There are good & unhealthy occasions to go to Tokyo Disneyland & DisneySea in 2025. Some days have low crowds, whereas others have 45 minute wait occasions only for popcorn! Extremes in climate and seasonal leisure are different essential elements to think about when planning your Japan journey. (Up to date January 5, 2025.)
In our newest replace to this information to the very best occasions to go to Tokyo Disney Resort, we’re wanting ahead to 2025. This follows fairly a bit of reports and adjustments, together with the opening of Fantasy Springs final summer season. That blockbuster new $2 billion growth is the eighth themed port of name at Tokyo DisneySea, and has had a huge effect on attendance patterns and crowds.
Fantasy Springs is a big addition that’s drawing company from across the globe. It put Tokyo Disney Resort on the radar of many extra People and different international vacationers. Nevertheless, it’s removed from the one issue for shifting attendance and crowd tendencies at TDR. On the contrary, it’s not even the largest issue.
This may increasingly come as a shock, however in combing by quarterly monetary stories from Oriental Land Firm (OLC), the proprietor and operator of Tokyo Disney Resort, there have really been two larger elements. The primary is extreme warmth, which has drastically diminished attendance in the summertime. That is very true amongst home vacationers inside Japan and repeat guests. That is such a difficulty for OLC that they’re exploring climate countermeasures, together with the set up of extra air-conditioners, shade constructions, beverage merchandising machines, and prolonged summer season programming.
The second is a sharper than anticipated decline in journey demand on the again of a slowdown in post-pandemic “revenge spending.” That is hardly shocking, as Walt Disney World and Disneyland have seen this actual state of affairs play out within the U.S. parks. The one distinction is the timeline being delayed as a result of Japan’s slower and extra cautious method to reopening.
The extent as to if pent-up demand continues to exhaust itself (or doesn’t) among the many Japanese is the largest variable on 2025 crowd ranges at Tokyo Disney Resort. Regardless of the existence of English-language websites like this one, Japanese guests make up the overwhelming majority of holiday makers to TDR in regular years. Worldwide guests solely accounted for 13% of all company at Tokyo Disney Resort final yr, which was a brand new document excessive. Whereas that was the fastest-growing demographic, it was nonetheless a small share of all park attendees.
For what it’s value, OLC at the moment is forecasting annual attendance of 28 million for the 2025 fiscal yr, revised down from an preliminary forecast of 29 million. That is up from roughly 27.5 million within the final fiscal yr, which isn’t a lot of a rise contemplating that Fantasy Springs opened within the present fiscal yr. (In equity, Tokyo Disneyland’s fortieth Anniversary was an enormous attendance driver within the prior fiscal yr.)
With that mentioned, not all timeframes have been impacted equally. For starters, there was a lull within the lead-up to Fantasy Springs as locals and vacationers alike postponed visits till the brand new port-of-call opened. This made for a slower few months pre-Fantasy Springs, as in comparison with the prior yr. That wasn’t a lot of a shock to OLC, per its quarterly stories.
As famous, final summer season was slower than anticipated as a result of excessive warmth regardless of the opening of Fantasy Springs. We query whether or not that is solely as a result of extreme climate–Tokyo has had some actually scorching summers within the final ~5 years, and it stands to purpose all would’ve been (kind of) equally impacted. We strongly suspect company additionally stayed away within the opening months of Fantasy Springs, fearing colossal crowds.
As a substitute, that heavy attendance confirmed up within the fall throughout the Halloween and Christmas seasons. We additionally strongly suspect worth sensitivity was a contributing issue, as we anecdotally skilled heavier congestion and better wait occasions on dates when tickets had been cheaper final yr. (For what it’s value, we “strongly suspect” this stuff due to years of expertise with Walt Disney World and Disneyland, which have seen the very same dynamics.)
