Our 2023 Tokyo Disneyland & DisneySea trip planning information gives data for visiting. We now have ideas & methods, the place to remain, how lengthy to go to, must-eat meals & snacks, finest points of interest, avoiding crowds, and different issues to do when you’re in Japan. (Up to date January 15, 2023.)
Whether or not you’re desperate to take your first go to to Japan or make a return go to for Tokyo Disneyland’s fortieth Anniversary “Dream-Go-Spherical” Celebration, we’re right here that will help you begin planning! That’s the subsequent huge occasion on the horizon at Tokyo Disney Resort, and our hope is that it coincides with the parks restoring extra normalcy. (See What’s New & Subsequent at Tokyo Disney Resort in 2023 & 2024 for a extra detailed have a look at what else is on the horizon.)
The excellent news is that Japan has now reopened to particular person vacationers, and we’ve already returned to Tokyo Disney Resort to expertise all the pieces that’s new and see how the parks have modified as in comparison with pre-closure. The dangerous information is that Tokyo Disney Resort continues to be fairly removed from firing on all cylinders…
If you happen to’re accustomed to Walt Disney World and Disneyland, the simplest method to consider present operations at Tokyo Disney Resort is that they’re about 18 months behind the U.S. parks. Normally, it looks like that is the dynamic throughout Japan, not simply at Tokyo Disney Resort. Face masks are nonetheless ubiquitous, plexiglass partitions are frequent in eating places, and different well being security protocol stay commonplace lengthy after they’ve been deserted in the remainder of the world.
At Tokyo Disney Resort specifically, there are nonetheless shuttered eating places and retail that haven’t reopened previously ~3 years following the closure of the parks. Whereas individually minor, these considerably impression retail and restaurant capability in mixture. The top result’s crowded outlets and really lengthy traces for eating choices, particularly at peak instances.
There are additionally plenty of leisure choices which have but to reopen, which is very noteworthy as a result of a lot of the expertise at Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea relies upon leisure. There are nonetheless daytime and nighttime parades, however they’re missing performers or have in any other case been truncated.
Many stage reveals are equally scaled again, or not being introduced in any respect. The daytime harbor reveals in Tokyo DisneySea have been diminished to transient smile & wave greetings. Seasonal leisure has been diminished throughout the board. 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, if you happen to’re a repeat customer, there are methods that the parks at present really feel like shadows of their former selves.
All of this impacts park capability–the parks really feel extra crowded even with decrease uncooked attendance ranges. In consequence, multi-day tickets and Annual Passes nonetheless haven’t returned, nor has FastPass. Instead, Tokyo has rolled out the paid Premier Entry line-skipping, which might be the everlasting substitute at no cost FastPass. Standby Move can be out there for choose outlets and points of interest, albeit normally solely on merchandise launch days or notably busy dates.
In any case, there’s a really completely different dynamic as in comparison with pre-closure. Until most of that is shortly restored for Tokyo Disneyland’s fortieth Anniversary, the parks are going to really feel unbearably crowded as soon as that celebration begins. In brief, there’s a provide and demand imbalance at Tokyo Disneyland–and that’ll turn out to be much more obvious as worldwide journey comes roaring again and home subsidies proceed to gasoline pent-up demand among the many Japanese. Right here’s hoping that Tokyo Disney Resort adjusts accordingly–and quick!
Already, Tokyo Disney Resort has felt busier throughout our latest visits than throughout comparable dates in 2019 and earlier. Talking of which, we spend a ton of time in Japan, and we’ve up to date this virtually neurotically as we study from our travels and analysis. This Tokyo DisneySea and Tokyo Disneyland Information has been refreshed dozens of instances since we first wrote it, and extra might be added over time as sure elements are clarified or expanded. We’re barely obsessed followers of Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea.
Previous to the closure, we visited Japan a number of instances per 12 months 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 each single lodge at Tokyo Disney Resort.
If you happen to’re simply beginning to plan a visit to Japan, there’s lots to contemplate. We suggest planning your time at Tokyo Disney Resort in tandem with the place else you need 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 want Kyoto.
