A common question from those who haven’t visited Tokyo Disney yet is Should I spend extra on Disney Premier Access ride passes? however after you have visited Tokyo Disney the question often changes to How can I get as many Tokyo Disney Premier Access passes as possible?!

In this guide I will explain how Disney ride fast passes – that is, Premier Access Passes (otherwise known as DPA) ride passes work – and why they should be part of your Tokyo Disney Resort visit ride strategy!

How Tokyo Disney Resort passes work

Put simply…

1. Two months in advance – buy your Tokyo Disney Resort entrance tickets for your chosen park and date. These are also known as 1 day passes or passports.
2. In advance – Scan your group/family’s tickets all into one Tokyo Disney Resort (TDR) App account so that you can book passes as a group. Watch how to scan your tickets into the TDR App on our YouTube video. If you have purchased an official TDR hotel package, disregard this step.
3. On the day of your visit – after you have scanned inside the park entrance gates, immediately book your Disney Premier Access passes using the TDR App. Book your most desired ride first. You cannot book them until you are inside the park. Popular ride recommendations: The Enchanted Tale of Beauty & the Beast (Disneyland) and Anna & Elsa’s Frozen Journey (DisneySea)

How do I scan a Tokyo Disney ticket into the App?

Watch my YouTube video to follow my step by step guide showing you how to scan your Tokyo Disney Resort tickets into the official Tokyo Disney Resort App.

Note – you may need to wait up to 24 hours after purchase

What is a Tokyo Disney Premier Access pass?

Tokyo Disney Resort Premier Access ride passes are paid individual ride fast passes which allow the holder to bypass the standard ride queue via an express laneway.

DPAs are available for a selection of the most popular rides at each of the Tokyo Disney Resort theme parks; Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea.

How to book a DPA for a parade or show

You can also purchase DPAs for Tokyo Disney parades and shows including the night show in Tokyo DisneySea. Our YouTube Tokyo Disney Priority Pass ride, DPA parade and lottery show pass booking guide shows you how to book DPA’s for parades.

Why should I buy a Premier Access Ride Pass?

Tokyo Disney Premier Access Passes:

• are the only way to pay to skip the queue for the most popular rides.
• are a way to save waiting up to several hours in a queue.
• are a way to buy yourself more precious TDR time to do other things like ride, eat, shop or rest.

Skipping DPA passes for the sake of saving money at this point is really false economy. You’ve probably already spent several thousand dollars just to get to Tokyo Disney. Time is money, particularly on holiday.

It’s wise to factor at least a couple of ride DPAs into your overall Tokyo Disney budget. Often, you’ll be lucky to get more than a couple of DPA rides per day, anyhow. You’ll find a price breakdown towards the end of this guide to help you budget for your Tokyo Disney Parks visit.

When don’t I need to buy Premier Access passes?

Buying a Disney Premier Access pass is probably unnecessary if:

• you have purchased a Tokyo Disney Vacation Package, VIP tour or are staying in the Fantasy Springs Grande Chateau (all include ride passes).
• you have several days at the parks, and/or plenty of time to spare and don’t mind waiting in long queues.
• you want to experience a themed ride queue like Anna and Elsa’s Frozen Journey in Fantasy Springs in DisneySea.
• you have a big group/tight budget.
• you have no preference or interest in riding the theme park rides

When do Tokyo Disney 40th Anniversary Priority Passes end?

Tokyo Disney 40th Anniversary Priority Passes end 31st of August 2026.

Tokyo Disney 40th Anniversary Priority Passes were free ride fast passes you also booked on the Tokyo Disney Resort App. They worked the same as DPAs, but for different rides. As of 31/10/2026 these free ride passes have concluded.

Get your free Wise travel money card!

Take advantage of our free Wise travel money card offer to save the AUD$10 card fee here.

Get your free Wise Card

How do I buy Disney Premier Access?

You buy Premier Access passes by booking a time period direct on the Tokyo Disney Resort official App after you have scanned into the park. You can watch a YouTube video of us booking a Tokyo DisneySea Premier Pass here.

What do I do if I can’t book a Premier Access Pass on the app?

If you have problems getting the app or your credit card working on the app there is an alternative. It’s possible to book ride passes in person from a shop near the main entry to each Tokyo Disney Resort Park and a couple inside the parks. You can use your rejected credit card or cash to buy DPA’s at these stores for as long as the passes remain available. Just ask a Cast Member for directions.

