Overview of Tokyo DisneySea

Tokyo DisneySea

Tokyo DisneySea, opened in September 2001, is the most expensive theme park ever built, but the money was well spent in creating a unique design with a nautical theme that carries through to the minutest details. The overall concept was to make a park that complemented Tokyo Disneyland next door, but with an adult audience in mind. This means that many of the rides are faster or scarier than ones at Tokyo Disneyland, but that should not discourage families with small children from visiting.

Mediterranean Harbor at DisneySea

There are seven theme areas at DisneySea, and all have a very unique feel. Mediterranean Harbor and American Waterfront are full of restaurants, shops, and shows. Mysterious Island, Port Discovery, and Lost River Delta are best for the thrill-seeking party, whereas Arabian Coast and Mermaid Lagoon have tamer rides and fantasy themes perfect for younger children.

DisneySea rollercoaster

Getting to DisneySea is easy. It is in the same resort facility as Tokyo Disneyland, so shares an internal transportation system that includes a monorail and bus system between the two parks, the resort hotels, and Maihama Station, which is the main access point. The monorail costs ¥250 for an adult and ¥130 for a child, or day tickets can be purchased for ¥650 and ¥330 respectively.

Maihama Station can be reached by the JR Keiyo and Musashino train lines. There are buses that run directly from Narita Airport and Haneda Airports, and Yokohama Station as well. For more details about getting to DisneySea, refer to: http://www.tokyodisneyresort.co.jp/en/access/index.html

Salarymen Come to Disneyland

The hours of operation vary, so it is good to confirm the times before your visit. Usually DisneySea opens at 8, 8:30, or 9 am and closes at 10 pm. There are many different shows and a fireworks display held in different places and at different times, so if you are interested in attending one, be sure to check the events schedule. For more details about the park opening hours and schedule: http://www.tokyodisneyresort.co.jp/en/schedule/timeschedule/may_e.html

Our Tickets – Tokyo DisneySea

There are a wide range of ticket options available, which you can purchase in advance, on line, or at the gate. It is recommended to buy your tickets in advance because same-day tickets might be limited on very busy days. The basic ticket, called a “Passport,” is ¥6200 for an adult 18-59 years old. There is a senior ticket for ¥5500 for those over 60 years, a ¥5300 junior ticket for kids 12-17, and a child ticket for ¥4100 for those 4-11 year old. Children 3 and under enter free. There are also discounts for multi-day passes that let you enter both DisneySea and Disneyland, group discounts, and evening passes. The latter includes the Starlight Pass for after 3 pm on weekends and holidays, or the After 6 Pass, for after 6 pm on regular weekdays. These are good options if you would like to see the night time lighting displays and shows, but be aware that weekends and holidays are very busy. For more details about tickets: http://www.tokyodisneyresort.co.jp/en/ticket/index.html

Get the Fastpass Tokyo DisneySea

Because many of the rides are extremely popular and can have lines where guests wait for hours, a new ticket system has been introduced called the FastPass. This is a free service designed to reduce waiting times and make boarding smoother. Insert your Passport into a special machine at the ride you are interested in, and it will print a boarding time period. You can do other things until that time has been reached, then go back to the attraction and wait in the special FastPass line. Everyone in your party will need to get the FastPass stamp to enter at the same time, and be aware that you can not get more than one FastPass for any time block. However, this is a useful tool for maximizing your visit, so it is good to plan ahead if some of the rides you are interested in have this option. For more information about FastPass: http://www.tokyodisneyresort.co.jp/en/tds/atrc/fastpass/index.html

Tokyo DisneySea is an interesting place with a lot to see and do. Planning ahead will help make your trip a memorable and fun experience!

photos by: gwaar & limevelyn, hslo, woofiegrrl, Keng Susumpow, limevelyn