Kyoto is our favourite metropolis on the planet, 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 all the pieces you want to know for planning a go to to that fantastic metropolis. Complete, we’d suggest Disney followers allocate round two-thirds of their journey to the cities of Kyoto and Tokyo–with extra time in Kyoto.
After all, all of this assumes that it is best to go to Japan within the first place. Let’s backtrack and tackle that threshold query…
Ought to You Go to Japan & Tokyo Disney Resort?
If in case you have the means to go to Japan or can save for it as a once-in-a-lifetime journey, we predict you can be very happy with the choice to go. Whereas there’s no query that worldwide journey is expensive, touring to Japan won’t be fairly as costly as you may assume; you actually ought to crunch the numbers earlier than ruling out the potential for swinging a visit to Japan. With out query, it’s well 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 Forged Member friendliness, Tokyo Disney Resort is in a league of its personal. Furthermore, we’ve but to come across anybody who has instructed us they regretted visiting Japan. (If you wish to be the primary, be at liberty to say so within the feedback.)
Indisputably, touring to Japan is outdoors consolation zones and one of many greatest issues holding individuals again from visiting. From the lengthy worldwide flight to the prospect of navigating a overseas nation with out talking its native language, a visit to Japan may be overwhelming. That is regular, and there’s completely nothing unsuitable with being anxious about touring someplace as a result of it’s outdoors of your consolation zone.
Tokyo is an extended flight to a spot the place English is a second language (at finest). Nonetheless, the Japanese are among the universally nicest and most useful individuals on the planet. When you perceive the ‘system’ at one Disney theme park, you perceive it in any respect of them, no matter their dominant language.
By way of the language barrier, there’s not a lot of 1 in any respect. All indicators are in English, park maps can be found in English, and plenty of points of interest have dialogue in English. Even the points of interest which have dialogue solely in Japanese principally convey their message by visible means.
Extra importantly, most Forged 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 Forged Member you encounter is all you’ll want.
My social expertise are poor and I can barely talk with individuals in English, and I nonetheless just do fantastic. No matter that, Forged Members in Tokyo are by far the nicest and most useful on the planet, and they’re going to do all the pieces they will to make your expertise constructive, 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” may be a little bit of a misnomer, as a result of it some circumstances they’re unflexible insurance policies. For instance, you may 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 modifications will usually be met with resistance or confusion. People 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 sensible given the circumstances. In Japan, adherence to each rule/coverage/process is universally anticipated, regardless of how arbitrary it may appear.
More often than not, this ends in a extra orderly, pleasing expertise. Solely in Japan is there no line leaping, and everybody sits down for the parades! Typically it does have unintended penalties. We all know some vegetarians who’ve gone to the parks and didn’t have the perfect of instances as a result of there have been restricted vegetarian choices and so they had been unable to make substitutions as a result of a substitution goes towards established coverage.
If you wish to really feel extra comfy earlier than you go to, learn our 101 Nice Suggestions for Tokyo Disneyland & DisneySea put up, which gives a wealth of random recommendation that may familiarize you with a ton of ‘little issues’ (and loads of huge ones) that it is best to know in regards to the quirks of Tokyo Disney Resort. Our aim with that put up is to assist first-timers really feel like they’re touring the parks like locals.
With that query settled, let’s dig into planning a visit to Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea…
How Many Days?
A part of answering this query requires figuring out how a lot time you may 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 suggest spending an excellent 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 finest Disney parks on the planet, or an everyday individual visiting Japan who stumbled upon this put up by way of Google. If the latter, two days is ample. We now have itineraries under for seeing the entire highlights in a single day, and this information might be greater than you need or have to learn about Tokyo Disney Resort.
These itineraries cowl all the pieces from the order it is best to do rides to expertise them effectively, to the place it is best to eat, and extra. Following these touring plans will aid you profit from your time within the parks and see as a lot as doable in solely 2 days.
If you happen to’re a diehard Disney fan questioning what number of days it is best to 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 perfect Disney park on the planet and Tokyo Disneyland can be close to the highest (second finest, if you happen to ask me). Consider these parks as “fantastic moonshine.” You need to sip them slowly sufficient that you’ve got a pleasant intoxication, as a result of if you happen to drink them in too shortly, you’re prone to go blind.
