Throughout our travels, Stella and I have come to one conclusion. Tokyo DisneySea is not only the best Disney theme park in the world, it is the best theme park ever built. Yes, you’re right. We have not been to every theme park on Earth. But with Disney the top theme park operator in terms of quality and theming, it only makes sense its premier park is better than anything else operated by Universal, Merlin or Six Flags.
Our one-day DisneySea itinerary offers an effective plan to experience the best of this magical theme park. From visiting the center of the Earth to seeing the ghost of Harrison Hightower III himself, this itinerary will allow you experience the best of Tokyo DisneySea.
Notes
In a prefect world, we recommend three full days dedicated to Tokyo DisneySea. And trust me, three full days is an absolute necessity to see and do everything. This park is insane with its attractions, shows and dining. If given a choice, I could spend a week visiting this park and never get tired of it.
Yes, it is that good. During our trip, we spent two full days at the park and I wished we had more days of our vacation dedicated to just DisneySea.
But, we can make due with one day. First, stay at one of the onsite hotels. The Tokyo Disney Resort operates four official Disney hotels:
- Tokyo Disneyland Hotel
- Disney Ambassador Hotel
- Tokyo DisneySea Hotel MirCosta
- Tokyo Disney Celebration Hotel
If money is no issue, hands down stay at the Hotel MiraCosta. Located INSIDE Tokyo DisneySea, the MiraCosta is in a world of its own. As a comparison, imagine if the buildings along Main Street, USA were a full service hotel. The Hotel MiraCosta is located in the Mediterranean Harbor section of DisneySea, which is its entry point and “Main Street, USA” type section.
The hotel offers excellent views of Tokyo DisneySea. However, it’s crazy expensive. Rooms with the worst views start at $500/night. And, they sell out within seconds. The rest of the official hotels follow the same pattern: expensive and sell out quickly. Rooms can be booked 60 days before your planned trip. Unless you’re quick, all rooms will be gone.
We experienced this on our trip and instead stayed at the Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay Hotel, which is an official “good neighbor” hotel. The hotel is located on Tokyo Disney Resort property and has its own station on the monorail line. Guests are also guaranteed theme park admission.
We spent almost zero time at the hotel so it ended up being better we stayed at the Sheraton since it is a lot cheaper than the official hotels. From this hotel, it would take like five minutes to arrive at Tokyo DisneySea via the monorail. Super easy and convenient.
With the hotel secured, we also recommend you have your theme park tickets purchased in advance. Buying directly from the Tokyo Disney Resort website is almost impossible. Instead, if you have a travel card, like the Chase Sapphire Reserve, Chase can purchase your tickets for you through their concierge service. We purchased our tickets the night before directly at the resort
Whatever you do, DO NOT buy your tickets in the morning. Doing so will destroy your whole day. You MUST have your tickets in advance.
Lastly, Tokyo DisneySea operates two attractions that can be found in the US parks: Toy Story Mania and Soarin’ (Fantastic Flight). As Disney fans, we will assume you have been on both these attractions in the US. Due to time constraints and the fact the attractions are 99.9% the same (Soarin does have one additional scene), we will be skipping these two attractions in our itinerary. You can ride them in the US. You cannot waste time waiting in line here in Tokyo. We have more important things to do.
With that said, let’s dive into it. It’s gonna be a long day.
Morning Part One: Land Ho
To make things simple, we’ll assume the park opens at 8AM and closes at 10PM.
With the park opening at 8AM, you MUST be at the front entrance of DisneySea by 6:30AM. Unlike the US, where a few dedicated folks are waiting bright and early, EVERYONE in Japan is at the gates an hour and a half before opening. Seriously.
We showed up at 6:30AM and the front entrance area was packed. By 8AM, I thought I was in downtown Tokyo. And this was a Tuesday in September. I can’t imagine how bad it is during a weekend.
I will say it one more time, you MUST be in line an hour and a half before the park opens. For the 8AM opening, we were up by 5:30AM, ate a QUICK breakfast in our hotel and made it to the park by 6:30AM. It sucked. But we thanked God we made it on time each day.
In Japan, its customary for those waiting in line to bring a towel or blanket and sit on the ground and wait patiently. Be nice, don’t complain and take a seat. And yes, the park has WiFi.
Unlike the US parks, Tokyo DisneySea (and Tokyo Disneyland) do not open open early. Whereas in the US we are allowed to walk down Main Street, USA thirty or so minutes before official park opening, no one is allowed in at the Tokyo parks until right at 8AM. And I mean not a second before.
If you are staying at an official Tokyo Disney hotel, you will be allowed entrance 15 minutes before to ride a designated attraction. Known as “Happy 15”, the attraction is the parks most popular. During our visit, it was Toy Story Mania. Thankfully, we are skipping it.
