The Ultimate Guide to 2 Days at Tokyo Disney, Japan

When in Japan, visiting Tokyo Disney is a must for any Disney fan. The Tokyo Disney Resort contains two parks: Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo Disney Sea as well as ten hotels and a shopping district. It was the first Disney Park to open outside of the United States and opened with great success. Although not outright owned by Disney, Disney still has control over the design of things in the parks. The mix of Disney with Japanese culture makes spending 2 days at Tokyo Disney a great addition to any Japan itinerary.

Where to Stay for 2 Days at Tokyo Disney

Although Tokyo Disney Resort contains some gorgeous hotels, they are not the most budget-friendly option. I recommend staying in Tokyo and taking the metro out to Tokyo Disney for the day. This will save you quite a bit of money! In Tokyo, we stayed at the Sotetsu Fresa Inn Tokyo Kyobashi and have also stayed at APA Hotel Ginza-Kyobashi. Both hotels cost around $100/night and are located near Tokyo Station and the Ginza District.

TripAdvisor is a great place to start your hotel search. Search for the best Tokyo hotels here! You can also check out these hotels to stay at:

• Hilton Tokyo Bay
• Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay Hotel
• Hyatt Regency Tokyo Bay
• Tokyo Disneyland Hotel
• Ibis Styles Tokyo Bay
• Toy Story Resort Hotel

How to get to Tokyo Disney

It is very easy to get to Tokyo Disney by public transportation as there is a dedicated JR station for Tokyo Disney. From Tokyo Station, get on the JR Keiyo Line or the JR Musashino Line. Take it to Maihama Station. This will cost you $2 and take around 20 minutes.

Transportation around Tokyo Disney Resort

Upon arrival at the Tokyo Disney Resort, it is a short walk to Tokyo Disneyland. To get to Tokyo Disney Sea, visitors need to hop on the Disney Resort Monorail. The monorail cost about $2.50/ride. Right next to the Maihama Station is the resort’s largest souvenir store: Bon Voyage. The Ikspiari Shopping District is also located next to the JR station.

Tokyo Disney Tickets

The easiest way to buy tickets is on the Tokyo Disney website. You can buy them through Klook, a website similar to Groupon, which can be a slightly cheaper option. Note that Tokyo Disney Resort does NOT offer park hopper tickets unless you buy a 3-day ticket. If you want to visit both parks, plan on spending two days at Tokyo Disney. 

Tips for Spending 2 Days at Tokyo Disney

The Japanese are a very orderly culture. Therefore, while in the Tokyo Disney Resort, every attraction, food stall, and store has very orderly lines. Please remember to respect that! However, everyone is always very excited to get into the park, so that can be a little chaotic. The staff even has to hold signs to tell people to not run!

When spending 2 days at Tokyo Disney, the Japanese also like to dress up in matching outfits or are completely decked out in Disney apparel. It is not uncommon to see an entire group wearing the same exact outfit from head to toe. So, if you plan on going with a large group, it is fun to match as much as you can. At the very least, make sure to wear a Disney shirt!

Make sure to utilize Fastpasses. Fastpasses are a way to somewhat skip the line. Basically, you reserve a spot for a later time. You will be given a one-hour window of when to return. Once it is time to return, visitors will be directed to a special shorter line that gives you priority for the ride. Visitors can only get one Fastpass at a time. You can get the next one once it is time for you to return to your ride or two hours later… whichever comes first. It will tell you what time you can get another Fastpass at the bottom of your ticket. This is a great way to get to ride more rides during two days at Tokyo Disney.

The Parks at Tokyo Disney Resort

Day 1: Tokyo Disneyland

The 115-acre Tokyo Disneyland opened in 1983 and was the first Disney Park built outside of the United States. It is the third oldest Disney Park in the world. Set up similar to the original Disneyland, Tokyo Disneyland contains seven different lands to explore. The attractions are based on Disney films and characters. Visitors will be able to see most of the park in a day and is the perfect start to two days at Tokyo Disney.

Lands of Tokyo Disneyland

World Bazaar

Upon entry to the park, visitors will enter the World Bazaar. Similar to the Main Street of other Disney parks, the World Bazaar contains numerous shops and restaurants. It also has an early 1900s America feel. Unlike the other Disney Main Streets, the World Bazaar is covered and splits off into two directions. One route heads to Tomorrowland and the other to Adventureland. 

Tomorrowland

After entering the park, I recommend heading to Tomorrowland so to get a Fastpass for Space Mountain, one of the main roller-coaster attractions in the park. Tomorrowland is futuristic themed and contains many space-style rides. Star Tours and Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters are two such rides. Make sure not to miss the unique and interactive Monster’s Inc: Ride and Go Seek, where visitors get to play flashlight tag with Boo. Another one-of-a-kind attraction is the Stitch Encounter where visitors can chat with Stitch while he is in space. 

