Tokyo DisneySea is a one-of-a-kind Disney park, so naturally, I had to try it for myself during my first trip to Japan. My girlfriend and I spent a fantastic day at DisneySea, proving you only need to be a kid at heart—not a kid IRL—to have a great day at Disney!
Tokyo DisneySea is meant for a slightly older crowd than its neighbor, Disneyland Tokyo, so we didn’t feel out of place without kids in tow. I’ve been to most Disneylands around the world, and I have to say this is the best one.
In this article, I’ll rank and review the best DisneySea rides, give you a suggestion for DisneySea Itinerary and explain how Fast Passes (aka Premier Access Passes) and anniversary passes and all the other passes work (way to make things complicated, Disney!), and give you my top tips for planning your own DisneySea visit.
Ready? "To all who come to this happy place, welcome!"—Walt Disney during the dedication speech at the opening of Disneyland in Anaheim, California, on July 17, 1955.
Where else have I been in Japan? Check out the whole section.
DisneySea is like Tokyo Disneyland’s cooler, more mature sibling. It’s got the magic and the fun (and nostalgia!), but with a touch of sophistication and even history and education—my favorites! DisneySea has over 30 rides and attractions, and unless you’re attempting to see every last one of them, you can do it all comfortably in one day. Below are some of the ones that stood out to me the most.
Here is my ranking for the best DisneySea rides:
Here’s how I devised my ultra-fair and totally scientific scoring system for ranking the rides at DisneySea. Prepare for the ride of your life (pun intended)!
Scoring Guidelines:
And there you have it—the master plan for scoring DisneySea rides. Now, let’s dive into the reviews and see which ones make the magic happen.
Note: Remember, you’re in Japan, so a lot of the rides and attractions will be in Japanese, making some things, like some shows and theaters, skippable.
Note 2: Ironically, the water-themed DisneySea has just one actual water attraction (Aquatopia). Everything else is on dry land, in the sky, in magical lands, or in the center of the Earth…
Jan’s scores:
Overall 10/10
Fun 10/10
Thrill 9/10
Crowds 7–8/10
Theme 8/10
We went 3 times, that’s how good it is! Tower of Terror is one of the park's standouts, and it deserves the attention. The spooky wooden figure in the waiting area sets the tone perfectly—no spoilers, but it’s epic.
The ride itself was totally different than what we expected—that elevator drop was something else! It's like the floor vanishes beneath you when you least expect it. We're talking heart-in-your-throat, gravity-defying freefall where your screams are left hanging in mid-air. Now I know why that building is so tall!
They really should put a thrill warning on this one, there were small kids on it that seemed shaken and their parents were looking shocked at what they just took their kids on. It’s a BIG drop, guys!
We got the Premier Access Pass for JPY 1,500 and still waited about 15 minutes, but it was worth it for the surprise elements and intense dark sections. Surprisingly, though, the crowds aren’t that bad on this ride, probably because not everyone is dying to free-fall in an elevator.
After the Tower of Terror experience, I had to go get some Disney ice cream... and then went on the ride two more times!
Jan’s scores:
Overall 9/10
Fun 8/10
Thrill 7/10
Crowds 9/10
Theme 7/10
One of the newest attractions in Tokyo DisneySea is Soaring: Fantastic Flight, which opened in 2019. You can see it by the 3D waiting room, as it is a visual treat, and the ride itself takes you on a breathtaking 5-minute journey around the globe, engaging all your senses. I really liked this ride… surprise, surprise, Jan the travel guy liked a ride that takes you around the world!
Do not start your day with this one; wait until the lines die down towards the end of the day or grab a Premier Access Pass. It’s one of the busy attractions that seems to have lines the moment the park opens.
Jan’s scores:
Overall 8/10
Fun 9/10
Thrill 7/10 (Important note: If you’ve been on this ride at SeaWorld in Orlando, I'd rate it a 10/10 there)
Crowds 9/10
Theme 8/10
At 3-4 minutes, this is a solidly long high-speed adventure with Indiana Jones narrating most of the way (in Japanese). You’re trying to get away after you somehow anger the Crystal Skull spirit, is the extent I understood. Never mind, it was super fun, packed with spectacular effects throughout the ride. Again, one of the more crowded rides at DisneySea, I’d suggest using a FastPass for it.
Jan’s scores:
Overall 7/10 (Mainly for the competition—if you knew me, you would know that I have to win everything. I mean EVERYTHING. Even beating those little 5-year-olds is satisfying!)
