I Visited Tokyo Disneyland In Japan — And As A Former Cast Member, I Need The Disney Parks In America To Take Notes

To give context: My husband and I spent one day at each park while staying at two different Disney hotels — Tokyo Disney Celebration Hotel and Tokyo Disney Resort Toy Story Hotel. 

I also want to preface that my experience and review of these parks are from the perspective of a 30-something-year-old woman who does not have children. So take any tips and advice with a grain of salt if you plan on traveling with kids. 

This unique ownership has allowed these two parks to run independently compared to other Disney Parks, which allows for cheaper tickets (which cost between ¥7,900 to ¥10,900 (about $50-$70) and food prices (that are actually pretty tasty), and one-of-a-kind merchandise, rides, and services that you can't find anywhere else.

Through the licensing agreement, Disney provides its Imagineers and consultants to design and build Tokyo Disney's theme parks and attractions while receiving a certain percentage of fees and royalties because OLC originally pitched the idea for The Walt Disney Company to come to Japan. So, if you've noticed that Tokyo Disney's attractions, animatronics, and parades hit differently, that's why.

As someone who grew up going to Magic Kingdom, I felt the park's overall vibe was very familiar yet slightly disorienting when we first arrived. Everything nearly looked and felt the same, yet the Japanese culture and hospitality were very apparent throughout every corner of the park — which I absolutely loved. 

As an example, when you walk by the shops, food halls, or rides, cast members with giant Mickey Mouse gloves will wave hello. It warmed my cold American heart every time I saw it happen.

Another difference is that there is no railroad train that goes around the park. Since Japanese transportation laws indicate that tickets must be purchased for trains and subways with multiple stops, the train we know and love in America is only stationed in Westernland in Japan.

Here's a list of all the attractions at Tokyo Disneyland: Western River Railroad, Pirates of the Caribbean, Jungle Cruise: Wildlife Expeditions, Swiss Family Treehouse, The Enchanted Tiki Room: Stitch Presents "Aloha E Komo Mai!", Westernland Shootin' Gallery, Country Bear Theater, Mark Twain Riverboat, Tom Sawyer Island Rafts, Big Thunder Mountain, Splash Mountain, Beaver Brothers Explorer Canoes, Alice's Tea Party, "it's a small world", Castle Carrousel, Snow White's Adventures, Dumbo The Flying Elephant, Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast, Peter Pan's Flight, Pinocchio's Daring Journey, Pooh's Hunny Hunt, Haunted Mansion, Mickey's PhilharMagic, Gadget's Go Coaster, Goofy's Paint 'n' Play House, Chip 'n Dale's Treehouse, Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin, Star Tours: The Adventures Continue, Stitch Encounter, Space Mountain, Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blasters, The Happy Ride with Baymax, Monsters, Inc. Ride & Go Seek!

Pro tip: If you are interested in riding a specific attraction, make sure to check which rides are available and under construction, before you buy your tickets to avoid disappointment. You can find that list here for both parks. 

Aside from some of the thrill rides, like Space Mountain, Thunder Mountain, and Splash Mountain, these three rides are some (if not) the most popular attractions at the park — which means prepare for incredibly long lines (for instance, The Happy Ride with Baymax can be as long as 100 minutes on a slow day). So, just make sure to prioritize riding these attractions when you first get there (which I'll explain how to do later in the story).

Here's a synopsis of the ride from the Tokyo Disneyland website: "Guests board magical cups that 'dance' in rhythm to the well-known music from Beauty and the Beast as they take guests through scenes depicting the story of the animated film."

Basically, it's a full-body, first-person experience of the Beauty and the Beast movie that will make you as emotional as after finishing a very cathartic therapy session. And while the whole ride is in Japanese, you don't need to know the language to understand what's happening because the ride simply mirrors the structure of the movie.

The truth is, no element of this ride feels lazy, from the queue (which is found within Beast's castle) to the animatronic designs and the technical features. Every section of the ride feels intentionally placed to move the story forward seamlessly. If you want a peek at how the ride operates, here's a walkthrough of the ride. 

