Previous to this resort evaluation, my ‘greatest’ piece of commentary about Toy Story Lodge is that it’s completely hideous. When it opened, I joked that Toy Story Lodge jogged my memory of a youngsters’s hospital or maybe a colourful jail? My view was that the colourful, larger-than-life model of Walt Disney World’s Worth Resorts work significantly better for animated motion pictures.
I assumed Toy Story Lodge was getting a move from followers as a result of individuals love the flicks. A lot in the identical means that the entire Toy Story Lands are seemingly immune from criticism, regardless of being mediocre and much from the very best variations of what they might be. (This isn’t to say that Toy Story Land is dangerous. It’s the alternative–the idea is so unbelievably good for a theme park that it’s disappointing there hasn’t been a giant price range model. Sorta like Dino-Rama and dinosaur lands–the idea is superior, the execution decidedly much less so.)
After staying at Toy Story Lodge, I might double down on my criticism. There have been issues that strengthened my preconceived notions–and who doesn’t like to dig in and cherry decide issues that affirm their priors?! As an alternative, I’m going to take what I hope is the upper street: admit that I used to be flawed about Toy Story Lodge–it’s good, truly.
Toy Story Lodge at Tokyo Disney Resort is a moderate-type lodge with 595 visitor rooms–575 commonplace rooms and 20 superior rooms. The lodge has streamlined amenities and providers to convey friends a brand new choice between the prevailing deluxe and worth lodges at Tokyo Disney Resort.
That is the primary non-Deluxe lodge on-site at Tokyo Disney Resort, and is positioned straight throughout from Bayside Station, in between Hilton Tokyo Bay, Lodge Okura, and Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay Lodge. It’s technically the primary and solely non-Deluxe Disney lodge on the monorail loop anyplace on this planet.
Location is all the time necessary, and Toy Story Lodge is definitely higher than Tokyo Disney Celebration Lodge (which is off-site and requires bus transportation to the parks), however it’s not so good as Lodge MiraCosta, Tokyo Disneyland Lodge, or Fantasy Springs Lodge, all of that are wanting their respective lands and parks.
Talking of Fantasy Springs Lodge, the doorway and exit to this Peter Pan, Frozen and Tangled port of name at Tokyo DisneySea is true subsequent to Bayside Station–throughout from Toy Story Lodge. So that you’d suppose that friends of this lodge would additionally be capable to use that entrance, particularly because it doesn’t go inside Fantasy Springs Lodge (slightly below).
You’d be flawed. You however may assume that, if Toy Story Lodge friends couldn’t use the doorway, they might not less than exit. In any case, who cares about that. You’ll as soon as once more be flawed. Do you need to know the way we all know?!
Attempting to exit, unsuccessfully, via Fantasy Springs whereas staying at Toy Story Lodge is among the extra irritating experiences we’ve had with Japan’s inflexible rule tradition shortly. Regardless of staying at a Disney-hotel and shopping for a Fantasy Springs Trip Package deal, we couldn’t exit via these gates. What would’ve been a 5-minute stroll turned a 30+ minute ordeal with a mile-plus stroll, monorail experience, and that very same 5-minute stroll on the again finish. However I digress.
From the second friends arrive at Toy Story Lodge, nonetheless lengthy that takes and by no matter route and roadblocks they encounter, they’ll be greeted by a Solid Member verifying room keys on the pathway. Like Fantasy Springs Lodge, that is additionally on lockdown for some motive (you may freely enter and exit the nicest two lodges at Tokyo Disney Resort).
After getting access to the property, friends will really feel like they’ve been shrunken and are welcomed as “honorary toys.” Because the story goes, Andy has assembled this toy lodge in order that his toys have a spot to remain and play whereas he’s away at Cowboy Camp.
Outdoors of the lodge, there are outsized toy motion play figures of Toy Story buddies. Buzz Lightyear and Jessie are a part of Slinky Canine Park in entrance of the doorway, which is a enjoyable little play space. That is nice for picture ops and options outsized icons that will be proper at dwelling on the Worth Resorts at Walt Disney World. Maybe extra precisely, in Toy Story Land at Hollywood Studios, since a few of the characters are similar to that land.
