New Years is Japan’s most important holiday of the year. It’s a time when friends and family gather to eat, drink, watch “Kohaku Uta Gassen”, and visit temples & shrines. Tokyo Disney Resort takes part in the New Years activities by providing guests with entertainment, traditional Japanese food, limited merchandise, and the chance to play all night in the parks. Be sure to read our tips for visiting at this time of the year.

Check out the details for New Year’s 2019 at Tokyo Disney Resort.

New Years Eve Party

Formerly called “Countdown Party” but now simply known as “New Year’s Eve”, this event is held at both Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea. This a separate ticketed event, meaning you must have a ticket to attend as the park will be closed to regular guests.

There are two ways to obtain tickets:

• Enter a special lottery which is held in August. This gives you the ability to purchase a ticket through the Official Website. This will be in Japanese only. We suggest asking a friend who speaks Japanese to help you.
• Be a hotel guest on December 31st at any of the Official Hotels – Tokyo Disneyland Hotel, Disney Ambassador Hotel, or Tokyo DisneySea Hotel MiraCosta. Please ask a Cast Member where to buy the tickets, as they may not be available at the Ticketing Counter. Also note, some places will only allow cash to be used to purchase tickets.
• Guests can choose which park they wish to go when the event begins.

Fireworks

A magnificent fireworks show will happen over both the parks starting at 23:55. Tokyo Disney Resort is not known for their grand fireworks, but this is the time of the year where they make an exception. This is one of the few places in Japan where you can see fireworks for New Years.

Traditional Japanese Food

Guests can enjoy traditional New Years Japanese cuisine at both Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea, which will only be available on New Year’s Eve. The most popular being the Soba noodles, which is available when the park opens for the event and is only served until around midnight. If you wish to try this traditional Japanese dish, line up as soon as you enter the park. As the lines will be very long. Check the special park map for the locations of the Soba or ask a Cast Member. Special course menus will be available at select restaurants, which will come with souvenir chopsticks.

Entertainment

Both Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea will run their most popular shows at various times between 8pm and 7am. Check the park map and website for the most up-to-date information (Japanese only).

On New Years Day, the new Ambassadors for the Parks make an appearance at Tokyo Disneyland Park during the showing of One Man’s Dream.

Transportation

Trains and buses will be running throughout the evening and into the early morning on December 31st to January 1st. Normally public transportation stops running around midnight. This is the only night in the year where transportation runs all night. Check with a Cast Member for the times.

New Years Celebrations

If you did not make the New Years Eve party, you can still enjoy celebrations at the parks until January 5th.

New Years Greetings

Both parks will have a New Years Greeting where Mickey, Minnie, and all their friends come out in traditional Japanese Kimonos. This is the only time of the year you will see them in such attire. It makes for unique photo opportunities.

Limited Merchandise

Each year a different animal is chosen to represent the coming year. For 2015 is it the “Year of the Lamb”. Danny the Lamb has been chosen to be the mascot for this year. Naturally, there will be limited merchandise featuring Danny, along with the usual seasonal merchandise. This is some of the most limited merchandise of the year. It begins selling in the parks in late December and is gone by January 5th.

Food

Delicious Japanese desserts and cuisine will be made available at both the parks until January 5th.

New Years is one of the best times of the year to visit the parks. You get a taste of Japanese culture mixed with the magic of Disney. If you are seeking a unique Disney experience, then visiting during New Years will give you just that.
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