You might be thinking, “Tokyo Disney Resort sounds amazing, but isn’t it super expensive and hard to get to?” Well, you might be surprised! Japan is a very accessible country, and exploring a different side of Disney is more achievable than you might think.
When is the Best Time to Visit Tokyo Disney Resort?
Let’s talk about the best time to visit! While we’re focusing on Disney, if you want to explore Japan, autumn is a great time to see the beautiful cherry blossoms and experience the changing colors of the leaves. Plus, the temperature is perfect for most travelers.
September and October can be a bit unpredictable weather-wise, with some high winds and rain. But if you’re a fan of Halloween, those downsides might be worth it to experience one of the resort’s most beloved festivals.
July and August are extremely crowded and hot, with the parks often at capacity and high humidity. If you dislike long queues and sweating, these are months to avoid.
May and June are still warm, but less crowded, so they’re a good option if you must travel during the summer.
March to April tend to be very busy, especially towards the end of April during Golden Week.
February is similar to March, with cool weather and snow possible in early February.
The least crowded days are in mid-January, after the Christmas season. It’ll be cold, but you’ll have a peaceful and quiet park experience.
November and December offer lower crowd numbers and pleasant temperatures, making them a good option for a visit. Our guide itinerary is based on a real booking and can be used as an example for a generally good time of year to visit.
Tokyo Disney Resort: Disneyland and DisneySea
Tokyo Disney Resort is located just outside of Tokyo in Urayasu (Tokyo Bay) and has two separate parks: Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea. These parks are Japan’s most visited theme parks, drawing in millions of visitors each year.
Tokyo Disneyland is your classic Disney style park, with Cinderella Castle at its center and six immersive lands, including their version of Main Street USA called World Bazaar (perfect for those rainy days). It features many beloved attractions like Space Mountain (currently being reimagined), Pirates of the Caribbean, and It’s A Small World, as well as unique Tokyo-only attractions like the Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast and the Happy Ride with Baymax.
Tokyo DisneySea is unlike any other Disney park in the world, with nautical themes inspired by stories from the sea. The Tower of Terror here has a completely different storyline to its counterparts, with a more mystical adventure rather than the traditional Twilight Zone theme. Tokyo DisneySea also boasts the newest and most advanced land expansion of any Disney resort in the world, Fantasy Springs, which is the eighth port in this park. This new realm features three lands dedicated to the movies of Tangled, Frozen, and Peter Pan, with four state-of-the-art attractions, exclusive merchandise, themed dining experiences, and a luxurious new hotel.
The Fantasy Springs Hotel is only the second accommodation in the world found physically inside a Disney theme park, after the Hotel MiraCosta (which is also at Tokyo DisneySea).
Your Dream Tokyo Disney Resort Holiday
First things first, this itinerary is just an idea for visiting Tokyo Disney Resort. Everything can be changed, amended, added to, and explored in a million different ways to fit your budget and dream holiday.
This package includes flights from the UK (London Heathrow), but we can also include flights from anywhere in the world in your own currency. Just request a quote. The price quoted is based on live pricing, so it’s subject to change. It’s simply designed to give you an idea of what the costs could be. Your package may cost more or less depending on what you want included.
We also want to mention that booking a trip to Tokyo Disney Resort can only be done 11 months out from your preferred departure date, as most flights, hotels, and tickets won’t be available before then. We never quote for holiday elements that are not bookable or offer quotes based on guesses.
It’s worth noting that Tokyo Disney Resort hotels are currently only available to book 3-4 months out from an arrival date, and generally for a maximum of 5 nights. However, there are many excellent off-site hotels around Tokyo Disney Resort that offer great value and are only steps away from the parks. We have based the itinerary below on these off-site alternatives, which can help you discover the magic of Tokyo Disney Resort while keeping costs down.
Other expenses not included in this itinerary are:
- Visa costs (depending on your passport)
- Food and drinks
- Merchandise
- Additional sightseeing options
Making the Most of Your Tokyo Disney Resort Experience
While economy can be the cheaper travel option, you might want to upgrade to premium economy for your outbound and return journeys. These are very long flights, and the extra leg room and comfortable seating are a blessing (trust me, it’s worth the extra expense). Plus, with premium economy, you generally get access to an airport lounge for a little pre-flight champagne (or soft drink if you prefer). With this flight, you’ll be taking off one day and landing the following day due to crossing international date lines.
Hilton Tokyo Bay Hotel, the official hotel of Tokyo Disney Resort, is located on the eastern shore of Tokyo Bay. It offers spacious rooms with ocean or Disney Resort views and features five restaurants, plus an indoor and outdoor pool. Bayside Monorail Station on the Disney Resort Line is just a five-minute walk or one-minute shuttle ride away, and goes directly to Tokyo Disneyland, Tokyo DisneySea, and Ikspiari (the Tokyo Disney Resort version of Disney Springs).
Disney Hotel Upgrade: You may want to consider upgrading to either the Tokyo Disneyland Hotel, Tokyo DisneySea Fantasy Springs Hotel, Tokyo DisneySea MiraCosta, Tokyo Ambassador Hotel, Tokyo Celebration Hotel, and the Tokyo Disney Resort Toy Story Hotel when they go on sale (generally around 3 months out from arrival).
Tokyo Disney Resort does not operate a park-hopping option, so we recommend 3 days at Tokyo Disneyland and 3 days at Tokyo DisneySea. These are two very large parks with lots to see and do.
Planning Your Dining and Park Entry
It’s worth getting to know the various dining locations at Tokyo Disney Resort, from the table service options to quick service dining, via the official park app. Then make a plan of where you’d like to eat each day. Some places may need advanced reservations, and others will be quick service locations where you queue up and wait.
- Tokyo Disney Resort app: Opens 30 days prior to your desired dining date. Available on the Apple App Store & Google Play Stores.
Link your park tickets ahead of arrival to save time on-site. Most of the app features won’t work until you are in the resort and scanned through the gates. Scan your tickets at the gates via your mobile device to gain entry, then we highly recommend staying on the app and, before doing anything else, reserving your free standby passes & priority passes, requesting show access (lottery), and purchasing any paid premier access attractions. While you may begrudge paying to access rides, you will thank us for this advice when you see just how long some of the most popular attraction queues can be. Worth every penny! The app will give you times to which you can return and secure further passes, so make sure to take note and be ready to reserve your next batches. These options go fast and once gone, they are gone. The show request lottery system you can only do once a day and is incredibly difficult to secure, however our understanding is the app will allow you at least one during your stay to access one of these shows via the lottery, assuming you have linked all your tickets ahead of time.
Budgeting for Your Tokyo Disney Resort Adventure
- We recommend having about JPY¥20,500 (£100) in cash.
- Use your credit card inside Tokyo Disney Resort for many purchases (including food). Small food carts and monorail tickets are cash only.
- Monorail day pass: JPY¥700 (£3.45)
- Once you go into each city, it’s hit or miss if shops accept credit cards. Extra Tip: Always choose local currency when paying by credit card to potentially avoid foreign transaction fees. (Check with your credit card provider first). Always good to save a little extra off those merchandise purchase costs when you visit Tokyo Disney Resort on your next big adventure.
