9 things to know before visiting Tokyo Disney in 2024

06.06.2024 - 16:15 / thepointsguy.com

If you like the U.S. Disney parks, the odds are high that you'll love the two theme parks at the Tokyo Disney Resort.

Tokyo Disneyland opened in 1983 with a high standard, even by Disney's notoriously high theme park standards. That commitment didn't break, even as the construction budget ballooned past expectations. In 2001, Tokyo Disneyland was joined by the Tokyo DisneySea park, home to many ports and adventures set around the 189-foot Mount Prometheus volcano.

Along with the two Tokyo Disney theme parks are six Tokyo Disney Resort hotels and a monorail with access to many other nearby hotels. From can't-miss rides and snacks to how to get tickets, where to stay and how to get around, here is what you need to know before visiting Tokyo Disney.

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Tokyo Disneyland is the original park in Tokyo Disney. It is a traditional Disney "castle park" with themed lands that may strike you as quite familiar, including Adventureland, Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, Toontown and more. The castle itself will likely look familiar as it is modeled after Cinderella Castle at Walt Disney World.

Don't write it off as a replica of Disney World, though. It's inspired by, but certainly not a copy of, the Florida park.

Two monorail stops away is the newer park, Tokyo DisneySea. This park is the most original of the two, and it's unlike any Disney park you've seen before.

It's also home to never-before-seen rides, such as Journey to the Center of the Earth and Sindbad's Storybook Voyage, not to mention all the new rides in the new Fantasy Springs portion of the park.

There's even an entire steam-powered ocean liner in the park. You can actually go inside to explore, eat, take selfies and make TikToks (which seem to be a very common pastime here).

One of the best things about Tokyo Disney is that the tickets are much cheaper than Disney tickets in the U.S. Based on the current exchange rates, adult Tokyo Disney tickets start around $50 per day while teen and tween tickets are $42 and child tickets are just $30 per day.

There are also evening tickets that start at $30 for adults. These tickets can be used from 5 p.m. onward during the week and 3 p.m. onward during the weekends and holidays.

Related: How to use miles to fly to Japan

You can purchase Tokyo Disney tickets online at the official Tokyo Disney Resort starting at 2 p.m., two months before your desired visit.

Note that tickets sometimes sell out. However, if you stay at a Tokyo Disney hotel, you are guaranteed access to tickets, which eliminates some stress. Additionally, don't be surprised if the Tokyo Disney website (and many websites in Japan, frankly) is persnickety about accepting some U.S. credit cards.

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