Tokyo Disney Help? Anyone?

[missy28]

Hi All,

I am going to Tokyo Disney this weekend, and am staying by the Narita airport, and plan on utilizing the Disney shuttle that runs to and from the airport, rather than using public transport. Does anyone know if this is a wise idea? Also, I plan on it being pretty busy since everything I've read says it's swamped on weekends, but are there any tips anyone could give me? Any help is much appreciated! And I promise a full trip report when I get back... Sorry for posting on this board, but it seemed like the most logical place, seeing as there isn't a Tokyo board!

 

[northie]

I can't help you as I have not been lucky enough to get there yet but I hope you have a fabulous time and WE WANT PHOTOS!

Sara

 

[beachbunny]

If you have only one day, skip TDL and head straight to DisneySea. There's nothing like it in the world.

You're correct, it will be crowded, but so is Disneyland Resort every weekend. The only time I have seen TDL empty was the week after Golden Week.

I don't know how frequently the shuttle operates but the train is quick and easy. Take the JR Keio or Musashino line to the Maihama station. Once you arrive, Journey is the headliner at DisneySea so ride that first!

Oh yes, and don't eat anything remotely American/Western (stick to Japanese food) and you'll do fine!

 

[lonegungirl]

I went to Tokyo Disney for the first time in February this year--I had an amazing time! The parks are so clean and detailed, and the people are so orderly, it's like whole different experience. There also seems to be thousands of CMs there, usually several standing around every few yards to give directions, help, etc.

I don't know exactly what shuttle you're talking about, but if you're talking about the airport bus that goes from the airport to the resort area, it takes about an hour one way, and has limited hours...I know, since I arrived on a Sunday, after the last bus of the day had finished! I then had to take a bus to the nearest hotel, then a train from that hotel to the resort gateway, then a monorail from the gateway to the hotel monorail station, then a bus from the monorail station to the hotel. The moral would be to make sure it's running when you want to go, and particularly when you want to come back, so you're not stranded.

If at all possible, I'd try to stay at one of the hotels surrounding the parks. They are hideously expensive, but the convenience is huge. I stayed at the Hilton Tokyo Bay, and it was a great hotel.

My tips: If you even remotely like popcorn, buy a bucket the first day--you can refill them at a discount at all the various flavored popcorn stands.
Allow for a huge wait in line for everything--there's almost no way to avoid a 20 minute wait, even if you're just trying to get a pastry at a cart to go. And unless you're really into gyoza, the mystery gyoza rolls are probably not worth the ~45 minute wait.
Get there as early as you can. Nothing's as disheartening as riding the monorail over, and seeing the entire front of the park entryway filled by a mass of dark-haired heads.
Know that the lines are longer but move faster than lines out here, because of increased supervision and general orderliness.
The shows there are a bigger deal, generally, than the rides, with huge production values, and huge waits as well.
In addition to the English map, get the Japanese map as well, even if you don't speak Japanese, because it's way more detailed, with photos of food served at the various restaurants, etc. that you can understand without having to know how to read it.
Mouseinfo.com has a tokyo disney board with very helpful expert members--check them out as well.

Have a great time! It's fab!

 

[European]

Why isn't there a Tokyo Disney Resort or Hong Kong Disneyland section actually?

 

[northie]

Maybe there hasn't been enough requests for one? I would like to read them if there was, but it's doubtful I will get to either of them for a long time, if ever We are going to DLP next year though.

Sara