Tokyo DisneySea with Toddlers and Kids: Tips and Ride Reviews

Last Updated on March 4, 2025 by Kay

Tokyo DisneySea is undeniably magical and a perfect place for parents to take children and make unforgettable memories. I’ve been fortunate enough to visit with my daughter since she was a toddler and as she’s grown older, her love of DisneySea has become huge! (I’m especially surprised because she isn’t really into Disney Princesses anymore!)

Similar to my article on Tokyo Disneyland, I’ll be sharing my experiences taking my child to Tokyo DisneySea since she was a toddler up until now.

This article also contains helpful tips that I feel parents should know before their visit, ride reviews, and recommended kid-friendly restaurants.

Tickets and Hours at Tokyo DisneySea

Getting tickets can be quite the experience depending on the time of year.

I don’t think this is something that commonly happens but I thought I should share anyway, just in case.

A few years ago, the Disney theme parks in Japan were offering discounted tickets. This had never really happened before, so (unsurprisingly) the website was extremely congested. My husband and I spent more time than we would have liked trying to access the website through both the Tokyo Disney Resort app and the official website.

What was more frustrating was that we didn’t even care about the discount! We wanted to visit at the time to celebrate the ten-year anniversary of our first date, which had been at DisneySea!

The good news was that when we finally accessed the website (hours later), it was easier to get tickets since we only needed to purchase two for adults as children ages three and under are free.

I don’t know if something like that will happen again, though, so under normal circumstances, you can purchase your tickets from the Tokyo Disney website on the day of your visit and up to two months in advance.

Keep in mind that the website can also be congested sometimes even if there’s nothing special going on.

For these reasons, I HIGHLY recommend getting Tokyo Disney tickets through Klook or GetYourGuide, which depending on the exchange rate can sometimes work out to be cheaper than buying them from the official site.

When it comes to ticket prices, Tokyo Disney offers variable pricing on park tickets, meaning that some days are cheaper than others. For instance, weekends and holidays are popular times for people to visit so park tickets are also more expensive. This is why I recommend trying to go to Tokyo DisneySea on a weekday.

Mondays and Fridays can also be busy because people living in Japan like to make a three-day weekend out of a Disney trip.

One great thing about Tokyo Disney is that you can change the date of your ticket in advance if something happens, such as your child getting sick beforehand or if it’s going to be raining all day. I was able to do this once with no problem!

Hours of operation are usually from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM. However, the park tends to open its gates at 8:45 AM.

Note that Fantasy Springs, a new area in Tokyo DisneySea featuring Frozen Kingdom and Rapunzel’s Forest, opened on June 6, 2024, so expect Tokyo DisneySea to be more crowded than usual! 

Where is Tokyo DisneySea and How to Get There

Despite having “Tokyo” in its name, Tokyo DisneySea 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 on the west side of Tokyo, like Shibuya, it will take you about an hour by train to reach the park.

Tokyo DisneySea: 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 an official Disney hotel, there are plenty of other options!

Here are some of the best hotels that I recommend:

Hotel Okura Tokyo Bay

I stayed here with my family and found it was pretty decent for the price, especially given the location. However, I do not recommend their restaurant whatsoever.

• Located at Bayside Station, close to the Tokyo Disney parks
• Spacious rooms (note that these rooms are dated but they’re kept clean)
• An official Tokyo Disney Resort hotel
• Shuttle service to the Disney parks

🏨 Check availability

Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay Hotel

If I had a bigger budget, I would stay here because they have a great indoor playground for kids, mini-golf, and swimming pools!

• Located at Bayside Station, one stop from Tokyo DisneySea
• Large rooms
• An official Tokyo Disney Resort hotel
• Shuttle service to the Disney parks

🏨 Check availability

Hotel Dream Gate Maihama

This is somewhere I want to stay next time I go to Tokyo Disney because new and very affordable!

• Located right in front of Maihama Station and a 13-minute walk from Tokyo Disneyland
• Large and new rooms
• The bathroom is just like what you’d see in a modern Japanese house

🏨 Check availability

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 DisneySea with Toddlers and Kids

Many of my tips for enjoying Tokyo DisneySea with a toddler or older child are the same as for Tokyo Disneyland:

Watch Disney movies!

