Tokyo Disneyland Christmas 2023 Guide
Get ready for a magical winter wonderland as Christmas returns to Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea from November 8 to December 25, 2023! Disney Christmas at Tokyo Disney Resort promises dazzling decorations, entertainment, seasonal treats, and exclusive merchandise.
Want to know the best part about Christmas at Tokyo Disney Resort? Unlike Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Walt Disney World, a separate ticket is not required – all the festive offerings are included in your park admission!
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Things to Know
- There is no hard-ticketed party (meaning there is no Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party)
- The Disney Christmas events are part of your day ticket at no extra cost
- Regular entertainment and parades happen alongside the Christmas event
- Decorations start going up the day after Halloween ends
- Decorations, snacks, merchandise, and entertainment all end after December 25
If you’re on the fence about whether or not to visit for Halloween or Christmas, our article on when to visit gives tips on how to visit the park for both seasons.
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit Tokyo Disneyland for Christmas is in November when the weather is still fair at 12°C (54°F) on average. December becomes much colder with an average of 8°C (46°F) and sometimes drops below 0°C (32°F) in the evenings.
- Read our guide on what to wear to stay warm
- Avoid November 3 (Culture Day) and 23 (Labor Thanksgiving Day)
- Weekdays (Tuesday to Friday) are usually not too busy
- Use the Tokyo Disneyland Crowd Calendar to check your dates and adjust accordingly
Another time to avoid is the dates around “7-5-3 Day” on November 15. While this isn’t a public holiday, many people head to the Parks around these dates to celebrate. Read my detailed posts about visiting in November and December.
If you time it right, you can experience Halloween and Christmas on the same trip (a split visit). Halloween ends on October 31, and the Christmas event typically starts around November 8 (depending on the year). While the end of Halloween is a busy time at the Park, the beginning of the Christmas event and a few days before it begins is relatively quiet. This gives you ample time to tour Tokyo and other parts of Japan.
Tokyo Disneyland
Tokyo Disneyland has a fun and whimsical take on Christmas with cheery decorations, seasonal entertainment, limited-time food and beverage options, and a tonne of exclusive merchandise!
Decorations
The large 15-meter-high Christmas tree in World Bazaar will return, sporting the Resort’s 40th Anniversary crest. In addition, ornaments of the Christmas fairy “Lil Lin Lin” will be displayed in various places. The best decorations are generally in the hub area in front of Cinderella Castle.
Entertainment
The much-loved Disney Christmas Stories Parade will return in 2023! The joyful parade features Disney characters in their best Christmas outfits, spreading joy and cheer through memorable Christmas music. This year, there will be many dancers and the parade will return with the floats stopping mid-way!
©Disney
There will also be a Christmas version of the dazzling night parade, Tokyo Disneyland Electrical Parade Dreamlights. The seasonal edition of the classic parade will feature Christmas music as well as Mickey and Minnie Mouse in sparkling Christmas costumes.
©Disney
Adding to the ferstive atmosphere, the Tokyo Disneyland Band will play familiar classic songs as well as Christmas versions of songs to get you in the Christmas mood!
©Disney
Attractions
The fan-favourite Haunted Mansion Holiday Nightmare overlay will be offered from September 14, 2023, through January 8, 2024. The attraction retells the story of Jack Skellington aka “Sandy Claws” visiting the Haunted Mansion on Christmas Eve, leaving holiday chaos in his wake.
Tokyo DisneySea
Christmas time at Tokyo DisneySea is a magical experience, with Christmas lights and decorations adding to the romantic and magical atmosphere.
Decorations
This year will see the return of Tokyo DisneySea’s 15-meter-tall Christmas tree on the American Waterfront for the first time in four years. In addition to the 40th-anniversary logo on the tree, the tree will be illuminated with glittering lights after sunset.
Additionally, Mediterranean Harbor, American Waterfront, Cape Cod, and Lost River Delta will also feature beautiful decorations for the Christmas season. The park looks truly magical during Christmas!
