Our 2023 Tokyo Disneyland & DisneySea trip planning information presents data for visiting. We’ve suggestions & tips, the place to remain, how lengthy to go to, must-eat meals & snacks, greatest sights, avoiding crowds, and different issues to do when you’re in Japan. (Up to date January 15, 2023.)
Whether or not you’re desirous 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 can assist you begin planning! That’s the subsequent massive 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 the whole lot that’s new and see how the parks have modified as in comparison with pre-closure. The unhealthy information is that Tokyo Disney Resort remains to be fairly removed from firing on all cylinders…
For those who’re accustomed to Walt Disney World and Disneyland, the best approach 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 widespread 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 affect retail and restaurant capability in mixture. The top result’s crowded outlets and really lengthy traces for eating choices, particularly at peak occasions.
There are additionally various 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 exhibits are equally scaled again, or not being introduced in any respect. The daytime harbor exhibits in Tokyo DisneySea have been decreased to transient smile & wave greetings. Seasonal leisure has been decreased throughout the board. If it’s your first go to, you most likely received’t even discover this–Tokyo Disney Resort nonetheless has extra (and higher) leisure than the U.S. parks. Nevertheless, should you’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. Because of this, 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 Go can be obtainable for choose outlets and sights, albeit normally solely on merchandise launch days or notably busy dates.
In any case, there’s a really totally 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. Briefly, there’s a provide and demand imbalance at Tokyo Disneyland–and that’ll develop into 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 occasions since we first wrote it, and extra will probably 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 occasions per 12 months for 7 consecutive years, together with a number of multi-month stays. We have been Tokyo Disneyland & DisneySea Annual Passholders (till TDR cancelled these) who’ve dined in virtually each restaurant and stayed in each single resort at Tokyo Disney Resort.
For those who’re simply beginning to plan a visit to Japan, there’s quite a bit to think about. We advocate planning your time at Tokyo Disney Resort in tandem with the place else you wish 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 desire 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 the whole lot it is advisable to know for planning a go to to that great metropolis. Whole, we’d advocate 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’s best to go to Japan within the first place. Let’s backtrack and deal with that threshold query…
Ought to You Go to Japan & Tokyo Disney Resort?
You probably have the means to go to Japan or can save for it as a once-in-a-lifetime journey, we expect you can be very glad with the choice to go. Whereas there’s no query that worldwide journey is expensive, touring to Japan may not 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 definitely worth the cash for Walt Disney World regulars to go to the Japan parks.
Since we go to Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea often, we’ve been accused of being biased in the direction of the Japanese parks. That isn’t true in any respect. We’re biased in the 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 informed us they regretted visiting Japan. (If you wish to be the primary, be at liberty to say so within the feedback.)
Certainly, touring to Japan is exterior consolation zones and one of many largest issues holding folks again from visiting. From the lengthy worldwide flight to the prospect of navigating a international nation with out talking its native language, a visit to Japan could be overwhelming. That is regular, and there’s completely nothing unsuitable with being anxious about touring someplace as a result of it’s exterior of your consolation zone.
Tokyo is a protracted flight to a spot the place English is a second language (at greatest). Nevertheless, the Japanese are among the universally nicest and most useful folks 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 sights have dialogue in English. Even the sights which have dialogue completely in Japanese principally convey their message via visible means.
Extra importantly, most Forged Members both communicate sufficient English to successfully talk with English-speaking friends or can discover somebody that can assist you who does. Failing that, a little bit of pantomime will get the job executed. Verbal communication and pantomime with the primary Forged Member you encounter is all you’ll want.
My social abilities are poor and I can barely talk with folks in English, and I nonetheless do exactly advantageous. Regardless of that, Forged Members in Tokyo are by far the nicest and most useful on the planet, and they’re going to do the whole lot they’ll to make your expertise constructive, as long as that doesn’t contain breaking guidelines.
The Japanese idea of guidelines is totally different than the US idea of guidelines. Calling them “guidelines” could be a little bit of a misnomer, as a result of it some circumstances they’re unflexible insurance policies. For instance, you could 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 sometimes be met with resistance or confusion. Individuals 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 smart given the circumstances. In Japan, adherence to each rule/coverage/process is universally anticipated, regardless of how arbitrary it might sound.