When should I buy Premier Access Passes?

You should buy your ride passes as soon as possible after you have scanned into the park. On weekends or public holidays in particular it can increase demand.

Should I get early entry too?

For DisneySea, yes. It is usually advantageous to use Happy Entry or queue early to allow more time to secure the Premier Access pass you want in DisneySea. The most popular Premier Access passes such as Anna & Elsa’s Frozen Journey often run out quickly. It will also allow you to maximise the biggest number DPAs possible during the day.

Tokyo mobile phone internet data eSims

Buy an eSim so that you have data from the moment you land in Japan. Airalo eSIM is proven to work reliably in Tokyo Disney Resort and allows you to access the internet in Japan.

Buy an Airalo eSim

Can I delay buying Premier Access passes until later in the day?

Strategically this would probably be an error. To maximise your passes, it’s far more effective to book DPAs as soon as possible. They are not readily available later as they often run out fast. You usually get only a small window of time to snap the good ride Premier Access passes up. Particularly rides such as Frozen in DisneySea, and on busy days, Beauty and the Beast in Disneyland.

If you miss out, you may end up waiting 3 long hours in a queue as you watch Premier Access DPA pass holders walk right past you on their way down the fast lane.

How many Premier Access Passes can I buy?

You aren’t limited in number to how many Disney Premier Access Passes you buy, but eventually most – if not all – DPAs sell out. You also need to observe a waiting period of time between purchases.

How long do I have to wait between booking ride passes?

There is a minimum time delay between booking ride fast passes.

After purchasing a Disney Premier Access Pass you can buy your next Premier Pass either:

• right after you have scanned into your previous Premier Access pass, or
• one hour after the previous Premier Access pass was purchased.

Can I buy Premier Access DPA’s in advance?

No, you cannot buy Premier Access Passes until after you have scanned into the park. You can select from different times later in the day if they are selectable on the App.

Can I buy ride passes for family or friends who have not yet arrived in the park?

No, you cannot buy Premier Access (or make any other kind of booking) for anyone else who is not scanned into the park.

Do I have to buy a Tokyo Disney Premier Pass or Priority Pass for my under 4yo child?

No. If your child is aged under four years old, you do not have to buy or arrange any type of ride pass for them. They ride along with you for free providing they meet the ride height and age requirements.

How do I use a Tokyo Disney Premier Pass?

After booking on the official Tokyo Disney App, you will receive a 5 minute notification on the official Tokyo Disney App telling you to proceed to your booked pass ride.

When your ride ticket with code becomes visible on the app you can access the Priority Entrance of that ride. Be ready to scan your Pass barcode with the Cast Member. Walk along the Priority laneway to the head of the queue. You may need to scan your code again towards the end. You can watch how to use your Premier pass on our YouTube video here.

How many rides can I do with a Disney Premier pass?

Disney Premier Access Passes are only available for selected Tokyo Disney rides and will give you a once-only single use during the time period selected. You have a limited time period to use your Disney Premier Access pass.

Can I use my Premier Access Pass early?

Only marginally. You can use the pass when the actual photo Premier Access Pass or Priority ticket code appears visible in the app (usually within 5 minutes of the booked time). You won’t be allowed to use it any earlier.

Can I still use my ride pass if I arrive late?

The official answer would be no, however it can depend upon the ride attendants. If you have what is construed to be a valid reason then it’s possible that they may allow you to still use the pass even if you arrive outside of your allotted one-hour pass-use period. That said, I would recommend being on time to ensure that you don’t miss out.

Budgeting for Tokyo Disney – Ticket & ride passes

Is Tokyo Disney Resort cheaper than the USA Disney parks?

Yes. The Tokyo Disney Resort parks admission price is comparatively lower than other Disney theme parks – including the cheaper Asian Disney theme parks. Even with the purchase of Premier Access passes the total often still remains cheaper than USA Disney parks due to their higher park admission fees.

How much is a ticket to Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea?

Tokyo Disney Resort 1 Day Passport admission ticket prices:

• Adult tickets range between 7,900 JPY – 10,900 JPY
• Junior tickets range between 6,600 JPY – 9,000 JPY
• Child tickets range between 4,700 JPY – 5,600 JPY
• Disabled adult tickets range between 6,500 JPY – 8,700 JPY
• Disabled Junior tickets range between 5,300 JPY – 7,200 JPY
• Disabled Child tickets range between 3,800 JPY – 4,400 JPY

Is there a DAS pass for Autism & other disabilities?

