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.

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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 VIP 5 Hour Tour Review appeared first on Let's go Mum.

It’s that time of year again – Universal Studios Japan famous Halloween Horror Nights are upon us – for some this is a time of great excitement and anticipation. For other – not so much. With the scary zombies coming out to play, here’s everything you need to know to join in – or avoid them!

What is Universal Studios Japan HALLOWEEN HORROR NIGHTS?

Halloween Horror Nights is the Universal Studios Japan Halloween event which turns the park into a spooky Halloween experience like no other! Enjoy random zombies, scary street and stage shows, horror house mazes and frightening ride overlays throughout the park.

When is USJ Halloween Horror Nights 2026?

USJ Halloween Horror Nights runs from September 11th to November 8th, 2026

What time does Halloween Horror Nights start?

Halloween Horror Nights is an extra event period which covers elements and certain areas of the Universal Studios Japan theme park, with horror actors and shows appearing on the streets from 6pm each night.

What is the Halloween Horror Nights age recommendation?

The park operates and is open to all as normal up until 6pm, but after 6pm Halloween Horror Nights goes into full swing and the USJ “zombies” (actors dressed up to look and behave like scary Zombies) come out to wander many areas of the theme park. Halloween Horror Nights is not recommended for children 5 and under and parental discretion is advised for kids aged 12 and under.
The pay attraction Halloween attraction Lights Out: Nightmare Isolation is age restricted to 18 years and older.

Are there any safe zones in USJ during Halloween Horror Nights?

Whilst two roller coasters and one 4D Theatre will feature Halloween themes the rest of the park will operate as normal up until 6pm each night during the Halloween Horror Nights event period.

From 6pm only the family-friendly Wonderland attractions area will be Halloween theme and zombie-free, with a connected safe passageway free of scary themes all the way to the exit.

How can we leave USJ after 6pm without seeing zombies?

You can use the safe zombie-free laneway from the Wonderland children’s area. Here is the official map to follow so that the kids don’t get frightened by zombies at USJ after 6pm. The blue area remains unaffected by Halloween Horror Nights all day and night right up until closing time.

Universal Studios Halloween Horror Official Zombie Map

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What Universal Studios Japan ticket do I need to enter?

For admission into Universal Studios Japan, all members of your party aged 4 and over need a Studio Pass entrance ticket. You’ll need to purchase your Studio Passes online prior to your visit, as you are not able to buy USJ tickets at the gate.

I recommend using Klook to buy USJ Studio Passes, as they are an official USJ ticket seller. Klook issue the correct entry dates and readily accept major international credit cards. Buy your official Studio Passes from Klook here.

Halloween Horror Nights special attractions

What USJ rides have a Halloween overlay?

During the Halloween Horror Nights period the following standard rides & attractions included in your standard USJ admission will feature Halloween theming:

Hollywood Dream Coaster

From September 11th to November 8th, both the standard forwards and Backdrop backwards versions of the Hollywood Dream roller coaster will have a spooky music make-over with a varied range of Japanese Halloween Music.

Space Fantasy – The Ride

From September 11th right up until January the 4th 2027, Space Fantasy the ride will be overlayed with the new SADAKO’S CURSE: DARK HORROR RIDE. Parental supervision is recommended as this ride will feature frightening themes.

Cinema 4D Theatre

From September 11th to November 8th the Cinema 4D Theatre will be performing a new theatre show Chainsaw Man: The Chaos 4-D. This show’s storyline – a horror movie featuring Smiley the Pumpkin – has scary themes including zombies and splattering “blood” effects, so not recommended for the under-5s and parental discretion is advised for 12yrs and under.

Smiley’s Happy Halloween Meet and Greet

Outside of the Cinema 4-D Theatre you can also meet Smiley, the star of Halloween Horror Nights. He will be located near the Cinema 4-D Theater.

USJ Halloween Horror Nights Stage Shows

Gramercy Park – Halloween Horror Nights Academy: 15 Years of Screams
A scary dance party with a school zombies theme!
Age suitability: Not recommended for 5yrs and under. Parental discretion is advised for 12yrs and under children.
Period: Sept. 11 – Nov. 8, 2026
Schedule: posted day by day

USJ Halloween Horror Nights Street Shows

Street Zombies
From 6pm a Zombie horde will gradually converge on the streets.
This involves scarily outfitted and behaving actors dressed in confronting Halloween costumes.
Age suitability: Not recommended for 5yrs and under. Parental discretion is advised for 12yrs and under children.
Period: Sept. 11 – Nov. 8, 2026
Schedule: from 6pm each day

ZOMBIE de DANCE street show
A dancing zombies show with scary themes
Age suitability: Not recommended for 5yrs and under. Parental discretion is advised for 12yrs and under children.
Period: Sept. 11 – Nov. 8, 2026
Schedule: from 6pm each day

