Aug 20, 2017

5 Things You Should Know Before Visiting Tokyo Disneyland / DisneySea


Disneyland
I had my first Disney experience while in Tokyo. Since Disney has two theme parks, my initial plan was a 2D1N plan to get an evening pass for Disneyland and then next day a full day pass for DisneySea. However, in the end I chose to do a 3D2N journey to Disney while purchasing a 2-days pass so I don't have to rush around.

Ticket
1. Tickets
  • Purchase your ticket beforehand. I got mine at the Disney store in Shibuya which provides actual ticket so that I could enter immediately. 
    • The ticket is slightly smaller than a card size so it is convenient to carry around.
    • You may also purchase tickets online via the official website (except between 3am-5am JST) or using websites like Klook to get it at a discounted price.
      • Check out the types of park tickets available here.
    • Purchasing online also enables you to enter the park directly but
      •  You will need to print the e-ticket on an A4 paper (no smaller) or get it delivered to you (in Japan only). 
  • You cannot visit both Disneyland and DisneySea in one day using the same ticket.
    •  You will have to select which park you would like to visit for your 1-day pass.
    • I specified the dates I wanted to visit each park so it is clearly stated on my ticket. Don't go to the wrong park!
    • Unless you purchase 2 different passes, your can visit both park within one day. But that is really expensive and not worth it.
      • 2-days pass is cheaper than buying two 1-day pass.
      • Personally, I feel that it would be better to spend the entire day at one park so that you get the full experience. I will write about the differences of each park in a separate blog post.

Hotel
(image credit: booking.com)
2. Accomodation
  • To get to Urayasu city, it was about 1 hour+ journey via train from Shibuya. I decided to book an accommodation at MYSTAYS Shin-Urayasu Conference Center.
    • This is because after spending a full day in Disneyland / DisneySea, I did not want to spend my time commuting back to Shibuya and then doing the same thing the next day. I would be dead tired by then.
    • Also, it is much more affordable compared to Disney Resort. As nice as the Disney resort looks, the pricing is just too high for me to afford. 
  • Besides that, MYSTAYS also provide free shuttle bus (scheduled) to Disneyland and DisneySea (around 20 mins depending on traffic) which is a plus point on why I booked the place.
    • Hotel chains under MYSTAYS in Shinurayasu also provides the same shuttle bus service, such as FLEXSTAY INN which has a 7-11 around the corner. The one that I stayed at did not have a convenience store nearby.
    • To head back to the hotel, it is still free but we have be at the meeting point around Maihama train station and wait for the bus.

Disney
3. Timing
  • Don't go during the Japan school holidays or weekends as it will be super crowded. 
    • I went during weekdays (Wed & Thurs) and still had to queue for a minimum of 40 minutes for those popular rides. 
  • Go early. Double check on the opening & closing times of each park as it varies daily.
    • Best to go once the park opens as the fast pass can run out quickly.
  • Check out the:
    • Park operational calendar here.
    • Scheduled temporary closure of certain rides / attractions here.

Disney
4. Fast Pass
  • Hate queueing? Too bad.
  • There is no such thing as purchasing a fast pass unlike Universal Studios.  You will have to work walk for it. 
    • Get hold of the park map once you pass through the ticket scanner and they will indicate which rides have fast pass and head over accordingly.
      • Or you can download the park maps here.
    • Rides that have a fast pass will have a fast pass machine located next to the ride.
    • Each fast pass will indicate the time slot allocated for you. Make sure to go to that ride before the time period ends!
    • Fast pass can run out quickly, so do prioritize!
  • How to get the fast pass using your Disneyland / DisneySea ticket?
    •  There will be a barcode printed at the back which you have to scan in the machine and a fast pass will be printed out for your ride. The fast pass must be given to the staff before your enter.
      • If it is a popular ride, you will still have to queue will waiting for your turn at the fast pass zone.
    • If you want to go back to the same ride, you either have to queue, or get another fast pass (if it has not run out yet).
  • Not all rides have fast pass so you can go ahead and queue for other rides while waiting for your slot once you have gotten the fast pass.
  • Also, here is a time period you have to wait before getting the another fast pass. You can't go to each fast pass station and expect to get the fast pass immediately.

Disney
5. Others
  • Attire: Wear comfortable shoes as there is a lot of walking to do! 
  • Food: Definitely not cheap but some of the stalls are reasonable if you don't mind having snacks instead of proper meal. I purchased about 2-3 onigiri (Japanese Rice Balls) from the convenience store before making my trip to Disneyland / Disneysea.

That is all for now! Don't forget to check out my Disneyland and DisneySea vlog below :)





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