We chose Tokyo Disneyland for our most recent trip to Japan because of its classic fairy tale energy. And as long time theme park fans, we wanted that timeless and magical park day. Well, after having an amazing time in the park, we can totally confirm that Tokyo Disneyland did not disappoint! We had an absolute blast, and decided to write about our experience to help others plan their visit to Tokyo Disneyland.
This guide distills what actually helped us plan a smooth visit, from picking the right day and mapping a simple route to the park, to using the Tokyo Disney Resort App so waits stay low and your must-do rides happen. We also share what to eat, how to pace your day, and smart hotels near Tokyo Disneyland for an easy rope drop and a relaxed finish. Read on for a practical, personal plan you can copy for your date.
Highlights Tokyo Disneyland
Book your Tokyo Disneyland tickets early to avoid disappointment on your travel date.
Download the Tokyo Disney Resort app, essential for real-time wait times, show entries, and Premier Access.
Ride Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast first, the best and most popular ride with long queues.
Experience Pooh’s Hunny Hunt, Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, and Monsters Inc.
Stay late for the parade and castle fireworks for a magical end to your day.
Try snacks like Minnie and Mickey-shaped ice bars, little green dumplings, and popcorn in six different flavors.
Stay at Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay Hotel. On a tighter budget? Hiyori Hotel Maihama is a great alternative.
Before your visit
Buy your tickets in advance
We booked our Tokyo Disneyland tickets through GetYourGuide, which is our go-to for theme parks in Japan. It let us pay in euros, the prices matched the official site on our date, and many listings include free cancellation, which is great if plans change. We also had zero issues using non Japanese credit cards, which can be a problem if you’re using the official website.
On costs and availability, we paid € 55 per person for regular tickets for our visit on July 24th. Tokyo Disneyland calls these 1 Day Passports, but the idea is the same. Since this was a spontaneous Japan trip, we purchased our tickets only three weeks in advance and had no trouble getting in. From our experience, tickets for Tokyo Disneyland rarely sell out, especially if you choose a weekday and avoid national holidays (more on that later). We visited on a Thursday, our longest wait was only 40 minutes because we followed the strategies in this guide. Do not sleep on them and keep reading!
Tickets are released daily at 2 PM for admissions on the same date two months later. Knowing this helps if you are timing a purchase and want to make sure you’re getting tickets for your travel dates. Adult 1 Day Passports typically range 7,900 to 10,900 yen, depending on the date.
Why we prefer GetYourGuide
- Cancellation flexibility on many listings, handled in your account, which is reassuring if plans change. Always check the specific product page for the policy and cutoff.
- Price parity with the official site on many dates, while charging in your home currency. This helps avoid extra foreign exchange fees from your bank.
- Smooth international payments. We have had no issues with non Japanese cards, which can trip people up elsewhere (especially on the official website).
Pro tips
- Aim for Tuesday to Thursday on non-holiday weeks to avoid the crowds.
- Use a crowd calendar to avoid red or black coded days and to pick cooler weather windows in summer. We used yosocal.com to plan our trips to both Tokyo Disneyland as well as DisneySea. It is in Japanese, but your browser’s translation will go a long way. The calendar is color coded with eight crowd levels, from very empty to extremely busy. It also shows expected attendance bands alongside weather forecasts with temperature, rain, wind and any special events that could spike crowds. Use it to pick a weekday with lighter colors and favorable weather, then lock your tickets. Note that these calendars are predictions, so treat them as guidance, not guarantees.
- If you are comparing dates, remember Tokyo Disney’s pricing is date based. Sometimes a cheaper day is also a quieter day.
Download the Tokyo Disney Resort App
The Tokyo Disney Resort App is essential for Tokyo Disneyland. It shows ride times, interactive maps, show schedules, restaurant info and menus. It also stores your tickets so you can scan a QR code at the gates instead of printing emails.
Download it at least a day before your visit, and load your tickets in the app either the day before or while you are queuing to enter. The reason we’re saying this is because the app and your linked tickets are required to buy Disney Premier Access, to get 40th Anniversary Priority Passes when offered, and to submit Entry Requests for shows. Doing this in advance cuts stress on the day, and makes sure your tickets are actually present in the app.