To that time, we had an terrible expertise trying to enter Fantasy Springs throughout the vacation season, which nearly soured the day in Tokyo DisneySea for us. You’ll be able to learn Why Disney’s #1 Park is Getting 1-Star Opinions for a full recap, however suffice to say, we’re removed from alone in having these points. This got here after fairly clean and seamless experiences with Fantasy Springs throughout the (slower) summer season season.
Trying ahead, it looks like a really secure wager that attendance numbers by Could 2025 might be greater than they had been this yr. That is partly as a result of final yr’s numbers had been artificially low within the lead-up to Fantasy Springs as a result of aforementioned postponed visits (making for a straightforward comparability), and due to the flip facet of that: locals are returning now to expertise Fantasy Springs.
One remaining, much less important wild card is that park capability continues to be beneath 2019 ranges. We skilled this primary hand with our final journey to Tokyo Disney Resort. The parks had been full of a number of the worst ‘seems like’ crowds we’ve ever encountered.
Staffing shortages are an ongoing challenge, eating places and retail stay closed, leisure is diminished or modified, hours are shorter, and extra. All of this stuff are individually minor, however are an enormous challenge in combination. The underside line is that the Tokyo Disney Resort of right this moment continues to be very totally different from the Tokyo Disney Resort of 2019. (Once more, a really related dynamic to the U.S. parks in 2021 and 2022.)
Our honest hope is that this capability is restored in brief order, as it will likely be wanted if attendance continues to extend. Tokyo Disney Resort has already introduced the return of a present to the Hangar Stage in Tokyo DisneySea with “Desires Take Flight” debuting on July 16, 2025. Moreover, the scaled-back Huge Band Beat: A Particular Deal with will finish on September 30, 2025…and hopefully one thing will change it earlier than the top of the yr.
This can be a step in the best route, nevertheless it’s only a begin. Extra is about 2 years overdue–it appears nearly like OLC is asleep on the wheel to only be addressing these points in mid-2025.
With that quite important preface out of the best way, we’ll do our greatest to foretell crowd tendencies right here primarily based on previous precedent in a standard yr. All issues being equal, these common patterns ought to repeat themselves once more in 2025 and past.
Narrowing issues right down to the season throughout which you need to go to is an important first step from our perspective. This isn’t California and even Florida. The variations between January and April, for instance, are important. In January, you’ll actually discover chilly climate and would possibly even be greeted by snow in several components of Japan, together with Tokyo Disneyland. In April, climate is delicate, the cherry blossoms begin blooming, and the parks are celebrating spring.
To that finish, let’s begin by taking a month-by-month have a look at what you possibly can encounter when it comes to seasonal choices, crowds, and climate. Let’s begin with the particular occasions, that are shaping as much as be totally different in 2025 than earlier years…
2025 Particular Occasions at Tokyo Disney Resort
- Disney Pal-Palooza: Vanellope’s Candy Pop World (Tokyo Disneyland) – January 15 to March 16, 2025
- Duffy & Mates twentieth Anniversary (Tokyo DisneySea) – April 8, 2025 to March 19, 2026
- Disney Pal-Palooza: Donald’s Quacky Duck Metropolis (Tokyo Disneyland) – April 8 to June 30, 2025
- Meals & Wine Competition (Tokyo DisneySea) – April 8 to June 30, 2025
- Summer season Applications (Each Parks) – July 2 to September 15, 2025
- Halloween (Each Parks) – September 17 – October 31, 2025
- Christmas (Each Parks) – November 11 – December 25, 2025
As in comparison with a standard (2019 and earlier) yr, this lineup of 2025 particular occasions continues to be quite meager. There’s no winter occasion at Tokyo DisneySea and no Easter at both park. Whereas the Disney Pal-Palooza has been a pleasant addition within the final two years, a number of the different choices could also be substantively missing.
We’re each shocked and unsurprised by this. As in comparison with the previous couple of years, this can be a marked improve. There’s additionally the sensible actuality that Tokyo Disney Resort is method behind the curve in resuming operations, getting again to regular nearly 2 years behind the U.S. parks. That has meant well being security protocol and constraints, each onstage and off, in addition to staffing shortages.