Hardcore Disney followers nonetheless shouldn’t overdo it, and will goal 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 may appear extreme, however we don’t assume a visit to Tokyo is for the kind of fan who views the parks as a group of rides to “full” as shortly as doable.
In our view, a balanced journey to Japan for a Disney fan consists of 4 days at Tokyo Disney Resort, 3 days in Tokyo outdoors the parks, and 5 days in and round Kyoto. If something, we’d be inclined to tug 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 so forth). Affordable minds might differ on that, although.
These parks, DisneySea, particularly, are supposed to be slowed down and brought in. The very best “attraction” at Tokyo DisneySea isn’t an precise attraction that you just’ll discover on any park map. It’s the sense of place that it has, and that is one thing that you just’ll need to spend a while savoring.
Relating to precise points of interest, the traces may be lengthy at each parks. These traces really beginning earlier than the parks open, and friends operating for common points of interest instantly. Tokyo Disney Resort’s principal demographic is locals, and so they don’t thoughts ready hours in line for a single attraction as a result of they will at all times come again later to see others.
When to Go to
Selecting the perfect time to go to is crucial facet of planning a go to to Tokyo Disney Resort. We extremely suggest studying our When to Go to Tokyo Disneyland in 2023 put up, as that covers this important subject in a lot higher element. All the pieces from climate (Tokyo has extremes in each instructions–it could actually even snow there!) to seasonal occasions to crowds is mentioned in that put up.
When selecting our days to go to Tokyo Disney Resort, the very first thing we contemplate is what season we need to go to. For subsequent journeys, we needed to see Christmas, Halloween, Easter, and Pirates Summer time. We’ve now visited throughout each season, and so they’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 plenty 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!
We now have separate posts on these holidays and different seasonal occasions at Tokyo Disney Resort, so for more information, take a look at the next posts:
With it narrowed right down to which season we needed to see, take into consideration crowds…
As with climate, Tokyo Disney Resort is a spot of extremes with regards to crowds. This makes it actually necessary to decide on the least-crowded dates. As soon as we select the time of 12 months we need to go to (see our ‘When to Go to’ put up above for suggestions), we usually seek the advice of 2023 Crowd Calendars for Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea to select particular date ranges throughout the season which might be predicted to be evenly crowded.
Extra necessary than the time of 12 months 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 12 months you go to. It will prevent appreciable time in traces.
If you happen to’re researching a visit, you might need encountered images of insane crowds that make you apprehensive about visiting. We predict the crowds in Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea have taken on “city legend” standing as these images unfold.
The fact is that weekends and holidays may be insanely crowded–precisely because the images depict. Alternatively, 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 planet, which actually underscores the significance of fastidiously selecting days to go to.
The notion of crowds at all times being insane at Tokyo Disneyland is completely inaccurate.
What to Pack
For any Disney journey, the issues on our Distinctive Disney Packing Listing might be useful. There’s probably not something particular to Tokyo that you will want. No voltage converter is critical. Nonetheless, there are some things you may need to pack for the lengthy worldwide flight.
Sarah had bother sleeping on our first couple of flights to Japan, so she bought these reusable earplugs, this sleep masks, and this fancy inflatable airplane pillow (no matter pillow you get, be certain it’s inflatable–carrying a traditional pillow whereas touring is a problem). Now she swears by all 3. I may sleep on a pile of hay throughout a dying steel live performance, so I don’t use earplugs or a particular pillow.
If you happen to’re visiting in the course of the summer time, issues like Frogg Togg Chilly Pads may even come in 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 time Warmth at Disney put up for more information. Within the winter, it’s chilly and might even snow in Japan, so learn our Packing for Disney in Winter put up for recommendations on visiting then.
We might warning towards overpacking. That is very true if you happen to’re doing extra in Japan than simply Tokyo Disney Resort. The rail system in Tokyo is extremely advanced, with plenty of transfers. You’ll do plenty of strolling, using the rail, and so forth., and you actually don’t need to be encumbered by extra baggage, particularly throughout rush hour on the trains.