Fun 9/10
Thrill 4/10
Crowds 10/10
Theme 9/10
I had no idea Toy Story was Disney! But I love that it is, because this ride had me feeling all the feels! It’s mainly an attraction for kids and their parents, so it’s rather meant for little Jan with his parents, but I enjoyed it no less as an adult!
Toy Story Mania is a 3D shooting attraction featuring familiar Disney characters. Once you enter through Woody’s mouth and get through the sometimes incredibly long lines (think 90 minutes of trying not to feel like your next birthday must be just around the corner), it’s quite the workout as you blast your way through the attraction in your little cart. Great nostalgia, lots of points from me!
Go here first, as this is probably the busiest attraction in the park. Or buy a Premier Access Pass or, if you have small kids, go first thing in the morning and get Fast Passes for later, because they will want to go again. If you want to go yet again, you will have to wait in 1-hour-long lines because, being in Japan, everything seems to be about equality, so money won't buy you that much! Such a shame!
On this ride, I got nostalgic for the You've Got a Friend in Me song...
Jan’s scores:
Overall 7/10
Fun 7/10
Thrill 4/10
Crowds 8/10
Theme 10/10
A solid favorite! Journey to the Center of the Earth combines the thrill of a ride that’s in the dark with intriguing creature exhibits. It’s a pretty easy ride with just one bigger drop that’ll get your heart racing slightly as you anticipate the next one that never comes. This is a great attraction to leave for midday when you need to hide from the heat a bit—the waiting area is inside a cave. Just beware, if the line is spilling outside, you’re in for a wait, even though it moves quickly once inside.
Jan’s scores:
Overall 7/10
Fun 8/10
Thrill 7/10
Crowds 5/10
Theme 5/10
Raging Spirits is the only major thrill ride with a loop at DisneySea, featuring cool fire and smoke effects as you race through some ancient ruins. I enjoyed it, it’s nothing too crazy, so it’s also suitable for younger and less daring guests. It’s just a minute and a half long, so if you spend an hour waiting in line for it, you may feel a little bitter that it’s over so fast.
It’s a good ride in terms of Disney Parks, but don’t expect a mindblowing thrill ride like they are in SeaWorld or so.
Jan’s scores:
Overall 5/10
Fun 4/10
Thrill 3/10 (7/10 for little kids)
Crowds 2/10
Theme 10/10 if you are me, or 5/10 for everyone else
I used to LOVE Aladdin, it was my favorite story ever, so even though Jasmine’s Flying Carpets is pretty kidsy, it was a must-try for me. There’s nothing much to it, you just go round and round on the magic carpet, but you control the height and can even tilt it back and forth, something my girlfriend found to be a hilarious way to make the ride more exciting.
Plus, the Arabian Coast section has one of the best restaurants I've found in our three weeks in Japan!
The Carpet Ride is a must!
Jan’s scores:
Overall 7/10
Fun 7/10
Thrill 0/10
Crowds 0/10
Theme 10/10
Again, something they made just for me: a castle that takes you through history with educational exhibits inside?! That’s an attraction I can appreciate! Though I’m still puzzled about which Disney story this represents, it’s cool to see how it transitions from Venice to medieval times. It’s literally an exploration, meaning you wander around on your own, even operating the cannons.
Plus, the DisneySea Tokyo staff here deserve medals for their endless smiling and waving. Are you guys ok? I swear, I half-expected to find secret tunnels where Goofy holds weekly "Smiling Bootcamps". It’s like, blink twice if you’re being held hostage by happiness!
Note on scoring: I put crowds at 0 because there is no line and no admittance area; therefore, you don't have to wait for anything and just go in. Usually, people go to theme parks just for the rides, but I think that in places like Disneyland and DisneySea, it's about the whole experience and taking in all the themes, too.
I really enjoyed Fortress Explorations!
Jan’s scores:
Overall 4/10
Fun 6/10
Thrill 2/10
Crowds 4/10
Theme 7/10
A silly, pseudo-3D ride with oddly uncomfortable seating that’s amusing if you’re into Nemo-like adventures. The line is pleasant, and it’s a fun detour, although you might feel like you’ve seen it before if you’ve been to Universal. It’s a classic people-pleaser attraction.
Don’t forget to check the surrounding Mysterious Island, as I considered it the best themed area in the park.
Not so special 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea ride. But once you’re there, you probably should go there
Jan’s scores:
Overall: This one is simply a ‘no’ if you can’t speak Japanese
Initially, this attraction looked like a great find: It’s located in the Undersea Observatory inside the S.S. Columbia—a real steamboat in the park! It is supposed to blend education with entertainment, and it’s Nemo-themed. So far, so good!
