My son and I have a two day lay-over in Tokyo and we had planned on visiting Disneyland (using points to stay at the Sheraton there). Then I found out that our dates (April 25th and 26th) are the week before Golden Week - does the week before Golden Week get crazy at Disneyland?

I may consider making other plans if Disneyland is due to be super crowded on those dates.

Thanks!

Since it's not Golden Week and a Wednesday and Thursday, you should be all set. People are working, going to school, etc, and Disney should not be crowded on those days. You will still have a wait at some attractions, but nothing at all like on a weekend/holiday time, when waits are up to 4 hours for one attraction.

When you enter the parks, go right to the back areas first...everyone else tends to go around in a circular fashion. Skip everything until you are as far from the entrance as possible and go that way and you'll avoid most lines. But your days should have short waits anyway.

Thanks Kim! I'm so relieved to not have to skip Disneyland. I appreciate your advice to go to the back first - I'll definately do that! Have you been to the DisneySea park? Is it worth going?

We've been to both parks three times each...spent 4 days at Disney each time using Hilton points to stay at the Hilton there.

DisneySea is really cool I think. The theming is really well done, and the attractions are unique. We prefer it to DisneyLand to be honest.

Hi KimJapan,

A related question on Tokyo Disney. Do you think it's crazy for a family with 5-yo and 2-yo trying to go to either Disney or DisneySea in August? Will either places be mobbed/will we spend our time queuing for attractions? I'm not even sure if there are enough rides my younger child can enjoy...

PS Hope all's ok post earthquake.

Sorry to say that I do think it's a bad idea to go to Disney in August. It will not only be crowded (all schools and universities are off, plus there is Obon), it will be HOT, HOT, HOT. I can't imagine waiting in line in August. Our neighbors go every August...and they say they can do 3 or 4 attractions in a full day and eat lunch and maybe see fireworks at night. The wait is typically over 2 hours for attractions, and Fast Passes are gone for the day before noon. The only way I'd go is if it were raining...then fewer people are there, and at least you are wet so not so hot. I'm not kidding, it's HOT.

If you could possibly make your trip in an off peak month when it isn't so hot, you would enjoy it so much more. There is a lot for young kids. We took out daughter for the first time when she was 3 and she loved it. She was big enough for almost everything at that age, and we went in April like the OP is doing and there were no lines.

Thanks very much, Kim for candid opinion. Unfortunately, we can only do August because of the kids' school schedule--hopefully we'll pick a better month another time.

This is a little off topic too, but I was wondering, do you know of a car company in Tokyo that I could use to arrange transport from the airport to Tokyo Disneyland?

Normally, I'd just take the bus (which I understand to be excellent) but we'll be at the end of a marathon journey from India (involving an overnight flight) and it would be nice to have a car booked.

Thanks again!

W9London..

My family went Aug 5th last year to Disneyland ...on a Saturday. 4 kids (8, 10, 12 and 14). Hot and humid....kids made it, wife stayed in restraunt with A/C for part of it.

They have mist machines throughout to help, and many wore towels on neck to help. It wasnt too crowded (it would have been much later in the month I was told...the tourist center in tokyo helped determine how croweded it would be.

We stayed in Ryokan in Asakusa...went all day, train back to Asakusa.

Also took my oldest there for just an evening (a little cheaper since he did not want to go all day).


We got on almost all the rides...FASTPASS helped. The electrical parade was awesome...

From the airport (Narita of Haneda) to Disney, or anywhere for that matter, a car isn't cost effective at all. If you really wanted, you could taxi, but the price would be over ¥20,000 I'm sure. The limo bus is great...comfortable, quick and reasonably priced. I'd do that.

Yikes! 20,000 is expensive! Is it faster/feasible to take the train from the airport to somewhere more central and then jump in a taxi?

Thanks again Kim!

I agree with kimjapan. It'll be much easier & straightforward to just take the airport limo direct to Disneyland.

The bus is faster, easier and cheaper. The train would be more expensive, take longer and require a change as there is no direct between the airports and Disney. Everyone uses the limo bus...they are frequent, as well, so you won't have to wait too long for the next one. Just buy your ticket from the well marked limo bus ticket counter.

Thanks everyone for your replies!

OregonTraveler (or other posters),

Do you know if anyone can provide forecasts on how crowded TDL would be, preferably on the web? Cannot find anything on tokyo tourism office.

Also I've tweaked the summer travel plan a bit, so I can stay until 3 Sept. Does anyone know when the Japanese school summer holiday will end? Would we have a better chance of less crowd if I go either 31 Aug (Fri) or 2 Sept (Sun)? I cannot do saturday, and 3 Sept Mon seems unrealistic as our flight will leave at 1;20pm.

My daughter begins school after summer vacation on Septembe 3. Crowds will be high September 2, as they are every weekend. The best forecast I've seen for crowds is in the Disney hotels pricing calendar...the higher the price, the more crowded it will be....probably. Friday would probably be better for you.

http://www.disneyhotels.jp/english/r...h_price_e.html should get you the calendars. Keep in mind that the calendar is for rooms, but you can generally imagine crowds.