This Tokyo Disneyland itinerary is based on my own experience staying off property and my own preferences – feel free to tweak and edit my recommendations to best fit your plans/interests. Note: It will not include “Happy 15” (where resort hotel guests can enter the park 15 minutes before official park opening) since I have never done it myself, and will not include EVERY attraction and show available.
That being said, I hope you still find this information helpful when planning your park day and feel free to let me know what you think! Here we go!
10/3/23: I’ve added some information about Tokyo Disney Resort 40th Anniversary Priority Pass but will not explicitly mention using it in this post. If you see rides that qualify, definitely prioritize getting an anniversary pass for popular rides (ie. Pooh’s Hunny Hunt) as soon as you enter the parks!
THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND
- Standby Pass: Gives you a return time to utilize at specific locations (think virtual queues) when there’s high traffic
- Includes select shops and restaurants, but currently unavailable for attractions until further notice
- Entry Request: This is the infamous lottery system of Tokyo Disney Resort where you can request specific character greets or showtimes for you and your party
- Shows:
- Mickey’s Magical Music World (recommended)
- Club Mouse Beat
- Jamboree Mickey! Let’s Dance!
- Shows:
- Disney Premier Access: Paid fastpasses (think individual Lightning Lane attractions) that can be purchased one at a time for attractions and/or shows (incl. parades) with a range of times to pick from
- Ranges from ¥1,500 to ¥2,500 ($11-$19)
- Attractions:
- Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast¥2,000 ($15)
- The Happy Ride with Baymax ¥1,500 ($11)
- Splash Mountain ¥1,500 ($11)
- Parade/Show:
- Disney Harmony in Color ¥2,500 ($19)
- Tokyo Disneyland Electrical Parade Dreamlights ¥2,500 ($19)
- Tokyo Disney Resort 40th Anniversary Priority Pass: Free fastpasses for limited select attractions and/or shows with set times
- Note: You can book another pass 120 minutes later or after the start time of your last pass, whichever is earlier
- Attractions in order of priority:
- Pooh’s Hunny Hunt
- Haunted Mansion
- Monster Inc. Ride & Go Seek!
- Big Thunder Mountain
- Space Mountain
- Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters
- Star Tours: The Adventure Continues
PREPARATION
- Purchase tickets and reserve your park days via Tokyo Disney Resort directly or through third party sites such as Klook if you’re having payment issues with TDR
- I’ve personally used Klook since 2017 for Tokyo Disney tickets and never had an issue. You’re welcome to use my code “WEITOMAGIC” to save 5% off a minimum purchase of $50.
- Check for attraction closures
- Chris (aka TDR Explorer), one of my favorite TDR resources, has a great summary of all 2023 attraction closures for Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySEA
- Download the official Tokyo Disney Resort app and take time to explore it so you know where to find things (park map, Standby Pass, Entry Request, Premier Access, etc)
- Print your tickets so they’re easier to scan at the park gates and onto your Tokyo Disney Resort app
- Go to Daiso and buy a foldable mat to sit on while you wait for the parade shows (super common at TDR and they usually have a bunch of cute Disney designs)
- Eat breakfast!!
- On the way to Maihama station, stop by your favorite Japanese convenience store such as 7-Eleven, Family Mart, Lawson, or New Days for breakfast and other snacks for your park day
- There is also a New Days at Maihama station but it will be packed and busy
- My recommendations: salmon or tuna mayonnaise onigiri
MORNING
Rise and shine! It’s time for Tokyo Disneyland! Whether it’s your first time or your millionth time, you want to get to the parks bright and early to beat the crowds. Trust me, they take it seriously here!
- Arrive at the parks at least one hour before park opening ( 2 hours on the weekends)
- As soon as you’re scanned at the gates, open your Tokyo Disney Resort app and book a Premier Access pass for Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast for a later time in the day (shoot for evening/sunset)
- If you’re having trouble linking your park ticket to your app, head to Main Street House (aka guest relations at the front of the park, before you enter World Bazaar, on the LEFT side) and they can help you book Premier Access passes, as well as any lottery entries. And don’t worry about the language barrier! They have signs and digital translators on hand to help communicate
- Note: You have to wait ONE HOUR before booking your next Premier Access attraction
- Once you have your first Premier Access, start walking to Pooh’s Hunny Hunt and get in line while you do your Entry Passes
- Try to pick a showtime that’s earlier in the day or mid-day
- My recommendation: Mickey’s Magical Music World
- If you are unable to get an entry request for the show of your choice, the first showtime is ALWAYS non-lottery and is first come, first serve
- Mickey’s Magical Music World (recommended) 10:50AM
- Club Mouse Beat 11:35AM
- Jamboree Mickey! Let’s Dance! 10:40AM
- Note: First showtime is subject to change so please check the TDR app for the latest schedule!
- After Pooh’s Hunny Hunny, it’s showtime aka an hour before the show! Headover to the stage between Enchanted Tales of Beauty and the Beast and Tomorrowland to go queue for the first showing of Mickey’s Magical Music World!!
- If you have time, feel free to stop and watch Happy Ride with Baymax – it’s so cute, especially if Cast Members and guests are dancing
- Enjoy Mickey’s Magical Music World!
