Would you go back?

[dmen]

For those of you have been to Tokyo Disney, would you go back? How would you rate it to other Disney parks? (please clarify Tokyo Disneyland and/or Disneysea)

 

[Smugpugmug]

Heading back this November but have been there once in early June. I found the Japanese parks to be significantly better than WDW in terms of ride upkeep and cleanliness. Tickets, food and merch are also way cheaper than the US parks. Biggest downside for me were the lines for food. Since my visit some restaurants have mobile order so hopefully that will remedy my biggest con with my visit.

 

[SPINster]

100% would go back (and am going back). To both parks. I've been to every Disney theme park.

I would rate TDL as the best of all the "Magic Kingdom" style parks. I know some people ding DisneySea as not being "Disney" enough but I think it's the most beautiful park.

Reasons why I think it's the best:
-Well maintained, clean, excellent cast members
-Rides have better tech and don't break down nearly as often
-While getting to Japan is expensive, the parks as a whole are less pricey than US parks. Cheaper tickets, cheaper food, etc
-The popcorn flavors!
-Better merch
-Amazing parades
-While the parks are VERY crowded, the guests are well behaved. The crowds don't zap as much energy from you, you aren't getting jostled or bumped, etc. I even saw far fewer kid tantrums (granted, there are just fewer kids in general).


Negatives:
-Ride wait times
-The fireworks are very short and lackluster
-the lottery system to be able to see the shows, if you don't "win" a ticket you can't see them
-The outdoor characters don't have a queue, it's like a dance circle you just have to...jump in there.

I admit that there is some built-in bias because I've been going to WDW for 30+ years and I've seen how the experience has gone downhill. Perhaps if I'd been going to Tokyo DL has long I would see more negatives but honestly...going there it reminded me of how WDW used to be.

 

[Karin1984]

I should go back and give it a second chance. I didn't have the best experience, partially due to my own faults and partially due to negatives mentioned. It is at the bottom of my list when I rank the 6 Disney resorts worldwide.

I do love what I see on social media about the new land, but at the moment I am not in a rush to go back.

I did have a great experience in California a few weeks ago, so if I have to travel to a Disney park internationally, I would probably choose California over Tokyo at the moment.

 

[aleh021]

Absolutely. I actually feel like TDR is on a resort scale like WDW.

So 100000% would go back any day. (I'm going back again in July for the 4th time )

 

[nono]

Yes, I've been back, but as enjoyable as TDL/TDS are, the rest of the country is even better (IMHO). So, every other trip or so, we'll stop in for a couple days, but that's enough. If you want everything to be in English and everything to taste like "home" etc., you may find the entire experience tedious. And if you expect things to run like the US, it doesn't. It won't. And they couldn't care less that you can't understand Japanese shows. As you are in Japan. In a park built for locals. <--If you are ok with all that, you'll likely be back.

 

[gelatoni fan]

I like the food at TDR the best of the Disney parks and a lot of my favorite attractions are at TDR. Prices are also good so I really enjoy table service at TDR but don't like to pay for table service in the US parks and Hong Kong (I've only had quick service in Shanghai and Paris).

I also think Tokyo and Hong Kong the best seasonal events so I can go several times a year during different seasons and see different shows. Tokyo used to be the best by a huge margin but post-pandemic, the harbor greetings at DisneySea have been weak compared to the harbor shows pre-pandemic. The summer parade at Tokyo Disneyland last year was also really weak compared to pre-pandemic seasonal shows but at least Halloween and Christmas are up to standard.

As a vacation destination, I also like Tokyo the best. Paris is my second favorite but it's more expensive and pickpockets are a concern. I don't like the pollution and rudeness of people in Shanghai and Disneyland in California is in the middle of nowhere with nothing else to do.

The big downsides to TDR are wait times and show lotteries. Weather can also be a volatile compared to Disneyland in California.
Another downside for me is that TDR has no annual pass. I'd want to go more and be able to park hop but I just don't want to buy all those tickets.

 

[dunkindonut]

I think the grass is always greener on the other side. While I appreciate what TDR does, if you worked with a Japanese salary you'd soon realize that TDR is not cheap for locals. TDR simply can't match the sheer amount of rides at WDW and the variety that is there. Of course, TDR has tons of exclusive offerings, but I wouldn't say it's enough to make me go back. As nice as FS looks, it's not enough for me to plan a trip just to go to TDR, especially since unless you buy the outrageously expensive vacation package then there's no way you can have guaranteed attendance.