The official app supports wait time checks, digital tickets, Premier Access purchases, Entry Requests, Mobile Order, a map of the park, and more. You will need to log in with a Disney account in the app settings, another reason to do all of this in advance.
Restaurant reservations inside the app
You can book most park restaurants in advance from 10 AM JST one month before until 8:59 PM JST on the day before your visit. Same day booking opens at 9 AM JST. Availability and opening time varies by venue, and some show restaurants have slightly different windows, too.
How we used the app in the park
The moment we got in, we grabbed priority passes for Big Thunder Mountain. We entered at 9 AM and the next available time slot was already 11:10 AM, which meant we could only secure one Priority Pass while we were in the park. At first we considered buying Premier Access for Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast at 2,000 yen each, but decided against it in the end because the waiting time was minimal (more on that later).
We also used the map a lot to make our way to the next ride as efficiently as possible, and checked menus constantly to see what was available. Since we are more snackers than full meal people in theme parks, we did not make any restaurant reservations through the app, but know that it’s possible. We still tried out a few different places, which we will cover later in this guide.
For shows, we submitted Entry Requests twice for the day’s entertainment and struck out both times. After securing an Entry Request for Big Band Beat at DisneySea last year, we had high hopes, but alas. You might have better luck, so keep the app handy and try as early as you can after entering. Entry Requests open after you enter the park and close 45 minutes before each show time.
Premier Access quick facts
Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast is 2,000 yen per access. The Happy Ride with Baymax and Splash Mountain are 1,500 yen per access. You can generally buy another Premier Access 60 minutes after your last purchase or after the time you used it, whichever is earlier. Inventory can sell out (especially for Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast), so decide early and plan your day around your timeslots.
Connectivity tip
Download the app and sign in before your trip to the park, since there is no reliable park wide Wi-Fi. To obtain any tickets via the app, you will need to get your mobile data sorted. We both used eSIMs on our phones, which let us apply for different Entry Requests at the same time and gave us a backup connection just in case.
Public Wi-Fi at Tokyo Disneyland is limited to the area around the main entrance, with sessions up to 15 minutes at a time. That’s all theoretical though, as we were never able to connect to any Wi-Fi via our phones during the almost 2-hour wait we had in front of the park. Do not rely on it for Premier Access or Entry Requests, and get an eSIM for your Tokyo Disneyland trip. And remember, two eSIMs per couple helps if one connection hiccups, and gives you double the chance of obtaining Entry Requests.
We bought our eSIMs through Airalo and were super happy with how easy it was to set up. It worked perfectly throughout our trip! Use code TASTINGSUNSETS for € 3 off your first purchase.
Set up checklist the day before
- Install the Tokyo Disney Resort App, log in with your Disney account, and update to the latest version.
- Add your tickets to the app and create a group with both of your tickets.
- Add a valid card in the app so you can instantly purchase Premier Access if needed.
- Confirm your dining plan. If you want table service, set a reminder for 10 AM JST one month out, or check the same day at 9 AM JST.
Notes on availability
Seasonal offerings change. For example, special Priority Passes programs tied to anniversaries or events come and go. When we visited in 2025, 40th Anniversary Passes were still available even though Tokyo Disneyland’s 40th anniversary had long passed. Always verify the current options and times in the app on your day.
Plan your route to Tokyo Disneyland
We have visited Tokyo Disney Resort a few times with different starting points in Tokyo. The main rule of thumb is simple: if you are not staying in a Disney hotel, expect a commute that involves transferring at least once. For this year’s visit to Tokyo Disneyland, we started from our hotel in Shinjuku and used a mix of walking and subway rides to reach Maihama Station. Maihama Station is the station that sits right by the park. We mapped everything a few days in advance in Google Maps and stuck to that plan on the day (with a bit of flexibility).
Time it took and the transfers involved
We wanted to arrive early (at least one and a half hours before park opening), so we woke up at 5 AM to get ready. At 6 AM we left the hotel for a journey that took just over one hour. We walked about 10 minutes to the nearest subway station, then took three different lines in total. One Toei line, one Tokyo Metro line, and one JR line that brought us to Maihama Station. From there it was less than a 10 minute walk to the gates. The total fare was 490 yen each which was under 3 euros, very affordable. Last year when we visited Tokyo DisneySea, we left from a hotel in Asakusa and that trip also took one hour with only one transfer. As a rule of thumb we would budget about one hour of commuting time from most central neighborhoods in Tokyo.
