After all your dreams of visiting, you're at Tokyo Disneyland. You enter the magical park gates and open the app to get a Fastpass, when you're suddenly faced with 4 separate booking systems. Sweat runs down your brow; "why are there so many?" "Which are experiences are with which pass?" "WHY ARE THERE SO MANY???" To avert this unfortunate situation, I've created this guide to help everyday guests understand this initially complicated system.
Recently, Disney has upped smartphone usage in the parks around the globe in various ways. From the US parks with Genie and Lightning Lane, to international parks with premier access, many of these features are designed to help the guest navigate and enjoy the parks. However, the numerous features can often leave guests overwhelmed. Case in point, the Tokyo Disney priority queues and passes. When planning my Tokyo Disney trip, I felt overwhelmed, so I'm here explain them all to help you detangle the system.
Need a tl;dr of each system? Here you go!:
Need some elaboration? I've got you covered; I'll delve into each system in more detail here.
Table of Contents
Where to Book?
All of Tokyo Disney's passes are booked through the Tokyo Disney Resort App, which is available for iPhone and Android. To add your ticket to the Tokyo Disney Resort App, login to your Disney account (same as other Disney Parks logins), then navigate to the main menu from the bottom of your screen, and press "scan ticket." This will prompt you to scan your ticket, which will then be added to the app.
You can add your entire group's tickets here, such that one person can manage everyone. If your group plans on choosing different experiences, don't worry! You'll be able to de-select tickets when making a booking.
Below that, you can see the different reservations under "My Plan."
Priority Pass
Originally for Tokyo Disney Resort's 40th anniversary, the Priority Pass has been extended beyond the celebration for the foreseeable future! If you're familiar with the previous MaxPass system at Disneyland, or Fastpass+ at Walt Disney World, this system functions very similarly; guests reserve the next available attraction timeslot through the Tokyo Disney App, and return during a 1-hour window. The big difference is that this system is FREE to all guests!
Eligible Attractions
Disneyland
Monsters Inc. Ride & Go Seek!
Pooh’s Hunny Hunt
Space Mountain
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Haunted Mansion
Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters
Star Tours
DisneySea
Indiana Jones Adventure
Raging Spirits
Aquatopia
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
Nemo & Friends SeaRider
Turtle Talk
Magic Lamp Theater
These are ordered by my recommendation top to bottom; a combination of popularity (thus, time saved) and my opinion of the attraction. However, feel free to choose based on what your party wants to experience the most! You'll likely be able to book 1 to 2 of the most popular attractions, or more if you book the less sought-after ones.
When & How Often?
You may make your first selection as soon as you enter the park, excluding Happy 15, Tokyo Disney's early entry for it's hotel guests. You may make a subsequent selection after either:
2 hours have passed since your most recent booking
You redeem your most recently booked pass at the attraction
How to Book
Select "Priority Pass" on app home screen
Confirm tickets for the selection
Select your experience (next available slot, cannot be chosen)
Confirm details
You've got it! View your booking
Premier Access
The sister to Priority Pass, Premier Access offers a paid skip-the-line pass for the newest and most sought-after attractions, and priority/reserved seating for shows and parades.
Eligible Experiences (prices displayed in Japanese Yen)
Disneyland
Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast (2,000)
The Happy Ride with Baymax (1,500)
Splash Mountain (1,500)
Electrical Parade Dreamlights (2,500)
Harmony in Color Parade (2,500)
Select seasonal experiences (varies)
DisneySea
Soaring: Fantastic Flight (2,000)
Journey to the Center of the Earth (1,500)
Tower of Terror (1,500)
Toy Story Mania! (2,000)
Believe! Sea of Dreams Nighttime Spectacular (2,500)
Beginning June 6th (Fantasy Springs opening):
Peter Pan's Never Land Adventure (2,000)
Rapunzel's Lantern Festival (2,000)
Anna and Elsa's Frozen Journey (2,000)
This list is not exactly sorted by recommendation, as all of these experiences are excellent. However, I would highly recommend Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast in Disneyland, and one of the Fantasy Springs attractions in DisneySea, if you decide to utilize this system. These attractions are the newest, and garner the longest lines for a reason; they are simply incredible. Also, to enter Fantasy Springs, you will need either a Standby Pass or Premier Access for one of the 4 attractions.
When & How Often?
You may make your first selection as soon as you enter the park, including Happy 15, Tokyo Disney's early entry for it's hotel guests. You may make a subsequent selection after either:
1 hour has passed since your most recent booking
Your most recently booked experience window begins
Strategy
If you choose to purchase a Premier Access for an attraction, I would recommend scheduling it for the afternoon, as this is typically when lines are the longest.