The entrance facet can also be dwelling to RC Racer Storage, which is the lodge’s parking construction. Oddly sufficient, all the pieces on this parking storage continues to be common dimension, so don’t spend an excessive amount of time hanging on the market except you need the phantasm ruined. I do know you’d’ve been tempted had I not talked about that.
Toy Story Lodge’s foyer is a colourful, toy-filled area. Company will discover slot vehicles racing on tracks overhead, a large Bo Peep sport board on the ceiling, puzzle items used to brighten the ground, colourful furnishings and extra.
Whereas the outside was principally what I anticipated (in all probability as a result of I’ve seen most of that in Toy Story Land), I’ve gotta admit that the foyer exceeded expectations. It’s clearly not the head of themed design, however there’s far more depth, element, and dimensionality than I anticipated.
Not solely that, however it’s all intelligent and charming. You are feeling compelled to spend time poring over the main points and exploring to see all the pieces; it appeals to the kids at coronary heart in us all, a lot in the identical means that Toy Story Land does.
The lodge’s entrance desk has an oversize Lite Brite-style toy behind it. I had by some means by no means seen pictures of this, and was mesmerized by it in individual.
It actually pops, punctuating the entire space and making a powerful first impression as you’re checking in. It’s good that there’s eye sweet on this space, as check-in could be excruciatingly sluggish.
Talking of which, check-in time for Toy Story Lodge is 3:00 pm, whereas check-out time is midday. You’ll be able to retailer your baggage on the visitor providers desk within the foyer earlier than and after your check-in/out instances.
We did exactly this. As talked about above, we have been doing the Trip Package deal throughout our keep right here, and since that is all bodily (quite than digital) that meant arriving to Toy Story Lodge earlier than rope dropping Tokyo Disneyland. We repeated this course of on checkout day, which was once we did Fantasy Springs.
Toy Story Lodge’s lone restaurant is Lotso Backyard Cafe. With an inside impressed by Lotso the pink teddy bear from Toy Story 3, this restaurant is open for breakfast and dinner. The colourful (and colossal) eating space options murals depicting Lotso elevating smiling fruit and veggies. The seating space affords views of Tokyo Bay.
Lotso Backyard Cafe is a buffet and boy is it a very good one. We did the buffets at Tokyo Disneyland Lodge, Hilton Tokyo Bay, and Toy Story Lodge all inside fast succession and, shockingly, this was the very best. Approach higher than it had any proper to be.
The buffet serves all the pieces from Japanese to Chinese language to American delicacies, with meats, noodles, curry, fish, salads, contemporary fruit, and extra. There’s additionally a ton of desserts, self-service beverage station, and extra. My solely grievance is that the espresso–all of it–was past disgusting.
Lotso Backyard Buffet is open for breakfast from 6:30 am to 10:30 am, after which for dinner from 5 pm to 9 pm. At this level, Lotso Backyard Cafe continues to be unique to Toy Story Lodge friends. (We’re truthfully a bit dissatisfied by this, as we’d actually love to return and check out dinner!)
When it comes to different visitor facilities, Toy Story Lodge additionally has a few present retailers, one in all which is extra precisely a comfort retailer (konbini) the place you should purchase packaged meals and different sensible items. Foolish because it might sound, konbini are a key a part of the Japan expertise, so you should definitely make a cease at Lawson, 7-11, and Household Mart (all three).
The brilliant colours and theming proceed via the elevator areas and visitor corridors. The lodge has two wings: one facet is themed to Buzz Lightyear and the opposite is themed to Woody’s Roundup.
Toy Buddies Sq. is a backyard accessed from the foyer, that includes outsized toy motion figures of Woody, Bo Peep, and different Toy Story characters.
That is even higher than Slinky Canine Park exterior the entrance entrance, and is a quasi-playground. By that, I imply that it’s not likely a playground…however that doesn’t cease the entire households with babies from treating it like one.
Megatron’s favourite factor about this space was the grass. I’m wanting ahead to taking her again when she may need to play cover and search, tag, or the opposite video games different youngsters have been taking part in. Everybody appeared to be having a ton of enjoyable.
The visitor rooms are impressed by Andy’s bed room from the primary Toy Story movie, that includes his iconic blue sky and puffy white cloud wallpaper.