Advice for timing the journey stress free
Plan your route a few days ahead in Google Maps. Switch the settings to arrive by, plug in your target time, and pick the route that makes the most sense for you. Google Maps will show the total duration, walking time, transfer points, and even the fare. That made it easy for us to plan everything out, and to make sure our Suica had enough balance.
If you decide to leave early like we did, expect packed trains and fewer departures before 7 AM as trains ride less frequently. On our route from Shinjuku this year, trains came about every 10 minutes. We even had to run once with a wave of salarymen to catch a connection! If we missed the next train, it meant waiting another 10 minutes we did not want to lose. Having a set plan helped us avoid waking up early only to miss a tight transfer and arrive later at the park.
Extra practical tips from our rides
- Save your route in Google Maps and take screenshots in case your signal hiccups underground.
- Top up Suica or PASMO the night before. Aim for a little extra so you are not hunting for a machine during a tight transfer. Every second counts!
- If you want the simplest final approach, follow the station signs for Maihama and then the park exit. Tokyo Disneyland is walkable from the station, so you do not need the monorail for the final stretch.
- Build in a 10 to 15-minute buffer for platform changes at busy hubs, because you’ll most likely have to transfer.
When to visit and crowd level tips
Weekday vs weekend crowds
Like with any major theme park, weekends are much more crowded than weekdays. Generally, the best days to visit Tokyo Disneyland are Tuesday to Thursday. These days offer the best chance of fewer crowds, which means less queuing and a better overall experience. We understand that not everyone can choose the exact date of their visit, so we recommend using the crowd calendar we mentioned earlier to plan your trip. And if you must visit on a weekend, Fridays or Mondays are always better than Saturday or Sunday.
What day we visited and how busy it felt
We visited on a Thursday in July, which we found to be an excellent choice (apart from the heat). The park did not feel crowded and the longest waiting time we had was just over 30 minutes. Considering that Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast often shows triple digit waits, half an hour felt like a breeze. Lines at restaurants and popcorn stalls were basically non-existent, although we probably ate at less usual times than most people. Our Thursday in July felt pretty much perfect.
Seasonal advice
The rainy season in Tokyo typically runs from early June to about mid July, with a shorter rainy stretch often returning in early September. If you are planning a July visit, build in flexibility for showers and humidity. Once the rainy front lifts, late July and August bring the hottest weather of the year and we can confirm. Daytime highs frequently rise above 30 degrees Celsius and the heat index can feel intense, especially in direct sun. Bring a UV umbrella, pack enough (Bioré 😉) sunscreen, and hydrate often. During our visit at the end of July, we absolutely experienced this extreme Japanese heat. You shouldn’t take this warning lightly, prepare for the worst and hope for the best!
Best months for low crowds and special seasons
- Mid January right after New Year’s crowds leave can be one of the quietest times, though it is chilly (10 degrees Celsius or less, usually).
- Summer is hot but lively. Tokyo Disney is running Summer Cool-off in 2025 from July 2 to September 15, which includes mist and water based entertainment that feels amazing in the heat. Pack quick dry layers if you plan to watch from splash zones. We absolutely loved this, it helped so much with the scorching heat!
- Seasonal events like Halloween and Christmas. Disney Halloween at Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea runs September 17 to October 31, 2025. If your trip straddles late October and early to mid November, you can catch the end of Halloween and feel the Christmas vibes at the same time. Disney Christmas 2025 is scheduled for November 11 to December 25, and even though the two events do not run at the same time, you can probably just about make it work in a single trip around those dates.
Practical crowd strategy
- Aim for Tuesday to Thursday and avoid national holidays like Golden Week.
- Use a crowd calendar to pick lighter color days and better weather windows.
- Arrive early with your plan set in the app, then adjust using live wait times.
- Eat at off hours to skip food lines and keep your momentum.
The day of your visit to Tokyo Disneyland
Arrive early
What time we arrived at Tokyo Disneyland
We wanted to be at the park by 7:30 AM at the latest. Not only to beat most other tourists (beating the queue-loving locals is impossible), but also because we hoped the park would open sooner. Spoiler alert: it did not.
