If you are dreaming of a trip to Tokyo, you should consider visiting the Disney parks there. I know what you are thinking! Why in the world would someone want to visit a Disney park in Tokyo when you can do that at home? There are five reasons why I think Tokyo Disney is magical and should be added to everyone’s Tokyo itinerary. For more itinerary suggestions, see our related posts 3 Terrific Days in Tokyo, 5 Terrific Reasons to Vacation in Tokyo, and Tips and Tricks for a Totally Terrific Tokyo Vacation.
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Tokyo DisneySea is Unique
The primary reason visiting Tokyo Disney is a priority is to experience the one-of-a-kind DisneySea park. There are two parks that make up the Tokyo Disney Resort, Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea. Tokyo Disneyland is pretty much a carbon copy of Disneyland in California. The main difference is that it features Cinderella’s castle identical to Disney World in Florida. But there is nothing like Tokyo DisneySea! It’s a completely unique theme park.
Ports of Call
Tokyo DisneySea celebrates the mythical aspects of the sea. It is targeted towards an older audience but appeals to all ages. DisneySea has seven lands referred to as ports of call. Mediterranean Harbor is themed after an Italian port town. It feels like you are in Venice as you enjoy a gondola ride through the canal. Except your gondolier is Japanese. But he will still sing to you in Italian! Mysterious Island features the park’s main icon, a volcano that erupts periodically. Inside the volcano is a ride called Journey to the Center of the Earth that has no comparison in other Disney parks.
Mermaid Lagoon is an adorably whimsical building. It features an underground playground for children. Arabian Coast brings to life the tale of 1001 Arabian Nights. It is home to a unique dark ride called Sindbad’s Storybook Voyage. Plus, it has the most adorable double-decker Caravan Carousel featuring the Genie from Aladdin as some of the ride vehicles!
The Lost River Delta takes you to Central America. You can explore an ancient temple pyramid and experience thrilling rides. There’s a Indiana Jones ride here which is similar but superior to California Disneyland’s version. There’s also a unique roller coaster called Raging Spirits. Port Discovery focuses on the seas of the future. A highlight is the unique Aquatopia, a trackless water ride with self-propelled bumper boats.
Finally, the American Waterfront is reminiscent of 20th century New England harbor towns. It is extremely visually compelling with the S.S. Columbia steam liner docked in the background. I think the best part of the American Waterfront is the Teddy Roosevelt Lounge. Located inside the Columbia, it’s an incredibly relaxing place to take a break!
Tokyo Disneyland is a Must for Disney Fans
Even though it is very similar to Disneyland in other countries, Disney fans will enjoy visiting Tokyo Disney’s version. It is a bit surreal to step inside a familiar theme park but notice subtle differences that let you know that you aren’t where you think you are! One of the first things you will notice is that Tokyo Disneyland’s version of Main Street USA, called World Bazaar, is covered with a glass roof. This is due to Japan’s unpredictable weather. It is quite pleasant to stroll through the shops without being subjected to torrential downpours or blazing sun like in Florida or California!
Similar but Different Rides & Experiences
You will recognize most attractions at Tokyo Disneyland. However, you will notice several are very different than their US counterparts. For example, Pooh’s Hunny Hut features trackless ride vehicles for it’s take on a Winnie the Pooh dark ride. I find the Pooh ride at Disneyland in California and Disney World in Florida very ho-hum. But the trackless vehicle technology makes this silly ride a bit more thrilling and unexpected. You will have a different experience each time you ride! Similarly, the Tokyo Disneyland Monster’s Inc. Ride & Go Seek is extremely different from the Monster’s Inc. dark ride in Disney California Adventure. In this ride, you shine flashlights on Monster Inc.’s Boo character when you spot her. It’s interactive and super cute!
Another fun difference is the tour inside Cinderella’s castle. In Disney World Florida, the only entrance to the castle is by booking Cinderella’s Royal Table restaurant and paying for a very expensive meal. Disneyland has a cute walkthrough of Sleeping Beauty Castle that tells you the story of the princess through dioramas. In Tokyo Disneyland, Cinderella’s Fairy Tale Hall is inside her castle, complete with photo opportunities. You can sit in Cindy’s throne, try on her glass slipper (alas, it didn’t fit my American-sized feet), and see light effects on backgrounds when you use your camera flash.
Similar but Different Shows
We also truly enjoyed the familiar shows with some unfamiliar elements. The Enchanted Tiki Room features the alien Stitch and Hawaiian music in addition to the animatronic birds, flowers and Tiki gods. The Country Bear Jamboree features the same songs, but some are in Japanese and some are in English. It was quite entertaining! The parades were superior as well, if only because the audience sits to view them. It’s quite easy to enjoy a parade when you aren’t jostling for view! There’s an afternoon parade and a evening parade, and we easily found spots to sit 30 minutes before each started.
Adorable Food & Merch
Mickey Bread with Cream Cheese & Blueberry Jam, Chocolate, and Strawberry Filling & Mike Wazowski Melon Bread
Snacks
Perhaps the most magical reason I recommend visiting Tokyo Disney is to try the absolutely adorable food and merchandise they sell! I had entire list of snacks I wanted to try during our trip, as well as must-do visits to various restaurants and lounges on property. While I enjoy the snacks and restaurants at Disney World and Disneyland, nothing quite compares to what is offered at Tokyo Disney! These photos show just a few of the cute snacks we tried. Not only was this food adorable, it was also delicious!
