OUR ONE DAY TOKYO DISNEY STRATEGY

THIS BLOG POST INCLUDES MY ONE DAY STRATEGY FOR VISITING BOTH DISNEY PARKS IN TOKYO – IN ORDER TO MINIMISE WAIT TIMES AND REALLY MAKE THE MOST OF THE DAY (WE REALLY HATE WAITING WHICH IS WHY WE HAVE A SYSTEM NOW.)

I explain the Tokyo Disney fast pass system for Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea here (please be sure to read this first as it will help you understand why it’s important to do things as soon as you arrive) but I’ve written this for those who want to know what I do the very moment I am inside the park entrance.  

The way the Tokyo Disney Parks system works is different to other Disney Parks in the world.

This blog post contains some affiliate links. This means that I will receive a small commission if you book a hotel or make a purchase using one of my links – at no additional charge to you. 

Apart from purchasing your Tokyo Disney tickets ahead of time and making sure you’ve downloaded and added them to the Tokyo Disney Resort app (all onto one app on one phone)* , you can’t really do anything else to prepare in advance.   Then, you just need to make sure you arrive at Tokyo Disney Parks ahead of opening so you get those first passes and shows at the times that suit you and your family. 
*If you have a large group, you might want to split into two or three groups and load onto 2-3 phones instead. The reason? Large groups of 10 people+ could make it harder to win lottery tickets for shows (I explain the system here) and get some fast passes during busy times – so it depends how much you value moving as one large group.

Extra tip: BEFORE YOU BOOK DISNEY TICKETS!
Use the calendar on the official Tokyo Disney Resort website. The reason? Some days close early and the calendar on the site will tell you the open and closing hours for each day.   
The upside to a long day ?  More time in the park
The upside to a shorter day?  Less people book for days where they park closes earlier (and earlier means around 6:30pm.) This can be handy if you are visiting with young children who won’t last longer than this time anyway. 

Here are my tips on buying tickets for Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo Disneysea. 

*Please note that park entry tickets for Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo Disneysea are NOT included in your hotel price like in some other Disney parks around the world. You will need to buy Tokyo Disney Park tickets separately (I explain how here) or, if you are staying in an official Tokyo Disney Hotel, you can purchase while you check-in for your stay. The exception? If you’ve purchased some sort of vacation package. *

Things to do the night before you go to Tokyo Disneyland or Tokyo Disneysea
-make sure your app is set up with your name and all of your families tickets are loaded on the one app on the one phone (that way you are applying for shows and fast passes as a group at the same time – can all sit together , can all wait together. etc.) 

-check the Tokyo Disneyland or Tokyo Disneysea official website to see which rides will be closed for maintenance on that day (this also helps managing expectations for little ones on the day
-check the Tokyo Disneyland or Tokyo Disneysea official website for all height restrictions* so you know which rides will be a no-go for some family members
*This is one of the reasons I, in my Japan with Kids: What to Pack blog post, recommend knowing your children’s height and approximate weight in centimetres and kilograms before travelling to Japan.
-read this to familiarise yourself with how the fast pass (paid and free) system works at Tokyo Disney Parks. I’ve made it as simple to understand as I can here.

-then (this is just something we do but) everyone chooses one ride they really want to go on and we try to prioritize that one favourite for each family member  throughout the day.  Since I know people love to hear examples and specifics, here is what each of my family members often choose.  At Tokyo Disneyland: I usually choose Big Thunder Mountain, my husband chooses Splash Mountain or Space Mountain (pre-renovation as Space Mountain is now out until 2027), my son chooses something like Haunted Mansion or Roger Rabbit and my daughter loves Beauty and the Beast.  At Tokyo Disneysea: I usually choose Soaring, my husband likes Journey to the Centre of the Earth, my daughter likes Raging Spirits and my son will go for Sinbad (which has a 10 min wait max so we give him a second choice too) or Tower of Terror. 

-choose a first ride of the day as a family.  Now, if you’ve followed my advice and arrived early,  I recommend making this first ride a pretty popular ride that is also not right near the entrance.  

