We’ve just experienced a 5 hour VIP tour at Universal Studios Japan (USJ) – here is our VIP Tour review from start to finish, with lots of handy tips along the way!

First things first…

Before we get to our minute-by-minute 5 Hour VIP Tour itinerary, here are some need-to-know things about the USJ VIP 5 Hour Tour.

Arrive early – around 7:30am to 8am – if you want to use your VIP day to maximum effect and fit in as much as you can. This will allow you enough time to pass through security when it opens and go straight to the Universal Studios Japan VIP Entrance. There you will wait for (the usually early) opening time.

Arrive at least an hour before your VIP Tour starts – if you want to arrive as late as possible. This will give you time to clear security and get checked in at the VIP entrance, then walk to the VIP Lounge to have a free drink or two and meet your Tour Guide. I wouldn’t recommend leaving your arrival too late – you will be able to get your unlimited ride bracelet as soon you enter and start using it straight away. Very few people say they had too much time at USJ!

What is the VIP Tour entrance?

To the left of the main turnstile gates at the theme park entrance, you’ll find a special VIP entrance – complete with a red carpet. It’s here you’ll be met and checked in. You will have your Studio Passes and VIP Tour code checked. Then you will be supplied with your VIP bracelets (or express passes if you are on a 3hr VIP) for the day. You won’t meet your guide until your Tour meet up time at the VIP Lounge.

What can I do with my unlimited ride VIP bracelet?

Every person on your 5hr VIP Tour will be given a VIP bracelet as soon as you check in to the park. VIP bracelets are great, because they act as an unlimited ride Express Pass when you are not on tour with your VIP Tour guide. They allow you to enter the Express priority laneway of any ride at Universal Studios Japan and be expedited at some shows too. In addition, you can skip the queue into Super Nintendo World anytime you like without any Timed Entry slot.

Unlimited access includes Super Nintendo World entry

A mere flash of our VIP bracelets allowed us to skip the queue at every ride we wanted before and after our VIP Tour, and like the name says you can ride as many times as you like.

You can’t get an unlimited ride pass with unlimited Super Nintendo World access any other way than a private VIP Tour. We definitely felt like VIPs with our VIP bracelets!

What’s the difference between Express Pass and private VIP pass?

Before our tour using our unlimited VIP bands we accessed the same Express Laneway as Express Pass holders do. The big difference is that Express ride passes usually only allow one ride (and one Super Nintendo World entry with some) each.

We could use the Express Laneway on the same ride multiple times if we wanted to, and we had multiple entry into SNW.

Using the Express lane always involves a short wait, relative to the time and ride. Wait times can vary anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes or more if it’s a busy period, following a ride break-down or a very popular ride like Donkey Kong Minecart Madness.

Your VIP Tour Guide takes you right to the front of rides

During our private VIP Tour our Tour Guide personally took us to the very front of each ride. He did this a variety of clever ways! Often it was via the ride exit or even back ways and hidden passages, such as in Bowser’s Castle in Super Nintendo World, or Hogwarts Castle in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Two exclusive VIP buildings

The USJ VIP Lounge

You will have access to the USJ VIP Lounge all day which includes complimentary hot and cold drinks and secure bag and shopping storage via lockers.

The USJ VIP Lounge will be where you first meet your Tour Guide to discuss your day. Even though you submit a form with your VIP purchase, you can still add or subtract activities if you like.

The Luminant VIP Restaurant

The Luminant VIP Private Lounge and Dining restaurant is where you’ll enjoy your buffet lunch or buffet-a la carte dinner. Your guide isn’t with you during your meal and your lunch or dinner (whichever you choose for your VIP Tour) is scheduled outside of your VIP Tour time.

The VIP restaurant overlooks the Universal Studios Japan Lake and is a lovely space to enjoy a meal. There’s plenty of great options with kid-friendly foods, including lots of themed snacks you would normally pay for in the park. There’s also a small bar with some standard alcoholic drinks included such as beer, wine, whiskey and sake.

Our Universal Studios Japan 5hr VIP day

For a rough idea of how you can shape your 5 hour VIP Tour at USJ, here’s our own blow-by-blow diary/ itinerary which was pretty-much completely unplanned. Our strategy was no strategy at all, other than riding the Flying Dinosaur and hopeful most of the other major rides too. What followed was a gloriously self-indulgent romp through the park which we all loved to pieces! (For privacy I am not naming our Tour Guide).

