Thank you so much Hanna for generously taking the time to lay that all out for me! I don’t see us returning to Tokyo anytime soon, so it might be worth the splurge; just DD and I could even do a bedshare. i went thru the hotel package process and for attraction selection, there’s an item that lists several rides. Does that get you a special pass? Of the other reservable rides DD would only want BATB; would it be a bad use of the selections to reserve it twice? How much time between the reservations is realistic? How does this sound- 6:30 breakfast, 9am BATB, 11am Minnie salon, 2pm BATB, 4:30 dinner? Why aren’t there more reservable DisneySea attractions; are they already sold out? Also I think I read that the fantasy 1 day pass isn’t available to Toy Story hotel guests.
The package allows you to get reserved passes for attractions! You get to go in the premier/priority access line which is like a fast pass, so your wait should be pretty short. They are basically the same ones that you can buy when you scan into the parks but you get them ahead of time, so you don't have to worry about trying to buy them at park opening and throughout the day. I'm planning my 1st trip as well so I don't know all of the details, but I think the passes you get through the vacation package are printed tickets and are separate from the ones you buy in the app in the parks, so you could technically pre-book BATB for both your passes, and then buy additional BATB passes once in the park in theory. I am also booking two passes for BATB since I know I will want to ride twice and it sells out so fast! I don't think multiple BATB is a "bad use" since the selections you choose will chance the package price, they're not a fixed price per slot, so if you want to ride BATB twice you should book it twice.
Sounds like you're looking at the attractions and more package, which is fewer attraction passes and then you get the character greeting and optional dinner (I think you can select no dinner).There is also a "more attractions" package option which doesn't include the character greeting or dinner and gives you an extra attraction pass instead, which is what I'm doing. You can change the attraction selections after booking, it may change the price slightly (they will refund you the package charge and do a new charge) but you're not committed to your choices until closer to the trip.
I am putting most of my reservations later in the day so I can book the free 40th priority passes and purchase a few other paid premier passes in the morning, while they are still available. Then I will use my vacation package passes in the afternoon/evening. I would definitely space things out since you don't want to be late to anything. Your times look far enough apart but I'd maybe push the 9AM BATB later so that you can take advantage of the free 40th passes first thing in the morning.
Toy Story vacation packages include the 1-day pass for Fantasy Springs! It just doesn't come with happy entry for DisneySea anymore, but with the guaranteed pass you don't need to worry about getting in early.
The TDR Explorer on Youtube just did a great video on the vacation package that I recommend watching!
This here should outline the differences in the passes which you book in the app once in the parks:
https://www.tokyodisneyresort.jp/en/tdr/guide/app_service.html
Someone can correct me if I'm wrong but the passes that come with your vacation package basically function like additional premier access passes, and are separate from the ones you book in the app, so you can have all of your passes booked with your package and then still book premier and 40th passes as soon as you get into the parks (which is why I am stacking my vacation package passes for later in the day). I think a majority of the rides in DisneySea are under the free 40th priority pass, and not the paid premier pass, which is why you don't see as many options for pre-booking in the package...but I could be wrong.