Maybe the perfect recommendation we can provide you is to pack mild. Lay out all the pieces you’re planning on taking earlier than you pack it, and decide if you happen to actually want it. Not if it “may come in useful, possibly,” however if you happen to really will use it. Don’t pack belongings you received’t use. If you’re going to be staying in a number of resorts throughout your journey to Japan, we extremely suggest packing cubes or compression luggage (I want the cubes) for group. You may learn extra of our “carry-on philosophy” and which kinds of luggage we use right here.
Shopping for Park Tickets
There are a number of ticket choices at Tokyo Disney Resort, we focus on them in additional depth in our Cash-Saving Suggestions for Tokyo Disneyland Park Tickets put up. In case you are occurring weekdays throughout non-holiday season, the simplest possibility is solely buying your park tickets on the day-of on the ticket cubicles in entrance of Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea. These not often have traces, and by doing this, you’re least prone to have complications. That is what we do the overwhelming majority of the time.
If you wish to save a bit of cash and purchase tickets earlier than leaving residence, we suggest Klook (if they’ve stock–which isn’t at all times the case). Not solely are their tickets discounted, but it surely’s simpler to navigate than the official (and costlier) Tokyo Disney Resort web site. Sadly, that website doesn’t promote each kind of park ticket, and sometimes they’re offered out completely.
If Klook is offered out, we merely suggest ready till you arrive to buy your park tickets. Though it does occur from time to time, it’s uncommon for Tokyo Disney Resort to promote out of park tickets prematurely. Furthermore, friends of monorail loop resorts (just like the Sheraton and Hilton Tokyo Bay) might buy tickets from their lodge’s concierge even when the parks are offered out to most of the people.
Sadly, the Tokyo Disney Resort On-line Reservation & Tickets web site may be tough to make use of, and might usually have points with bank cards issued by U.S. banks.
The place to Keep
We now have stayed at 10 completely different resorts in and round Tokyo Disney Resort, plus Airbnb flats. Suffice to say, we’ve plenty of expertise at resorts in Japan, and virtually all of it’s constructive. For our ideas on lodge choices, learn our Resort Evaluations & Rankings at Tokyo Disneyland put up, as that covers the subject in higher depth, and supplies hyperlinks to particular lodge evaluations.
As for an outline, you mainly have three choices: off-site, on-site “official,” and on-site Disney. We’ll begin by overlaying the Disney resorts. These are Disney’s Ambassador Resort, Tokyo Disney Celebration Resort, Tokyo Disneyland Resort, Resort MiraCosta, and Toy Story Resort. They’re all very expensive. If in case you have the cash, contemplate 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.
If you happen to’re approaching them solely from a cost-benefit or worth perspective, it’s tough to justify any of the Disney resorts. Their huge benefit is location, and that’s greatest when it comes to the view out of your room (which may be into the park at each Tokyo Disneyland Resort and Resort MiraCosta) and never from entry, because the on-site official resorts are additionally situated on the monorail loop and now have theme park views in some circumstances.
Is it value probably $200-300/evening extra than the official resorts for that view into the park? Most likely not, until 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 resorts, these are resorts which might be on the monorail loop, and usually supply giant, Western lodging, and are reasonably priced given the circumstances. Many evaluate very favorably to a Walt Disney World Deluxe lodge. Giant, good rooms. Cinderella Citadel or ocean views. Location on the monorail loop. All for $130-180/evening, more often than not. (Costs do spike for these resorts sure instances of 12 months and on the final minute, so guide early.)
Lastly, there are the off-site resorts, which we don’t suggest. There’s nothing unsuitable with plenty of the off-site resorts, however they’re a extra unknown amount with rooms that may usually skew in direction of small, Japanese lodging. Plus, lots 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 is usually a actual problem. 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 resorts or full, or since you’re on a decent price range, we extremely suggest doing an Airbnb rental as an alternative…
We now have a put up that discusses our Suggestions for Utilizing Airbnb in case you’re unfamiliar with the service. We’ve used it quite a few instances 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 want Airbnb to reserving resorts as a result of it offers us the choice for a a lot bigger room, normally a complete residence. Japanese lodge rooms (that aren’t Western chains) are usually very small, and utilizing Airbnb is one of the simplest ways to keep away from this difficulty.
