Picture It with Priscila

How to Have a “Perfect” Day at Tokyo Disneyland

My last time at Tokyo Disney taught me that flexibility was really important. I’m not as familiar as I am with the domestic US parks so I definitely struggled at times even when I was just prioritizing my must do’s. However, things did work out with that approach. Therefore, I think the best way to have a “perfect” day is to prioritize the must do’s and then build the rest of the day around those. 

Cinderella Castle

 

I wrote this article around some basic logistics and then my favorites or the most unique things in the main categories of attractions, shows, characters, and foods. This will all be based on what I’ve personally experienced or what I researched about so you have a “buffet” menu to help start building YOUR perfect day while allowing space for your own exploration. NOTE: This won’t be the most comprehensive list, but I have been a few times now and definitely did a lot of research so might as well spread the knowledge! 🙂 

General Definitions

  • Disney Premier Access (DPA) – This is the Tokyo Disney equivalent of a FastPass, Genie+, or Express Pass (~$10-20 per person) that works per attraction or show.
  • 40th Anniversary Priority Pass – This is the free version of the DPA for attractions only.
  • Show Lottery – Unlike the US domestic parks, show seats are allocated through a lottery system since they provide assigned seating. You can only enter for one show time per show once each day. However, the nighttime show is not a part of this lottery system.

Attractions

  • Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast – The absolute best ride that’s also super family friendly! I half thought it was going to be overhyped, but it’s not. Not only is the attraction beautiful (queue included), the effects amazing, but the ride itself is a fun twist on the classic dark ride where the motions actually immerse you even more in the story somehow! 
  • Pooh’s Hunny Hunt – This is a unique Tokyo Disneyland attraction so definitely make it a priority. In my opinion, it’s better than both the Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom versions!
  • Monsters, Inc. Ride & Go Seek! – This is another unique Tokyo Disneyland attraction. In addition to being a dark ride, it’s also a bit of a game where you are using “flashlights” to find monsters! 
  • The Enchanted Tiki Room: Stitch Presents “Aloha E Komo Mai!” – Not going to lie, I wanted to go just to see little Stitch ears on the tiki room birds from Youtube videos, but the overall show was also quite fun and a delightful spin on the Tiki Room attraction. Worth a visit if you’re also looking to take a bit of a break.
  • Country Bear Jamboree – Since this version no longer exists at Disneyland nor Magic Kingdom, I think it’s a fun flashback choice. There’s a delightful Christmas version – get ready to hear a variety of Christmas songs from bears dressed in the holiday spirit! 
  • Big Thunder Mountain – Even though I would say this is not a must do since there are versions at both Disneyland and Magic Kingdom, I would say it’s still slightly different and worth the fun if there’s extra time in your day! 
  • Pirates of the Caribbean – I rode this one on my first visit, but I remember it being very similar to either the Disneyland or the Magic Kingdom version. I would recommend only riding it if there is a short wait and you have extra time in your day.
  • Haunted Mansion – I luckily got to ride the Haunted Mansion Holiday during my last visit. While fun, I do think the Disneyland version is a smidge better since it has the gingerbread house. Other than that, I could see that this attraction was very similar to the Disneyland version so definitely not a must do if there’s not enough time. 
  • The Happy Ride with Baymax – I did not get a chance to experience this, but it is very popular, even if it’s just to observe the group of Guests that gather round to dance/sing to the different songs at night. The attraction itself is similar to Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree at Disneyland or Alien Swirling Saucers at Hollywood Studios. 

Shows

  • Mickey’s Magical Music World – Such a great show! If you have ever seen Mickey and the Magical Map at Disneyland (RIP), you’ll really enjoy this. It’s the same idea as a mash-up of various Disney songs with some medleys, great dancing, and beautiful costumes.
  • Tokyo Disneyland Electrical Parade Dreamlights – This is the Disney Electrical Parade, but better! It has some of the same floats as the original Disney Electrical Parade but some floats are glammed up with better effects. The DPA for this is pretty great – there’s assigned seating so you don’t have to worry about getting there early. NOTE: The earlier you buy, the better the chance you have of getting the front row. I bought these the first thing after coming in which was just a minute or two before the regular crowds came in. 
Dreamlights

 