- Note the following will be enforced once you enter the theater:
- No video or photos allowed
- No eating or drinking
- All hats and ears must be taken off
- Ps. I loved this show so much and I cried..pls tell me if you cried too or if it was just me LOL
- Note the following will be enforced once you enter the theater:
- By the end of the show (11:25AM), you should be able to book your next Premier Access for Happy Ride with Baymax AT NIGHT (trust) if it’s still available. Then, you make your way to Monsters Inc. Hide & Go Ride to queue
- Note: If the queue is over 40 minutes, skip it for another ride with a shorter wait time of your choosing in the area or grab an early lunch
AFTERNOON
Was our morning packed? Yes! Are we still gonna keep going? Another yes! Our big focus for the afternoon is the new parade, Disney Harmony in Color, that’s celebrating Tokyo Disneyland’s 40th Anniversary!
- After Monsters Inc. Hide & Go Ride or whichever ride you decide to go on, it’s time to prep for Disney Harmony in Color
- Because it’s a brand new parade, you can anticipate other guests saving their spots hours in advance of showtime. If you want an unobscured view of the floats and dancers, I recommend finding a spot along the parade route at least 1-2 hours before the show
- Get lunch, snacks, drinks, whatever you need to keep you occupied as you wait!
- Tomorrowland Food Rec’s: Pan Galactic Pizza Port or Plazma Ray’s
- Tomorrowland Snack/Drink Rec’s: Soy Sauce & Butter Popcorn, Alien Mochi, Baymax Sparking Jelly Drink
- If you have others in your party, you can switch off who saves your spot and who go shop/browse the stores on Main St
- Note: If you’re bringing food/drinks to your parade spot, don’t worry about finding a garbage can when you’re done! There will be Cast Members walking the parade route before it starts to collect any trash from guests
- Enjoy Disney Harmony in Color!
- Note: If you’re seated on the floor in the front, you’ll likely remain seated for the entire parade unless otherwise directed by Cast Members
- Once the parade is over, it’s attraction and exploration time!
- If it’s still available, you can also use this time to purchase your next and last Premier Access pass for Splash Mountain. This is completely optional! I personally skipped this ride when I was at TDL
- Recommended Attractions:
- Big Thunder Mountain (the view from the queue is amazing)
- It’s A Small World (worth the queue)
- Explore Toontown
- Jungle Carnival (¥700 carnival game with guaranteed prizes that are a great and cheap souvenir)
- Shop in the World Bazaar
- Coin lockers are also available at the front of the park if you need a place to store your purchases but they are a one time use and ends when you reopen the locker
EVENING
We’re winding down for the evening but the Tokyo Disneyland fun doesn’t end yet! Now is a great opportunity to do last minute shopping or get on multiple rides while wait times are shorter!
- Hopefully by now, your return time for Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast is ready and you can now make your way to the ride
- Note: Get your cameras ready because the Premier Access line will take you straight into the Beast’s Castle and into the stunning world of Beauty and the Beast! The entrance is a great opportunity for videos that pan towards or up to the castle
- When the sun starts to set, this is also a great time for castle photos or photos in general
- If you’re at the castle, the front center will likely be crowded with other guests, though you could find some spots where it’s clear
- Recommendations
- Go to the left side of the castle where there is a bridge towards Westernland, and take your photos there (see the cover photo of this blog post for a reference)
- Go to the very front of the castle, towards the right side and take your photos along the banister at an angle
- Once photos are wrapped up, grab dinner as you make your way to watch Tokyo Disneyland Electrical Parade Dreamlights at 7PM
- Recommended: Captain Cook’s Galley an hour before showtime
- Their seating is right along the parade route and you can sit and eat as you watch all the floats light up the night
- Recommended: Captain Cook’s Galley an hour before showtime
- Alternatively, you can skip the parade and continue the night with more rides/attractions or shopping
- Recommended Attractions
- Whatever was listed before that hasn’t been done yet
- Cinderella’s Fairy Tale Hall (the end has multiple photo ops including a throne)
- Haunted Mansion
- Pirates of the Caribbean
- Recommended Attractions
- Finally, end your night with Happy Ride with Baymax with its music and pretty lights!
- I absolutely love this ride at night and think it’s worth saving to the end of the day if you’re able to get return time for then
- Note: If you’re unable to get Premier Access for Happy Ride with Baymax, I recommend going earlier in the day as most guests will be going to this ride at night
ADDITIONAL TIPS
- If you’re going solo, you can still get your IG photos! Although it’s not common, Japanese people are very nice about helping you take photos—especially if you’re able to help them take one too! I usually offer to take photos of people who are trying to take a group selfie and in return, get a photo of myself as well. “Isshoni?” “Shashin o totte dekimasu ka?”
- Buy postcards and stamps at the beginning of the day so you can write them as you wait for rides/shows. You’ll be able to drop them off in a mailbox on your way out in World Bazaar and TDR will put a special ink stamp on your postcard before sending them out for you
- The fireworks, if any, only last a few minutes so I wouldn’t recommend going to it late!
- If you have a lot of stuff or went shopping early, lockers are available at the front of the park to the right or left (before entering the World Bazaar)
- Some food places and snack carts close as early as 6PM! Keep an eye on your hunger while at the park—especially towards the end of the night!
- Shopping at the end of the night is doable but isn’t recommended. The shops in the World Bazaar get incredibly crowded (think shoulder to shoulder) so it’s hard to browse and navigate
- If you forgot a souvenir after exiting the park, you might have some luck at Bon Voyage on your way back to the train station (their version of World of Disney)
CLOSING THOUGHTS
If you made it this far, thank you so much for reading! I know it was a lot of information but I hope it helps you in planning your own Tokyo Disneyland trip! Stay tuned for more Tokyo Disney and other park-related posts!
For the latest updates, follow me on Instagram!
Stay Magical,
Eri
Leave a Reply