We arrived at JR Maihama Station around 7 AM, then walked about seven minutes to the park entrance. Right by the monorail exit in front of the hotel, we saw a huge line already forming. We are talking about at least 100 people packed like sardines! This was the queue for guests without Happy Entry, like us, and the bag screening before you can start to actually line up at the gates.
Security moved quickly, about 10 minutes, and by 7:30 AM we ran to the shortest looking queue in front of the park entrance. We were so glad we brought water and snacks to stay hydrated! The sun was already brutal, clocking in at around 30 degrees Celsius even before 8 AM. Again, we recommend a UV umbrella or at least a hat.
When the gates actually opened
One reason we arrived early was the chance to enter much earlier, as others sometimes mention online. That did not happen for us, because we had to wait over an hour and a half before we could finally enter.
The queue order and order of people who were let in earlier on our day worked like this. First, hotel guests with Happy Entry could enter the park. Second, other Disney hotel guests. Lastly, regular visitors like us, who were let in at 9 AM sharp. Officially, Disney states that Happy Entry lets eligible hotel guests enter 15 minutes before other guests at Tokyo Disneyland, and notes that attractions begin operation after the park opens for other guests.
The company does not publish earlier times beyond this, and the exact flow can vary day to day. From our experience, we noticed that Happy Entry guests were allowed in at around 8 AM, an hour before official opening time. Hotel guests without Happy Entry, were allowed to enter at around 8:40 AM.
Why early arrival still matters
After reading that, it might seem like arriving early does not pay off. Trust us, it absolutely does! The atmosphere is quieter first thing, which makes photos and wandering the lands much more pleasant. Posted waits are lower too, because the late risers are still at breakfast. And, maybe a bit surprising, early arrival can actually save you money. It did in our case! Our plan was to head straight to Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast. If the wait had been more than one hour, we would have bought Disney Premier Access at 2,000 yen each. Because we were there early, we only waited about 30 minutes and saved 4,000 yen. Maybe you don’t look at it the same way, but we absolutely do. 😉
Another reason to arrive early is the digital queue systems. You can only secure Premier Access, Priority Passes, and Entry Requests after you enter the park and scan in. Availability is limited and can sell out, so being among the first regular guests through the gates gives you a much better shot. Open the app as you wait for rope drop, then the moment you are in, make your selections for all rides, shows and restaurants you plan on visiting.
Thinking of visiting more theme parks in Japan? Don’t miss our guides on Tokyo DisneySea and Universal Studios Japan.
Entry Requests to shows via the app
Which Tokyo Disneyland shows we tried
We tried our luck for Club Mouse Beat and Mickey’s Magical Music World, since those fit our style and are not solely catered to kids. Club Mouse Beat features Mickey and his friends performing hip hop, Latin, pop, and more in a high energy stage show. Mickey’s Magical Music World is a spectacular live performance with large scale sets, music, and dance at Fantasyland Forest Theatre. Both shows currently require an Entry Request and also offer Disney Premier Access. Each show runs about 25 minutes, perfect to give your legs a bit of rest after wandering around the park all day.
How the Entry Request system worked (for us)
We submitted Entry Requests on both of our phones right after entering the park and still had no luck. Last year we scored Big Band Beat at DisneySea on our first try, so we had high hopes. In this case, however, it did not happen unfortunately. Entry Request is a free lottery in the Tokyo Disney Resort App, so seeing a show is not guaranteed (unless you buy Premier Access for it). You can try once per day for each eligible venue, starting after you enter the park, and requests close 45 minutes before each show time. If your result is successful, the app assigns a return time and viewing location. If it is unsuccessful, you cannot try that same venue again that day.
We noticed that both of the shows we wanted also offered Disney Premier Access. The listed fee for parades and shows is 2,500 yen per access, so we decided to skip that purchase on our day as we thought that was a bit much. It could very well be that both of our Entry Requests were denied in order to force us to buy PA tickets, which would make sense.
Whether it is worth doing right away after entry
Yes, try as soon as you are through the turnstiles! Early attempts give you time to pivot to another show later in the day if you do not win. Or if you do win, you can plan your rides and meal breaks around those assigned times as you definitely don’t want to miss out on the show. Remember that you must be at the theater at the specified time and you cannot be in a ride queue then, so getting your Entry Request results early helps you map out the day.