Foods

  • Shrimp Cutlet Burger – This was my favorite snack at either park! The bread was soft and pillowy, the shrimp patty was crispy and well portioned to the bread, and it was all tied together well with a sauce! 
  • Egg & Chicken on Chinese Bun – This was my second favorite snack! Combined with the Shrimp Cutlet Burger, this could become a lunch meal since they’re both sold at the same location. This was my second favorite since I couldn’t taste the eggs very well and the chicken didn’t have as good of a crunch as the shrimp patty. Otherwise though, it’s still delicious! 
  • Baked Cheese Potato – These potato bites were so much better than expected. It was surprisingly cheesy! If you want a larger meal, the Seafood Pizza is also sold at the same location. Not a must eat but still good.
  • Chicken and Tomato Calzone – I didn’t try this one, but my family really enjoyed it. I’ve also seen other creators recommend this so I thought it was worth keeping it as an option! 
  • Honey and Curry Popcorn – While the curry popcorn was good, the honey one was only ok. Neither had a very strong flavor, but that made it easy to keep eating. 
  • Little Green Dumplings – These are super viral, but honestly, they are ok mochi. The texture isn’t chewy nor soft enough. BUT lots of points for creativity and cuteness! 
  • Chocolate Churro – Although this was one of our favorite snacks, it was a seasonal item. My family and I are chocoholics and this was definitely a delicious flavor for the classic churro. It actually had chocolate flavor infused in the churro dough rather than it being a dip. 

Characters

It was very rainy when I was last there so I didn’t see too many characters roaming around. However, from videos, that seems to be more of the regular scenario than actual “set times” of character meet and greets. Character meet and greets tend to be a circle formed around the character and they will choose people to interact with rather than getting into a queue. I’ve also heard there are character Standby Passes but I’m not sure which characters! 

Final Thoughts

I hope this post was helpful for planning your DisneyLand day. Let me know if you have any questions I can help answer!

How to Have a “Perfect” Day at Tokyo DisneySea

My last time at Tokyo Disney taught me that flexibility was really important. I’m not as familiar as I am with the domestic US parks so I definitely struggled at times even when I was just prioritizing my must do’s. However, things did work out with that approach. Therefore, I think the best way to have a “perfect” day is to prioritize the must do’s and then build the rest of the day around those. 

I wrote this article around some basic logistics and then my favorites or the most unique things in the main categories of attractions, shows, characters, and foods. This will all be based on what I’ve personally experienced or what I researched about so you have a “buffet” menu to help start building YOUR perfect day while allowing space for your own exploration. NOTE: This won’t be the most comprehensive list, but I have been a few times now and definitely did a lot of research so might as well spread the knowledge! 🙂

General Definitions

  • Disney Premier Access (DPA) – This is the Tokyo Disney equivalent of a FastPass, Genie+, or Express Pass (~$10-20 per person) that works per attraction or show.
  • 40th Anniversary Priority Pass – This is the free version of the DPA for attractions only.
  • Standby Pass – This is the Tokyo Disney equivalent of a free virtual queue. You virtually wait until you’re called again to wait in person. This is only applicable to Fantasy Springs attractions, some merchandise, and a few character meet and greets. 
  • Show Lottery – Unlike the US domestic parks, show seats are allocated through a lottery system since they provide assigned seating. You can only enter for one show time per show once each day. However, the nighttime show is not a part of this lottery system.