Choosing that first ride at Tokyo Disneyland: 
(If you have kids under 6-7 or kids that are sensitive when it comes to rides, I recommend going straight to Fantasyland and doing the teacups, the carousel, Mickey’s Philharmagic, Peter Pan… these all have short wait times of 5-10 mins and set the tone for a really fun day – I think it’s really mean to make kids wait for their very first ride. You can then also head to Toon Town for the Roger Rabbit ride, the outdoor play area for toddlers, Goofy and Donald’s houses.  I’ve written here which rides I don’t recommend doing at Tokyo Disneyland first thing in the morning.) 

If you have kids who don’t need to start with the more gentle kid rides, then at Tokyo Disneyland I recommend walking to the back/further edges of the park for the more popular rides – first thing in the morning – these rides are unlikely to have more than 20-30 mins wait even on a super busy day.
If you don’t need to start with the little kids rides … head for those rides that are not near the entrance that will be really popular later. 
Examples: Big Thunder Mountain, the Haunted Mansion, Splash Mountain, Pooh’s Hunny Hunt (although I am cautious to recommend this lines at Pooh’s Hunny Hunt can still get crazy long first thing so if the app tells you it’s more than a 20 min wait once you’re in the park – I’d save it for a fast pass).  

Choosing that first ride at Tokyo DisneySea: 
(If you have kids under 6-7 or kids that are sensitive when it comes to rides, I recommend going straight to Mermaid Lagoon and doing the rides inside here . After following my first tips and locking in all of those fast passes though- of course!!
All are so pretty and so little kid friendly. It’s beautiful in there.
There is also a whole indoor playground area and grotto with caves to explore (no wait times just play as you like!) There is even a little splash area (small fountains squirt little jets of water.)

Just outside the Mermaid Lagoon is a small “Scuttle Scooters” ride that rarely has more than 15-20 mins (if the wait time is longer, skip it until the times go down.)

Warning:  There is no free wifi in the park (or even a pay to use option – which is crazy to me!). This is another reason I recommend using a rental wifi box option like Japan Wireless- my favourite company to use.  If you do book with Japan Wireless, I have a 25% off discount link here -it’s an affiliate link so I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.  Japan Wireless also have an option now for esims so you also don’t need to pick up or return a box at all – you just pay on their site and receive a QR code and off you go!  Please use their “e-sims supported phones list” before making a purchase – the list is easily found on their homepage.    Click here for 10% off your esim using my affiliate link.


I have more details on my Tokyo Disneysea with kids blog post here. … these all have short wait times of 10-20 mins and set the tone for a really fun day – I think it’s really mean to make kids wait for their very first ride. The Mermaid Lagoon is also all undercover so it is an excellent spot to visit when it’s raining or scorching hot.Another option, is to head for the Double Decker Carousel in Arabian Coast and then Sinbad’s Voyage – the wait time for these rides is 5-10 mins and is a really cute way to start the day with little ones.)

And a random recommendation, if you need to change your baby, do it at the change tables at the Mermaid Lagoon. Have you ever seen a more beautiful changing space for babies?

If you don’t need to start with the little kids rides … head for those rides that are not near the entrance that will be really popular later. 
Examples: Indiana Jones, Raging Spirits, Toy Story (although the Toy Story Mania ride line can get long quickly so if it says more than 30 mins wait then save it for a fast pass later.)

Okay… 
So the moment we are inside the gates at Tokyo Disneyland here is what we do…
See how I talked about “choosing that first ride” above? While you’re lining up for the much shorter queue there – get your passes and shows sorted for the next few hours.  I recommend doing this instead of just standing inside the park gates like most people tend to do- get the day started by getting to that first ride! – it’s more efficient AND way more fun. 

1. Line up your Entry Requests for Shows (if you don’t like shows  – ignore this step.)
On the Tokyo Disney Resort app, tap on Entry Request.   This is a lottery for seats to one of the shows.  We have the most success when trying for times later in the day – example the 4pm or 6pm shows. The reason I recommend this step first is so you can arrange the other fast passes around the show times. 
At Tokyo Disneyland, I recommend applying for “Mickey’s Magical Music World” and at Disneysea I recommend trying for “Dance the Globe.“
An entry request doesn’t cost any money. You will see straight away if you “won” seats to a show at that time. You can’t try again so I recommend applying for a later time in the day and hoping for the best (using this strategy – we have only missed out 1-2 times ever.). If you miss out? More time for rides – it’s ok.