There are additionally Woody’s Roundup impressed headboards, an outsized Mickey Mouse wristwatch hanging on one of many partitions, plus different toy-like fixtures and furnishings.
Normal Rooms that sleep as much as three friends have two common beds and a trundle mattress. Superior Rooms for as much as 4 friends have three common beds and a pull-down mattress. These are the 2 primary room sorts, with a numerous subcategories primarily based on the view.
The rooms are sufficiently spacious, however in all probability not for a celebration of 3-4. There’s a particular lack of cupboard space for baggage, and what you see within the far nook of the above picture (3 hangers) is actually about it by way of a closet. That is the largest sensible weak spot of those thematically-stellar visitor rooms.
The TV is framed to appear like a large Etch A Sketch, which is a intelligent concept. It additionally signifies that this tv won’t ever be upgraded as expertise evolves. That’s a lesson we’ve discovered from numerous themed rooms at Walt Disney World and Disneyland Paris.
It in all probability isn’t an enormous consideration right here. I’d hazard a guess that over half of the lodges or Airbnbs we’ve stayed at in Japan are nonetheless rocking televisions from the primary half of the Heisei period.
There are additionally two (2) seating choices within the visitor rooms. One desk with one commonplace chair and likewise that blue seat beneath the desk. So if you happen to’re a celebration of two who desires to eat collectively in your room, however separated by a little bit of distance, you’re in luck.
Under the tv, the pull-down mattress is positioned in what resembles Andy’s toy field. None of that is the head of themed design or luxuriousness, however you may inform that thought was put into each element. Like Toy Story Land, it punches above its weight due to having coronary heart.
The lavatory is separated from remainder of the room by a sliding door.
The lavatory is then subdivided into three subareas, every of which is separated by doorways. To the left is a bathe room. The middle is a sink space with a mirror and counter area. To the appropriate is the bathroom room.
The washing room has each a normal bathe and a tub. The form of setup you see above is widespread of all of the Disney-branded lodges at Tokyo Disney Resort, in addition to most Airbnbs and lodges that aren’t a part of western chains.
On the counter in the principle space, you’ll discover with cotton swabs and hair ties, toothbrushes with paste, and hairbrushes. These aren’t as good because the amenity kits on the high tier TDR resorts, however as with these, housekeeping will refill these as you employ them…or stash them in your baggage to take dwelling, because the case could also be. (Our houseguests might or might not be offered comparable amenity kits from previous stays at lodges in Japan.)
As with each lodge in Japan, the bathroom is the place these rooms shine. It is a fully-loaded Japanese bidet, full with heated seats and a stream of heat water to do the soiled work so that you don’t should.
It’s just like the form of factor you’d see on Existence of the Wealthy & Well-known or Cribs. (Or South Park, which was 100% proper about bidets. Critically, recover from any apprehensions you might need and take full benefit of this little pet. You’ll surprise how one can ever return to boring ole American bogs once more.)
Whether or not we predict Toy Story Lodge is best for you relies upon upon a couple of issues: 1) your price range, 2) why you’re visiting Tokyo Disney Resort, and three) with whom.
In the event you’re visiting with youngsters, Toy Story Lodge is fascinating choice for a similar motive that the Worth Resorts at Walt Disney World are interesting. It has all of the subtlety of a huge pig working heavy equipment. It’s brilliant and daring, with colour and characters in every single place. If your loved ones’s definition of “Disney” is moving into the world of their favourite motion pictures, look no additional.
Nonetheless, if you happen to’re adults or making the pilgrimage to Japan since you’ve heard that Tokyo DisneySea is the very best theme park on this planet…this simply isn’t it. For the entire very same causes.
Though there are particulars that talk to the child at coronary heart and Andy’s room model is actually intelligent, Toy Story Lodge is basically the antithesis of Tokyo DisneySea-style themed design. That is largely ornamental, with the very best visuals reminding you of one thing else quite than transporting you to a unique time or place.
So what are the alternate options? In case your price range permits for them, Lodge MiraCosta and Tokyo Disneyland Lodge are unbeatable–two of the highest 5 Disney lodges in your entire world–and price each penny. There’s a large hole between these two and the remainder of the Disney-hotels at Tokyo Disney Resort.