Pro tip: The one thing I highly recommend is getting a Premier Access Pass (which is like the U.S. Lighting Lane) for this ride (which costs around ¥2000 yen (about $13). The line for this attraction is probably the longest at both parks, as it can average around under three hours, so if you don't have a lot of hours in the day, make sure to budget for this ticket feature.

Another pro tip: If you want the best ride experience, ask the Cast Members if you can sit in the front row of the tea cups. This will enhance the "in-movie" experience I mentioned above. 

While my husband and I didn't have the opportunity to watch the Electrical Parade, which is a huge bummer, we did get a peek at the Harmony in Color, and it was a blast to watch. 

The floats themselves are gorgeous and truly larger than life. Want to watch Rapunzel swing from her tower with her hair? Done. Do you crave extravagant costumes that actually add depth to the overall parade? You got it. 

In Japan, parades are taken very seriously. They're a spectacle where families wait hours (and I mean hours) for the show to arrive. Families will save a spot earlier in the day with a picnic-like blanket and hang out until the show arrives.

Another key difference from the U.S. parks is that everyone will sit when the parade floats by, which makes watching the parade (especially for children) a much more enjoyable experience than watching it in the States. (Although, if you prefer to stand, there are specific designated sections for this.)

The technology involved in each of these parades feels groundbreaking, so don't sleep on them. Even if you only have a few minutes to watch, it's a great way to get some downtime while also enjoying something unique about the Tokyo Disneyland culture. 

Here is a list of all the ports: Mediterranean Harbor, American Waterfront, Port Discovery, Fantasy Springs, Lost River Delta, Arabian Coast, Mermaid Lagoon, Mysterious Island.

Trust me when I say this is a park you don't want to miss. The overall vibe is a mix between incredibly casual, serene, dangerous, and wet — it simply depends on which port you're located in. 

I, for one, loved the variety of this theme park. While each of the lands evokes a water theme, each of the ports does not feel like a repetition of the other. Yes, some ports were way better than others, but I appreciated that each had its own foods and attractions you could explore. Basically, if you're a fan of the World Showcase section of Epcot but wish each land was bigger and had more attractions, then you're going to love Tokyo DisneySea.

Pro tip: This is the kind of park you want to explore both during the day and at night. The mood completely changes when the sun goes down as you watch the lights reflect against the water. Between the Italian villas, the molten volcano, and the streets of New York, it seems like the whole park comes alive at night.

Here's a full list of all the attractions at Tokyo DisneySea: Turtle Talk, Tower of Terror, DisneySea Electric Railway, DisneySea Transit Steamer Line, Toy Story Mania!, Soaring: Fantastic Flight, Fortress Explorations, Venetian Gondolas, Fortress Explorations“The Leonardo Challenge”, Aquatopia, Nemo & Friends SeaRider, Indiana Jones® Adventure: Temple of the Crystal Skull, Raging Spirits, Anna and Elsa's Frozen Journey, Rapunzel's Lantern Festival, Peter Pan's Never Land Adventure, Fairy Tinker Bell's Busy Buggies, Caravan Carousel, Jasmine's Flying Carpets, Sindbad's Storybook Voyage, Ariel's Playground, Jumpin' Jellyfish, Scuttle's Scooters, Flounder's Flying Fish Coaster, Blowfish Balloon Race, The Whirlpool, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Journey to the Center of the Earth, 

This was the first attraction we rode. We went on the ride right after the park opened —and thank God we took this approach because, by the time we got off the ride, the line was around 180 minutes long... at 10 a.m.

Pro tip: If you don't want to go on this ride right when the park opens, I highly recommend going the Premier Access route, which is about ¥1,500 ($9.44).

Listen, call me childish all you want, but this was probably my favorite area in the whole park. If you ever wanted to know what King Triton's Kingdom from The Little Mermaid looks like in real life, then your jaw will drop to the floor the minute you enter this area.

Unlike Ariel's grotto in Magic Kingdom, this entire "port" is imagined as if you are underwater as you slowly descend from the human world to the mermaid world. Once you're inside, the ceiling of the coral-like building is covered with water-like designs, and the room is circumferenced by shells, sea creatures, and underwater plant life. It's wild how breathtaking it looks. 

