Hello, old friends! It has been a long time, but I have the absolute BEST reason for coming out of hibernation – THE TOKYO DISNEY LIFE! AHHHH! I am writing sitting at my favorite Tokyo Starbucks {#stillBasicInTokyo}, which of course has a bookstore attached {think B&N Starbucks combo}, just reveling in the fact that living in Tokyo and having the opportunity to frequent the Tokyo Disney Parks is our current, beautiful, wonderful story. And of course, I want to share it with all of YOU!

Tokyo Disneyland
Tokyo DisneySea

For those of you that don’t follow me on Insta {*wink, wink* @the_magikrull_life}, the fam and I went to Tokyo Disney Resort recently for our youngest’s birthday. It was the MOST magical time, and I have so much to share from the experience. I conducted a poll on my page and discovered that people were most interested in the differences between Tokyo Disney Resort (TDR) and Walt Disney World (WDW) {really think of this as WDW and DLR as well, as most of my opinions can really be seen at both domestic parks}. Now, keep in mind, this is my humble opinion and based on what I have experienced and as always, in no way, shape, or form affiliated with the Walt Disney Company or Oriental Land Company.

So with that out of the way…let’s get started!

1. Cast Members (CMs) & Guests

First, I want to say that I know this key point is a little out of left field, especially for being the first point out of the gate. But I just have to say that this may be what I loved MOST about visiting TDR {and that is saying something}.

Courtesy is ingrained into every CM from day one with Disney, but the CMs at the Tokyo Disney Resort truly go above and beyond. I have never experienced such a respectful, gracious group of employees, and it made our trip that much more magical. Of course, I’m not going to leave you hanging without details, so here are a few examples of why I think the TDR CMs outrank us all:

  • Acknowledgement. All TDR CMs wave to Guests the entire time they are idle in Guest view. I acknowledge that this is probably company policy there. However, when you wave back, they get so excited about waving to you {and your kids}, and it made me feel like a valued Guest, not just a ticket number.
  • Patience. Obviously, we are not from Japan and know little to no Japanese. However, the CMs {and really most Japanese people we’ve encountered} are so patient and courteous about our language barrier and really worked with us to navigate the language discrepancy.
  • Generosity. The CMs are generous with their time and willingness to help each and every Guest. They will truly go above and beyond to make each Guest’s experience excellent. Our “magic moment” on this trip was we bought W a small Buzz that required batteries. This, of course, meant a screwdriver was needed to install the batteries. The CMs took the Buzz to the back, opened him up for us, installed the batteries, and brought out the box {neatly packed for us in a bag} and fully-functioning Buzz for W. Seriously, above and beyond.

Side Note: I would also like to say that multiple CMs remembered me and our kids on the rides that we rode multiple times and went out of their way to say hi again. I didn’t mention this above because this could have been we kind of stuck out being American haha. But it did make my day. And a CM asked if we were Australian, which also made my day because who doesn’t want to be an Aussie?!

The other element of this key point is the Guests. American Guests are often entitled {including myself from time to time}. The vibe is often “I paid all this money; I deserve the best, most efficient, most magical vacation” and will run down other Guests in order to achieve that vision. TDR Guests, on the other hand, are gracious, grateful, and most of all, respectful. They keep their space and patiently wait in line; they wear their masks with compliance and without complaint, and they consider other Guests instead of just their party. This Guest difference truly made all the difference.

2. The Merchandise

IYKYK. TDR merch is AMAZING! The “stuff” TDR puts out is just SO FREAKING FUN! There are fuzzy stuffed animals, Duffy & Friends, the POPCORN BUCKETS?!?! Seriously, the merchandise is varied and fun and oh so cute. I have bought so many fun things and regret zero of them {Lucas may have a different answer on the regrets part….haha}. Here are some of the items I have loved at TDR and wish I could bring home:

  • Character/Shaped Purses
  • Sunglasses {Mickey shaped, Ariel shaped, Pooh Bear shaped, oh my!}
  • Popcorn Buckets
  • Ride Vehicle toys {think small toy car sized | W has enjoyed collecting these}
  • Ears {obviously these are in the States too, but there are different ones here}
  • Keychains
  • Pillows

I will say there are a few that I am good to pass on but are SUPER popular here. The two that immediately come to mind are the character headbands and these hats:

I have also found that I don’t love the clothing options. While my character collection has grown, my and the kids closets have not really expanded when it comes to Disney clothing.

