A magical and accessible day at Tokyo Disneyland!
- rigbyflynn02
- 2 days ago
- 7 min read
I recently visited the amazing Tokyo Disneyland with my family. I had an awesome day and we all really enjoyed the experience of going to the most magical place on Earth.
We stayed about 10 kilometres from Tokyo Disneyland in Urayasu-ekimae at the Bay Hotel and caught the local bus there. The bus stop was very close to our hotel so it only took a few minutes to walk to the bus stop and it was easy to find. The bus was on time and very clean and safe. There weren't many people on the bus so we could sit wherever we wanted.
The bus dropped us very close to the main entrance of Tokyo Disneyland and it only took about 10 minutes to walk there. There were lots of signs and we walked along the nice, flat footpath.
Disneyland opens at 9am but we arrived there around 11am so it wouldn't be so crowded. We didn’t have to queue for long because lots of people had already gone in. Once we got to the entrance we showed our tickets to the people on the gate and got in very quickly. We organised our tickets before leaving Australia and purchased them online through the app. Because I have a disability, I was able to get a discounted ticket, and my mum also got a discounted ticket so she could help me if needed. We brought a letter from our doctor in Australia explaining my disability and confirming that I require support from a carer. There is plenty of information on the Tokyo Disneyland website about the different ticket options, and my mum also emailed them before our trip to check out what we needed to do.
It was a really hot day when we were there, around 38 degrees, but it was lucky there were lots of shops, cafes and indoor rides we could go in that had air-conditioning so we could keep cool. It was so hot they even cancelled the daytime parade because they said it was too hot for the performers.
The first ride we went on was the Jungle Cruise, Wildlife Expeditions. It was great that the walkway where we lined up was covered so we could stand in the shade and it only took about 10 minutes to get to the front of the queue.
The ride has lots of boats that take people around the river and staff were there to help you on and off the boats if you needed any help.
The boat was shaded by a roof so that was good and it went nice and slow. We saw lots of cool stuff, like elephants and other jungle animal statues as we went around the river. Some animals squirted water at us. The ride goes for about 10 minutes and it was fun.
There were lots of seats around Tokyo Disneyland to sit on if you needed a rest and even though there were a lot of people there it was easy to find quiet spots to rest in the shade and away from the crowds. We sat down while we waited for my sister and Dad to go on some rides.
I liked looking around Tokyo Disneyland and I really liked Cinderella's Castle. It was fun when we went inside it.
There were nice murals and windows and it was air-conditioned too so it was good to cool off. There was a lift to go to the top floors.
We got to sit on the special royal throne.
Another great ride we did was It’s a Small World. Even though there were a lot of people going on it we only had to wait about 15 minutes in the line before we got on a boat because the lines moved very fast. It was air-conditioned in the building so we got to cool off while we were in there.
The boats go around nice and slowly and it was easy to get on and off.
The displays were very colourful and pretty and it was nice and cool inside. There were displays from lots of different countries in the world and lovely music.
We also went on the Castle carousel which was a very big Merry-go-round and was very awesome.
For lunch we went into a very big air-conditioned restaurant called Tomorrowland Terrace. We had burgers and chips and drinks. It was very crowded and we couldn’t find a table at first but then some people left so we sat down and stayed in there for about an hour to cool off. The food was good and we felt better after we ate and had a rest.
After lunch we went exploring around the park and saw some other characters.
I really liked going on Gadget's Go Coaster. It was a bit fast but fun and it reminded me of one of my favourite rides in Australia.
We also went on the Mark Twain Riverboat and it was very relaxing.
During the afternoon we went out of Disneyland and caught the monorail for a lap around the whole area. It went past Disneyland and Disneysea. I love going on monorails so it was really fun and it's free. I really enjoyed seeing Disneysea and maybe next time we visit Tokyo we will go there.
The monorail had cool Mickey Mouse windows and handrails. There weren’t many people on it so it wasn’t crowded.