2. Lock in your first 40th anniversary pass
This is the fast pass that doesn’t cost any money. Click the “40th anniversary pass” on the Tokyo Disney Resort App and then see which rides are an option for you. 
Top tip: don’t pick a time too far in advance.  Example: if it’s 9am – don’t choose the free fast pass for 4pm.  The reason? You can’t line up your next free fast pass until that one has finished.  Therefore, the smarter thing to do is to choose the 10 or 11am option – then, once you’ve been on that ride – you line up the next one!
I can’t really give advice on which anniversary passes to go for as the options vary with each day – however, at Tokyo Disneyland we definitely choose Pooh’s Hunny Hunt, the Haunted Mansion, Big Thunder Mountain, Monsters Inc if they are available.  And at Tokyo Disneysea we hope to see Indiana Jones, the Nemo Ride, Aquatopia* and  Jasmine’s Flying Carpets.  (basically check out the options compared to the ride wait times on the app to see which is the best time saver for you, on the day.) 
*Please note that Aquatopia is closing Sept 14, 2026.
For more of a detailed write up of the rides my kids like and which ones also have queues that are undercover etc see my Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo Disneysea with kids detailed blog posts. 

3. Line up your Premier passes (if this is something you want to do.)
A premier pass is a paid pass.  It skips the queue for certain rides.  Prices are usually 1500-2500 yen per person.  I, personally, recommend paying for 1-2 passes  for the day.  Just for the really good rides that would normally mean waiting for more than 1 hour.  We have a family rule that we never wait longer than 30-35 mins for rides – but with this “family rule” that would mean missing out on some of the more memorable rides.  So, we pay for 1-2 rides.  
For us the following rides are worth paying for and skipping the queue :

Tokyo Disneyland: Beauty & the Beast for sure.  Another good option to skip and pay for is Splash Mountain. 

Tokyo Disneysea:  The Frozen ride in Fantasy Springs (if you miss out on being able to buy this pass first thing- try again around 1pm as they release a new batch at that time most days) , Soaring, Tower of Terror, Toy Story Mania, Journey to the Centre of the Earth (if any of these are an option for the 40th anniversary pass – jump on them straight away.   At this point in time, the Fantasy Springs rides (Frozen, Rapunzel AND the Tinkerbell Ride are only available as paid premier passes so you will need to pay to ride on these – unless you have a Vacation Package, of course.)  The Rapunzel ride is lovely but it is VERY short and the Tinkerbell Ride is aimed at very small children. 

5. Souvenir Shopping
If you haven’t been to Japan before – you may not know about omiyage culture yet.   Omiyage mean souvenir – but in Japan it almost always refers to buying boxes of individually wrapped sweets or crackers.  In Japan, its customary to buy these boxes of treats for friends or colleagues when you go somewhere special or on holidays.  Kind of like a “I had fun but I still thought of you guys!” kind of thing.   They need to be individually wrapped as the box sits on the staff room table in the office at work so everyone can help themselves.
Because this is the “done thing” in Japan – this is big business for both of the Disney Parks.  Shops full of these treats are mostly near the park entrance/exit so guests can stock up before they leave.  The result though?  Insanity around 1-2 hours in these shops before the parks close (makes sense because you don’t want to carry around that shopping haul all day.) 
So avoid doing your shopping during those last 2 hours if you can. 
Try and buy things late afternoon (I speak about it in my blogs on both Disney Parks – but there aren’t that many toys for little kids sold at either park. There are some but more collectors items or seasonally themed goods (a Mickey Halloween Themed Stuffy, a Donald Photo Frame with the  Tokyo Disney’s 50th Anniversary Logo on the front etc.)    So just be careful what you promise kids – or pre-warn them if they have pocket money saved.  If they really have their hearts set on buying something at Tokyo Disneyland – I recommend going to “Toy Station” next to the Monsters Inc ride first.   I actually think the Disney Store (there is a big one at Ikspiari – the shopping complex next to Maihama Station near Tokyo Disneyland has more options for kids and teens – I have pictures of what I’ve found and bought here if you want to see). Another option is to go to Bon Voyage, the gift shop between Maihama Station and Tokyo Disneyland the day before or day after your Disney day instead (I also have pictures of the kinds of things sold at Bon Voyage in my Disney area with kids blog post here) – they sell a large portion of the park merch – and then you don’t have to worry about lugging it around all day. 