USJ 5 Hour VIP Tour Itinerary

Date of VIP Tour: 01/05/2026
Number of people: 3
Price of USJ tickets: 2,325.62 AUD (for up to 4 people, purchased 19/03/25)
3 x USJ 5hr VIP
3 x Studio Passes

What we did before our 5 Hour VIP Tour started

9am – Checked out of Hotel Kintetsu Universal City. Left our luggage there for the day
9:06am – Enter under the USJ theme park Archway – grab some photos at the globe
9:11am – Get processed through USJ security – bags and body scans
9:16am – Arrive at the VIP Entrance queue – there is approximately 12 people/3 groups in front of us. We are immediately welcomed in the queue and our Studio Passes and VIP Tour QR codes are checked in line.
9:25am – We enter the VIP Entrance reception & are assigned a reception staff member to welcome us, check us in and give us our unlimited ride bracelets. The staff member asks about any disabilities and if a wheel chair is required. He lets us know what time our lunch is and shows us where the VIP restaurant is located in the park. As we already knew in advance, our lunch time is confirmed as 12 midday to 1:30pm and our VIP tour commences at 2pm from the VIP Lounge.
9:36am – We enter the park and decide to go straight to the VIP Lounge to take a look and have a drink.
9:40am – We locate the VIP Lounge and are welcomed in. At the VIP Lounge there are several families with their tour guides or having a drink at the tables. There is free tea, coffee, hot chocolate, soft drinks and water.
10:10am – We leave the VIP Lounge to spend time in the park until our VIP Lunchtime. We meet and get some character photos with Felix the Cat, Cookie Monster and some other Sesame Street characters. We look through a few stores and do some shopping and stop for a special Mario Brothers themed pancake breakfast.
11:00am – We enter the family-friendly Wonderland Area to explore and do some rides. We look around Snoopy Studios and use our ride bands to use the priority queue to ride Snoopy’s Flying Ace Adventure roller coaster and The Flying Snoopy. We wait about 10 minutes for each ride. The regular stand by queue waiting times are 30 minutes.
11:55am – We leave Wonderland to head across the park for lunch.

VIP Lunch at the Luminant VIP Private Lounge and Dining Restaurant

12:05am – We enter the Luminant VIP Private Lounge and Dining Restaurant. Lunch is a buffet selection of basics like pizza and rice to elegant seafood cocktails and fancy desserts and snacks. Drinks are readily served with attentive serving staff almost outnumbering diners. Alcoholic drinks are included and served from a small bar.
1:08pm – We leave the Luminant restaurant to do a ride or two before our tour at 2pm.
1:12pm – We enter Minion Park to do some shopping and use our unlimited ride wristbands to access the Express queue to ride Despicable Me Minion Mahem. We enter the pre-show area of the ride in 5 minutes.
1:52pm – We leave Minion Park to go to the VIP Lounge to meet our Five Hour VIP Tour Guide

