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Trying to book a stay at Tokyo Disney Resort is unlike booking one at the US Parks. The timings are different, the number of nights you can stay for is different, and it’s also not easy to do it through a third party, so you probably have to work it all out on your own. This is why I’ve written this – it gives you all the important points you need to know if you’re considering booking a stay at Tokyo Disney Resort in one handy article.
Article by Helen Foster. Disclosure: Some links in this post are affiliate links. See our Affiliate Disclosure.
Explaining The Hotels
1. Know Your Choices
There are currently seven official hotels run by Disney in and around Tokyo Disney Resort. They each have different themes – and price points – they are …
Luxury: Tokyo DisneySea Fantasy Springs Hotel Grand Chateau
Deluxe: Disneyland Hotel, Disney Ambassador Hotel, Tokyo DisneySea Miracosta Hotel and Tokyo DisneySea Fantasy Springs Hotel Fantasy Chateau
Moderate: Toy Story Hotel
Value: Celebration Hotel.
Alongside these are the so-called monorail hotels. These aren’t run by Disney and don’t have the same perks, but they are near the monorail, which makes for easy access to the parks. They include the Grand Nikko Tokyo Bay Maihama and the Hilton Tokyo Bay. I’m not going to focus on these in this post; I’m just talking about the actual Disney hotels, but, as you’ll see, it’s important to know about these other hotels, as they can be your safety net.
2. Hotel Locations
Most official Disney Hotels are within an easy walk or, monorail ride to the parks, but where are they exactly?
Disneyland Hotel. Located opposite the Disneyland front gate or two monorail stops away from Tokyo DisneySea.
Disney Ambassador: Not near its own monorail stop, this is a 12-minute walk to DisneySea and a 17-minute walk to Disneyland. It does have a regular shuttle bus.
Toy Story Hotel: Located opposite the Bayside Monorail Station, this is three stops to Disneyland (but just one stop on the way back as the monorail only goes one way) or one stop to Tokyo DisneySea (three on the way home).
DisneySea Miracosta: Right at the entrance to DisneySea, some rooms overlook the park. Or it’s two monorail stops to Disneyland.
Fantasy Springs Hotels: Joined to the Fantasy Springs Area of DisneySea. Or you can use the Bayside Monorail station to go three stops on the monorail to Disneyland (it’s just one on the way back). The Fantasy Springs Hotel is split into two offerings, the Grand Chateau and Fantasy Chateau, but ostensibly, they are in the same location.
Celebration Hotel: This is the outlier. It’s Tokyo Disney’s value resort, and one reason is that it’s located off-site, about a 20-minute shuttle bus ride away from the parks.
Booking a Tokyo Disney Hotel
You book all the hotels via the Tokyo Disney Resort website, and timing is important here as the cheaper rooms and popular hotels sell out quickly. Here’s what you need to know.
3. There are Two Ways to Stay at a Disney Hotel
You can book a room-only booking or a Vacation Package that bundles your room, park tickets, some skip-the-line passes, and other benefits together.
Vacation packages are more expensive than room-only bookings plus tickets but can be easier to book.
We explain the exact ins and outs of the packages in this post, so we won’t cover those here, but if you’re considering one, take a look at that post next.
4. You Can’t Book Before Five Months Out
I know you want to get things sewn up early, but, nope, Tokyo Disney Resort does not open their bookings for hotel stays until at least five months before the month of your stay. Here’s what happens when.
Vacation Package Bookings
These go on sale at the beginning of the month, five months before the month you want to stay. So, let’s say you want to stay on November 17th – that will go on sale, at the beginning of June. The exact date of release varies, but they announce it on this page of the TDR website. Bookings open at 11am.
Hotel Only Stays
These open four months before the date of your stay. So, if you want to stay on November 17th, you can book it on June 17th from 11 a.m. Japanese time. Hotel stays book up faster than Vacation Packages, so most people try to book as soon as they go on sale – this can cause a bit of a jam on the website.
If you’re having trouble keeping all the dates in the Disney process straight, head to our step-by-step guide to booking your Tokyo Disney visit which spells it out month-by-month.