That’s to not excuse this lineup or what’s been provided the previous couple of years. The gradual tempo of getting again to regular is in line with Japan as a complete, nevertheless it’s additionally a straightforward pretense for cost-cutting. It’s additionally to be anticipated that leisure can be diminished as capital investments (new rides and lands) will increase; that’s the Disney playbook.
Right here’s a rundown of what to anticipate every month. Observe that these are regular tendencies with previous particular occasions preserved for posterity so you possibly can see what would usually be provided:
January
- Seasonal Occasion: New Yr’s at Each Parks
- Seasonal Occasion: Minnie Bestie Bash at Tokyo Disneyland
- Seasonal Occasion: Duffy’s Heartwarming Days at Tokyo DisneySea
- Climate: 35-50° F with largely sunny days and little precipitation.
- Crowds: Low after New Yr’s week.
February
- Seasonal Occasion: Minnie Bestie Bash at Tokyo Disneyland
- Seasonal Occasion: Duffy’s Heartwarming Days at Tokyo DisneySea
- Climate: 35-50° F with largely sunny days and little precipitation.
- Crowds: Low to average, growing in direction of the top of the month.
March
- Particular Occasion: Minnie Bestie Bash at Tokyo Disneyland
- Seasonal Occasion: Duffy’s Heartwarming Days at Tokyo DisneySea
- Seasonal Occasion: Disney’s Easter at Each Parks
- Climate: 40-55° F with largely sunny days and lightweight precipitation.
- Crowds: Average crowds all the month getting worse in direction of the top of the month, each in Tokyo Disneyland and Japan typically (blossom season).
April
- Seasonal Occasion: Disney’s Easter at Each Parks
- Climate: 50-65° F with average sunny days and lightweight precipitation
- Crowds: Low outdoors of potential holidays on the finish of the month (keep away from days round Golden Week).
Could
- Seasonal Occasion: Disney’s Easter at Each Parks
- Climate: 60-75° F with average sunny days and lightweight precipitation.
- Crowds: Low after Golden Week journey concludes.
June
- Particular Occasion: Duffy Sunny Enjoyable at Tokyo DisneySea
- Seasonal Occasion: Disney’s Easter at Each Parks
- Climate: 65-75° F with some sunny days and average precipitation.
- Crowds: Usually low.
July
- Seasonal Occasion: Duffy Sunny Enjoyable & Pirates Summer season in Tokyo DisneySea
- Climate: 75-85° F with some sunny days, some precipitation, and excessive humidity.
- Crowds: Average till the final week, which is heavy.
August
- Seasonal Occasion: Duffy Sunny Enjoyable & Pirates Summer season in Tokyo DisneySea
- Climate: 75-90° F with average sunny days, mild precipitation, and excessive humidity.
- Crowds: Heavy.
September
- Particular Occasion: Halloween in each parks
- Climate: 70-80° F with average sunny days and a few precipitation.
- Crowds: Low firstly of the month, growing to heavy on the finish.
October
- Particular Occasion: Halloween in each parks
- Climate: 60-70° F with average sunny days and lightweight precipitation.
- Crowds: Heavy.
November
- Particular Occasion: Christmas in each parks
- Climate: 50-65° F with largely sunny days and lightweight precipitation.
- Crowds: Average.
December
- Particular Occasion: Christmas in each parks
- Climate: 40-55° F with largely sunny days and lightweight precipitation.
- Crowds: Low till Christmas week; heavy thereafter.
Observe that this month by month look is a excessive degree overview, and makes generalizations about crowds and climate. For actual dates of Tokyo Disney Resort seasonal occasions, seek the advice of their official month-to-month calendar.
Along with the occasions on this calendar and that official one, Tokyo Disneyland has opened its huge growth that features the brand new Enchanted Story of Magnificence and the Beast attraction and the indoor Fantasyland Forest Theatre. In Toontown, the brand new Disney Character greeting facility Minnie’s Model Studio can be open, and the Blissful Journey with Baymax has debuted in Tomorrowland.