Restaurants & Lounges
We also ate in the cutest restaurants! We had lunch at the Queen of Hearts Banquet Hall where we enjoyed Alice in Wonderland themed food in a beautifully themed environment. Our favorite thing was the “Happy Unbirthday” cake suitable for everyday of the year but your birthday! We also enjoyed a meal at the Jules Verne themed café called Vulcania. Here we shared the Pixar special that featured a Max Wazowski dumpling and a Monster’s Inc. dessert. We had various snacks throughout the park, and we also enjoyed some appetizers at two themed lounges. Our favorite is the Teddy Roosevelt Lounge located inside the Columbia. But we also enjoyed Magellan’s Lounge for the unique atmosphere rather than the food. This is yet another beautifully themed restaurant decorated with motifs of explorers’ and adventurers’ quests to discover the world.
Merchandise
We also spent more time browsing through the shops at Tokyo Disney than we do when we visit it’s American counterparts. The merchandise at Tokyo Disney is the cutest Disney stuff I have ever seen. And there’s so much variety! Do you need a Mickey Mouse soap dispenser? You can get one. How about a Goofy toothbrush? Check! There’s even a Genie gravy boat available. This tempted me greatly but I didn’t buy it. I was at the beginning of a two week trip and didn’t want to lug it around! In the end, we only bought Dalmatian puppy dog headbands. This was so that we could join the Tokyo Disney “twin” trend on our second day in the parks.
Japanese Efficiency, Service & Respect
One of the best things about visiting Japan is its efficiency. Trains run on time. No one is ever late. Queues are orderly. Everyone goes above and beyond to insure that the collective experience is excellent. This happens even if it is at the cost of the individual’s experience. You will see this time and time again visiting Tokyo Disney. Park staff are friendly, fun, and will bend over backwards to help you. We had several seek us out during our trip. They wanted to welcome us and make sure we were having a good time.
You will also notice the parks are pristine. Popcorn is a big thing at Tokyo Disney, and we had to try it. After purchasing it, we took our popcorn in line for a ride. Then we accidentally dropped it. Etiquette in Japan dictates that you clean up your own spills. We started to, but realized that we only had our half-full popcorn container to put the dirty popcorn in. We still wanted to eat the remaining popcorn. So we abandoned the effort. Regardless, the popcorn was cleaned up by the time we looped around the queue once. And we felt like arrogant Americans!
Other guests are awesome, too. As mentioned above, they sit down for parades so that people behind them can see. There aren’t any kids sitting on adults’ shoulders here! They wait patiently in line. They leave tables where they eat cleaner than they found them. And they are more than happy to help you if they can.
Experience Japanese Culture in a Familiar Setting
Most Americans have a connection with Disney. We grew up watching Disney movies, singing Disney songs, and visiting Disney theme parks. It’s easy to consider Disney distinctly “American.” That is, until you visit a Disney park outside of America!
It’s extremely interesting to experience a different culture in a familiar setting. You see how locals may dress differently. They may interact with characters in unexpected ways. They may value different things than a typical American. For example, when visiting Tokyo Disney, it is not unusual for Japanese people of all ages to dress alike as their favorite Disney character. “Twinning” is big in Tokyo, particularly at the Disney parks!
It’s also not unusual to see grown Japanese men and women toting around plush Disney characters. And don’t just think they have one or two. Sometimes they have several stuffed friends with them! Even better, there are special photo spots marked around the park for people to take pictures of their stuffed friends. These plushies are often dressed in special outfits for the occasion. It is crazy to see so much Disney merchandise entering the park, and even more leaving!
But what’s best about experiencing a different culture through a familiar lens is the feeling that we are all humans with similar hopes and dreams. We all enjoy fun rides, delicious snacks, and interesting merchandise. But most of all, we love making special memories with family and friends.
Tips for Visiting Tokyo Disney
Now that I’ve convinced you to visit Tokyo Disney during your trip to Japan, here are my top tips:
- Allow at least two days to see both parks. If you only have one day, spend it at Tokyo DisneySea. If you have three days, spend one at Disneyland and the other two at DisneySea. And four days isn’t too many, if you have that kind of time!
- Stay at a resort near Tokyo Disney. We stayed at the Hilton Tokyo Bay on the Disney Monorail loop. It was perfect! There’s also a new moderately priced Disney Toy Story Hotel located right next to the Hilton which looks super fun.
- Monitor wait times for rides in advance on on the Tokyo Disney Resort app. This will give you a sense of peak times for lines. Just remember to factor in the time zone change. This is also a helpful tool when you are in the park.
- Take advantage of tools on the TDR Explorer website. The site features planning tools, articles, suggestions, a e-book available for purchase, and a podcast.
- Search for Tokyo Disney Vlogs on YouTube. These will give you a feel for the parks, what’s similar and different, and generally inspire you to go!
Have you visited a Disney park outside of the US?
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