We debated lengthy and arduous about how we’d method the debut of Fantasy Springs. It was a day we’ve dreamed of for five years, and had each intention of being there to expertise. However we additionally deliberate on attending opening day of Enchanted Story of Magnificence and the Beast in addition to the Tokyo Olympics, and life had different plans.
As soon as once more, life had different plans that made us second-guess doing the opening of Fantasy Springs. Prior to now, we might’ve merely gotten up early, rope dropped the brand new port-of-call, and achieved as a lot as attainable that means. Nonetheless, there have been two points with this method when it got here to Fantasy Springs.
The primary is that TDR followers are rabid (non-derogatory) and solely appear to be dialing that up of their interval of pent-up demand. We’ve attended many a gap day festivity there within the parks, and the Japanese locals make Disneyland followers appear tame. They’re up on the morning time for even pretty mundane issues, prepared to attend hours—all evening and all day, if vital. This has gotten worse since 2019, and it appeared Fantasy Springs would take it to a wholly new degree.
The second and far larger means that life has had different plans, for us at the least, is that we now are dad and mom. Accountable adults (allegedly) who can’t simply rise up at 3 a.m. or no matter ridiculous time to camp out for the opening of a brand new theme park land. We transfer at a slower tempo and infants are unpredictable. Onerous to consider, I do know.
There have been so many instances we’ve wished to get out the door by a sure time, however that simply wasn’t possible “as a result of child,” which has turn into shorthand for us. (On the plus facet, it’s additionally a handy excuse after we simply don’t wish to do one thing!) We’ve already realized this when visiting Walt Disney World and Disneyland, and figured throwing within the ‘minor’ wildcard of a 16-hour time distinction would possibly exacerbate issues.
When Tokyo Disney Resort introduced that company of Fantasy Springs Lodge or Trip Packages would have the ability to buy a particular Fantasy Springs Magic ticket, that had us intrigued. That is one among three choices for accessing the brand new port-of-call, and by far the “best” choice. (See our Information to Fantasy Springs at Tokyo DisneySea for full rationalization of free vs. paid entry–we’ll be updating that very quickly as there’s a ton extra to know now that now we have firsthand expertise spending a number of days within the new land.)
Properly, the Fantasy Springs Magic Ticket is the “best” choice when you handle to get it booked. Minor element. It took spending over a dozen hours on the Tokyo Disney Resort website (technically ~8 hours of that was spent in digital queues) simply to ebook within the first place.
For a variety of causes, we’ve been vehemently anti-Trip Packages for years. Readers often ask about them, and our recommendation has at all times been that they’re a waste of cash and supply nothing you’ll be able to’t do your self for cheaper. In my opinion, that was the right perspective on the time.
The opening of Fantasy Springs has modified the sport. We’ll have a full evaluate and suggestions for taking advantage of the Tokyo Disney Resort Trip Packages within the coming weeks, however this publish roughly solutions the query of whether or not they’re price it.
The Fantasy Springs Magic Ticket is greater than double the price of a traditional Tokyo DisneySea ticket, nevertheless it provided large peace of thoughts. As soon as introduced, we knew that the Fantasy Springs Magic ticket was going to be the important thing for us to entering into the brand new port-of-call at Tokyo DisneySea. So we begrudgingly waited untold hours in digital queues, reserving and rebooking Trip Packages as higher choices opened up.
Our concern was that with out this ticket, it might take a number of days to full expertise Fantasy Springs. That the very best case state of affairs could be getting a Standby Cross for one trip and Premier Entry for one more. The worst case state of affairs could be arriving too late and being shut out fully. Given the entire child factor, we feared the latter taking part in out repeatedly.
Even after shopping for the Trip Package deal, we weren’t 100% certain how the Magic Passport would work. Whereas the official TDR web site states “there is no such thing as a restrict to the variety of instances company can expertise points of interest,” we have been nonetheless considerably skeptical. Their Trip Packages are pretty stingy with entry, and the Tokyo parks are inclined to take a extra egalitarian method to attraction capability allocation. This felt very very similar to the other of that. So we puzzled whether or not it might work as marketed, or if there could be a catch of some kind.