USJ Halloween Horror Nights Horror Houses

Lights Out: Nightmare Isolation
The 1st 18 years R-rated restricted attraction in Halloween Horror Nights history.
Rated intense and conducted in Japanese language only with a signed waiver required.
Location: Stage 18
Exclusive show ticket – fee required
Age suitability: Strictly 18 years and over – signed waiver required for all guests attending
Period: Sept. 11 – Nov. 8, 2026
Schedule: from 10am until the park closes
Note – lockers provided for bags

Resident Evil Requiem: The Dive

The Resident Evil Requiem hit game comes to life in person – you become the stalked!
Location: Stage 18
Timed entry ticket required, available on the official USJ app.
Express Pass valid
Age suitability: Strictly 14 years and under are not permitted.
Period: Sept. 11 – December 27th 2026
Schedule: from 10am until the park closes
Note – your phone may get wet so secure it first!

Factory of Fear: Zombie Tour
Step inside the Factory of Fear where you will be trapped in a slaughterhouse surrounded by zombies! Find the hand-scanner to escape.
Location: Stage 22
Timed entry ticket required on busy days, available on the official USJ app.
Age suitability: Strictly 14 years and under are not permitted.
Period: Sept. 11 – Nov. 8, 2026
Schedule: from 10am until the park closes

KATE PRESENTS – Witches of House 18: Bewitching Mansion of Emotion

A spooky Mansion house of mirrors is waiting for you to show four witches your emotions – makeup use included!
Location: Stage 18
Timed entry ticket required on busy days, available on the official USJ app
Age suitability: Strictly 12 years and under are not permitted – child switch is available for this attraction
Period: Sept. 11 – Nov. 8, 2026
Schedule: from 9am until the park closes

Are you allowed to dress up in Halloween costumes for Halloween Horror Nights?

Whilst Halloween “bounding” or mild theming is acceptable such as a themed t-shirt or traditional Halloween colours, full Halloween costumes are not allowed to be worn. This is so that park guests can easily identify USJ scare actors wandering the park. Theme park guests are not permitted to wear anything frightening including Halloween costumes, face paint and anything which obscures the face like Halloween masks.

I’m neurodiverse or sensitive – what effects are used in Halloween Horror Nights?

For autistic, epileptic and any other guests sensitive to over stimulation and/or amplified conditions, loud noises, liquid, powder, fog and strobe lights may be used during Halloween Horror Nights along the main thoroughfares and inside the rides and shows. Physical touching by – or of – USJ actors and other staff is not permitted.

What time does USJ open?

Universal Studios Japan (USJ) official opening time is between 8am-9am as you will see on the official opening hours website page however the opening time can be unofficially much earlier. Read about USJ opening hours here.

Halloween Horror Nights opens at 6pm.

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

I hope this guide has helped you to understand how the Universal Studios Japan Halloween Horror Nights event works. I’d love to hear about if you have experienced Halloween Horror Nights, or if you have any questions about the event in the comments below!

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!

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 Halloween Horror Nights 2026 guide for overseas visitors 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

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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

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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!

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But exactly how early – is early enough? Or what if you want to miss out on queuing to get in altogether? I’ve been studying the queueing movements of USJ for a few years now, so let me share with you exactly how the USJ queueing system works!

Why should I go early to Universal Japan?

The most popular reason for arriving early at USJ is getting into Super Nintendo World without a Timed Entry. Super Nintendo World normally requires a Timed Entry to get inside, however right after early opening time it has free entry for around 20 minutes. So you can walk there quickly to enter without a pass to get in. Even if you don’t make it in time there are always free Timed Entries available to book on the app first thing in the morning, even on the busiest day.

If you decide to avoid the Super Nintendo World crowds and head to other areas in the park you can benefit from very short queues in the first half hour or so – because everyone is rushing to Super Nintendo World! The Flying Dinosaur, Minions Land and Harry Potter areas are all much less busy than they will be just an hour or two later.

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

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Either way, because you’ve arrived at USJ early you’ll get much more out of your day because you can fit so much more in.

First things first…

What Universal Studios Japan ticket do I need?

To get into Universal Studios Japan, everyone needs a Studio Pass entrance ticket. You need to buy your USJ Studio Passes online before you arrive as you can’t buy tickets at the gate. I recommend Klook, as they are an official USJ ticket seller who get your dates right and easily accept most foreign credit cards. Buy your official Studio Passes from Klook here.

Universal Studios Japan (USJ) official opening time is between 8am-9am as you will see on the official opening hours website page. But official or not, the actual opening time can be very different to the published opening time!

Does Universal Japan open early?

Yes, USJ almost always opens significantly earlier than the advertised opening hours. This catches many visiting tourists out.

How do I find out what time USJ really opens?

There is no way to know the exact opening time of USJ. Even if you know the previous day’s opening time. Even if you ask Guest Services. They are just as clueless as everyone else – the timing appears to be random from an outsider’s perspective.

