The crowds at Tokyo Disneyland & Tokyo DisneySea are intense compared to the other Disney Parks worldwide. Even the most seasoned Walt Disney World veterans will be overwhelmed with everyone who shows up.
Here are eight tips to help you beat the Tokyo Disneyland crowds (also Tokyo DisneySea) at Tokyo Disney Resort!
1. Avoid weekends and holidays
The best bet to avoid the crowds is to visit during the week. While the crowds will still be slightly higher than what you are used to, it will be nothing compared to the weekend levels. If you can’t tolerate crowds, avoid weekends and holidays.
Check out the English Crowd calendars for Tokyo Disneyland Park and Tokyo DisneySea. If you have to visit on the weekends, arrive an hour to two hours before the park opening to get a chance at grabbing FastPasses.
2. Arrive early
Get to your park of choice for the day an hour early. This way, you can line up, and when the park officially opens, you can go and grab FastPass and queue for the popular attractions.
3. Get the right FastPass first
If you’re visiting Tokyo Disneyland Park, grab FastPass for Monster’s Inc., then get into the standby queue for Winnie the Pooh’s Hunny Hunt. Read our FastPass strategy for Tokyo Disneyland for more.
Grab FastPass for Toy Story Midway Mania at Tokyo DisneySea, then get into Standby for Journey to the Center of the Earth. Check out our FastPass strategy for Tokyo DisneySea.
4. Ride attractions during showtimes or near closing
Like the other Disney Resorts, you can have a shorter standby time on most attractions during the major parades and shows. Watch your show guide to see when the next biggest show is happening. Alternatively, depending on the day and weather, you can get into shorter standby lines near the park closing. This usually does not apply to popular attractions.
5. Claim your spot for parades
If you want to see a parade or outdoor show and do not want to scramble to get a decent spot, you can claim your spot up to 2 hours before showtime. However, in most circumstances, you can get away with doing this an hour before showtime. It is completely acceptable to place a sitting mat to claim your spot. Depending on where you are for the parade or show, you must stay seated for the duration. Follow what everyone else is doing.
The best spot for the parade in Tokyo Disneyland is in front of the Partners Statue, as you can get photos of the castle in the background. If you’re in Tokyo DisneySea, the hub area that overlooks the Mediterranean Harbor is best, as you can go up to the railing and have an unobstructed view (see photo below).
Study our strategy for both Tokyo Disneyland & Tokyo DisneySea to see the best spots to sit.
© Disney
6. Visiting in May beats the crowds
The last two weeks of May will be one of the slowest times of the year. Avoid the first week of May since that is when Golden Week in Japan will be happening, which is one of the busiest times of the year.
Check out “When Should You Visit Tokyo Disney Resort” for more detailed information.
7. Visit on rainy days reduces the crowds
If rain is in the forecast, crowd levels will be lower than usual (especially if the forecast calls for rain all day!) This is a great way to beat the Tokyo Disneyland crowds. However, expect a rainy weekend to be still fairly busy.
June is a very rainy month in Japan. Keep in mind that most outdoor shows are altered or cancelled altogether. Most attractions are kept running, depending on how heavy the rain is.
8. Visit when it is freezing to beat the Tokyo Disneyland crowds
The combination of wind, snow, and temperatures close to zero (or 32F) can make for a very unpleasant time in the park. If you bundle up warm, you can enjoy the close-to-empty park in the evenings. January and February are the coldest months. You may even be lucky and have it snow during your visit! Be aware that if it is too windy, most shows are cancelled.
When all else fails at beating the Tokyo Disneyland crowds
When you feel completely overwhelmed at the crowd levels, remember that you’re at one of the world’s best Disney Resorts (Tokyo DisneySea is something else) (We’re a bit biased). Follow what the locals do and enjoy your once-in-a-lifetime adventure at Tokyo Disney Resort! Our tips on how to beat the Tokyo Disneyland crowds give you an excellent advantage over everyone else.
For more advice, read our 101 Travel Tips for Tokyo Disneyland.
Plan Your Trip to Japan Easier!
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 digital 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, and you’ll make the most of your time!
Get tickets for Tokyo Disney Resort
Buying your tickets for Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea ahead of time is vital. Read our comprehensive guide on tickets to learn how to purchase tickets.
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When we visit in July we would rather try something besides Toy Story Mania first. So then what should be the first fast pass we should try to get?
We give a list of alternative options if you don’t want to do Toy Story in our FastPass Guide.
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