Our 5 hour VIP Tour Starts

1:59pm – We arrive back at the VIP Lounge and are met by our Tour Guide. We grab a free drink and all sit down around a table to discuss what we would like to do most on tour. We can basically choose what we do, when we want to do it and however many times we would like! The form I filled out with our preferences has also been printed out.
As it was a rainy day, we discuss how roller coasters could present a challenge as they are closed on-and-off during showers of rain, but our Guide was ready to work with us to help us ride the Flying Dinosaur and other major rides wherever possible.
We are given VIP lanyards to wear during the Tour and a free wet-weather poncho each for rain or the Jurassic Ride. Because the Donkey Kong ride “Mine Cart Madness” is closed for unscheduled maintenance, we are also given one bonus free Express Lane ride pass each for use at a later date.
2:15pm – We leave the VIP Lounge with our Tour Guide to go to our first ride of choice. Our Guide suggests the nearby Space Fantasy The Ride which has a Club Zedd Remix overlay theme. When we arrive the Tour Guide takes us through a chained off area to experience the pre-show, and then walks us right to the head of the ride queue to board the ride. We love the ride and ask if we can do it again – one of us chooses to wait it out with the Tour Guide as we once again skip the ride queue and ride Space Fantasy The Ride one more time before moving on.
2:48pm – We leave Space Fantasy The Ride to go over to the Hollywood Dream Coaster.
2:52pm – We enter the Hollywood Dream Coaster with our Tour Guide, using the exit to go straight to the boarding area. The ride is experiencing a breakdown. We can see all the people who have queued for over an hour waiting it out but our Guide says we can pop back later and whips us back out the exit and on to our next closest choice – the Flying Dinosaur.
3:00pm – We start to walk over to the Jurassic Park area to ride the Flying Dinosaur.
3:05pm – We arrive at the Jurassic Park area.
3:10pm – We arrive at the Flying Dinosaur and stow our bags in the free lockers. We take an elevator straight up to the boarding area, entering directly onto the platform the opposite direction to everyone else. We really are saving a lot of time with these shortcuts! Every ride operator allows our Tour Guide to go where he likes with us and we are given whatever seat we like on each ride.
3:30pm – As it is now raining the ride stops operating. We wait a little while. Eventually we agree to give up and our Tour Guide takes us back down the elevator to go to another ride. I feel bad for the other people who have been queuing for an hour and now can’t ride the Flying Dinosaur!
3:35pm – We head for Jurassic Park The Ride
3:41pm – After stowing our bags in free lockers we are taken straight to the front of the queue to board the next Jurassic Park The Ride. We put our waterproof ponchos on as this is a splash ride. Our Tour Guide gives us a ride tip – sit on the 3rd row to avoid getting wet! We choose to do the ride sitting in row 3 and barely get splashed! At the end of the ride our Tour Guide is waiting. He doesn’t do any rides with us but surprises us with some photos of us he took of us on the ride! We ask him to take more photos and videos of us throughout the tour and he happily obliges.
4:00pm – We leave the Jurassic Park area and walk over to the Harry Potter area, THE WIZARDING WORLD OF HARRY POTTER
4:13pm – We arrive at THE WIZARDING WORLD OF HARRY POTTER.
4:16pm – We arrive at and ride the Flight of the Hippogriff. There is a 40 minute wait time but we enter via the exit and board straight away. We choose the front cars to sit in. The front car is the one you want if you are tall, by the way so ask for it!
4:31pm – We arrive at Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride and store our bags in the locker. Our Guide bypasses the entire standby queue with us via the Express Pass priority lane and we arrive near the boarding area. Our wait time to board was 5 minutes.
4:52pm – We leave the Harry Potter area and head for Super Nintendo World
5:00pm – We enter the walkway leading to Super Nintendo World
5:02pm – We arrive at the entrance to Super Nintendo World and are taken to the front of the queue for a Super Star Plaza Photo Opportunity which is a professional photo of us popping out of the green Super Mario Game (warp pipe) tubes. Our guide videos and takes photos on my phone, and I purchase two professional printed and digital photos on the spot for 2,200 jpy (almost all professional photos are included with an 8 hour VIP Tour)
5:13pm – Right before we enter Super Nintendo World we check the app and see that the Flying Dinosaur ride has now re-opened and we ask the Guide if we can quickly return to the Jurassic Park area to try and ride it. He is unflappable and helps us to get there as quickly as possible as rain is an ever-present threat.
5:16pm – We re-enter the Jurassic Park area
5:22pm – We arrive back at the Flying Dinosaur ride. There is already a new standby queue of 20 minutes and Single Rider 15 minutes but our Guide takes us straight up to the boarding platform again and onto the next ride. We choose the front row and have a thrilling ride! I choose to ride one more time and the girls wait down with the Guide – climbing the first hill face down is full-on!
5:48pm – We leave Jurassic Park return to Super Nintendo World.
5:51pm – We enter Super Nintendo World. There we play some games with our Power-Up wrist bands (available for purchase in SNW).
6:01pm – We arrive at the Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge™ ride, having skipped the main queue by taking hidden passages through Bowser’s Castle to reach the ride boarding area. Our Guide gives us our special visors to wear during the ride and we are immediately loaded into a Kart carriage. Because we have done almost all of the rides before on previous trips we have no interest in the pre-show areas, but you can ask your Guide to let you also do them if you wish.
6:20pm – We finish the ride and leave Bowser’s Castle and Super Nintendo World, walking past a Princess Peach photo opportunity with a long queue*.
*Only 8 hour VIP Tours can skip major character queues, we would have to line up on our 5 hour VIP Tour. This rule doesn’t count for non-character photos like the SNW entrance warp pipes and the Jaws shark photo opportunity.
6:38pm – After a quick discussion we opt to hurry back to Jurassic Park to fit in one last go on the Jurassic Park ride. It’s quiet enough so that we can have a whole boat to ourselves with some quick placement by our Guide and the ride attendant! We sit in the front row without ponchos on and all vow to plunge down the final drop arms-up at the end. Our Guide is ready to film this hilarious moment! But time is getting short now and we decide to make our last VIP Tour ride the Jaws ride!
6:49pm – We follow our Tour Guide into the Jaws ride through the exit and he puts us into the front row as requested. It’s getting dark now which makes the Jaws ride even more fun. This is the only standalone Jaws ride left in the world!
7:00pm – We get off the Jaws ride and skip the queue on the Jaws Shark photo opportunity out the front. As well as the professional photographer taking our photo our Guide takes our photo on our phone too. We don’t buy the professional photo of this one, opting for our phone version.
7:01pm -0ur VIP five hour tour is over! We thank our Guide profusely and bid him goodbye. We don’t want to return to the VIP Lounge with him just yet. We want to use our unlimited ride bands some more, heading into the Wonderland Sesame Street area. These rides are slated to be removed soon so we take the opportunity to check them out.
7:41pm – We leave Wonderland, pick up our bags from the VIP Lounge and go shopping in the big main gift stores near the main park entrance. The park closes at 8pm!
8:00pm – Park close time. We leave Universal Studios Japan to pick up our luggage at the Kintetsu Hotel and walk down to the Hotel Universal Port where we are staying that night. Absolute best day ever!