I've seen some posts on Japanese social media about TDR favoring Fantasy Springs hotel guests over standby pass guests, so TDR since Covid has slowly lost some of its quality. The post had people arguing about how they did not let standby guests board the new rides, but hotel guests could. It actually caused quite the uproar, and I don't blame them. It is not completely up to what it once was, scuffing many shows to their true potential for no good reason. At least the vacation overlay for Country Bear's has returned though.

There was an unbelievable show mermaid show in Mermaid Lagoon, but it was removed a while ago and basically killed any real reason to go to Mermaid Lagoon as an adult.

The TDR app is also just not well made (the Disney park apps around the world all suck imo though) but the TDR one is especially weird. I tend to use it in Japanese because there at one point was literally options missing from the app if you used it in English. And I don't know why, but the design of the app definitely feels like it is made just for Japanese and English was tacked on. Some of the text to me just doesn't look great at all.

Getting tickets officially through TDR is a pain in the balls unless you are lucky with your foreign card or live in Japan and know how to use one of the kiosks. Having to go to a third party site just to secure tickets to me is absurd. You would think a company like Disney would force them to follow some sort of standard when purchasing tickets. Klook I guess is simple enough, but scanning your ticket isn't really the easiest thing unless you print it out or have a friend to scan your ticket when you enter the park.

 

[nono]

And I don't know why, but the design of the app definitely feels like it is made just for Japanese and English was tacked on. Some of the text to me just doesn't look great at all.

I believe that's exactly how it happened. English version was an afterthought.

You would think a company like Disney would force them to follow some sort of standard when purchasing tickets.

This made me laugh, as I started imagining how that conference room meeting would play out. Disney management has no way to force the OLC to do anything except uphold the IP standards of the brand as long as they keep current on paying their Royalty and Licensing fees. And, depending on which bank it is providing servicing and advice to OLC, that alone could be a big part of the problem. Things are slowly modernizing in banking/foreign banking/clearing foreign transactions, so at some point, it may get the fix many are wishing for...within 5-10 years.

 

[Agent 86]

Tokyo Disney Resort is the closest thing we have to a "local" park, so we have been many times and will go many more times in the future.

I have been lucky enough to visit all the Disney theme parks and TDR is my favourite. The biggest selling points for me are the cleanliness, maintenance, ordered "chaos" (despite the crowds) and the cast members.

I wish some things were a little easier for foreigner visitors, like buying park tickets (although there is always Klook). But, on the whole, I think it's an awesome experience. I don't like the general "upselling" elements that is spreading across all the Disney theme parks. At least TDR still has some free Fast Passes (although who knows how long they will last).

 

[Agent 86]

-the lottery system to be able to see the shows, if you don't "win" a ticket you can't see them

In my experience, the first session of each show is "standby" only. So, if you don't win the lottery, you can still attend the first session of the day, IF you're willing to line up for it.

I haven't tested it myself and I'm not sure if it returned post-COVID, but I understand the balcony seating for Big Band Beat is standby for all shows during the day.

 

[gelatoni fan]

In my experience, the first session of each show is "standby" only. So, if you don't win the lottery, you can still attend the first session of the day, IF you're willing to line up for it.

I haven't tested it myself and I'm not sure if it returned post-COVID, but I understand the balcony seating for Big Band Beat is standby for all shows during the day.

The shows flip flop between having first show as standby and all shows requiring entry request. I think today, Jamboree Mickey at DisneySea had first show standby but all the other major shows were entry request only. That being said, the second floor for Big Band Beat and Mickey's Magical Music World have standby for all shows except on the busiest days. Today, Jamboree Mickey at DisneySea also had the rightmost section as standby for shows requiring entry request.

 

[Agent 86]

The shows flip flop between having first show as standby and all shows requiring entry request.

Ah. Thanks. Do you know if there is an easy way for an English speaker / reader to understand what the situation is from the app?

We just wandered up to the first sessions of the shows we wanted to watch and got in the existing line. I didn't realise that some days ALL sessions could be lottery / entry request.

 

[gelatoni fan]

Ah. Thanks. Do you know if there is an easy way for an English speaker / reader to understand what the situation is from the app?

We just wandered up to the first sessions of the shows we wanted to watch and got in the existing line. I didn't realise that some days ALL sessions could be lottery / entry request.

After the park has opened, tap the show in the app and it'll show under or next to each showtime if an entry request is required.