How early does USJ open?

Chances are, USJ opens around half an hour earlier than the official opening time. It can be as early as 45 minutes or as late as 10 minutes before. One thing is for sure – by the official opening time Universal Studios Osaka is already open and operating. So, if you arrive on time – you’re already late!

How does the USJ theme park queue work?

There are two queues to navigate to enter Universal Japan. First the security gates line, and then the main entrance gates queueing area.

Until Security opens and start to process people, the first queue will start to form at the security gates early – from around 6:30am, slowly extending back towards Universal City. After Security opens, people are processed through security and are then sent along a path to the second queue at the main entrance gate, a short walk away.

What is the earliest time I should arrive at USJ?

If you want to rope drop, or be close to the front of the gates at USJ opening time the best thing to do is arrive at least before 7am. This is when most early rising locals start to arrive and begin to form a queue at the USJ Security entrance. If you are attending on a very busy day such as a weekend or Golden Week you should arrive perhaps another half hour earlier.

How can I get to Universal Studios Osaka early?

Trains to the Universal City Station via Nishikujo are your cheapest option. Taxis are the most convenient form of transport to USJ, however the best strategy is to stay in one of the Universal City hotels. That way you can just stroll up to the queue with very little effort, because you’re already right near the gates. If you book a park view room at the Park Front Hotel or Kintetsu Hotel you can even watch how quickly the queue is forming from your hotel window!

What time do the USJ Security Gates open?

Security opens early, roughly around 30-45 minutes before the park opens. This allows people to be processed through Security and then move down to the main entrance gates to queue again. If you have a VIP Tour booked it’s at this point you can go to the VIP entrance.

What happens at Security?

Everyone going to USJ must pass through the security check gates. It’s a very similar process to an airport, with bag scans and searches, and personal body scanners.

Can I take food into Universal Japan?

You can carry water bottles out of your bag and through security with you. Strictly speaking food is only allowed to be brought in to USJ for babies or for special dietary needs. That said, often little interest is shown in finding and confiscating food in bags. It’s the luck of the draw.

Are tripods or selfie sticks allowed in USJ?

If security locate any photographic items such as a tripod or selfie stick you will be asked not to use or extend them, but you will be allowed to keep them with you. Professional type SLR or mirrorless cameras are also permitted in Japanese theme parks.

After you pass through Security you can walk along to the entrance gates queue.

Where is the USJ VIP entrance?

The Universal Studios Japan VIP entrance is located past the main entrance gates. It really stands out with its staff standing at the door and a red carpet leading up to it! You must pass through Security first, before going to the VIP entrance.

Do VIPs get earlier entry than everyone else?

No, VIPs gain access to the theme park at the same time the main gates open to all the other guests. If you queue early for USJ, you will also be waiting in a short queue at the VIP entrance until the gates open.

Can I skip the security queue if I have a VIP Tour?

No, not without extenuating circumstances. If you are running late for your VIP Tour you can approach staff to ask them to expedite your Security processing. Under normal circumstances VIP Tour participants are expected to queue for Security with the other park guests. You can however skip the main entrance queue in the morning by using the special VIP Entrance area after Security.

Will there be pushing and shoving in the queue?

Whilst the Security area queues are formed lines, the queues at the entrance gates to Universal Studios Osaka are often more of a large group mass. Although people are stood close together Japanese queues rarely push or shove and respect personal space. Staff also monitor and help to direct the queue distribution areas to prevent overcrowding.

When the gates open you may find yourself shoulder to shoulder with other guests as you shuffle towards the gates for your ticket to be scanned, but it’s nothing to worry about. It’s just the general excitement and eagerness to get into the park and go have fun!

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

Can I enter late to skip the queue into Universal Japan?

Yes, if you enter USJ later you will miss most of the opening time queue. There is almost always some amount of queueing to get into Universal Studios Japan, however if you enter around half an hour to an hour after opening time the queues for both Security and the entrance gates will be much reduced, possibly even gone altogether.

Are weekends busy at Universal Studios Osaka?

Yes, it’s almost always busy at USJ, but the weekends are especially so, as Japanese locals enjoy spending their time off at theme parks.

The size of the USJ queue all depends on how busy the day is. Rule of thumb is if you are visiting on a weekend or public holiday, it’s going to be very busy so prepare for at least a five to ten minute wait even if you enter well after opening time.

I hope this guide has helped you to understand how the Universal Studios Japan entrance queues work. Please let me know if you have any questions in the comments below!

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!

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 June 2026 – always check with the source websites for the most recent prices.

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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.

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 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 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 100k+ 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 May 2025 – always check with the source website for the most recent prices.

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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.

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

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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!

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

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!

Have a question? Drop a comment below! I’d also love to hear about your own Tokyo Disney Resort area 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 May 2025 – always check with the source website for the most recent prices.