Cozy up with your little one before the Big Day and check out classics featuring characters and areas that are in Tokyo DisneySea such as:

• • The Little Mermaid
  • Aladdin
  • Finding Nemo
  • Toy Story
  • Tangled
  • Frozen
  • Peter Pan

Bring Drinks and Baby Food

Bring your own beverages to save money!

Note that you’re allowed to bring baby food, just not food for adults

Purchase Tickets in Advance

Tickets must be purchased in advance and cannot be bought at the gates.

Consider purchasing your tickets from Klook or GetYourGuide, which will help save time when it comes to dealing with Tokyo Disney’s often congested website.

Note that in celebration of Tokyo Disney’s 40th anniversary, they’re currently offering a Tokyo Disney Resort 40th Anniversary Priority Pass for free through the app.

This allows for timed entry to certain attractions so you don’t have to spend ages waiting in line.

Download Tokyo Disney Apps

Download the Tokyo Disney Resort App, which will show you ride wait times, grant you Entry Requests, get reservations for restaurants, Standby Passes, and do Mobile Order, etc.

The Mobile Order system is AMAZING because you don’t have to wait in line to get something to eat, you just order, grab, and go!

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.

I recommend downloading this app before your visit so you can become familiar with how to use it and study the park map. It also shows current wait times so you can see the patterns in how long people wait depending on the day of the week, season, etc.

Use a Crowd Prediction Calendar to Plan Your Visit

These aren’t 100% accurate but if you want to try to avoid busy days, look no further than a crowd prediction calendar.

This crowd prediction calendar for Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea is in Japanese but I’ve translated it so you can understand how to read it.

The colors on the dates above apply to how busy or crowded the park is. You can see the crowd level below. For instance, the dates with the blue boxes are relatively empty. (According to the calendar, which I don’t really believe to be honest!) Meanwhile, orange is far more crowded.

Even if these crowd prediction calendars aren’t that accurate, it’s still best to avoid visiting on weekends, public holidays, or school vacations. I find that Tuesdays to Thursdays are the least crowded.

Commemorate the 1st Visit

Get a “My 1st Visit” sticker for your child from these locations. Cast members are also more likely to interact with your child if they notice your child with the sticker.

Rent a Stroller

If you need a stroller, you can rent a cute Mickey Mouse one for 1000 yen. And honestly, it’s worth it. We rented one when our daughter was three because she got tired quickly and we didn’t want to carry her — a complete lifesaver!

Pregnant at Tokyo Disney?

If you’re an expectant mother, Tokyo Disney offers a “Separate Wait Service” where you can sit in a designated area instead of having to stand while you wait 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

Souvenir Shopping

The souvenir stores get crowded near closing, so when it comes to buying souvenirs, the earlier the better.

Note that Duffy is a special Disney character that’s only at Tokyo DisneySea! My daughter absolutely loves Duffy and Friends so she always gets Duffy goods from Galleria Disney.

Kids Clothing Shops at Tokyo Disney

If your child’s clothes get wet or dirty and you don’t have any spare clothes on hand, check out Kiss de Girl Fashions in Mermaid Lagoon.

How cute are these Disney outfits?! They would make great gifts as well.

They have baby items, too, such as bibs and socks.

Galleria Disney in Mediterranean Habor, which features Duffy goods, also sells cute, warm parkers, and I made sure to grab one when we visited in October and there was a sudden cold snap. My kid still wears it to this very day! 

Diaper Changing and Baby Feeding Spots

There are several helpful spots for parents of young children at DisneySea:

• • The Baby Center in the Mediterranean Habor, where you can change your child’s diaper or nurse them. The Baby Center also has high chairs, microwaves, and hot water to prepare food/formula. (Keep in mind that you can only bring baby food into the park.) You can purchase diapers, formulas, wipes, and so on as well.
  • The Baby Care Room in the Mermaid Grotto is another spot for changing diapers and nursing.
  • The Nursing Mother’s Lounge next to the Tower of Terror at the American Waterfront
• The Baby Center in the Mediterranean Habor also has the Lost Children facility, which is where you can (hopefully!) find your kid if they get lost.

Visiting Tokyo DisneySea with Toddlers and Kids

My experience visiting both Tokyo Disney parks with my daughter throughout the years has been different each time.

At Two Years Old

She first visited when she had just turned two years old, and true to being in “the terrible twos,” she was very cranky.