Quick-forward to the evening earlier than the opening of Fantasy Springs. Positive sufficient, it was the roughest of our journey. Issues had been going so nice previous to then. Too good to be true, actually. It felt like there needed to be a bump within the highway…and I assume this was it.
At round 3 a.m. throughout that marathon evening, I turned my alarm off. Take into account that that is the time we most likely would’ve been getting as much as head to camp out for park opening however for the Fantasy Springs Magic Passport. Fortunately, it was the final time we’d get up till morning correct.
We lastly left Toy Story Lodge and arrived inside Tokyo DisneySea shortly after 8:40 a.m. This was nonetheless technically early, however to borrow a phrase from my military-man father, “if you happen to’re technically early to a gap at Tokyo Disney Resort, you’re late.” By the point ~20 minutes earlier than park opening rolled round, the turnstiles had been open for some time. We encountered no crowd in any respect to enter.
We additionally encountered an indication warning company that every one Standby Passes had been distributed and all Premier Entry slots bought out for Fantasy Springs. A minimum of in accordance with this signal, there was no approach to enter Fantasy Springs on that day if you happen to have been coming into “solely” 20 minutes earlier than official park opening. (The signal was incorrect–that’s not how distribution really works.)
After breezing by way of the entrance gate and stopping for a few fast photographs, we made a beeline for Fantasy Springs. Strategically, this was a mistake—in any case, we had the Fantasy Springs Magic Passport that allowed for open entry. However technique is one other subject for one more day.
Throughout our lengthy stroll (company of Toy Story Lodge can not use the Fantasy Springs entrance to enter or exit the park, that means a ~5 minute commute with minimal strolling turns right into a monorail trip plus a mile-plus stroll) from the entrance entrance, we made our first Cellular Order of the day.
As Trip Package deal company, we might not want Cellular Orders to enter the eating places…however we made them anyway. A part of the method was determining how every thing would work, and I used to be curious how briskly the slots would replenish.
We entered Fantasy Springs with ease and—since Anna and Elsa’s Frozen Journey was down—opted for Rapunzel’s Lantern Pageant. Even with an prolonged queue spilling out the attraction’s entrance entrance for standby, the Premier Entry line was just about empty. We have been on the attraction inside 5 minutes of coming into the road.
Anna and Elsa’s Frozen Journey was again up, so we did that subsequent. Similar story, with a lower than 5 minute wait within the Premier Entry line. This attraction blew Sarah’s thoughts, so we looped it. There’s loads occurring on this attraction that’s straightforward to overlook–multiple trip is unquestionably best. Within the span of underneath 20 minutes, we had performed Anna and Elsa’s Frozen Journey twice. With out this ticket, I might’ve been glad to simply do it as soon as all day.
From there, we knocked out the 2 points of interest in Peter Pan’s By no means Land. As soon as once more, it was lower than a 5 minute wait from the time our ticket QR codes have been scanned till we have been on the trip or within the pre-show. In a nutshell, this was principally the story of our day.
All informed, we did at the least 20 points of interest in Fantasy Springs on opening day. I’m unsure of the exact quantity, as we weren’t holding shut depend. I do know that we did the next:
- Anna and Elsa’s Frozen Journey – 10 instances
- Fairy Tinker Bell’s Busy Buggies – 5 instances
- Peter Pan’s By no means Land Journey – 2 instances
So it actually comes all the way down to what number of instances we did Rapunzel’s Lantern Pageant, and I do know the reply to that’s greater than 3 instances. (A minimum of 5 that I can recall.) I additionally did a few points of interest exterior Fantasy Springs utilizing our anytime Precedence Passes.
Along with this, we additionally dined at Royal Banquet of Arendelle, The Snuggly Duckling, and Lookout Cookout. That’s all three of the principle eating places in Fantasy Springs—I point out this each as a result of it’s an accomplishment (all require Cellular Order, which we succeeded in acquiring) and since consuming takes time—greater than a trip.
