Tokyo DisneySea Guide: Best Things to Do

Tokyo DisneySea is, along with Tokyo Disneyland, one of the most popular spots for both Japanese and international visitors who come to Tokyo. DisneySea is a more laid-back version of Disneyland, providing a different, but equally enjoyable experience for visitors of all ages. Many international visitors would even say they are more interested in DisneySea because it is a Disney theme park unique to Japan.

Tokyo DisneySea is, as its name implies, an ocean-themed amusement park that centers its motifs on “Navigating the seas of adventure and imagination”. Although it doesn’t have as many rides compared to Disneyland, it has many other things to offer such as great food and drinks, attractions based on real events of history, and a more romantic atmosphere.

It is pretty much impossible to enjoy it all in a single day and it can be overwhelming for first-time visitors to decide what to do. In this article, we are sharing with you the best things to do as well as tips to spend your limited time at Tokyo DisneySea wisely.

*Please note that this article contains affiliate links.

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1. Tokyo DisneySea Overview

Tokyo DisneySea opened in September 2001 as the second Disney theme park within Tokyo Disney Resort. The park welcomes around 13,000,000 visitors annually (as of 2019) making it the fifth most visited amusement park in the world.

It was created as the adult version of Disneyland. You will find restaurants with more refined food, a larger variety of alcoholic beverages, more places to sit down to rest, and a more romantic atmosphere. But this doesn’t mean children can’t enjoy this park. It has many rides that you won’t find at other Disney parks around the world and even the things you can purchase at the shops are different.

To come to Tokyo DisneySea is to experience a type of Disney you won’t be able to experience at any other Disney resort around the world.

▶︎Get NOW your tickets for Tokyo Disney Resort!

2. Attractions

As I briefly mentioned, Tokyo DisneySea doesn’t have as many attractions as Tokyo Disneyland has, having 29 attractions as opposed to Disneyland’s 39. However, each of these attractions is filled with lore and in many cases based on real historical events, making each ride a more satisfactory experience.

Even though there are not as many attractions as Disneyland, it is still pretty much impossible to get on every single ride. However, there are some tricks for you to move around the park in a more efficient way.

One thing you can do is download the Tokyo Disney Resort app. This app will not only provide you with a detailed map of the park but also indicate how long are the ques at every attraction.

Another thing you can do is to get one(or some) of the various special passes that the park provides to make your park experience even more efficient.

*Note: There used to be a “Fastpass” that minimizes the waiting time in line for attractions. However, this Fastpass has been discontinued.

There is the Standby Pass which is a system that was put into place in order to avoid too much congestion in a single place. There are some attractions and shops that require you to get this Standby Pass. You can get it via the Tokyo Disney Resort app, or if you don’t have the app or a smartphone, you can just ask a cast member at the park.

There is also the Disney Premier Access which is similar to the discontinued “Fastpass”. This service was implemented in may 2022, and allows you to select designated times to enjoy certain experiences. You will be able to enjoy an attraction of your choice with a shorter wait time.

And for a limited period, there is also the 40th-anniversary Priority Pass which is part of its “Dream-Go-Round” celebration. This pass will be available for 14 experiences at both Disney resort parks to allow guests to enjoy with a reduced wait time. This free-of-charge service will also be accessible from the Tokyo Disney Resort app.

Ok, so now here are 5 of the best rides in Tokyo DisneySea!

Tower of Terror

The Tower of Terror is arguably the most thrilling attraction in all of Tokyo Disney Resort. It is based on a horror story in New York. You will take the “elevator” to the top of the building and suddenly fall straight down from a height of 40 meters.

Toy Story Mania!

Toy Story Mania! is one of DisneySea’s most popular rides. It is like a type of shooting game where you will find yourself in the toy’s world under Andy’s bed. Be prepared to wait for a while in line to experience this one.

Journey to the Center of the Earth

If you like speedy rides, Journey to the Center of the Earth is the ride for you. It is the fastest ride attraction in Tokyo Disney Resort, reaching speeds of 75km/hour. It will certainly be a ride you won’t forget.

Soaring: Fantastic Flight

You begin by taking a look at the Museum of Fantastic Flight. After you have looked around, you will be taken on a ride around the world. A magical experience to see real-world sceneries!

Indiana Jones® Adventure: Temple of the Crystal Skull

Experience the temple tours organized by Paco, a friend of Dr. Indiana Jones. Indiana Jones’s world is recreated with great detail. Can you survive the adventure with the Crystal Skull’s rage?

3. Shows and Parades

Tokyo DisneySea also offers a variety of spectacular shows and parades. The most famous one is “Believe! Sea of Dreams” which is held over the Mediterranean Harbor in the center of the park right after the sun sets. You can get to see your favorite Disney characters dancing and waving at you while riding big boats lit up with millions of lights.