5. You Can’t Stay for a Week
Well, you can, but you can’t book it all in one go. The Tokyo Disney Vacation Packages are sold for one or two nights, while the maximum number of consecutive nights you can book room-only in a Tokyo Disney hotel is five.
6. Book For The Right Number of People
Japanese hotels need to know how many people are staying, and the Disney package prices change depending on the number of people staying, so you have to tell them upfront. You can’t just book a room that sleeps three and squish an extra child in.
7. Check the Bed Sharing Rules
When you’re booking with children, you’ll be asked their age. If they are 12 or older, they must have their own bed, but for children 11 and under, you can opt for them to share a bed with you or their sibling—the exact rules as to how many guests can share a bed in one room depends on the bed type.
It’s best to check this page so you know how beds in the room type you’re after are classified before you start the booking process so you can select the right number from the get-go.
Also, look carefully at the bed sizes before committing to sharing; they might be smaller than you’re used to.
If you need a crib, you can rent it, but let them know ASAP after you’ve booked to ensure one is available.
8. Consider a Back-Up Plan
Because demand can outstrip supply, most people will book one of those monorail hotels I spoke about at a refundable rate for their dates and cancel it if they snag a Disney hotel. The monorail hotels open bookings 12 months in advance.
9. Don’t Give Up
People do cancel and, you will randomly find rooms released. Don’t assume that just because there didn’t seem to be any availability when you first tried that you’ll never get in. Just keep looking.
The speedy way to check for room-only availability is to check the room rate calendar. Here, you can search by hotel name and look over a month to see at a glance if any rooms are free and the starting price.
Packages aren’t as simple; you have to put in a date for those, but it will show all available hotels and starting prices.
Explaining Happy Entry
Other than the benefit of being close to the parks and Disney theming that immerses you in the Disney magic immediately, the official Disney Hotels have a few additional perks, and possibly the most important of these is Happy Entry, so let’s explain that…
10. What is Happy Entry?
Happy Entry allows guests of the official Disney Hotels to enter Disneyland or DisneySea 15 minutes earlier than the general public. This helps you get to the most popular rides ahead of the pack or to try and book skip-the-line passes to them or the Fantasy Springs area first.
If you don’t yet know about the different line-skipping systems at the Tokyo Disney parks, read our guide to them after this, as they can help you get the most out of your stay.
11. Know Which Park Your Hotel Covers
The Deluxe hotels used to include Happy Entry access to both parks, but the opening of Fantasy Springs has changed that.
Right now, only guests at the Fantasy Springs Hotel and, Miracosta Hotel get early entry to DisneySea.
Guests at the Disneyland Hotel, Disney Ambassador, Toy Story and Celebration Hotel only get access to Disneyland.
12. You Don’t Get Happy Entry on Your Check-in Day
Self explanatory that one.
13. Look for Blackout Dates
In addition to the above rules, Disney sometimes blocks out dates when Happy Entry isn’t available. They announce these about three months in advance, so keep an eye on them.
If you’re paying extra for a Disney hotel, especially for Happy Entry, and it ends up being a blackout date, you might want to rethink. You’ll find the blackout dates here.
14. Check the Opening Time
Unlike the US parks, Tokyo Disney does not always open at the official opening time. It might say it opens at 9am, but if you rock up wearing your ears at 8.45am ready for Happy Entry, you’ll potentially find a park full of people. Tokyo Disney can open up to an hour early on busy days.
The daily entry pass you’re given for Happy Entry should give you a heads-up as to the next day’s opening time – if you’re unsure, make sure you ask what time you should arrive.
Buying Park Tickets as a Hotel Guest
Another perk of staying at the Disney Hotel is the ability to buy tickets for the park on-site, and these tickets guarantee entry even if the park is otherwise sold out (although I’m not sure why you would want to go on a day that’s that busy!).
15. Tickets You Can Buy at the Hotel
Right now, the only tickets you can buy at the hotels are the One-Day Passport and the One-Day Passport for guests with disabilities. The evening passport is not listed as being available at the hotels.
Fantasy Springs hotel guests can also buy the One Day Fantasy Springs Magic Ticket, which gives them access to unlimited rides at Fantasy Springs.
