With the finest theming and some of the world’s best attractions, Tokyo Disney Resort has long earned its right of being the place “where dreams come true”. This magnificent resort is home to Tokyo Disneyland – modeled after the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World; and the world’s only Tokyo DisneySea – a unique Disney park based on nautical exploration themes.
Cinderella Castle with 30th Anniversary decorations and Natsu Matsuri stage, Tokyo Disneyland
Mount Prometheus, Tokyo DisneySea
Both parks are owned and operated by Oriental Land Company under a license from Disney. Despite that (or maybe because of that), the parks are absolutely amazing: Both parks are huge, full of extremely immersive theming, and packed with incredible rides and shows, and of course, a large ensemble of passionate cast members. Tokyo DisneySea has also been revered by many as the best theme park in the world.
The Happiness Year
This year, the resort is celebrating the 30th Anniversary, filling the parks with jubilant festivities and special programmes for The Happiness Year.
I’ve been wanting to visit the Disney resort in Japan for a very, very long time. My last trip was a group tour back in 2002 – back then DisneySea celebrated its first anniversary and Pooh’s Hunny Hunt was the “it ride” at Tokyo Disneyland. A lot of things have changed since then. So obviously, this would be a good time for me to finally travel to the parks for The Happiness Year.
I spent four days at the parks with my sister and came back with fantastic memories, adorable merchandise and… an incredible amount of photos. Even then, it’s not enough to showcase the park in its entirety – I have to visit the park again someday.
The Grand Photo Tour of Tokyo Disney Resort
My next project will be The Grand Photo Tour of Tokyo Disney Resort, an extended series (with around 40 entries planned) which would probably last a few months. I’ll be writing features to bring you on a virtual tour around themed areas and attractions at both Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea. This is going to be a very long series which I will be posting regularly, with a target of three entries per week.
If you enjoyed reading my previous series on Hong Kong Disneyland, you will love this new series. There is a LOT more photo and several attractions will have in-depth tours of their elaborate queues – some even with bonus on-ride photos!
The accompanying write-up will be kept as succinct as possible, otherwise I will be writing 2000 words x 40+ entries publishing a book when I’m done with this.
At the moment I am still finalizing the complete list of features – after that I’ll sieve through thousands of photos, edit them, and start writing. I believe it would be most useful to start the series documenting how I got to the resort from Narita Airport, with some tips and useful information. So that will be the first few entries before the actual Grand Tour.
The Grand Photo Tour of Tokyo Disney Resort – First Wave
Tokyo Disney Resort – Getting There and Around
Internet at the Tokyo Disney Theme parks (A Pocket Wi-Fi Review)
Tokyo Disney Resort theme parks – Tips and Tricks
Now, if there’s anything you want to see or know about first, do post your requests here via comments or contact me using my site’s form. Otherwise I’ll will have features from both parks in an alternating order.
My dear readers, if you’ve visited any of the Tokyo Disney Resort theme parks, I’d like to love to hear your opinions and experiences too. These two parks are very, very different from Universal Studios Singapore – the park I’m very familiar with so it would be nice to get some thoughts from readers who have been to USS and Tokyo Disney Resort theme parks as well.
An Introduction | Getting There and Around | Pocket Wi-Fi | Tips and Tricks
Tokyo DisneySea
Mediterranean Harbor | Mediterranean Harbor at night | Fortress ExplorationsMagellan's | American Waterfront | Tower of Terror | Toy Story Mania!
Port Discovery | Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Crystal Skull
Lost River Delta & Raging Spirits | Sindbad's Storybook Voyage
Arabian Coast | Arabian Coast at night | Mermaid Lagoon
Mysterious Island | Journey to the Center of the Earth
Mysterious Island at night & 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
Tokyo Disneyland
World Bazaar | World Bazaar at night | Adventureland | Pirates of the CaribbeanWesternland & Big Thunder Mountain Railroad | Splash Mountain
Haunted Mansion | Pooh's Hunny Hunt | Fantasyland | Fantasyland at night
Cinderella's Fairy Tale Hall | Toon Town | Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin
Monsters, Inc. Ride & Go Seek | Star Tours: The Adventures Continue
Tomorrowland & Space Mountain | Happiness is Here Parade
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I visited the Tokyo Disney Resort for the first time this past May, also in the Happiness Year. I’ve been going to the US parks for the past 16 years, and this resort easily trumps all. I was completely amazed from start to finish during my five days. It was fascinating to see not only the rides and areas unique to the resort, but to compare and contrast the parks and specific attractions to their North American counterparts/originals. It’s a better theme park experience, it’s run and designed more efficiently than any of the other parks and somehow boasts DisneySea, a park that I could easily spend days in even if it had no rides. I can’t say that about any of the other resorts. I felt a certain “magic” at the Tokyo resort that I don’t think I’ve felt since I turned 4 at the Magic Kingdom!
I totally agree with every word, Phil! There is a special sort of magic going on, and Tokyo DisneySea… really doesn’t feel like a theme park at all.
Glad to hear that you have a wonderful time at Tokyo Disney Resort! 4 days at the park? WOW! Are you staying around the resort?
Looking forward to read your future postings, especially Tips & Tricks and Getting There & Around! Of course, all your beautiful photos too!
Hi Allan,
Yes, I stayed around the resort – there’ll be a short review on the hotel in the next entry! 🙂
I visited Tokyo Disney Resort several times. I believe Tokyo disney sea is the most beautiful Disney Park. I recall seeing how ‘lost’ the Lost River Delta, how ‘jazzy’ American Waterfront was. It was really2 beautiful.
Excited to wait for your post dejiki!
Well,I visited earlier in March this year.I have visited Hong Kong 2 times over the past few years(which was great) and was completely blown away by Tokyo.There were exclusive items only found there and the night parade was fabulous.If not for the crowds and the wet weather I experienced on the 2nd night(I was visiting DisneySea),I would really enjoy my visit.
Hey, I just went to Tokyo Disney Resort in mid-July! I did not have so much time so just 4.5 hours at Disneyland (from 6pm onwards) and one day at DisneySea.
DisneySea is amazing it is hard to believe that it is man-made. Sadly Toy Story Mania was down for maintenance, even the shop was closed! I’d love to visit the resort and Tokyo again. It is an amazing resort in an amazing city.