Our Universal Studios Japan strategy for this visit didn’t end there…

Something to keep in mind is that I do take up extra time collecting content for guides like this one – so you may well be able to pack more into your day than we do!

We bought tickets for a second day

We had decided to take advantage of our VIP Day to do as many rides as we could because we would have our unlimited ride bands which save hours of waiting time. We decided not to waste our time on long shows which weren’t hard to queue for. Therefore we bought entry tickets the next day for extra time to do some shows including JUJUTSU KAISEN: The Real 4-D and Detective Conan 4-D Live Show and do a couple of rides we had missed like the Hollywood Dream Backdrop coaster – plus a little more shopping and snacks! Sometimes it’s nice to have some extra theme park time to just soak up the atmosphere.

I hope you found this review helpful in your Universal Studios Japan research! Some other VIP guides you may find useful are:

Universal Studios Japan VIP Pass & Tour Beginners Guide – an ultimate guide to USJ VIP Tours

USJ Express Pass versus VIP Tours Comparison Table – to see the differences between Express Passes and VIP Tours side-by-side.

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

Watch an Instagram reel of our five hour VIP day!

Japan 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 Universal Studios Japan and allows you to access the internet in Japan.

Buy an Airalo eSim

Where should I buy my Studio Passes?

I recommend using Klook to buy your USJ Studio Passes. Klook is the most trustworthy, easiest official seller of USJ VIP Tours and all USJ tickets.

Universal Studios Japan Planning Facebook Group

Love all things Universal Studios Japan, or just have more questions? Join our 80k+ member Universal Studios Japan Holiday Planning Facebook Group here!

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

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

The LETSGOMUM family attended this VIP Tour as partially sponsored guests of KKDay. As always, all opinions are our own.

This page may contain affiliate links. If you book a stay, product or an attraction through one of them, I may receive a commission which will not affect the price you pay. Thank you for your support! Any prices are correct as of August 2026 – always check with the source websites for the most recent prices.

The post Universal Studios Japan USJ VIP 5 Hour Tour Review appeared first on Let's go Mum.

We have spent a couple of Christmas’ at Tokyo Disney Resort in Japan now. You won’t believe how wonderful it is! From the hotels to the parks, rides and entertainment – Christmas at Tokyo Disney Resort has to be experienced to be believed!

Christmas at Tokyo Disneyland

We’ve twice experienced Christmas Eve at Tokyo Disneyland and Christmas Day at Tokyo DisneySea, staying at official Tokyo Disney Hotels.

Here’s our review of what we thought were the most memorable highlights and really fun things to do at Tokyo Disney Resort at Christmas!

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.

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Here are our top five reasons why you should book your next family Christmas holiday at Tokyo Disney Resort!

01. Tokyo Disney Parks general festivities

Does Japan Disney celebrate Christmas?

Yes, Tokyo Disney Resort does celebrate Christmas, so if you’re worried about Japan not celebrating Christmas in their Disney Parks, you couldn’t be more wrong! Christmas is an important time of year at both Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea.

Christmas doesn’t just stop at the Disney parks either! You’ll find a special Disney Resort Line monorail has Christmas decorated cars.