If you want a clear view of the show, you will have to look for a good spot about an hour before the show even begins. Popular spots include: in front of Cafe Portofino, in front of Piazza Topolino (known as Mickey’s Piazza), and on Lido Isle.

4. Foods

As I previously mentioned, The food at Tokyo DisneySea is something you can’t miss out on. From the light snacks that you can eat while heading to the next ride to the fancy restaurants. There is so much that needs to be tasted, but so little time in a day. So here are just some of the most popular foods you can have when you visit DisneySea.

When it comes to snacks, there are the classic Churros and popcorn which you can also have at Disneyland. However, there are some snacks you will only be able to taste here in DisneySea such as the Float Shaped Shrimp Bun (うきわまん) and the Dumpling Bun (ギョウザドッグ). The Shrimp bun, also known as Ukiwaman, is cute and the shrimp flavor is mouthwatering. And the Dumpling Bun, also known as Gyoza Dog, is one of the most popular foods in the park among foreign visitors.

By the way, when it comes to popcorn, you can find “Garlic Shrimp” flavor popcorn only here at DisneySea.

Also, if you are over the age of 20, you should try some of the great alcoholic beverages they offer in DisneySea. The variety of these is much larger than what they offer at Disneyland. You may notice that the snacks you’ll find here will match beautifully with your alcoholic drink. Some of the popular drinks include the Sparkling Cocktail (fruit liqueur & kiwi) which is colorful and has small pieces of fruit and the Beer Cocktail (Peach & Blue Syrup) which is another colorful and tasty combination.

5. Souvenirs

Another must-do thing that makes us excited when going to DisneySea is buying souvenirs. From the classic hairbands with the mouse ears to cookies to take back home. You will find such a wide variety of things you will only be able to purchase at the park. Some are more popular than others, but some of these souvenirs are limited editions, making them even more popular.

One thing I will warn you is that you shouldn’t go buy souvenirs at the last minute before going home. Many people will be thinking the same thing, resulting in shops overflowing. Besides, the most popular items will be gone by then. What we suggest is for you to go before midday, purchase all you need, then go to a coin locker (there are several locations within the park) to store all that you bought so you won’t have to carry it along with you the entire day.

6. Hotels

As I previously mentioned, it is pretty much impossible to enjoy all that the park has to offer in a single day. Even more, there is also Tokyo Disneysea which is a whole other theme park. So what many people like to do is to stay at a hotel and enjoy Tokyo Disney Resort for several days. And the hotels you will find here are just some of the most wonderful ones you will encounter during your stay in Japan.

Hotel Miracosta

Hotel Miracosta is the only hotel located within Tokyo DisneySea. The same atmosphere and feel that you experience at DisneySea can be also felt in the rooms. You can even get a special benefit to admit DisneySea 15 minutes earlier than everyone else, having an entrance directly connected to Tokyo DisneySea. You will also have other benefits that only apply for people staying at this hotel.

For more hotels nearby Tokyo Disneysea, check out the following article.

7. Tickets

The easiest and safest way to purchase tickets for Disneysea is to do it via their official website. Disneysea tickets are fixed-date tickets and their price varies depending on the day. You can choose to purchase your ticket by date or by ticket type. When it comes to ticket types, there is a wide variety from which you can choose. From 1-day admission tickets and half-day tickets to even more specific ones such as “after 5 pm on weekdays” tickets. The following are some examples for your reference.

*Note: As I mentioned before, ticket prices may vary. The following prices are an estimate, so be sure to check their website beforehand.

1-day Ticket: 8,400 yen~ (over 18)/7,000 yen~ (age 12–17)/5,000 yen~ (age 4–11)

Ticket (after 5PM on weekdays only): 4,800 yen~ (over age 4 )

Ticket (after 3PM on weekends & holidays only): 6,800 yen~ (over 18)/5,600 yen~ (age 12–17)/4,000 yen~ (age 4–11)

*Children ages 3 & under are admitted for free.

▶︎Get NOW your tickets for Tokyo Disney Resort!

8. Access

There are three main ways you can choose to go to Tokyo Disneysea. It is either by train, bus or by private transsfer. If you choose to take a bus, then there are buses that will take you directly to the entrance of the park. On the other hand, if you choose to go by train, the nearest train station is Maihama (舞浜駅) of the Keiyo Line (京葉線) which you can take from Tokyo station. In this case, you will need to take the Disney Resort Line from Maihama station to Tokyo Disneysea.

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Information

Access	From Maihama Station, take the Disney Resort Line to the entrance
Business Hours	9:00-21:00
Official Website	https://www.tokyodisneyresort.jp/tds/

For more details on the time it takes and how much it costs, check out the following article.

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