Tokyo Disneyland & DisneySea with Toddlers: Everything You Need to Know to Plan Your Trip

Traveled in October 2025

Planning a trip to Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea with toddlers can feel absolutely daunting, especially if you’re not a seasoned Disney family. But don’t let that stop you from experiencing the magic of Tokyo Disney Resort with toddlers! Both Tokyo Disney Resort parks are full of unique rides, park atmosphere, and food that you can’t find at any other Disney in the world! Tickets are also much more affordable than in the U.S. (and free for kids 3 and under!), which makes it even more worth it. The travel math adds up.

If you’re a casual Disney fan who wants to enjoy Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea with your toddlers without stressing about FOMO, long lines, or trying to do everything in one day, this guide is for you. Here you’ll find all the research I compiled for our Disney visits during our Japan trip with our toddler. Copy my step-by-step planning process for visiting Tokyo Disneyland & DisneySea with toddlers, so you can focus on actually having fun and making memories with your toddler in the happiest place on earth.

When to Go

Photos of the lines forming outside Tokyo Disney parks hours before park opening have gone viral, so you know that the Tokyo Disney parks can get crowded. Visiting Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea with toddlers on a crowded day means long lines and cranky kids. Generally, weekends and school or public holidays are going to be the most crowded and best avoided, if possible.

We used this crowd predictor to decide which day to visit. This tool estimates how busy each park is likely to be on a given day. Since tickets aren’t sold on site, the predictions tend to be fairly accurate, especially as your visit date approaches. The website’s translation can be a bit wonky if you use Google Translate, but the basic idea is to look for days marked with white, light blue, or green squares for the lowest crowds. I’ve never actually seen a white day, so your best bet is a light blue day.

We visited Disneyland on a light blue day and DisneySea on a green day. The green day at DisneySea felt noticeably more crowded, and Disney Premier Access passes for the popular Fantasy Springs rides sold out faster. For this reason, I recommend aiming for a light blue day for DisneySea in particular.

How to Buy Tickets

Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea tickets go on sale two months in advance at 2pm Japan time. You can check availability on the official Tokyo Disney Resort website or app, which has a handy ticket calendar. Tickets aren’t sold at the park gates, so definitely purchase them ahead of time. Tickets can sell out, so if you only have certain days that you can visit (like we did), then I would recommend buying them as soon as they are available.

Only one-day passes are available, and there is no park hopper option. If you plan to visit both parks (even on the same day), you’ll need to buy separate tickets for each. However, there are late entry or weeknight tickets that are a bit cheaper if you don’t plan on spending the entire day at the park. Prices for the park tickets vary depending on the day of the week. There are no additional park reservations needed after buying the park tickets. You just use your ticket to enter on the day of your visit.

Options for purchasing Tokyo Disney park tickets before arriving in Japan:

1. Official Tokyo Disney Resort App or Website
2. Klook – best alternative if the official website does not accept your non-Japanese credit card

Options for purchasing Tokyo Disney park tickets when in Japan:

1. Convenience stores like Family Mart, 7-Eleven, or Lawson
2. The Disney Flagship store in Shinjuku
3. JTB Travel Agencies
4. Guests staying at a Disney hotel can purchase tickets at the hotel

We purchased our tickets directly through the Tokyo Disney Resort App. You’ll need the app anyway to navigate the parks, reserve Disney Premier Access (DPA) and 40th Anniversary Passes, reserve restaurants, and enter show lotteries, so it’s the most convenient option. Tickets bought on the official website will also link to the app automatically as long as you use the same account.

I recommend buying tickets through the official app or website for the most seamless experience. However, some travelers are unable to complete the purchase with foreign credit cards on the official site. We had no problems with our Chase Sapphire Reserve card (contact me if you want a referral for bonus points!). But if you do have trouble, booking tickets through Klook is the easiest alternative. If you buy your tickets on Klook, use the “scan tickets” function in the official app to scan the tickets into your app.

How to Use Tickets for Entry

Tickets purchased directly from the official Tokyo Disney Resort Website or App

Tickets purchased directly from the official Tokyo Disney Resort Website or App link seamlessly to the Tokyo Disney Resort app. The park tickets show up on the home screen, and you just click on it to display the QR code to scan at the gate. Easy peasy!