Even the nearby Ikspiari Shopping Centre has a Christmas tree!

Is Christmas at Tokyo Disneyland crowded?

It can be busy during Christmas, but even though Christmas is one of Tokyo Disney’s special seasons, the crowds usually aren’t as bad as some other Japan holiday periods like Golden Week.

Are there Christmas decorations at Tokyo Disney?

Yes! Both Tokyo Disney Resort parks are decked out in their finest Christmas decorations throughout the park. At night it becomes a magical lit fairy land of Christmas lights!

There’s a huge Christmas Tree holding court in the World Bazaar as you enter Tokyo Disneyland and another two in the American Waterfront area of DisneySea which are wonderful for Christmas photos!

Christmas Garlands abound, the flowerbed Mickey at the front entrance of Disneyland is adorned with a Christmas Hat – there’s no mistaking it’s the most wonderful time of the year!

As the sun goes down the Tokyo Disney theme parks Christmas decorations light up beautifully to create a magical Christmas world.

Of course you can’t miss the Tokyo Disneyland Sky Full Of Colours Fireworks Show at Christmas, it’s lovely to sit together in front of the beautifully lit Disney Castle as the lights synchronise with Disney music and colourful fireworks!

Watch our Christmas Eve Disneyland Fireworks Show

Is there Christmas food at Disneyland?

Yes, there are seasonal snacks and treats for Christmas at both Tokyo Disney Parks. Sweethearts cafe at Disneyland offers several themed treats!

We had a Christmas Eve Breakfast at Tokyo Disneyland where they offered special Christmas Breakfast Sets. You can watch our YouTube video of our Christmas Eve breakfast at Disneyland here. There are many more yummy special Christmas menu items on offer around the Parks.

If you intend on booking a special Tokyo Disney Resort restaurant for Christmas Day, be sure to book as soon as possible to avoid disappointment – they always book up fast!

02 – Christmas in a Tokyo Disney Hotel

Staying on-site in a Disney Hotel is a great part of the festive fun. We stayed Christmas Eve in the Tokyo Disneyland Hotel in a Beauty And The Beast themed room and Christmas Night at the DisneySea MiraCosta Hotel in a Capitano Mickey Superior Room and it was just perfect!

Waking up Christmas Morning was so fun. We were so ready to leap out of bed, exchange a few travel-sized Christmas presents and hit the parks! The Tokyo Disneyland Hotel lobby decorations, Christmas music and the Tokyo Disney theme parks waiting for us out of the window all amplified the anticipation and excitement of Christmas ten-fold!

Does it cost more to stay at a Tokyo Disney Resort official hotel during the Christmas and New Year’s holiday season?

Yes, there is about a 10% increase in hotel rates at Tokyo Disney Resort hotels during the Christmas period. Learn more about staying at the Tokyo Disney Resort hotels here.

03. Tokyo Disney Christmas Parades

Christmas parades are the order of the day at both Tokyo Disney Resort parks.

Is there a Santa at Tokyo Disney?

Yes there is a Santa at both Tokyo Disney Resort parks!

DisneySea has a special Santa Disney Christmas Greeting with Santa and various Disney Characters aboard a boat parading around the central Mediterranean Harbor.

At Tokyo Disneyland, you will find Santa in the daily Christmas parade!

Tokyo Disneyland Christmas parade

Tokyo Disneyland have a wonderful afternoon Christmas Parade. The theme name changes every few years.

Watch the Tokyo Disneyland Christmas Parade on YouTube

At nighttime, Christmas is also incorporated into the shows and a special Tokyo Disneyland Electric Parade with Christmas music.

Watch the Tokyo Disneyland Electric Parade on YouTube

It all makes for such a wonderful Christmassy atmosphere that is unforgettable!

04. Christmas overlays on Rides & Shows

At Christmas time a couple of permanent Disneyland attractions get very Christmassy!

I’m usually not a huge fan of ride overlays, but I have to admit the Holiday Nightmare overlay inspired by the Nightmare Before Christmas Movie of the Haunted Mansion got me wanting more!

Watch our ride on the Haunted Mansion Holiday Nightmare ride on YouTube

The Tokyo DisneySea Haunted Mansion is the classic charming version of the ride. The Haunted Mansion theme on its own is really enjoyable, but it is even more fun when incorporating this fabulous overlay which extends from the grounds outside to all through the ride.

