Written by: Zunita Ramli
With some light on the Japan border opening starting from June, one might want to be ready for the trip to Japan soon! With many places and attractions in Japan that tourists want to go to, I strongly recommend going to Tokyo Disneyland (and also Disneysea!).
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Why Tokyo Disneyland?
These are some reasons why Disneyland SHOULD be on your bucket list!
- Located not far from the Tokyo Metropolitan area and easily accessible by public transport.
- Tokyo Disney seems to have more attractions that can’t be found anywhere else, while many of Disney World’s popular rides have been replicated at other parks.
- Tokyo Disney gets parades and shows. There is always a seasonal event with shows, decorations, foods, and merchandise that makes you want to visit again.
- The new areas are coming in every several years which is so much exciting!
…and more!
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How to Get There?
From Narita Airport
I recommend getting to Tokyo Disney Resort from Narita Airport by bus rather than by train. A bus takes less time to get there while it’s a little more expensive. And it is much easier to use than the complicated train system.
Time: 60 mins (bus)/65–75 mins (train)
If you want to go by train, take a train to Tokyo Station, and then change trains at Tokyo Station to JR Musashino Line or JR Keiyo Line to Maihama Station.
From Haneda Airport
From Haneda Airport, buses should be the first option. The time and fare needed are almost the same as each other. But it’s even easier for foreign tourists to use buses than a train which requires changing trains several times.
Time: 45 mins (bus)/30 mins (train)
If you want to go by train, take a train to Tokyo Station, and then change trains at Tokyo Station to JR Musashino Line or JR Keiyo Line to Maihama Station.
The Disney train on the Disney Resort Line (from Maihama Station) makes all of us excited a lot!
From Tokyo Station
In the case of Tokyo Station, trains are convenient since you don’t need to change any trains. All you need is to get on JR Keiyo Line or JR Musashino Line and get off at Maihama Station.
Time: 35 mins (bus)/17 mins (train)
From Shinjuku Station
Shinjuku Station has BUSTA, one of the largest bus terminals in Tokyo in front of its south exit. Buses run from 6:40 AM–to 9:50 AM. You need to go to the terminal and take an express bus to Disneyland.
In case of the train, take JR Saikyo Line to Shinkiba Station and get off at Shinkiba Station. Then, change trains to JR Keiyo Line to Maihama Station.
Time: 50 mins (bus)/45 mins (train)
Purchasing Disneyland Tickets
Park tickets can be purchased through the Tokyo Disney website or from Tokyo Disney Resort Application. For the time being, only guests who have purchased fixed-date tickets online, or guests who were successful in the Park admission lottery, will be admitted.
Depending on your condition, ticket type, and day that you choose, the ticket price is ranging from JPY3,800 (1-Day Passport, child with disabilities) up to JPY9,400 (1-Day Passport, adult).
Please also note that;
- Ticket booths are currently closed.
- Up to 5 Park tickets may be purchased at a time.
So, make sure to purchase your fixed-date ticket! You can just show your ticket QR code for entering the park, or if you are worried about something unexpected, print it in advance!
Now everything is ready, let’s have some tips on how we can enjoy Tokyo Disneyland to the fullest. But you might wonder, why do you need tips to enjoy Disneyland?
Here is the thing.
Tokyo Disneyland is not as same as other theme parks. In a normal situation, waiting time to play rides in Tokyo Disneyland can be up to 180 minutes or 3 hours! So if you do not have some tips you might not enjoy Disneyland as you wish, and would end up wasting your time, money, and energy – which you could avoid.
The Tips to Enjoy Disneyland to the Fullest!
First of all, we highly recommend downloading the Tokyo Disney Resort application in advance (which explains in details on no. 5 below!)
1. Plan your rides
This is the first step and very important. On average, one can enjoy a maximum of up to 7-8 rides out of 39 rides in Tokyo Disneyland per day, using a normal 1-Day Passport ticket in a normal crowd. That is to say, if the crowd is more, you might enjoy lesser rides and vice versa.
Having to know this fact, it is advisable to choose a maximum of 8 rides in advance that you targeting to experience in Disneyland.
2. Print Tokyo Disneyland Map
To help your planning, it is advisable to print the Tokyo Disneyland map in advance. Please note that now there is no more printed map available in Tokyo Disneyland. If you are a paper map person, this step is also very important.
You can download the map here: https://www.tokyodisneyresort.jp/en/tdl/map.html
If you prefer not to print, you can also refer to the map on the Tokyo Disneyland website, also on the same link above.
3. Pay Attention to the Shows and Parades
When planning for your rides, make sure to pay attention to the show and parade times in the park. There are basically 4 shows/parades in a day and each show comes in a different way! If you are first time to go to Disneyland, make sure not to miss all these shows!
Another reason is when they organize a parade, some of the routes will be closed and inaccessible. If you are traveling in a group, you might be separated from your group and stuck in the middle. So, make sure of this!
4. Bring Supplies
Some might overlook this. It is advisable to bring some food (if you are Muslim or someone who has food allergies), a power bank, and a mat.
Foods – For Muslims or someone who has food allergies, it is allowable to bring outside foods as mentioned on their FAQ page. You can enjoy your food at the picnic area (outside the park, you can exit and enter back the park) or you can enjoy your food inside the restaurant. But make sure to tell the staff there that you have food allergies and special reasons that you cannot eat meals provided inside the park.
Powerbank – of course, you will take a lot of photos, and videos and will be using a lot of your phone and camera. So, it is a good idea if you can bring your own power bank! If you happen to forget to bring it, there are power bank rental spots around toilets.
Mat – During the show or parade, you can use this mat to sit and enjoy the show. So your cloth will not get dirty.
5. Download the Tokyo Disneyland app
Since there is no longer a paper map in the park, the Tokyo Disney app is very convenient. Apart from being your virtual map, this app also can show the waiting time of the rides, in real-time! You will need this application to be able to ride!
Another interesting feature of this app is you can request the “Entry request” and “Standby Pass” via this app.
Entry Request
Entry Request is a request pass that we need to apply. In laymen’s terms, it is like a “virtual ticket” that we require in order for us to see some shows or to take photos with Disney characters. Entry request is limited, first come first serve.
Standby Pass
Standby Pass is like a VIP pass. If you have this Standby Pass, you can skip the queue. Like Entry Request, Standby Pass is also limited. First-come first-serve basis.
Interestingly, both Entry Request and Standby Pass can only be applied using the app when you are inside Tokyo Disneyland. Since it is limited, if you come late to Tokyo Disneyland, you might miss both of the passes. After all, it is a tough game.
6. Prayer Space
Just go to the Main Street House (an information center) that is located close to the entrance and tell the staff that you want to use the prayer space. You can take ablution (wudhu) in the washroom nearby.
7. Recommended Rides
These are the rides that I recommend trying:
- Snow White’s Adventures
- Peter Pan’s Flight
- Enchanted Tale of Beauty and The Beast
- Pooh’s Hunny Hunt
- Gadget’s Go Coaster
- Star Tours: The Adventures Continue
- Space Mountain
- Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters
- Splash Mountain
- Big Thunder Mountain
- Pirated of Caribbean
- Jungle Cruise: Wildlife Expeditions
So, are you ready for your next adventure at Tokyo Disneyland?
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Halal Foods at The Tokyo Disney Resort