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Universal Studios Japan is such a fun theme park to visit, but the ticketing system can be…well….confusing to say the least! Here’s my quick guide to help you buy the best tickets for your Universal Studios Japan (USJ) visit.

When do USJ tickets go on sale?

Theoretically, all USJ passes should become available for sale at the same time. The reality can be different.

USJ ticket releases can vary from day to day and month to month. All we can do is read the official announcements, be ready to buy when they say – but don’t assume anything!

At this time – May 2026 – tickets release one day at a time, two months prior to the date (should be one day before) at midnight Japan time. That’s approximately 60-62 days before the date you want.

I recommend you start checking at least a couple of days before the estimated release date to see how they are tracking.

The USJ Disability Access Pass (DAS Pass)

If you are looking for information on the USJ Disability Access Pass (DAS Pass), you can read this USJ DAS Pass beginner’s guide here.

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

There are three main kinds of Universal Studios Japan tickets and passes.

1 – Studio Passes

2 – Express Passes

3 – VIP Passes

1 – USJ Studio Passes

What are USJ Studio Passes?

Studio Passes are Universal Studios Japan entry tickets. These are compulsory tickets to enter USJ. You need to buy one of these even if you already have bought an Express Pass or a VIP Pass.

Studio Passes plus additional extras

There are some “extra” versions of Studio Passes. These can include a combination Studio Pass with an Express Pass and a combination Studio Pass with a Super Nintendo World Timed Entry. This is also known as a guaranteed Entry to Super Nintendo World.

Studio Passes plus Super Nintendo World guaranteed entry

Also known as the Studio Kansai Pass, the Studio Pass + SUPER NINTENDO WORLD + Have Fun In Kansai Pass is a popular USJ ticket as it guarantees entry into Super Nintendo World on your day of visit. You can read more about this Studio Pass with guaranteed entry to Super Nintendo World here.

Should I buy my Studio Pass first?

Not if you intend to buy an Express Pass, as you may move your dates to get an Express Pass. Studio Passes are usually much easier to buy later.

Can I buy my Studio Pass from a different seller?

Yes, you don’t have to buy your USJ Studio Passes and Express or VIP passes from the same seller. All passes are valid and work with each other.

Where should I buy USJ Studio Passes?

Recommended: Buy your USJ tickets through official sellers designed for international purchasers like Klook, KKDay and Trip. so you are issued with the correct date. There is a known error where some international orders receive a different date to the one they ordered.

No matter which official seller you buy them from, all USJ Studio Passes are the same. But where you buy them from can make all the difference.

Here are some recent examples (click to read in the Facebook Group)

There has been recurring incidences of people outside of Japan buying Studio Passes on the official USJ reseller website and then finding that they have been issued with wrong dated tickets. Because USJ tickets are all letter-rated, the result is that you are sometimes issued with an incompatible ticketing letter which doesn’t match the date you wanted. This doesn’t occur when purchasing Studio Passes from Klook, KKDay and Trip.

Don’t panic if this has happened to you – this can be fixed by emailing for a refund and re-purchase, or even possibly by going to Guest Services located outside of the USJ theme park gates on your day of visit.

There are numerous posts of this issue happening to members in our USJ Planning Facebook Group.

It’s best to avoid the possibility of this issue happening to you by buying your Studio Pass from the websites designed for international purchasers – Klook, KKDay and Trip.

When can I scan my Studio Passes into the USJ app?

Usually you need to wait a day after purchase before the system recognises them – it averages around 12-24hrs wait.

How do I scan a USJ Studio Pass into the App?

Watch my YouTube video to follow my step by step guide showing you how to scan your Universal Studios Japan theme park Studio Pass tickets into the official Universal Studios Japan App for the purposes of booking Super Nintendo World Timed Entry Passes. Read all about how to book Super Nintendo World Timed Entry in our guide here.

2 – USJ Express Passes

What are USJ Express Passes?

Universal Studios Japan Express Passes are sets of multiple ride queue fast passes which allow you to skip ride queues by accessing a priority lane at the entrance to each ride. There your QR Code will be scanned and you will walk past the long lines and arrive close to the front of the queue. You will usually still need to wait some minimal time (around 10-20 minutes), but it’s much less than the couple of hours wait time of the general queue. To go straight to the front of the queue with no waiting, skip to read about VIP Passes here.

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

Express Passes usually come in the form of 4s and 7s and also special 5s and 8s plus Premium. Express 4s include four different ride Express Passes, Express 7s include seven different ride Express Passes, and so on.

What is the USJ Express Premium pass?

USJ Express Premium passes offer 14 rides and attractions with no set time slots and one Super Nintendo World timed entry, and are the most expensive Express Pass you can currently buy – even more than some VIP Tours.

There are often several different variations of each type of Express Pass to choose from.