In addition to the Haunted Mansion you will also find an overlay in place on the Country Bear Theatre at Christmas time – Jingle Bell Jamboree. This classic version of the original USA Show is with added Christmas decorations is just as hilarious as ever!

Christmas at Mickey’s House

We decided to pop into Mickey’s House in Toontown for a photo last Christmas and were delighted to find the queue was also Christmas decorated, although the photo wasn’t Christmas themed at all as it was Mickey the Wizard from Fantasia.

One thing’s for sure – any Disney attraction overlay at Christmas can only add to the jolly Christmas atmosphere!

Japan 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 Japan, including Tokyo Disney Resort, and allows you to access the internet in Japan.

Buy an Airalo eSim

05. Christmas Merchandise

During the Christmas season you can also buy special Tokyo Disney Christmas merchandise.

These include warm Christmas sweaters, special Christmas Mickey Ears, Christmas outfit character plushies including Mickey and Minnie, postcards, pins and more!

The big problem with securing any seasonal Tokyo Disney seasonal merchandise is that it often sells out on the first few days of release! Any Tokyo Disney Resort seasonal merchandise is extremely popular with Japanese locals, so on the first few days of release store visits must be reserved through the Tokyo Disney App to limit numbers.

With any luck you may be able to get something at actual Christmas time like a special pair of Christmas Disney Ears, but chances are that the majority of Christmas items are sold out before December – and it’s very rare that they ever have second runs of any seasonal or special merchandise.

Tokyo DisneySea Christmas Ornaments

One of our lucky group member discovered this beautiful Christmas ornament in June! “This is my absolute favorite purchase. I found a tangled crystal Christmas ornament at the store in the Aladdin shop down the stairs across from the carousel. There aren’t many ornaments to be found in Disneyland nor DisneySea but this one is beautiful! Quality like a Swarovski snow flake ornament. Price 4,900 Yen.” – Nancy Wong

You can find out more about shopping at shopping at Tokyo Disney Stores in my guide here.

Tokyo Disney Christmas FAQs

When does the Tokyo Disney Christmas Season start?

The Tokyo Disney Resort official Christmas Season commences mid-November. The date will be announced months in advance.

When does Tokyo Disney Christmas end?

Tokyo Disney Resort Christmas finishes promptly at closing time the end of Christmas Day, December 25th.

Overnight the Christmas theming is swapped out for the Tokyo Disney Resort New Year’s theme. So don’t arrive on Boxing Day hoping to still enjoy the Christmas festivities!

Plan for your trip to fall between November 16 until December 25th to enjoy all the Tokyo Disney Christmas fun. (Don’t forget to join our Tokyo Disneyland Holiday Planning Facebook Group too!)

Are Tokyo Disney shows, rides and parades in English?

Yes and no. But it really shouldn’t affect your enjoyment at all! Disney is Disney around the world, but the vast majority of Tokyo Disney Park go-ers at Tokyo Disney are of course local Japanese.

There are a a minority of tourists mainly consisting of Korean and Chinese visitors.

Even so, most Disney music in the parks, including Christmas shows and parades are played in their original English version.

There is of course plenty of Japanese narration and dialogue, especially on the rides but they are just as fun as ever and bring home that you are on an exciting overseas trip!

So as you can see, a Christmas visit to Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea parks is well worth it! Start planning now for your amazing Tokyo Disney Christmas – it’s never too early and makes for an incredibly memorable Christmastime.

Have you ever visited a Disney Park at Christmas? Tell me in the comments below!

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 100k+ member Tokyo Disney Facebook Group here!

Pin it on Pinterest!

This page may contain affiliate links. If you book a stay, product or an 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 May 2026 – always check with the source website for the most recent prices.

The post Tokyo Disney Christmas guide 2026 appeared first on Let's go Mum.

Join our Tokyo Disneyland Facebook group

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

Disability Accessibility Shortcut information index

• Where can I buy standard discounted Tokyo Disneyland tickets?
• Can I buy Tokyo Disney Disabled tickets?
• How do I use my disability pass?
• What is a Pram as a Wheelchair sticker?
• How much does a Tokyo Disney Resort Disability pass cost?
• What is the certificate to prove your disability at Tokyo Disney Resort?
• Is there a place to wait instead of the ride queue at Tokyo Disney Resort?
• Can I get a Disability Access Service pass added to a day pass?
• Can my family group ride with me using my disability pass?
• Can I do other rides whilst waiting for my DAS time slot?
• Can I take my wheelchair on the Tokyo Disney Resort monorail or shuttle bus?
• Tokyo Disney Resort disabilities resource page

Tokyo Disneyland tickets

Disability Access Services

 How do I buy a Tokyo Disney Disability pass?