While the whole show is in Japanese, you can follow the story of your favorite characters talking about believing in dreams and making their wishes come true. The show involves dozens of water boats that highlight some of the most loved Disney characters. If you want to watch the full show, check it out here.  

The three lands are Frozen Kingdom, Rapunzel’s Forest, and Peter Pan’s Never Land. The four rides are Anna and Elsa's Frozen Journey, Peter Pan's Never Land Adventure, Fairy Tinker Bell’s Busy Buggies, and Rapunzel's Lantern Festival.

While the good news is that you do have the opportunity to enter the new land, the bad news is that there are some extra steps you need to take, as most guests are unable to just enter whenever they want. If you absolutely want to make sure you get to explore this new park expansion, I highly recommend watching this video from TDR Explorer. TLDR: There are multiple ways to get in, but some may cost money.

While the majority of the merchandise involves Disney characters you already know, there's a Tokyo Disney-specific character named Duffy that is all over Tokyo Disney Parks. 

Duffy was initially created to be Mickey's teddy bear, which was created by Minnie to keep him company. Since Duffy has gained popularity over the years, the brand has evolved into Duffy and Friends. 

You won't find Duffy in America because he and his friends can only be found at the Asian Disney theme parks, but if you go to any of the parks, you will find stores designated to just Duffy products. It was a little confusing at first for me because I wasn't expecting Duffy to be this popular, but I understand the hype. Just know that the merchandise is supposed to be cute and cuddly, and if you become a Duffy convertor, let me know. 

While the company can absolutely increase the prices of tickets, food, and merchandise just like its U.S. counterparts, it seems they actively choose to keep prices lower to attract more people to the parks, which should be implemented across all Disney parks.

I believe this decision is perfect for larger families who want to have fun but don't want to spend thousands of dollars on a Disney trip. As an adult with no children, though, I felt more joy exploring the parks because I didn't feel like a larger company was trying to take every penny I had in my bank account. Even though I love going to Disney, it's little things like this that will make me wanting to come back again and again.

Another thing I wish was different is the ability to change menu items. While this decision is based on the overall culture of Japan (because it's considered rude to tell the chef you want something different), it can make it harder to find something you like if one ingredient isn't a good fit for your taste buds, especially with people who have allergies. 

Oh, and the lines. The lines are incredibly long, which can impact how much you do in a day. For instance, if you want to try the waffles at Tokyo Disneyland, you can expect to wait around 70 minutes sometimes. Thankfully, Tokyo Disney brought back their version of Fast Pass for their 40th Anniversary (which is free) to help reduce wait times for the attractions, but just like the parks in the U.S., you will most likely have to fork over some cash for the Premier Access passes if you want to ride all the most popular rides.

Even when some guests wore "basic" outfits, they had a fashion flair to them. The good news is, you absolutely can — and should! — buy some of your Disney gear at the parks to elevate any look. For instance, some of the most popular items we saw were Mickey sunglasses, Baymax merchandise from Big Hero Six, and Popcorn buckets.

However, there is one thing to keep in mind when picking outfits: the "unspoken" modest dress code in Japan. A lot of people in Japan tend to dress more modestly, so you won't see a lot of tank tops, tattoos, or short shorts (and yes, unfortunately, this is mostly geared toward women). But since we went during the fall season, there were a lot of locals who were wearing mini-skirts with long socks, boots, and sweaters, so as long as you're comfortable and happy, I think that's all that matters. 

Here's a list of items I would highly suggest bringing:

• A handkerchief: A lot of bathrooms in Japan don't actually have paper towels to dry your hands with, so it's pretty common for locals to have a handkerchief or two on them to dry their hands and/or wipe the sweat away if the weather is unbearably hot. 

You can also use this item to "save" a table right before you order food at many of the fast-casual restaurants. (To give context: it's custom to pick a table first before ordering food. Here's a TikTok video to explain further.)

• A small umbrella: While ponchos are incredibly popular for Disney guests to use at the U.S. parks, you really won't find them at Tokyo Disney because a lot of locals actually have umbrellas with them at all times to 1) block the sun, 2) keep dry from the rain.