Quick setup tips that will help you secure Entry Requests at Tokyo Disneyland
- Link both tickets in the app and form a group before you enter, then submit the same Entry Requests together.
- Have mobile data ready on both phones so you can act immediately and apply at the same time.
- If you miss out and the show is a must, check Premier Access availability and decide fast, as inventory can sell out.
Head to Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast first
Why this ride is the most popular
The Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast is Tokyo Disneyland’s most popular attraction for a reason. It is a unique, large scale, trackless dark ride with some of the most advanced animations and effects, and the experience runs about 8 minutes of pure Beauty and the Beast magic. You won’t find it anywhere else in the world, so it totally makes sense that everyone wants to experience it.
How long the lines were throughout the day
We watched wait times all day and saw them climb over 100 minutes more than once. From our experience, the ride peaks around late morning, often near or after 10 AM. If you cannot rope drop it, try right after lunch or in the last one to two hours before the park closes. Historical stats back up the demand, as this attraction consistently posts the highest waits in the park and shows sustained peaks mid morning.
Premier Access vs waited
We had a plan. The average wait time for this ride is about 64 minutes. If the posted time had been over our one hour threshold when we arrived at the ride entrance, we would have bought Disney Premier Access at 2,000 yen each. So, we headed straight there at 9 AM and the sign showed 30 minutes, so we just joined the standby queue. By the time we passed the next sign deeper in the line, it had already ticked up to 50 minutes for people who just joined the queue. In the end, we only had to wait for roughly 30 minutes in total. Skipping Premier Access was the right call for us that morning, and saved us quite a bit of money.
Quick personal review of the Beauty and the Beast ride
We won’t spoil the surprises, but this was our favorite ride in the entire park. It lasts almost ten minutes, features beautiful design, and pairs fitting music with amazing animatronics. While everything is in Japanese, the story still comes across clearly (at least if you’ve seen the movie). Beauty and the Beast is Thysia’s favorite Disney movie, and she even had tears in her eyes during the ride because it was so beautifully done. As the only ride of its kind in the world, we think it’s a must on any Tokyo Disneyland itinerary.
Pro tips from our run
- If you are not first through the gates, compare the posted time to your personal threshold and decide quickly. Premier Access inventory can sell out.
- Refresh the app while you walk. Posted times can jump within minutes after opening.
- If you skip it at rope drop, target early afternoon (during or right after the lunch rush), or the final hour before close, when waits often soften.
Use the app to plan the rest of your day
Know the busiest rides and what to expect
The other big rides at Tokyo Disneyland are The Happy Ride with Baymax and Splash Mountain. Both offer Disney Premier Access at 1,500 yen per person when available in the app. During our visit, Baymax was especially busy, peaking at around 100 minutes. We skipped this ride since Kelvin gets motion sickness easily and the ride seems aimed more at families with kids. Splash Mountain was a really fun and beautiful roller coaster that we highly recommend. Its average wait hovered near 45 minutes, yet we queued only 20 minutes because we went during lunch. Other important rides that can post longer waits are Pooh’s Hunny Hunt, Big Thunder Mountain, and the Monsters, Inc. ride. For these, you can sometimes reduce your waits using the app’s Priority Pass system (if available).
How we planned with data, then adjusted in real time
We will share our order of rides below, but we cannot guarantee you will have the same, easy, and almost queue free experience we had. Crowds and offerings shift day by day, and your success with Entry Requests, Premier Access, or Priority Pass is never guaranteed.
But, what you can do is set yourself up for success. First, read this full Tokyo Disneyland guide and note the tactics we used. Duh! 😉 Then do your own research across multiple sources and decide your must-do rides, parades, shows, and even restaurants. Write them all down so you know what activities you’ll be wanting to do on the day of your visit. We also like Thrill Data to check average and median waits for specific attractions. It helps us plan a rough order based on data, but what you can also do is just make note of the averages so you can head for a ride when a posted time drops below them on the day.
Our exact ride order with waits and why we chose it
This is the sequence that made the most sense for us based on location and posted waits.
- Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast (Fantasyland)
- 30 minutes of waiting because we ran straight here after entering.