Express Passes give you a set time range to use the pass at a particular ride. Some Express Pass sellers assign your Express Pass times automatically upon confirmation, some allow you to choose sets of times available. Usually one or two of the lesser Express Pass rides like Jaws can be used (once) at any time during the day.

Should I buy Express Passes first?

Yes, you should buy your Express Passes prior to buying your Studio Passes, which are usually much easier to get.

Can I buy as many USJ Express Passes as I want?

You are limited to purchasing 4 tickets in one sale from the USJ reseller website.
You are not limited to 4 Express Tickets when purchasing off the other reseller websites. You can purchase up to 10 Express Passes in one sale.

Can I buy Express Passes separately?

Yes, you can buy as many Express Passes as you like separately, but if you want to ride together as a group or family you must buy the same Express Passes together in one purchase or you will be assigned different times and so be visiting rides separately. It can be almost impossible to sync up the times of separately purchased Express Passes. Don’t attempt it to avoid disappointment!

Are Express Passes Unlimited?

No, USJ Express Passes aren’t unlimited. They can only be used once per ride. Unlimited passes are available with certain VIP Passes.

What happens if I miss my time slot?

Some ride Express Passes have a time period to use them. If you arrive early you will need to wait before being allowed to enter the priority queue. If you arrive late you risk not being admitted. Our USJ Facebook group members write:

Important buying tips for USJ Express Passes:

Express 7s and 8s usually sell out fast upon release – Some Express 4s can be available for longer periods.
Express 7s and 8s which offer Super Nintendo World rides are the most popular, and can sell out in minutes.

Where should I buy USJ Express Passes?

Recommended:  If you are seeking USJ Express Passes buy them anywhere you can get them! Options include the USJ reseller website, Klook, Trip.com and KKDay. and it makes little difference where you buy them as it’s all the same ticket. You may, however encounter some purchasing issues.

USJ official website purchasing issues:

The USJ website only allows the purchase of 4 Express Passes in one sale.
USJ sometimes crashes if demand for tickets is large.
There is a persistent problem with the USJ website accepting overseas credit cards due to their exclusive Japanese 3D security screening. Some international credit cards are accepted but many are not. Amex or Wise pre-loaded travel money cards work best for the USJ websites. Get your free Wise card here and save the $10 card fee.

Klook and KKDay purchasing issues:

Historical. Cancellation risk is very low.

3 – USJ VIP Passes

What is a USJ VIP Pass?

Universal Studios Japan VIP Passes are widely regarded as the best USJ theme park experience pass, but of course they are also more expensive. Surprisingly, the shorter VIP Tour Passes aren’t all that more expensive than an Express Pass. Therefore if you have the budget, USJ VIP Passes can represent better value for money, given the benefits.

USJ VIP Passes include a private tour guide with extra benefits during the tour, plus extra Express Pass ride passes for before and/or afterwards.

What kind of VIP Tours are available?

You can buy a group or private VIP Tour Pass where the pricing encompasses a minimum number of people for a private tour.

VIP Passes are available for 3 hour tours (includes 4 rides plus come with an extra 3 or 4 individual ride Express Passes) or 5 hour tours and 8 hour tours (both include unlimited ride passes). KKDay sometimes offer a VIP Pass which includes transport to and from the park.

What do USJ VIP Passes include?

All USJ VIP Passes include a special entrance to USJ to avoid waiting in the general queue and access to the VIP lounge 30 mins prior to their tour start time. They all include a tour guide – A Chinese, Japanese or English speaking tour guide is pre-assigned to each tour.

During your VIP Tour, a tour guide will take you on a USJ guided tour including right to the front of the ride queues via behind the scenes entrances. Particular length tours include lunch and/or dinner, some in the private VIP restaurant. Others include restaurant discount vouchers.

Where can I buy USJ VIP Passes?

Recommended: Buy all your English Speaking VIP Tour Passes from KKDay and use our discount code LETSGOMUM at checkout for $30USD off! (learn how to turn any VIP into English in our guide here). (Japanese VIP Tours are available on USJ Japan website for residents within Japan)

You can learn more about USJ VIP Tours and see an itinerary in our beginner’s guide here.

Universal Studios Japan Planning Facebook Group

Love all things Universal Studios Japan, or just have more questions? Join our 70k+ 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!

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 April 2026 – always check with the source website for the most recent prices.

The post Universal Studios Japan Tickets & Passes Beginners Guide appeared first on Let's go Mum.

Here’s my quick guide to the new and most expensive Universal Studios Japan (USJ) Express fast pass – the Express Pass Premium.

What Universal Express Passes do I need?

Studio Pass -To gain entry to Universal Studios Japan to ride the rides and see the shows is the compulsory Studio Pass admission ticket.

Super Nintendo World timed entry – In addition as a crowd-control measure, you will need to obtain an extra Super Nintendo World timed entry to access any rides in that area.

Together, the above two passes will give you access to almost every ride and show inside Universal Studios Japan.

