Tokyo Disneyland with a Toddler: Tips and Ride Reviews

Last Updated on December 5, 2024 by Kay

My husband and I have been to Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea many times over the years (in fact, our first date more than a decade ago was at DisneySea!) but going to Tokyo Disneyland with our toddler was a completely new experience.

I didn’t do very much research the first time I went with my kid because I figured it wouldn’t be that different from the usual. Now that I look back, I wish I had! This is why I decided to write about our visit along with tips and ride reviews so that everyone else with little ones can be better prepared than me!

If you’re interested in Tokyo DisneySea, I’ve written an article all about it so make sure to give it a read!

Tickets and Hours at Tokyo Disneyland

Getting tickets can be easy-as-pie or a frustrating experience, which I explain in detail in my Tokyo DisneySea article.

You can buy tickets on the day you visit but this can possibly mean wasted time depending on how crowded it is.

I recommend buying tickets in advance from either the official website, Klook, or GetYourGuide. However, sometimes the official website gets congested, which is why I think Klook or GetYourGuide is a better option. And depending on the exchange rate, it can sometimes even be cheaper than the official site!

Note that admission for children ages three and under is free! (As if you didn’t need a better reason to visit with your little one(s)!)

Weekends and holidays are popular times for people to visit so I recommend trying to go on a weekday.

You can also change the date of your ticket if something happens, such as your child getting sick beforehand or if it’s going to be raining all day. This is very helpful and we were able to change our tickets when there was another COVID wave back in 2022.

Note that from October 1, 2023, Tokyo Disney has increased their ticket prices and is now offering variable pricing on park tickets, meaning that some days are cheaper than others.

Hours of operation have thankfully gone back to what it was pre-pandemic, 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM.

Where is Tokyo Disneyland and How to Get There

Despite having “Tokyo” in its name, Tokyo Disneyland is located in Urayasu, Chiba, which is east of Tokyo. The closest station is Maihama Station.

But don’t fret, depending on where you’re staying, it’s not that far to get to and can be easily reached by bus, train, or car.

For instance, it takes only 15 minutes to get to Maihama Station from Tokyo Station using the JR Keiyo and Musashino lines. After that, you can either walk (about 20 minutes, not recommended unless your kid is in a stroller or likes walking) or take the Disney Resort Line (and ride a cute Disney train) from Resort Gateway Station to the park.

If you are staying somewhere near Shibuya, it would take you about an hour by train to reach the park.

Tokyo Disneyland: Where to Stay with Kids

If you’re planning on visiting both parks, I recommend staying in Urayasu or nearby. This is because the morning trains, especially on weekdays, are very crowded with commuters throughout Tokyo and the surrounding areas. You also don’t want to be tired from the commute before you even get to the park!

If you can’t book a Disney hotel within the park, there are plenty of other options!

Here are some of the best hotels that I recommend:

Disney Celebration Hotel

• An official Tokyo Disney Resort hotel
• Shuttle service to the Disney parks
• Affordable
• Guests can enter Tokyo Disneyland (NOT DisneySea, which this article is about) via Happy Entry 15 minutes before the official opening time
• Cribs available upon request

🏨 Check availability

Grand Nikko Tokyo Bay Maihama

• An official Tokyo Disney Resort hotel
• Located only a 4-minute walk away from Bayside Station, which is connected to the Disney Resort Line
• Rooms offer beautiful views of either the Tokyo Disney parks or Tokyo Bay
• Affordable
• Shuttle service to the airport

🏨 Check availability

Comfort Suites Tokyo Bay

• Shuttle bus service to the airport
• Shuttle bus service to Disney parks
• Kids stay for free
• Cribs are available as well as bed guards
• Very affordable

🏨 Check availability

Urayasu Brighton Hotel Tokyo Bay

• • Shuttle bus service to Disney parks
  • One-minute walk from Shin-Urayasu Station
  • Spacious and clean