Tickets purchased on Klook

If you buy your tickets on Klook, you will receive an email with a PDF containing your ticket and a QR code. While you could just use the QR code for entry at the gates, it’s best to scan the ticket into the Tokyo Disney Resort App ahead of time to link it to the app so that you can book fast passes and restaurants on the app once inside the park. To do this, use the “scan ticket” function in the official Tokyo Disney Resort app to scan the Klook QR code ticket into your Tokyo Disney Resort app.

Where to Stay

We chose to stay near Tokyo Station because we wanted to stay in central Tokyo while still having a direct connection to Tokyo Disney. We weren’t visiting the parks on back-to-back days, so staying at Tokyo Station saved us from the hassle of switching hotels to explore the rest of Tokyo. You can check out our picks for the most family-friendly hotels in the Tokyo Station area in this post!

That said, if you’re planning to visit the Disney parks for several consecutive days, staying in the Tokyo Disney Resort area definitely makes sense. You’ll be closer to the parks, can get there early to grab those coveted passes, and soak up the full Disney atmosphere. Friends who’ve stayed there loved the experience. These are the hotels my friend recommended and I would consider if we were staying in the resort area.

Tokyo Disney Resort Toy Story Hotel ($$$$)

If I were to stay on site at the Tokyo Disney Resort with my kid, I would definitely pick the Toy Story Hotel. Our kiddo loves the Toy Story movies. The attention to detail and homages to Toy Story in this hotel are amazing. The rooms are decorated like Andy’s room, the TV is a giant etch-a-sketch – it is just cute overload in the best way. The theme extends to every part of the hotel, from the lobby to the restaurant. It’s also considered one of the more budget-friendly options for staying in the Disney Resort. The rooms are not luxury and would be tight for a family of 4, but you’re there for to be immersed in Toy Story, not for the amenities. And since it’s a Disney-affiliated hotel, you can get a Happy Entry ticket to enter the park 15 minutes early.

Children under 11 years old can stay for free if they share a bed with parents, with a maximum of 2 children per room. They have very cute children’s pajamas and slippers with Disney character designs available on request.

Hilton Tokyo Bay ($$$)

The Hilton Tokyo Bay is just across the street from Bayside Station, so some rooms have amazing views of the Disney monorail. Even though it does not include the Happy Entry ticket, its proximity to the park entrances means that you can still make it there earlier than those coming from central Tokyo. The rooms are more spacious than most Tokyo hotels, and it is more affordable than the Tokyo Disney resorts, so it is a more budget-friendly option to stay close to the Disney parks with a family. Another bonus is that it is a stop on the airport limousine bus line, making transportation to and from the airports much easier.

Children 6 and under stay free if they share a bed with a parent and breakfast is also free for children.

Tokyo DisneySea Fantasy Springs Hotel ($$$$)

The Tokyo DisneySea Fantasy Springs Hotel offers a direct entrance to Fantasy Springs, and our Disney-loving friends raved about the immersive experience. The hotel is made up of two “chateaus”: the ultra-luxurious Grand Chateau and the slightly more affordable (but still pricey) Fantasy Chateau. One of the biggest perks of staying here is the Happy Entry, which lets you access the park earlier and secure priority passes for Fantasy Springs rides – essential for beating the long lines. Fantasy Springs is the farthest area from the park entrance, and on busy days it can take around 15 minutes to walk there. Staying right in Fantasy Springs allows you to beat all of those crowds and be first in line to the rides with the longest wait times in both parks.

Bookings open at 11am Japan time 4 months in advance of the stay. And despite the cost, it is VERY popular, so the rooms get booked up quick! If you’re set on staying here then I would set a reminder to book as soon as the rooms open.

Children under 11 stay free if bedsharing with a parent, but note that bedsharing is only allowed on regular beds and not on trundle beds, cruise beds, or alcove beds.