Attractions

  • Anna and Elsa’s Frozen Journey – The best ride at Tokyo DisneySea and a must do! It’s a retelling of Frozen but with the latest special effects, elaborate set pieces, and a creative spin on the standard boat ride. 
  • Peter Pan’s Never Land Adventure – This is not your typical Peter Pan attraction. This version combines real sets with 3D screens and is about an adventure in Never Land with Peter Pan, the Darling children, and the Lost Boys. For anyone with motion sickness, this may get a bit uncomfortable towards the end as the ride is about 5 minutes long. 
  • Fairy Tinker Bell’s Busy Buggies – If you’re a fan of the Tinker Bell movies, this attraction will be the cutest! You get to help Tinker Bell give Cheese a day off from deliveries and travel to all the seasons in Pixie Hollow. 
  • Rapunzel’s Lantern Festival – While beautiful, this ride is too short and not worth a long wait. I honestly would not wait more than 30 minutes or spend a DPA on it unless there’s a really huge Tangled fan in your party. 
  • Journey to the Center of the Earth – This is definitely a unique ride to Tokyo DisneySea and a must do. I believe it follows the Jules Verne book. The ride is mostly a dark ride with a mild thrill at the end. 
  • Aquatopia – This one is most similar to Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters at Disneyland in terms of the ride experience. However, unlike Luigi’s, you’re on water! Honestly, this one is more fun than it looks and a do if the line isn’t longer than 30-40 minutes. 
  • Sindbad’s Storybook Journey – Another unique ride to Tokyo DisneySea and a must do in my opinion! It is a long boat ride that’s great for a rest although the set pieces in this ride are also really impressive. AND, there is a very cute tiger named Chandu. 
  • Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Crystal Skull – This version is very similar to the one at Disneyland aside from a few story tweaks. However, I felt that it had a better upkeep which added to the overall ride feel. This is a great use for the 40th Anniversary Priority Pass.
  • Raging Spirits – This is a short medium/high intensity roller coaster. There’s not a strong story in the actual ride so this is a more second tier attraction for me. 
  • Tower of Terror – Although the fanciest, most themed version in all the parks, I thought this ride version was the most boring if you’re a thrill seeker. It felt shorter, and you’re so strapped in, you don’t get to experience the funny tummy feeling from a drop ride. 
  • The Magic Lamp Theater – Definitely unique, but this attraction had the most Japanese in it. While you can still understand the gist of what is going on, I do think you miss out on certain jokes which I think adds quite a bit to the experience. 
  • Jasmine’s Flying Carpets – A cousin to the classic Dumbo. Not a must do, but an option if other things are busy! 
  • Flounder’s Flying Fish Coaster – A small coaster perfect for a kid’s first roller coaster. Not a must do, but fun if there’s no line. 

Shows

  • Big Band Beat: A Special Treat – Go for the choreography and costumes alone! The theme is Old Hollywood and it truly embodies that. 
  • Believe! Sea of Dreams – Classic nighttime extravaganza! This was like a water parade with essences of World of Color, fireworks, the storytelling of Fantasmic, and a delightful soundtrack to boot. There is a DPA option, but I don’t quite recommend it. It is just a designated section without any assigned spots. Therefore, the first come first serve element still applies. If crowds are not too heavy, I think it is still possible to get a decent spot if you plan early enough. 

Foods

  • Gyoza Sausage Bun – This lives up to the hype of being a solid savory snack choice! The flavor is a standard pork and cabbage Chinese bao but well done – the bun is soft and there is a good ratio of filling to bao.
  • Fried Chicken – A whole chicken leg/thigh was a very popular snack in Tokyo Disney with it being cooked in a couple of ways (fried, smoked) and in a few flavors (teriyaki, spicy, etc.) all scattered around the parks. My favorite version was a plain fried chicken leg/thigh with a Coke from the vending machine. Fried chicken in Japan is elite!
  • Pop n’ Shrimp – This was surprisingly good. There was a good amount of shrimp in a serving, and the coating was hot, crispy, and not too thick. We also had the Seafood Calzone – this was less exciting, but pretty good if you want another item to make your meal a bit heartier. 
  • Mickey Churro – This one was more for the photo, but how classic is a Mickey-shaped churro? It was also a delicious classic churro so what’s not to like about that?
Fried Chicken – all my other food photos were pretty bad!

Characters

It was very rainy when I was last there so I didn’t see too many characters roaming around. However, from videos, that seems to be more of the regular scenario than actual “set times” of character meet and greets. Character meet and greets tend to be a circle formed around the character and they will choose people to interact with rather than getting into a queue. I’ve also heard there are character Standby Passes but I’m not sure which characters! 

Final Thoughts

I hope this post was helpful for planning your DisneySea day. Let me know if you have any questions I can help answer!

 

Getting into Fantasy Springs on a Budget

Going to Tokyo Disneyland or DisneySea before March 31, 2025 and wondering what it’s like to not book a vacation package but still wanting to see Fantasy Springs? Let me share how I did it and how to manage expectations! 