More often than not, this ends in a extra orderly, fulfilling expertise. Solely in Japan is there no line leaping, and everybody sits down for the parades! Generally it does have unintended penalties. We all know some vegetarians who’ve gone to the parks and didn’t have the most effective of occasions as a result of there have been restricted vegetarian choices and so they have been unable to make substitutions as a result of a substitution goes in opposition to established coverage.
If you wish to really feel extra snug earlier than you go to, learn our 101 Nice Ideas for Tokyo Disneyland & DisneySea put up, which presents a wealth of random recommendation that can familiarize you with a ton of ‘little issues’ (and loads of massive ones) that it’s best to know concerning 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 possibly can spend in Japan. For those who’re touring midway all over the world, hopefully you’re planning on seeing extra than simply the 2 Disney theme parks in Japan. Along with these, we’d additionally strongly advocate spending a superb 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 greatest Disney parks on the planet, or a daily individual visiting Japan who stumbled upon this put up through Google. If the latter, two days is ample. We’ve itineraries beneath for seeing the entire highlights in a single day, and this information might be greater than you need or must learn about Tokyo Disney Resort.
These itineraries cowl the whole lot from the order it’s best to do rides to expertise them effectively, to the place it’s best to eat, and extra. Following these touring plans will enable you benefit from your time within the parks and see as a lot as potential in solely 2 days.
For those who’re a diehard Disney fan questioning what number of days it’s 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 most effective Disney park on the planet and Tokyo Disneyland can be close to the highest (second greatest, should you ask me). Consider these parks as “advantageous moonshine.” It’s a must to sip them slowly sufficient that you’ve got a pleasant intoxication, as a result of should you drink them in too shortly, you’re prone to go blind.
Hardcore Disney followers nonetheless shouldn’t overdo it, and may purpose 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 might sound 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 potential.
In our view, a balanced journey to Japan for a Disney fan contains 4 days at Tokyo Disney Resort, 3 days in Tokyo exterior 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 on). Cheap minds could differ on that, although.
These parks, DisneySea, particularly, are supposed to be slowed down and brought in. One of the best “attraction” at Tokyo DisneySea isn’t an precise attraction that you simply’ll discover on any park map. It’s the sense of place that it has, and that is one thing that you simply’ll wish to spend a while savoring.
On the subject of precise sights, the traces could be lengthy at each parks. These traces really beginning earlier than the parks open, and friends working for in style sights instantly. Tokyo Disney Resort’s important demographic is locals, and so they don’t thoughts ready hours in line for a single attraction as a result of they’ll at all times come again later to see others.
When to Go to
Selecting the most effective time to go to is a very powerful facet of planning a go to to Tokyo Disney Resort. We extremely advocate studying our When to Go to Tokyo Disneyland in 2023 put up, as that covers this important subject in a lot better element. The whole lot from climate (Tokyo has extremes in each instructions–it will probably 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 take into account is what season we wish 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 executed.
Halloween and Christmas are the 2 hottest seasonal occasions at Tokyo Disney Resort, and the parks look superior for each, with a variety of particular seasonal leisure. You possibly can “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’ve separate posts on these holidays and different seasonal occasions at Tokyo Disney Resort, so for more information, try the next posts:
With it narrowed all the way down to which season we needed to see, take into consideration crowds…
As with climate, Tokyo Disney Resort is a spot of extremes in terms of crowds. This makes it actually vital to decide on the least-crowded dates. As soon as we select the time of 12 months we wish 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 are predicted to be evenly crowded.
Extra vital than the time of 12 months is the times of the week you go to. Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea are least busy Monday via 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. This can prevent appreciable time in traces.
For those who’re researching a visit, you might need encountered pictures of insane crowds that make you apprehensive about visiting. We expect the crowds in Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea have taken on “city legend” standing as these pictures unfold.
The truth is that weekends and holidays could be insanely crowded–precisely because the pictures depict. Then again, 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 rigorously 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 will probably be useful. There’s probably not something particular to Tokyo that you will want. No voltage converter is critical. Nevertheless, there are some things you may wish 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 sure it’s inflatable–carrying a standard pillow whereas touring is a trouble). Now she swears by all 3. I might sleep on a pile of hay throughout a loss of life metallic live performance, so I don’t use earplugs or a particular pillow.