By way of climate, it will get chilly within the winter after which more and more hotter till peaking throughout the spring months. Late-June by early-August are the worst occasions to go to from a climate perspective phrases of each precipitation and debilitating humidity.
Pre-closure, we visited throughout a number of occasions of yr. Most noteworthy for the needs of this submit had been our summer season visits. Whereas we loved the summer season festivities, the climate bordered on depressing. Japan’s sweltering temperatures made world information as a result of temperatures over 100F and a record-breaking warmth wave that has killed dozens. Temperatures this intense have gotten more and more frequent in Japan, and that’s one thing to think about when planning.
We’d strongly advocate avoiding the summer season months of mid-June by late August. Could by early June are typically “secure” and might be nice occasions to go to (a candy spot with pleasant-enough climate and decrease crowds), however do dates deeper into the summer season season. The decrease crowds aren’t value it–take heavier crowds however higher climate!
Round September, the climate begins to chill once more within the fall resulting in colder climate once more within the winter. From September by November, issues are typically nice. December by February are as soon as once more “climate wild playing cards” with freezing temperatures and even snow doable. In case you’re averse to chilly climate, it’s best to keep away from these months.
Climate as soon as once more turns into extra temperate within the spring, with April and Could being fairly good. Our calendar above covers in-park crowds, and signifies that April is mostly off-season for Tokyo Disney Resort. Observe that April is cherry blossom season in Japan, so you might be prone to encounter heavier crowds outdoors the parks throughout peak sakura occasions. (Ditto that with mid to late November and fall colours season.)
As for crowds, you undoubtedly need to seek the advice of one thing extra exact than our overview. Japanese nationwide holidays and to a lesser extent nationwide holidays in China and South Korea (the most important demographics of abroad guests to Japan) can have influence crowds on sure dates, and crowds can activate a dime from being mild to heavy when college is out of session.
For a bit extra precision, we advocate consulting Crowd Calendars for Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea. These are extremely nice sources for selecting which days to go to the parks when you’ve narrowed down your tough journey dates primarily based upon the season or particular occasions you need to expertise. There’s a number of data within the crowd calendars, they usually have by no means steered us flawed.
One factor to notice is that crowds fluctuate extra at Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea greater than another parks on the planet. We’ve been on “low” days in the midst of the weeks which might be lighter than mid-January at Disneyland, and we’ve been on weekends that really feel like New Yr’s Eve in Magic Kingdom.
Lots of people of apprehensive about visiting Tokyo Disneyland as a result of pictures that flow into of humongous strains to get into the park and loopy congestion, and whereas the previous is true day-after-day (the Japanese like to point out up early!) the latter is simply true on the busiest days of the yr. I need to underscore this as a result of the notion of crowds in these parks has taken on a lifetime of its personal and is, frankly, overblown.
With that mentioned, it is rather essential to decide on your journey dates correctly to keep away from weekends and holidays, in any other case you danger being caught in considered one of these ‘loopy congestion’ occasions. Our 3 favourite occasions to go to the parks are mid-Could, early to mid-September, and early-November.
In case you go in mid-Could, you keep away from the the Golden Week crowds, get higher climate than earlier within the yr, and can be capable of see Disney’s Easter, which is superior. In our expertise, that is the candy spot when it comes to climate, crowds, and seasonal occasions.
In case you go to in early to mid-September, you’ll have the ability once more have milder climate and you’ll beat the Halloween crowds (which get unhealthy!) whereas nonetheless having the ability to benefit from the Halloween festivities.
We’ve dubbed going for the final two days of Halloween and the primary week of Christmas as “HalloXmas at Tokyo Disney Resort.” That is our absolute favourite time of the yr to go due to seasonal choices. Observe that Halloween itself is unhealthy crowd-wise, however the next days are mild. Climate ought to be temperate all through the journey, however you would possibly want a light-weight jacket.
