Guide to Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea: tickets, fastpasses, fireworks and more

The massive 47-hectare Tokyo Disneyland, opened in 1983, was the first Disney park to open outside of America. While it’s technically in Chiba, the prefecture bordering Tokyo to the east, it’s still easily accessible from the capital. The park is divided into seven areas: World Bazaar, Adventureland, Westernland, Tomorrowland, Critter Country, Toontown and Fantasyland. 

The biggest and most sought-after ride in 2022 is the Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast. The latest attraction in Tokyo Disneyland’s Fantasyland lets guests cruise through key scenes of the ‘Beauty and the Beast’ (1991) while being seated in cup-like vehicles.

Other popular attractions include Big Thunder Mountain, a thrilling roller coaster through the ‘mines’, the log flume Splash Mountain, the Haunted Mansion inspired by ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’, high-speed roller coaster Space Mountain, and Pooh’s Hunny Hunt, where you board a honey pot to help the teddy bear find his favourite treat.

Adjacent to Tokyo Disneyland is the younger but larger sibling Tokyo DisneySea (at 71.22 hectares), which opened in 2001. The park capitalises on its setting by the bay with a maritime theme. It has seven zones: Mediterranean Harbor, American Waterfront, Lost River Delta, Port Discovery, Mermaid Lagoon, Arabian Coast and Mysterious Island. The new extension ‘Fantasy Springs’ is scheduled to open in 2023.

The rides and attractions at Tokyo DisneySea include the carnival-like Toy Story Mania, the Tower of Terror free fall, the high-speed ride through Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Crystal Skull, the roller coaster Journey to the Center of the Earth, and the simulation experience called Soaring: Fantastic Flight.

Pre-Covid, you only had to bring your phone to snap a few photos inside the parks. However, a smartphone is now required to get entry to a number of attractions at both Disneyland and DisneySea. Make sure to download the official Tokyo Disney Resort app (Android/iOS) prior to your visit. You’ll need it to get a Standby Pass, Entry Request or Disney Premier Access. Plus, you can also check the waiting times for each attraction.

Some of the rides are so popular that waiting time can take up to two hours, especially on weekends and holidays. Pre-Covid, the solution to shorten waiting times was the so-called Fastpass. However, this system has been upgraded with three new options to allow you to skip the lines. 

Standby Passes are implemented during peak periods (e.g. Halloween, Christmas) for highly popular attractions and souvenir shops. Upon entering the park, you can open the Disney Resort app and choose a time to enter the attraction or shop. To find out which venue currently requires a Standby Pass, see here. We recommend arriving early as time slots of the Standby Passes could be fully booked later in the day.

The Entry Request, on the other hand, is a lottery-based system to enjoy character greetings and shows. Open the Tokyo Disney Resort app to see which events and shows require an Entry Request at the moment. After you’ve picked a time slot of your choice, you’ll be immediately notified if you were able to win entry or not. Note that you can only make one Entry Request per day for each eligible attraction. 

Tokyo Disney Resort has introduced Disney Premier Access, a new service that guarantees access to three of its most popular rides: Tokyo Disneyland’s Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast as well as DisneySea’s Soaring: Fantastic Flight and Toy Story Mania. However, you’ll need to pay an additional ¥2,000 per person per ride, on top of park entry. Note that a credit card is required to make the purchase. If you don’t have a smartphone or a credit card, you can obtain Disney Premier Access at Tokyo Disneyland’s Main Street House and DisneySea’s Guest Relations.

When visiting in a group, register all entry tickets through QR codes in the app. This way, you’ll be able to make the bookings for all members in the group at the same time and you can enjoy them together.  

The seasonally changing parades and shows are a big highlight at both parks. Over at Disneyland, the main parades traverse through a large part of the park, whereas DisneySea holds its show over water – on boats and special stages.

Also, don’t leave the parks too early in the evening as there’s a daily five-minute fireworks display (subject to weather conditions; check the schedule on the day of your visit).

The parks are generally less crowded in the summer due to the extreme heat and humidity. Halloween season from mid-September to October 31, however, is especially popular. Expect spooky decorations at every corner, and you're encouraged to dress up as your favourite Disney characters.

Look out for the Disney character greetings. They are usually held inside each of the characters’ homes and during the characters’ walkabouts. You can line up and have your photo taken with them by a professional photographer – both with your own phone and the photographer's SLR camera. For the latter, you can pick up your beautifully framed photo for a small fee at a shop near the park entrance. Note that some character greetings may require an Entry Request.

Both Disney parks feature a variety of eateries and food options, from buffets and set meals to quick snacks on the go. If you pay a little extra, your meal or drink even comes with a Disney souvenir, such as a plate or small mug. Some restaurants can get very crowded with waiting times exceeding two hours, so make an online reservation for one of the more popular restaurants prior to your visit. 

For couples, we recommend the restaurant Blue Bayou in Tokyo Disneyland, which is set inside the quieter part of the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction. It has a romantic atmosphere, with many lanterns to accompany your candlelight dinner. Tokyo DisneySea, on the other hand, lets you dine inside a replica of the old steam-powered ocean liner SS Columbia; its regal interior is reminiscent of the opulent days of sea travel.