6. I keep track of passes and show times in my notes app

This helps me see what we have coming up and which times not to set up passes for – for example, if we want to see the “Reach for the Stars” projection show on the castle I add in the time to make sure I don’t book a ride over that time. 
It’s possible to pay for a Premier Pass for front row seating for this show. For us? We can see fine just by standing near the castle (near the entrance to Tomorrowland just before the bridge.) 
Warning: everyone leaves right after this show – so if you don’t like the idea of filing out with the masses – leave before or during this show. 

So, what do we do for the rest of the time then?
We fill in the spaces between free and paid fast passes with the short wait times.  We eat the cute food! We watch the parades! We shop and just explore! 
See my Tokyo Disneyland with kids and Tokyo Disneysea with kids blog posts on the shortest wait times and other fun things to do in each of the parks. 

This blog post contains some affiliate links. This means that I will receive a small commission if you book a hotel or make a purchase using one of my links – at no additional charge to you. 
*PLEASE NOTE THAT YOU DON’T NEED ANY SPECIAL TICKETS OF ANY SORT TO WATCH PARADES AT TOKYO DISNEYLAND.  There are some special front row seats that cost money for shows and some parades – but we never purchase them and have never needed them.  As I mention in my Tokyo Disneyland with kids blog post, we love watching from  outside Tomorrowland Terrace.  We set up our little picnic sheet (which I talk about this in my “what to pack for Disney article here”) around 30-45 mins before the parade starts and use that time to have a snack and a little rest – one parent takes kids to the restroom while the other keeps our spot.*. Then we get to be right at the front and the kids get to interact with the characters and wave and high 5 them etc.
Another spot we like (not as “secret” though so it’s harder to get a spot at the front) is in front of the castle – just to the left of the Walt Disney statue and in front of the Crystal Palace restaurant – looking back at the castle.

Disneysea doesn’t have parades in the same way Tokyo Disneyland does. Their shows are all on the big lake in front of the volcano or in smaller show stage arenas around the park. Read here for all the other differences between the two Tokyo Disney Parks.

OUR FAVOURITE TOKYO DISNEYLAND AND TOKYO DISNEYSEA SNACKS (AND WHERE TO BUY THEM!)
Here are pics of some food that we like to eat at Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo Disneysea without ever having to have made a reservation.  Most restaurants are just food court style or order as you go so I honestly don’t ever worry about pre-booking restaurants – especially with kids. As I mention in my Tokyo Disneyland with kids post – we often lay down our picnic mat ( I talk about this and other things to pack for a day out at Tokyo Disney Parks here) and eat lunch from one of the restaurants while waiting for the parade to begin – it helps us get in some downtime while also getting a proper feed and securing a spot at the front of the parade. 

DO I NEED TO RESERVE RESTAURANTS AT TOKYO DISNEYLAND AND TOKYO DISNEYSEA?

*You can reserve restaurants online but there really aren’t that many restaurants in Japanese Disneys that take reservations and it can slow you down if, like us, you like rides.  There are soooo many restaurants that don’t take reservations at all and you can just line up or use the app to pre-order (once you’re hungry and are in the park)  and collect at a time that you like.   

If you are the type of family who are hardcore Disney people and want to prioritise a dining experience over attractions then these are the restaurants I would look into booking in advance if I were you. Please note that you cannot make menu alterations at these restaurants. What is on the menu is how it comes.
*I must add that we don’t do this. We want to explore the parks and shows and keep moving! We can eat a delicious sit-down meal anywhere in Japan.

