Tokyo Disneyland vs DisneySea: Which Park Is Right for Your Family?
Many families visiting Japan only have time for one park, so Tokyo Disneyland vs DisneySea is a common question. The two parks are neighbours, but they feel worlds apart. Here's my honest take after visiting both, along with the tips to make the most of your first visit.
Tokyo Disneyland vs DisneySea at a glance
Tokyo Disneyland: classic Disney, with the iconic castle, whimsical parades and familiar characters.
Tokyo DisneySea: incredible theming, more thrill rides and a less "Disney" feel.
Both parks: just outside Tokyo, one of the world's busiest cities, so expect crowds, queues and plenty of walking.
If you have the chance to do both parks, definitely do both. If you can only choose one, pick Disneyland for little ones and nostalgia, and DisneySea for older kids and something unique to Japan.
What is a priority pass And Premier Access at Tokyo Disney?
You'll see lots of talk online about a "Priority Pass" and "Premier Access". The Priority Pass no longer exists, and the way to skip the longest queues now is Disney Premier Access, a paid option you buy in the Tokyo Disney Resort App. Here's how it works:
You pay per person, per ride. Each person in your group needs their own, although children under three can go with a paying adult without one.
You choose a return time. Instead of standing in line, you come back at your set time and use a much shorter queue.
It's only available on certain rides, usually the most popular ones, such as Anna and Elsa's Frozen Journey, Soaring: Fantastic Flight and Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast.
It also covers some parades and shows, giving you a spot in a reserved viewing area.
Numbers are limited and popular rides sell out, so buy as soon as you can on the day.
Don't expect it to mean no wait at all. On busy days you'll still queue, just for far less time than everyone else. Choose it for your family's must-do rides, and plan the rest of your day around those return times.
Tokyo Disneyland
Tokyo Disneyland is the Disney you know and love, and it starts the moment you walk through the gates: characters to meet, the covered shops of World Bazaar, and Cinderella Castle in all its glory. When you walk under the castle, look up at the beautiful, intricate mosaics in the archway.
You can also go inside the castle at Cinderella's Fairy Tale Hall, a walk-through filled with paintings and dioramas that makes a lovely calm break. For a great photo, head to the side of the castle and you'll get the castle and the moat with hardly anyone else in the shot.
Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast is Tokyo Disneyland's most popular ride. To avoid the long queue, buy Disney Premier Access, but remember numbers are limited.
The Happy Ride with Baymax is unique to Tokyo Disneyland and is pure joy. The cast members have a dance for every song, and they sing and dance all day long, so learn the actions while you queue and join in.
A word of warning about Splash Mountain: we rode it in January, in the middle of winter, and got soaked. Sit in the middle, not at the front. Front equals soaking wet... trust me.
When the sun goes down, don't miss the Tokyo Disneyland Electrical Parade Dream Lights. It's my favourite Disney parade, and if it's a must for your family, it's worth buying Disney Premier Access for a reserved viewing spot. The same goes for the fireworks.
Tokyo DisneySea
Honestly, the theming at DisneySea blew my mind. It feels much less "Disney" than Disneyland, and more like travelling the world in a single day. I still think about the Arabian Coast, inspired by Aladdin, and wish I'd had more time just to wander around it and take it all in. It's also a big park, so wear comfortable shoes, because you'll get your steps up.
Journey to the Center of the Earth was amazing, and I loved the rollercoaster finale. Our kids' favourite was Raging Spirits, thanks to its 360-degree loop. Tower of Terror is one I could skip for the rest of my life - drop rides are not for me - and the theming can be scary for younger children. But when in Rome!
Soaring: Fantastic Flight is one of the park's most popular rides, and for good reason: it's a fantastic experience. We ended up waiting nearly three hours even with a return time. Not long after we joined the line, staff closed the standby queue and only let pass holders in to bring the waits down.