Learn more about Tokyo Disney Disability Tickets and DAS ride system.

Can you still get DPAs with an Early Evening Passport?

I haven’t listed Early Evening Passport prices in this article as a pass ride strategy. Early Evening Passports allow access to the TDR parks from 3:00 p.m. on weekends and holidays, which is usually too late to expect there to be any DPAs left available.

What is the price of a Disney Premier Access Pass?

The price of a DPA is experienced a price increase from the 1st of September 2026 and current prices now vary between and 2,000 and 2,500 JPY each per person per ride.

Which rides are Tokyo Disneyland Premier Access rides?

• Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast Premier Access price: 2,000 JPY per access
• The Happy Ride with Baymax Premier Access price: 1,500 JPY per access
• Splash Mountain Premier Access price: 1,500 JPY per access
• Pooh’s Hunny Hunt Premier Access price: 1,500 JPY per access
• Big Thunder Mountain Premier Access price: 1,500 JPY per access
• Haunted Mansion Premier Access price: 1,000 JPY per access
• Monsters Hide & Go Seek Premier Access price: 1,000 JPY per access Eligible period: From September 15, 2026 through January 7, 2027 for the special ride overlay Haunted Mansion “Holiday Nightmare.”

Which rides are Tokyo DisneySea Premier Access rides?

• Anna and Elsa’s Frozen Journey Premier Access price: 2,500 JPY per access
• Rapunzel’s Lantern Festival Premier Access price: 2,000 JPY per access
• Peter Pan’s Never Land Adventure Premier Access price: 2,000 JPY per access
• Soaring: Fantastic Flight Premier Access price: 2,500 JPY per access
• Toy Story Mania! Premier Access price: 2,000 JPY per access
• Tower of Terror Premier Access price: 1,500 JPY per access
• Journey to the Center of the Earth Premier Access price: 2,000 JPY per access
• Indianna Jones Adventure – Temple of the Crystal Skull Premier Access price: 1,500 JPY per access
• Raging Spirits Premier Access price: 1,500 JPY per access

Disney Premier Access ride passes are a useful Tokyo Disney Resort ride strategy rather than something to be looked upon as an unnecessary expense. Secure your preferred Premier Access rides if you can and you’ll free up more time to do so much more on your Tokyo Disney Park Day!

If you want to see how we did:

Happy Entry
Booked ride DPAs
Watch our video here!

If you want to see how we did:

Booked a Disney Premier Access parade
Entry Requested a Show in the Lottery
Watch our video here!

What ride passes are included in a Tokyo Disney Vacation Package?

Tokyo Disney Resort Vacation Packages (VPs) include one or two nights Disney Hotel accommodation, breakfast, tickets, ride passes or unlimited ride bands, unlimited drinks, churros or popcorn plus small gifts and dining early booking privileges.

When do TDR Vacation Packages go on sale?

Vacation Packages go on sale 5 months in advance, one complete calendar month at a time. The sale date is announced approximately one week prior to Vacation Packages going on sale. Dates are announced in the Tokyo Disneyland planning Facebook group.

What’s the cheapest airline to get from Australia to Japan?

We partnered with Jetstar Australia to fly from Australia to Japan. Jetstar Australia offer cheap fares to Japan every day – check their website for their low Tokyo and Osaka fares and frequent sales!

Check Jetstar’s cheap Japan flights here

Additional Tokyo planning reading

Tokyo Disneyland Facebook Group

Love all things Tokyo Disneyland, or just have more questions? Join our 150k+ member Tokyo Disney Facebook Group here!

Have a question? Drop a comment below! I’d also love to hear about your own Japan experiences!

This page may contain affiliate links. If you book a stay, product or a attraction through one of them, I may receive a commission which does not add to the price you pay. Thank you for your support! Any prices are correct as of 1st of September 2026 – always check with the source website for the most recent prices.

The post Tokyo Disney Ride Pass beginner’s guide appeared first on Let's go Mum.

Tokyo Disney Resort has early entry to their Disney parks just like the USA does, but it’s a very different experience. Here’s all about Tokyo Disney’s Happy Entry 15 minutes early entry – what happens, how you get it and why it’s worth using.

Klook Disney Admission tickets CAN be used with your Disney Hotel Happy Entry early entry pass!

What is Tokyo Disney Happy Entry 15 minutes early entry?