- Haunted Mansion (Fantasyland)
- 5 minutes wait. We chose it because it was nearby and Pooh’s Hunny Hunt wait was climbing.
- Peter Pan’s Flight (Fantasyland)
- 15 minutes wait. Logical next step since it sits near Haunted Mansion and Kelvin is a big Peter Pan fan. After this we took a very early lunch because our next ride window was secured with a Priority Pass for 11:10 to 12:10.
- Big Thunder Mountain (Westernland)
- No wait, thanks to the Priority Pass.
- Pirates of the Caribbean (Adventureland)
- We kept monitoring Pooh’s Hunny Hunt and Splash Mountain at 50 to 60 minutes (still a bit too long for our liking). Pirates of the Caribbean had no wait, so we rode this while we hoped that people would go for lunch, which would bring the wait time for other big rides down.
- Jungle Cruise (Adventureland)
- 5 minutes wait. The plan was now to finish the other low wait Adventureland rides while Pooh’s Hunny Hunt and Splash Mountain started to drop.
- Western River Railroad (Adventureland)
- Under 5 minutes again. While riding and enjoying the view, we saw Pooh’s Hunny Hunt and Splash Mountain drop to 40 and even 30 minutes, which was our cue to head to Critter Country once this ride had finished.
- Splash Mountain (Critter Country)
- About 30 minutes wait, which wasn’t high enough for us to even consider buying Premier Access for this ride (1,500 yen per person).
- Pooh’s Hunny Hunt (Fantasyland)
- 20 minutes wait to finish our final must-do. The wait time was minimal when we got here, but if you want you can try to reduce your wait with a Priority Pass (although we could not get one that day).
- Star Tours: The Adventures Continue (Tomorrowland)
- 10 to 15 minutes wait for our last ride of the day.
Side note
You are probably wondering why Monsters, Inc. is not included. It was closed for maintenance during our visit. Otherwise, that would’ve been another must-do ride for us!
How we decided if something was worth the wait
We made a short list of non-negotiables. Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast, Splash Mountain, and Pooh’s Hunny Hunt were must-dos. Nice to dos were Big Thunder Mountain, Peter Pan’s Flight, and Pirates of the Caribbean. Everything else was filler to minimize idle time between headliners.
Our rule was simple: We prefer riding something nearby with a short wait instead of standing in a long line for a must-do beyond our comfort threshold. We’re at an amusement park, the first thing we want to do here is have fun! So yes, we sometimes ride less important or childish rides instead of waiting in line, but that’s part of the fun for us.
Now, if you want to follow in our footsteps, then the most important thing is to use the app and be flexible. Lastly, the Haunted Mansion and Western River Railroad are fun, but they are not essential if you are tight on time.
Parades and characters we caught
We think everyone should experience at least one parade at Tokyo Disneyland, it’s iconic. During our day we stayed late for one of the nighttime offerings as it was Kelvin’s first time in Disneyland so we just had to see one. And technically we did two parades, if you count Baymax’s Mission: Cool Down as well. The other one we stayed for was Reach for the Stars at 7:20 PM. It was a beautiful spectacle with fireworks and 3D style projections on the castle, and we consider it a must. To see what is running on your date, check the official schedule. Parades and entertainment change seasonally, and some even offer Disney Premier Access for a designated viewing area.
Beyond parades, we also saw tons of characters. We spotted Mickey, Snow White and her prince, the Cinderella mice, Goofy, the Dapper Dans, and Alice with the Mad Hatter. The best part is, we did not queue for any of them. They were just roaming the park, chatting with groups, and having one on one interactions. We felt incredibly lucky to have spotted so many characters, and because none of the interactions were planned it made everything so much better! Thysia got a nice hug from one of the mice, and Kelvin got one from Goofy. These surprise moments were incredible, so definitely keep an eye out when you’re in Tokyo Disneyland!
Tips to adjust your plan as waits change
- The moment you enter the park, try for Entry Requests, Priority Passes, and Premier Access in the app, then build your schedule around what you secured. Availability can sell out or close before each show, so act early.
- Use the wait time averages you collected in advance from tools like Thrill Data as a benchmark. When a posted time dips under your benchmark, that is your signal to go.
- Use filler rides with under 15 minute waits to avoid standing still. This kept our day efficient and fun.