She didn’t like the rides that much and didn’t really understand or care about the characters apart from Jasmine, so we didn’t go on many rides.

I was also overwhelmed with taking her by myself when she was two years old, so I spent most of the time just pushing her around in her stroller so she could see all the sights. She also took a two-hour nap in her stroller, which cut down on time for rides.

It probably didn’t help that it was quite hot when we went as well. (I absolutely do not recommend visiting Tokyo Disney with very young kids between July to September. Sure, they can stay indoors at the Mermaid Lagoon but they might not enjoy experiencing the rest of the park because it’s too darn hot and humid.)

At Three Years Old

When my daughter was three years old, she was SUPER excited to visit the Tokyo Disney parks. We packed Belle and Rapunzel dresses as well as headbands I had from previous visits. She was practically bouncing off the walls in anticipation!

(Note that it’s totally fine for kids to wear Disney costumes throughout the year but adults can only wear costumes during Tokyo Disney’s Halloween season.)

And thankfully, she had a great time and there was a lot for her to see and do!

At Five Years Old

Thanks to visiting Universal Studios Japan several times, my daughter probably had the best experience at Tokyo DisneySea when she was five years old.

She was more open to going on new rides and we went carefully through the Tokyo Disney official website so she could choose what she wanted to buy, eat, and which rides she wanted to go on as well as what shows she wanted to watch.

I made sure to emphasize that we might not be able to do everything, especially because of time constraints. Lines at Tokyo DisneySea for certain rides or food can be very long.

How to Plan a Tokyo DisneySea Trip with Kids

I highly recommend narrowing down your visit to two to three must-visit areas at Tokyo DisneySea because it’s huge. For instance, it takes 30 minutes to walk from the entrance to the Fantasy Springs area!

When my family visited when my daughter was five years old, we focused on the following:

• Fantasy Springs
• Mermaid Lagoon

Yes, only two places, because with parades, shows, and food breaks, we just didn’t have the time to go anywhere else!

Alongside must-visit areas (and rides), we also focused on choosing what souvenirs to get, one must-eat food, one show to watch, and one greeting. There were backups as well just in case we had additional time, but with Fantasy Springs now open, we just barely managed to do our first-choice activities!

I also recommend downloading the Tokyo DisneySea map from the official website, printing it out, and circling what you want to go/where you want to go. You can also write directly on the PDF on your tablet if you have one. Make sure to write specifically what kind of food you want from a particular place because you might forget. (If you have the memory of a gnat like I do.)

This way we could easily keep track of everything we wanted to experience while at Tokyo DisneySea.

Make sure to also decide which popcorn bucket to get, because I guarantee that your kid will want one after seeing other kids (and adults) with one.

The official park map shows where you can get popcorn buckets and each store carries something different, so make sure you check online regarding flavors and designs before you go to Tokyo Disney. (The page is in Japanese only.)

My daughter got a Gelatoni popcorn bucket (Duffy and Friends).

I also recommend choosing your headbands in advance because there is a huge selection and your child might find something they like better. Make sure to note where the headband is being sold because some are only available at a particular store.

For instance, this Anna headband is only available at the Fantasy Springs Gift Shop.

The same goes for this Rapunzel one.

This goes for souvenirs as well but keep in mind that some things sell out, especially if it’s a seasonal item.

My daughter really wanted this adorable Gelatoni stuffed animal so we made sure to get it from Galleria Disney as soon as we could!

In terms of what to bring, I suggest the following:

• Something to keep your child occupied when they’re queuing for a ride (a book, a toy, a Switch, etc)
• A water bottle
• A small portable fan if it’s hot out, a parasol, and other cooling items
• Portable charger for your phone
• Small snacks (crackers, cookies, etc)
• A change of clothes in case they get wet (more applicable to toddlers and preschoolers)
• Sanitizing wipes

The Disney Resort Line

If you’re coming from Maihama Station, make sure you take the Disney Resort Line! It’s a super cute Disney train that will take you to Tokyo DisneySea and Disneyland, as well as hotels in the area. It runs every six minutes so it’s super convenient.

A one-way ticket on this line costs 300 yen to ride but if you get a Day Pass, you can ride this as many times as you like in 24 hours. I don’t think the Day Pass is very cost-effective but it comes in very cute designs and you get to keep the card!

