October 2025, so confused by everything TD and Seas

[skellinton]

My husband and I will be going to Tokyo in October 2025 and want to spend 3 days in DT and Seas.
I am incredibly confused by all the acronyms used on this specific board and how planning works for these parks.
I can plan a WDW or DL trip in my sleep, but I am completely baffled by these parks.
We want any advantages we can get as this is a once in our lifetime trip.
Are there books I could get? Sites I can check out?
What tips and tricks and info can you give this newb?
Thank you!

 

[Nala83]

Check out TDR Explorer- he has a blog and a book. The book was helpful when I planned my trip last year, but I don't know if he has an updated version out.

Also check out the Disney Tourist Blog and the companion site, Travel Caffeine. Tom and his family just returned so he's updating a bunch of content right now.

 

[mlaw]

I also was completely confused when I started planning over a year ago. I also used TDR Explorer's on-line book, his Youtube videos, and every other video I could find. I booked by vacation package early this month. I am going to be honest that it was terribly stressful, it took me almost four hours to finally successfully book what I wanted, and I cried at least three times. One big issue for me was that my last name is hyphenated in my Disney account, which is not an issue here. It was an issue for Tokyo but I did not know until I was at the end step of the reservation. The site would not let me change it at that point and through me back into the waiting room, which took over an hour to be able to try again (after getting rid of the hyphen in my profile). I booked my hotel last night for before my vacation package. Still stressful but only took five minutes once I was allowed to book. I just need a hotel reservation how for my last night. Hoping that goes ok. I will say I am going at a time when kids there are on break so it is making everything just a little more difficult. Despite the challenges, I am sooooo excited to experience the parks and three of the hotels.

 

[skellinton]

Thank you both!
I fully expect when it is time for me to book there will be curse words and tears.
We are going the week before Halloween hoping it will be too crowded or popular of a time, but understand just like the US Disney Parks they're always busy.
I am checking out the TDR explorer.
Even after looking at everything for an hour or so today I still don't understand the hotel situations. I'm going to reach out to TDR to ask if I should wait a little bit to buy his online book since I have such a long time to plan. I just don't know how fast things change. If they're like Disneyland and Disney world changing their fastpass /genie plus/whatever they have now - all that stuff all the freaking time and it seems like every time I have one system figured out they change it and put out a completely different system. I know that Tokyo Disney is not actually owned by Disney corporations so I don't really know how their priority passes and stuff work and I don't know if they change them with the frequency that the US Parks do.
I am a huge planner it is a heck of a lot of fun for me I like to know what to expect what we're doing right away so this is hard for me knowing that I will be booking anything till so close to our trip I'm used to it here where you buy your tickets the second you know you're going choose the parks you're going to go to and then start planning out reservations and having a set day to make those Tokyo Disney seems very different I'm sure I'll get the hang of it I appreciate the advice on who to check out, that is very helpful for me.

I've only ever been to places in the US or Canada so this overseas travel is daunting for me, not only my trying to play on the Disneyland part of it I'm planning the other activities and things we want to do and it just seems like a lot. I realize I am very privileged to be able to do this but I wish it were simpler!

My husband has been to Japan several times for work it's just never worked out that I could go I'm so excited that we get to go and do things this time because when he's there for work he doesn't do anything even remotely entertaining other than long dinners with the people that work there. He's never been to Tokyo just the Osaka area so this will be relatively new for him completely new for me.

 

[gmi3804]

OMG, I just got my 3/31/25 room only at FSH, same category as my 4/1/25 VP! To make it even more miraculous, I’m on a Caribbean cruise right now somewhere between Grenada and St. Lucia, and was depending on the ship’s WiFi.

Tomorrow I get to do it again for my last night, 4/2/25. I can’t decide if I want to try again for the same room so I don’t have to change rooms or to shoot for a MiraCosta Harbor View room. There’s almost no time to decide if/when you actually get to the reservations page, so I have to commit to one of them because I’ll only have one chance. And that’s if one of them is even available. I don’t know if I’d like the Venice side at MCH. Worst case I can always get a DLH room pretty easily, but we’ll be at DS that day.

 

[Agent 86]

I just don't know how fast things change. If they're like Disneyland and Disney world changing their fastpass /genie plus/whatever they have now - all that stuff all the freaking time and it seems like every time I have one system figured out they change it and put out a completely different system.

In my experience, they don't change too much. However, I would expect changes to access to Fantasy Springs within DisneySea at some point next year. What those changes will be is uncertain.

They could follow Universal Studios Japan's lead and offer (free) timed entry tickets to Fantasy Springs. Or they could open it all up (which seems somewhat doubtful as even with restricted access, the walkways felt very crowded).