But the waiting can be a bit dull, and then, when you finally get there, you find it’s mainly a 3D movie theater where the turtle talks to you in Japanese. It’s a nice show, but they should warn non-Japanese speakers that they’ll just be sitting there looking at an animated turtle that is very obviously not a turtle talking to you.
Jan’s missing scores:
I won’t rate Ariel for 2 reasons: 1) it's for kids and it would not be fair because it doesn’t stand a chance objectively, and 2) Ariel is my childhood crush and I just can’t do this to her. Back in the day, I couldn’t choose between Ariel or Pocahontas! (Getting older, I am leaning toward Pocahontas)
They’re not lying when they call it a playground. This entire area is meant for little kids, it’s supposed to be “under the sea,” and it’s too kidsy for comfort if you don’t have a child.
Tip: Want more rides, more fun, more theme park action?! If you just can’t get enough, give yourself another day of entertainment at Osaka’s Universal Studios. Check out my 4-Day Kyoto – Nara – Osaka itinerary to see how we squeezed it all in.
Pro Tip: There is no need to buy tickets ahead of time. I visited in the summer peak, and I was just fine buying them 2 days upfront.
Adults: USD 58- USD 80
Junior: USD 49 – USD 66
Children (up to 11 years old): USD 35 – USD 42
As you can see, the park tickets are a great deal compared to other parts of the world or other Disney Parks. The prices mainly vary depending on whether you visit in the high season or on which day of the week you are going.
There is a huge tip: Buy only from the original website of Disney Parks. There are a lot of resellers putting their mark-up on the tickets, so you end up unknowingly paying more than you have to. For an untrained eye, it is really hard to locate the original website and catch the difference. This is the only official site for the tickets – The only original website of Tokyo DisneySea.
You can thank me later. I have no affiliation with Disney, and I am warning you just because I hate scams.
Buying DisneySea tickets is done online and is pretty straightforward. Cheap, too! A day at DisneySea costs around JPY 9,000 (USD 60), whereas Disney parks in other parts of the world charge at least USD 100. And you thought Japan was expensive!
Get recommendations on which Pass to buy from experienced DisneySea explorers! (My girlfriend and I)
But then there are the passes that are supposed to help you skip the crazy lines for rides. Ready for a headache? Some passes are free, some are timed, some you can choose, and some you get at random; you can’t have more than one at a time… or can you? Fast passes, premier passes, and other passes at DisneySea will make your head spin. You read everywhere that you need them because the lines at Tokyo DisneySea attractions are super long, but how, where, and when?? Here you go, a mini-guide to Tokyo DisneySea passes:
Ready for details? Here you go:
Premier Access Pass (a new version of the FastPass) allows you to pay to skip the line at select attractions. You can select a time of your choice through the Tokyo Disney Resort App. Prices are between JPY 1,500–2,500 (USD 10–15). You can buy one Disney Premier Access Pass per hour.
Don’t expect to walk right into the attraction even with a Premier Access Pass—we got a pass for Tower of Terror and still spent about 15 minutes standing around… not a problem though, since the waiting area is awesome! I won’t spoil it for you, but not all waits are annoying, that’s for sure.
The Standby Pass is needed for certain popular attractions, shops, restaurants, and shows, especially in the summertime, at busy times. Yes, that means that in certain months and at certain times, you can’t get in unless you have a standby pass. At other times, it will mean that you get in faster if you have one—you‘ll need to check conditions in the app for each spot. This is literally crowd control, so make sure to hop into your Tokyo Disney Resort App right after entering the park to get yourself a spot on Standby Pass rides—it is free, and you can choose your times to a degree.
There are many attractions at DisneySea. So make sure you get the right pass to the ones you really want to visit!
For summer 2024, Standby Pass rides are: Anna and Elsa’s Frozen Journey, Rapunzel's Lantern Festival, Peter Pan’s Never Land Adventure, and Fairy Tinker Bell’s Busy Buggies. Unless they changed them again—check the app! You can see ride conditions in the app whenever, but you can obtain the standby pass only after you enter the park.
If, like me, you’re planning to visit DisneySea in a day, then buckle up, buttercup, because I’ve got the ultimate strategy to keep you ahead of the hordes and in the front seats of the best rides.
Before you even set foot in the park, download the Tokyo Disney Resort App. It’s your golden ticket to all the passes and is essential for managing them. All passes are only available for purchase/booking once you’re inside the park, so you’ll want to have the app up and running the moment you are able to get your fingertips on those passes. Don’t even think about gaming the system from your hotel room. Trust me, I tried.