• A portable charger: This is non-negotiable with all the pictures and videos you plan on taking. Trust me. Tokyo Disney does have portable charges that you can rent, but they charge per hour, so if you want to save a little bit of yen, I suggest packing your own.

• A comfortable bag/backpack: Since you will most likely be waiting in long lines at both parks, whether it's for rides or food, I highly suggest bringing a bag that won't hurt your shoulders. 

• A picnic blanket: Only bring this if you love parades and want a front-row seat. The rule of thumb is that if you want to save your spot for a parade, you place a blanket of sorts on the ground as a "marker." No one will touch it, even if you have to step away to grab some food.

• Seasonal Items: Japan's winter and summer months are no joke, so it's vital to bring a small portable fan if you plan on going in the summer or warmer items like jackets, ear muffs, or hand gloves if you plan on going in the winter. The good news is that Tokyo Disney will have a lot of these seasonal items available for purchase if you forget.

• A phone with Wi-Fi capabilities: While it's okay to miss some of the other items from this list, NOT having access to Wi-Fi is not one of them. Whether that means getting a SIM card or a pocket Wi-Fi, you'll need to have access to Wi-Fi to use the Tokyo Disney app for booking rides, reservations, and everything in between because neither DisneySea nor Tokyo Disneyland have Wi-Fi on their properties. 

Pro tip: My husband and I got a pocket Wi-Fi from Japan Wireless, and it works perfectly for both of our phones. The price point was also really great for a two-week trip.

While I highly suggest familiarizing yourself with the app way before you go to the parks, here are some keywords to know that are different (yet similar) to the ones in other parks that you may find within the app:

1. Disney Premier Access: Similar to the Lighting Lane, these are individual passes you can purchase for a fee within the app for specific rides. Just like the Priority Pass, you will also get to pick a window of time to ride the attraction and be granted to go into a different line that's typically shorter. 

2. Priority Pass: This is similar to the Fast Pass that was once available at U.S. parks, where you can pick a specific window of time to go to an attraction, so you don't have to wait in a regular long line. While this feature is free to use within the app, it was supposed to be a special limited feature for the 40th Anniversary in 2023. It still seems to be available for guests to use, but make sure to double-check the app before you go just to make sure no changes have been made.

3. Entry Request: This requested feature is only used for shows; think of it as a lottery since approval for these shows is picked randomly. The biggest issue is when you make one request to watch a show, you don't have the ability to make another request, even if you don't win the "lottery." However, you can watch some of the shows' first performances without using an Entry Request by waiting in the standby line. Just make sure to get in line right when the park opens. 

4. Standby Pass: This pass is typically used for shops with special merchandise releases or restaurants. However, sometimes, it will be used for attractions. For instance, since Fantasy Springs in Tokyo DisneySea just opened, guests can get Standby Passes for the new attractions in that area.

Once you acquire any of these passes on the app, you'll just need to scan the QR code when your registered time becomes available. 

Pro Tip: If you have a scheduled time to visit an attraction between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m., your QR code will become available to scan five minutes before the window time opens. 

One straightforward way is to purchase tickets directly from the official Tokyo Disney Resort website or app. Fixed-date ticket sales open two months in advance on the same day. So, if you're thinking of going to one of the parks on November 20, 2024, you'll be able to purchase tickets on September 20, 2024. 

However, if you're worried about tickets selling out — which can happen around the holidays — you can book a stay at one of the Disney Hotels to be guaranteed entry to the parks, no matter if they're completely sold out. This is one of the major perks of staying on a Disney property. 

Pro Tip: Just be mindful that you'll only receive tickets based on the number of nights you stay at a hotel. This means if you book one night at the Toy Story Hotel, you can only get tickets for one day at a park. 

Also, if you're splitting stays between Disney hotels, this rule works the same (which I learned while I was trying to buy tickets for both park days at our first hotel). Not gonna lie; this was a little frustrating but not a deal-breaker since we were guaranteed tickets either way. We just had to purchase our second-day tickets from the other hotel once we arrived.

Another Tip: If you purchase tickets at the hotels, you will receive paper tickets, so just make sure to scan them into the app before you head into the parks.