Tokyo Disney early entry (officially named “Happy Entry”) is a Special Entrance Pass given to all Tokyo Disney hotel guests for the morning of their stay/s and or check out. (not check in day). This allows them to bypass the main and much longer Tokyo Disney entrance queue and enter 15 minutes earlier.

The Tokyo Disneyland or Tokyo Disney Sea early entry pass must accompany a valid park entrance ticket. The Fantasy Springs Happy Entry area requires a second slip of paper – a Proof Of Stay, as only Fantasy Springs guests may use the Fantasy Springs Happy Entry.

Guests line up at a special area to enter the Tokyo Disney park you have been given the 15 minutes early entry pass for (not all hotels give you both passes – more about that in a minute) 15 minutes before the general entry gates open.

Guests with an early entry pass and valid park ticket are scanned into the park in a group 15 minutes early, which allows you to book passes, get photos, hire prams, buy food and line up for your desired first ride earlier than the general entry guests who enter at Tokyo Disney parks official opening time. Some rides may even start unofficially operating earlier. Open services during the fifteen minutes are limited. For example, DisneySea’s Tower of Terror queue does not open until 9am.

All guests of Tokyo Disney Resort Hotels are given Happy Entry 15 mins early entry to either Tokyo Disneyland or Tokyo DisneySea.

Watch my Disneyland Happy Entry YouTube video here

Watch our DisneySea Happy Entry YouTube video here

Don’t miss another of our Australian family YouTube videos! Subscribe to our YouTube Channel here

Which Disney Resort Hotels give 15 minutes early entry to Tokyo Disneyland?

As this has changed several times recently, so it is important to double check before you book!

Short-term Happy Entry update 2026

From July 1 to September 14 2026, guests of Tokyo Disneyland Hotel and Disney Ambassador Hotel will be able to use their Happy Entry benefit to enter Tokyo DisneySea instead of Disneyland if they wish.

Currently, all official Tokyo Disney Resort hotels give the Tokyo Disneyland 15 minutes early Happy Entry to their guests. These hotels are:

Tokyo Disney Fantasy Springs Hotel
Tokyo Disneyland Hotel
Disney Ambassador Hotel
Tokyo DisneySea Hotel MiraCosta
Tokyo Disney Resort Toy Story Hotel
Tokyo Disney Celebration Hotel

Get your free Wise travel money card!

Take advantage of our free Wise travel money card offer to save the AUD$10 card fee here.

Get your free Wise Card

Which Disney Hotels give 15 minutes early entry to Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo Disney Sea?

As this has changed several times so it is important to double check before you book!

Only the Tokyo Disney Resort luxury hotels also give Happy Entry to Tokyo Resort DisneySea, in addition to Tokyo Resort Disneyland. These hotels currently are:

Tokyo DisneySea Hotel MiraCosta
Tokyo Disney Fantasy Springs Hotels

Also, from July 1 to September 14, 2026

Tokyo Disneyland Hotel
Disney Ambassador Hotel

Can I get early entry into Tokyo DisneySea direct from Miracosta Hotel?

No, you need to use the official park early entry for Happy Entry or General Entry until after 10am.

Can I get early entry into Tokyo DisneySea staying at Tokyo Disney Toy Story Hotel?

No, you may only use the direct entry through Fantasy Springs Hotel after 10am and before 9pm.

Where is Tokyo Disneyland Happy Entry early entry located?

Tokyo Disney Resort Happy Entries have special entrance areas which are separate to the general entry queues.

Where is the Fantasy Springs Hotel Happy Entry?

Fantasy Springs Hotel has two separate, special Happy Entrances.

The Fantasy Springs Hotel Grand Chateau Happy Entry (30mins early entry) entrance is located on the first floor, whilst the Fantasy Springs Hotel Happy Entry (15mins early entry) is the main Fantasy Springs Entrance for guests only, which passes underneath the hotel.

Which is the best DisneySea Happy Entry?

With its proximity to Fantasy Springs, the Fantasy Springs Hotel has the most advantageous Happy Entry for that area of DisneySea.

Whilst they are both DisneySea Happy Entries, Fantasy Springs Hotel gives its eligible guests a much bigger headstart on MiraCosta’s Happy Entry guests. This is because MiraCosta Hotel’s Happy Entry guests enter the park next to the main DisneySea entry, a good 15 to 20 minutes’ walk away from Fantasy Springs.