Plus, the value is normally cheaper than a lodge room, and Airbnb hosts usually embody free MiFi so you should use the web on the go. We’ve had some enjoyable experiences staying at distinctive Airbnb areas all through Japan, too. (The picture above is from an Airbnb we rented in Japan that was transformed from a bar downstairs.)
Attraction Technique
Even if you happen to go at a less-busy time of 12 months, we suggest arriving at both park half-hour earlier than it opens in your first couple of days. There’ll already be an extended line (or traces) to get inside once you get there, so don’t be alarmed. When you get inside, stroll briskly (or run evenly) in 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 may take the ‘sleep in and go late’ strategy, on subsequent days if you happen to so want–however your first day in every park it is best to arrive previous to opening.
We’ve already written intensive attraction guides for each parks, so there’s no level in rehashing these right here. These guides comprise technique in addition to evaluations of the points of interest. There might be only a few points of interest you’ll need to skip in Tokyo DisneySea, maybe extra in Tokyo Disneyland (the place there are extra clones). Listed below are these guides:
Refurbishments are frequent at Tokyo Disney Resort, so be sure to seek the advice of the 2023 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. Very like the US Disney Parks Weblog, Tokyo has an official Parks Weblog the place data on seasonal happenings and different stuff is posted.
The place to Eat
Eating at Tokyo Disney Resort is a large subject unto itself, and this information is already getting actually lengthy, so this may simply cowl the fundamentals. First, for particular eating places, be certain to take a look at our Tokyo Disney Resort Restaurant Evaluations.
We now have particular person evaluations 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 resorts and Ikspiari, so that ought to assist.
Snacking ought to be a giant a part of your journey. The price of this will shortly add up, but it surely’s an integral a part of the Tokyo expertise. We now have posts on Superior Tokyo Disneyland Snacks and Superior Tokyo DisneySea Snacks which you could take a look at to get some concepts. Tokyo Disney Resort has some loopy popcorn flavors, and so they’re positively value making an attempt so you may 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 might be 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 at all times. We predict costs are akin 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 worth variations.
If you happen to do plan on doing desk service, know that eating places usually are totally booked prematurely. Sadly, the one approach to make eating reservations is by 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 aren’t 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. If in case you have different restrictions or preferences, you could have an much more tough time.
Neither of us are vegetarians so we’ve no first hand expertise on this regard, however we’ve heard tales from others. Thankfully, Tokyo Disney Resort has an inventory of eating places that may accommodate friends with particular dietary wants. Right here it’s for Tokyo Disneyland, and for Tokyo DisneySea. In case you are a vegetarian, the buffets are your best choice, however vegetarian choices at counter service eating places are beginning to turn out to be extra frequent.
Procuring
Merchandise at Tokyo Disney Resort could be very completely different from what you’ll discover at Walt Disney World or Disneyland. As a substitute of things with the park logos or attraction names, most objects at Tokyo Disney Resort are character-themed or kawaii. Relying upon who you ask, Tokyo both has the perfect or worst merchandise of any Disney vacation spot on the planet.
Our Information to Tokyo Disneyland Merchandise offers you an thought of what to anticipate so to plan accordingly and modify your expectations and price range. It’s value noting that in the previous couple of years, Tokyo has elevated the quantity of emblem merchandise and both issues interesting to broader tastes. We’ve discovered ourselves “embracing the kawaii” of Tokyo Disney Resort’s merchandise an increasing number of, but it surely’s positively an acquired style that isn’t for everybody.
In your arrival or departure day, contemplate visiting Ikspiari, which is a eating, buying, 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 Procuring Information to Ikspiari at Tokyo Disney Resort. Word 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 huge into buying and need to do a few of that in Japan, we’d encourage you to take action in Tokyo correct. Actually each main practice 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 objects 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 ceaselessly to purchase nice Tokyo Disney Resort collectibles. For more information & ideas, see our Procuring Information to Nakano Broadway on our non-Disney weblog, TravelCaffeine.com.
Flights & Transportation
Flights to Tokyo from america are 10+ hours, which is plenty of time within the air. Thankfully, the bigger planes used for these flights are way more comfy than your regular planes used for home flights. Complimentary in-flight leisure (together with the most recent films and tv reveals) additionally makes issues simpler.