You can only buy a Tokyo Disneyland disability entrance ticket at the official Tokyo Disney Resort website or at an official Tokyo Disney Hotel ticket counter.

Where should I buy our other Tokyo Disney Tickets?

You can buy non-disability standard entrance tickets for the rest of your family or friends online also on the official website, or at the official third party discount seller Klook.

Buy your Disneyland tickets at Klook online here

How do I enter Disneyland or DisneySea with my Disability ticket?

After buying your Disney entrance tickets, upon arrival at the Tokyo Disney park  produce your ticket barcode on your mobile phone or paper ticket.
You will need to produce proof of your disability to enter.

You will still need to Register inside the park at your first ride.

(Make sure all members of your party who may wish to ride with you – up to five people – are also present so they can also be noted as your ride group)

Are Tokyo Disney Resort disability tickets cheaper?

Yes, Tokyo Disney Resort Disability one day passes are cheaper than standard one day passes. They are around AUD$25 and USD$11 cheaper than standard Tokyo Disneyland day passes, or roughly 20% cheaper.

Your accompanying Carer can also buy a disability one day pass. Only one accompanying person may buy a disabled pass per disabled pass visitor.

Here are the current (August 2023) ticket prices for comparison:

Tokyo Disneyland Disability park entrance ticket price:

Adult ticket price ¥6,800 Junior ¥5,600 Child ¥4,000

(Adult ¥6,800 = AUD$72.51, USD$46.44)

Tokyo Disneyland Standard day pass price:

Adult ¥8,400 Junior ¥7,000 Child ¥5,000
(Adult ticket price ¥8,400 = AUD$89.57, USD$57.36)

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

What certificate or paperwork do I need to prove I am disabled?

There isn’t a great deal of information, other than eligible certificates should be a “certificate for” their disability, including physical, developmental (neurodiverse such as Autism / ASD and ADHD), neurological, cognitive and intellectual / mental disabilities.
This implies official-issued documents such as government documents.

That said, there are numerous incidences of NDIS or Doctors letters that are accepted as proof for DAS at Tokyo Disneyland.

Australian Compaion & Carers Cards

Australian NSW Companion Cards and even Carers pension cards would have a strong case, particularly if they include a photograph. This is because they are issued by the state or federal governments.

What disability proof worked for us:

NDIS original paperwork for Australians carries weight – state that it is a government document.

Bring an accompanying doctor’s letter on their letterhead stating queuing may be difficult/not possible. MOST LIKELY this alone will work.

I asked a Cast Member if you can try to register with just a doctors letter and was met with some doubt. It can depend on who you register with!

Any kind of carers card, Australian Companion Card or pass with a photo would also be helpful.

UK Blue Cards

UK Blue Cards have been used with success due to them being a government issued identification card with photograph.

Japan has a photo pass system and may assume other countries do also. Explain that your government doesn’t issue the same.

Personally, if I only had a doctor’s letter as proof I would buy a regular Park entrance ticket and not a Disability entrance ticket – just in case the doctor’s letter is rejected as not enough proof (so that you don’t risk losing your entry ticket).

Do I need to take original certificates or can I take photocopies or digital scans?

Only take originals, as copies probably won’t be accepted. Officially they must be originals.

You should always carry your passport in Japan – it’s the law for tourists.

For Disney Disability Registration, you should bring photo id (so, your passport for example) if there is no photo id on your disability certificate or other proof – they probably won’t check it, but just in case.

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

Do I need to supply a Japanese translation of my disability certificate or medical letter?

No. Most don’t. There doesn’t seem to be a requirement for Japanese translations as then this would be a copy, so not admissable as proof.

That said, if my only documentation was a doctor’s letter, a translation may help strengthen your claim.

Can I buy Tokyo Disney multi-day disability tickets?

No. Disability tickets are one day passes only.

Is there Tokyo Disney Resort disabled ride access if I have already bought a standard ticket?

Yes. This is called the Disability Access Service pass. You can add this to your standard park access ticket by registering for the Disability Access Service add-on after you enter the park.

This is obtained by presenting a disability certificate or other acceptable documentation (see above) to one of several park locations, including any ride operator for your first ride. They will register you, your carer and your other group (family) members in the system width you so you can all ride together.