Just a few issues to notice earlier than you make any probably faulty assumptions about replicating our success. First, you’ll discover that Peter Pan’s By no means Land Journey is just on right here twice. That’s as a result of it’s the one trip with a peak requirement, making it the one we are able to’t do collectively as a result of child.
Peter Pan’s By no means Land Journey can also be the longest complete minimal time dedication because it’s the one trip of the bunch with a pre-show. Had we wished to do that extra, it might’ve taken extra time, consuming into what else we might accomplish.
Second, we had already spent a number of days at Tokyo DisneySea, which included gentle openings of Fantasy Springs and time in the remainder of the park. We already purchased merchandise and bought a ton of photographs.
Accordingly, the Fantasy Springs rides and eating places have been our deal with opening day. Whereas we had the possibility to do them beforehand, we hadn’t gotten our “fill” of them. I’d by no means say that I’ve gotten my “fill” of the remainder of Tokyo DisneySea…however nearer to it on this journey up till this level than Fantasy Springs. Level being—photographs, purchasing, and having fun with the remainder of the park all would’ve eaten into our trip depend.
Lastly, we don’t know the way operations for Fantasy Springs will proceed to evolve. Just a few buddies thought it was loopy of us to go opening day—and it positively was a raffle! However we wished to be there for the spectacle and pleasure, even when there have been points alongside the best way.
And as I informed them on the time, I assumed it was equally possible that Oriental Land Firm would regularly ramp up capability for Fantasy Springs, making opening day the very best time to go to—not the worst. With the good thing about hindsight, I believe this angle was right. I’ve a tough time imagining that OLC doesn’t enhance capability—making attraction strains longer—within the coming weeks and months.
Truthfully, I hope this occurs. It felt a little bit unfair for us to be doing points of interest on loop as we noticed different company camped out at eating places taking part in the “refresh recreation” within the Tokyo Disney Resort app for hours. They usually have been the fortunate ones, who managed to enter Fantasy Springs within the first place. Trip capability is a zero-sum recreation, and extra of it must be allotted to common company.
Regardless, the Fantasy Springs Magic Passport ought to nonetheless be unbelievable–nonetheless primarily a limiteless FastPass—however the stats you possibly can’ve put up on opening day may not be attainable in a number of months or someday in 2025.
With that stated, we weren’t singularly targeted on pumping up our numbers. (If we have been, I’d have a precise trip depend!) As talked about, we’re dad and mom now and function on Child Time. She calls for sure issues of us at sure instances, and that slowed us down.
By round late afternoon, we additionally have been beginning to have our fill with a number of the rides. We stopped looping them, and took a extra leisurely method. We did get a second wind as soon as sundown rolled round—eager to expertise the 2 points of interest with out of doors sections at evening. However nighttime additionally meant extra time slowing all the way down to savor the land and take photographs.
Level being, even when the Fantasy Springs Magic Passport turns into much less engaging as a consequence of operational modifications or longer strains, you continue to would possibly have the ability to put up numbers like this. This depend isn’t as nice because it sounds—a decided fan most likely might’ve clocked 40 rides. (I’d think about you possibly can do Fairy Tinker Bell’s Busy Buggies or Rapunzel’s Lantern Pageant ~8 instances in an hour.)
We left Fantasy Springs very happy due to the Magic Passport. Properly, and since the port and its points of interest are superior. That’s most likely a not-so-minor element. If this have been a limiteless FastPass for Dino-Rama…let’s simply say, we wouldn’t be writing a glowing report about it.
Sarah stated that opening day of Fantasy Springs was her finest Disney day ever. I’m not fairly certain about it being #1 for me (recency bias and all that), nevertheless it’s very shut—positively within the operating for finest Disney day ever. That positively wouldn’t have been the case if we didn’t have the Fantasy Springs Magic Passport.