The Disney Resort Line runs in a loop from Resort Gateway Station (pictured below to the left) to Tokyo Disneyland Station, Bayside Station, and Tokyo DisneySea Station.

The inside of the Disney Resort Line is absolutely adorable, with Mickey-shaped handles and windows.

Kids can also receive a cute sticker like this!

If you sit at the front of the train, your kid can have a spectacular view and feel like they’re driving the train! If someone else has snagged the seat, don’t worry — they might get off before you and your kid can sweep in and sit down.

Baby, Toddler, and Kid-Friendly Attractions at Tokyo DisneySea

Here are the different rides and attractions at Tokyo DisneySea and my thoughts about them, including my daughter’s experience throughout the years.

When it comes to which area to visit first, as mentioned earlier, let your child decide before you get to the park. After all, they won’t be able to experience everything in one day.

If you want to go to Fantasy Springs, you need to arrive at Tokyo DisneySea well before it opens. I’m talking at least an hour beforehand. Once you’re in, buy a Premier Access pass for the rides there. I’ll share which rides have a Premier Access pass below.

In Mediterranian Harbor and American Waterfront

The Transit Steamer Lines are two boats that you can take to get from the Mediterranian Harbor to the American Waterfront and back again.

This is obviously a great way to cut down on walking time and get from one spot to another quickly, but it’s also a lifesaver when you have a tired toddler who doesn’t want to walk anymore.

My daughter liked riding on the boats when she was a toddler, especially at night since she could see the beauty of the park all lit up.

Parent Fun Factor: ★★★★☆

2 YO Toddler Fun Factor: ★★★★☆

3 YO Toddler Fun Factor: ★★★★☆

5 YO Fun Factor: N/A, we had no time to ride on it!

In Mediterranean Harbor

Fortress Explorations

This is not really a ride but more of an experience where kids explore a fortress and can complete “The Leonardo Challenge”if they’re up for it. My toddler at age three was still too young to do the challenge but she liked looking around the inside of the fortress, especially as she was really into planets at the time.

If you’re short on time, I recommend perhaps skipping this.

Note that once it’s dark, you can’t go inside.

Parent Fun Factor: ★★★☆☆

2 YO Toddler Fun Factor: Didn’t go!

3 YO Toddler Fun Factor: ★★★☆☆

5 YO Fun Factor: N/A, we had no time for it!

In Port Discovery

Nemo & Friends SeaRider

My daughter loves Finding Nemo, so of course she was happy to try out this ride when she was three. We didn’t have to wait very long, only 15 minutes, which was good. However, once the lights dimmed, my daughter got scared. She also didn’t like how the seats moved, so unfortunately, this wasn’t for her.

Unfortunately, we had no time for this when she was five years old.

Parent Fun Factor: ★★★★☆

2 YO Toddler Fun Factor: Didn’t go!

3 YO Toddler Fun Factor: ★★☆☆☆

5 YO Fun Factor: N/A, we had no time for it!

☔ Recommended if it’s raining

In Arabian Coast

Caravan Carousel

When my daughter was three, she didn’t want to ride the Merry-Go-Round at Disneyland, but when we went to DisneySea the next day, she decided to take up the challenge. I think the Aladdin theme of Caravan Carousel helped as well.

Unlike Universal Studios Japan, kids can ride with their parents on the same animal, so my daughter rode with my husband and had a blast.

Parent Fun Factor: ★★★★★

2 YO Toddler Fun Factor: Didn’t go!

3 YO Toddler Fun Factor: ★★★★★

5 YO Fun Factor: N/A, we had no time to ride on it!

☔ Recommended if it’s raining

Jasmine’s Flying Carpets

Now this was interesting because she was happy to go on this ride not once but twice when she was two. However, she absolutely refused to ride this when she was three. I think she’s more aware of heights and that she doesn’t like rides that go into the sky and move in a circle (like the Snoopy ride at USJ, which she refused to ride until she turned five.)

One strange thing was that a staff member asked if I was my daughter’s parent for some reason. I wonder why… It’s not like I stole some kid and took them to DisneySea! Maybe they thought I was the nanny or something? (Ah, the struggles of having a biracial child who looks far more like your Japanese husband…)

Parent Fun Factor: ★★★★★

2 YO Toddler Fun Factor: ★★★★☆

3 YO Toddler Fun Factor: Didn’t go!

5 YO Fun Factor: N/A, we had no time to ride on it!

Sindbad’s Storybook Voyage

My husband and I have a fond memory of being stuck on this boat ride for an hour or so on our first date when it malfunctioned. Truly a bonding experience.

