets so busy, so definitely get your tickets in advance and be there early! We got to the park an hour before it opened on a very rainy and cold day and there was still a long line when we arrived.
I stayed at the Sheraton Grand Tokyo Bay which had views of the Disney parks and a counter that I could buy my tickets at which made things super easy. The Tokyo version of downtown Disney, called Ikspiari, also has a place you can purchase your tickets.
Fastpasses: You use your paper tickets to get paper fastpasses, and you can only have one fastpass at a time. You want to get a fastpass to use immediately in the day so you can get as many as possible before they run out (and they run out fast). As soon as you use your first fastpass you can get another. The kiosks for the fastpasses are located right outside the ride, and all you have to do is insert your ticket and it will spit out a fastpass.
I used the TDR wait time app to keep updated on all the times and fastpass availability, but last I heard there was going to be an official Tokyo Disney app, so check that out too. You need cell service or wifi to use the app. There is no wifi at the parks, or in most of Tokyo, so I definitely recommend getting an international plan or renting pocket wifi for the duration of your trip! It makes navigating around Tokyo a lot easier.
Speaking of navigation, getting to Tokyo Disney can be a bit tricky. The easiest way would be to take a train to the JR Maihama Station then hop on the Monorail to the parks. For a more in depth guide to transportation tips around Tokyo, check out my Tokyo All Access Guide here.
Now, what should you do when you get to the parks?
Eat! People wait in super long lines for snacks at Tokyo Disney, so come with empty stomachs. Here are the best things to eat:
1. Popcorn: Popcorn is a huge deal at the Disney parks in Tokyo, and they have some crazy flavors! They have things like Caramel and honey, all the way to soy sauce, BBQ, and ginger shrimp. I wish I could have tried them all!
2. Alien Mochi: These adorable little mochi balls are filled with sweet cream flavored like lemon, chocolate, and strawberry. They made for a delicious snack. We found them at a small cart right in front of the SS Columbia at DisneySea, but they can be found at several locations throughout both parks.
Seashell Ice Cream: This is something we were only able to find at DisneySea. The outer shell covers a small layer of strawberry sauce and vanilla ice cream. Very delicious! Find it at any of the ice cream carts throughout the park
Chandu Tiger Bun: This yummy bun shaped like Sindbad’s adorable tiger sidekick Chandu is filled with curry flavored chicken. Find it at Sultan’s Snacks which is right outside the Sindbad ride in Arabia. Perfect for a savory snack!
Pro tip: Right next to Sultan’s Snacks there is another snack shack which features special, seasonal snacks including a purple churro when we went!
Mickey Bread:
This was a specialty for the 35th anniversary, so I’m not sure if they will keep making another version of it, but if they do definitely try it. Sweet bread with custard of different flavors in the middle…can’t go wrong!
Now that you know the basics, let’s break things down by parks:
Tokyo DisneySea
This is one of the most unique Disney parks in the world, and the lands are very intricately themed and decorated. We had so much fun wandering around and seeing everything. We like to have a game plan, so that’s how I’ll break it down for you! Here is our guide for how to spend 1 full day at the park:
Arrive at the park at least an hour early, and there will already be a line! People here don’t mess around with their Disney days, so be dedicated if you want to get it all done.
Toy Story Mania: We heard this ride is the same as it is in the States, so we decided to skip it as it often has one of the longest lines at the park.
Tower of Terror: Run here first and get your first fastpass of the day. You should be able to get it for early in the morning. After this, head to Journey to the Center of the Earth.
Journey to the Center of the Earth: This is one of the most unique rides at the park, so you will definitely want to ride this one twice! Run here and get in line to ride it as soon as you get your fastpass. Afterwards, if you still have time before your fastpass starts, ride 20,000 leagues under the sea. It’s a little ride where you sit in a submarine and go under the sea with Captain Nemo. Very well done, and usually doesn’t have too long of a line!
After 20,000 leagues under the sea, go use your Tower of Terror Fastpass. As soon as you do, get another fastpass. I recommend getting one for Journey to the Center of the Earth since that line gets very long very fast and fastpasses will run out very quickly.
After this you have a few options. I recommend heading over to Indiana Jones. This line has a single rider line that is sorely underused, so if you are willing to split up your party, your wait time will be significantly shorter. Ask the cast member for the single rider line, and they will show you where to go (you will enter the same place that the fastpass line is located).
After Indiana Jones, head over to Ragin’ Spirits. This ride also has a single rider line! Use it! This ride is fun, but short and not worth too long of a wait.
Depending on whether or not it is time for your fastpass, you can head to your next fastpass or enjoy some time wandering around the lands and trying some of the snacks I listed above! I recommend snacking a ton rather than eating a huge sit down meal. If you are looking for a place to rest and relax for a bit, the Teddy Roosevelt Lounge has drinks (alcoholic and non-alcholic) as well as some snacks and has a great environment to sit and enjoy! It is located inside the SS Columbia in the American waterfront area of the park.
We rode a few other rides that didn’t have long lines and that we found pretty enjoyable including Aquatopia, Sindbad’s Storybook Adventure, and we wandered around Mermaid Lagoon. As a huge Little Mermaid fan, the Mermaid Lagoon was amazing, but it can get extremely crowded! While we didn’t personally get to ride Nemo’s Searider or see Fantasmic, I have heard great things about both. We were able to see the nightly firework show from our hotel which was short but magical as Disney always is!
Tokyo Disneyland:
Like I said before, we only did the after 6pm passport for Disneyland, so I don’t have a good full day itinerary for you guys but here are some must dos!
Pooh’s Hunny Hunt: This ride is amazing! It’s a trackless ride, so you move from room to room in amazing ways and each car gets a slightly different ride! It gives you a truly unique experience and will make you never want to ride the version in the States ever again.
The Electrical Parade: The floats in the parade are so elaborate and change constantly. Definitely worth it to wait and watch. We came up right before the parade started and still had a great view right near Cinderella’s Castle. Enjoy😊
Jungle Cruise: While you won’t understand a single word (unless you speak Japanese), this is so much fun! We were the silly American tourists laughing later than everyone else at the jokes, but the ride itself was cool and everyone had a ton of fun!
Small World: This version is amazing and actually has a lot of Disney characters in it, so I definitely recommend checking it out. The tune will still get stuck in your head though.
I didn’t get to ride any of the mountains (Space, Splash or Big Thunder). If they are like they are in the States they will get long lines but be fun so try to fastpass them or go early to beat the crowds! Overall, if you are looking for a more unique experience as far as rides go, head to DisneySea. However, both parks give you a unique cultural twist on what you probably typically think of when you think of Disneyland. No trip to Tokyo would be fully complete without checking this out! Happy travels, fam!
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