In response to one in every of our (many) posts effusively praising Disney’s finest theme park on the planet, a reader not too long ago requested whether or not our evaluation remains to be true. They expressed concern based mostly on an enormous variety of destructive evaluations on TripAdvisor. We appeared, and positive sufficient, they had been right: Tokyo DisneySea has seen an enormous spike in 1-star and 2-star evaluations there and on Google.
Tokyo DisneySea nonetheless maintains a decent 4.5 rating common throughout over 6,000 evaluations on TripAdvisor and sterling 4.9 on Google with greater than 90,000 evaluations. However that truly speaks to the issue–the park’s rating remains to be sturdy regardless of an inflow of decrease evaluations as a result of, previous to 2020, it was nearly solely receiving 5-star evaluations. And with over a decade of these within the financial institution, there’s solely a lot the brand new evaluations can drag down the general rating.
It’s a basic math drawback. The scores arguably exacerbate the problem, too. For those who go in anticipating a 4.9/5 expertise and one of many top-ranked points of interest in all of Japan, or learn posts like ours calling Tokyo DisneySea the perfect theme park on the planet, you could be extra inclined to go in with excessive expectations. When your expertise isn’t on par with these evaluations, you would possibly go away feeling annoyed and extra disillusioned than for those who rolled the cube on a 3.5/5 providing.
So what are the brand new evaluations saying? Loads of various things. Most typical are complaints about strains, crowds, and wait instances. I don’t make a behavior of studying Google and TripAdvisor evaluations of theme parks, however truthfully, I’d count on this to be the #1 criticism about any of them. Nobody likes ready in strains and theme parks have plenty of them.
With that mentioned, I think that the destructive evaluations for Disney theme parks revolving round wait instances have been exacerbated by the lack of free FastPass. Though there’s nonetheless a free possibility in Precedence Go at Tokyo Disney Resort, it’s not almost as sturdy as FastPass. Most worthwhile points of interest, particularly these in Tokyo DisneySea, now have paid line-skipping through Premier Go.
Second-most frequent are complaints about accessing Fantasy Springs. Or relatively, being denied entry to this new port-of-call that includes Frozen, Tangled, and Peter Pan. That is comprehensible and unsurprising, as Fantasy Springs isn’t open-entry and the rides don’t provide standby strains.
Because of this, Fantasy Springs is exceedingly troublesome to enter. It’s worse than any Walt Disney World or Disneyland attraction to ever use digital queues, Lightning Lanes, and many others. See Tips on how to Enter Fantasy Springs & Get On Rides: Good, Unhealthy & Ugly Entry Choices for a rundown of the right way to achieve entry into the land.
The underside line is that for those who merely present up after park opening, there’s a superb likelihood you won’t be able to enter Fantasy Springs, not to mention experience any points of interest. We’ve been warning friends of this because the new land opened, and can’t over-emphasize sufficient how necessary advance planning is for Fantasy Springs. The problem of gaining entry has solely worsened because the land first opened.
Whereas there are different causes for the 1-star evaluations, these are the massive ones. So to these factors, I needed to share a latest expertise we had at Tokyo DisneySea throughout Christmas 2024…
We arrived on the turnstiles to Tokyo DisneySea over 90 minutes earlier than park opening. Our objective was to get there 2 hours prematurely, however that merely wasn’t doable with a child. Our unhealthy, I assume? In any case, being skilled TDR friends, we’re conscious that the turnstiles usually open nicely earlier than the printed park opening time as a launch valve on crowds. So our pondering was that, extra realistically, we’d be ready for lower than an hour exterior the entrance gates.
Our logic was no less than partially right. Tokyo DisneySea did open safety, or no less than, the road started shifting for some cause or one other, earlier than 8:30 am. (My apologies for not having exact instances and poor high quality telephone photographs–I used to be not anticipating to write down a publish about this. I assumed we had been simply visiting for enjoyable.)
What we didn’t account for, however ought to have, was TDR’s glacially gradual safety screening. Nor did we consider the truth that a number of makeshift strains had been merging into one for every safety checkpoint, that means that the household with the stroller could be getting handed by different friends beforehand behind them as everybody jockeyed for positioning to have a greater shot at stepping into Fantasy Springs.
Clearly, that is solely partly TDR’s fault. They’ll management the velocity of their safety however whether or not we use a stroller or not, and whether or not individuals cross us, is essentially out of their fingers. Though I’d contend that having 4 makeshift strains merging into one is unduly traumatic and destined to lead to a destructive expertise for a lot of friends, particularly in a aggressive state of affairs when typical Japanese courtesy goes totally out the window.
After what felt like an eternity ready within the direct daylight–fortunately this was not a wet day, because the prior two had been, as the realm the place crowds congregate affords no shade nor shelter–we lastly approached safety. Naturally, our stroller or who is aware of what else set off the scanner, necessitating secondary screening that was someway each cursory and time-consuming. (Severely, I’d by no means try this once more with a stroller–we might’ve been in a significantly better place with out it.)