Want to bring home more than just the memories? The seasonal and limited-edition souvenirs and merchandise are extremely popular, some of which sell out in just the first couple of days after their release.

Fret not, this being Disney, there is always something to buy. Near the park entrance, the gift shops are organised according to category, ie snacks, kitchenware, toys etc. Those adjacent to attractions or rides stock goods and merchandise related to the theme or movie franchise of which the attraction is based on.

If you’re overwhelmed with the selection, the gift sets in particular are of good value as they consist of up to six pens, note pads and/or key chains – all practical items you can use in your everyday life (or divide up among friends and family).

Note that some shops may require a Standby Pass.

To enjoy the day without being weighed down by bags, you can also shop for all souvenirs through the Disney Resort App. Only park visitors have access to Tokyo Disney Resort’s exclusive online store. You can even do all your shopping in the evening on your way home as purchase is available until 11.45pm on the day of your park visit.

Tickets have been divided into four categories with prices based on the season and the day of the week. They are more pricey on Saturday, Sunday, national holidays and peak periods such as Halloween and Christmas.

Price categories:

One-day pass

• Adults: ¥7,900, ¥8,400, ¥8,900, ¥9,400
• Children aged 12-17: ¥6,600, ¥7,000, ¥7,400, ¥7,800
• Children aged 4-11: ¥4,700, ¥5,000, ¥5,300, ¥5,600

Admission from 10.30am

• Adults: ¥7,400, ¥7,900, ¥8,400, ¥8,900
• Children aged 12-17: ¥6,200, ¥6,600, ¥7,000, ¥7,400
• Children aged 4-11: ¥4,400, ¥4,700, ¥5,000, ¥5,300

Admission from 12noon

• Adults ¥6,900, ¥7,400, ¥7,900, ¥8,400
• Children aged 12-17: ¥5,800, ¥6,200, ¥6,600, ¥7,000
• Children aged 4-11: ¥4,100, ¥4,400, ¥4,700, ¥5,000

On a budget? There are some noteworthy discounts if you’re not planning to spend the whole day at the parks. On weekends and holidays, the Early Evening Passport allows entry from 3pm for ¥6,500-¥7,400 (children aged 12-17 ¥5,300-¥6,200, children aged 4-11 ¥3,800-¥4,400), depending on the season. During weekdays, there’s the ¥4,500-¥5,400 Weeknight Passport instead, which is valid from 5pm. Don’t worry; you’ll have plenty of time (until 9pm) to explore most of the park, but do note that Standby Passes, lottery tickets and Disney Premier Access may not be available anymore.

Tickets have to be purchased in advance. They go on sale on the official website every Wednesday from 2pm for the same day two months ahead. You can also buy tickets in person at the Disney flagship store in Shinjuku and a few other Disney Stores in the Kanto area. You could also get them at convenience store ticket machines, but the process isn't very straightforward – especially if you don't speak Japanese.

You can reach Tokyo Disney Resort via the Keiyo line from Tokyo Station. Get off at Maihama Station and it’s only a five-minute walk from there; otherwise, hop onto the Disney Resort Line at the station. There are also direct buses departing from all major train stations in Tokyo (Shinjuku, Akihabara, Ikebukuro, Tokyo).

For the ultimate Disney experience, stay at one of the five official hotels in and around the parks. The Disney Ambassador Hotel is inspired by the golden age of Hollywood, with plenty of Art Deco elements. The Tokyo Disneyland Hotel at the entrance of Disneyland features Disney movie-themed rooms, such as ‘Cinderella’, ‘Tinker Bell’, ‘Alice in Wonderland’ and ‘Beauty and the Beast’. Tokyo DisneySea Hotel Miracosta, on the other hand, is the only accommodation set inside DisneySea, with rooms overlooking the park, of course. 

Considering that the cheapest rooms at the aforementioned hotels start at ¥37,000 (per person per night), it’s good to know that there are two more options that are more affordable. Located in Shin-Urayasu, just one stop from Maihama Station, the Tokyo Disney Celebration Hotel may be a bit more casual but you’ll still get Disney movie-themed rooms, with rates starting from ¥19,500 per person per night. There’s also the highly-popular Tokyo Disney Resort Toy Story Hotel, which is inspired by the Disney and Pixar Toy Story films and opened in April 2022. Hotels that are not directly in front of the parks offer shuttle services. 

Your Disney hotel stay comes with a great privilege: you’ll be able to enter the parks 15 minutes earlier, which means you can easily get on some of the most popular attractions without lining up, and reserve and apply for the special tickets via the app before everyone else. Happy Entry to both parks is available for guests of the Disney Ambassador Hotel and Tokyo DisneySea Hotel MiraCosta. Guests who stay at the Tokyo Disneyland Hotel, Tokyo Disney Resort Toy Story Hotel or Tokyo Disney Celebration Hotel, on the other hand, will only have early access to Tokyo Disneyland.

Note that Happy Entry is not available at Tokyo DisneySea on November 7 & 10-14 2022 as well as January 17 & 25 2023.

The hotels are very popular, so ideally you should book at least six months in advance.