16. Benefits of Buying at the Hotel
I admit, I didn’t understand the benefit of this over just buying them from the app or a third party like Klook, so, I asked in my Disney Facebook group why people liked this perk, and they told me that it allowed a little more flexibility, especially if you have three days and won’t know in which park to spend your third day until you’re there.
It’s also good if the Disney app won’t take your credit card (see more about this in our guide to buying park tickets)
Need Extra Planning Help?
Our Japan trip planners can help. Choose from our 62-page Japan Super Planner, which includes tips on everything from picking hotels to sightseeing. Or, try a specific planner like Tokyo Tips, Kyoto Tips, or the Rail Pass Planner. Find them in our Planners store – printable and digital versions are available.
Dining Reservations as a Hotel Guest
Another perk of staying in a Disney hotel is being able to make these a little earlier than the general public, but exactly how they work varies.
17. Dining in the Hotels
Staying at a Disney hotel can allow you to make dining reservations in the hotels earlier than non-Disney guests, but to take full advantage, you have to book your hotel directly through the Disney website. Then, you can make reservations for restaurants in the hotels as soon as your booking is confirmed.
If you book through a third party, this is not the case. You can only book three months before the date of your visit, which is the same as guests not staying on Disney property. Chef Mickey’s is only one month prior.
Admittedly, most international tourists will book via the website as it can be hard to find a travel agent outside of Japan who deals with the official Tokyo Disney hotels or packages.
18. Dining in the Parks
Those who booked their stay directly through the Tokyo Disney website can make Priority Seating bookings for in-park restaurants from 9 a.m. Japanese time one month before the date of their stay and up to 8.59 p.m. the night before. That’s an hour’s head start over ticket only visitors.
Priority seating reservations are also available for show restaurants for those in certain room categories in the Deluxe Hotels.
Getting To The Hotels
Once you’ve secured your room at a Tokyo Disney Hotel, you need to get there – so, here’s the quick guide to that.
19. Arriving from Haneda Airport
The easiest way to the hotels from Haneda is the Airport Limousine Bus which offers a door-to-door service to many of the hotels in the Disney Resort. It does only run between 8.30 am and 8.30 pm though – and has an even shorter schedule from Haneda Terminal 3 which most international flights come into.
Find more details on using the bus here.
For options for when the bus doesn’t work for your flight timings, then take a look at our guide on getting to the Disney hotels from Haneda.
20. Arriving from Narita
The answer is the same. Take the Limousine Bus if you can, which will drop you off at many of the hotels. From Narita Airport the Limousine Bus runs between 8 am and 4 pm.
Our guide to getting to Disney from Narita suggests more details and other options if you’re flying in outside of the bus hours.
21. Arriving from Tokyo
If you’re coming from another hotel in Tokyo to Tokyo Disney Resort, your options include taking the train to Maihama Station and then taking the monorail to your hotel. Buses that leave from Shinjuku are also good if you have luggage, or you can get a taxi.
Exactly which route is right for you depends on where you’re staying and the time of day—the buses, for example, tend to run ready for park opening. Google Maps is your best bet for finding the quickest, most convenient route.
If you’re going straight to the park on check-in day, you can drop your bags at the Tokyo Disney Welcome Centre near Maihama Station (see more in the luggage section below).
22. Arriving from Kyoto or Osaka
Catch the bullet train to Tokyo Station, then take the Keiyo Line to Maihama Station. From there, you can take the monorail to your hotel or drop your bags at the Welcome Centre.
23. Getting to Celebration Hotel
As mentioned, the Celebration Hotel is not located in the main resort area.
If you’re coming in from Haneda, the easiest option is to take the Airport Limousine Bus that covers the Shin Urayasu area and get off at the Bayside Hotel Area stop, a one-minute walk from the hotel.
From Narita, again you get on the Shin Urayasu bus but alight at the Matsui Garden Hotel Prana Tokyo Bay.
One benefit of the Shin Urayasu service is that it runs a bit later from both airports. Find the exact timetable and running times here.
If you’re coming from Tokyo or the bullet train to Tokyo Station, you are best to get the Keiyo Line to Shin Urayasu station and then take a taxi – or, local bus if you’re a bit more adventurous and traveling light.
See full details on getting to Celebration Hotel here.
Getting Around the Resort
The hotel descriptions above give you an idea of how close your hotel is to each park, but here are a few things you need to know about getting around the resort once you arrive.