At 8AM, the rope drops and the masses are let in. Designate one person to be your runner. Hand all tickets to this person once you enter the park so they can collect Fast Passes for the group. Tokyo DisneySea still operates the old Fast Pass system. You will need to run to the attraction and scan your ticket. No awesome beautiful app to pick Fast Passes from your phone.
Once everyone is set, send your runner to Tower of Terror in American Waterfront to collect a Fast Pass. As the runner literally runs (yes, people do run here to collect Fast Passes which are worth more than gold), send the rest of the group to Journey to the Center of the Earth located at the base of the volcano (Vesuvius) in Mysterious Island (themed to Jules Verne).
We’ll assume all went well and everyone enters the queue to Journey by 8:30AM. For Tower of Terror, we assume your return time is 9AM – 10AM with the ability to pick your next Fast Pass at 10AM. The 10AM pick will be Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Crystal Skull (Yes, it is significantly better than the movie).
Morning Part Two: Welcome to Tokyo DisneySea
For now, enjoy Journey to the Center of the Earth. It is an epic adventure to the depths of our planet before “things” start to happen. Trust me, it’s awesome and our favorite attraction in Tokyo. The attraction uses the same track as Test Track and Radiator Springs Racers. Journey is so much better though in terms of its story, theming and detail. I mean, who didn’t wish to be part of Professor Lidenbrock’s expedition in 1863? Well, in Tokyo, you can.
After riding Journey, it will be past 9AM and time to redeem your Tower of Terror Fast Pass. However, we must grab another Fast Pass first. Send your runner across the park again to the Lost River Delta and collect the Indiana Jones Fast Pass. For a return time, we’ll assume 2PM. Yes, Fast Passes fly off the shelves in Tokyo. No one messes around. They are used and sell out quickly. Unfortunately, Indiana Jones will be our last Fast Pass for awhile.
On the way to Tower of Terror, we recommend a stop at Sultan’s Oasis. You’ve been awake since 5:30AM battling crowds at the best theme park on Earth. You are hungry and you know Tokyo DisneySea has a solid lineup of snack choices. Well my friend, let’s eat.
For out first snack of the day, we will stop at Sultan’s Oasis. This little counter service restaurant serves God’s gift to mankind. My friends, it is time for the world famous Chandu Tail. The Chandu Tail, themed to Chandu from Sinbad’s Storybook Voyage (which we will ride later), is a tiger tail shaped bun with chicken curry. Boy, is it delicious. And to think our best snack options in the US are turkey legs, chicken nuggets and french fries. What happened US?
Morning Part Three: To Reach a Port We Must Set Sail
Remember to keep an eye on the clock. You need to be in line at Tower of Terror by 10AM. If you have time to sit down and eat, go ahead. If not, then eat as you walk. The Chandu Tail is perfect for eating on the go. Savor its creamy curry and pray the Disney parks in the US will one day add some decent snack options.
Walk through Mermaid Lagoon as you make your way back to American Waterfront. Entirely inside, this area of the park is themed to the Little Mermaid and is for young kids (think the late A Bug’s Land at California Adventure). It’s cool to look at but doesn’t offer much for adults.
Once in the American Waterfront, walk to the back and enter the Fast Pass queue of the Tower of Terror.
Take in the sights as you began your exploration of Hotel Hightower. See, in Tokyo, the Tower of Terror is not themed to the Twilight Zone. Instead, the tower has its own backstory of an expedition gone bad.
The preshow is out of this world and the whole itself is significantly better than the versions in the US and Paris. I only wish I knew Japanese. It is not to be missed.
After Tower of Terror, walk back to Mysterious Island to ride 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Based on our experience, we’ve never waited more than 20 minutes for this attraction in the morning. Themed to the classic Jules Verne novel, you will board a submarine and explore the depths of the ocean. It’s a fun little ride.
Next, make your way back to the Arabian Coast. It is time to ride our last attraction before lunch, Sinbad’s Storybook Voyage. Best example I can think of to describe it is “it’s a small world”. Sinbad is a boat ride of adventure as Sinbad and Chandu explore the high seas. It has a catchy song (Compass of Your Heart) and awesome show scenes. The attraction is entirely in Japanese but the basic story isn’t hard to follow.
Afternoon Part One: "Linakul!"
After exploring the high seas with Sinbad, it is time for lunch. It’s been a busy day. Since you are already in the Arabian Coast, we’ll stay here and eat. For lunch, we recommend Kasbah Food Court. The counter service eatery serves excellent curry meals. The restaurant is indoors, offering a great escape from the elements as you dig into curry, rice and naan. Kasbah Food Court even has an actor wandering around the restaurant, interacting with guests and telling jokes.
