Tokyo Disney Ride Pass beginner’s guide

Disney ride passes are the smart way to enjoy a successful Tokyo Disney Resort visit. Here is your complete guide!

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, Priority Passes & 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 Priority Passes and 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 and Anna & Elsa’s Frozen Journey

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

What are Tokyo Disney 40th Anniversary Priority Passes?

Tokyo Disney 40th Anniversary Priority Passes are free ride fast passes you also book on the Tokyo Disney Resort App. They work the same as DPAs, but for different rides.

So can’t I just use the free Priority Passes instead of buying DPA’s?

No. 40th Anniversary Priority Passes are great, and you should absolutely book Priority Passes as well as DPAs – but they aren’t available for the most in-demand rides. No TDR rides offer both DPAs and Priority Passes. Many of the best rides only offer Premier Access as a way of bypassing their long standby queues.

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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 or Priority 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 for as long as they remain available. Just ask a Cast Member for directions.

When should I buy Premier Access & Priority 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 book the maximum amount of Priority Passes and DPAs possible during the day.

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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 Priority Passes early and DPAs 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.j

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.

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

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

Disney Premier Access Pass minimum wait time between purchases. 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.

Disney 40th Anniversary Priority Pass minimum wait time between purchases. You can buy your next Priority Pass either:

• right after you have scanned into your previous Priority Pass, or
• two hours after the previous Priority Pass was purchased.

Can I buy Priority or Premier Access in advance?

No, you cannot buy Priority Passes or 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 Priority Passes (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 Passfor 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 or Priority 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 Priority and Premier pass on our YouTube video here.

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

Disney Premier Access and Priority 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 or Priority 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 – even 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

Can you still get DPAs & Priority Passes 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 or Priority Passes left available.

What is the price of a Disney Premier Access Pass?

The price of a DPA varies between 1,500 and 2,000 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

Which rides are Tokyo DisneySea Premier Access rides?

• Anna and Elsa’s Frozen Journey Premier Access price: 2,000 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: 2,000 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: 1,500 JPY per access

Which rides are Tokyo Disneyland Priority Pass rides?

• Pooh’s Hunny Hunt
• Big Thunder Mountain
• Haunted Mansion
• Monsters Hide & Go Seek
• Star Tours

Which rides are Tokyo DisneySea Priority Pass rides?

• Aquatopia (until Sept 15, 2025)
• Nemo Sea Rider
• Indianna Jones Adventure – Temple of the Crystal Skull
• Magic Lamp Theater
• Raging Spirits
• 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

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 and Priority Pass 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
Booked Priority Passes
Watch our video here!

If you want to see how we did:

Booked a Disney Premier Access parade
Booked a 40th Anniversary Priority Pass
Entry Requested a Show in the Lottery
Watch our video 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

Additional Tokyo planning reading

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

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