In any case, we had been inside Tokyo DisneySea by 9:10 am. For these preserving rating at dwelling, that’s 10 minutes after official park opening. Certainly this is able to be sufficient time to attain both paid Premier Entry or free Standby Go for Anna & Elsa’s Frozen Journey, the perfect attraction in Fantasy Springs, proper?
Unsuitable. On the day we visited Tokyo DisneySea, Anna & Elsa’s Frozen Journey ran out of each queueing choices by 9:08 am. For those who’re incredulous that this might occur so rapidly, I’d encourage you to seek the advice of the @_fantasysprings fan account that tracks information for Standby Go and Premier Entry availability. This experience is frequently working out earlier than 9:30 am–typically even earlier than official park opening.
It would seem to be we simply barely missed it, and thus ought to’ve merely tried to reach barely earlier the subsequent day or thrown sharper elbows to the friends who handed us in line. However in actuality, it wasn’t that shut in any respect. As quickly as we acquired contained in the park, I attempted to purchase/guide one in every of these passes. Sadly, my telephone had inadequate sign and, regardless of a heavy reliance on the app, Tokyo Disney Resort doesn’t provide WiFi.
A few app crashes and shifting to part of Mediterranean Harbor with superior cell service later, and I used to be capable of entry free Standby Go and Premier Entry. At the moment, each Peter Pan’s By no means Land Journey and Fairy Tinker Bell’s Busy Buggies had Standby Go availability. For no matter it’s value, By no means Land Journey is an unbelievable attraction, nearly on par with Frozen Journey. If this experience is your “ticket” into Fantasy Springs, you’re not doing too poorly!
If it had been simply me, I’d’ve been completely proud of By no means Land Journey. However Sarah had points with movement illness on that beforehand and we’re a household with a small little one, in order that made By no means Land Journey a no-go. We opted for Busy Buggies, which punches above its weight and offered us the requisite entry into Fantasy Springs. Nearly as good as that experience is for what it’s, we positively wouldn’t have arrived over an hour and a half early and handled the traumatic pre-park opening entry course of.
Within the curiosity of steadiness, arriving so early did imply we had been capable of to have our decide of the free Precedence Passes, and it’s typically the case that arriving later means getting shut out of Indiana Jones Journey. So no less than there’s that. I rapidly booked us for that attraction. I then tried my hand at all the present lotteries, and failed at each single one.
We additionally had our decide of Premier Entry choices exterior of these in Fantasy Springs. Once more, within the curiosity of equity, if we had been regular friends who go to sometimes, we might’ve purchased a pair. Journey to the Heart of the Earth, Hovering: Incredible Flight, and Tower of Terror all would’ve been “value it” for the 90 minute to 210 minute strains they skipped. Having a toddler, we opted towards these.
Even round 9:30 am, most headliner points of interest already had wait instances above 90 minutes, so we opted for one in every of our favourite points of interest–the Venetian Gondolas. The wait was utterly manageable and the expertise was unbelievable. Most of our morning could be occupied doing transportation points of interest–most likely not everybody’s thought of a superb time, however we had been completely glad.
After one in every of these, we headed over to the Broadway Music Theatre to see if there was standby/overflow seating for Large Band Beat: A Particular Deal with. For these unfamiliar with this present, it’s the COVID modified model of the swinging jazz revue at Tokyo DisneySea. The complete present is unbelievable–one of many best items of dwell leisure Disney has ever produced. The modified model is ok, however doesn’t maintain a candle to the true factor. (Word: our go to was in Late 2024, not 2021–COVID closures and modifications are nonetheless a factor at TDR.)
Anyway, we had been knowledgeable that standby/overflow seating is not accessible–the one choices are the Entry Request lottery, which we misplaced, or the brand new Premier Entry. We might’ve perhaps thought-about paying for the complete present, however Tokyo Disney Resort charging for seating–and having no different possibility–at a COVID modified present within the yr 2024 is simply past the pale. At this level, I used to be getting greater than a bit annoyed at my favourite place on earth, however that was the tip of our points for the day.
The remainder of our day at Tokyo DisneySea was very pleasing. That is partly as a result of we’re skilled friends and minimized friction. We knew to put Cellular Orders early and make noon desk service restaurant reservations, avoiding buffeterias and snack stands that are inclined to have lengthy strains. We went deep into the park whereas it was nonetheless pretty early, conducting a good quantity earlier than strains constructed at these points of interest.
We additionally knew not to problem with extra Standby Passes and Premier Entry for Fantasy Springs. For what it’s value, there are ‘drops’ all through the day at which instances extra availability is added. We’ve scored spots this manner up to now. The issue, no less than for us, is that our web is gradual all through a lot of the park, which makes this tedious and irritating.
The final time we did this, I felt like my head was buried in my telephone for a superb chunk of the day as I used to be preoccupied refreshing the app. Though I got here up empty many instances, I used to be capable of rating Standby Passes for each By no means Land Journey and Frozen Journey. Whether or not that was definitely worth the display screen time is debatable.
