I wrote about all of my Disneyland tips here and my first tip is picking the best day and how to use the crowd prediction calendars.
HOWEVER, sometimes, we slip up our dates or the busy days are our only options right?
So I wanted to help people make the most of a really, really busy day (even though part of you might feel like getting grumpy and sooo disappointed. I really get it.)
Okay… so if you’ve found my blog while at Disney this isn’t helpful so skip these tips okay?
Here are tips on avoiding an overly busy day at Disney:
- Avoid public holidays and IN PARTICULAR Golden Week
- Triple check the crowd prediction calendar (details here) if you are visiting in Spring, this is the busiest time in Japan
- Google when Japanese students are on school vacation and avoid those days where possible
- If you’re available to visit on a weekday, you’re ahead of the game. Do it!
Okay… and these are things to do ahead of time if you decide to just go when it is busy anyway…
1) Learn about lottery tickets and how they work – ahead of time
(This is a very different system to Disney Parks overseas.)
2) Prioritize what is most important to you
Ahead of time, plan your most important rides and shows on the Tokyo Disney resort website
Do you want to get on Splash Mountain no matter what? Is the Winnie the Pooh ride a must? The musical show at the Showbase Theatre in Tomorrowland, is that of high priority to you? Is sitting down in a particular restaurant and making a reservation a really big deal for your family?
3) Pack accordingly and pack so you have something to do while you wait
If you have kids…
Snacks and drinks: Although Disney staff do a bag search on the way into Disney they are looking for flammables etc and don’t mind you bringing in your own snacks and drinks (which is perfect when you are taking small children.)
The food inside the park actually isn’t hideously expensive so we usually buy lunch, popcorn and treats but I do pack crackers, juice, carrot sticks and grapes etc.
Pack activities for kids:I pack for disney similarly to the way that I pack for plane travel with kids – just a few activities to keep kids entertained while waiting in lines. Bubbles are the most popular with my kiddies ( I usually buy them at Japanese 7-Eleven) as are Disney colouring books, stickers and a couple of figurines.
Extra phone charger packs: These are NOT for sale anywhere in the park. You’ll have to leave and go to one of the Disney Hotels.
Good conversation. This is the best time to really chat or play word games. If you have enough wifi you could even catch up on emails or clear out that inbox. Sounds crazy? It’s true. You know what? You could even pack a novel.. hahaha. Anything that makes that wait go by quickly.
If you like these kinds of tips I go into even more details like this in my Tokyo Disneysea with kids post.
4) Really just drink in the “I’m at Disney!” vibe
Even if you’re grumpy that it is so busy it is time to sit yourself down and have a little talk to yourself.
You’re at frigging Disney, baby!!! Don’t focus on what you CAN’T do… focus on what you CAN do!!!
For eg. position yourself for the best spot for the shows and parades! Eat all the cute Disney shaped food!!
Try on all of the hats in the shops and take pictures ( they really don’t care if you do this!)
Line up to meet a character ( wait times are listed out front of the meet and greet area or on the Disney app as I talk about here.)
Ok.. so the wait times are crappy but ..cmon ! Use your brain! You can’t split up and line up for rides BUT you can line up for shows separately OR for the cute food or all of those totally random popcorn flavours. Go “hunting” and share the findings with the rest of your group! Everybody wins!
6) Take note of those rides that almost NEVER have a wait longer than 10 minutes
There are a few rides that have a reasonably short turn around time.
At Disney Sea, those rides are:
- Alice’s Tea Party (Tea Cups)
- Castle Carousel
- Goofy’s Paint’n’Play House
- Jungle Cruise
- Western River Railroad
- Star Tours
Also, it’s a random recommendation BUT just near the entrance to ride the boat to Tom Sawyer Island, you can line up to meet the characters and take a picture. AND… poor old Goofy is much less popular than the other characters – so the lines are shorter. Another tip? There is a photographer there so you can purchase a picture BUT they are also happy to take a picture with your camera or phone instead !
And if you have small children (0-2 year olds is probably the main age they appeal to) there is a playground inside Toon Town and the Swiss Family Treehouse playground (bigger kids) that doesn’t require lining up at all.
7) Focus on meeting the characters
During the daylight hours, the characters tend to almost always be out front of Jasmine’s Flying Carpets and just inside the entrance, right in front of the lake.
Once the sun goes down, your chance to meet them randomly is over.
If you want to be guaranteed to meet a certain favourite character, Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy and Goofy are at the photo booths just near the Indiana Jones ride.
You will need to line up, of course, but the times are clearly displayed.
Secret tip: Goofy is much less popular than the other characters – so the lines are shorter.
Another tip? There is a photographer there so you can purchase a picture BUT they are also happy to take a picture with your camera or phone instead !
8) Do your research as to which rides are closed on that day ahead of time
Tokyo Disney publish rides that are closed for renovation on their website daily.
Not only can it help you prioritize but it can also mean you avoid disappointment on the day AND it saves you from running towards a closed ride and limiting your time in other areas.
See here for current information.
9) Work out which rides/ attractions aren’t possible for you
For example, if you have children, check the height restrictions ahead of time ( Japan measures height in centimetres and children’s clothing sizes are also sold this way. For this reason, I recommend measuring your kids before you travel. I write more about this and other things to do before you travel to Japan here. )
If someone in your group is pregnant, the rides for you will also be slightly more limited.
I’ve also heard of really tall visitors being denied entry to rides like Space Mountain so make sure that you ask right away.
You can check all of that information here.
10) Schedule in a break!
Did you know that it is possible to get pass outs at Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo Disneysea?
It means that you can
– take a break and have a sleep in your car and come back for the fireworks…
– return to your Disney hotel room ( we have stayed at a Disney hotel and I wrote about it here.)
– you can go for a meal or even see a movie* at the Ikspari Complex right outside of Disney. Here are all the things you can do near Disney that are not for Disney.