We were a bit nervous to go on again when our daughter was three because the last thing we wanted was to be stuck on a boat with a toddler but it was cold and rainy and there was no line, so we figured, “Why not!”

My daughter liked looking at all the different moving characters while the boat glided through the scenes of Sindbad’s story. And thankfully, the boat never got stuck!

Parent Fun Factor: ★★★☆☆

2 YO Toddler Fun Factor: Didn’t go!

3 YO Toddler Fun Factor: ★★★★★

5 YO Fun Factor: N/A, we had no time to ride on it!

☔ Recommended if it’s raining

In Mermaid Lagoon

Mermaid Lagoon is the place to take small children at DisneySea. It should honestly be your first stop after Fantasy Springs, especially if you’re short on time and/or it’s raining/cold! There is so much for little kids to do here, not to mention a room to change diapers and nurse.

Here is what the outside looks like at night — it’s so gorgeous!

And here’s what the inside of Mermaid Lagoon looks like:

My daughter has always had so much fun in the Mermaid Lagoon. Everything here is kid-friendly and exciting for little ones to experience. I also like that most rides are indoors so you don’t have to worry about the weather.

There’s also an area where a turtle and dolphin spouts water so that’s something to keep in mind in case you don’t want your kid getting wet!

Ariel’s Playground

This is a fun area where kids can explore Ariel’s cavern and treasures. There’s no wait time so kids can come and go as they please.

Parent Fun Factor: ★★★★☆

2 YO Toddler Fun Factor: ★★★★★

3 YO Toddler Fun Factor: ★★★★★

5 YO Fun Factor: ★★★★★

Height Requirement: None

☔ Recommended if it’s raining

Jumpin’ Jellyfish

This is a very gentle ride where you sit alongside your child on a seat that is slowly brought up and down by a jellyfish. It’s perfect for small children and the wait time is also usually quite short, so if your child is like mine, they can ride it repeatedly.

My daughter loved this ride so much that when she was three, she ran back to the line as soon as the ride finished!

However, she was a little bored when she was five years old, especially since it ended so quickly. They grow up too fast!

Parent Fun Factor: ★★★★☆

2 YO Toddler Fun Factor: ★★★★★

3 YO Toddler Fun Factor: ★★★★★

5 YO Fun Factor: ★★★★★

Height Requirement: None but guests must be able to sit on their own

☔ Recommended if it’s raining

The Whirlpool

This is essentially a spinning teacup ride but under the sea! My daughter had a blast turning the wheel and spinning us around while my motion-sick husband weakly protested.

Parent Fun Factor: ★★★★☆

2 YO Toddler Fun Factor: Didn’t go!

3 YO Toddler Fun Factor: ★★★★★

5 YO Fun Factor: N/A, we had no time to ride on it!

Height Requirement: None but guests must be able to sit on their own

☔ Recommended if it’s raining

Scuttle’s Scooters

I first took my daughter on this ride when she was five years old and she loved it so much. It was fun with the right amount of movement so she wasn’t bored.

Parent Fun Factor: ★★★★★

2 YO Toddler Fun Factor: Didn’t go!

3 YO Toddler Fun Factor: Didn’t go!

5 YO Fun Factor: ★★★★★

Height Requirement: None but guests must be able to sit on their own

Flounder’s Flying Fish Coaster

This was my daughter’s absolute favorite ride at Tokyo DisneySea when she was five. I don’t even remember how many times we went on it in one day! If your child likes kiddie roller coasters like mine does, they’ll have a blast.

There’s also just the right amount of speed and thrill that I loved it, too.

Parent Fun Factor: ★★★★★

2 YO Toddler Fun Factor: Didn’t go!

3 YO Toddler Fun Factor: Didn’t go!

5 YO Fun Factor: ★★★★★

Height Requirement: Must be at least 90 cm tall.

In Mysterious Island

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

I was kind of surprised that my daughter was able to ride this! I thought she would be too small but there is no height restriction and since the wait time was short, we decided to give it a try.

