Disneyland Tokyo and Disney Sea: Where to Eat, Stay and Play
If you're heading to Japan and have even a tiny bit of Disney love in your heart like Dustin and I do, let me just say—you cannot skip Tokyo Disneyland or Tokyo DisneySea. Seriously, these parks are on a whole other level. From the insanely detailed theming around the park to the cute themed snacks, there’s a kind of Disney magic here that’s unlike any other park we’ve visited. When we started mapping out our Japan itinerary, there was no question that both parks were going to be a major part of our trip, we just love Disney so much! We went in early April—just as the cherry blossoms were starting to show off—and it was chef’s kiss. In this post, we’re breaking down where to eat, stay, and play to help you make the absolute most of your Disney adventure!
Where We Stayed
When we were in the Disney area in Tokyo, we stayed at the Grand Nikko Tokyo Bay Maihama and we seriously loved our stay here so much! It was such a nice hotel with amazing amenities and it was a quick 5 minute walk to the Disney Resort Line with quick access for getting to the parks. We got to the hotel at 8:00 am the morning we were supposed to check in because that’s when our plane landed and for an $80 fee we were able to check in to the hotel right at 8:00 which was so nice because we didn’t have to wait around for our room. They had two restaurants open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The sushi restaurant was really good but the buffet was also VERY good and we ended up eating there all three mornings that we were there! They had a Disney store inside the hotel with merch from the parks as well as a shop to grab snacks, toiletries and other things like that. We also loved that they had a service that took our bags to the next hotel we were staying at for like $35 for all of our luggage. One downside to this is that the luggage won’t get there until the next day so you will need to pack an overnight bag but it was so much more manageable to carry navigating our way though Japan! When we got to our hotel in Osaka, the luggage was actually there later that night rather than the next day! We can’t recommend Grand Nikko Tokyo Bay Maihama enough, we loved our stay and would absolutely stay there again!
🎟️ Getting There + Buying Tickets
We bought our tickets ahead of time through the official Tokyo Disney Resort website, and I definitely recommend doing that — they can sell out, especially during busy seasons or when there's a new attraction. If you want there are other options that you can also use third-party platforms like Klook if you prefer, but we found the official site worked just fine and then I didn't have to worry about transferring anything over or dealing with extra steps, it was just in the app.
Like I mentioned, for us getting to the park was very easy because we were staying at Grand Nikko Tokyo Bay Maihama (we loved our stay here so much) and it was a quick 5 minute walk to the Disney Resort Line! But if we weren’t staying right in the area it was also super and we could have taken the train to Maihama Station and then transferred to the Disney Resort Line. The Disney Resort Line feels like the first ride of the day because of the Mickey-shaped windows and handles, which are adorable)! We got there at about 8:15 AM and it opened at 9:00 AM. There was already such a long line forming and I recommend getting there about 45 minutes to an hour early to not be at the back of the line when the park opens. The gates opened a bit ahead of schedule (like at 8:50ish). Make sure you have your tickets on the app, it made things so much smoother!
5 Favorite Rides in Disneyland Tokyo
🍴 What We Ate
Okay, real talk: every video that I watched about the food that was at Disney Sea and Disneyland Tokyo was that it was so great and some of the best food they had ever had at a theme park and so on… guys, we weren’t fans of the food at the parks, like at all. There were some things that weren’t horrible but besides the food being really cute and themed well, it didn’t taste great. This is obviously just my opinion but I would lower the idea of the taste of the food at Disney Sea and Disneyland Tokyo quite a bit before you visit! We also really didn’t eat a ton of food on this first day!
🥐 Breakfast
We ate breakfast at our hotel on both mornings, Grand Nikko Tokyo Bay Maihama! We weren’t sure if there were going to be a ton of options for breakfast in the park so we just ate before we went. I’m glad we did this because we were able to get right to going on the rides!
🍛 Lunch
The Snuggly Duckling - This was in the Fantasy Springs and we got the Fried Shrimp Burger with a side of fries. It was pretty good, the texture of the shrimp was starting to get to me towards the end of the sandwich but the slaw and sauce on it was really good! They also had other burger options to ear here as well!
Huey, Dewey and Louie’s Good Time Cafe - We pretty much got one of everything and was mostly disappointed in the food with the exception of the Bacon and Basil Pizza. We got the Tariakyi Chicken on the Bao Bun which we would rate a 5/10. The last thing we ordered was the special breaded chicken sandwich on a bao bun, I can’t remember what it is called but it was probably a 6/10. Don’t get me wrong, the food was so cute- it just didn’t taste the best!