 

[djmeredith]

Heading back this November but have been there once in early June. I found the Japanese parks to be significantly better than WDW in terms of ride upkeep and cleanliness. Tickets, food and merch are also way cheaper than the US parks. Biggest downside for me were the lines for food. Since my visit some restaurants have mobile order so hopefully that will remedy my biggest con with my visit.

Just spent 3 days in the parks last week for our first vist to TDR. The food and snack lines alone are almost enough to make me not want to go back. You had to order many hours before you wanted food or wait in 1+ hr lines. The popcorn lines were so terrible I almost didn't bother redeeming my free Vacation Package popcorn and carrier.

Yes, I've been back, but as enjoyable as TDL/TDS are, the rest of the country is even better (IMHO). So, every other trip or so, we'll stop in for a couple days, but that's enough. If you want everything to be in English and everything to taste like "home" etc., you may find the entire experience tedious. And if you expect things to run like the US, it doesn't. It won't. And they couldn't care less that you can't understand Japanese shows. As you are in Japan. In a park built for locals. <--If you are ok with all that, you'll likely be back.

I agree with your assessments. If you are picky eaters like us, you may find it very difficult to find food in the parks. Despite my love of Disney, I think I enjoyed the other cities I visited more.

 

[Smugpugmug]

Just spent 3 days in the parks last week for our first vist to TDR. The food and snack lines alone are almost enough to make me not want to go back. You had to order many hours before you wanted food or wait in 1+ hr lines. The popcorn lines were so terrible I almost didn't bother redeeming my free Vacation Package popcorn and carrier.

Very sad to hear that it hasn't gotten better since my last trip 5 years ago. I remember loving the honey popcorn so I'll plan to line up early for it I guess.

 

[Haley R]

Very sad to hear that it hasn't gotten better since my last trip 5 years ago. I remember loving the honey popcorn so I'll plan to line up early for it I guess.

The popcorn lines were insanely long for us as well. The only time we were able to get any was first thing in the morning

 

[Disneyhanna]

So far I am loving it and will for sure be back! The popcorn lines were really short yesterday evening at DL. I stumbled across curry popcorn and only waited behind two people around 6:00. I only waited behind one person just now at 11:00 at Pizza Port to order alien mochi from the kiosk. Wait times are pretty high but between my package passes, early entry, and priority/DPA I’ll probably finish the whole park in half a day and spend the rest of the time enjoying. Happy entry was so key I think it probably put me ahead of the pack. I was able to ride Pooh after Space Mountain with no wait and pick up two priority passes for it with I think 3 passes between (so I guess refreshing works here too since it had run out and I saw a pass came back). I got in line for happy entry at 8:20 for 8:45 and that was plenty early.

Edit: no wait for milk tea popcorn just before noon, honey looked to be maybe 15 people long. I got an immediate mobile order for Huey cafe for lunch so must not be as busy this week

 

[djmeredith]

So far I am loving it and will for sure be back! The popcorn lines were really short yesterday evening at DL. I stumbled across curry popcorn and only waited behind two people around 6:00. I only waited behind one person just now at 11:00 at Pizza Port to order alien mochi from the kiosk. Wait times are pretty high but between my package passes, early entry, and priority/DPA I’ll probably finish the whole park in half a day and spend the rest of the time enjoying. Happy entry was so key I think it probably put me ahead of the pack. I was able to ride Pooh after Space Mountain with no wait and pick up two priority passes for it with I think 3 passes between (so I guess refreshing works here too since it had run out and I saw a pass came back). I got in line for happy entry at 8:20 for 8:45 and that was plenty early.

Edit: no wait for milk tea popcorn just before noon, honey looked to be maybe 15 people long. I got an immediate mobile order for Huey cafe for lunch so must not be as busy this week

Definitely not as busy as last week. The day we did DL, it rained the entire day and even that didn't think the crowds. I got in the Honey popcorn line around 6:00 and it was the shortest line I had seen. It had about 12 people in line and it stopped moving for some reason right after I got in line. It still took almost 30 minutes.

It's funny because when we were planning everyone was asking if it would be busier right before/after FS opened. I can confirm that so far the week/days leading up to the official opening day were MUCH busier.

 

[Flossbolna]

I can confirm that so far the week/days leading up to the official opening day were MUCH busier.

I am wondering if it had to do with prices going up with the opening. The tickets for the days before were cheaper. I have read that for Japanese people who don’t benefit from the exchange rate prices are still pretty expensive.