Help with advice to a life-long friend going to Tokyo Disney

[PB Watermelon]

Hi, you good people. Have a friend from high school who is taking her nine year old to Japan (wow, how awesome is that) this year, and she wants to take him to the Disney parks. She's heard some various opinions...Disney Sea is amazing for adults, Tokyo Disneyland better for kids. I've never been to either, just want to help her out. What are your opinions? If you had to choose one with a rambunctious nine year old, what would you do?

Also, any tips and advice would be much much much appreciated for either park. Thanks in advance.

 

[BasiltheBatLord]

If they’re park veterans, maybe do Disney Sea just cause it’s exclusive and unique. Disney Sea has three park-exclusive E-tickets (counting ToT) compared with Disneyland which has two. Otherwise I would answer Disneyland in pretty much all scenarios. There’s just more to do and I think you get a more fulfilling day out of Disneyland.

Make sure they check refurb schedules though, attractions at TDR seem to go down for refurb more frequently than the American parks, and that can heavily tip the balance in one park’s favor. For example, Disney Sea just spent much of the summer with multiple e-tickets down at once.

 

[PB Watermelon]

Thanks, Basil. My friend recently adopted, she's taking her son to Japan and is trying to decide between the two parks. Any and all advice is much appreciated.

 

[ChanduTail]

It would depend on their history with the US parks. Tokyo Disneyland is very similar to WDW Magic Kingdom. It has its own unique rides & such, to be sure, but if they are frequent visitors to WDW (or to Disneyland), DisneySea might be a better choice. If it's their first visit to any Disney park ever, and they don't plan to spend much time at WDW in the future, I'd choose Disneyland.

 

[BrianLo]

I'd agree with the above. If they are very frequent visitors to either castle park in the states DisneySea is the choice for variety. If they haven't been in years to a castle park, Tokyo Disneyland probably takes the advantage.

As mentioned TDS is lean on attractions by comparison and more so if refurbishments are poorly lined up. If one is fearful of thrilling attractions that definitely knocks TDS out. If a combo of Sinbad, 20k, Journey to the Centre of the Earth, Indy or Tower of Terror are down for refurbs that also makes the choice significantly easier.

I think by 2023 though the recommendation will change to always being in favour of Disney Sea.