In case your price range doesn’t permit for these, it might be price contemplating Toy Story Lodge due to the worth level. After we stayed right here, it was by far the most cost effective of the on-site Disney lodges, considerably lower than even the Ambassador. When compelled to decide on amongst these two and Fantasy Springs Lodge, our determination is probably going going to come back right down to price–and we’d in all probability decide Toy Story Lodge.
You may additionally take into account reserving the Hilton, Sheraton, and even one of many on-site Japanese lodges that’s close to Bayside Station. As a lot as we thought Toy Story Lodge punched above its weight, we are going to fortunately take the Hilton Tokyo Bay for much less.
The Hilton Tokyo Bay is one in all our favourite lodges on this planet, and we’ve logged extra nights there this 12 months than anyplace else. It’s not almost as luxurious as Lodge MiraCosta, however it’s additionally a fraction of the fee. It executes on the entire fundamentals flawlessly (properly, virtually–a few of the visitor rooms might use refreshes), and is only a very nice enterprise class lodge. I’d take the Hilton over any Deluxe Resort at Walt Disney World. And though we don’t keep there as usually, we really feel the identical concerning the Sheraton.
We have now Tokyo Disney Resort Lodge Critiques & Rankings for the entire third get together properties at TDR. They might not be “Disney,” however we’ve by no means felt like that has been an obstacle to immersion. All the third get together on-site lodges have Disney retailers, in-room TDR channels, exemplary service, gorgeous views of both the parks or Tokyo Bay (and Mt. Fuji on a transparent day), and are positioned on the monorail loop.
Finally, our perspective on Toy Story Lodge is similar to how we view Pixar Place Lodge at Disneyland. Neither are high of their class, as Toy Story Lodge is trounced by Lodge MiraCosta and that doesn’t maintain a candle to the Grand Californian. But it surely’s additionally pretty apparent that neither of those Pixar properties are pretending to be flagship lodges within the first place, making it a quite ridiculous comparability!
Extra to the purpose, we’ve been listening to from plenty of Disney followers who completely adore Pixar Place Lodge and like it to the GCH. It’s simply extra whimsical and enjoyable to them–extra “Disney” than the luxurious and lavishly themed flagship. They don’t have any illusions about what every lodge is or isn’t–they similar to the one with overt film and character references extra, warts and all.
We suspect it’s a really comparable story with Toy Story Lodge. The important thing distinction is that this isn’t a warts and all state of affairs. Toy Story Lodge is precisely what it aspires to be, and executes that idea on a excessive degree. Much better than we anticipated, in all honesty. Regardless that this isn’t our most well-liked model, Toy Story Lodge gained us over. (Undecided what I’m going to do if these Pixar lodges I’m ready to hate hold stealing my coronary heart.)
Toy Story Lodge goes to be the popular choice of plenty of households visiting Tokyo Disney Resort, particularly given the mix of worth level and site on high of the Disneyfied design. Even if you happen to’re a solo traveler or couple, it would simply shock you. Toy Story Lodge has a means of chatting with your interior little one, and profitable you over with its whimsy and reminders of bygone youth and innocence.
Planning a visit to Tokyo Disney Resort? For complete recommendation, the very best place to begin is our Tokyo Disneyland & DisneySea Journey Planning Information! For extra specifics, our TDR Lodge Rankings & Critiques web page covers lodging. Our Restaurant Critiques element the place to dine & snack. To economize on tickets or decide which kind to purchase, learn our Suggestions for Saving Cash submit. Our What to Pack for Disney submit takes a novel have a look at intelligent objects to take. Venturing elsewhere in Japan? Seek the advice of our Final Information to Kyoto, Japan and Metropolis Information to Tokyo, Japan.
YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you consider the Toy Story Lodge? In the event you’ve been to Tokyo Disney Resort, what’s your favourite on-site lodge? Planning on disregarding our recommendation and reserving it anyway? Suppose this can be a good addition to the Tokyo Disney Resort lodge lineup, or do you additionally want it remained a demolished occasions corridor? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions? Listening to your suggestions–even if you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