- If a key ride’s wait is stubbornly high, check whether Premier Access is offered that day and decide if the fee is worth it. Prices and eligibility are listed in the official app.
Pricing and availability notes
Disney lists current Premier Access offerings and prices in the app and on its site. As of our checks in 2025, Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast is 2,000 yen, The Happy Ride with Baymax is 1,500 yen, and Splash Mountain is 1,500 yen when offered. Parades and shows with Premier Access, such as Tokyo Disneyland Electrical Parade Dreamlights, Disney Harmony in Color, and Reach for the Stars, are listed at 2,500 yen per person. Availability can change with seasons and events, so always verify in the app on your date.
Snacks you need to try at Tokyo Disneyland
Snacks and meals we loved
When in Disneyland, try popcorn. Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea are renowned for their different popcorn flavors. Our favorite at Tokyo Disneyland was the honey popcorn, sold at the wagon in front of Pooh’s Hunny Hunt in Fantasyland. It’s a unique flavor that isn’t being sold at DisneySea next door.
Some flavors are park specific, while others appear in both parks. At both parks in Tokyo Disney Resort, you will commonly find caramel and soy sauce & butter among others, but both parks also have specialty flavors that can’t be bought at the other park. For example, we really liked the matcha white chocolate popcorn at DisneySea last year, but unfortunately couldn’t get it at Tokyo Disneyland. Luckily, the black pepper is available at both parks in Tokyo Disney Resort, a great choice for everyone. 😉
Other snacks we really recommend are the Minnie ice bar (peach and raspberry flavor), and the little green dumplings from Toy Story. Both are available at Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea.
Value for money compared to other parks
What surprises us time and time again is how affordable Tokyo Disneyland is. T-shirt merchandise is sold for as little as 2,500 yen, with snacks and food much cheaper than that. A regular box of popcorn is listed at 400 yen throughout the park, very reasonable for theme park snacks. Souvenir popcorn buckets cost more, but you can always buy a refill for 600 yen which will give you plenty of popcorn to snack on throughout the day. Bottled water from vending machines was 250 yen, and we bought a slice of pizza for 600 yen. This is just an overview of some of the items that stood out to us as pretty affordable. Tickets felt reasonable too, as we “only” paid € 55 euros each.
Quick finds to save time
- For honey popcorn, head to the Fantasyland wagon in front of Pooh’s Hunny Hunt.
- For little green dumplings, look in Tomorrowland at locations like Soft Landing or Pan Galactic Pizza Port when listed.
- For the Minnie ice bar, we bought ours from a cart in front of “it’s a small world” in Fantasyland. The Mickey ice bar comes in tropical fruit flavor, and can be bought in Cinderella’s Fairy Tale Hall (underneath the castle).
Hotels near Tokyo Disneyland
Staying near Tokyo Disneyland is one of the easiest ways to turn a park day into a smooth, low stress experience. You are minutes from the gates, which means you can rope drop in the morning without having to wake up at 5 AM, take it easy throughout the day when the heat or crowds peak, then enjoy an evening parade without a long commute back home. Hotels around Maihama and the Bayside monorail loop keep everything close. Partner hotels in nearby Shin Urayasu add great value with free shuttles, so you save time, energy, and even money for rides instead of transfers.
Hiyori Hotel Maihama
Hiyori Hotel Maihama offers great value near JR Maihama Station, with a free shuttle to and from the station. It’s convenient for rope drop if you catch the first shuttle, or you can take a quick, affordable taxi if you’re running late. It’s a solid choice for couples looking for a clean and comfortable base while spending most of their time in the park.
Hotel Emion Tokyo Bay
Hotel Emion Tokyo Bay is a Tokyo Disney Resort Partner Hotel with a complimentary direct shuttle to the bus terminals at both parks in about 15 minutes. That ride removes transfers and saves energy at the end of the day. The rooms are especially great for families as they’re bigger than most, and there are tons of on site amenities.
Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay Hotel
Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay Hotel is an official hotel of Tokyo Disney Resort, a few minutes walk from Bayside Station on the Disney Resort Line. There is also a complimentary shuttle between Bayside Station and the hotel. Official hotel perks include on-site ticket sales and Welcome Center services that send your bags to the hotel. And it all comes with the same quality that Sheraton is known for!
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