It's time to wrap up our articles on the hapiest place in Japan, Tokyo Disney Resort. Today we'll give you the low down on the entire resort. The hotels, Shopping and dining outside the themeparks.
Tokyo Disney Resort's biggest draws are obviously the theme parks, Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea, as well as the other entertainment section, Ikspiari, which is modeled off other Disney resorts around the world and their Downtown Disney shopping, dining and entertainment district. It also has the Bon Voyage! complex, which is the official Disney merchandise location of Tokyo Disney Resort.
As is the norm with Disney resorts worldwide, Tokyo Disney Resort includes several Disney-branded hotels; The Disney Ambassador Hotel, The Tokyo DisneySea Hotel MiraCosta and the latest addition The Tokyo Disneyland Hotel. Around the edges of the resort are 6 non-Disney partner hotels, for example, the Sheraton Grande, and the Hilton, among others. These all have access to the Tokyo Disney Resort Monorail Line which circles the resort and stops at all parks and shopping areas.
Let's start with having a look at the best place to place your head at the end of a magical day at the parks.
There are two categories of hotels out at the resort. Disney Hotels and Tokyo Disney Resort partner hotels. Let’s have a closer look at them and the privileges each category give you as a guest.
Staying in a Disney hotel gives you the following privileges as a guest:
- Early entry to Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea
- Purchase park tickets at the hotel with everyday park hopping privileges
- Free delivery of any purchases at any shop in the parks, hotels and Ikspiari
- Complimentary monorail passes for the length of your stay
- Bag delivery services from JR Maihama Station
- Park view rooms
- Themed rooms
Staying at a Tokyo Disney Resort partner hotel gives you the following privileges as a guest
- Disney themed busses to the Bayside monorail station
- Close proximity to park entrances
- Park view rooms
- Themed rooms
- Bag delivery services from JR Maihama Station
- Purchase your park tickets in the hotel
The best hotels, if you can get a room and afford it, are the beautiful Disney hotels. With individual themes, they take you to exotic locales around the world or back in time. If you're looking for the full Disney experience, 24/7, then these are the hotels for you.
Lets look at each one now
The Disney Ambassador Hotel, which opened in 2000, was the first Disney hotel built on-site. It is located next to Ikspiari, and has a timeless art-deco theme, which is reminiscent of the golden years of Hollywood. The hotel has many room types, ranging from Standard, to family rooms, and suites. More recently, the hotel has introduced character rooms decorated to Mickey and the gang.
The hotel features an impressive 5 restaurants and lounges. From the popular Chef Mickey restaurant, for your character dining; to the refined Japanese Restaurant Hana, the Ambassador hotel has a restaurant for every style of dining. Be sure to check out the Tick Tok Diner to see the beautiful recreation of a classic fifties diner.
If you're staying during the warmer months, you must take dip in their spectacular Palm Garden pool! It looks like it was taken straight out of a glamorous 1950's mansion in Hollywood, complete with several pearl white dolphin fountains, and it really does feel like you've travelled back to the golden age of Hollywood.
The hotel also has two shops for souvenirs and groceries, located close by the lobby.
Tokyo DisneySea Hotel MiraCosta is a beautiful hotel, which was opened in 2001, coinciding with the park it sits in, Tokyo DisneySea. It has the distinct title of being the only Disney hotel in the world to be completely placed within in a theme park. The hotel sits over, and serves as the entrance to Tokyo DisneySea. The hotel is themed after the ports of Portofino and Venice, Italy. This hotel is richly detailed, and one of the most breathtaking hotels you will ever visit. Many of the rooms overlook Mediterranean Harbor inside the park, which allows you to watch the spectacular daytime and night-time shows from your room, you can even have the show's music piped in via your in-room televisions.
This hotel has one special touch that none of the others have: It's own private entrance into Tokyo Disney Sea; you can take the lift down from your room, scan your ticket and be right in the middle of Mediterranean Harbour in minutes.
The entrance to the hotel has a majestic, ocean themed, Italian marble fountain, which sets the tone of this decadent hotel. With the Italian waterfront theme throughout the hotel, you will find amazing original works of art throughout its hallways and even some inside your room as well.
The hotel houses three restaurants and lounges, the signature restaurant is Oceano which has a phenomenal buffet and contemporary Italian feel. The intimate Silk Road Garden restaurant has fine Chinese dining, and the Bellavista lounge overlooks Mediterranean Harbour in the park, and is perfect for afternoon tea while watching the Legend of Mythica , or for a nightcap while admiring Fantasmic! , all performing for you from the park below.
Hotel MiraCosta boasts two Italian pools: an all year indoor pool, called the Terme Veniza made from the finest italian marble with jacuzzi and sauna, and a summer-only outdoor pool with a charming garden, where you can hear the sounds of the canals in Mediterranean Harbour. Keep a close eye at some of the statues in the gardens, as they do seem to have a distinct Disney feel to them.
The hotel also has two shops for hotel-exclusive souvenirs and groceries, conveniently located close by to the lobby.
Tokyo Disneyland Hotel is the third Disney hotel on site, and is also the most recently opened of the collection, as it was opened as part of Tokyo Disneyland’s 25th Anniversary celebration. This gorgeous Victorian themed hotel sits adjacent to the entrance to Tokyo Disneyland Park. The hotel offers views overlooking the entire resort, and Tokyo Disneyland in particular, with subtle character touches throughout the hotel. The hotel is also the largest hotel on property, containing around 700 guest rooms.
