Guide to Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea with kids

Getting to Tokyo DisneyLand with kids

The official Disney Hotels (linked above) all offer a shuttle (or are a short walking distance) to the Bayside Station. From here, you can take the Disney monorail to the DisneyLand or DisneySea entrance.

The monorail costs ¥300/adult or ¥150/child (11 and under) per ride. You can also get unlimited day passes if you will ride 3 or more times in a day, which are fun souvenirs (use as bookmarks!). All monorail tickets can be purchased at the machines inside the station. You can also use an IC Transportation Card, like the PASMO or Suica if you have them.

From other destinations in Tokyo, take the train to the Maihama Station (on the JR Keiyo Line). Exit through the South entrance and follow the path to the Resort Gateway Station for the Disney Monorail. It’s just a couple minutes walk away.

If you’re visiting Tokyo Disney on a long layover, you can purchase a limousine bus ticket that will take you from the airport (either Narita NRT or Haneda HND) directly to the park. This is the fastest option so you don’t waste precious time! It’s also the most economical option, as taxis in Tokyo are incredibly expensive. You will find kiosks to purchase these tickets in the airport.

Which airport is closer to Disney? Haneda. The bus from Tokyo Haneda to Disney takes about 50 minutes. The bus from Tokyo Narita takes about 80 minutes.

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When to visit Tokyo Disney

Visiting Japan with kids during the summer is typically easiest, when considering school schedules. This is also high season, so there will be many other tourists visiting the same attractions. The main attractions in Japan will all be open during high season. Make sure you check the weather, as summer will be hot and humid! April is also considered high season in Japan, as the cherry blossoms are in bloom and attract millions of visitors.

Low season is a great time to travel if a school schedule is not an issue for you. Either because your kids are homeschooled, aren’t in school yet, or you aren’t traveling with kids! Prices will be lower and crowds will be thinner, but most attractions in Japan will be open. Here are some low season busy times to be aware of: March, which is spring break for schools in Japan; Golden Week, a string of holidays at the end of April or beginning of May; and Silver Week, a string of holidays in September.

Off season, mainly winter, is great for the smallest crowds (but it’ll still be busy) and the lowest prices. Make sure the attractions in Japan you really want to visit are open, as some close in the off season. Dress for the weather, because it’ll be chilly! Busy off season times: Lunar New Year, which is in January or February, and December 26 – first week of January.

Plan your visit for a weekday, Tuesday-Friday, as weekends are more crowded. Mondays are hit or miss because of school schedules. Check your Japanese calendar, as public holidays will be incredibly busy!

Check the seasonal events calendar and the ride closures on the official Tokyo Disney Resort website. They will announce ride closures about 6 months in advance so you can plan accordingly.

Are you traveling with young kids? Check out Travel with Strollers and Car Seats.

The lines

Officially, Disneyland and DisneySea are open from 9 am – 9 pm daily. However, they occasionally open as early as 8 am on very busy days (public holidays or weekends). They close at 9 pm on the dot daily, so don’t expect to get in a line at 8:59 and be served!

Be prepared to wait at Tokyo Disney (and prepare your kids). The entry lines for the parks are already long by 6:30 am, so you’ll want to plan to arrive early. Aim for a line in the middle to avoid cutters. Arriving by 7 or 7:30 am should be early enough to still get a Standby Pass or Premier Access (more on this in the app section below) for attractions.

Some of the hotels that are inside the Disney Resort offer Happy Entry to the parks, which allows you to enter 15 minutes earlier than regular ticket holders. People will still line up at the Happy Entry entrances!

It’s not uncommon for popular ride lines to be 150+ minutes. Many times you’ll wait upwards of an hour at snack stalls, too. Use the app to plan ahead!

All the waiting can be really frustrating with young kids, so make sure you bring entertainment or snacks while you wait.

Tokyo Disneyland official app

Make sure you download the Tokyo Disney app before you arrive so you can become familiar with it. You will need data to use the app, so make sure your phone will work in Japan, or get a data package through Airalo for your stay in Japan.