24. The Monorail is Not Free
It costs 300 yen a journey. You can buy tickets with cash or use a transport card like Suica. If you’re staying at the resort, also look at the multi-day passes—the Two-Day pass costs 900 yen and will pay for itself if you do two return journeys a day. Longer-period passes are also available.
25. You Can Walk
If you’re used to Walt Disney World, where it’s impossible to walk around the area because the distances are huge and there are no pavements, Tokyo Disney is different.
There are plenty of walking routes, and you can walk to and from the parks or between the hotels—if your feet can bear the extra steps after a day in the park!
Dealing With Luggage
Here’s what you need to know about the logistics of moving your luggage around when staying at a Tokyo Disney hotel.
26. Use the Welcome Centre
If you have a hotel stay booked, you don’t have to go to your hotel to check in if you’d prefer to go to the parks immediately. You can pre-check in and leave your luggage at the Welcome Centre by Maihama Station. They will then deliver it to your hotel. The service is available from 7.30 am to 4 pm.
Upon check out, you can leave luggage at your hotel and go back to collect it. Or, if you want to save time, there are lockers at the station and outside the parks.
27. You Can Move Luggage Around Disney
If you’re staying at more than one hotel on Disney property, the resort will move your luggage from hotel to hotel.
28. But You Can’t Ship Luggage to Other Hotels
If you’re going to other areas of Japan after your Tokyo Disney stay, you might have heard about luggage shipping, where you send your bags ahead so you don’t have to carry them (if not, read about it here – it’s fantastic). It’s important to note that the Tokyo Disney hotels do not offer luggage shipping.
The monorail hotels offer the service, though, so you could ask if they can arrange it. I know I saw a desk at the Hilton Tokyo Bay.
29. You Can’t Ship Packages to Your Room
I used to love doing this when I was staying at WDW – although it did mean I bought way too many large Eeyores, Tokyo Disney does not offer the same service though. You can’t get park purchases shipped to your room.
Other Bits and Bobs
If you’ve still got some questions, hopefully this last section will answer them.
30. Some Hotels Have Laundries
If you’re trying to pack light, there are laundry facilities at Disneyland Hotel, Toy Story Hotel and Celebration Hotel.
31. Three Hotels Have Pools
These are Disneyland Hotel, Disney Ambassador and Miracosta. The pool is only open to guests of the respective hotel and may charge a fee.
32. There’s No Smoking in Bedrooms
All rooms are non-smoking, but there are smoking areas in each hotel.
33. Accessible Rooms are Available
Every hotel has at least one category with accessible rooms. Find full details here.
34. You Can Visit Most Other Hotels (But Not All)
Most of the Disney hotels are open to non-guests. The two exceptions are Toy Story Hotel and Fantasy Springs Hotel. These don’t even currently allow non-guests in to dine.
Wandering around the other hotels is also a fun thing to do if you’re not having a park day. Of course, you can’t use areas like the pool, but you can also look at the theming, wander around the shops, and dine in other restaurants. Remember, the popular ones, like Chef Mickey, will need reservations.
35. What’s Around the Hotels?
If you decide not to stay in your Disney hotel all the time, there are not many local options around the resort itself. However, you can visit the nearby Ikspiari centre, which is full of shops and restaurants. It’s open from 10am to 10.30pm, although check individual opening hours as not everything stays open that late.
36. Other Hotels Are Available
As I said, there is a cluster of hotels on the monorail that make up part of Tokyo Disney Resort, but if you’re on a budget, many other hotels in the surrounding area work for a Disney trip at slightly cheaper prices.
I stayed at the Mystays Maihama on my last trip, which is within walking distance of DisneySea and a short shuttle bus ride (or public bus and walk/monorail ride) to Disneyland. It was a LOT cheaper than a Disney hotel (and had a view of the fireworks).
There are also a lot of very convenient hotels around Shin Urayasu station. Most of these have shuttle buses, but you can also use public transport like trains or buses to get to the resort. I’ve got a list of nearby hotels with shuttle buses (and their timetables) here.
I think that’s a wrap. If there is anything I missed, though, head over to my Japan theme parks Facebook group and ask.