The final way to purchase tickets is through a reputable site called Klook. Klook is a travel website where you can purchase tickets for experiences across the globe. Klook might be a great option if tickets are sold out from the official website, you don't want to stay on property, or if your international credit card is not going through when you're trying to purchase tickets directly from Tokyo Disney (which apparently can happen sometimes).

To be honest, I initially did not feel 100 percent confident using Klook because I wasn't sure if the website was trustworthy, but I purchased Universal Studios Japan tickets from them — because it's nearly impossible to buy tickets directly from the USJ website as an international guest — and they worked perfectly! 

Seriously, don't make this mistake. Going during the weekend (even sometimes on a Friday) or when there's a holiday means you may be waiting in extremely long lines, whether it's for food, rides, or shows. So before you purchase your tickets, make sure to check when holidays are happening in Japan (here's a list of them), and try to purchase tickets from Monday to Thursday.

Pro Tip: Another reason to go Monday through Thursday is that ticket prices are typically much, much lower (unless there's a holiday, of course!). So, you're not only saving time, but you're also saving money. 

Here's a full list of the benefits under each hotel category:

Tokyo Disney Resort Official Hotels: These hotels are typically the closest to the Tokyo Disney Parks (aside from the Tokyo Disney Celebration Hotel, which is about a 15- to 20-minute complimentary shuttle ride). 

When you stay at an official Disney Resort, you gain Happy Entry access to either one or both parks, depending on the hotel. This means you can enter the park 15 minutes earlier than guests who are not staying on Disney properties. 

Pro Tip: Be mindful that you will not get Happy Entry on check-in days. Also, due to the recent opening of Fantasy Springs, Happy Entry is not available Tokyo DisneySea on certain days. However, if you want guaranteed access to Fantasy Springs, you can purchase a vacation package or book a stay at the new Tokyo DisneySea Fantasy Springs Hotel.

As I mentioned before, you can purchase park tickets directly from the hotel, even if the parks are completely sold out that day.

You can also purchase special merchandise that is only sold at the designated hotels, as well as have special access to restaurants that only hotel guests can reserve.

Rates range from ¥21,500 to ¥500,00 ($139.07 to $3,234.18)

Tokyo Disney Resort Partner Hotels and Tokyo Disney Resort Good Neighbor Hotels: You can still purchase park tickets for these hotels, but they may not be available if the parks are sold out or in peak season. Also, you may have complimentary shuttle access, but some Good Neighbor hotels may require reservations or be located in Tokyo, so make sure to double-check before you book.

Rates can start as low as ¥10,900 ($70) and go up from there.

*Changes can occur at any time, so make sure to double-check the benefits before you book your stay.

Tokyo Disney Resort is right off the Maihama Station, which directly connects to Tokyo Station. So, wherever you're located within Tokyo, your goal is to connect to the Keiyō Line (which uses the JE symbol and connects Tokyo to Chiba)

Tip: Tokyo Metro Tickets start at 180 yen but can increase to different denominations based on how far you travel. For instance, if you're staying in Shinjuku, the above route can cost you 439 yen (which is about $2.81). I highly recommend adding one of Tokyo's prepaid IC cards to your phone so you can easily scan in and out of the metros. More information about the IC cards is here.

Tokyo's monorail system is a giant loop that stops at every Disney hotel and park, just like the monorail in Orlando, Florida. The only difference is that the train service is not free. You will have to pay 300 yen for adults or 150 yen for children once you get to the monorail station. (This is because the monorail is considered "public transportation" in Japan, unlike in the States.) The good news is: You can also use your IC card like any other train station in Japan.

Tip: However, if you plan on using the monorail multiple times a day, I recommend buying a day pass. There are four ticket types, from 1-Day Pass to 4-Day Pass, and the prices start from 700 yen and go up to 1,500 yen. This is also a great souvenir, as the card is hard and usually has a few different limited-edition designs to choose from. 

Once you're on the monorail, just listen for your stop as it's announced. Nearly everything in Tokyo Disney Resort is written or spoken in Japanese and English, so things will be pretty easy to navigate once you're on the property.

Pro Tip: Make sure to take a picture of yourself using the Mickey handrails. They're famous for a reason.