My daughter sat on my husband’s lap inside the pod so she wasn’t too scared of the creepy undersea world. The ride does have some loud noises and some jerky movements, which she wasn’t the biggest fan of but she had fun overall.

Parent Fun Factor: ★★★☆☆

2 YO Toddler Fun Factor: Didn’t go!

3 YO Toddler Fun Factor: ★★★☆☆

5 YO Fun Factor: Didn’t go!

☔ Recommended if it’s raining

In Fantasy Springs

Fantasy Springs is a brand new area that opened on June 6th, 2024. It contains Frozen Kingdom, Peter Pan’s Never Land, and Rapunzel’s Forest.

For information about how to get in and more, watch this video!

I took my daughter in November 2024 (she was 5 years old) and she had a BLAST.

Firstly, make sure you check out all the stone sculptures within the cliffs throughout Fantasy Springs because they feature Disney characters such as Peter Pan, Cinderella, Aurora, and Rapunzel!

Anna and Elsa’s Frozen Journey

There’s no height restriction but kids must be able to sit up on their own. They are allowed, however, to sit on laps.

This was the best ride for us in Fantasy Springs. It was really fun and we rode it four times!  My daughter, husband, and I loved journeying through the Frozen world, whizzing around, and splashing down small inclines.

Try to have your child sit in the middle if possible because you will get wet if you sit at the sides.

Note that it is hard for little kids to see everything if they’re not sitting at the front. On our fourth time riding, the attendants recognized us and after I asked if we could sit in the front, they kindly let us wait until the next car so we could do so!

Parent Fun Factor: ★★★★★

5 YO Fun Factor: ★★★★★

⭐️ Disney Premier Access Ride

Rapunzel’s Lantern Festival

Similar to the Frozen ride, there is no height restriction and children can sit on laps. I didn’t see anything about children having to sit up on their own, so if you experience otherwise, please let me know!

This was a cute and leisurely ride that reminds me of “It’s a Small World” or “Sindbad’s Storybook Voyage”. If possible, try to ride this both during the day and at night because at night the lanterns outside are lit up!

My daughter liked this ride, especially seeing all the scenes from Tangled, but it’s not as exciting as Frozen’s ride so we only rode it three times.

Parent Fun Factor: ★★★★☆

5 YO Fun Factor: ★★★★☆

⭐️ Disney Premier Access Ride

Peter Pan’s Never Land Adventure

This is a 3D ride, so it might not appeal to little ones (my daughter doesn’t like 3D). The ride goes through dark areas and rotates and spins as well.

Children must be at least 102 cm tall to ride and cannot sit on laps.

The ride was somewhat enjoyable but it made all of us motion sick. We only went on this ride once.

Since you have to wear 3D glasses, I’m not sure whether I would recommend this ride for a toddler. My daughter at age five was able to wear the glasses just fine.

Parent Fun Factor: ★★★☆☆

5 YO Fun Factor: ★★★☆☆

⭐️ Disney Premier Access Ride

Fairy Tinkerbell’s Busy Buggies

This is such a cute ride! My daughter and I loved spinning through Tinkerbell’s little garden and forest and seeing all the adorable creatures. It’s a short and sweet ride that would likely appeal to younger kids.

There is no height requirement and children are allowed to sit on laps.

Parent Fun Factor: ★★★☆☆

5 YO Fun Factor: ★★★★☆

Captain Hook’s Ship

This is not exactly a ride but it’s a fun place at Fantasy Springs for kids to explore and take photos!

Explore Arendelle

I think one of the best-done parts of Fantasy Springs is Arendelle! It looks fantastic and my daughter had so much fun exploring the town.

There are lots of places to get great photo ops as well.

Other Attractions For Babies and Toddlers

Below are baby and toddler-friendly rides that we didn’t have a chance to experience, either because of a time constraint, long wait time, or my daughter didn’t want to go on the ride:

• Toy Story Mania! (☔ Recommended if it’s raining, child must be able to sit on their own, ride can be scary. ⭐️ Disney Premier Access Ride )
• Big City Vehicles
• Aquatopia (Child must be able to sit on their own)
• DisneySea Electric Railway (☔ Recommended if it’s raining)
• Turtle Talk (☔ Recommended if it’s raining, in Japanese language only)
• The Magic Lamp Theatre (☔ Recommended if it’s raining)
• Blowfish Balloon Race (Child must be able to sit on their own）

Note that if your child needs to go to the washroom while you’re in line, talk to a cast member. You might be allowed to leave the line and then be given priority when you return.