MiraCosta Happy Entry guests will still be making their way across the theme park whilst Fantasy Springs first Happy Entry guests may well be finishing their first and on to their second Fantasy Springs ride. Finally. Arriving yet another 15 minutes later will be the first main entry queue guests.

Therefore, the Fantasy Springs Hotel has the best Happy Entry for one of DisneySea’s most popular rides – Anna and Elsa’s Frozen Journey, followed by Rapunzel and Peter Pan. Due to its privileged location, the Fantasy Springs Hotel Happy Entry works out to be more like 30-45 minute DisneySea early start than 15 minutes!

Can I get Tokyo Disneyland Happy 15 early entry on check in day?

No, Happy Entry is not able to be used on check in day under any circumstances. Happy Entry passes are given at check in and won’t be given earlier. As check in is from 3pm in the afternoon, it is too late for early entry on the day of check in. Even if you are able to check in early, you won’t be given a Happy Entry pass for that day.

Can I still use the Fantasy Springs Hotel park entry on check in day?

Yes, even though you can’t get Happy Entry on check in day you are allowed to use the Fantasy Springs Hotel DisneySea entry on check in day. You will need to have a valid DisneySea admission ticket plus a Proof of Stay slip obtained from the Concierge Desk inside the hotel at pre-check in. You will need to queue and wait to enter DisneySea at official opening time using the Fantasy Springs Hotel park entry.

Do Tokyo Disneyland partner hotels give early entry?

No. Tokyo Disney partner hotels do offer a complimentary shuttle bus to the Tokyo Disney Resort parks, however they do not offer their guests the 15 minutes early entry pass to the Disney Parks.

• Urayasu Brighton Hotel Tokyo Bay
• Oriental Hotel Tokyo Bay
• Hotel Emion Tokyo Bay
• Mitsui Garden Hotel Prana Tokyo Bay

Do Tokyo Disney Official Partner Hotels offer early entry?

No. Official Tokyo Disney Partner hotels do not offer Happy Entry. But these hotels shouldn’t be confused with the Tokyo Disney Hotels! The following hotels are called “official” Tokyo Disney hotels by Tokyo Disney. Confusing, isn’t it!

These hotels are the Official Tokyo Disney Hotels. They offer a free shuttle bus service to the Disney parks or monorail, plus a luggage delivery service to and from the Welcome Centre at the Mahaima JR Railway Station. They DO NOT offer Happy Entry (15 minutes early entry).

• Grand Nikko Tokyo Bay Maihama
• Tokyo Bay Maihama Hotel First Resort
• Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay Hotel
• Tokyo Bay Maihama Hotel
• Hilton Tokyo Bay
• Hotel Okura Tokyo Bay

Does Happy early Entry include children sharing a bed in Tokyo Disney Hotels?

Yes, children aged 4 and over bed sharing in Tokyo Disney Resort Hotels will also receive Happy Entry early entrance Special Entrance Passes. Children under 4 can accompany their parents in any case.

Are the rides open during the 15 minutes early entry at Tokyo Disney?

Sometimes, unofficially. DisneySea Fantasy Springs rides are regularly operational during Happy Entry. Often other rides aren’t open during the early entry period, however you can line up for them. Rides will officially commence operating at the official park opening time. Tower of Terror ride queue is closed during Happy Entry.

What is open during Happy Entry?

Tokyo Disney park services including Pram and wheelchair hire, the Tokyo Disney guest services information office and first aid will all be open.

Do Tokyo Disney Resort partner hotels give Happy Entry?

No. There are no hotels other than Tokyo Disney Resort hotels that offer the 15 minutes early entry.

Do Tokyo Disney Vacation Packages include Happy Entry?

No, Tokyo Disney Vacation Packages do not include Happy Entry. Happy Entry is a separate bonus attached to each Disney hotel and is not connected to any TDR Vacation Package. VP holders can only get Happy Entry for their first Vacation Package day if they book an extra night the night before their VP (with the appropriate Disney Hotel for their VP Day 1 park). Happy Entries are according to the hotel and not Vacation Packages, so also may not align with Day 2 of Vacation Packages if the VP Disney Hotel’s Happy Entry isn’t the correct one for their Day 2 Park.

Do I have to buy our Tokyo Disney tickets at the hotel to use the Happy Hour early entry pass?

No, you just need a valid park ticket (so you can buy park tickets from KKDay or Klook to use with your Happy Entry)

Where can I buy Klook Tokyo Disneyland Tickets online?

