3 Reasons to Wait Until 2023 to Visit Tokyo Disneyland

Are you dreaming about your next trip to Tokyo Disneyland? If you’re planning a trip and on the fence about which year to visit, I’m here to help you make that decision!

Here are 3 reasons why I think you should wait until 2023 to make that trip to Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea!

How the parks work is changing rapidly

We all know what happened in 2020 and we’re still going through it in 2021. The pandemic has changed how theme parks operate around the world and Tokyo Disney Resort is no exception.

From suspending the familiar FastPass (who knows when this will return), the introduction of the Standby Pass, Entry Request, reservations required for some shops, changing park hours, reduced capacity, limited ways to buy park tickets, and no annual passes.

The operations of the parks here in Japan are undergoing a massive shift.

My best guess is these changes will normalize sometime in 2022. For this year, 2021, I expect more changes as the parks figure out what works and what doesn’t. On top of that, the borders to Japan are still closed to tourism, and I personally don’t think they’ll reopen until 2022 (but no one truly knows).

These constant changes and uncertainty make it impossible to make a solid plan for 2021 and 2022 to an extent. Waiting until 2023 will give everyone a better idea of how the parks will work going forward.

Now for something a bit happier.

Tokyo Disney Resort celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2023

Tokyo Disney Resort celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2023! While we don’t know any specifics yet, there’s a good chance the celebration would begin on or around April 15, 2023 (the day the Resort opened in 1983). This is a major milestone for the Resort, and I’d wager a guess that there are fun and exciting things planned!

One thing I’m certain of is the debut of a brand new daytime parade! Traditionally, every 5 years, Tokyo Disneyland refreshes its entertainment offerings! The current daytime parade, Dreaming Up!, will likely end its run in 2023, and a brand new parade is taking its place. I know, it’s a little sad to think about, but that’s how Tokyo Disneyland rolls.

When the former parade, “Happiness Is Here,” ended its 5-year run in 2018, I was devastated (I’m a bit dramatic, but I did shed a tear). I thought to myself, “nothing will ever make me that happy again.” Thankfully, my emotions were proven wrong when “Dreaming Up!” made its debut. Whatever the next parade is, I’m confident it’ll be a worthy replacement.

Anniversary years at Tokyo Disney Resort are always a blast and is something you don’t want to miss.

Fantasy Springs expansion opens in 2023

The biggest and best reason to wait is the Fantasy Springs expansion at Tokyo DisneySea, set to open in 2023! This includes Frozen, Tangled, and two Peter Pan attractions. Along with a new luxurious hotel inside the Park.

With a massive expansion set to open and the 40th anniversary in 2023, it’d be a shame for you to miss these major events. With this expansion and the recently opened Fantasyland Expansion at Tokyo Disneyland, there’s gonna be a ton to experience in both Parks!

That’s why I think if you’re planning a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Tokyo Disney Resort, I recommend you wait until 2023. Once we learn more and have solid dates, we’ll update our popular “When to Visit” article!

Are you planning to wait until 2023 to visit? Let me know in the comments!