The problem with only buying a Studio Pass is that you have no way to skip the major ride queues. Universal Studios Japan ride wait times can exceed an hour or more. This means you day is going to be a lot more tedious with a lot less rides.

Therefore to maximise your time at USJ and lessen your time waiting around in queues most people also purchase a fast pass, known as an Express Pass or VIP Tour. Without a fast pass, your day may be a long and unproductive one at Universal Studios Japan.

What USJ fast passes are available?

In addition to the Studio Pass, USJ also offers a variety of different ride fast passes, including Express Passes and VIP Tours. You can learn more about all USJ ride pass types in my USJ pass beginner’s guide here.

What are Universal Express Passes?

Universal Studios Japan Express Passes are a popular separate ticket addition to Studio Passes. Many different variations are available, including the Express 4, Express 5, Express 7, Express 8 and Universal Express Pass Premium, all with different ride configurations.

How do Universal Studios Japan Express Passes work?

Express Passes can drastically shorten the time you spend waiting in busy USJ ride queues which can often exceed one and sometimes even 2 hours. USJ Express Passes offer a group of single ride fast passes. Each individual ride on the Express Pass usually has a set time frame to access them except for the Express Pass Premium.

How much time do Express Passes save?

Literally, hours. Express Pass holders use an Express Priority Lane which will help you to bypass most of the general queue. While you will still be required to wait in a queue, your queue and wait time will be much shorter than those in the normal standby ride queue. Express Pass holder wait times are usually around ten to twenty minutes, but on busy days or after ride breakdowns they can blow out to half and hour or more. Either way, they are still much shorter than the general ride queue.

If you would like to go straight to the front of the queue with unlimited ride access, you may like to read about Universal Studios Japan VIP Tours here.

Are Express Pass ride times strict?

Yes, standard Express Pass holders must access each ride within a certain nominated time frame or risk losing that ride’s Express Lane access. Whilst exceptions may be made, it’s never guaranteed and so best to be on the safe side and arrive in time.

How is Universal Express Pass Premium different?

Universal Express Pass Premium is different to standard Express Passes because in addition to offering the most rides and shows, it also offers the flexibility of no time restrictions when entering rides. So you can wander the park and use your Express Pass for each ride once at whatever time you like – with the exception of its Super Nintendo World entry & rides.

Which is best – the Express Pass or VIP?

On balance, Universal Studios Japan VIP Tours are the clear winner for the best day out at USJ. There are many more benefits to the Universal Studios Japan VIP Tours over Express Passes.

The main disadvantage to Express Passes is that you still have to queue – although you are in the Priority Lane you will still have to wait a certain amount of time to board rides. This can range from 10 minutes right up to an hour on a busy day. VIP Tour participants don’t. They are taken straight to the front of the ride. You can read all about Universal Studios Japan VIP Tours here.

Is Super Nintendo World included in Express Passes too?

Yes, provided they have Super Nintendo World (SNW) rides. The only exception to free-ranging ride times on the USJ Premium Express Tickets is that the Super Nintendo rides will be dependent upon your included SNW timed entry.

You can only enter Super Nintendo World once with your one timed entry with any Express Pass, and so those rides can only be accessed after that time – unless you acquire another Super Nintendo World timed entry.

Can I go back into Super Nintendo World after I have left?

Not with any Express Pass. Once exited, Super Nintendo World cannot normally be re-entered without another Super Nintendo World timed entry. You can learn about how to get an extra timed entry to Super Nintendo World here.

If you would like unlimited Super Nintendo World access, you can read about Universal Studios Japan VIP Tours here.

When do Universal Express Pass Premium tickets come on sale?

At this time – May 2026 – tickets release one day at a time, two months prior to the date (should be one day before) at midnight Japan time. That’s approximately 60-62 days before the date you want.

I recommend you start checking the websites at least a couple of days before the estimated release date to see how they are tracking.

Where should I buy my Universal Express Pass Premium tickets?

I partner with several ticket sellers however as a first option I would recommend KKDay. KKDay are an official seller recommended by Universal Studios Japan, accept all major credit cards and are trustworthy and reliable.

To ensure you secure the dates you want you should buy your tickets in the following order…

What rides are included in the Express Pass Premium?

There are 14 different Universal Studios Japan attractions included in the Universal Express Pass Premium. They currently include the following rides and attractions, but can be dependent upon the date, ride maintenance, current features on offer and other changes.

The Express Pass Premium ride list

Donkey Kong’s Minecart Madness
Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge
Yoshi’s Adventure
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
Flight of the Hippogriff (youth ride – smaller seats)
The Flying Dinosaur
Space Fantasy the Ride Club Zedd Remix
Villain-Con Minion Blast
Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem
Hollywood Dream the Ride Backdrop (same coaster track, different train and seat orientation)
Hollywood Dream the Ride
Detective Conan 4-D Live Show
Jurassic Park The Ride

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

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What are the ride height restrictions for each ride?

