u/Triangulum_Copper

I went to Tokyo Disneyland yesterday and had a blast, so I figured I should share my experience while it’s all fresh in my mind. Solo trip with a regular ticket.

Forecast was sunny, but windy, with highs of 25 C with low possibility of rain in the evening. I decided not to bring a jacket with me and that was kind of a mistake (more on that later) but I think ultimately it didn’t matter. Crowd calendar was at B.

My goal was to get to the front gate 1 hour before Happy Entry started, for May 14 that was 7:45. I’m staying in the Ueno area so I took the Hibiya Line to Hatchobori Station to transfert to the Keiyo line. I ended up missing the Hibiya train and took the one 5 min later. It was super crowded and annoyingly half the riders got off one station before Hatchobori. Keiyo line was pretty calm and even had seats open. If using Hatchobori station make sur you exit the Hibiya Line gate on the right side otherwise you have to get top side to reach the Keiyo line. There are signs.

Ultimately I made it 5 minutes later than anticipated but it was fine, I had about only a dozen groups ahead of me in line. I like that you go through security before lining up for the gate, unlike DisneySea where I feel it gums up the entry. Weather was pretty easy to enjoy.

Got past the gate at like… 9:05. I hoofed it to the Haunted Mansion and bungled getting a 40th annoversary pass for Pooh. I don’t know how it happened or if I accidentally erased it by getting a Monsters Inc one later but I only realized my mistake when the pass had run out (and I only saw them again while I wasn’t allowed to get them, booh). Anyway, got on Haunted Mansion pretty easily, as I got there ai joined the group waiting for the Stretching Room.

Got out and had to update my credit card info to buy a DPA for Beauty and the Beasts, got a 3:10 one but earlier ones were still available. Met the Cheshire Cat by the exit of the Mansion and even got a picture with him! Awesome!

Thinking I had my Pooh pass my next goal was Roger Rabbit but I walked on to It’s a Groot Small World on the way since it was a 5 minutes wait. Adorable and I enjoyed trying to spot all the Disney and Marvel characters in the scenes! Got to Toontown and the queue was supposed to be 20 minutes but really it was more like 15.

A full hour and three rides down I felt peckish and I was planning to buy the souvenir cup from the Queen of Hearts Banquet hall so I figured I could get something simple and I ended up getting the flank steak which was probably stupid because I had a reservation to the Crystal Palace. I should have just gotten the minestrone. Anyway it was tasty and I have a souvenir for a friend. After realizing my mistake with Pooh and those passes being unavailable I got an Anniversary Pass for Monsters Inc, return time 4:15.

After that I walked by Splash Mountain, saw Pluto and the raccoon from Pocahontas, and then I figures I’d burn some of those new calories with the explorer canoes! Weather wasn’t at max heat yet and wait times were at 5 min. It was fun but the lady sat in front of me kept messing up my rhythm!

I had an hour left before my reservation so I went to Country Bear Jamboree, pretty empty, did some more minor shopping, stupidly got the Vaneloppe event Mango-Apple and Milk Swirl sundae (delicious though), walked by Jiminy Cricket and Pinocchio by the Home Goods store and finally I was ready for lunch.

Crystal Palace is a buffet restaurant and I kinda ate too much. Roast beef was good, the swordfish was good, karaage is hard to mess up, the black pastas with shrimp were good, the fried shrimp with tartar sauce were excellent, the curry rice gratin was great, and the best dessert were the Olaf mochi with lemon filling. I regretted getting the chocolate cake instead of more Olaf mochi. There was no mid day parade that day which sucks because I had a window seat and I could have watched that from there. I got the special drink and it was fine. I don’t think it’s essential.

It was almost 2 pm when I got off and had time to go before my 3:10 time at Beauty and the Beast. I went through World Bazaar to the Tomorrowland Side and walked on Star Tour! Always at 5 min wait. I had a BLAST so I went back in right away! Then I took the long walk around (because of Space Mountain construction) to head towards Beauty and the Beast. I sorta walked around that general area for 20 minutes.

Beauty and the Beast is an amazing ride and I have to say the videos do NOT do the ride justice. They’re clearly using stabilizing gear because the ride vehicles are way more dynamic than you’d think! Good spins, elegant dancing, all smooth movements. It was worth the 2000 ¥!

At this point it was roughly 3:30 and I figured I’d get a Fantasy Land dark ride in before heading BACK to the corner of the park with Monsters Inc. i really should have done those instead of Star Tour, not really efficient here on my part. Oops. Anyway, Snow White was at 20 minutes and this is the infamous ‘scary’ Snow White ride that’s basically unchanged since the 80’s. While in line I saw a bunch of characters come out: Cinderella, Prince Charming, two mouse girls, Wendy, Peter Pan, Alice and the Mad Hatter! Snow White was fun but we got stalled where the witch gives you the apple and later under the boulder by the ending! I got to take a Picture of Alice leaving (also realized Rapunzel was also there!) by the time I left.

Monsters Inc was a LOT of fun. It was great to look around all the mad cap scenes to find the hidden helmets! It went by SO fast! I had been told the seats were tight but I was comfortable enough. It think it was less of an issue than Journey at Disney Sea.

I did two more Star Tour rides and got some alien mochi at Pan Galactic Pizza Port. Also watched parts of the animatronic show on the second floor! Highly recommended.

By then the sun was dipping and it got really chilly. I regretted not bringing a jacket. Pooh was down to 50 minutes wait and decided to hunker down and do it! Turns out I only waited like 30 minutes to reach the boarding area. I was out of there in 40 minutes. Really charming ride… but we got stalled in the ‘Pooh trips out’ room and were stick starring at stars for like 2 minutes.

It was about 7 pm, the parade time was approaching, but it was getting cold and I was getting tired. I did some shopping and headed for the last ride I had on my bucket list: Jungle Cruise at night! It was a fun experience with twinkling stars, atmospheric lighting menacing glowing eyes in the jungle, the Skipper using a spotlight. The temple scene is cool.

In the end I would have liked to do the Western River Railroad and Big Thunder Mountain but I was beat and it probably would have been freezing. I also could have done the Tiki Room but I wanted to go home.

But not before grabbing a Creme Brulée churro at Parkside Wagon! Totally worth it was a short wait and super delicious. I caught some glimpses of the night parade and did some last minute shopping before heading out. Exiting before the end of the parade made for an easy ride on the Keiyo line.

I’m sore but I had a BLAST and did everything I really wanted to short of Big Thunder (and Pirate because it’s in refurb).