For those who’re visiting throughout the summer season, issues like Frogg Togg Chilly Pads will 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’d warning in opposition to overpacking. That is very true should you’re doing extra in Japan than simply Tokyo Disney Resort. The rail system in Tokyo is extremely complicated, with a variety of transfers. You’ll do a variety of strolling, driving the rail, and so on., and you actually don’t wish to be encumbered by extra baggage, particularly throughout rush hour on the trains.
Maybe the most effective recommendation we can provide you is to pack gentle. Lay out the whole lot you’re planning on taking earlier than you pack it, and decide should you actually want it. Not if it “may come in useful, possibly,” however should you really will use it. Don’t pack belongings you received’t use. If you’re going to be staying in a number of inns throughout your journey to Japan, we extremely advocate packing cubes or compression luggage (I desire the cubes) for group. You possibly can learn extra of our “carry-on philosophy” and which varieties 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 Ideas for Tokyo Disneyland Park Tickets put up. If you’re happening weekdays throughout non-holiday season, the best 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 advocate Klook (if they’ve stock–which isn’t at all times the case). Not solely are their tickets discounted, however it’s simpler to navigate than the official (and costlier) Tokyo Disney Resort web site. Sadly, that web site doesn’t promote each kind of park ticket, and sometimes they’re offered out totally.
If Klook is offered out, we merely advocate ready till you arrive to buy your park tickets. Though it does occur every so often, it’s uncommon for Tokyo Disney Resort to promote out of park tickets prematurely. Furthermore, friends of monorail loop inns (just like the Sheraton and Hilton Tokyo Bay) could buy tickets from their resort’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 could be troublesome to make use of, and might usually have points with bank cards issued by U.S. banks.
The place to Keep
We’ve stayed at 10 totally different inns in and round Tokyo Disney Resort, plus Airbnb flats. Suffice to say, we’ve a variety of expertise at inns in Japan, and virtually all of it’s constructive. For our ideas on resort choices, learn our Lodge Evaluations & Rankings at Tokyo Disneyland put up, as that covers the subject in better depth, and offers hyperlinks to particular resort evaluations.
As for an summary, you principally have three choices: off-site, on-site “official,” and on-site Disney. We’ll begin by overlaying the Disney inns. These are Disney’s Ambassador Lodge, Tokyo Disney Celebration Lodge, Tokyo Disneyland Lodge, Lodge MiraCosta, and Toy Story Lodge. They’re all very dear. You probably have the cash, take into account an evening or two at Lodge MiraCosta or Tokyo Disneyland Lodge. We’ve stayed at each, and they’re two of probably the most unforgettable resort experiences we’ve ever had.
For those who’re approaching them solely from a cost-benefit or worth perspective, it’s troublesome to justify any of the Disney inns. Their massive benefit is location, and that’s largest when it comes to the view out of your room (which could be into the park at each Tokyo Disneyland Lodge and Lodge MiraCosta) and never from entry, for the reason that on-site official inns are additionally positioned on the monorail loop and still have theme park views in some circumstances.
Is it value probably $200-300/night time extra than the official inns for that view into the park? In all probability not, except cash isn’t any concern otherwise you’re viewing this as a as soon as in a lifetime journey.
As for the on-site official inns, these are inns which are on the monorail loop, and sometimes supply massive, Western lodging, and are reasonably priced given the circumstances. Many evaluate very favorably to a Walt Disney World Deluxe resort. Giant, good rooms. Cinderella Fort or ocean views. Location on the monorail loop. All for $130-180/night time, more often than not. (Costs do spike for these inns sure occasions of 12 months and on the final minute, so e book early.)
Lastly, there are the off-site inns, which we don’t advocate. There’s nothing unsuitable with a variety of the off-site inns, however they’re a extra unknown amount with rooms that can sometimes skew in the direction of small, Japanese lodging. Plus, most of the ones closest to Tokyo Disney Resort are overpriced contemplating what they provide.
There’s additionally the ingredient of attending to and from the parks on public transportation, which generally is a actual trouble. Public transportation can be utilized by enterprise folks and college students across the identical time you’ll be heading to the parks, making it chaotic.
For those who should keep off-site as a result of the on-site inns or full, or since you’re on a decent finances, we extremely advocate doing an Airbnb rental as an alternative…
We’ve a put up that discusses our Ideas for Utilizing Airbnb in case you’re unfamiliar with the service. We’ve used it quite a few occasions in Japan, close to Tokyo Disney Resort in addition to in Kyoto and Osaka. We sometimes apply it to Friday and Saturday nights close to Tokyo Disney Resorts, as resort charges sometimes skyrocket for these nights.