If you recognize your journey dates and haven’t any flexibility as to once you journey, we suggest 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 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 at all times altering and are extremely dependent upon metropolis of origin, time of 12 months, and so forth., 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 if you happen to put effort into selecting the best instances 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 on the lookout for a approach to get extra bang in your buck, you should use it so as to add stopovers to go to a number of areas. We cowl this in our “ Go to 3 Disney Locations on 1 Airfare” put up. It may appear sophisticated at first, however it’s effectively value studying that put up and figuring it out. That put up covers easy methods 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 the entire cities on the planet we’ve visited, Tokyo has by far essentially the most sophisticated 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 instances 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 outdoors the airport after buying your ticket close to the exit at a desk or the ticketing machine. It’s costlier than public transit, however simpler and direct. Word that whereas this bus runs recurrently, its schedule usually stops round 5 p.m. Right here’s the full schedule to TDR from Narita. In case your flight arrives into Tokyo after 4 p.m., it is best to in all probability have a look at different choices.
If you happen to’re getting in actually late, the simplest various is a taxi. These are ready outdoors the airport and straightforward to search out. The draw back is worth. Our understanding is that the price of a taxi to a Tokyo Disney Resort space lodge from Narita is $200.
The most cost effective various is to make use of public transportation. It’s intimidating at first, as Japan’s public transportation system could be very advanced, however we in the end have had no points and it’s a comparatively simple route from the airports to Tokyo Disney Resort. Simply use Google Maps.
Getting round Tokyo Disney Resort, you’ll need to take the monorail. It prices cash, but it surely’s environment friendly, dependable, and clear. (That every one may sound weird to Walt Disney World followers…particularly the “dependable” half!) There are additionally Resort Cruisers, that are buses, which might be freed from cost. Simply pay the minor price for the monorail until you’ve a big social gathering. It’s enjoyable and completely value it. Strolling can be an possibility, 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 extra cost to make use of our knowledge in Japan. It runs a bit slower, however we’ve discovered it completely usable for normal web shopping. It’s turning into extra frequent for mobile suppliers to supply worldwide day passes which might be comparably priced to MiFi, so take a look at that.
Renting a SIM card is a superb possibility for some individuals, however we actually favored the MiFi rental for our journeys previous to switching to T-Cell. For these unfamiliar with the machine, it’s mainly 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 need to hire, what number of gadgets, and specify at which airport you’ll need to choose it up. Right here’s a comparatively cheap and dependable possibility for MiFi rental.
We suggest renting one MiFi per individual in your group, so you may talk if you happen to 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 suggest renting prematurely of your journey. If you happen to wait till you arrive and easily choose one up from the outlets on the airport or at a comfort retailer, costs are larger and knowledge is often restricted.
Whereas the web can generally be spotty in Tokyo DisneySea, the MiFi total is basically 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 unusual in Japan. (Against this, it’s quite common in Hong Kong, if you happen to’re going to each.)
Cash/Credit score Playing cards
Tokyo Disney Resort (and most Japanese retailers) accepts normal 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 Categorical. (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 resorts on the monorail loop, the second location goes to be way more handy to you. Sometimes, you do not want to hold money at Tokyo Disney Resort, however you may want it within the metropolis of Tokyo.
Different Sources
For common journey recommendation to Japan, we’ve one other weblog: TravelCaffeine.com, the place we share our non-Disney experiences. We now have written extensively about our favourite metropolis on the planet: Kyoto, Japan on TravelCaffeine. Kyoto has one thing for everybody, and gives lots when it comes to Japanese tradition and historical past. As talked about above, our Final Information to Kyoto, Japan additionally supplies 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 have to know for these visits!
There’s much more we may embody on this information, however that is already the longest put up on the weblog so far, so let’s lower it off there. We will certainly add to this based mostly on frequent questions, and I’m more than pleased to supply help and recommendation within the feedback you probably have questions. Wish to see extra images or examine Tokyo Disney Resort in agonizing element? Take a look at our Tokyo Disney Resort Journey Report from our very first go to to Japan, after we too had been newbies!
Your Ideas
Planning a visit to Japan is plenty of work, but it surely’s in the end effectively well worth the effort! Hopefully this information supplies an excellent 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!