After we went on the monorail we went back into Tokyo Disneyland and kept exploring. One things we all loved was seeing so many tourists who were visiting Disneyland dressed up in costumes as Disney characters. It was awesome to see how great they looked.
When it got dark it was so beautiful to see the castle with all the pretty lights on it. The Tokyo Disneyland Electrical parade Dreamlights and the Reach for the stars: Everlasting Dreams show at night were really great to watch. We loved the Disney music and the fireworks were amazing! It is easy to find somewhere to sit and relax while you watch because you can see it from lots of different places.
I really loved having this Mickey ice cream.
At the end of the night we left and left through the exit shop. There were heaps of Mickey and Minnie ears for sale. We caught the bus from the same place it dropped us off and went back to our hotel. The bus was very busy at the end of the night so we had to stand up for part of the way.
I really loved going to Tokyo Disneyland and hope I can visit again one day.
Tips from my travelling companion -
Visiting Tokyo Disneyland was a truly magical and memorable experience for our family. Flynn thoroughly enjoyed the day, and despite the large crowds, we felt relaxed and comfortable throughout most of our visit.
Although the weather was extremely hot on the day we attended, there were plenty of air-conditioned shops, restaurants, and attractions where we could cool down and take breaks as needed. This made the conditions much more manageable and contributed positively to our overall experience.
Upon arrival, the staff were welcoming, friendly, and efficient, making the entry process straightforward. We presented a letter from our Australian doctor outlining Flynn’s disability and his requirement for a carer. This enabled us to access the disability ticket program, allowing both Flynn and his carer to purchase discounted tickets.
Prior to our visit, I researched the various ticket options available and contacted Tokyo Disneyland directly via email to clarify the process. Their response was prompt, informative, and helpful, providing clear guidance on the steps we needed to take. We subsequently purchased two 1-Day Passports for Guests with Disabilities through the official app.
To avoid the busiest entry period, we deliberately arrived approximately two hours after the park opened. This proved to be an excellent decision, as it allowed us to avoid long queues at the entrance and travel on public transport after the morning peak period had ended.
Prior to visiting I suggest checking out the 'Barrier free' tab on the website which lists lots of information about the park's accessibility policies and practices. There is an information book to download in both Japanese and English, and it outlines how people with various disabilities can enjoy their visit. You purchase tickets via the Tokyo Disney Resort App, which is also essential during your visit as it has lots of information such as ride wait times, a park map, food and restaurant information and more.
Throughout the day, there were numerous staff members available across the park to provide assistance when required. Each attraction was well staffed, and team members were consistently patient, professional, and respectful in their interactions with Flynn and our family. We felt well supported and accommodated throughout our visit.
The rides Flynn chose to go on had relatively short wait times, so we did not use the Disability Access Service (DAS). This service is available to guests who have purchased a 1-Day Passport for Guests with Disabilities and allows the guest with a disability, along with their party, to wait outside the regular queue until it is their turn to board the ride.
For guests who have difficulty waiting in line but do not have documentation of a disability or have not purchased a special ticket, there is another option called the Separate Wait Service. With this service, the guest who finds it difficult to wait in the queue, along with one carer, can wait in a designated area instead of the queue. They can then rejoin the rest of their party when the group reaches the front of the line. The website advises guests who require assistance with either of these services to speak with a Cast Member.
The park itself was impeccably maintained, with exceptionally clean facilities and a very high standard of presentation. The toilets were very clean and there were many of them to use, including those for wheelchair users and families.
I searched the website for any Social Stories or videos that could share what the park was like and what to expect from our visit, as these are often very useful for Flynn to watch before visiting new places, but I couldn't find any. Instead we watched many YouTube videos we found made by past visitors, especially those with disabilities and these gave us a good indication of what to expect and also some useful tips.
Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed both our day and evening at Tokyo Disneyland and would highly recommend it to anyone visiting Tokyo. We observed many other guests with disabilities appearing to enjoy the park, which reinforced our impression that Tokyo Disneyland is committed to creating an inclusive and accessible experience for all visitors.
Written by Flynn's mum, Jenni