Tokyo Disneyland Tips for 2025 – What You Need To Know Before You Go (From a Mum Who’s Been!)

There’s no place on earth quite like Disneyland. And Tokyo Disneyland is the best Disney park I’ve ever visited! It’s colourful, magical….but also overwhelming!

Things in Tokyo Disneyland work a little differently than they do in other Disneyland Parks. For the most part this is a good thing – but it can also make planning a trip to Tokyo Disneyland with your family feel more difficult. I know that feeling…I’ve had that feeling. And after visiting both Disney parks half a dozen times, I’ve come out the other side. Don’t worry – I’ve got you.

If you’re planning to visit Tokyo Disneyland with your kids in 2025, then you’ve come to the right place. This post is packed full of Tokyo Disneyland Tips for 2025, gleaned from our most recent trip to the parks just last month.

We visited as a family of four with our two boys who were aged 12 and 9 on our last visit. And here’s everything I wish we’d known before we went:

• Planning to book your Tokyo Disneyland tickets? We used Klook to get a 5% discount – and it saved us time and hassle. You can use my link and code THATMUMTRAVEL5KLOOK to grab the same deal! Here’s the link you need.

1. Quick Ticket Guide: How And Where To Buy
2. When To Visit Tokyo Disneyland in 2025
3. Tips For Visiting Tokyo Disneyland With Kids
4. Using The Tokyo Disneyland App (And Why You MUST Download It)
5. Queue Tips and Ride Strategy
6. Food, Snacks, and Meals
7. What To Pack and What To Wear
8. Other Mum Approved Tips
9. Useful Links and My Other Disneyland Japan Posts
10. FAQS
    1. 1. What’s the best day to visit Tokyo Disneyland in 2025?
    2. 2. Can you bring food into Tokyo Disneyland?
    3. 3. Is Tokyo Disneyland good for toddlers and young kids?
    4. 4. How can I skip the lines at Tokyo Disneyland?
    5. 5. Are there any ticket discounts for Tokyo Disneyland?
    6. 6. What do I need to know about the Disneyland app?

Quick Ticket Guide: How And Where To Buy

There are lots of options available when booking your tickets to Tokyo Disneyland for 2025. You can book your tickets directly via the official Tokyo Disneyland site (link here) you can buy your tickets in person when you arrive in Japan, or you can use a third-party site such as Klook.

We choose to book our tickets via Klook for all of our trips because:

• They are English-friendly. You can set the language of the Klook website to whatever works best for you (English for me!)
• It’s easy to pay using a foreign credit card (something I often find a stumbling block when using Japanese websites)
• You get instant tickets that you can use straight from your phone.
• You can save a couple of quid using my discount code, THATMUMTRAVEL5KLOOK

To redeem my promo code just visit the Klook website (using this link here) choose the tickets you want and your arrival date, then enter the promo code on the payment page, just before you check out.

When To Visit Tokyo Disneyland in 2025

Choosing the right time to visit Tokyo Disneyland can make a huge different between a good trip and a great trip. One of the main factors people look at is crowd levels. And it’s worth noting that the weather can play a huge role in this too – after all, much of the park is outdoors and exposed to the elements!

Taking both of these factors into account, I think the best times to visit are:

• Mid January to Mid March. The crowd levels are low but the weather is cool. If you don’t mind the cold then this is a great time to choose.
• Late May to Mid June. After the rush of Golden Week and cherry blossom season you’ll get lower crowd levels, but you might also get rain showers!
• Mid-September to mid-November. The weather is perfect but a lot of the summer tourists have gone home so the crowd levels are low too.

We visited in the Easter holidays, which is peak cherry blossom h season, but we were tied to our dates because of the school holidays for the boys. It was busy, but totally manageable.

So when shouldn’t you go? I would definitely avoid Golden Week (April 27-May 6 this year), Obon week in Mid-August, the New Year period, and any other Japanese public holiday.

If you can go on a weekday instead of at the weekend then this would be a better way to visit too!