How to Book
Select "Disney Premier Access" on app home screen
Confirm tickets for the selection
Select your experience
Select window to redeem your Premier Access
Enter payment information & confirm details
You've got it! View your booking
Standby Pass
Arguably the most complex of these reservation systems, Standby Pass is a FREE virtual queue system to manage demand for the newest attractions and most popular shops and restaurants. It is also only 1 of 2 passes that will grant entry to Fantasy Springs. On a lighter day, a standby line may be offered without the need for a pass, while on busier days, a Standby Pass will be the only way to enter certain experiences. This system is broken into three categories:
Attractions
Shops
Restaurants
Eligible Experiences
Disneyland
Attractions
(none)
Shops
Disney & Co
Kingdom Treasures
Treasure Comet**
Adventureland Bazaar**
Toy Station**
Frontier Woodcraft**
Restaurants
Camp Woodchuck Kitchen
Sweetheart Cafe
Refreshment Corner
DisneySea
Attractions (beginning June 6th. Standby Pass always required)
Peter Pan's Never Land Adventure
Rapunzel's Lantern Festival
Anna and Elsa's Frozen Journey
Fairy Tinker Bell's Busy Buggies (no Premier Access)
Shops
Emporio
The Sleepy Whale Shoppe
Tower of Terror Memorabilia**
Restaurants
Zambini Brothers' Ristorante
New York Deli
**Only required for capsule toy purchase
Standby Pass has a wide range of offerings, and whether you utilize this system comes down to what your party wants to experience. However, beginning June 6th, Fantasy Springs, the highly-anticipated new land at DisneySea, will open. Entry requires a Standby Pass or Premier Access for one of its 4 enchanting attractions. Think of it like your boarding pass to a fantastical adventure! Standby Pass is the only free way to explore Fantasy Springs, so I highly recommend booking a pass. Remember, early birds get the worm (or in this case, the attraction!).
When & How Often?
You may make your first selection as soon as you enter the park, including Happy 15, Tokyo Disney's early entry for it's hotel guests. You may book one Standby Pass for each category: attractions, restaurants, and shops.
For Restaurants and Attractions
You may make a subsequent selection after:
You have redeemed your standby pass for that category
For Shops
You may make a subsequent selection after:
The start of the assigned time of the Standby Pass you have obtained, if it has been more than 1 hour since you obtained that pass
Two hours have passed after obtaining your last Standby Pass
How to Book
Select "Standby Pass" on app home screen
Select experience category
Confirm tickets for the selection
Select your experience and timeframe
Confirm details
You've got it! View your booking
Entry Request
Created to manage demand for shows and character greetings, Entry Request is essentially a lottery system; at a specified time during the day, you may make a request to get a reserved seat at a show or entry to a character greeting.
Eligible Experiences
Disneyland
Meet Mickey in Front of Main Street House (no standby offered)
Club Mouse Beat
Mickey's Magical Music World
Jamboree Mickey! Let's Dance!
DisneySea
Big Band Beat: A Special Treat
Jamboree Mickey! Let's Dance!
Many of these shows are some of the best Disney offers, and I would highly recommend seeing at least one per park.
When & How Often?
You may make one Entry Request per experience, per day. You may make your first selection as soon as you enter the park, including Happy 15, Tokyo Disney's early entry for it's hotel guests. Some Entry Requests may not open until later in the day.
How to Book
Select "Entry Request" on app home screen
Select experience category
Confirm tickets for the selection
Select your experience
Select experience timeframe
Add children under 3 years old (without tickets)
Confirm details
View your results; 1 of 2 screens will display:
A confirmation of your booking and your acceptance
A denial of your booking and apology
Conclusion and Tips
Whew, that was a lot! With so many pass systems, hopefully I've helped you demystify them. When it comes to your visit, there really is no "correct" order of booking these; it really comes down to what you and your group want to prioritize. Just know what you want ahead of time! Regardless, to have a better shot at any of these systems, make sure to be at the park entrance at least an hour before opening; the Japanese are intense about being there for rope-drop to get in as close to park opening as possible. If you have the budget, consider staying at one of Tokyo Disney's many hotels, which will grant you 15 minute early entry to one or both parks. 15 minutes might not sound like a lot, but from many people's experiences, it really does make a difference.
To summarize:
Priority Pass: Free skip-the-line for attractions
Premier Access: Paid skip-the-line for attractions and reserved seating for parades and shows Standby Pass: Free virtual queue for attractions, restaurants, and shows
Entry Request: Free lottery system for shows
Thank you for reading!