How to Get There From Tokyo Station

From Tokyo Station, take the Keiyo Line directly to Maihama Station. The ride itself takes about 20 minutes. But fair warning: the walk through Tokyo Station to reach the Keiyo Line platform is long. Be sure to factor that in when planning your morning, since the full trip can easily take around 40 minutes door-to-door once you include the walking time. From Maihama Station, it’s about a 10-minute walk to Tokyo Disneyland.

Tokyo DisneySea is a bit farther from Maihama Station. The easiest way to get there is to transfer to the Disney Resort Line, which takes about 10 minutes. After exiting Maihama Station, turn left to reach the Disney Resort Line station. The monorail runs in a loop, and Tokyo DisneySea is the third stop.

How to Plan Your Day

When visiting Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea with toddlers, it’s helpful to know ahead of time which rides they can actually go on. There are height restrictions on some rides, while other rides may be scary for younger kids.

Height Restrictions on Rides

Just like any theme park, certain rides at both Tokyo Disney parks have height restrictions for safety. If you’re visiting with younger kids, it’s good to know these in advance so you know which rides you can actually go on. In a way, I actually found this to be a positive. It took some rides off the table right away, which meant less pressure to “do it all.”

Tokyo Disneyland

Over 81 cm	Happy Ride with Baymax
Over 90 cm	Splash Mountain Gadget’s Go Coaster
Over 102 cm	Big Thunder Mountain Star Tours: The Adventure Continues

Tokyo DisneySea

Over 90 cm	Nemo & Friends SeaRider Flounder’s Flying Fish Coaster
Over 102 cm	Soaring: Fantastic Flight Tower of Terror Peter Pan’s Never Land Adventure
Over 117 cm	Indiana Jones Adventure Raging Spirits Journey to the Center of the Earth

Best Toddler-Friendly Rides

Just because your toddler or preschooler meets the height requirement doesn’t always mean they’ll enjoy the ride, right? Kids at this age are going through so many developmental stages, and new fears (like being afraid of the dark) are common. I didn’t fully realize this until I went on a few rides with my kiddo and noticed how many Disney rides have a story arc with a darker or more intense moment in the middle that can be scary. Of course, every kid is different, but here’s what was a hit (and what wasn’t) with our almost 4-year-old.

Tokyo Disneyland Toddler-Friendly Rides

Ride	Height Requirement	Toddler-Friendly?	Land	Fast Pass?	Notes
It’s a Small World	None	Yes	Fantasyland	No	Our kid’s fave! Colorful boat ride with Disney characters sprinkled in, usually short wait
Pooh’s Hunny Hunt	None	Yes	Fantasyland	40th	Cute visuals, very popular so long lines killed the vibe for our kid
Beauty and the Beast	None	So-so	Fantasyland	DPA	Very long lines, ride intro with the Beast is dark and can be scary, but amazing visuals
Dumbo the Flying Elephant	None	Yes	Fantasyland	No	Revolving ride flying high in the sky
Carousel	None	Yes	Fantasyland	No	Parents can ride with kids, another fave, usually short wait
Monsters, Inc.	None	So-so	Tomorrowland	40th	Long lines, better if kids know the movie since narration in Japanese
Happy Ride with Baymax	81 cm	Maybe	Tomorrowland	DPA	Jerky ride, so may be scary for little kids
Western River Railroad	None	Yes	Adventureland	No	Scenic train ride, short lines, always a winner with kids
Jungle Cruise	None	Yes	Adventureland	No	Narration in Japanese but our guide was super animated and engaging! Very fun even though I had no idea what he was saying and kid enjoyed the silliness. No wait!

Our Tokyo Disneyland Experience

Preschooler Favorites	Adult Favorites
Small World Carousel Railroad Jungle Cruise	Jungle Cruise Beauty and the Beast Pooh’s Hunny Hunt Monster’s Inc

We rode Small World, Pooh’s Hunny Hunt, Beauty and the Beast, the carousel, Monster’s Inc, the railroad, and the jungle cruise. Not surprisingly, Small World, the carousel, the railroad, and the jungle cruise were our kid’s favorite rides because none of them had any dark or scary moments.