Buy your Klook Tokyo Disneyland tickets online here

You can also read our guide on how to buy Tokyo Disneyland tickets online here.

What’s the best way to get from Australia to Tokyo Disney?

We partnered with Jetstar Australia to fly from Australia to Japan to visit Tokyo and Tokyo Disneyland. See Jetstar Australia’s cheap Japan flights here

Jetstar Australia offer cheap fares to Tokyo every day – check their website for their low Tokyo fares and frequent sales.

Find out more at the official Tokyo Disney Happy Entry website page here.

Join my Tokyo Disneyland Facebook Group

Love all things Tokyo Disneyland, or just have more questions? Join our huge Tokyo Disney Facebook Group here!

Further reading…

Learn all about Tokyo Disney Resort fast passes

A step-by-step guide of how to buy Tokyo Disneyland tickets here

6 things at Tokyo Disneyland you won’t find at other Disney Parks!

See our pick of Tokyo Disneylands best rides here.

You may also be interested in these other Disneyland holidays…

Read about our Aussie family Disneyland Park California holiday here.

Book tickets online to Walt Disney World in Orlando

If you enjoyed reading this article, please consider sharing it – we’d also love to hear about your own Disney experiences in the comments below!

This page may contain affiliate links. If you book a stay or an attraction through one of them, I may receive a commission (at no additional cost to you). Thank you for your support!

Share one of our images to Pinterest…

The post Happy Entry Tokyo Disneyland Early Entry beginner’s guide appeared first on Let's go Mum.

If your flight arrives early into Tokyo (or you just have a free day on your hands), it can leave you wondering how to fill that time in the Tokyo Disney area – at least until you can go and get comfy at your hotel!

We’ve thoroughly explored the Tokyo Bay area during our numerous trips to Japan and have some great rest-day suggestions for you to try!

These ideas will help you recharge your travel batteries and ease you into your new time zone – or throw you straight into the fun zone!

First things first – Can I leave my luggage at the hotel?

Yes, you can leave your luggage at your Tokyo Bay booked hotel. If you’ve just arrived or just checked out, you don’t want to have to drag your bags around with you all day!

Every official Disney and Disney partner hotel plus many others at Tokyo Bay have baggage storage areas. You can leave your bags with them from very early in the morning until late on the day of your check in or check out.

Get your free Wise travel money card!

Take advantage of our free Wise travel money card offer to save the AUD$10 card fee here.

Get your free Wise Card

You can even leave your luggage at the Welcome Center next door to Maihama Train Station for most official Disney and partner hotels. They will transport them to your hotel for free.

Alternatively, you can send your bags direct to and from the airports.

So, drop your bags with the concierge of your hotel and go have fun!

What is there to do around Tokyo Disneyland?

Here are my top recommendations of fun things to do in the Tokyo Disney bubble…

01.Go to the Tokyo Disney Parks!

So, it’s supposed to be a rest day, but the parks are calling your name… If you suddenly decide you want to go to the parks on your planned day off, just do it! You can go on the same day to the Tokyo Disneyland or DisneySea theme parks. No prior reservation is needed. You just need to get yourself some tickets.

Can I buy Tokyo Disney Parks tickets at the gate?

No, Tokyo Disney Resort tickets aren’t available to buy at the parks, so head online to book yourself some digital Tokyo Disney entrance tickets. If you don’t have an eSim in your phone in Japan yet, you can get one online here or use the free Wi-Fi at the many hotels or shops around the parks.

Can I get a Tokyo Disneyland half day ticket?

Yes you can! You can buy Early Evening from 3pm on weekends and holidays, and Weeknight Passports from 5pm on weekdays to either Tokyo Disneyland or Tokyo DisneySea. Tokyo Disney Resort do regularly change what kinds of tickets they have available, so it’s best to check their website ticket list here.

I do recommend comparing the price of a Tokyo Disney night or afternoon ticket to a full day park ticket. It can often work out to be of more value to purchase a full day park ticket as it is not much more money for significantly more time in the park.

Tokyo Disney area shopping

There’s a whole lot of shops to check out around the Tokyo Disney parks. Whilst there isn’t a Disney Springs or Downtown Disney area there is the Tokyo Disney’s closest equivalent, which is the Ikspiari Shopping Mall. You can also venture to the surrounding official Disney stores to get your Disney ears early and save battling in the park gift stores on your Disney Park days!