Take your time eating. You’ve ridden the major attractions at this point and the lines around the park will be long. Enjoy this time to relax. There is still a lot more to do.
Before we move on, here is a quick recap of the day:
5:30AM: Wake up
6AM: Monorail to Tokyo DisneySea
6:30AM: In line at park gates
8AM: Park opens, run to Tower of Terror for Fast Pass (Fast Pass return time: 9AM-10AM)
8:30AM: Journey to the Center of the Earth
9AM: Walk to Indiana Jones for Fast Pass (Fast Pass return time: 2PM-3PM)
9:20AM: Chandu Tail from Sultan’s Oasis
10AM: Terror of Terror Fast Pass
10:45AM: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
11:30AM: Sinbad’s Storybook Voyage
12PM: Lunch at Kashbah Food Court
Afternoon Part Two: A Man is Never Lost at Sea
We’ll assume you are finished with lunch at 1PM and ready to venture back around the park. Lines at this time of day will be busy. Since we will be in the park really late, go ahead and grab a Fast Pass for Journey or Tower of Terror again. The return time will likely be around 9PM. We’ll assume you grabbed a Fast Pass for Journey for a 9PM return time. Did you notice the three hour wait for the attraction? Yup, this place is busy.
Once you grab the Fast Pass, walk to Lost River Delta. With the return time for Indiana Jones at 2PM, we have some time to kill. Right next to Indiana Jones is Raging Spirits, a mediocre roller coaster themed to Indiana Jones. It’s okay and really short. The line is probably about an hour so go ahead and enter the standby line. After Raging Spirits, enter the Fast Pass queue for Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Crystal Skull.
Indiana Jones Adventure is almost identical to the attraction in Anaheim, but different in a better way. It’s hard to describe but I do prefer this version compared to one in Anaheim. Ride it and enjoy it. Cherish every minute you can at this amazing theme park.
After Indiana Jones, we do have some extra time. We recommend you board a boat at the Lost River Delta dock and take the boat to Mediterranean Harbor. Since every area of DisneySea is a port-of-call, you can take a boat to each area. It’s awesome.
When you arrive in Mediterranean Harbor, walk to a building called Biglietteria. Inside is a lottery system for tickets to Big Band Beat, the premier show at DisneySea. Like attractions, shows are incredibly popular and seats are secured via a lottery system. You scan your ticket, pray to your God and hope you win seats. Unfortunately, we never won and never saw the show. Hopefully you have more luck than we do. If you win, great! If not, oh well. Just another reason to come back.
The main souvenir shops are located in Mediterranean Harbor. Merchandise is in a league of its own in Japan with tons of exclusive products only found at the Tokyo Disney Resort. Trust me, you will need to spend some time going through all the shops. Right now is the prefect opportunity.
After shopping, there are some great character meet-and-greets around the harbor a stone’s throw from the shops. Like shopping, Japan takes their character meet-and-greets incredibly seriously. One, all guests are polite and wait their turn. No impatient Americans here.
Secondly, its common to see a Japanese guest decked out like their favorite character. Cosplay is hardcore in Japan. Lastly, you form a circle around the character and wait to be chosen. You may or may not get chosen. Fortunately, we were chosen every time!
After your facvorite characters sign your autograph book, we recommend you make your way to the American Waterfront. If you scored tickets to Big Bang Beat, the theater is located in this port-of-call. If not, American Waterfront hosts more awesome characters to meet, more shops and great opprotunities to take pictures. Do you remember seeing a full size ocean liner at the parks in the US? Yeah, me neither.
We’ll circle back and board the SS Columbia later. First, walk to Port Discovery. This port-of-call hosts Aquatopia and Nemo & Friends: Searider. Aquatopia is a trackless water ride that dances around. And Nemo is a dark ride exploring the oceans with characters from Finding Nemo (entirely in Japanese).
The two attractions are good if the lines are less than hour. Go ahead and ride. If more than an hour, continue to take pictures and meet characters. You might even see Mad Scientist Goofy wandering around! Once done, make your way back to the SS Columbia. It’s time for a cocktail.
Afternoon Part Three: Work Like a Captain, Play Like a Pirate
As a turn of the century ocean liner, it only makes sense the SS Columbia hosts a bar themed to a turn of a century president. And who better than Theodore Roosevelt himself. The Teddy Roosevelt Lounge is a beautifully themed whiskey and cocktail bar occupying one of the decks of the Columbia. With wood covered walls and photos of the world famous Rough Rider, the Teddy Roosevelt Lounge is a treasure.