Pooh’s Hunny Hunt, Beauty and the Beast, and Monster’s Inc were less of a hit for my kiddo, but they were hands-down my favorites and I’d highly recommend them. Especially since they’re unique to Tokyo Disneyland. Pooh is my kid’s favorite stuffy (it’s literally his best friend), so we thought that ride would be a guaranteed hit. But the long wait and the dark Heffalump scene were not fun for him. He’s never seen Monster’s Inc, so he was a little confused on that ride, especially since all the narration is in Japanese. And the dark castle intro and Beast’s roar at the start of Beauty and the Beast scared him right away. But for me, that ride was pure Disney magic. The Beast’s transformation scene? Absolutely mind-blowing.

Tokyo DisneySea Toddler-Friendly Rides

Ride	Height Requirement	Toddler-Friendly?	Port	Fast Pass?	Notes
Sindbad’s Storybook Voyage	None	Yes	Arabian Coast	No	Musical boat ride, short wait, like Small World, kid fave
Caravan Carousel	None	Yes	Arabian Coast	No	Double decker carousel, riding the genie was a hit, short wait
The Whirlpool	None	Yes	Mermaid Lagoon	No	Teacup style revolving ride, skipped to avoid nausea
Blowfish Balloon Race	None	Yes	Mermaid Lagoon	No	Revolving ride flying high in the sky, big hit with the kid!, short wait
Jumpin’ Jellyfish	None	Yes	Mermaid Lagoon	No	Light bouncing up and down ride, thumbs up from kid, short wait
DisneySea Electric Railway	None	Yes	Port Discovery	No	Scenic train ride, always a hit
Nemo & Friends SeaRider	90 cm	Yes	Port Discovery	40th	Family favorite! Narration is in Japanese, but was a really fun ride for Nemo lovers. Ride shakes a lot so some kids may get scared
Anna and Elsa’s Frozen Journey	None	Yes	Fantasy Springs	DPA	Super long lines, so realistic and well done
Rapunzel’s Lantern Festival	None	Yes	Fantasy Springs	DPA	Long lines, pretty short ride but lantern scene was stunning
Toy Story Mania!	None	Yes	American Waterfront	DPA	Long lines, interactive shooting ride, really fun for Toy Story lovers

Our Tokyo DisneySea Experience

Preschooler Favorites	Adult Favorites
Everything in Mermaid Lagoon Railroad Carousel Toy Story	Toy Story Nemo & Friends Searider Anna and Elsa’s Frozen Journey

We stayed longer at Tokyo DisneySea than Disneyland and found there was a lot more our kid enjoyed. We went on Sindbad’s Storybook Voyage, Blowfish Balloon Race, Jumpin’ Jellyfish, the Mermaid Lagoon playground, Caravan Carousel, Electric Railway, Nemo & Friends Searider, Anna and Elsa’s Frozen Journey, Rapunzel’s Lantern Festival, and Toy Story Mania. The Mermaid Lagoon was the clear favorite for our kiddo – we spent a ton of time there. Our kid loves Toy Story so really enjoyed that interactive ride. And of course, the railroad and carousel were big hits, as always.

For adults, Fantasy Springs is the highlight since the rides there are unique to Japan. The lines are brutal (definitely not doable with a young kid), but absolutely worth it if you get the DPA pass. The Rapunzel ride felt short for the wait, but the visuals were stunning. The Frozen ride, though, is a must! It’s so immersive and beautifully done. And even though Toy Story Mania is similar to the version in the US, it’s still so much fun!

Ride Strategies to Minimize Kid Meltdowns

Let me start by saying, I’m not a Disney expert. But as a casual Disney fan who wasn’t trying to hit every single ride, here are my tips for keeping both your kid (and yourself!) happy in the happiest place on earth, even with the crowds and long lines. These are a few lessons I learned the hard way after spending two days at the parks.

40th Anniversary and DPA Passes are a MUST

You know what is an immediate downer for kids? Waiting in line! And boy are there lines at Tokyo Disney. 40th Anniversary Passes are free and DPA passes cost about $10-17 per ride. They are absolutely worth it to avoid a whining kid. As my friend told me, TREAT YO SELF. Make sure you have the Tokyo Disney Resort App downloaded on your phone and a credit card loaded so you are ready to buy the passes as soon as you enter the park.