You can manage multiple tickets in the app. Pick one person who will manage everything for the whole family. You can also create a group if you’re traveling with friends who purchased their own tickets, which allows you to share plans.

Once you scan your entry ticket upon entering the park, you’ll be able to request the following:

• Standby Pass: free to request and used as a virtual queue for rides. It’s also used for merch drops during special events, like Halloween or Christmas. Make sure you request early if there’s specific shopping you want to do! This can also be used for some sit down restaurants. If this is turned on for a specific ride, you must use your standby pass to ride the ride – no waiting in the regular line to get on.

• Priority Pass: free to request, this gets you skip-the-line access to certain rides. Book your free experiences first, as these tend to “sell out” quickly! You can only book one Priority Pass every 120 minutes, or if you scan into a ride with your current pass, whichever is sooner.

• Premier Access: paid lightning access to the most popular rides in the park, such as Beauty and the Beast, Peter Pan’s Neverland Adventure, Anna and Elsa’s Frozen Journey, and Journey to the Center of the Earth. These cost between ¥1500-¥2800 per ride, per person. You can purchase multiple premier access tickets.

• Entry Request: shows and character greetings in Tokyo Disney are based on a lottery system. You’ll select the time you want to see a show, and basically just cross your fingers. Your party can only request a show entry once. Unfortunately, if you’re not selected, you will not have the option to request another showing that day.

💡 Pro Tip: you can’t enter your credit card info into the app until your entry ticket has been scanned, so have it ready if you plan to submit any paid requests!

You can also use the app (or website) to make reservations at sit-down restaurants, which can be made up to 30 days in advance, starting at 10 am Japan time. You’ll also be able to see wait times for restaurants in the app. Some counter service restaurants allow you to place mobile orders in the app once you’re inside the park. Take advantage of these options! You can check menus on the app, too.

What to eat at Disneyland and DisneySea

There are numerous restaurants with different types of cuisine. DisneySea has a lot of seafood, but they also have non-seafood options. There are a few plant-based options in the park as well. If you get anything that comes with a boiled egg, Disney uses magic to shape the yolks to look like Mickey Mouse.

Snacks not to miss

Popcorn! This is the most popular snack at Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea, like churros in the US (although they also have chocolate churros!). You can collect the different souvenir popcorn tubs, too. Popcorn carts can be found pretty much everywhere.

Little Green Dumplings are the most popular sweet treat in the parks, and you’ve probably seen them on social media. These are little mochi that look like the green aliens from Toy Story. These are available at Pan Galactic Pizza Port and Plazma Ray’s Diner in Disneyland. You can also find them in DisneySea at Zambini Brothers’ Ristorante, New York Deli and Yucatan Base Camp Grill.

The Mickey-shaped waffles from the Great American Waffle Company in the World Bazaar area of Disneyland are amazing. This counter service restaurant has 1 item on the menu: its seasonal waffle.

Try a sea salt ice cream monaka, that’s shaped like a seashell and filled with ice cream and raspberry jam. This can be found at the ice cream cart in Mermaid Lagoon in DisneySea.

💡 Pro Tip: Food allergy information can be found on the Tokyo Disneyland website. Click your allergen, then it’ll should you the items at different restaurants that contain that allergen.

Disneyland areas, attractions and parades

There are 37 rides/attractions in Tokyo Disneyland. 20 are baby friendly, and 33 (!) are available to toddlers 81cm (32″) and taller. There are 7 areas in Disneyland that you can visit with your kids.

• Fantasyland is great for younger kids, with several Experiential Attractions and rides that allow you to sit a child on your lap. With kids 81cm (32″) and taller, make sure you ride the Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast and Pooh’s Hunny Hunt. These are some of the best rides in the park that you shouldn’t miss!

• Tomorrowland is home to Monsters, Inc. Ride & Go Seek and shouldn’t be missed! Children must be 81cm (32″) and taller to ride.

• Toontown is aimed at younger kids with several Experiential Attractions. Kids can take their time exploring Minnie’s House, Donald’s Boat and Chip ‘n Dale’s Treehouse. Your littlest explorers can climb and crawl around at Toon Park.