Do your homework and make a list of your prioritized attractions so you can go straight to those in the app once you’re in the park. See which passes are available for them and plan accordingly. Note that you get an hour-long access window with any of the passes.
If you’re not at the entrance a good chunk of time before it opens, you might as well stay in bed. I’m not kidding! The Japanese are so punctual that they are willing to get there an hour early, so you’ll get plenty of practice in standing in lines even before you get inside the park. If you don’t want to spend a fortune on Premier Access Passes and want a good chance to enjoy at least 3 attractions with reasonable crowds, getting there "on time” won’t cut it.
The Official Park opening is 9 am, and the park closes at 9 pm. I urge you to get there at 8 or you will wither away in wait times.
There’s a mad dash to the top attractions—namely Toy Story Mania, Tower of Terror, and Soaring: Fantastic Flight—the moment those gates swing open.
The dude's right
If you’re serious about skipping the lines, be prepared to channel your inner Usain Bolt. Ideally, you’ll be simultaneously running and reserving your first passes of the day.
Nab a DisneySea Premier Access Pass for Tower of Terror (costs JPY 1,500/USD 10). Walking past the sad faces in the mile-long line is worth every yen.
Book Toy Story Mania the moment you get to the park. You’re aiming to get to the ride faster than the slower folks. No pushing seniors and little kids, but teenagers are fair game. People rush to Toy Story Mania first, but it is a mistake as Tower of Terror is much closer to the entrance.
While waiting in line at your first attraction, use the app to grab your first Standby Pass and Priority Pass. If you did your homework, you’ll already have your top dogs chosen.
For Soaring: Fantastic Flight, my pro tip is to wait until later in the day when lines typically shorten. Or get the Premier Access Pass for this one. The waiting area for Journey to the Center of the Earth is shaded and inside a cave, which makes it a great place to cool down when you’re visiting DisneySea in the summer. Plan this attraction for the middle of the day when the heat is at its worst.
Rinse and repeat: You can’t have more than one pass of the same type active at once, but you can hold different types simultaneously. Think of it as a juggling act. Once 60 minutes have passed from your first Premier Access Pass purchase (or the time window of the pass has started—whichever comes sooner), you can buy your next pass. Similarly, you can get your next 40th Anniversary Priority Pass 120 minutes after your first purchase (or if the time window of the pass has started—whichever comes sooner). Standby Passes are a complicated beast—you’ll find the individual conditions of each ride in the app.
If you get a good strategy for skipping the lines in place, you'll enjoy DisneySea to the max
Practical tips for skipping the line at DisneySea:
With a good strategy, you’ll spend less time waiting and more time enjoying the magic of DisneySea. And if you see someone sprinting past you at the entrance, just know they read this guide too. Maybe you should’ve paid better attention!
Now that you have the passes strategy down, let’s move on to more DisneySea tips and FAQs:
How to get there from the capital, you ask?
If you’re going to DisneySea from central Tokyo (Tokyo Station), get a train on the JR Keiyo Line or JR Musashino Line heading towards Maihama Station, which is the gateway to the Disney resorts. Once you arrive at Maihama Station (it’ll take a maximum of 20 minutes), exit and transfer to the Disney Resort Line. This is a monorail service that circles around the Tokyo Disney Resort, including stops at Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea. It's just one stop from Maihama Station to Tokyo DisneySea Station on the Disney Resort Line.
Or, if you’re staying at the same hotel I stayed at and keep recommending in all of my Tokyo articles—Nohga Hotel Akihabara Tokyo—and are now screaming at your screen “Hey Jan! You made me stay in Akihabara and you’re giving me directions that aren’t from Akihabara?!”, this is for you: At Akihabara Station, board the JR Yamanote Line or the JR Keihin-Tohoku Line going towards Tokyo Station or Shinagawa Station. Get off at Tokyo Station and then follow the instructions above.
Or, stay closer to the park if you think that sounds like too much travel...
If you’re spending one day at Tokyo DisneySea, I don’t think it’s worth changing hotels from where you’re staying during the rest of your Tokyo visit. But if you'd really like to stay close to the park and smell the magic from your hotel window, try Urayasu Brighton Hotel Tokyo Bay. All rooms have a Disney view, and it doesn’t look like Cinderella threw up all over it. If you need a bit more fairy dust in your Disney accommodation, Grand Nikko Tokyo Bay Maihama is colorful but still tastefully done, and has a cool pool area that is straight out of a Disney story.