🏨 Check availability

Helpful Tips for Visiting Tokyo Disneyland with a Toddler

• This might seem like a no-brainer but have your kid watch a few Disney movies before they go! A had seen a few but not Beauty and the Beast (big mistake on my part) and the last Disney movie she saw was a few weeks before our visit, which may also be why she seemed more confused than excited.
• Bring some drinks with you, as the drinks inside the theme park can be expensive.
• You’re not allowed to bring food for yourself, but food and snacks for your little one are perfectly fine.
• Download the Tokyo Disney Resort App, which will allow you to buy tickets for the park (in Japanese only), get Entry Requests (required for Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast and The Happy Ride with Baymax), get reservations for restaurants, get takeaway food easily without having to wait in line, obtain Standby Passes, etc.
• Download the CASTEL Disney Wait Time app, which shares information about how long you may need to wait for rides (in Japanese only)
• Consider purchasing tickets from Klook or GetYourGuide, which will help save time when it comes to dealing with Tokyo Disney’s often congested website
• Some meet-and-greets with a character require an Entry Request, which you can get through the Tokyo Disney Resort App.
• You can also pay for a service called Disney Premier Access, which gives you designated entry times for certain attractions, shows, and parades. Kids ages three and under are also free if a parent purchases one.
• Use a crowd prediction calendar to plan your visit. I don’t think these are that accurate but I guess it’s better than nothing. I talk about this in detail in my article on Tokyo DisneySea.
• Get a “My 1st Visit” sticker for your child from these locations. This is something I found out about after I took my daughter and I regret not getting it because it makes a nice memento. Also, cast members are more likely to interact with your child if they notice your child with the sticker.
• If you’re an expectant mother, Tokyo Disneyland offers a “Separate Wait Service” where you can sit in a designated area instead of standing in line for a ride. Your party, however, needs to remain in line and you rejoin them when it’s time to go on the ride. This service also doesn’t shorten the wait time.
• You can rent a Mickey stroller for the day for only 1000 yen from the World Bazaar
• The souvenir stores get crowded near closing, so when it comes to buying souvenirs, the earlier the better.
• If your child’s clothes get wet or dirty and you don’t have any spare clothes on hand, head to Town Center Fashions in the World Bazaar or Brave Little Tailor Shoppe in Fantasyland where you can pick up something cute to clothe them in. (Makes a nice souvenir, too!)
• If your little one wants to dress like a princess and it’s their birthday, you can make a reservation for them at the Bippity Boppity Boutique where they can choose a princess dress, shoes, get their hair and makeup done, and get photos taken. Your child can also take some of the items home depending on the package you choose.

Baby and Toddler-Friendly Attractions at Tokyo Disneyland

I was pleasantly surprised that when my toddler was 22 months old, she was able to go on many of the rides. By the time she was three, she liked it even more, and at age four, she keeps asking to go back!

Tokyo Disneyland is (unsurprisingly) very popular and wait times for rides and food can be long. The grounds are also massive and it takes some time to get from one area to another, which is why it’s important to have a general idea about what rides you want to go on, where you want to eat, naps, etc.

If you don’t have very much time and/or there are a lot of people, head to Fantasyland as it has the most baby/toddler-friendly rides.

Below are the rides that we tried and our thoughts. (Note that all kids are different — just because my kid liked/disliked a ride, that doesn’t mean your child will have the same reaction!)

In Adventureland

My husband haaaates this ride because he gets really dizzy and sick on it… although that was probably my fault in the past. With A, I didn’t touch the wheel and it was just the right speed — my husband didn’t hate it!

My daughter didn’t have much of a reaction to this ride either, however, although I think it was because sitting in a moving cup surrounded by other colorful cups and saucers spinning around was a bit overwhelming for her.

Parent Fun Factor: ★★★★☆

2 YO Toddler Fun Factor: ★★★☆☆

3 YO Toddler Fun Factor: ★★★★☆

“It’s a small world”

The outside of this ride is so big, colorful, and inviting but underneath its lovely exterior is a ride that we absolutely regret getting on. I forgot how annoying the song “It’s a small world” is, especially when it goes on and on and on and… I am now shuddering at the memory. The dolls from different countries were cute, although at times creepy.

Overall, this ride is the perfect setting for a horror movie. Our toddler, once again, had no real reaction and was probably wondering why her parents decided to make her sit on a boat ride through a forest of dolls. One point goes to her not crying or trying to jump out of the boat.

Parent Fun Factor: ★☆☆☆☆

2 YO Toddler Fun Factor: ★★☆☆☆

3 YO Toddler Fun Factor: N/A, we don’t like this ride and figured she would get scared anyway.

☔ Recommended if it’s raining

This was really fun. A liked sitting in the giant honey pot while following Pooh Bear to different places in the forest, although she got a bit scared when we entered Pooh’s strange and dark dream sequence. The ride can also move quite fast at some points, so the sudden movement might scare young children.

Parent Fun Factor: ★★★★★

2 YO Toddler Fun Factor: ★★★★☆

3 YO Toddler Fun Factor: N/A, the wait time was too long.

☔ Recommended if it’s raining

2 YO Toddler Fun Factor: ★★☆☆☆

3 YO Toddler Fun Factor: N/A, we knew she would be scared so we decided not to go

☔ Recommended if it’s raining

Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast

This is a brand-new attraction that opened in 2020. The castle from the outside is gorgeous and it’s fun to look at everything inside while you wait. There was no line for the ride when we went at around 3 PM but in the morning many people were waiting.

This was one of the last rides we went on, and I don’t know if it’s because A got used to rides but she really enjoyed this one, and so did we! The transformation of the Beast into the Prince at the end was amazing! A really liked the ballroom and after the ride, she asked to go again! (We did not, however.)