I would note that, in my view, a Vacation Package is not essential to visiting and having a wonderful (and productive) time at Disneyland and DisneySea. But, visiting Tokyo Disney Resort does require knowledge and planning, which is where websites like TDRExplorer and DisneyTouristBlog are invaluable.

 

[mmmears]

Welcome! I'm not much help. I've been trying to figure this out for a while now and I'm still baffled and perplexed. I went to the TDR Explorer website, but noticed that a lot of things there are outdated (hotels, etc, esp. some restaurant reviews that are 10 years old). I haven't purchased the book because I prefer paper books and I can't check it out first to see if it's really updated with the new packages that just started in for April 2025. Good luck with the planning. It's nice to know we aren't alone...

 

[gmi3804]

OMG, I just got my 3/31/25 room only at FSH, same category as my 4/1/25 VP! To make it even more miraculous, I’m on a Caribbean cruise right now somewhere between Grenada and St. Lucia, and was depending on the ship’s WiFi.

Tomorrow I get to do it again for my last night, 4/2/25. I can’t decide if I want to try again for the same room so I don’t have to change rooms or to shoot for a MiraCosta Harbor View room. There’s almost no time to decide if/when you actually get to the reservations page, so I have to commit to one of them because I’ll only have one chance. And that’s if one of them is even available. I don’t know if I’d like the Venice side at MCH. Worst case I can always get a DLH room pretty easily, but we’ll be at DS that day.

Follow-up: I got into the site before 11, but was unable to snag my third night* at FSH (my preference, so I wouldn’t have to switch rooms after two nights), but was able to get a MCH Harbor/Piazza room. Being the überplanner that I am, I have four months of stalking the site to try and get a FSH room that may or may not pop up.

*When I got in, all categories showed available, but when I chose the room I wanted, I got an error message that it was unavailable. This was about 8 seconds after 11. By the time I refreshed the page, all the FSH rooms were gone. That’s less than a minute. Those Tokyo people don’t mess around!

 

[Kwami]

We are going the week before Halloween hoping it will be too crowded or popular of a time, but understand just like the US Disney Parks they're always busy.

I was there just before and on Halloween this year and the crowds weren't bad. Certainly, the parks seemed a fair bit less crowded than Magic Kingdom usually is. Unfortunately, October 29 was a rainy day, but October 30-31 had great weather and DisneSea wasn't especially crowded on either day. This year, those days were Tuesday-Thursday, which are usually the best days to visit the parks.

Crowd levels will change year to year, but you'll probably be OK.

 

[morninglemon]

I was there in Oct. 2024 on a solo trip; I booked my vacation package in May and basically everyday until I left for my trip, I would watch a TDR video on YouTube. Just do it slowly and in a way that doesn't overwhelm you. As I watched videos, I would keep a running list on my Notes app to remind myself of stuff I wanted to try (a ride/a snack/merch to buy). By July, I felt comfortable enough to create a day by day itinerary using Excel that basically detailed each day in the parks with my goals for each morning and each afternoon. I even looked up the menus for the quick service restaurants with mobile ordering options and wrote down in my spreadsheet what I planned to order for lunch each day. I had the spreadsheet done by September, and I was so glad I did because when my trip rolled around, I was so busy with work getting ready for my vacation that I didn't have time to think about anything else. And when I got to Tokyo, I was so jet lagged I didn't trust myself to make any decisions -- I used my spreadsheet (downloaded to my phone before I left the US) and followed what I felt like I was capable of doing and would enjoy (ex: I didn't end up eating nearly as much as I would at WDW due to jetlag and exhaustion, and only ate one real meal at the parks despite planning all of my mobile orders in advance).

 

[Tiggerette]

I was there in Oct. 2024 on a solo trip; I booked my vacation package in May and basically everyday until I left for my trip, I would watch a TDR video on YouTube. Just do it slowly and in a way that doesn't overwhelm you. As I watched videos, I would keep a running list on my Notes app to remind myself of stuff I wanted to try (a ride/a snack/merch to buy). By July, I felt comfortable enough to create a day by day itinerary using Excel that basically detailed each day in the parks with my goals for each morning and each afternoon. I even looked up the menus for the quick service restaurants with mobile ordering options and wrote down in my spreadsheet what I planned to order for lunch each day. I had the spreadsheet done by September, and I was so glad I did because when my trip rolled around, I was so busy with work getting ready for my vacation that I didn't have time to think about anything else. And when I got to Tokyo, I was so jet lagged I didn't trust myself to make any decisions -- I used my spreadsheet (downloaded to my phone before I left the US) and followed what I felt like I was capable of doing and would enjoy (ex: I didn't end up eating nearly as much as I would at WDW due to jetlag and exhaustion, and only ate one real meal at the parks despite planning all of my mobile orders in advance).