02.Go to Ikspiari Shopping Mall

Take a ride on the Tokyo Disney Monorail to the Resort Gateway Station – or if you are staying at the Disney Ambassador Hotel, just walk outside – to explore the multi-level Ikspiari shopping mall.

Where is Ikspiari located?

Ikspiari Shopping Centre is located at the Resort Gateway monorail station, next to the Maihama Train Station. There you’ll find a Cinema, a USA Disney store and over 140+ retail stores, restaurants, a supermarket, newsagent, pharmacy and more.

The Ikspiari Disney Store

There are two main types of Disney Stores in Tokyo. Tokyo Disney Resort officially owned stores, and USA Disney owned stores.

You can find out more about the different Disney stores in Tokyo and Japan in our Japan Disney Stores guide here.

The Ikspiari Disney Store is the American Disney owned type, and is well worth a look. You’ll find lots of USA merchandise and some Japan exclusive items, but no Tokyo Disney Resort parks merchandise there.

Are there restaurants at Ikspiari Mall?

Yes, Ikspiari offers many different types of restaurants and cafes. These include traditional Japanese, a yummy Hawaiian upstairs and a very good value Italian on the Ambassador side. You’ll find several popular USA food franchises at Ikspiari too, including a McDonalds family restaurant, a Starbucks complete with souvenir mugs, and a fun Rain Forest Cafe.

The Ikspiari Rain Forest Cafe

Rainforest Cafes are fun, jungle themed restaurants. Amongst the jungle foliage of the Ikspiari Rain Forest Cafe you’ll find lots of animated jungle animals and sound effects.

The Rain Forest cafe features pretend rainstorm sound and light effects, including lightning flashes and rolling thunder. Although the overall effect isn’t meant to be a scary one, it may not suit those members of the family who are sensitive to light and sound.

If you’re Aussies like us and haven’t experienced a Rainforest Cafe before, you may find them just as fun to eat at as we do! They can be great for special celebrations such as kid’s birthday too, as they do a very fancy chocolate cake!

The Ikspiari Rain Forest Cafe is the only one you’ll find in Japan, and they take walk-ins without too much of a wait time.

Watch our Rain Forest Cafe YouTube video

The Ikspiari Shopping Mall is a fun shopping experience where you can easily fill in a couple of hours – and feed the troops!

Learn more about the Ikspiari Shopping Mall at their official website here.

03.Shop at Bon Voyage Disney Store

Go official Tokyo Disney merchandise shopping at Bon Voyage. Whilst the Disney store in Ikspiari is run by American Disney (and so has no official Tokyo Disney Parks merchandise), nearby to Ikspiari you’ll find the genuine article.

Where is Tokyo Disney Bon Voyage located?

The Tokyo Disney Bon Voyage gift store is located between Tokyo Disneyland and the Maihama Train Station – about 5 minutes’ walk from both, along the upper walkway. You can’t miss it – it has a huge red archway!

Inside you won’t find absolutely everything available in the Tokyo Disney parks, but you will find a great range of official Tokyo Disney Resort merchandise. As the store is located outside of the Disney Parks, this is a great way to check out what’s available inside the parks or get some extra items after your park days.

In addition to Bon Voyage, you’ll also find smaller official Tokyo Disney merchandise stores inside all of the official Tokyo Disney Hotels plus several of the official partner hotels like the Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay, Hilton Tokyo Bay and the Grand Nikko Tokyo Bay.

You can’t get these items outside the parks!

Be warned that you won’t find any Popcorn Buckets outside of the Tokyo Disney Parks, or Duffy Bears or any of their accessories outside of DisneySea!

You can find out more about which stores are the real Tokyo Disney merchandise stores in Tokyo in my guide here.

04.Explore the Tokyo Disney Hotels

Another really fun thing to do on your park day off is go and explore the official Tokyo Disney Resort Hotels! You can easily walk or catch the monorail or shuttle buses to get to them, and all of them are beautifully themed. Each hotel has their own gift store and also a convenience store inside where you can purchase light meals and snacks.

Which Tokyo Disney Resort Hotels can you visit?

You can go inside most of the official Tokyo Disney Resort Hotels, with two restricted to guests only.

Visitors can go into the lobbies and shops inside the Tokyo Disneyland Hotel, the Disney MiraCosta Hotel and the Ambassador Hotel.

All three of these hotels are quite lovely and worth a visit. Their Disney gift stores have similar merchandise to Bon Voyage with some unique merchandise. The Disneyland Hotel gift store, for example, has a wide range of little girl’s princess dresses, shoes and accessories.