Truthfully, greater than anything, I used to be relieved. We had been increase the opening of Fantasy Springs a lot over the course of the final 5 years. We started dreaming of this present day again in 2019 when strolling previous the development website and seeing progress from our lodge window over the course of a pair journeys. Then 2020 occurred, and watching YouTube movies of Japan is likely one of the issues that bought us by way of the pandemic, as we anxiously awaited with the ability to return to our glad place.
That didn’t occur till November 2022, simply after the nation reopened. It was a bittersweet homecoming. We deliberate to return once more final 12 months however cancelled these plans for the very best cause ever–discovering out we have been anticipating a child woman! And now a little bit over one 12 months after that cancelled journey, we bought to take her to Japan for the primary time. That itself was mildly terrifying–particularly after a a lot simpler and shorter journey to Walt Disney World wasn’t with out points–nevertheless it turned out to be the very best journey of our lives.
Suffice to say, the opening of Fantasy Springs was a full circle second for us. My concern stepping into was that it might by no means presumably stay as much as expectations even when issues went properly, and could be a large letdown if issues went off the rails. And with any new Disney theme park opening of one thing that pulls large crowds, the latter is at all times a risk.
Our expertise on opening day of Fantasy Springs exceeded expectations, and was one among–if not the–finest Disney days we’ve ever had. There was completely no friction due to the Fantasy Springs Magic Passport–to the felt that it felt like experiencing Tokyo DisneySea with a cheat code (anybody bear in mind GameShark?!)–and it was only a flawless go to.
Seeing this new port-of-call in our favourite theme park on the planet was one thing particular. (Particularly since, except for Mermaid Lagoon, Tokyo DisneySea has much less to supply babies than Tokyo Disneyland.) Her face gentle up when seeing the spectacular Sven Audio Animatronics and the glow of the lanterns in Rapunzel’s Lantern Pageant.
Her wide-eyed pleasure when recognizing a larger-than-life Cheese, a personality I didn’t even know existed till like a month in the past however is now one among my favorites. Her uncontrollable giggles in response to the Misplaced Children hats, which I assume are hilarious. It was a extremely big day.
That Golden Ticket didn’t simply present us with limitless FastPass to do 20+ points of interest. Clearly that’s an amazing trip depend nevertheless it isn’t actually the purpose. I most likely would’ve been happy with 4 stress-free rides, and that’s what it gave us–peace of thoughts. It allowed us to enter the brand new port-of-call within the first place with out fear. It enabled us to sleep in, as a substitute of getting up on the morning time and being zombies all day. It allowed us to have a carefree day, relatively than being glued to our telephones.
I’m unsure what the worth of the Fantasy Springs Magic Passport is to us, however positively far more than we paid for the Trip Package deal. We went from by no means doing the bundle to, at this level, by no means not doing it (at the least till the preliminary pleasure of Fantasy Springs dies down…so like for the subsequent decade?). We’re already strategizing about tips on how to use it subsequent journey. Should you’re touring internationally to expertise Tokyo DisneySea (presumably anybody studying this), making the splurge is extremely beneficial.
Planning a visit to Tokyo Disney Resort? For complete recommendation, the very best place to start out is our Tokyo Disneyland & DisneySea Journey Planning Information! For extra specifics, our TDR Lodge Rankings & Opinions web page covers lodging. Our Restaurant Opinions element the place to dine & snack. To save cash on tickets or decide which sort to purchase, learn our Suggestions for Saving Cash publish. Our What to Pack for Disney publish takes a novel take a look at intelligent objects to take. Venturing elsewhere in Japan? Seek the advice of our Final Information to Kyoto, Japan and Metropolis Information to Tokyo, Japan.
YOUR THOUGHTS
Will you be doing the Tokyo Disney Resort Trip Package deal to effectively expertise Fantasy Springs? Ideas on ‘limitless FastPass’ for Fantasy Springs points of interest through the Magic Passport? Questioning how any elements of visiting work? Interested by crowds or anything? What do you consider the Peter Pan’s By no means Land, Rapunzel’s Forest, and Frozen Kingdom? Excited for this blockbuster addition to Tokyo DisneySea, or do you not care? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions? Listening to your suggestions—even while you disagree with us—is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
