Last year, we experienced a bittersweet moment when a beloved family member passed away. However, in their memory, they left us a little gift—something to bring a sprinkle of joy and fun into our lives. After some heartfelt discussions, we decided to put this gift towards a family trip that we had been dreaming about for years: a stay at one of the enchanting Disney hotels!
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Experience cherry blossoms and ancient temples
Now, living just over 30 minutes away from Disneyland, we had always found it hard to justify an overnight stay. But this little gift gave us the perfect excuse to indulge in a whimsical adventure! Excitement bubbled within me as we got closer to the trip, especially since we kept the surprise under wraps from the kids!
Planning the Perfect Disney Days
After careful consideration and some research, we decided to visit Disneyland on our first day and DisneySea on the second. We consulted the crowd prediction calendar (which you can find all the details about in my blog post here) to help us choose the best days for our visit.
We were particularly excited about the character rooms and ultimately chose to stay at the Tokyo Disneyland Hotel. While other hotels had delightful Mickey pillows and decor, the fully themed rooms were a unique feature of this hotel. Unfortunately, it didn’t offer a character breakfast, which I had hoped for. But in hindsight, it worked out better, as we take our Disney days quite seriously, and a lengthy breakfast would have slowed us down!
Among the themed rooms, we had options like the Alice/Queen of Hearts room, the Tinkerbell room, and the Beauty & the Beast room. We decided on the Beauty & the Beast room since the kids had recently watched the movie, and I felt it struck a perfect balance that my little guy would enjoy too.
Pro Tip: I booked directly on the hotel’s website, which was a bit of a hassle, as it required creating an account. But it was totally worth it! If you stay at one of the Tokyo Disney Resort official hotels, you can enter the park 15 minutes earlier than other guests. Just ask the hotel staff for your early entry pass. And remember, you can only book these official hotels up to two months in advance!
Our Disney Hotel Experience: The Highlights
We visited in January, a time that was exceptionally chilly but surprisingly uncrowded, especially on weekdays. It also rained quite a bit, which made the hotel an absolute lifesaver! After a few hours of exploring Disneyland, we decided to head back to the hotel around 3 PM. We got a pass-out to return later and checked into our room, and oh boy, what a delight it was!
Even if the weather had been perfect, that little break was a gift in itself. With young kids aged 3 and 4, a full day at Disney can turn into a bit of a marathon, and everyone gets a little cranky after a while. So, it was beyond fantastic to retreat to our cozy hotel room to warm up, recharge, and let the kids stretch their legs.
1. A Magical Hideaway
The attention to detail in the hotel was simply adorable. The kids loved the themed decorations, and it was a perfect spot for them to unwind and have some fun. We even let them jump on the beds (with a few rules, of course!).
2. Dress-Up Fun!
To make the experience even more special, we brought along some Disney costumes! The kids could dive into imaginative play, basking in the novelty of their themed surroundings. It was a joy to watch them role-play and create their own little stories within the walls of our enchanted hotel room.
3. A Make-Shift ‘Real’ Meal
Now, let’s talk about food! While Disney dining can be fun and surprisingly budget-friendly, two days of theme park food can be a bit overwhelming. I’ll be honest—the in-room dining prices were outrageous! Thankfully, there was a convenience store near the lobby where I could grab some snacks.
Using a combination of goodies I brought from home and a delicious spaghetti bolognese (which the staff kindly heated up for me), we created our own little picnic! I was so worried about spills that I used a picnic sheet from our parade-watching days. It worked like a charm, and I’m considering bringing one along every time we stay in a hotel!
Note: The Tokyo Disneyland Hotel can provide in-room cots for children 18 months and younger, so it’s great for families!
The Next Day: Extra Magic Awaits
4. Early Entry Advantage
On our second day, we took full advantage of the early 15-minute entry for hotel guests. It may sound trivial, but those extra minutes can make a world of difference! We dashed over to the Toy Story ride at DisneySea, which often has wait times exceeding two hours. Even with our early entry, we still found ourselves racing to the ride.
As a strategy, I recommend arriving well before the early entry time to secure a spot at the front of the line. That way, you can maximize your advantage over the other hotel guests. Unfortunately, we straggled a bit and ended up at the back of the pack, which was a lesson learned!
And if you’re wondering which park to visit if you only have time for one, I’ve written a post here that might help you decide!
All in all, our Disney hotel stay was nothing short of magical, filled with laughter and cherished memories. We can’t wait for our next adventure and to create even more unforgettable moments together!