You can reserve some restaurants one month prior (reservations open exactly one month in advance at 10am Tokyo time on the official Tokyo Disney Resort site) and others just via the app once in the parks.
Some of the show restaurants will require the assistance of a travel agent.

TOKYO DISNEYLAND
The Blue Bayou
This restaurant is popular with couples in Japan. Looks like it is always night time and it can be seen from the start of the ride “The Pirates of the Carribean.”

The Crystal Palace Restaurant
This is a buffet lunch spot and they have actually added many vegan options. Best to book in advance or apply for a spot on the day. If you sit by the window you can even see some of the parade going by!

The Mickey’s Rainbow Luau
This is very hard to book as it is a show and restaurant. It is usually occupied with tour groups. If you are having a hard time making a reservation on the official Tokyo Disney Resort website, then I recommend asking a travel agent for assistance (JTB are the best at this, in my experience.

The Center Street Coffee House
This is the one pictured above that has the Baymax Curry Plate. You can make a reservation here using the app or you can just line up.

The Diamond Horseshoe
This is very hard to book as it is a show and restaurant. It is usually occupied with tour groups. If you are having a hard time making a reservation on the official Tokyo Disney Resort website, then I recommend asking a travel agent for assistance (JTB are the best at this, in my experience.

TOKYO DISNEYSEA
Magellan’s
This is a fine dining restaurant with food and wine pairing. Book one month in advance or you can try on the day using the app.

Ristorante di Canaletto
Italian food. Courses start at around 4000 yen per person. Book one month in advance or you can try on the day using the app.

Horizon Bay Restaurant
This can be a wonderful restaurant to book as it is buffet dining. Book one month in advance or you can try on the day using the app. Some timeslots and bookings offer character greetings while you dine (unfortunately these greetings haven’t come back since the pandemic closures.)

If kids need downtime / no waiting time / just a good wriggle. These are the spots that I recommend for a bit of lower stimulation time at the Tokyo Disney Parks.

Read here for lots of tips from many different parents on visiting Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo Disneysea with Neurodivergent children.

NEEDING A CHANGE OF SCENERY WITH KIDS AT TOKYO DISNEYLAND
Swiss Family Treehouse
From a grown-ups’ perspective, it’s really boring, but my kids love the Swiss Family Treehouse. It’s just a big playground.  My kids love it because it’s fun.  Hubby and I love it because there is no wait time.

Tom Sawyer Island
It’s a little island, accessible by (motorized) raft.  The island has rocks to climb, rope bridges to cross and caves to explore.  It’s a really good wriggle-spot.

A little play in Critter Country.
It’s nothing much but my kids love playing in the fake mountainside at the base of Splash Mountain. There are also some seats and a drinking fountain here too.

NEEDING A CHANGE OF SCENERY WITH KIDS AT TOKYO DISNEYSEA
Take the Disney Transit Steam Liner

Ariel’s Playground
From a grown-up perspective it’s not the most exciting section – but my kids love Ariel’s Playground.
The playground is an under-the-sea type Jungle Gym with a boat to climb on and caves to explore.  My family  love it because of all the different activities.  My hubby and I love it because there is also no wait time.
It’s a beautiful little kid-friendly oasis from all the queues while visiting Tokyo Disneysea.

The Agrabah Area
There are lots of places to take cute photos and it’s a great spot to meet the characters. No wait times. Just explore for 10 -15 mins or so as a family. Look for little door handles and fountains and little nods to different disney movies throughout the whole space.

The area next to the Soarin’ ride
The area between the Soarin’ ride and the Zambini Bros is like a little fake Italy film set or something. Take a quiet walk through here. Grab a treat and sit at Zambini Bros on the terrace section. Little kids may love walking up and down the thick stone-like stairs here too. See which windows you can look into.
This area also has a view over the big lake so you can watch the Journey to the Center of the earth rollercoaster pop out on the side of the volcano and, if you’re lucky, see the flames come out of the volcano every once in a while.