Driving up to the valet, you'll notice the sheer size of this palace-like hotel, with it's gold leaf colour scheme, and the not-to-be-missed Sorcerers Apprentice fountain feature, which is complete with broomsticks holding buckets, just opposite the entrance. Once you enter the hotel, get ready to pick up your jaw, once you've seen the amazing 30 metre tall lobby, complete with two Victorian glass chandeliers hanging above, and the glass elevator. We've personally spent countless hours marvelling at the sheer beauty of the hotel, and guarantee that you could spend hours here just exploring the detail of the building.
The hotel contains three restaurants and lounges; the main restaurant is Sherwood Garden, which has a lovely enchanted forest feel about it. It is the signature buffet at the hotel, with beautiful views of the hotels' gardens and wedding pavilion. Canna is an intimate contemporary restaurant offering haute cuisine, with western Asian fusion plates on the menu. Finally, we have the Dreamers lounge, which is just off the lobby. Beverages and light meals are served in this Victorian lounge that overlooks the back entrance to the hotel, and the Tokyo Disneyland Monorail Station.
The hotels pool is only open in the summer months, and is themed to the classic Walt Disney film, Peter Pan, and is complete with pirate ships and fairies, it's a beautiful pool for every child, and the children at heart are sure to enjoy it as well.
The hotel also has two shops for souvenirs and groceries. Unique to this hotel is the Bibbity Bobbidi Boutique. This wonderland is a salon that will transform young girls into their favourite Disney princesses, with their own fairy godmothers and full costumes. Also at the hotel is the Magical Memories Photo Studio, where you can get some professional photos done while at the resort.
The partner hotels are all on the outlines of the resort, with views of the parks as well as Tokyo Bay. Japlanning recommend the Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay, as they have excellent, attentive staff who all speak fantastic English. If you know your dates far enough out, you can get fantastic rates for this 5-star hotel.
Here are the full list of partner hotels with links to their websites-
- Sunroute Plaza Tokyo
- Tokyo Bay Maihama Hotel
- Tokyo Bay Maihama Hotel Club Resort
- Hilton Tokyo Bay
- Hotel Okura Tokyo Bay
- Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay Hotel
(All partner hotels have access to the entire resort via dedicated hotel buses and the Tokyo Disney Resort Line Monorail)
This is a question many will ask themselves when planning some Tokyo Disney Resort days whilst staying in Japan. To get to the resort from Tokyo can take around 45 minutes to an hour from most tourist locations, also requiring a change to the Keiyo train line at Tokyo station, in order to head out to the resorts' station, Maihama.
Japlanning would recommend staying out at Tokyo Disney Resort, either at one of the beautiful Disney Hotels, or one of the partner hotels. Cutting your travel time will maximise your time in the park, and allow you to make sure you're well rested overnight before heading back the next day!
Generally speaking, you should be lining up at the park’s entrance about an hour before it’s opening. Yes, we know, it sounds crazy, but you will get the most out of your day doing this, we promise. Now, If the park opens at 8.30am, you should be in line by 7.30am, if you’re staying in Shinjuku, you will need to be up by 6am at the latest, and on a train by 6.30am. Then, should you stay at the park until closing time at 10pm, only to get on a series of packed trains, you might only be getting back to your hotel at 11-11.30pm, at which point, you'll probably CRASH in bed for a few hours, only to the\n do it all again the next day (Yes, we're assuming you're doing multiple days as you will need to to experience it all!)
When you staying on-site, you could get up at 7am, and still be at the entrance by 7.30am. Hitting your bed by 10.15pm that night. The choice is yours, but we know which one we'll be going with!
Besides the amazing shopping in the theme parks and hotels, Tokyo Disney Resort have two major shopping areas filled with unique restaurants, souvenir shops and entertainment to keep you happy while you take a break from the parks.
Ikspiari is the resorts' answer to the Downtown Disney district found at many other Disney resorts around the world. Also located just outside Maihama station is Bon Voyage, the largest shop in the resort, with all the souvenirs you need to remember your visit, and where you can get those last minute things you forgot before getting on the train back to Tokyo.
Lets take a quick look at them now
The resort's Downtown Disney shopping and entertainment district, Ikspiari, spans several floors filled with shopping, dining, and entertainment venues, like a 16-screen cinema complex, rainforest café, full food court and supermarket. Ikspiari is open daily from 10am till 11pm.
Being Tokyo Disney Resort, there is naturally a massive Disney Store inside, and a Disney Vacation Club showroom. Be sure to check out the Disney Store, this isn’t like one at home, as all merchandise is exclusive to Disney Stores in Japan only.
For a full list of the many shops and dining options check out their offical site here.
Bon Voyage is a massive Tokyo Disney Resort shop, located just steps from Maihama Station, and doesn’t require park admission to enter. While Ikspiari's Disney Store carries many products that you may see at other Disney Stores around Japan, here you will find merchandise that is exclusive to the resort and inside the parks. Bon Voyage is great for picking up that last souvenir before leaving.
On the ground floor you will also find a shipping area, where they can organize home delivery of all your goods (for a price, naturally). Bon Voyage is open daily from 7.30am till 11pm.
For a full list of their services please check their offical site here.