Donkey Kong’s Minecart Madness
Height limit: 107cm (accompanied)
Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge
Height limit: 107cm (accompanied)
Yoshi’s Adventure
Height limit: 92cm (accompanied)
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
Height limit: 122 cm
Flight of the Hippogriff
Height limit: 92cm (accompanied) and 195cm
or less
The Flying Dinosaur
Height limit: 132 cm and 198 cm or less
Space Fantasy the Ride Club Zedd Remix
Height limit: 102cm (accompanied)
Villain-Con Minion Blast
Height limit: No minimum or maximum – moving walkway
Those under 122cm tall must be accompanied and you cannot carry children on the ride.
Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem
Height limit: 102cm (accompanied)
Hollywood Dream the Ride Backdrop (same coaster track, different train and seat orientation)
Height limit: 132 cm
Hollywood Dream the Ride
Height limit: 132 cm
Detective Conan 4-D Live Show (babies required to sit on own seats)
Jurassic Park The Ride
Height limit: 107cm (accompanied)

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!

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 April 2026 – always check with the source website for the most recent prices.

The post Universal Studios Japan Express Pass Premium Guide 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.

Get your free Wise Card

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!

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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.

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What is a theme park Disability or DAS Pass?

A theme park disability pass is a special ticket or pass offered to disabled visitors to help make their time in the park easier. Disability passes are also known as accessibility passes or DAS passes. There is a document verification process required before tickets are issued. Disability Pass benefits can include discounted entrance tickets and the ability to wait out ride queue times elsewhere in the park, usually with their family and/or companions.

Does Universal Studios Beijing have a DAS Pass?

Yes, Universal Studios Beijing (USB) offers a very effective DAS Pass for disabled visitors, including international visitors. Unfortunately, I can find no official information regarding this pass online, so can only speak from our personal experience.

Universal Studios Beijing tickets

Disability Access Services – the DAS Pass

 How do I buy Universal Studios Beijing Disability tickets?

We bought ours from the Universal Grand Hotel ticket counter next to reception. We were only allowed to purchase disability entrance tickets on the day of use.

There is a Guest Services window outside of the Universal Studios Beijing entrance which sell disability entrance passes also on the day of use.

Side note – buying disability entrance passes at the hotel impacted our hotel early entry benefit as the ticket selling desk didn’t open until one hour prior to official opening time, which is also the commencement of early entry hour. The hotel automatically gives all guests early entry.

Where should I buy our other Universal Studios Beijing Tickets?

You can buy non-disability standard entrance tickets for the rest of your family or friends online on the official website, or at a discounted price online on the official seller Klook website.

Buy your Universal Studios Beijing discount tickets at Klook online here

Should I also buy Express Passes if I have a DAS pass?

If you are only visiting USB for one day, I would recommend it. Whilst the DAS pass is very useful it does require the patience of waiting out your return time, which can be time consuming.

Universal Studios Beijing Express Passes are a fast pass which allow you to immediately access ride priority laneways for the big rides with the longest queues. I bought a combined 3 ride Express Pass with a standard entrance ticket on Klook. I also purchased extra 3 ride Express Passes on Klook to add to our disability passes. With this combination, I found that it really helped us cover all of the rides we wanted to do in just one day. Without the Express Passes I think we would have missed out on a few rides, as we were there from early opening until closing time and only just got them all done.

If you have a couple of days or more to visit the park, I think the DAS pass alone would be enough.

How do I enter Universal Studios Beijing with my Disability ticket?

After buying your disability entrance ticket, upon arrival at the Universal Studios Beijing theme park entrance, produce your passport – in China theme park tourist tickets are linked to their passport. There is no special disability entrance.

Are Universal Beijing Disability tickets cheaper?

Yes, Universal Studios Beijing Disability one day passes are cheaper than standard one day passes.

In February 2026, our USB ticket prices were as follows:

Universal Studios Beijing adult Disability Ticket price (purchased at the hotel): 520 CNY / $106 AUD / $75 USD

Universal Studios Beijing Standard adult 1 day ticket price (purchased at the hotel): 693 CNY / $142 AUD / $100 USD

I bought our standard tickets using Klook which included 3 express passes for just 693 CNY / $142 AUD / $100 USD – a big money saver!

Disability tickets are approximately 20% cheaper than standard Universal Studios Beijing tickets bought from the official website.

Can my Carer or accompanying family members buy the discounted disability tickets too?

No, at Universal Studios Beijing only verified disabled visitors may buy discounted disability tickets. Your accompanying Carer or family members must buy standard entrance tickets.

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

There doesn’t seem to be any official information regarding this. Disabilities usually including physical, developmental (neurodiverse such as Autism / ASD and ADHD), neurological, cognitive and intellectual / mental disabilities.
The best approach is to bring your original government disability document with you such as a card or letter from a government support program. Preferably with your photograph. Be sure to always have your passport available for checking against your non-photo documents.