To avoid long wait times for popular rides, try to get a Priority Pass right when you enter the park through the Disney Resort App.

You can also pay for Disney Premier Access to get timed entry into rides such as Toy Story Mania, as well as view parades or shows from a specified area.

Tokyo DisneySea Rides for Kids

Here are rides that kids, especially older children who are in elementary school and up, will likely enjoy.

• Journey to the Center of the Earth (117 cm height requirement)
  This is my favorite ride at Tokyo DisneySea. It’s dark and can be scary for kids, but it’s also thrilling. I absolutely love the end of the ride when you shoot out of the volcano! So needless to say, I always get a Disney Premier Access pass for this.
• Soaring: Fantastic Flight (102 cm height requirement)
  This ride opened the year my daughter was born and I just haven’t had the chance to go on it, especially since my daughter is still too short for it. But I will buy a Disney Premier Access pass to go on this ride next time because it’s my friend’s favorite and she highly recommends it.
• Tower of Terror (102 cm height requirement)
  This is another favorite ride of mine where you fall down to your “doom”. It’s super fun and thrilling. You can also get a Disney Premier Access pass for this ride.
• Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Crystal Skull (117 cm height requirement)
  Yet another thrilling ride that takes you on an adventure where you meet Indy and have to escape from a giant rolling stone rock. It’s fun but I wouldn’t wait very long for this. However, it is included in the 40th Anniversary Priority Pass!
• Raging Spirits (117 cm height requirement)
  This is a roller coaster ride with a 360-degree loop!

Shows at Tokyo DisneySea

The shows fill up super quickly so I recommend trying to get a spot using the Entry Request on the Disney Resort app as soon as you get through the gates.

• Big Band Beat
• Jamboree Mickey! Let’s dance!
• Duffy and Friends’ Wonderful Friendship (this is a new show at Cape Cod Cook-Off that wasn’t around when we went!)

We have watched Big Band Beat, which is a jazz show featuring Mickey Mouse and other classic Disney characters. I loved the theatre, which made me feel like I had paid to watch the show, and my daughter was able to see everything from her seat. However, I don’t think this was the best show for kids as the theatre was a bit dim and my daughter ended up falling asleep!

Another show we’ve seen is Jamboree Mickey!. It was mainly filled with younger kids and their parents, although there were some adults in the audience who were big Disney fans as well. That’s totally fine but I wish they had a section just for kids at the front because it was hard for my daughter to see due to the adults sitting in front of her!

My daughter liked it but at age five she felt too embarrassed to do the same dance moves as Mickey and Minnie. I don’t think we will go to this show next time.

Parades at Tokyo DisneySea

There are two main parades/shows at Tokyo DisneySea:

• Believe! Sea of Dreams
• Sky Full of Colors

Believe! Sea of Dreams is a water-based light show at 7:30 PM featuring Disney movies and their characters. It’s absolutely spectacular and a must-watch.

Make sure you snag a spot early or pay for Disney Premier Access so that your child can easily see it! The last time we went when our daughter was five, my husband went an hour before the show started and got a decent spot just behind the Disney Premier Access area. We were able to see everything but he had to carry our daughter so she could see.

It’s very crowded both right before and after this show, so keep this in mind if there’s somewhere else you have to be.

The fireworks show at 8:30 PM can be seen from most locations in the park. It only lasts five minutes so make sure you’re not on a ride when it starts!

During certain seasons such as Halloween and Christmas, there are greetings on the water. These greetings are quite short, about fifteen minutes, and it can be hard to see the Disney characters on the boats because they’re quite far away.

The list of shows and their times can be found on the official Tokyo DisneySea website.

Character Greetings at Tokyo DisneySea

Character greetings are held throughout the day in different areas, which you can find on the Tokyo Disney app. Depending on the character, the wait times can be quite long.

In fact,  I found that among the attractions for little kids, the Character Greetings had the longest wait times, mostly because adults on their own wanted to meet the Disney characters as well.

When my daughter was three, the wait to meet Minnie Mouse was 40 minutes (!) and my sweet, kind husband waited with our daughter while I quickly rode Journey to the Center of the Earth. Luckily, I made it back in time to take a family photo with Minnie!