Also, I do want to note cost on merch. I have found that there is a lot that is cheaper here in TDR when it comes to Disney merch than compared to the states. The big one for me is the Mickey ears. Most ears here are 1800 yen, which is currently ~$13.

3. The Food

This is probably the most controversial topic for me. There are pros and cons to both, and I also want to start by saying I have the palette of a small child. I acknowledge and accept that.

Pros for TDR:

  • Quality. The park food is actually GOOD food, including at the quick serves. It does not seem to be overpriced junk compared to other theme parks.
  • Cost. The food is cheaper. It just is, and it’s awesome.
  • Quick Serve Layout. A lot of the quick serves are CM-served assembly lines. I love it. I think it makes it so much faster and you can see all of the options.

Side Note: Most TDR restaurants {& Tokyo restaurants, in general} have picture menus and/or displays of the food options. For us non-Japanese speakers, this has been a LIFE SAVER.

Pros for WDW/DLR:

  • Snacks. TDR has snacks too, but I miss my Mickey pretzels, Dole Whips, and all the other standard Disney snacks. The TDR ones are just different and not my favorite.
  • Sit Down Restaurants. At TDR, I have found the “nice” restaurants on property do not have a ton of food options. I don’t know if that is a by-product of COVID or the normal operating procedure, but I miss my options.

4. Cultural Differences

Obviously, it’s a different country, so there are going to be some cultural differences. Some we love, others not so much…haha Let’s start with the not so much:

  • Trash Cans. WHERE ARE ALL THE TRASH CANS?!? {IYKYK} Tokyo/Japan in general has a VERY different view of trash cans than the States. You could walk for 20-30 minutes in the city and NEVER see a trash can. However, the city is immaculate because most citizens here are respectful and will carry their trash home. Tokyo Disney is no exception. There are only really trashcans by food places and not every 33 steps like in the American parks.
  • Line Closures. TDR does not honor that if you get in line 5 minutes before closing, you will get to ride. They will close the line early to ensure that the ride is actually closed down at closing time. So make sure to pay attention to that one!

Now, for what we love…

I have found that TDR does not feel as “profit focused” as WDW and DLR have become recently with buying the “extras” (Lighting Lane, Genie+, special DVC/AP experiences, VIP experiences, etc.) and pushing capacity. The best way I can think to explain this is OLC president’s recent statement about wanting to increase ticket prices to keep park numbers low in order to preserve quality Guest experience {I read this in WDWNT’s article}. I felt it on our trip, we were able to do around a dozen rides each day {with no wait time more than 30 min}, and we left for nap time. That is UNREAL with two young kids.

5. Overall Park Experience

The big kahuna. Ending with a bang. The Overall Park Experience.

I do want to end with just some random thoughts and comparisons that may help you paint a better picture of what to expect when visiting the Tokyo Disney Resort.

  • Maintenance. I know at first glance this looks super boring haha, but the up-keep at TDR is spectacular! The architecture, ride vehicles, and show elements are preserved to perfection, and it makes the experience extra magical.
  • App Life. Just like in the States, everything is done on an app. Get it. Use it. Never Let It Go.
  • Fast Pass System. Tokyo has a “lottery system” where you can reserve one ride per day {Standby Pass} and try to get different experiences {can only attempt once per day – Entry Request}. To be honest, I haven’t fully figured it out haha, but some attractions will become “Standby Pass” only throughout the day so be aware of that. TDR also recently started the Disney Premier Access program, which is similar to Lightning Lane in that you can pay to get a FP for a line.
  • Tickets. Buying park tickets is a hassle for non-Japanese residents. We have used friends to buy tickets because we don’t have Japanese credit cards. So before visiting, make sure to do some research on how to buy.
  • Photos/Videos. Photography and videography are limited on some rides due to safety and courtesy to other guests. Do keep this in mind and pay attention to the pre-ride instructions. I will say it does depend on the attraction and quite frankly, the CMs in charge.

Overall, I loved visiting the Tokyo Disney Resort. Just like with any of the domestic parks {or parks across the world for that matter}, each park has something special and new to offer, and the TDR parks are no exception.

Until next time…

Stay Magical!

Jasmine

*Disclaimer: All opinions shared are in no way affiliated with the Walt Disney Company or Oriental Land Co., Ltd. They are completely my own and shared from a Disney Guest perspective.