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Tips For Visiting Tokyo Disneyland With Kids

On this trip, my boys were 9 and 12. On their first trip to Tokyo Disneyland they were 6 and 9. And they both visited Disneyland Paris for the first time before their first birthdays. So it’s fair to say I know a lot about visiting Disneyland parks with kids! Some of the best tips to make the most of your day include:

• Measure your kids before you arrive. Then you know what they can and can’t ride (and can prepare them to avoid the ‘but I wanna’ tantrums). Don’t worry though! There are rides for all ages at Tokyo Disneyland, even babies and totddlers. Rides everyone will LOVE include: Pooh’s Hunny Hunt, It’s a Small World, Monsters’ Inc. Ride and Go Seek, Jungle Cruise and the Rodger Rabbit Spin Ride! Check height requirements on the app in advance if your kids have a specific ride they don’t want to miss.
  
• Don’t miss the baby care centre. Disney baby centers are the best! Clan changing tables, nursing rooms, microwaves for warming foods and bottles…if your baby or toddler needs it, you’ll find it here! There are two of these in Disneyland Tokyo. One by the park entrance and one in Toon Town.
  
• Pace yourself! Disney days are long days for small kids. Arrive early (before the park opens) to beat the queues but plan downtime so your kids don’t burn out. Sit down lunches, indoor shows and even sitting down to watch the parade are all great ways to give little legs a rest.

• Don’t miss the parade! On the subject of the parades, please don’t miss these. We love Tokyo Disneyland Parades – especially the Electric Night Parade. They’re so special. And what I really love is that everyone sits down to watch the parades (bring a mat or even a picnic blanket to sit on if you have one). This means that it doesn’t matter where you are (row 1, 2, or 3) you all get the same great view. And its comfortable for tired legs too. I think all disney parks should adopt this!
  
• Don’t expect to do it all. This is a huge park. It would be impossible to see it all in one day. Don’t rush and don’t expect perfection. Pick one or two expereicnes you really want to try each and focus on those. Enjoy the moment and the magc that just being in Disneyland Tokyo brings.

Using The Tokyo Disneyland App (And Why You MUST Download It)

If you only follow one tip from this post then please let it be this one – Download the Tokyo Disneyland App. Do this before you go. In fact, do it now so you don’t forget (the link is here).

Some of the things we use the app for include:

• Maps and navigation (no need to ever get lost)
• Booking restaurants in advance (we booked the Duffy and Friends dinner show via the app, for example)
• Advance ordering at quick service restaurants – when I wanted breakfast mochi we ordered as we were walking to the restaurant and it was waiting for us when we arrived.
• Booking and paying for express passes
• Checking ride queue times
• Checking the times of the parades and shows, as these can change regularly.

Queue Tips and Ride Strategy

The magic of Disneyland Tokyo is undisputed. The length of the queues? Undisputedly awful! I’m not here to talk about Disneyland Tokyo with sugar coated glasses – the reality is that the queutimes can be long. I’ve seen the wait for the Beauty and the Beast ride be up to 4 hours – and that was on a weekday!

So what strategy should you consider to beat the ride queues? Here are some of my tips:

• Go for one of the busier rides first. We always start with Monsters Inc Ride and Seek because it’s a great ride AND because its pretty close to the park entrance. Other rides to prioritise could be Pooh’s Hounny Hunt or Peter Pan’s flight if you have smaller kids. Don’t stop for photos! Don’t stop of popcon! Get on that first ride first!
  
• Think about what rides you’re going to want to pay for with premier access. These fast passes can sell out pretty fast, so we always book any of the premier access passes were going to want while were queuing for our first ride.
  
• Save the shows for when you need downtime. Mickey’s PhilharMagic and the Country Bear Theatre have indoor, air conditioned shows with comfy seats. Don’t do these first, save them for when you’re legs need a break!
  
• Do the kids rides at the end of the day. Are you in it for the long haul? Opening to closing? Then save the tea cups, Peter Pan, Roger Rabbit, Small World and any other kid friendly ride for the end of the day. 45 minutes before closing we walked on each of these, back to back, with no queue at lall. All the smallest children had gone home and called it a day!
  
• Make a plan for YOUR family. Your priorities might not look like ours – and that’s OK! Before we visit we each choose 2 things that we want to do (these can be rides, shows, characters, and experieneces). That’s our plan. Anything else is a bonus as long as those 8 things get done. Make your plan with your family and set expectations about what might and might not be achieved.