Once we are touring all through Japan however aren’t at Tokyo Disney Resort, we desire Airbnb to reserving inns as a result of it provides us the choice for a a lot bigger room, normally a complete condominium. Japanese resort rooms (that aren’t Western chains) are usually very small, and utilizing Airbnb is one of the best ways to keep away from this concern.
Plus, the worth is normally cheaper than a resort room, and Airbnb hosts usually embody free MiFi so you need to 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 should you go at a less-busy time of 12 months, we advocate arriving at both park half-hour earlier than it opens in your first couple of days. There’ll already be a protracted line (or traces) to get inside while you get there, so don’t be alarmed. When you get inside, stroll briskly (or run evenly) in your first journey of the day.
That is coated within the technique guides above, however it’s good to reiterate. When you knock out the principle headliners, you possibly can take the ‘sleep in and go late’ strategy, on subsequent days should you so want–however your first day in every park it’s 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 include technique in addition to evaluations of the sights. There will probably be only a few sights you’ll wish to skip in Tokyo DisneySea, maybe extra in Tokyo Disneyland (the place there are extra clones). Listed here are these guides:
Refurbishments are widespread at Tokyo Disney Resort, so ensure you seek the advice of the 2023 Tokyo Disney Resort Refurbishment Calendar earlier than reserving. It’s good for about 6 months out, so it will not be of a lot assist. Very similar to 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 it will simply cowl the fundamentals. First, for particular eating places, be sure to take a look at our Tokyo Disney Resort Restaurant Evaluations.
We’ve 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 inns 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, however it’s an integral a part of the Tokyo expertise. We’ve posts on Superior Tokyo Disneyland Snacks and Superior Tokyo DisneySea Snacks you could try to get some concepts. Tokyo Disney Resort has some loopy popcorn flavors, and so they’re undoubtedly value attempting so you possibly can type your personal 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 are experiences in themselves.
The Tokyo parks have a fame for small portion sizes and excessive costs, however that’s hit and miss. Parts could be small, however they aren’t at all times. We expect costs are similar 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.
For those who do plan on doing desk service, know that eating places usually are absolutely booked prematurely. Sadly, the one technique to make eating reservations is via the Tokyo Disney Resort web site (in Japanese) or by emailing the resort in case you are staying at a Disney-owned resort.
As talked about above, substitutions should not a ‘factor’ in Tokyo, neither is accommodating these with particular dietary wants or preferences. If you’re a vegetarian, eating within the Tokyo parks will probably be a problem, as there are restricted vegetarian menus. You probably have different restrictions or preferences, you’ll have an much more troublesome time.
Neither of us are vegetarians so we’ve no first hand expertise on this regard, however we’ve heard tales from others. Happily, 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. If you’re a vegetarian, the buffets are your best choice, however vegetarian choices at counter service eating places are beginning to develop into extra widespread.
Purchasing
Merchandise at Tokyo Disney Resort may be very totally 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 gadgets at Tokyo Disney Resort are character-themed or kawaii. Relying upon who you ask, Tokyo both has the most effective or worst merchandise of any Disney vacation spot on the planet.
Our Information to Tokyo Disneyland Merchandise provides you an thought of what to anticipate with the intention to plan accordingly and alter your expectations and finances. It’s value noting that in the previous few 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 increasingly, however it’s undoubtedly an acquired style that isn’t for everybody.
In your arrival or departure day, take into account visiting Ikspiari, which is a eating, procuring, and leisure complicated positioned 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 Purchasing Information to Ikspiari at Tokyo Disney Resort. Observe 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 massive into procuring and wish to do a few of that in Japan, we’d encourage you to take action in Tokyo correct. Actually each main prepare or subway station in Tokyo has an above or underground labyrinth of retail and eating. Highlights could be discovered within the stylish storefronts of Ginza and Roppongi Hills, and the otaku gadgets of Asakusa and Harajuku.
Nevertheless, none of those locations will probably 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 steadily to purchase nice Tokyo Disney Resort collectibles. For more information & suggestions, see our Purchasing Information to Nakano Broadway on our non-Disney weblog, TravelCaffeine.com.
Flights & Transportation
Flights to Tokyo from the USA are 10+ hours, which is a variety of time within the air. Happily, the bigger planes used for these flights are rather more snug than your regular planes used for home flights. Complimentary in-flight leisure (together with the most recent motion pictures and tv exhibits) additionally makes issues simpler.