O TOKYO DISNEY PARKS HAVE A CHILD SWAP RIDE SYSTEM? 
Yes. They do ! In Tokyo it is called the Rider Switch system. This is great if you have a baby with you or kids that don’t meet the height requirements for a certain ride. There is no need to prebook or anything – just let the staff members know you will be using Rider Switch while you are in the line. 

The rides with a Rider Switch System at Tokyo Disneyland are:
– Big Thunder Mountain
-Splash Mountain
-Star Tours

Here is more information on the Rider Switch system at Tokyo Disney Parks. 

The good news is that there are many many more rides that you CAN still jump onto (waddle onto) but here is the list of no-nos at Tokyo Disneyland:

• Big Thunder Mountain
• Splash Mountain
• Gadget Go Coaster
• Star Tours
• Space Mountain (please note that Space Mountain is closed for renovations until 2027 )
  
  
• And here are the rides that are not recommended for pregnant women at Tokyo Disneysea.
• Tower of Terror
• Indiana Jones
• Raging Spirits
• Journey to the Center of the Earth
• Flounder’s Flying Fishing Coaster
• Nemo & Friends

Also, did you know that you can request a Guest Assistance Card if you’re pregnant and can’t stand in line for a long period of time.  Unfortunately, this doesn’t speed up the waiting process (so don’t even think about packing that watermelon to shove under your shirt, ok?) but it does mean that, if you’re pregnant at Tokyo Disneyland or Tokyo Disneysea, the staff will escort you to a place where you can sit while you wait.

See here if you’re keen to learn more about the Fantasy Springs section at Tokyo Disneysea.

See here if you don’t have time for both parks – I’ve broken down the differences to help you decide (also based on what your children are interested in.)

KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR THE OH-SO JAPAN MOMENTS AT TOKYO DISNEY PARKS

Warning:  There is no free wifi in the park (or even a pay to use option – which is crazy to me!). This is another reason I recommend using a rental wifi box option like Japan Wireless- my favourite company to use.  If you do book with Japan Wireless, I have a 25% off discount link here -it’s an affiliate link so I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.  Japan Wireless also have an option now for esims so you also don’t need to pick up or return a box at all – you just pay on their site and receive a QR code and off you go!  Please use their “e-sims supported phones list” before making a purchase – the list is easily found on their homepage.    Click here for 10% off your esim using my affiliate link.

This blog post contains some affiliate links. This means that I will receive a small commission if you book a hotel or make a purchase using one of my links – at no additional charge to you. 

And what if it rains on the days you’re at Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo Disneysea?
Please please please don’t go home!
Rainy days are a blessing in disguise.
For some reason, most Japanese people freak out about the rain. Mostly because many people can visit again more easily than international visitors so it’s not as much of a big deal to just “give up” on the day.
Stay ! Stay and watch those ride wait times go down down down down down!!
Recently it rained and the Beauty and the Beast ride wait time at Tokyo Disneyland went from 120 mins to 20 mins!!!!!! The rain can mean you can do many of the big rides many times over.
Most parades don’t stop for rain (although they do stop for strong winds.)

If it’s raining really hard at Tokyo Disneyland go to :
Mickey’s Philharmagic
Star Tours (all undercover)
Country Bear Theatre
Cinderella’s Fairy Tale Hall
Peter Pan’s Flight
Pinocchio
Snow White. *There is a place to park strollers here out of the rain too
Roger Rabbit’s Cartoon Spin
Pirates of the Caribbean (most of the line is undercover too)
It’s a Small World (most of the line is undercover too)
Splash Mountain (most of the line is undercover too)
Haunted Mansion (most of the line is undercover too)
Pooh’s Hunny Hunt (most of the line is undercover too)
Beauty and the Beast (most of the line is undercover too)
Monsters Inc (most of the line is undercover too)

If it’s raining really hard at Tokyo Disneysea go to :
Sinbad (the best rainy day option – short wait time so just do it over and over!)
The Mermaid Lagoon
Caravan Carousel
Nemo & Friends
Indiana Jones
Journey to the Centre of the Earth
The Duffy Greeting Dock (most of the line is undercover too)　
Tower of Terror (most of the line is undercover too)
The Frozen or Peter Pan ride within Fantasy Springs