We also got to meet Donald Duck in the Mermaid Theatre, which was about a 30-minute wait.

Sometimes you can see Disney characters walking throughout the park as well. For instance, we’ve come across Eric from The Little Mermaid and he was so sweet and took a picture with my daughter.

We also saw Anna and Elsa in Fantasy Springs. However, they get to choose who to take a photo with so make sure to tell that to your kids; otherwise they might get disappointed. My daughter got a high-five from Anna, though!

One thing that really disappointed me was seeing Ariel in Fantasy Springs. There were only five kids waiting to see her. My daughter was fourth in line. She took photos with the first three kids, skipped my daughter, and then went to the fifth kid!

An attendant at Disney saw this and went to comfort my confused kid while I was inwardly seething. Ariel did take a photo with my kid but the damage was done. I’m not sure why that happened but I wasn’t impressed!

I feel like I will avoid Princess greetings that are out in the wild throughout the park because it seems very disorganized. I also don’t agree with their policy of letting the cast members (Princesses) choose which child to greet and take a photo with because it’s unfair to the other children.

Toddler and Kid-Friendly Food at Tokyo DisneySea

We always like to make a reservation at a restaurant for lunch because we want to sit down and not have to worry about carrying food or finding a place to sit. It’s also great for naps!

When my daughter was a toddler, we made a reservation for the Horizon Bay Restaurant using the Tokyo Disney Resort app and it was definitely the right choice.

I was quite impressed with the quality of the food, and of course, I loved how everything was Halloween-themed.

My daughter also got a cute kids’ meal, which she partially ate before passing out for a nap. Thank goodness the restaurant had booths!

When she was five years old, we ate at the Fantasy Springs Restaurant for lunch since we had stayed at the hotel.

Other Tokyo DisneySea restaurants that offer kids’ meals include:

• Cafe Portofino (Mediterranean Harbor)
• Magellan’s (Mediterranean Harbor)
• Ristorante di Canaletto (Mediterranean Harbor)
• S.S. Columbia Dining Room (American Waterfront)
• Cape Cod Cook-Off (American Waterfront) — This has a restaurant show featuring Duffy and Friends, which requires advanced booking and an additional fee to watch the show.
• Restaurant Sakura (American Waterfront)
• Yucatan Base Camp Grill (Lost River Delta)
• Vulcania Restaurant (Mysterious Island)

If you feel like grabbing some food for on-the-go, that’s possible as well. You can order take-out food using the app and choose the pick-up time, which is super helpful so you don’t have to wait in line! However, don’t wait too long because if a restaurant or cafe has too many orders, they will stop accepting new orders. Sometimes you have to order food well in advance.

So Should I Take a Toddler to Tokyo DisneySea?

If you’re wondering the answer to this question, the short answer is: Absolutely!

Despite the rain and cold, we had a great time celebrating our 10th anniversary at DisneySea with our daughter. There was so much for her to do and lots of enclosed attractions so she could stay dry and warm.

And even if your child doesn’t want to go on rides or they’re still a little baby, it’s nice to just walk around the park like I did when I went when my daughter was two years old and look at all the colorful sights (and who knows, they may even be up for a ride or two!).

Children ages three and under can get into the park for free so there’s nothing to lose if you, as a parent, want to go to Tokyo Disney and see how your child reacts.

While writing this article, I really felt like I wanted to go again as soon as possible!

However, I’m going to be honest with you dear readers, I was not impressed with how slow and at times completely unresponsive the Tokyo Disney website was on the various days I spent writing this, and that killed my desire pretty quickly. One would hope that a website for a big company like Disney would be able to handle a large amount of traffic but it seems like even now, with no special event occurring, they are having trouble.

The screen of death, which I saw any time I tried to go to a new page…

But again, if you use Klook or GetYourGuide to purchase your tickets, you won’t have to deal with this!

How About Taking an Older Kid to Tokyo DisneySea?

It goes without saying that older kids will have a blast at Tokyo DisneySea. However, keep their expectations in check.

Don’t plan too much — otherwise, they might end up being disappointed if they can’t go on as many rides as they would have liked. Wait times can also be very long.

I also have an article on visiting Tokyo Disneyland with kids so make sure to check it out as well! 

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