First, some basics! You will need either a 1-Day Passport: Fantasy Springs Magic, a Disney Premier Access (DPA), or a Standby to access Fantasy Springs. Now, how do you get any of these 3 things? For the 1-Day Passport: Fantasy Springs Magic, you can only purchase it as a part of an eligible vacation package. This means that you’re tied to paying a higher cost as a vacation package includes a hotel night, tickets for 2 days (DisneySea and Disneyland), unlimited drinks, other Premier accesses, and souvenirs. It’s definitely a more stress-free experience but if you were to purchase all the components separately, you are paying a convenience fee (~$100-200 per person per day) and would make your overall trip more expensive. For the DPA, that is the Tokyo Disney equivalent of a FastPass, Genie+, or Express Pass (~$10-20 per person). Lastly, Standby is a free option where you are guaranteed a time to queue for the attraction. The key to getting as many DPA and Standby options is to be the first ones in. The earlier you book your first one, the earlier you can book your second one and so forth. This explains the long morning queues you might have heard about that are so popular at the Tokyo Disney Resort. 

An option to bypass the long morning queues is to stay at either the Tokyo DisneySea Fantasy Springs Hotel or Tokyo DisneySea Hotel MiraCosta for Early Entry access into Tokyo DisneySea. This should also be the cheaper option compared to the vacation package as long as you’re able to book a standard room opposed to a suite. Unfortunately, these hotel reservations can be quite difficult to snag. 

However, if you do not want to spend your coins on a vacation package and were unlucky enough to not get a room at either the Tokyo DisneySea Fantasy Springs Hotel or Tokyo DisneySea Hotel MiraCosta (like me), there is still hope! Here are some of my tips from my 2 day experience. My goal was to ride every Fantasy Springs attraction (Anna and Elsa’s Frozen Journey, Rapunzel’s Lantern Festival, Peter Pan’s Never Land Adventure, Fairy Tinker Bell’s Busy Buggies) at least once. 

  1. Try to go on a weekday, if possible. I read that Fridays were better than Mondays so we opted for a Wednesday and Friday. It still seemed busy, but I think it definitely could have been worse.
  2. You have to queue early. I know. It sucks, but it’s so true. The first day, we got there at 8A, and we only had Peter Pan for a DPA option and Rapunzel or Tinker Bell for a Standby option. The second time, we got there at 7A, and we were able to snag Frozen as a DPA option (with only 1 time slot left) and Peter Pan, Rapunzel, or Tinker Bell for a Standby option. If you do have Early Entry, make sure you get there by 8:30. They typically allow day Guests in at 8:45 so make sure you don’t miss out on that perk! 
  3. In my experience, weather does not seem to be a factor. Tickets are nonrefundable so I think people still show up. It was raining 2 out of the 3 days we were there, and it did not stop people from queuing early at all. 
  4. Don’t be afraid to call out people who are trying to squeeze their way through! There are going to be a LOT of people, and some people get creative. We called out 3 groups of people who just squeezed their way to the front because no one else did. You might have to give up some personal space to own your space, but don’t be afraid to do it. 
  5. Be prepared for 2 sets of queues. The first is to get through a preliminary security screening. Then, you either keep going or you have to get your bag inspected before going through a metal detector. After that, you get in line again to get your tickets scanned. 
  6. Don’t stop after getting scanned in to book your DPA or Standby! The signal is slower in the front of the park since everyone is also there. I started the process while walking briskly into the park and definitely noticed my Internet working a lot faster the further I got inside.
  7. Make sure you have international data. Tokyo DisneySea doesn’t have free WiFi and you’ll definitely need reliable internet to book those DPAs and Standbys.

My experience was definitely stressful, but I did manage to achieve my goal, and I definitely think it was worth it to do it at least once. I think next time I’d try more intentionally to book either the Tokyo DisneySea Fantasy Spring Hotel or Tokyo DisneySea Hotel MiraCosta just because some extra sleep would have been nice! 

However, I wanted to share my experience because I did wish I knew what it was like as a “regular” person. On one hand, a vacation package is incredibly stress free. On the other hand, if you wanted to save those coins for snacks rather than a souvenir popcorn bucket or an extra Show DPA instead of unlimited drinks, I don’t think a vacation package is really the right choice for everyone. AND it doesn’t mean that Fantasy Springs is out of reach. You might just have to work a little harder for it. 

Let me know if you have any questions I can help answer! And who knows, everything is changing in a few months so this might just be fun throwback read for me one day!