These passes go FAST, and you can only buy them on the Disney Resort App once you are actually inside the park. So as soon as you enter, reserve your 40th Anniversary and DPA passes. There are rules to when you can get another one (usually you have to wait an hour), so prioritize the rides you want to ride most or has the longest wait. Which leads me to the second tip…

Get to the Parks BEFORE Opening Time

Japanese people seem to have unlimited patience for lines, so they get to the park way before opening time. That means all the people ahead of you in line are already snapping up those coveted passes before you even make it through the gates. Plus, they often start letting guests in a little before the official opening time. I have read some intense recommendations about how early you need to get there to start lining up (like 3 hours), but I don’t know if it’s worth it to wait around that long with a small kid.

We were not planning on going on all the rides, so we were not that intense. For reference, here’s how our timing worked out and what DPA passes were available for the most popular rides by the time we entered the park:

Tokyo DisneySea: Green crowd day (busier). We arrived at 8:00 AM (1 hour before opening) and entered by 8:57 AM. The first available DPA for Frozen was 5:50 PM – later than I hoped, but at least they were still available.

Tokyo Disneyland: Light blue crowd day. We arrived at 8:30 AM (30 minutes before opening) and got through the gates by 9:20 AM. The first available DPA for Beauty and the Beast was for 2:10 PM, which wasn’t bad at all.

If you aren’t planning on getting any passes then you can get to the park around 10-11am and walk right in without lines at the gates (though ride lines will probably be longer).

Go on a Ride with a Short Line First

To keep your kid’s Disney excitement level high after entering the park, start with a ride that has a short wait time. Nothing kills that initial buzz faster than standing in a long line. If you can hop on a ride right away, it keeps the momentum (and the smiles) going! I recommend Small World in Disneyland and Sindbad’s Storybook Voyage or Mermaid Lagoon in DisneySea.

One of my mistakes was starting our day at Tokyo Disneyland by lining up for Pooh’s Hunny Hunt. I figured the line would be shorter early on, so we should go for it. When we joined, the wait time was only about 30 minutes (totally reasonable) but the ride broke down, and we ended up waiting nearly 50 minutes before realizing it wasn’t reopening anytime soon. The long wait with no ride at the end was a very bad start to the morning for our kid. So, lesson learned: kick things off with a guaranteed short-wait ride before attempting the popular ones!

Bring Many, Many Snacks

Even with fast passes, you’ll still spend some time waiting in lines throughout the day. Having snacks on hand is key. Not only to prevent hangry meltdowns but also to keep kids occupied while waiting. I made the rookie parent mistake of not bringing enough snacks because I assumed we would be buying park snacks all day. But you can’t buy food while stuck in line! And to my surprise, my kid didn’t love many of the park snacks anyway. He burned through what I packed within a couple of hours, and let’s just say there was a fair amount of whining in line after that.

Plan Ahead for Lunch

In the hustle of keeping track of fast pass times and standing in lines, it’s easy to forget about lunch until it’s too late. Park restaurants can get crowded, and there can be long lines when ordering at the counter. We also ran into a tricky situation with our kid because between jet lag and all the morning excitement, he needed a nap midday. But because we delayed lunch to fit in more rides, he was already exhausted by the time we got our food. He was too tired to eat and fell asleep without eating, which meant a very cranky kiddo when he woke up.

Table service restaurants require reservations, which you can make 30 days in advance at 10am Japan time through the Tokyo Disney Resort app. But unless there’s a specific table service restaurant you’re set on, I’d stick to the counter-service restaurants with kids. It’s too hard to predict timing once you’re waiting in line for rides with a kid to commit to a restaurant reservation. A few counter-service restaurants allow mobile ordering through the app, letting you schedule a pick-up time for food. Definitely a smart way to cut down on wait times for food.

Food & Snacks You Can’t Miss

Theme park meals are a lifesaver for parents with picky eaters when figuring out what to eat with kids in Japan. There is bound to be something for every kid and it’s one less meal to research! Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea have some of the cutest Disney character themed food and snacks. While I wouldn’t rate all of them 10/10 for taste, they’re definitely the cutest things I’ve eaten. These are the more unique snacks that are only available here, and where you can find them within the parks.