If you understand your journey dates and don’t have any flexibility as to while you journey, we advocate ITA Software program to seek for flights. ITA is one of the best 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 positioned nearer to the town middle, whereas NRT is (barely) nearer to Tokyo Disney Resort, however farther from downtown.
For those who’re within the preliminary levels of researching your flight, use fare alerts on Airfarewatchdog.com. You possibly can 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 on., however with round-trip airfare out of Los Angeles to Tokyo often within the <$600 vary, your full airfare bundle ought to value below $1,000/individual should you put effort into selecting the best occasions to journey. For those who’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.
If you’re in search of a technique to get extra bang in your buck, you need to use it so as to add stopovers to go to a number of areas. We cowl this in our “Easy methods to Go to 3 Disney Locations on 1 Airfare” put up. It might sound difficult 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 probably the most difficult transportation community. This could come as no shock, because it’s the world’s largest metropolis. Nevertheless, enhancements to Google Maps since we’ve began visiting have made this a breeze. (Google now has crowd predictions for trains at totally different occasions 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 exterior 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. Observe that whereas this bus runs often, 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’s best to most likely have a look at different choices.
For those who’re getting in actually late, the best different is a taxi. These are ready exterior the airport and simple to search out. The draw back is worth. Our understanding is that the price of a taxi to a Tokyo Disney Resort space resort from Narita is $200.
The most affordable different is to make use of public transportation. It’s intimidating at first, as Japan’s public transportation system may be very complicated, 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 wish to take the monorail. It prices cash, however it’s environment friendly, dependable, and clear. (That each one may sound weird to Walt Disney World followers…particularly the “dependable” half!) There are additionally Resort Cruisers, that are buses, which are freed from cost. Simply pay the minor charge for the monorail except you may have 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.
Telephone/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 widespread for mobile suppliers to supply worldwide day passes which are comparably priced to MiFi, so try that.
Renting a SIM card is a good possibility for some folks, however we actually appreciated the MiFi rental for our journeys previous to switching to T-Cell. For these unfamiliar with the machine, it’s principally 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 wish to hire, what number of gadgets, and specify at which airport you’ll wish to choose it up. Right here’s a comparatively cheap and dependable possibility for MiFi rental.
We advocate renting one MiFi per individual in your group, so you possibly can talk should you 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 advocate renting prematurely of your journey. For those who 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 general is de facto dependable. We’ve used it often for iMessage for speaking with each other, e-mail, Dropbox, and even importing to YouTube. Most significantly, having the MiFi gave us the flexibility to make use of Google Maps on our telephones for public transportation, and this was an enormous lifesaver.
There is no such thing as a 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, should you’re going to each.)
Cash/Credit score Playing cards
Tokyo Disney Resort (and most Japanese retailers) accepts customary 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 Specific. (For those who’re attempting 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.)
For those who 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 courtroom, and the opposite is within the foyer of the Tokyo Bay Maihama Lodge Membership Resort (pictured above). For those who’re staying at one of many official inns on the monorail loop, the second location goes to be way more handy to you. Usually, you don’t want to hold money at Tokyo Disney Resort, however you may want it within the metropolis of Tokyo.
Different Assets
For basic journey recommendation to Japan, we’ve one other weblog: TravelCaffeine.com, the place we share our non-Disney experiences. We’ve written extensively about our favourite metropolis on the planet: Kyoto, Japan on TravelCaffeine. Kyoto has one thing for everybody, and presents quite a bit when it comes to Japanese tradition and historical past. As talked about above, our Final Information to Kyoto, Japan additionally offers a wealth of planning data.
For those who’re additionally visiting the Hong Kong or Shanghai parks, be sure 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 must know for these visits!
There’s much more we might embody on this information, however that is already the longest put up on the weblog up to now, so let’s lower it off there. We will certainly add to this based mostly on widespread questions, and I’m very happy to supply help and recommendation within the feedback in case you have questions. Need to see extra pictures 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, once we too have been newbies!
Your Ideas
Planning a visit to Japan is a variety of work, however it’s in the end effectively definitely worth the effort! Hopefully this information offers a superb leaping off level. For those who’ve visited Tokyo Disney Resort, do you agree or disagree with our recommendation? Any questions? Listening to your suggestions–even while you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!