After you have registered for the first time you don’t need to do this process again that day. You can just request your DAS ride return time from ride operators at each ride.

Here are the Tokyo Disney Resort Disability Access Service registration locations:

At Tokyo Disneyland:

• All rides and attractions
• Woodchuck Greeting Trail
• Mickey’s House and Meet Mickey
• Minnie’s Style Studio

At Tokyo DisneySea:

• All rides and attractions
• Village Greeting Place
• Saludos Amigos! Greeting Dock
• Mickey & Friends’ Greeting Trails

Can I register for Disability Access Services for more than one day at a time?

The official website says you need to register each day at each park separately, on the day you attend. It is each day, each park.

Do I need a Carer with me to be registered for a Tokyo Disneyland disability pass?

Yes. If you have visual, mental, or developmental disabilities you must have an able-bodied person accompanying you in order to get a registered disabled pass.

You need one carer per disabled person for some rides like Space Mountain. So if you are a single parent and have two disabled children for example, or are two parents but are outnumbered with disabled children , consider registering only ONE disabled child if you can safely manage more than two on your own. The family group of up to five more people join you anyway.

Can my family or group board with me when I’m using my Disability Access Service (DAS)?

Yes. Up to five other people can board the ride with you when using your DAS. Up to nine people can go with you at a Character Greeting. You’ll need to have all their passes scanned with yours when entering the park with a disability ticket / registering for DAS.

From the Tokyo Disney website:

”At an attraction, this service is valid for up to six persons (yourself and five members of your party).”

How do I use a disability pass to skip the ride queue?

If you have bought a Tokyo Disney Resort Disability entrance ticket then once it is verified at the entrance gates then you will need to register again. After your initial registration at the first ride, reserve each ride by attending the ride and make yourself known to the ride queue attendants. You will receive a return time that equals the current queue wait time.

Watch my DAS registration video

Watch how to do your initial disability ride registration on our YouTube video.

If you have a standard Park entry ticket, then you will need to Register for a Disability Access Pass at your first ride, once for that day.
After you are Registered, then you only need to make what is called a Disability Reservation or Return Time at each ride you want to go on.

Speak to the ride attendants first to Register and once your ticket is digitally linked as a disability pass (as will be your Carer’s and you’ll also need to present all the passes of the family or group members you’re visiting with) then – then after registration you only need to make a ride reservation by attending that ride and receiving a return time.

Do Tokyo Disney Cast Members speak English?

Not all cast members speak English, however cast members do have translation devices or access to them.

When requesting Disability Access to a ride it may be wise to use Google translate or translate a note into Japanese prior, to give or show attendants in case of language barriers.

What happens during the Tokyo Disney Disability Registration Process?

The process takes around ten-fifteen minutes and is a one-off procedure for that day in that park.

If you have a Tokyo Disney Resort Disability entrance ticket your papers will be checked at the front gates. You will still need to do your official DAS Registration at your first ride.

If you have a standard park entrance ticket then you enter the park as normal and register at your first ride.

You may need to queue to register, particularly if you are registering at a popular ride first-thing in the morning such as Beauty and the Beast. I would advise registering at a less popular ride with a shorter queue first.

Cast members will ask to see documentary proof of the disabled person’s disability (see above).

They will photograph the disabled person and register their pass. They will also register/scan the passes of all the accompanying family/friends, so make sure everyone is there for registration.

After registration you will make your first ride Disability Reservation.

How do you make a Disability ride reservation at each ride?

Seek out any ride queue Cast Member who will direct you to the appropriate Cast Member. They usually hold a light stick.

The Cast Member will check the disabled person’s photograph on their system and ask the Carer of the disabled person questions to make sure the disabled person will be able to physically ride the ride and also be able to safely exit the ride in an emergency.

Appropriate questions will also be written in English etc. on cards, and will be about sitting, walking and navigating stairs capabilities.

They may ask if the disabled person is capable of being able to walk or be supported by your Carer out of a ride for safely.

You will be given a return time to come back to the ride so that you don’t have to wait in the queue. The return time will exactly equal the current ride queue time as signposted – a wait time identical to the current wait time for that ride queue.

You will then be free to leave to spend that time elsewhere instead of standing in a queue.

This process is not regarded as a fast pass like a Tokyo Disney paid Premier Pass or the USA Genie+ pass, but a queue place holder.

Can we do other rides whilst waiting for our disability ride re