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Recently I’ve been asked this Tokyo Disneyland vs DisneySea question asked a lot.
Especially when it comes to young families you are travelling to Tokyo for a limited time only and don’t have the luxury of trying on both theme parks for size.
*Please note that the new section of TOKYO DISNEYSEA ( Tangled and Frozen and Peter Pan section called “Fantasy Springs” is opening on June 6th. If you decide to visit in June it can go one of two ways
1) If you are a hard core Disney fan and don’t mind waiting hours and hours – you could be one of the first people to enter this new section
2) The other areas of Tokyo Disneysea MAY be (no guarantee) less busy at this time before the focus with crowds will be on the new section so it could be a win-win if you deliberately avoid that new section
*Either way – tickets will be hard to get for this time (especially as annual passport holders will be all dying to go) so please remember to book early!
Please note that it is NOT possible to buy tickets for Tokyo Disneyland or Tokyo DisneySea at the gate. This is why their crowd prediction calendars are so accurate.
See here for where to buy Tokyo Disneyland tickets.
Here are some questions to ask yourself that might help you decide which is better for your little kiddies for their current age and for your family’s needs:
Have you been to other Disneylands around the world before (or live near one of them already) ?
Answer: Disneysea.
Disneysea is unique to Tokyo. It was build after Tokyo Disneyland became such a hit that the second theme park was built after asking the big Disney fans what else they would like to see at Disney.
Most people answered that they wanted to feel like they have travelled overseas.
It is built around a giant volcano and lake, instead of a castle.
Have your children never been to Disneyland before and want to see the more traditional characters (Mickey, Minnie, the Princesses, Alice in Wonderland etc.) and ride on the classics like the Teacups, It’s a Small World etc. ?
Answer : Disneyland.
Both parks have lots of characters but Disneyland has Mickey & Minnie’s house and the parades (especially “Happiness is Here”) covers all the favourites- the old and new (Toy Story, Nemo etc) Disney characters.
Do your kiddies love the parades where they can make eye contact with all of the characters and sit at the front of the audience?
Answer: Disneyland.
Disneysea rarely has parades. The shows are mainly held on the lake in the middle of the park of the stage. They are very impressive and my kids really like them but they also feel like the characters are a little bit far from them (but maybe that’s just my disney-loving kiddies!)
Do Mum & Dad need alcohol in order to survive Disney chaos?
Answer: Disneysea.
Disneyland doesn’t serve alcohol but it is possible to walk around with a beer at Disneysea. That can be an , understandably, deciding factor for many parents.
THIS HAS RECENTLY CHANGED. ALCOHOL IS NOW SOLD AT TOKYO DISNEYLAND TOO – IN GASTON’S TAVERN IN THE BEAUTY AND THE BEAST SECTION.
Extra tip: there is an old school cocktail bar called “The Teddy Roosevelt Lounge” inside the big ship the S.S Columbia, just incase Mummy needs a French Martini in front of a fireplace.
Do your children really like lots and lots of rides?
Answer: Disneyland.
This one is controversial as Disneysea has lots of family-focused rides too but just based purely on numbers, Disneyland has more rides for children.
Are you kids a little bit older and want as many thrilling/scary rides as possible?
Answer: Disneysea.
Disneysea was also built with young, dating couples in mind and it has more “big kid” rides to choose from.
Are your kiddies absolutely bananas for Aladdin, Toy Story, The Little Mermaid or Indiana Jones?
Answer: Disneysea.
There is a whole Aladdin-based land, Little Mermaid world and a whole section on Toy Story.
But if Disneyland still suits you better, don’t worry as all characters still make an appearance in the parade.
There is a whole section for Toy Story at Disneysea but don’t worry if you have a hard-core Buzz fan, there is one buzz ride at Disneyland.
Are your little ones crazy for Baymax?
Answer: Disneyland. There is a new Baymax attraction which is kind of like the teacups but faster and Baymax themed.
Are you really worried about extremely cold or hot weather for your children?
Answer: Disneysea.
I, personally, wouldn’t let the weather get in the way of either park (in fact, extreme weather conditions often make the park a bit more empty and therefore more fun for kids) but if you’re really worried, I’d probably say Disneysea. It has the Ariel’s Lagoon section with lots of indoor activities and rides. It will be busy but it will save you hiding out in restaurants.
If you are at Disney and want some ride waits that are undercover – see my Tokyo Disneyland info here .
Are the fireworks a particular highlight for your family?
Answer: Tokyo Disneyland.
There are no fireworks at Disneysea. There is, however, a light up water & music show late in the evening and some of those shows have little fireworks explode at the end – depending on the season and the weather conditions. There is no castle with a fireworks backdrop at Disneysea though.
Are you children big fans of Duffy the Bear or Stella Lou the Bunny?
Answer: Disneysea.
Answer: Disneysea is the only place in Tokyo that sells the Duffy & Stella Lou merchandise – or where you will see these characters perform in a stage show.
Are you keen on getting lots and lots of gorgeous ‘guess where I am?’ type instagram shots?
Answer: Disneysea
Disneysea has whole areas that are made to look like other countries (Japanese people were surveyed intensely before it was made and most said they wanted to feel like they were on a romantic vacation.
Do you children really really adore the Beauty & the Beast and the Big Hero 6 movies?
Answer: Disneyland
The Beauty & the Beast area opened in September 2020 and it also features a Big Hero 6 attraction. These are two of the most popular rides so are worth considering a standby pass via the Tokyo Disney Resort app once you have entered the park.
This beautiful photo was taken by @thetokyomom
See more information on Tokyo Disneyland here and Tokyo Disneysea here. including information in terms of what to pack , what rides aren’t really fun if you don’t speak Japanese and how to work out which days the park will be the most busy.
Prefer to pick which Tokyo Disney park to visit based on the LEAST BUSY option?
Then I recommend using a Tokyo Disney Crowd Prediction Calendar.
If you are looking for accommodation near Disneyland? My recommendations are here.