I'm so glad I'm not the only one that does a spreadsheet for a Disney vacation!
I normally do one, but I made sure to do one for my April trip because so much is different in planning at TDL/DS. (At least, it feels that way to me.)
I also agree doing incremental research is helpful. For example, one day I just focused on rides at DS, then another day I looked at food options. I agree overall it's, "a lot of a lot."

 

[nono]

It's all different, yet familiar. TDL/TDS are locals parks..as long as you go in with the expectation that things will be familiar, but not, you'll be OK.

My husband had a mini-meltdown in Adventureland in TDL on our first trip as he went off to find a bathroom while the kids and I waited in line for the noodle shop. He came back, was super upset that the bathrooms weren't where they "should" be and basically threw a little fit. I pointed him in the right direction, called him a not so nice name in Cantonese (I'm Caucasian, haven't studied the language, but my MIL has taught me a few phrases), and the lady in front of me burst out laughing. She was from Hong Kong, and when I said, "Jet lag, just flew in yesterday from New York" she understood immediately. My husband isn't prone to hissy fits much. But jet lag is a funny thing. Apparently, I get salty in languages I barely know when I'm jet-lagged!

 

[jimmymc]

I second checking out TDL Explorer. He has YouTube videos, a website, and an ebook all about the parks. A package is nice because it allows you to book your hotel, park tickets, breakfasts, and skip the line passes all at once, but you can also just get a room only reservation and buy everything separate. The Disney website can be tricky when booking, but there are guides out there.

 

[scrappinmom]

My husband and I will be going to Tokyo in October 2025 and want to spend 3 days in DT and Seas.
I am incredibly confused by all the acronyms used on this specific board and how planning works for these parks.
I can plan a WDW or DL trip in my sleep, but I am completely baffled by these parks.
We want any advantages we can get as this is a once in our lifetime trip.
Are there books I could get? Sites I can check out?
What tips and tricks and info can you give this newb?
Thank yo

I am in the same boat! Planning the same times too, my daughter is in grad school in Bangkok & we are going to meet for her bday (10/28) but this is ALL so confusing!

 

[skellinton]

I am in the same boat! Planning the same times too, my daughter is in grad school in Bangkok & we are going to meet for her bday (10/28) but this is ALL so confusing!

It is so confusing, and so stressful!
Also trying to figure out what else we will be doing. There is just so much to do!

 

[mmmears]

It is so confusing, and so stressful!
Also trying to figure out what else we will be doing. There is just so much to do!

I managed to book my TDL stay, but haven't even really thought about the rides and planning those days. I am still working on all the other destinations we hope to visit in Japan (and for me, those are a higher priority). Hopefully I will still find time to read more about TDL.

 

[skellinton]

I managed to book my TDL stay, but haven't even really thought about the rides and planning those days. I am still working on all the other destinations we hope to visit in Japan (and for me, those are a higher priority). Hopefully I will still find time to read more about TDL.

When are you going and how long will you be there?
I'm not fussing about planning what's going to happen when I'm in the Disney parks right now. I'm going to plan that after I get the hotels booked. Obviously just want to have any hotel booked. That's a Disney hotel. I don't even care which one at this point because I know Fantasy Spring is not going to happen and I doubt Miracosta will either I just want to book a Disney hotel. Right now I'm focused on what else we'll be doing our other days in Japan and how we're going to get around and all that stuff.

 

[mmmears]

When are you going and how long will you be there?
I'm not fussing about planning what's going to happen when I'm in the Disney parks right now. I'm going to plan that after I get the hotels booked. Obviously just want to have any hotel booked. That's a Disney hotel. I don't even care which one at this point because I know Fantasy Spring is not going to happen and I doubt Miracosta will either I just want to book a Disney hotel. Right now I'm focused on what else we'll be doing our other days in Japan and how we're going to get around and all that stuff.

Are you asking about TDL or Japan?

We are going for about 2 weeks and have 3 nights at TDL (it was supposed to be 2 nights but I had to extend a night to get a flight back on points). We are staying at FS. Lots of MC rooms were opened when we were frantically booking (and the next few days) so don't give up hope.

 

[skellinton]

I guess I just meant in general. I would love to get FS, but will just be happy to be there! We will be there just over 2 weeks as well.

 

[mmmears]

I guess I just meant in general. I would love to get FS, but will just be happy to be there! We will be there just over 2 weeks as well.

Oh ok. Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto (with a day trip to Hiroshima or Osaka or both), plus TDL at the end. It's a very typical first-timers itinerary. How about you?