Food, Snacks, and Meals

Tokyo Disneyland is awesome – truly our favourite Disney park. But where it really stands out from the crowd – better than any other themepark? It’s the food! These little green alien mochi have a grip on my heart I can’t explain.

But there’s not the only amazing food options at Tokyo Disneyland. There are so many great snack and restaurant choices in the park – I could snack here every day for the rest of my life and never get bored (in my dreams, at least).

If you’re looking for a proper sit down restaurant then hese spots are great for families — spacious, fast-moving, and with familiar food options even picky eaters will recognise:

• Queen of Hearts Banquet Hall (Fantasyland)
  Themed like Alice in Wonderland, this is one of the cutest places to eat. The meals are served cafeteria-style and include items like hamburg steak, heart-shaped meatloaf, and rice — very kid-friendly. Gets busy at lunch so go early or late.
• Grandma Sara’s Kitchen (Critter Country)
  Tucked away and often overlooked, this is a quieter spot with cosy, underground vibes and hearty Japanese-style dishes like omurice and stews. We loved it!
• Plaza Restaurant (Tomorrowland)
  A great option for familiar Western-style meals (think: chicken nuggets, fries, pasta), with seating that’s stroller-friendly and lots of indoor space. My boys LOVE this place and we eat there every time we go to Tokyo Disneyland. The theming is so fun, and the boys love the made for the restaurant video on the big screen too.

Some top tips for eating in the park are to avoid main dining hours. If you can eat before 11am or after 2pm you’ll find the wait times and queues more manageable. Use the app for pre-booking and to check menus – this is a god send if your kids are fussy like mine, so you can check there’s something they’ll eat in your chosen restaurant before you walk across the park!

What To Pack and What To Wear

What you’ll need to pack and particularly what you’ll need to wear will depend on when you’re visiting the park. We visited in April and the weather was cool in the mornings but very warm in the afternoon, so plenty of layers were the order of the day.

It’s worth noting that Tokyo-ites go all out when they dress up for Disney – it’s the ultimate Disney fashion parade! And it’s not just the girls either. Guys in Mickey Mouse ear and fashion-forward Disney outfits are standard too, and you’ll see plenty of families in matching outfits.

Not your thing? Don’t worry, there’s no obligation to dress up! Want to embrace all things Disney fashion? This is the perfect place to do it!

Regardless of whether you’re wearing Disney-gear or not, there are some things everyone should know;

• Comfy shoes are non-negotiable. You will see Japanese women in the park in heels. I don’t know how they do it! You’ll be walking 15,000-20,000 steps a day. Give your feet whatever makes them happy!
• Always pack a sun hat. With the exception of the depth of winter, the Japanese sun can be brutal and you don’t want to get burnt.

And what should you be packing in your backpack for your Disney day (because a well prepared mum always carries her trusty backpack!):

• A powerbank. You’ll be using your phone a lot for the Disneyland app and for taking photos. Your battery won’t last the day!
• Reuseable water bottles. There are water fountains everywhere and this is a great way to save money.
• Sunscreen, sun hats, sunglasses.
• Spare clothes. Between the water rides, sticky dripping ice lollies and everything else, smaller kids will be glad of a clean t shirt.
• Bubble wands or fidget toys – I always have something to keep the boys entertained in the queues
• Ponchos – Don’t let a spot of rain ruin your day!
• Foldable picnic mat or blanket – We got a Disney one from Daiso (the Japanese equivalent of Poundland) and it was perfect for sitting on to watch the parades.

Other Mum Approved Tips

I hope I haven’t made it seem like planning a trip to Disneyland Tokyo has to be attacked with military precision. It’s an amazing place, and you’ll have so much fun even if you don’t have a plan and decide to go with the flow.

One tip I don’t want you to miss? Please take all the photos! Of their sticky faces, of the smiles and the mouths full of popcorn. Capture their eyes when they see the castele for the first time. You’ll want to remember this stuff for ver- there’s no such thing as too many photos!

