We woke up in Japan. Japan. That still didn’t feel real—even though we’d made it through customs, dodged beef jerky disasters, navigated airport signage, and arrived at the most magical hotel of our trip: Tokyo Disneyland Hotel. That moment was the beginning of what turned out to be one of the most unforgettable (and emotional) days of our whole trip.
The Morning Magic – Early Entry + Childhood Dreams
Thanks to our hotel stay, we got Happy Entry at 8:45 AM—basically early access into the park. We rope-dropped Beauty and the Beast, and I couldn’t believe we just walked on. No wait, just magic.
That movie means a lot to me personally, and stepping into Belle’s world with my husband and three girls made me tear up. It was the first ride of the day, and I was already crying. But that’s what this trip was about—not just sightseeing, but showing our daughters what’s possible.
Rides, Passes, and Popcorn
We had a pretty epic ride lineup for the day:
• Beauty and the Beast – standby (walk-on!)
• Big Thunder Mountain – walk-on with Premier Access
• Peter Pan’s Flight – 35 mins
• Carousel – 15 mins
• Haunted Mansion – Premier Access
• Baymax – Premier Access
Rested at hotel mid-day (HIGHLY recommend doing this with kids!) then came back for:
• Beauty and the Beast again – Premier Access
• Dinner at Tomorrowland Terrace
• Star Tours – 15–20 mins
We hoped to ride Pooh and Monsters Inc. too, but lines were long—lesson learned: you NEED the paid passes (DPA) to avoid long queues. That system was worth every yen.
Snacks, Wins, and Hangry Fails
Tokyo Disneyland is big on food theming—and small on food selection per spot. One shop has churros, another has cocoa, another has popcorn… if you don’t plan ahead, you’ll be wandering with hangry kids.
We grabbed arare popcorn, We tried a few snacks, and had a restocking trip to the hotel konbini (convenience store). That $40 haul was a lifesaver. And yes, we did the viral alien mochi—verdict: cute, but not our fave.
Dinner at Tomorrowland was chaotic and crowded, and while I was hoping chicken nuggets would be a win, Keao didn’t like them. I had a decent chicken burger, and honestly, just being off our feet was a win.
Parenting Moment: The Hard Part of Magic
At one point, Keao was struggling. She looked tired. We offered to take her back to the hotel, but she said softly, “I’m fine guys… I’m sorry I was getting a little sleepy.” That’s the kind of moment you don’t forget as a mom. Not the castle. Not the rides. That moment of watching your child self-regulate and rally. I felt so proud.
We finished the night with Star Tours, which Keao had been excited about. We were a little worried—it’s a 3D simulator, and none of the YouTubers we watched had posted POVs—but it turned out to be one of the most fun surprises of the day.
Final Thoughts: It’s Not Just Disneyland. It’s Tokyo Disneyland.
The crowd was heavy. The park was beautiful. The emotions were real.
Here’s what stood out:
• The cast members were so kind.
• The culture was calm and respectful, even in chaos.
• The experience was totally different from U.S. Disney parks.
Would I do Tokyo Disneyland again? Absolutely. But I’d:
• Plan my DPA’s better
• Plan food ahead of time, have family look at menus on app.
• Accept that meltdowns happen—even at the Happiest Place in Japan
We were all asleep by 7:30 PM—jet lag had its grip—but it worked in our favor. We were up early, happy, and ready to take on DisneySea the next day .But wow. We did it. We really did it. A girl who used to dream of this place took her kids across the world to see it.
If you’re dreaming of taking your family to Tokyo Disneyland—or want help making it happen without the overwhelm—I can help. Reach out to me or follow along on TikTok and Instagram. Let’s make magic real.
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