• Critter Country is where you’ll find the infamous Splash Mountain. Children must be 90cm (35.5″) and taller to ride.

• World Bazaar is the main entry area and most resembles Main Street USA in the US parks.

• Westernland is themed like the old west. Take the Tom Sawyer Island Raft to explore this little island!

• Adventureland has the Western River Railroad. Trains are always a hit with kids!

Parades

The Harmony in Color Parade runs daily at 1 pm around the main route of the park. You can request Premier Access, otherwise try to arrive about 30-60 minutes early to get a good viewing spot.

The Electrical Parade Dreamlights runs nightly at 7:15 pm. You can request Premier Access, otherwise you’ll want to show up about 30-60 minutes early to get a good spot in front of the castle.

DisneySea areas, attractions and parades

DisneySea has 34 attractions. 18 allow babies and 27 allow children 90cm (35.5″) and taller. There are 8 themed areas of Tokyo DisneySea. DisneySea Electric Railway is a tram that runs around the park.

• Fantasy Springs is the newest area of the park. You will need a Standby Pass or Premier Access to one of the rides in the area to be allowed entry. You can also purchase the 1-day passport to Fantasy Springs or show proof of stay at Fantasy Springs Hotel. There are 4 rides in this area: Anna and Elsa’s Frozen Journey, Rapunzel’s Lantern Festival, Fairy Tinker Bell’s Busy Buggies (all allow babies on lap), and Peter Pan’s Never Land Adventure (must be 102cm (40″) to ride). To eat at any of the 3 restaurants in this area, you must place a mobile order.

💡 Pro Tip: Fantasy Springs should not be missed! The first thing to do when you enter DisneySea should be to request a Standby Pass or Premier Access to one of the rides. A limited number is available, and this is the only way to enter the area!

• Mediterranean Harbor is home to the Soaring: Fantastic Flight, which is the most popular ride in the park. Children must be 102cm (40″) and taller to ride. You can also find the Venetian Gondolas and the Disney Transit Steamer Line here. There is a nightly parade here, which lasts about 30 minutes: Believe! Sea of Dreams. Request Premier Access for a secured seat, otherwise arrive 30-60 minutes early to get a good seat near the harbor.

• Mysterious Island has 2 rides, which are both incredibly popular: the Journey to the Center of the Earth for kids 117cm (46″) and taller, and 20,000 Leagues under the Sea, which allows babies to ride on your lap. Just note that both rides are loud and can get a little scary.

• Mermaid Lagoon is great for younger kids. Every attraction allows kids 90cm (35.5″) and taller, and there are a couple rides you can hold babies on.

• Arabian Coast is also a nice area for younger kids. Kids must be able to hold themselves on the carousel – parents cannot hold them on.

• Lost River Delta is Aztec themed and home to 2 thrilling rides for big kids and adults, both of which are incredibly popular: Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Crystal Skull and the Raging Spirits rollercoaster.

• Port Discovery has a couple of attractions, and both are great for toddlers. You’ll be able to find Nemo here!

• American Waterfront has the SS Colombia ship with a restaurant and you can explore the entire ship. Next door is Turtle Talk, where you can meet Crush from Finding Nemo. (Note: this interactive show is only in Japanese.) Toy Story Mania is a very popular ride that’s good for toddlers. You’ll find the Tower of Terror here, which is one of the most popular rides in the park, and is touted as the best Tower of Terror in any Disney park!

What else to do in Tokyo with kids

Kids will love this Samurai Experience in Tokyo. Change into your favorite kimono or hakama, then learn basic sword skills before practicing a sword fight! You’ll also get to see lots of traditional armor in the museum on site.

Learn about the ancient sport of Sumo Wrestling with your family during this entertainment show with a full dinner.

Traveling with a little chef? Try a sushi making class in Tokyo, or a Ramen & Gyoza class.

Looking for a pre-planned tour? Check out this Japan travel tour: 12-Day Japan Family Adventure through Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Beyond.

You might also like:

• Things to do in Tokyo with babies and toddlers
• Best vacations with babies and toddlers
• Travel with strollers and car seats

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