It’s been a long day. Reward yourself with a great cocktail served with world class Japanese customer service. We visited multiple times during our visit and never found the bar crowded. After a long day on our feet, it was prefect to relax in the air conditioned lounge with a strong whiskey.
For food, it serves very small plates and snacks, like salads, breads and olives. The point here is to drink and unwind. The bar also has excellent WiFi if you need a minute to work on anything. We visited as I worked on my MA degree and found it to be my favorite spot to study.
Before we move on to the evening activities, a quick recap of the afternoon:
1PM: Finish Lunch
1:15PM: Raging Spirits
2:30PM: Indiana Jones Adventure
3:15PM: Mediterranean Harbor (Shop/Characters)
4:15PM: Aquatopia or Finding Nemo (Depending on length of lines)
5:30PM: Teddy Roosevelt Lounge
Evening Part One: The Days Pass Happily Wherever My Ship Sails
As darkness settles around the sea, it is time for dinner. Finish your cocktail (or two, no judgement), pay your bill and say your final respects to man who helped turn America into a global empire. Totally respectful if you want to take a shot in his honor.
For dinner, we have two options: full service or counter service. Surprise, surprise. Securing reservations for a full service restaurant are not easy at Tokyo DisneySea. You have two options to place a reservation. Option One: registered guest at one of the official Disney hotels (they place the reservation for you). Option two: walk to the restaurant in the morning and ask for a table.
We’ll go with counter service. We recommend Vulcania, located in the heart of Mysterious Island. For our Disney fans, Vulcania is the secret lair of Captain Nemo in the classic 1954 film. Bet you didn’t think it was a real place. Well my friends, this is Tokyo DisneySea.
Make your way back to Mysterious Island and enter this awesome restaurant. Food is served cafeteria style, with guests grabbing a tray and selecting delicious treats for consumption. Go for the shrimp or tofu. Either way, everything is delicious as you dine in the home of Captain Nemo. Is this real life?
Evening Part Two: The Voice of the Sea Speaks to the Soul
After dinner, explore the park as it lights up. Nighttime makes for some excellent photo opportunities, especially Mediterranean Harbor and American Waterfront. Before your 9PM Fast Pass, take pictures, shop or grab dessert. The opportunities are endless to find some incredible moments at the best theme park on Earth.
As it approaches 9PM, make your way over to Mysterious Island for the last time. Take your time and cherish the sites and sounds of Tokyo DisneySea. Find Journey to the Center of the Earth and enter its Fast Pass queue. Pray time slows down as this perfect day is rapidly coming to a close.
In line, take pictures, take Snaps, go live on Instagram. Do whatever you can to document your time at DisneySea. Nowhere else in the world can you experience this park and all of its awesomeness.
Board the mine cart one last time as you plunge into the Earth. Say hi to the murderous creature for me as you shoot back towards civilization.
If you’re lucky, you’ll emerge as Vesuvius erupts, bringing a poetic end to your adventure. As the mine cart slows down and begins its arrival to the station, smile. You did it. You visited and conquered Tokyo DisneySea. Built from the minds of Imagineers set loose, the park is an achievement of the wonders of humanity and our endless sense of adventure.
Evening Part Three: Bon Voyage
Well friends, our day is over. What an adventure. I hope you had fun. We sure did. Exit Mysterious Island and walk (slowly) towards the main entrance. Take a few last glimpses of the park, especially Vesuvius and the Columbia. If you can, see if a castmember will take a photo of you and your family with Vesuvius in the background.
Pass under the Hotel MiraCosta and out the gates. Goodbye DisneySea. See ya real soon.
Below is a quick recap of our evening activities:
6:30PM: Leave Teddy Roosevelt Lounge
7PM: Dinner at Vulcania
8PM: Pictures, shopping, philosophizing
9PM: Journey to the Center of the Earth Fast Pass
10PM: Park closes, time to retreat back to the real world
Conclusion
Thanks for reading our One-Day Itinerary for Tokyo DisneySea, the best theme park ever built. We hope it answers your questions and helps your vacation planning needs once things go back to normal. Tokyo DisneySea is the pinnacle of Walt Disney Imagineering and the park is not to be missed. The day will be busy and tiring, but in the end, you will fulfill your sense of adventure as you travel and experience the best of Disney.
To make things easier, I included the recaps as one PDF. Downloaded the PDF HERE.
Thoughts?
Please read our post: Analysis – Tokyo DisneySea – Disney’s Finest Theme Park HERE. If you are visiting Tokyo Disneyland, read our post: Tokyo Disneyland One-Day Itinerary HERE. And, if you’ve ever wanted to see a parade on water, check out the video above!
Have you been to DisneySea? What did you think? Best theme park ever? Let us know in the comments below!