We love Tokyo Disney Resort, however we expect it will be kind of excessive (and never EXTREME! in a great way, like chugging a bunch of Mountain Dew and hanging out with Chuck Norris) to go to Japan with out seeing different components of Japan, so it’s best to undoubtedly seek the advice of a calendar of happenings across the nation earlier than finalizing your dates.
As famous above, cherry blossom and fall colours seasons are going to be busy all through the nation. That is notably true in Kyoto, Mt. Fuji, and different areas recognized for seasonal magnificence. In case you’re simply visiting solely Tokyo in your first journey to Japan, this shouldn’t be as a lot of a priority.
When you’ve decided what time of yr you need to go to, it’s essential to plan the actual days you can be visiting. A very powerful takeaway you possibly can glean from this text is don’t go to Tokyo Disneyland or DisneySea on weekends. That’s actually essential, so let me reiterate with some dramatic emphasis: DO NOT VISIT TOKYO DISNEY RESORT ON WEEKENDS!!!
That is true it doesn’t matter what time of yr you go to, even throughout the lowest seasons, weekend crowds are unhealthy. Like Instances Sq. on New Yr’s Eve (minus the B.O. and vomit) unhealthy. It’s because Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea are locals parks greater than even Disneyland in California, which means they get crowded with Annual Passholders on the weekends when they’re off college and work.
Saturday is absolutely the worst day of the week, with Sunday a detailed second (till round 5 p.m. when locals begin heading residence). Friday is the third worst day, particularly within the afternoon and night, as individuals head to the parks to kick off their weekends.
By way of the remainder of the week, we will’t actually say we’ve observed a big distinction amongst Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, save for Monday arguably being barely busier with a number of locals doing lengthy weekends and vacationers kicking off the beginning of their trip head to the parks. This distinction is negligible at greatest, and we’d not advocate avoiding Monday consequently.
The above will not be at the moment correct as a result of date-based pricing that has greater costs on weekends and, extra importantly, as a result of ongoing suspension of Annual Passes. Vacation weekends are nonetheless busier, however we now purposefully go to on Sundays as a result of we’ve discovered they are usually slower than most days of the week (Sunday nights are particularly good).
One remaining factor to think about is the power of the yen as in comparison with the greenback. The yen is hovering round its weakest ranges since 1998, with the Japanese forex falling about 25% within the final couple of years. The power of the greenback means better buying energy when touring overseas, and to Japan particularly.
The Financial institution of Japan has intervened by promoting dollar-denominated belongings to purchase the yen in an effort to prop-up the Japanese forex’s free-fall, however that hasn’t carried out a lot. The Financial institution of Japan has reaffirmed a dedication to ultralow financial coverage, whereas the U.S. Federal Reserve and different central banks within the West have hiked rates of interest repeatedly–and have signaled intent to proceed doing so.
These divergent approaches will imply the consequences of the yen intervention may be restricted, until the BOJ adjustments its dovish stance. Seek the advice of conversion charts whereas planning your journey to Tokyo Disney Resort to see the place issues stand previous to your go to, however you ought to have extra buying energy on the subject of airfare, resorts, park tickets, and outfits to your Duffy plush–you already know, the entire necessities.
Planning a visit to Tokyo Disney Resort? For complete recommendation, the very best place to begin is our Tokyo Disneyland & DisneySea Journey Planning Information! For extra specifics, our TDR Resort Rankings & Opinions web page covers lodging. Our Restaurant Opinions element the place to dine & snack. To economize on tickets or decide which kind to purchase, learn our Suggestions for Saving Cash submit. Our What to Pack for Disney submit takes a novel have 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 Ideas
In case you’ve been to Tokyo Disneyland or Tokyo DisneySea, what did you assume had been the very best or worst occasions to go to? Eager about visiting at any specific occasions of yr? Different ideas on avoiding crowds at Tokyo Disneyland? Share your ideas or questions within the feedback beneath!