Toontown

From Tomorrowland, the next land is Toontown, which is similar to the Toontown at Disneyland in California. Although this land only contains two rides, Roger Rabbit’s Cartoon Spin and the Gadget Go-Coaster, there are tons of interactive stops for younger kids. In Roger Rabbit’s Cartoon Spin, embark in a spinning taxicab and chase Roger Rabbit around town. The Gadget Go-Coaster is the perfect roller-coaster adventure for young children. Visitors can meet Mickey and Minnie at their houses or run around Donald’s Boat or the Chip N Dale Treehouse. 

Fantasyland

Fantasyland is where all your childhood fantasies can come alive and the best area for young children. One of the best rides in the park, Pooh’s Honey Hunt, is located in Fantasyland. Pooh’s Honey Hunt is popular due to its trackless ride system, one of the first of its kind. This system takes you swirling through the Hundred Acre Woods, with a unique adventure each time. This is another ride that should be one of the first Fastpasses that you get. Make sure to not miss the Haunted Mansion, similar to the Magic Kingdom version. Other ride options include Peter Pan, Snow White, and Pinocchio. Before departing Fantasyland, stop inside the castle at Cinderella’s Fairytale Hall, which tells the story through artwork (some of which are quite magical).

Critter Country

Next, head to Critter Country, the smallest area of the park with two attractions. The main attraction, Splash Mountain, concludes with riders plugging down a drop. For a more leisurely boat ride, embark on a canoeing adventure on the Beaver Brothers Explorer Canoes. Be warned: You will need to paddle to get the canoe to move!

Westernland

Critter Country connects to Westernland, the “old west” themed area of the park. Similar to Frontierland at other Disney Parks, Westernland contains the “Rivers of America,” where visitors can take the Mark Twain Riverboat sailing around. The main ride of the land is Big Thunder Mountain, a mine train roller coaster that takes riders through a mining town adventure. Visitors can also opt to board rafts to Tom Sawyer’s Island, which contains many structures and caves similar to the book.

Adventureland

Adventureland at Tokyo Disneyland combines the Adventureland Disney lovers know with aspects of New Orleans Square. The main attractions are mostly jungle themed. Hop on a boat and head into the jungle on the Jungle Cruise or through pirate central on Pirates of the Caribbean. When you need to relax for a bit, visit the Enchanted Tiki Room. Unlike in the other parks, this Tiki Room includes Stitch from Lilo and Stitch and songs from the movie as well. For views of the area, make sure to climb the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse.

Foods to Try at Tokyo Disneyland

Some of my absolute favorite Disney snacks can be found at Tokyo Disneyland. The Sweetheart Cafe, located in the World Bazaar, contains a ton of delicious pastries. Fans of Monsters Inc will love the Mike Wazowski shaped melon loaves. Although a melon flavored bread might seem weird at first, it is an extremely popular flavor in Japan. 

For breakfast, head to the Great American Waffle Co in the World Bazaar. Here they serve Mickey Shaped Waffles which are the perfect way to start your 2 days at Tokyo Disney. 

For a midday snack, stop at Boiler Room Bites in Adventureland. Here they have some of the best steamed buns I have ever tried. They are shaped like Mickey and Minnie Mouse, which is an added bonus. The Minnie Mouse one was strawberry flavored and seriously tasted so amazing! The Mickey Mouse one was a more savory meat filled bun. 

To quench your thirst, Squeezer’s Tropical Juice Bar contains a variety of fresh-squeezed juices. Also make sure to check out the various food stalls for delicious tea options. Many of the stands have unique choices that you cannot find elsewhere in the park. 

Another popular food stop in Tokyo Disneyland includes the Queen of Heart Banquet Hall, themed to the Queen in Alice in Wonderland. Do not miss grabbing one of the numerous styles of ramen from China Voyager. At Camp Woodchuck Kitchen, visitors can grab a variety of waffle sandwiches, because why not make waffles into a sandwich! Overall, you will not go hungry during your two days at Tokyo Disney. 

Day 1 Tokyo Disneyland Recap

Best Attraction: Space Mountain

Most Popular Fastpass: Pooh’s Honey Hunt

Best Food Stop: Chinese Voyager

Must try snack: Mike Wazowski Melon Loaf

Day 2: Tokyo DisneySea

Tokyo DisneySea is such a fun and unique concept. Opened in 2001, it contains seven lands, and each land is based upon a different nautical and water theme. These themed areas are often referred to as “Ports of Call.” This park is unlike any of the other Disney parks around the world. You will want a full day at Tokyo DisneySea, so make sure to get there as soon as it opens. 

Lands of Tokyo DisneySea

Mediterranean Harbor

Upon entrance, guests will visit the Mediterranean Harbor. Designed to be like the Italian city Venice, visitors will feel as if they have stopped in a real city. Hop aboard a gondola to enjoy the views of the harbor or head to the newer attraction, Soaring: Fantastic Flight, to visit different landscapes of the world. 