I will say, though, that if I had to wait for hours to ride this attraction, I would have been disappointed.

Parent Fun Factor: ★★★★★

2 YO Toddler Fun Factor: ★★★★★

3 YO Toddler Fun Factor: N/A (We couldn’t go on the ride because there was a 2-hour wait time and there was no way we were going to make our toddler wait that long. We could have paid for Premier Access for a designated entry time but when I decided to give in and open my wallet, they were sold out.)

In Toontown

Toddler-Friendly Food at Tokyo Disneyland

As the restaurants get crowded closer to noon, it’s best to try to get lunch out of the way as soon as possible. We decided to get something to eat at 11 AM, and even then there were lines and we were lucky to find a table.

Unlike the rides, there wasn’t much in terms of what our kid could eat at 22 month old. A good number of restaurants were closed so our options were limited. (At the time of writing, there are only 11 restaurants with kids’ menus and three are closed.)

We ended up going to  Tomorrowland Terrace, which does not have a kids’ menu, and A happily ate some of my cheeseburger and some of my husband’s chicken burger. I know, great parenting, but hey, it’s Disneyland so we made an exception. Both tasted pretty good, although I preferred the cheeseburger.

I saw some parents had brought Kewpie baby bento boxes for their little ones, so that’s always an option depending on your child’s dietary needs. (Remember, you can use the rooms in the Baby Centers to feed your little ones if they need a highchair or you need to heat something up.)

While A took a nap in her stroller in the afternoon, we took the opportunity to head over to La Taverne de Gaston. You have to make a reservation to get seated inside, but there are standing tables outside where you can eat as well if you don’t have a reservation.

The inside is true to the tavern in the animated film and made me want to burst out singing the “Gaston” song but I refrained because I didn’t want to wake up A.

Inside Taverne de Gaston

After taking our seats, my husband and I dug into our tiny feast, which consisted of the French Toast Sandwich  (フレンチトースト・サンド), the Hunter’s Pie (ハンターズ･パイ) and a drink called Berry Cheers (ベリーチアーズ).

French Toast Sandwich, the Hunter’s Pie, and Berry Cheers

I was excited about the sandwich because I thought it would be like a grilled cheese sandwich, but the chicken inside was bland and there wasn’t enough cheese for me. It wasn’t something I would get again.

Similarly, the drink was somewhat disappointing. It was good for the first few sips but quickly became too sweet.

The pie filled with beef stew, however, was pretty good. It was piping hot, even when I had almost finished it, and messy, but quite delicious compared to the other two items we got. I think if A was awake, perhaps the best thing for her would have been a big bite croissant.

When we went to Disneyland again when our daughter was three, we were unfortunately unable to get a reservation for any restaurant! We decided to go to Tomorrowland again, because for whatever reason it’s not that crowded, and got some pizza from Pan Galactic. We also made sure to try some of the Halloween-themed snacks from the food carts around the park. (But let me tell you, some of the lines were crazy long!)

Changing Rooms and Baby Centers at Tokyo Disneyland

One thing I liked about the Tomorrowland Terrace was that they had a proper diaper changing room with changing tables. It was at times hard to find a changing room that both parents could enter and when we were in Fantasyland near Pooh’s Hunny Hunt, the only nearby option was a multifunction restroom that had a line of parents waiting to use it. However, all women’s restrooms have changing tables.

Tokyo Disneyland offers two areas for parents called a “Baby Center”, where you can change diapers and nurse, but they only have two — one in Toontown and the other in the World Bazaar. The Baby Centers also sell diapers, formula, and baby food, as well as rain covers for strollers.

The Baby Center in Toontown

Wrap-Up: Tokyo Disneyland with a Toddler

Overall, at 22 months old, my husband and I both felt that A was a bit too young to fully enjoy Disneyland. The rides were at times a bit too scary for her. Although she had seen Disney characters before and is currently in a Disney Princess phase, I think everything was too overwhelming.

All of this made her cranky, so she didn’t really piece together what had happened until right before we left and we bought her a small plush Belle doll. (She loves that doll so much now!) I think her favorite part of the entire experience was waving back to all of the friendly staff at Disney.

However, as mentioned earlier in this article, she had a lot more fun when she visited again at age three and even now she keeps asking to go back. (If only we lived as close as we did before!) I’m really glad she changed because we moved to Osaka so getting to Disney isn’t as easy as it was before!

Now this isn’t to say that small children or even babies shouldn’t go to Disney, especially if you’ve taken them to a theme park before. After all, children three and under are free so you might as well take them if you want to go! The magical atmosphere of Tokyo Disney alone makes the trip worth it in my opinion.

We visited Tokyo DisneySea as well, so make sure to read my article all about it!

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