Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea Guide: 6 Things No One Tells You
In 2018, I made a longtime dream come true, and visited Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea (yay, for tax returns and my momentary ability save money). I scoured the internet for tips. Blogs, YouTube videos, Instagram — I looked everywhere for the information I would need to experience Japan’s two Disney parks to the fullest. Although my trip to Tokyo would be two weeks long, I was only going to be in the parks for two days, and I didn’t want to miss a thing.
These trolls were chill.
In the end, I had an amazing trip, full of adorable food, weird troll encounters, and bags and bags of Tokyo Disneyland merchandise that I was able to expertly squeeze into my carry-on (I’m always coming correct with those Tetris packing skills, boy). But there were a few things that I wish I would have known ahead of time. Because I don’t want anyone else to have the same regrets that I do, I put this guide together.
6 Things No One Tells You About Tokyo Disney and DisneySea
1. In the name of all that is holy, if you see something you love, buy it!
I saw this perfect Tokyo Disneyland Resort 35th Anniversary T-shirt when I was at DisneySea. It was my birthday, it was Disneyland’s birthday, and it was a birthday celebration T-shirt. Everything was coming up Amber! But, instead of swooping it up and making that shirt mine, I said, “Oh, well they probably have this at the other park. I’ll just get it tomorrow when I go there.”
Womp womp.
If you don’t already know, a two-day Park Hopper ticket in Tokyo doesn’t allow you to go from one park to the other in the same day. You select which park you want to go to the first day, and then go to the other one on the second day. This is important to note because — of course — they didn’t have the shirt at Tokyo Disneyland. Or, if they did, I wasn’t able to find it. I also didn’t get any Duffy or Gelatoni gear when I was at DisneySea, and then couldn’t find any in all of Japan.
The scoop
Because the Park Hopper isn’t literally a Park Hopper, make sure you get all of your souvenirs by the end of the day. Though there is overlap in the merchandise offered at the parks, there are also unique items that you won’t find — or may have a hard time finding — in both parks. Don’t miss out on that special piece of Disney merch just because you don’t want to haul it around with you. Get a locker, bring a backpack — do whatever you have to do to ward off reverse buyer’s remorse. Most of us don’t have the money to take yearly Japan trips, so don’t pass up any opportunities or experiences that you might regret when you’re on that long flight home.
2. But wait — if you do forget to buy something, there is a store outside the park called Bon Voyage
Have you used up all of the days on your park ticket but need to buy a park souvenir? There is a Disney park merch store just outside the Tokyo Disneyland metro stop where you might be able to find something that you’d forgotten to pick up earlier. The store is called Bon Voyage and it’s basically the Japanese version of the States’ World of Disney.
The scoop
Although there is a wide selection of merchandise, you’re not going to find everything that’s sold in the parks. I don’t think I saw any Duffy stuff there, for instance, and obviously my T-shirt wasn’t there either.
Bonus scoop
If you want that cute Nemo popcorn bucket but don’t want any wasabi and butter popcorn, they sell empty popcorn buckets at Bon Voyage. But beware: This place was filled with super aggressive tourists desperate to snag the latest Disney stuff. I actually got bumped into several times.
Don’t buy the wasabi and butter popcorn.
3. Get a FASTPASS for Pooh’s Hunny Hunt
The more I think about it, the more certain I am — Pooh’s Hunny Hunt is the best Disney attraction there is. Even if I were a strong enough writer to accurately describe the breathtaking experience of twirling around a trackless Hundred Acre Wood in a “hunny” pot car, I wouldn’t want to spoil anything. All I will say is GET A FASTPASS for Pooh’s Hunny Hunt as soon as you get to Disneyland.
The scoop
Before I went to Japan, I read a guide that said that I should get a FASTPASS for Monsters Inc.: Ride & Go Seek as soon as I got into the park. There was an intense line at the FASTPASS kiosk (think Radiator Springs Racers kiosks times ten), but I got the FASTPASS and enjoyed the attraction. I didn’t try to get a FASTPASS for Pooh’s Hunny Hunt until later that morning.
That was a bad move.
The return time wasn’t until late that evening and I wasn’t trying to stay at the park that long, so I ended up just going to the standby line, which took more than two hours. Don’t make this mistake.
As soon as you’re in the park, make a beeline (pun intended) for that Hunny! Just follow all of the other people who are racing towards Fantasyland. The kiosks are located right across from the attraction.
You’re going to want to ride this (at least) two times. So get your FASTPASS and then immediately wait in the standby line.
4. Wear your Disney best
No one Disneys harder than the people at the Tokyo parks. Fans come dressed in these incredible Disney outfits — some clearly DIY’d. Men, women, little children — no one is self-conscious about wearing a giant Hamm hat around all day or bedecking themselves in head-to-toe Disney. I saw so many next-level Disneybounds that I actually felt embarrassed wearing my overalls-gray-shirt ensemble.
The scoop
You don’t have to sew an outfit from scratch or even buy anything new to wear to the park. Ultimately, you should wear whatever you feel most comfortable in. But don’t be afraid or self-conscious about going full Disney. If every article of clothing you have on has Chip ‘n’ Dale on it, you’ll fit right in.
5. Don’t go to the park your first full day in Japan
As a Disney fan, you’re going to want to walk right off the plane and into the park. But unless you’re staying at a nearby hotel and can retreat back to your room when your brain and body crash — and they most certainly will — wait until you’re at least somewhat adjusted to the time difference before you do Disney.
The scoop
Jet lag ain’t no joke. And if you’re coming from the States, you’re going to be crazy sleepy your first couple of days in Japan. If you’re only going to be going to the parks during your trip and not exploring Japan, then I say, just get into it — go have some Disney fun. But if you’re planning a longer trip with excursions in Tokyo or other cities, save Disneyland for later. I went to DisneySea my first day in Japan and I wasn’t able to stay awake past six.
6. Don’t expect to find a restroom when you need one
In the American parks, restrooms seem to magically pop up whenever I require them. But that was not the case in Japan. Trying to find a restroom without a map or without asking a cast member was basically impossible. Once I received directions or located the restroom on the map and tried to make my way over there, I felt like freakin’ Frodo Baggins on a years-long journey to Mordor.
The scoop
There are 16 restrooms in Tokyo Disneyland. Meanwhile, Disneyland has 24 and Magic Kingdom has 27. Those numbers would make sense if Tokyo Disneyland were smaller than Disneyland or Magic Kingdom — but it’s not. Tokyo Disneyland is 115 acres, Magic Kingdom is 105 acres, and Disneyland is a mere 85 acres (as of 2018). All of this means that you shouldn’t “hold it in,” so to speak. If you see a restroom, use it and avoid an emergency later.
My biggest tip for Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea is just to do your research. Make sure you’re getting tips from multiple sources — you want to get a variety of opinions and perspectives on the top park experiences. Once you’ve done your research, make a plan. Seriously. Writing down exactly which attractions you want to ride, which FASTPASSES you want to get, and which snacks are in which park may seem excessive — especially if you’re used to just going with the flow back at your home park. But trust me, you’ll be happy you had a game plan when you see that two-hour standby line for Pooh’s Hunny Hunt.