We stayed at Nohga Hotel Akihabara Tokyo in the Akihabara district (read about the best neighborhoods to stay in in Tokyo), and it was the perfect location to explore Tokyo from, including DisneySea. We just took public transit early in the morning to be there for the 9 am opening time.
It’s like comparing apples to oranges, or in this case, castles to harbors. Tokyo DisneySea is Disneyland’s more mature cousin, less about princesses and more about nautical adventures. If you’re a grown-up kid like me, you might lean towards DisneySea for its slightly more thrilling rides and stunning scenery, including the impressive harbors and steamboats. If you want to meet Mickey, Disneyland is where you’ll need to go.
DisneySea is also the top-rated Disney park because of its impeccable service, and that’s one thing I can appreciate. Just being compared to the American standard is really something!
For me, DisneySea is much more interesting than Disneyland
Tokyo DisneySea is the only one of its kind in the world; some even say it’s the best Disney park of all. Imagine a theme park with an actual harbor, steamboats, and themed ports like the Arabian Coast and the Venetian Village—places that caught me off guard at first, but then I remembered the theme of the park is “myths and legends of the sea,” and it made slightly more sense. It’s a place “where imagination and adventure set sail,” and trust me, they had the budget to make it happen. At USD 4 billion, it's the most expensive theme park ever built! It’s incredible, magical, and way more worth spending a day in than Tokyo itself!
Of course it is!
Absolutely, DisneySea is worth every yen (and it’s cheap, too!). If you’re on the fence, don’t be. Even if you’re not the biggest Disney fan, or you don’t have kids and think it might be a waste of your time, rest assured that Tokyo DisneySea is a spectacle worth seeing. The rides are top-notch, the food is surprisingly good for theme park fare, and the overall experience is unique. Plus, it’s a great way to spend a day in Tokyo if you want a break from the usual city hustle, which, trust me, you will. Tokyo isn’t all that, to be honest!
Yes, one day is perfect for DisneySea, but get there early so you can go straight in once the gates open. Well, not straight in, because there will be a huge crowd of you with the same strategy, but you know what I mean. You can cover all the major attractions in a day if you plan wisely—there are over 30 of them, but you’ll pick and choose your favorites and leave out ones that don’t suit you. Like if you don’t have kids or don’t speak Japanese. DisneySea hours are usually from 9 am to 9 pm, so you’ve got plenty of time. You’ll need it, too, because you’ll spend a good chunk of your day standing in the lines at attractions—you’ve read my DisneySea fastpass strategy above, right? So you’re equipped with all the tips you need to speed through as best as possible. If you’re neurotic like me, splurge on those timed entry passes to skip the lines!
You bet! And not exactly a few
Oh, does it ever! From the exhilarating Tower of Terror to the dark, mysterious tunnels of Journey to the Center of the Earth, DisneySea rides are some of the best you’ll find. There are 30+ rides and attractions at DisneySea. They’re not the most adrenaline-pumping attractions on the planet, but they aren’t meant to be. At Disney, it’s all about the magic, the nostalgia, the characters that never stop waving and smiling, the amazing sets… Even the waiting areas are entertaining (though sometimes deceptively long). What kind of a question is this anyway? What did you expect to find at a theme park?!
Despite what you might think, it’s not because of a plethora of water rides (ironically, there's just one). DisneySea is named for its ports and nautical vibes, because the theme is all about the myths and legends of the sea. It’s like stepping into different maritime worlds, from a Mediterranean Harbor and Mermaid Lagoon to an American Waterfront and Arabian Coast! It’s Disney, but with a sea-faring twist.
I think we've had more than enough of DisneySea, now it's time to travel to more destinations!
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About me
Hi, I’m Jan. I travel fast and intensely, whether I’m exploring the buzz of Tokyo in 3 days or road-tripping through mountains and beaches on a 3-week Thailand adventure. And no matter where I am, you’ll always find me in a comfortable hotel at night and eating the best food.
If that sounds like your kind of journey, hop on board, and let’s explore the world together!
I started this blog after realizing how tough it can be to find reliable, authentic travel info. You wouldn’t believe how many “travel bloggers” never even visit the places they write about! On Next Level of Travel, you can count on my full honesty and insights drawn from my firsthand experiences.
More about meHere’s the deal: not every destination is all superlatives and unicorns. I’ll let you know if a tourist attraction isn’t worth your time, like skipping overrated stops in my 2-week Spain itinerary. And when I find something truly special—like the perfect mix of culture and nature in Cape Town—you can trust that it’s worth adding to your itinerary.
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