Tokyo Disneyland Specialties

• Honey Popcorn: by Pooh’s Hunny Hunt ride
• Creme Brulee Churro
• Mike Wazowski Melon Bread: Sweetheart Cafe
• Alien Mochi: Pan Galactic Pizza Port and Plasma Ray’s Diner
• Mickey Mouse Egg Yolk

Tokyo Disney Sea Specialties

• Mike Wazowski Melon Bread: Mamma Biscotti’s Bakery
• Sea Salt Ice Cream: Mermaid Lagoon
• Tiramisu Ice Cream Sandwich: Mermaid Lagoon
• Alien Mochi: Zambini Brothers’ Ristorante, New York Deli, Yucatan Base Camp Grill

Bonus Tips for a Smooth Visit to Tokyo Disneyland & DisneySea with Toddlers

• Stroller rentals: 1000 yen for one day
  • Tokyo Disneyland: rent at the World Bazaar (on the right after entering)
  • Tokyo DisneySea: rent at Mediterranean Harbor (on the left after entering)
• Lost children locations: hopefully you won’t need this! But I noticed this center near a potty break and made sure to point it out to my kiddo just in case. You can also get ID stickers here to where you can mark your kid’s name and your phone number so staff know where to reach you in case you get separated.
  • Tokyo Disneyland: at the World Bazaar
  • Tokyo DisneySea: at the Mediterranean Harbor
• Storage lockers: storage lockers are located outside the park, so best to just put things you don’t need for the day in there.
• Baby centers: for those with babies, there are baby centers in both parks that have nursing rooms, boiled water for formula, sink for washing bottles, high chairs, and diaper changing pads. In case you forgot anything, you can also purchase diapers, wipes, baby bottles, and baby food here.
  • Tokyo Disneyland: World Bazaar, Toontown
  • Tokyo DisneySea: Mediterranean Harbor, Mermaid Lagoon, American Waterfront
• Bathrooms: all of the bathrooms have larger stalls with a baby container seat in the corner so moms (and dads) can use the bathroom in peace without worrying about their kid touching everything or opening the door! I’ve seen some in women’s bathrooms, but this is the first time my husband has ever seen one in a men’s bathroom and wanted me to include it in the blog! Also both men’s and women’s bathrooms have diaper changing stations. Tokyo Disney is equal opportunity when it comes to kid potty duties!
• Mobile battery rental: I had some real cell phone battery life anxiety at the Tokyo Disney parks because we need the Tokyo Disney Resort app throughout the day. Luckily, there are mobile battery rental locations throughout the park. Rentals under one hour start at 350 yen, and goes up to 1200 yen for 4-6 hour rentals.
  • Tokyo Disneyland: rental locations here
  • Tokyo DisneySea: rental locations here

Packing Essentials for Kids in Japan

• Layers of clothing:
  • Light rain jacket: it’s helpful to keep a packable rain jacket that doesn’t take up too much space in your everyday bag. We didn’t want to bother with carrying multiple umbrellas so a rain jacket was clutch on the sprinkly days.
  • Comfortable walking shoes: everyone does a lot more walking in Japan than usual. Make sure kids have comfortable shoes that are easy on and off!
  • Sun hat
  • Socks: part of Japanese culture is taking shoes off indoors, so you will find yourself removing your shoes much more than usual. Make sure to pack the good socks without holes!
  • If you forget to pack anything, you can probably find what you need at Muji or Uniqlo at a good price!
• Snacks and hydration:
  • Favorite snacks: Japan is a snack paradise, so I’m sure your kiddo will eventually find something that they like at the convenience stores. But bring some favorite snacks from home to tide you over until you figure out which Japanese snacks your kids love.
  • Water bottle: tap water is generally safe to drink in Japan, though we still prefer bottled water to avoid stomach upset as a result of the difference in mineral content.

