The pandemic has pushed back the opening of several major theme parks and attractions around Japan, so it’s unsurprising that Tokyo DisneySea has also revised the projected timeline for its upcoming expansion. Originally slated to open in 2023, the theme park’s eighth port – Fantasy Springs – is now projected to open in the spring of 2024. However, with September already on the horizon, this magical debut feels tantalisingly close.
There’s a staggering ¥320 billion budget for the new Northern European-inspired section, which will feature three areas: Frozen Kingdom, Rapunzel’s Forest and Peter Pan’s Neverland. In addition, a new Disney hotel will feature 419 deluxe rooms and 56 luxury rooms with paintings depicting different Disney princesses.
Rapunzel’s Forest, which is based on the movie ‘Tangled’, will have a five-minute-long water ride called Rapunzel’s Lantern Festival. You'll sit on a boat for this ride, and experience the iconic scene from ‘Tangled’, where Rapunzel and Flynn Rider watch the floating lantern festival and fall in love. This area will also have an eatery called The Snuggly Duckling, modelled on the pub featured in the movie.
Needless to say, Frozen Kingdom is inspired by the ‘Frozen’ franchise. The highlight here is also a water-type ride, where you join sisters Anna and Elsa on their journey of discovery. This 6.5-minute boat ride will feature some of the film’s most popular songs. There will also be a restaurant called the Royal Banquet of Arendelle, which will be located inside the Arendelle Castle that’s currently being built inside Fantasy Springs. Additionally, the area will have a small snack shack called Oaken’s OK Foods, named after the owner of the trading post and sauna featured in the original movie.
Finally, there’s Peter Pan’s Never Land, an area where you’ll encounter Peter Pan, Wendy, the Lost Kids and the dastardly pirates. This section will feature two new rides, a restaurant and a pirate ship attraction that you can hop on and explore. The first ride, called Peter Pan’s Never Land Adventure, is where you join the Lost Kids, Peter Pan and Tinker Bell on an adventure through Never Land to rescue John from Captain Hook and his pirates. This six-minute-long adventure is designed to be experienced with 3D goggles. The second ride is called Fairy Tinker Bell’s Busy Buggies. This two-minute experience lets you accompany Tinker Bell as she delivers various parcels to the fairies of Pixie Hollow.
This article was originally published on April 16 2021 and updated on August 28 2023.
More from Time Out
This Kyoto tea plantation offers a matcha afternoon tea with over 30 types of tea
Sale of Pasmo and Suica cards suspended – except those for tourists
This gorgeous jungle resort with infinity pool near Tokyo looks like Bali
Nescafé Harajuku café offers upright pods designed for napping
The iconic Tsutaya at Shibuya Crossing is closing for renovations
Want to be the first to know what’s cool in Tokyo? Sign up to our newsletter for the latest updates from Tokyo and Japan.