🍗 Snacks
Soy Sauce Popcorn – There were so many kinds of popcorn to try but the lines were seriously always so long. They had flavors like black pepper, caramel, and a curry flavor that smelled great! They had the option to buy popcorn in regular boxes or you could go all-in with a souvenir bucket — we saw people collecting them like trophies, they were so cute but I couldn’t bring myself to get one and then try to fit it in my suitcase on the way back to the states. We ended up trying the Soy Sauce popcorn because there was a short line during a parade that was happening and it made sense why the lines were always so long, it was delish!
Churros – The churros were really good, we had many and my favorite from Disneyland was the creme brûlée churro!
🍣 Dinner
We only ate dinner at the park one of the nights and we kept it casual and grabbed something small in the evening because we were still kind of full. But we both got the Mickey Mouse shaped chicken nuggets and sides of fries. Again, it was pretty bland and there were only two sauce options, spicy harissa sauce and garlic shrimp sauce which weren’t our favorites. But we got these cute nuggets from Cape Cod Cook-Off.
🏰 How to Skip the Lines at Disneyland Tokyo + Disney Sea
I am not an expert by any means, I just wanted to note what we did and noticed about the fast pass system when we were visiting. From what I understand, the classic paper FastPass system is gone much like other Disney parks, and Disneyland Tokyo now uses Disney Premier Access (paid) and Standby Passes for some attractions. We used the Tokyo Disney Resort app to keep track of wait times, reserve access to certain rides, and even order food — it’s a must. We bought the Disney Premier Access to be able to choose a ride right away when we got there and once we scanned into the ride we were able to look on the app again and choose another option from Disney Premier Access. We kept doing this throughout the day and adjusting our plan as we knew the next ride we were going on, it helped a ton with avoiding crazy lines!
One big tip: if there's something you must ride, go straight there at rope drop or pay for Premier Access.
Make the most of your visit with these handy tools available in the Tokyo Disney Resort app:
🎟️ 1. Disney Premier Access (Paid)
What it is: A paid reservation system that lets you skip the regular line at select popular attractions.
How to use it:
Open the Tokyo Disney Resort app, link your park tickets, choose an attraction and select a time slot, pay directly through the app and show your QR code when it’s time to ride!
🆓 2. Standby Pass (Free)
What it is: A virtual queue system that gives you a time window to join the line—no payment required.
How to use it:
Reserve your Standby Pass through the app (subject to availability), come back during your time window and join the physical line.
🛍️ Souvenirs We Bought (Because You Have to)
Shopping at Disneyland Tokyo and even DisneySea Tokyo was honestly in my top 5 favorite things that we did while we were there. Every store we went into there was SOMETHING that I couldn’t resist picking up. They had so many fun Mickey-shaped snacks that I felt that I couldn’t live without. The merch here is seriously next level, with tons of Japan-exclusive items you won’t find anywhere else—especially all things Duffy, which has a massive fan base here so if you are also a fan, prepare your wallet! Haha We tried to go into all of the stores, like the little kiosks near each land those had themed goodies that you might miss if you walked past. I also couldn’t leave without getting some of the themed plushies that I wouldn’t find here in the states as well as the iconic Mickey Mouse shaped sunglasses that I have seen everywhere! We definitely bought way more than we planned, but I have zero regrets! A little tip, shopping during parades or early morning was much less stressful because the crowds were preoccupied and not shopping, so I would shop during those times if you want to browse in peace!
💡 Tips for First-Timers
Download the Tokyo Disney Resort app before your trip and use it!
Make sure you log in and link your tickets before getting to the park, you will want to use the app with your linked tickets to get into the park!
Check availability for rides and make reservations right after park entry. Availability for the fast pass options can go fast—especially on weekends and holidays!
Make sure you bring a portable charger, you’ll be on your phone all day and it will come in handy, I promise!
Utilize mobile ordering when it is available at select quick-service locations in the app! It is great for skipping food lines!
Pack compact umbrella or raincoat — Tokyo weather can change quickly and again you will be happy you brought it.
Make sure you arrive early to the park to wait in line. I would aim to get there at least 30–45 minutes before park opening. The earlier you get in line the earlier you will get into the park and be able to get the fast passes that you want for the rides on your list.
I would have a plan going into the day but at the same time be flexible. It is smart to have a few rides on your list that are must-do attractions for you but also be ready to adjust the plan based on crowd levels and wait times for the day that you are at the park!
So, if you’re on the fence about visiting Tokyo Disneyland and Disney Sea—this is your sign to go all in! Whether you’re all about the thrill rides, snack sampling your way through the parks, or soaking up the adorable super detailed environments, there’s truly something for every kind of Disney fan here. Planning where to stay, what to eat, and how to maximize your park time can make all the difference, and hopefully, this guide gave you a good place to start. Trust us: Disney in Tokyo is pure magic—you just have to experience it for yourself. If you have any questions at all you can comment below or email me at tarynintotravel@gmail.com and I will get back to you as soon as possible with a response!