Entertainment
“Disney Christmas Greetings” will be performed twice daily on Mediterranean Harbor. The 15-minute show features Mickey Mouse and friends dressed in Christmas costumes, with a special appearance by Santa Claus himself!
©Disney
To get guests into the Christmas spirit, the roaming Tokyo DisneySea Maritime Band will perform familiar Christmas songs.
©Disney
Merchandise
Limited-time Christmas merchandise will be available from November 7, 2023, at both Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea. This year features a line of goods depicting Mickey and Friends caroling in classic red and white costumes, and a collection featuring the Disney Christmas fairy, Lil Lin Lin.
Related Article: Tokyo Disneyland Christmas 2023 Merchandise
Additionally, Tokyo DisneySea will offer a “Duffy & Friends’ White Wintertime Wonders” collection which will go on sale from November 1, 2023.
- Christmas merchandise will go on sale from November 7th.
- Some merchandise may sell out and not come back in stock (it’s hard to predict what items)
- Some items are available at Bon Voyage (outside Maihama Station) and the Resort hotels.
Disney Resort Line Tickets
In addition to merchandise, guests can collect a Christmas-themed Disney Resort Line ticket from the automatic ticket vending machines at each monorail station.
©Disney
Food and Snacks
Special Christmas-themed menu options will be available from November 1 through December 25. Tokyo Disneyland will offer colourful Christmas-inspired menu items, while Tokyo DisneySea will offer items inspired by a snowy white Christmas. Additionally, both parks will offer specialty Christmas beverages, including a hot apple ginger drink, perfect for a chilly winter day.
Additionally, guests staying at select Tokyo Disney Resort Hotels can enjoy Christmas-themed set meals and specialty drinks.
Tips and Recommendations
Follow my tips and you’ll be more than ready for Christmas at Tokyo Disneyland & Tokyo DisneySea:
- December 25th is date night and the table service restaurants are busy or fully booked (make reservations in advance)
- Food and merchandise are always released the day after Halloween ends (before the event officially begins)
- Entertainment and decorations are almost always completely up and running the day before the event starts
- I recommend visiting Tokyo DisneySea on Christmas Day for the best atmosphere
- Listen to our podcast episodes on Christmas (Subscribe to us on iTunes or Stitcher)
- November is a bit warmer compared to December
- It gets cold in the evenings, so it’s best to dress warmly and layer
- Always buy your tickets in advance to avoid long lines at the Park
- There are Christmas-themed monorail day passes at the stations within the Resort (choose the machine with the design above it to get the one you want)
Featured photos and information from the Tokyo Disney Resort website.
More Things to Do in Tokyo
My recommendations for things to do in and around Tokyo! Plan a day at the Hello Kitty theme park, Sanrio Puroland, and an afternoon at the popular TeamLab Planets TOKYO. Take a tour around Tokyo with the convenient hop-on and-off bus. Spend a rainy afternoon inside Japan’s largest indoor theme park, Tokyo Joyoplis, near Tokyo Disney!
More on Tokyo Disney Resort
Tokyo Disney Resort Guidebook
Are you planning a trip to Tokyo Disney Resort? If so, you need our digital guidebook! Our guidebook is the most comprehensive resource available, covering everything you need to know about the park, including tickets, hotels, restaurants, attractions, shows, seasonal events, and more! With our guidebook, you’ll be an expert on Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea before you even set foot in the Parks. You’ll know what to expect, where to go, and what to do. You’ll also be able to avoid the crowds and make the most of your time.
Get tickets for Tokyo Disney Resort
It’s vital to buy your tickets ahead of time for Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea. Read our comprehensive guide on tickets to learn how to purchase tickets. For recommendations on SIM cards, portable Wi-Fi devices, travel insurance, cheap flights, and hotel bookings, read our travel resources page.
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