• Entertainment options for downtime:
  • Screens will usually keep kids occupied, and while our kiddo gets a lot more screen time than usual when traveling, we don’t like to rely solely on screens for entertainment because there are usually more massive meltdowns when we try to turn it off.
  • We bring one new book (search and find books or lift the flap books are great!), Water Wow coloring books, sticker books, and drawing pads for travel days.
  • We usually make a toy store one of our first stops and get a small toy for our kid to play with during the trip. This also doubles as a souvenir, because whenever he plays with the toy at home he remembers where he got it. In Japan, he picked out some Tomica Thomas Trains that he loved.

• Kids supplies for daily living:
  • Sleep essentials: bring anything that your kid needs to sleep well to encourage good sleep while traveling. For us, that is a sound machine.
  • Medications: it goes without saying to pack any prescription medications your kid is taking. I also bring over-the-counter kids medications like Children’s Tylenol, just in case. I’m okay with buying Japanese OTC meds for myself and winging it with the translation, but I prefer using the kids’ OTC meds we’re familiar with because I am sure about the dosing and ingredients.
  • If you forgot anything, look for these stores in Japan that sell all kinds of kids goods: Nishimatsuya, Babies “R” Us, Akachan Honpo
• Travel Stroller: If your kid is not used to walking a lot at home it can be helpful to bring a stroller. This is especially helpful for theme parks. But keep in mind that Japan is not as stroller friendly as the US. There are many stairs in train stations and elevators are small and require a longer walk to find. Many restaurants and stores are small and can’t always accommodate a stroller. While we did use our stroller, we folded it up and carried it quite a bit during train transfers to avoid having to take the long way around. If you do bring a stroller, bringing a smaller travel stroller is key. We love our Babyzen Yoyo. The Gb Pockit strollers also pack up amazingly small.
• Hip Seat Carrier: A better alternative to a stroller if your kid is still small enough to carry is a hip seat carrier. We loved using ours during our trip to Switzerland because it’s one less thing to carry through train stations. The hip seat is clutch because it’s more comfortable to sit in for longer periods. We loved our version that had straps and could be worn in the front or back. It’s especially helpful for crowded places like Japan where maneuvering a stroller can be tricky.
• Power plug adapters: Japan uses two pronged plugs similar to the US, except the prongs are the same length. Most 2 pronged chargers will work fine without adapters. If you have any chargers that have 3 prongs, then you’ll need an adapter.

Reality Check of Visiting Tokyo Disneyland & DisneySea with Toddlers

This was our kiddo’s first Disney experience, and my first time at Tokyo Disney. I’ll admit, I probably set my expectations too high. Between jet lag, hunger, long lines, and general overstimulation, our kid was a cranky pants for most of our time in the parks. It taught me as a parent that we need to work on practicing patience with our kid. At home, we barely ever wait in line for anything with our kid because I do whatever I can to avoid lines, whether that is making reservations, ordering ahead, or just skipping activities with lines. But this trip reminded me that patience is something our kid needs to experience firsthand. As much as I want to spare us another meltdown, waiting is part of life. And it’s my job to help him learn how to handle it, not avoid it.

We went to Tokyo Disneyland the second day after we arrived in Japan and DisneySea two days before we left. Our kid asked to go back to the hotel just a couple hours after arriving in Tokyo Disneyland, but not once at Tokyo DisneySea. Whether it was the more toddler-friendly attractions at DisneySea or just that we were better adjusted to the time by then, he definitely had a better time. So we also enjoyed it more as parents! By that point, we’d already been to three other theme parks on our trip, so maybe we finally figured out our family theme park strategy.

I gotta say, I was pretty disappointed when my kid asked to go back to the hotel so quickly after arriving at Tokyo Disneyland. At the time, I wondered why we’d even brought him if he wasn’t enjoying it. But now that we’re home, he always talks about “how much fun” he had at both parks. I have these doubts all the time about whether traveling with a little one is worth it when we’re mid-meltdown in another country. But then we come home and he’s talking about our trip and recreating moments from the trip in his pretend play. And it reminds me that even if he doesn’t always look like he’s enjoying himself in the moment, those experiences are still (hopefully) enriching his life, which makes it worthwhile.

After you’re finished with Tokyo Disney, explore the rest of Tokyo with our list of toddler-approved activities or hop over to Legoland Japan in Nagoya or Thomas Land in Kawaguchiko for more theme park fun!