Mysterious Island

My favorite section in Tokyo DisneySea, Mysterious Island, contains two of the best attractions in the park. I recommend heading to this area first to grab a Fastpass. Journey to the Center of the Earth, one of the most popular rides in the park, takes riders on a journey throughout the volcano, Mount Prometheus. Riders encounter several problems throughout the ride before finally exploding out of the top of the volcano at the end. In 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, riders get to explore the undersea world in a submarine. 

Mermaid Lagoon

Mermaid Lagoon is one of the most unique areas in the park. This area takes you underground to a world themed around “The Little Mermaid.” Visitors walk through King Triton’s Castle to enter an area with many children’s rides. Make sure to check out King Triton’s Concert where you get to watch a musical recreation of The Little Mermaid. I recommend visiting this area later in the evening as it will be less busy. It is also great for anyone visiting with younger kids. 

Arabian Coast

Another one of my favorite areas is the Arabian Coast, themed to “Aladdin.” It contains four attractions, but the highlight of the land, Sinbad’s Storybook Voyage, compares to It’s a Small World. The other three attractions are geared towards youngsters and themed to Aladdin. 

Lost River Delta

The Ancient American Civilization, themed Lost River Delta, hosts a couple more of the best rides in the park. The Indiana Jones Adventures: Temple of the Crystal Skull, similar to the one at Disneyland, takes adventures on a journey with Indy. Riders board a jeep to search for the Fountain of Youth. The other main attraction in this area is Raging Spirits, an Incan themed roller coaster. I recommend trying to grab Fastpasses for these rides as they are quite popular.

Port Discovery

Port Discovery, one of the smaller areas in the park, focuses on a marine-life theme. It contains a newer attraction, the Nemo and Friends SeaRider which takes riders through Nemo’s world. Another fun attraction in the land is the Aquatopia, which uses a trackless technology (like the Winnie the Pooh Ride at Disneyland) to swirl guests around the ocean. You may get a little wet on it!

American Waterfront

This “port of call” stops in the Northeastern United States. One section of the American Waterfront is themed around the Cape Cod area while the other half feels like New York Harbor. The main landmark of the land, the SS Colombia, is modeled after a passenger ship. This area puts on various shows throughout the day. The most popular attraction in the American Waterfront is the Tower of Terror. Unlike its counterparts in the other parks, this one is not themed to “The Twilight Zone,” but rather a fictional hotel in New York. Another popular attraction, Toy Story Mania, takes passengers in spinning vehicles through a series of carnival-style games. 

Foods to Try at Tokyo DisneySea

Throughout the parks, there are a plethora of popcorn flavors to sample and unique snacks that you cannot get at any other Disney Park. I recommend trying one or two flavors each day. Honey and Strawberry were two of my favorites. All of the popcorn stalls are marked on the park maps, and it will list what flavors each one has. Also, make sure to try as many of the fun drinks and teas as possible! Every single one I had was delicious.

In the American Waterfront, be on the lookout for a cart that sells the Little Green Men. These cold cream-filled Mochi are designed to look like the aliens from Toy Story. They are one of the most popular snacks in the park, so do not be surprised if there is a long line!

For those in search of a nice dinner or want to rest your feet at a bar, head to the S.S. Colombia Dining Room and the Teddy Roosevelt Lounge. Located in the American Waterfront, the S.S. Colombia looks like a passenger ship and provides some of the best views of the park. The Teddy Roosevelt Lounge, inspired by the president, offers light bites to eat and an extensive drink menu with both alcoholic and non-alcoholic options. 

Other popular options include the Casbah Food Court which serves various curries and naan. Also, check out the Zambini Brothers’ Ristorante when you feel the need to carb load with pizza and pasta. You can check out more restaurant options here. 

Day 2 Tokyo DisneySea Recap

Best Attraction: Journey to the Center of the Earth

Most Popular Fastpass: Toy Story Mania

Best Food Stop: Teddy Roosevelt Lounge

Must try snack: Little Green Men

Shopping at Tokyo Disney

Tokyo Disney has a ton of cute souvenirs and apparel to buy. I recommend looking throughout the park during the day, but not buying anything until the end of the day. This way you do not have to carry around your shopping all day long, and you have time to think about what you want to buy. The best place for shopping is the World Bazar at Tokyo Disneyland and the Emporio at Tokyo DisneySea. Outside of the parks near the JR station is Bon Voyage, one of the biggest stores at the resort. This store is usually open a little later than the parks for some last-minute shopping. After spending 2 days at Tokyo Disney, you will want a few souvenirs to remind you of the fun you had!

Final Thoughts on 2 Days at Tokyo Disney

Tokyo Disney is a fun place to visit for Disney fans. It is my favorite Disney resort in the world and is so organized and orderly. Make sure to add 2 days at Tokyo Disney to any Japan Itinerary. Cannot get enough of theme parks? Head over to Osaka to visit Universal Studios Japan! 

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