Another useful tip approved by mums everywhere? Don’t spend all day in the gift shop! If your kids are anything like mine, they’re going to want everything – but we give ours a set time and a set budget to explore the shops at the end of the day.

They know they’ll get there eventually, so they don’t ask to go in after every ride (whoever invented exit via the gift shop hates mums!) It’s a great tip and it works really well.

Useful Links and My Other Disneyland Japan Posts

This isn’t the first post I’ve written about the Tokyo Disneyland Parks – My boys call them their happy place, and I can see why it’s their favourite place in the world!

• Japan With Kids – The 5 Best Snacks At Tokyo Disneyland
• The Donald Duck Quacky Duck Duck City Event At Tokyo Disneyland
• Outfit Ideas for Tokyo Disney Parks – A Practical Guide (This one is for the mums that want to look good and still run around after snotty kids!)
• Ultimate Guide to Tokyo Disney Sea – Everything You Need To Know To Hvae An Amazing Day
• Ultimate Guide to Tokyo Disneyland – Tips and Attractions

If you haven’t already done it, here’s the link to the Tokyo Disneyland app – we’d have been lost without it!

And don’t forget that Klook link for booking your tickets.
My promo code THATMUMTRAVEL5KLOOK will get you a 5% discount too.

FAQS

1. What’s the best day to visit Tokyo Disneyland in 2025?

Weekdays (Tuesday–Thursday) outside of Japanese school holidays are typically the least crowded. We always schedule our trips for mid week, but this trip one of our visit days fell on a Friday – we could definitely feel the difference in the crowd levels.

Avoid Golden Week (late April–early May) and weekends if you want shorter lines and a more relaxed pace with kids. And don’t be afraid to schedule 2 days for the park (if you have plenty of time in your schedule) so that you can take it at your own pace without any rushing.

2. Can you bring food into Tokyo Disneyland?

Officially, outside food and drinks are not allowed inside the park, but baby food and allergy-specific items are permitted. There are also picnic areas outside the gates where you can eat your own food if you want to but honestly, the food in this park is AMAZING! Well worth buying.

Having said that, we passed through security with some breakfast snacks in our bag for the boys to eat in the queue as we waited for the park to open, and there was no problem with that. So I think a few small bits and bobs would be OK.

3. Is Tokyo Disneyland good for toddlers and young kids?

Yes! Tokyo Disneyland is incredibly family-friendly, with plenty of rides, shows, and character experiences suitable for younger children. There’s also a baby center with changing tables, nursing rooms, and a microwave for baby food. I loved watching the toddlers splashing in and out of the play areas in toon town, and there are so many rides with no height limits for everyone to enjoy.

4. How can I skip the lines at Tokyo Disneyland?

The best way to reduce wait times is to:

• Arrive early (before opening). We always aim to be in the queue around 1hour-40 minutes before opening time.
• Use the official Disneyland app for ride times and show reservations – if something you want to do has a low queue time then run straight over.
• Prioritize popular rides first (like Pooh’s Hunny Hunt or Beauty and the Beast)
• Visit on a low-crowd day

OR if you can afford it, just buy a priority pass! You can buy these via the app, they’re not available for every ride but they are for the most popular ones like Beauty and the Beast, Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain etc. You need one per person (including kids) so it can be pricey, but we did this on our last trip and managed to ride every single ride on our wish list! So it was worth every penny for us.

5. Are there any ticket discounts for Tokyo Disneyland?

Yes! While Tokyo Disneyland doesn’t offer discounts on the official site, you can get up to 5% off through Klook using my promo code THATMUMTRAVEL5KLOOK. It’s a fast, reliable way to book your tickets in English and have them ready to scan at the gate. Use this link.

6. What do I need to know about the Disneyland app?

The Tokyo Disney Resort app is essential for checking wait times, booking attractions, ordering food, and viewing maps. You can even pre-load your tickets into the app so that they’re linked to it and ready to use the second you swipe into the park. Download it in advance and log in before your trip to save time at the park. The link is here.

If you have any other questions about visiting Tokyo Disneyland with kids, please drop them below and I’ll try my best to help! And if this post helped you, then please consider sharing or bookmarking it for later!

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