The Tokyo Disney Celebration Hotel is also free to visit and has some nice gardens, small stores and lobby installations, however as it is located outside the Tokyo Disney Resort area you would need to catch the 20 minute shuttle bus just to get there.

Can I eat at any of the Tokyo Disney Hotel restaurants?

The Tokyo Disneyland Hotel, DisneySea MiraCosta Hotel and Disney Ambassador Hotel restaurants are all open for bookings to non-hotel guests. That said, they can be very difficult to get a reservation in, as most have been booked for months in advance. Even so, walk up bookings are possible – so give it a try! We have successfully obtained same-day bookings at both Chef Mickey at the Disney Ambassador Hotel and The Oceano at DisneySea MiraCosta Hotel.

What hotel is Chef Mickey in?

Tokyo Disney’s Chef Mickey restaurant is located inside the Ambassador Hotel. You may manage to get lucky and snag a walk-in booking. This is the only character restaurant outside of the Tokyo Disney parks, and Mickey Mouse will visit your table for one photograph with you during your buffet meal dining service.

Which DisneySea restaurant can I watch the night show in?

If you can manage to get a walk-in booking at the Oceano Hotel inside the MiraCosta Hotel in the evening, you can watch the DisneySea Sea of Dreams night show spectacular from their balcony – no ticket required! Try to book in person at the restaurant as early as possible. If you have no luck finding a booking, you can still have a peep into DisneySea through the lower staircase window off the MiraCosta main foyer!

Which Tokyo Disney Hotels are closed to visitors?

Tokyo Disney Resort Hotels restricted to guests only are the Disney Toy Story Hotel and the Disney Fantasy Springs Hotel.

The Toy Story Hotel in particular has some wonderful outdoor character installations and a very fun theme inside too. It’s well-worth a stay if you can get a room reservation.

Watch my Tokyo Disney Toy Story Hotel room video

(Don’t think you can sneak in for a peep at these hotels – both restricted hotels have attended entrances to the grounds!).

05.Go for a ride on the Tokyo Disney Monorail!

Where does the Tokyo Disney Resort monorail go?

The Disney Resort Line Monorail runs in a large one-way circuit around the Tokyo Disney Parks and Hotels area.

Tokyo Disney Resort Map

How long does the Tokyo Disney Monorail take?

The Tokyo Disney monorail takes approximately 13 minutes to complete the whole Disney Resort Line monorail circuit, including stops at all four stations – Resort Gateway Station, Tokyo Disneyland Station, Bayside Station and Tokyo DisneySea Station.

Watch what it’s like to ride the monorail in peak hour

Is the Tokyo Disney Monorail free?

No, the Tokyo Disney monorail isn’t free, so you’ll need to buy a ticket at the stations (JPY cash needed at all except for Resort Gateway which accepts credit cards at the window) or use your Suica IC card to ride it.
Once you’ve bought your ticket and boarded you can joyride on the monorail for as long as you like! On this Disney Monorail you can also sit right up front for a great view!

How much does a Tokyo Disney Monorail ticket cost?

The price for a single ride on the Tokyo Disney Monorail is ¥300 for an adult (12 and over) and ¥150 for a child (11 and under). Cash (Japanese Yen), Pasmo, Suica and several other Japan Train Cards are accepted for payment. Credit Card is accepted at the customer ticket window at the Resort Gateway Station only. Up to two children under the age of six may ride free per paying adult and infants under the age of one ride free.

How to save money riding the Disney Resort Line

Souvenir Day Passes make a great keepsake and save money if you are using the monorail daily. Here is the Tokyo Disney Resort Monorail Day Pass price table:

Each Tokyo Disney monorail is themed differently, and all have the exclusive Mickey Mouse ears hanging hand grips. Often, monorail themes celebrate Tokyo Disney characters and events.

The Disney Resort Line monorail is a fun way to get a feel for what is in and around the Tokyo Disney Bubble area. You’ll get glimpses into the Tokyo Disney theme parks, can check out the surrounding Disney and partner hotels and enjoy sea views. It’s even possible to see Mount Fuji on a clear day!

So as you can see, there’s lots to do around Tokyo Disney Resort without even entering the amusement parks! Give yourself a rest day and go explore – and have a more relaxed – but still fun – Disney day out!

Have I forgotten any Tokyo Disney Resort area activities? Tell me in the comments below!