For this journey, we made the judgment name that it was not–therefore the early arrival within the first place versus simply winging it with Fantasy Springs drops all through the day. We had been there to take pleasure in time as a household, see our daughter’s response to Sindbad and Chandu, let her play in Mermaid Lagoon, take transportation rides, and so forth. All issues that we achieved with ease, even on a fairly busy day when the headliners averaged wait instances of ~120 minutes.
Talking of which, I might’ve even executed a headliner (on my own) on the finish of the evening! Sarah and Megatron left early, leaving me with the chance to leap into 90 minute strains for Journey to the Heart of the Earth or Hovering: Incredible Flight. Sadly, I couldn’t do that with 1 minute on the clock, as you may within the U.S. parks, as a result of TDR now cuts the strains when the wait time plus the present time roughly corresponds with park closing. (It’s not exact.)
The truth is, I did briefly soar into that 90 minute line for JTTCOE earlier than seeing how backed up the standby line was and noticing the regular stream of Premier Entry friends. At that time, I spotted the wait time most likely wasn’t inflated, and I didn’t “want” to do Journey to the Heart of the Earth badly sufficient to endure an hour and a half wait on my own. I’d relatively stroll round and absorb the unbelievable ambiance of Tokyo DisneySea at Christmas.
In the end, our day at Tokyo DisneySea was irritating however, in the long run, very enjoyable and memorable (principally for the appropriate causes). It began off on the fallacious foot and, for that cause, we opted towards even bothering with rope drop of Fantasy Springs for the remainder of the journey. Because of this, our experiences had been even higher on subsequent days, and that was regardless of moderate-to-high crowd ranges. If I had been reviewing our go to, it nonetheless would’ve been 5-stars. Okay, perhaps 4.5-stars.
In fact, as you’ve most likely been capable of collect, our circumstances are pretty distinctive. We’re former Tokyo Disney Resort Annual Passholders and have executed the whole lot within the park many instances. At this level, merely being there is sort of sufficient for us. We’re additionally ‘path of least resistance’ individuals, so if one thing is clearly going to be an issue or traumatic, our strategy is avoidance.
To wit, if we had that rope drop to do over once more, our resolution wouldn’t be to reach even earlier–it will be not doing it in any respect. Due to this, I nearly hesitated to even share this story, because it sounds a bit like entitled whining. Hopefully that’s not the way it comes throughout, as our objective is informing–so what to anticipate when you go to and might alter your plans and expectations accordingly.
The explanation I’m sharing is as a result of, if we had been first-timers, our ‘evaluation’ of that day in Tokyo DisneySea be completely totally different. It will’ve been beginning the day on a bitter word, and doubtlessly ready in a bunch of lengthy strains or shopping for our manner out of them. It will’ve meant committing time to enjoying the refresh sport for Frozen Journey, or giving up and savoring the ambiance. It most likely would’ve meant not having the data or experience to keep away from pitfalls and friction.
Possibly we might’ve nonetheless been so blown away by the lavish themed design and indulgent consideration to element, and nonetheless given the park a 4 to 5-star evaluation, however I’m truthfully undecided. What I do know is that it will’ve been a pointy distinction to our first day within the park over a decade in the past, after we immediately fell in love with Tokyo DisneySea. Different Disney diehards not having a comparable expertise and falling in love with the world’s finest theme park–when it’s firing on all cylinders and working usually–is why I’m nonetheless reticent to enthusiastically endorse a go to to Tokyo Disney Resort in 2025.
The excellent news is that the entry course of for Fantasy Springs is sort of actually altering in Spring 2025. Nonetheless, the core drawback of a supply-demand imbalance will persist, because it’s not like switching from a digital queue to standby will alter capability. What Tokyo DisneySea wants–like a yr in the past–is extra leisure, longer hours, and higher staffing to assist absorb the present crowds. Right here’s hoping all of that occurs, however Tokyo Disney Resort’s torpid tempo to revive normalcy–at the same time as crowds explode–isn’t reassuring.
Planning a visit to Tokyo Disney Resort? For complete recommendation, the perfect place to start out is our Tokyo Disneyland & DisneySea Journey Planning Information! For extra specifics, our TDR Resort 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 publish. Our What to Pack for Disney publish takes a novel take a look at intelligent gadgets to take. Venturing elsewhere in Japan? Seek the advice of our Final Information to Kyoto, Japan and Metropolis Information to Tokyo, Japan.
YOUR THOUGHTS
For those who’ve visited Tokyo DisneySea since 2020, has your expertise been optimistic? For those who visited each earlier than and after 2020, did the post-COVID go to measure as much as the earlier one? What are your ideas on accessing Fantasy Springs and driving the rides? Have you ever been shut out of the brand new Peter Pan, Tangled, and Frozen land or had been you simply capable of entry it? Ideas on rope dropping Tokyo DisneySea, strains for safety or the doorway, or the rest coated right here? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions? Listening to your suggestions—even while you disagree with us—is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