Duffy mania
Who is Duffy? Duffy debuted in 2002 at Walt Disney World in Florida, where he didn't really take off. He became a massive phenomenon after being relaunched with his sailor backstory at Tokyo DisneySea in 2005, and now you'll see him and his friends everywhere in the Asian Disney parks. When new Duffy merchandise is released, there's even a queuing and priority system just for the merchandise! The queues to meet Duffy and Friends are all part of the DisneySea experience.
Fantasy Springs
Fantasy Springs is DisneySea's newest area, and the theming is incredible. It's currently the busiest part of the park, so expect significant waits.
Anna and Elsa's Frozen Journey has amazing technology and theming. Is it worth a three-hour wait? Hmm. I'd say it's worth paying for Disney Premier Access instead. Rapunzel's Lantern Festival was the ride I was most looking forward to, but it's quite short and I came away a little disappointed. Peter Pan's Never Land Adventure, though, was brilliant. I won't spoil the ride, but if you have to choose between Peter Pan and Rapunzel, go with Peter Pan.
Some of the restaurants in Fantasy Springs can't be entered without a booking or a mobile order. Place an order in the app, then head back to collect it. We did this at Royal Banquet of Arendelle, near the Frozen ride. The order was ready quickly, and the kids loved their hot chocolate with Olaf in it.
What to expect at both parks
Whichever park you visit, and whenever you go, expect crowds. Japanese guests are incredibly patient and will happily queue for a long time for a ride, a character or a piece of merchandise, and popular rides can have long waits. It helps to go in knowing that, rather than being caught off guard.
Most rides are in Japanese. It doesn't take anything away from the magic, but it's worth telling younger children beforehand that their favourite characters can speak lots of languages.
Parades are taken very seriously, and people set up their spots early. If you're happy to peek over other people's heads, there's no need to arrive early. If a front spot matters to you, get there early or buy Disney Premier Access for a reserved viewing spot. And if you're not fussed about parades and shows at all, that's the best time to head to the rides, when the queues are shorter.
My tips for the best day
The best way to tackle these parks is to pick a few must-do rides and treat everything else as a bonus. These aren't parks where you can race from ride to ride and tick off as many as possible - you'll only end up disappointed. Take time to enjoy the little things: the theming, the music and the details around every corner.
If you've come all this way, pay for Disney Premier Access on your family's must-do rides. You can always make more money, but how often will you be at Tokyo Disney Resort?
Mobile Order is a must. It's free in the Tokyo Disney Resort App, and there's no reason to stand in a food queue when you don't need to. Popcorn carts can't be pre-ordered, so you'll need to join the queue for these. Each cart has its own flavour, and finding them is half the fun. Salted caramel is amazing, but we weren't game to try the curry popcorn!
Before you go
Tickets: when you book through me, I'll organise your park tickets in advance. Tickets are for a specific date and park, and popular dates can sell out.
Download the Tokyo Disney Resort App before you arrive. You'll use it for Mobile Order, Disney Premier Access and checking wait times.
Budget for the monorail. Unlike Anaheim, the Disney Resort Line isn't free. It runs in one direction only, anticlockwise, around four stations: Resort Gateway (for Ikspiari and JR Maihama Station), Tokyo Disneyland, Bayside (for the resort hotels) and Tokyo DisneySea. The two parks are two stops apart. Use an IC card such as Suica, or buy a ticket each time you ride.
Ikspiari is the Disney-themed shopping centre next to the parks, with food options, a cinema, a Disney store, a supermarket, bars and fashion outlets.
Planning a family trip to Japan?
I'm Shelley, a Perth-based family travel advisor and Tokyo Tourism Expert, and Japan is my favourite destination to plan. From choosing the right park for your family to knowing which rides are worth Premier Access and how to get around by train. I'll share all the tips you'll need, and support you from your first question until you're home again.
Book a free discovery call to start planning your own Tokyo Disney adventure.
About the Author
Shelley Hasson is a Perth-based family travel specialist and founder of The Family Travel Studio, planning once-in-a-lifetime holidays for Australian families. She is a certified specialist in Tokyo, Hawaii, the USA, New Zealand, the Cook Islands, Hong Kong and Australia, as well as Disney Cruise Line and Princess Cruises.
Comments