Australian government documents may include parking passes, NDIS letters and/or state companion cards.

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.

Explain that your documentation is what your country issues to prove disability.

UK Blue Cards

UK Blue Cards should be successful proof due to them being a government issued identification card with photograph.

If you don’t have any of the above, you may like to try producing a Doctor’s letter specifying that the disabled person is unable to stand in queues for long periods of time.

What if my disability proof isn’t acceptable?

You will be able to pay more to upgrade your entrance ticket to a standard 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.

Do I have to have my passport with me?

Yes, you should always carry your passport in China – it’s the law for tourists. There can be penalties otherwise.

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Buy an eSim so that you have data from the moment you land in China. Airalo eSIM is proven to work reliably in Universal Studios Beijing and allows you to access the internet in China.

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

No, just the original copies in their original language.

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

Can I buy multi-day disability tickets?

No. Disability tickets are one day passes only.

Is there a Disability Ride Pass system at Universal Beijing?

Yes, you can get a ride return time card called an Attractions Assistance Pass from Guest Services. We got ours from the Guest Services office directly inside Universal Studios Beijing on the right-hand side.

If you have not bought a disability entrance ticket you will need to prove your disability using the documents mentioned above (in the how to buy a disability ticket section of this guide). They will register you and any other companions or family members with you to a total of five people so that you can all wait and ride together.

You will be issued with an Attractions Assistance Pass which is a ride time return card and your disabled person will have their photograph taken. As Universal Studios Beijing uses a photo/facial recognition identification system at rides, the disabled person will always have to present first, followed by their companions.

After you have registered for a disability ride pass at Guest Services 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 by presenting your Attractions Assistance Pass and having your faces recognised.

Do I need a Carer with me to be registered for a Beijing Universal Studios disability pass?

No, at Beijing Universal Studios disabled adults may attend the theme park on their own without a companion.

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

Yes. Up to six other people can come with you and also board the ride with you when using the return-time system. You’ll need to have them with you when registering for a disability ride return pass at Guest Services.

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

After your initial registration at Guest Services, go to each ride and present your Attractions Assistance DAS Pass to staff. They will fill in a line on your DAS Pass.

If the wait time is less than 30 minutes you will be immediately admitted to the Express laneway which bypasses the long regular queue. You will usually reach the head of the queue in around five to fifteen minutes, depending on how busy it is.

If the current wait time is longer than 30 minutes, they will give you a ride return time written on your Attractions Assistance Pass card. You will receive a return time that equals the current queue wait time, less 30 minutes. You can now leave and go and do what you like during the waiting time period.

Return to the ride Express Lane at the stated time on your Attractions Assistance Pass and present your Attractions Assistance Pass card to the ride staff. They will draw a line through the return time for that ride and admit you to the express queue so that you can access the ride like a fast pass, bypassing the regular queue.

See our day at Universal Studios Beijing including DAS registration

Watch our whole day at Universal Studios Beijing, including how to do your initial disability ride registration on our YouTube video.

Can we do other rides whilst waiting for our disability ride return time?

Yes you can provided you can make it back in time.

Can we do other rides using the Attractions Assistance Pass whilst waiting for our ride return time for another ride?

No, you can only use your Attractions Assistance Pass one ride at a time.

Where do I go at my ride queue return time?

You go to the ride Express priority lane entrance – the same place you go to if you have a paid Express Pass.

Is there a special place for wheelchairs to view parades & shows?

Yes, there are reserved areas inside stage shows and also along parade routes reserved for accessible viewing. They are signposted with the wheelchair symbol. To locate them ask nearby staff for directions.

Can I hire a wheelchair at Universal Studios Beijing

Yes, limited numbers of wheelchairs are available for hire at Universal Studios Beijing at the Parking and Transportation Center and also near the entrance on a first-come-first-served basis.

Can I use my electric disabled mobility scooter inside the park?

Yes Electric Convenience Vehicles (ECVs) or mobility scooters are allowed in the park, however they can’t fit in any queues or attractions. A manual wheelchair is available to be transferred into if needed at each attraction. Electric scooters may only be used at surrounding walking pace or less, and must be powered down with the keys removed when parked anywhere unattended.

Is there a Universal Studios Beijing disability resource?

The only official reference I could find was a Universal Studios Beijing Guide for Rider Safety and Accessibility here.

Where should I buy our other standard USB entry tickets?

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

Join our Universal Studios Beijing Facebook group

Love all things Universal Studios Beijing, or just have more questions about visiting? Join our friendly and helpful Universal Studios Beijing Facebook Group here!

Do you have a question or something to say about Universal Studios Beijing? I’d love to read it in the comments below!

Any quoted prices are correct as of February 2026 – always check the official websites to confirm current prices.

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!

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