While planning our Japan trip, we knew we just had to experience the magic of Tokyo DisneySea. It’s the only one of its kind, with a unique water-themed twist on Disney magic. Whether you’re 6 or 26, the enchantment is real. 🥹 To make the most of your day in the park, good planning is key. We’re excited to share our ultimate guide to Tokyo DisneySea, packed with tips and tricks from our own memorable adventure!
Disclaimer
Since we visited Tokyo DisneySea before Fantasy Springs opened, this blog post doesn’t include any information about Fantasy Springs.
Before your actual visit
Buy tickets in advance
First things first: get your tickets early! Try to plan your visit for a less busy day. You might be wondering how to figure this out ahead of time. Well, there are websites that predict crowded days based on past wait times throughout the year! We checked this Tokyo DisneySea Crowd Calendar to find the best day for our Tokyo visit. That’s how we ended up visiting DisneySea on a Tuesday in May, which turned out great!
We found the official website a bit tricky to use when buying tickets. After a few attempts and as many failed credit card payments, we gave up and got our Tokyo DisneySea tickets from GetYourGuide. It cost us € 97,88 for both, which we think is pretty reasonable for a theme park! Also, the ticket price was exactly the same as on the official website so it made sense to go with GetYourGuide.
Download the official Tokyo Disney Resort app
We recommend downloading the official Tokyo Disney Resort app before your visit since there’s no WiFi in the park. There’s supposed to be WiFi near the entrance but it never popped up on our phones. Downloading the app is a must since you can add your tickets to the app. This makes everything so much smoother!
The app features a map with all the attractions, shows, parades, dining, and shopping options, ensuring you never get lost. Plus, it shows real-time wait times.
As part of their 40th Anniversary celebration, DisneySea gives out free Priority Passes for rides like ‘Raging Spirits’ and ‘Nemo & Friends SeaRider’ to skip the lines, all through the app. It’s super convenient! There are also options to buy a Disney Premier Access for attractions like ‘Soaring: Fantastic Flight’ and ‘Tower of Terror,’ although we didn’t use that feature. Last but not least: you can even request entry to shows like Big Band Beat while in the park. All this of course if you added your tickets to the app.
Figure out your route from your accommodation to DisneySea
It might seem obvious, but it’s worth mentioning: figure out your route from your accommodation to DisneySea the day before! This way, you’ll know when to leave, where to catch your ride, and how long the journey will be. It’s one less thing to stress about on the day and more time to have fun! It took us one hour and 3 transfers to get to Tokyo DisneySea from our accommodation in Asakusa.
The day of your visit
Arrive early
Last year, when we went to Universal Studios Hollywood, the park opened half an hour early. We assumed DisneySea would do the same, so we got there one hour and fifteen minutes before opening. Turns out, DisneySea opens right at 9 AM.
Still, we suggest arriving an hour early to be among the first ones inside. When we got there at 7:45 AM, there were already 20 people in each line waiting. We picked the shortest line and… waited! Bring snacks and drinks, and start looking forward to your amazing day. Trust us when we say it’s totally worth it! Another reason why you should come early, is if you want to secure any type of pass or show via the app. Premier Access tickets sell out, fast! If you absolutely want to go on a ride without queuing, you should be in the park before 10 AM to secure your Premier Access tickets.
Submit an entry request on the app for Big Band Beat
As soon as you enter the park, use the app to request a seat for Big Band Beat. Even though there might be open seats, it’s safer to reserve one. The show lasts about half an hour, so we suggest booking it for late afternoon. We had a blast watching Mickey, Minnie, and their friends sing and dance!
Head to ‘Soaring: Fantastic Flight’
We suggest kicking off your day with ‘Soaring: Fantastic Flight’. It’s the most popular ride and our top pick! Since you can’t get a free Priority Pass for this one, it’s smart to do it early when the lines are shorter. To give you an idea, at noon the wait was 95 minutes, and by 3 PM it was 105 minutes. It only gets busier, so make it your first stop!
Use the app to plan the rest of your day
Our other top picks were ‘Tower of Terror’, ‘Journey to the Center of the Earth’, ‘Raging Spirits’, ‘Aquatopia’, and ‘Nemo & Friends SeaRider’.
To plan the rest of your day, use the app for free Priority Passes on certain rides. We suggest it for ‘Raging Spirits’ and ‘Nemo & Friends SeaRider’. We also tried ‘Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Crystal Skull’ and ‘20,000 Leagues Under the Sea’, but they weren’t as exciting. Save them for later if you have some time left.
Check the app for wait times at ‘Tower of Terror’, ‘Journey to the Center of the Earth’, and ‘Aquatopia’. If they’re under an hour, go for it!
We also suggest checking out Mermaid Lagoon, not just for the rides but for its fantastic decoration. It’s themed around The Little Mermaid, and the magic truly comes alive inside!
Don’t forget to check if there are special appearances by Disney characters. When we were there, at 2:05 PM, we caught a mini parade with Mickey, Minnie, Elsa from Frozen, Peter Pan, and more. It was such a magical moment, like being kids again, waving and feeling the Disney magic all around us. 🥹
End your day with a gondola ride
To wrap up our day, we took a gondola ride at the Venetian Gondolas. It was a nice way to glide along the canals and enjoy the park’s scenery. Just a heads up, you’ll be sharing the boat with others, so it’s more of a fun attraction than a private tour. But it’s still a great experience!
Things you need to try at Tokyo DisneySea
We were pleasantly surprised by how affordable snacks were at Tokyo DisneySea. Usually, theme park food is super pricey, but at Tokyo DisneySea it’s not bad at all! For example, we paid 600 yen (around € 3,50) for a slice of pizza and 700 yen (about € 4) for a hotdog.
Popcorn is a big hit at Tokyo DisneySea, with nine different flavors available. They have classic flavors like salt and caramel, plus unique ones like black pepper and garlic shrimp. A regular popcorn bucket costs 400 yen (around € 2,40), which is a steal! We tried three flavors: matcha white chocolate, black pepper, and curry. Our favorites were matcha white chocolate for sweetness and black pepper for a salty kick.
Another snack we loved was the little green dumplings from Toy Story. Each mochi ball has a different filling: vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry. At first, we were skeptical, but they turned out to be delicious! The price was 400 yen for three, and they were totally worth it.
We hope this ultimate guide helps you plan the perfect day at Tokyo DisneySea. Want more ideas for your trip? Check out our list of the 14 best things to do in Tokyo.
