Hi! I’m YUKORIN, a wheelchair user. On November 21, 2024, one of Accessible member and I carried out a wheelchair accessibility review at Tokyo DisneySea.
I did my personal wheelchair accessibility review at Tokyo DisneySea this summer as well. You can also enjoy reading the blog post I wrote at that time.
The Christmas season has already begun at Tokyo Disney Resort. We took one of a few Christmas-themed monorails on the Disney Resort Line.
I take a wheelchair priority seat.
The Christmas-themed monorail
Tokyo DisneySea
Tokyo DisneySea was unusually crowded even though it was a rainy day and a weekday. At around 10:00 am, we entered the park with a discounted ticket for people with disabilities. To enter the new Fantasy Springs area, we immediately tried to get the Standby Passes for the attractions in the area. However, Standby Passes for all the attractions in the park were no longer available. The new area is very popular even in the rain.
We went to Mermaid Lagoon which is an indoor area to take shelter from the rain.
Mermaid Lagoon
This is the multipurpose restroom in Mermaid Lagoon. It is quite spacious not only for wheelchairs but for strollers because there are many attractions for small children in the area.
The multipurpose restroom in Mermaid Lagoon
The rain stopped. We went over to Arabian Coast and rode Caravan Carousel which is a wheelchair accessible carousel.
Caravan Carousel
Next we rode Sindbad’s Storybook Voyage. This is a boat ride attraction which is wheelchair accessible.
Sindbad’s Storybook Voyage
When we went to Toy Story Mania! in American Waterfront, the wait time was over 100 minutes. So we used the Disability Access Service which allowed us to have dinner and watch the parade during the waiting time. With this service, wheelchair users and their companions can spend their waiting time somewhere else as long as they do not ride other attractions. If you would like to use this service, please speak to a cast member at each of the attraction. The cast member will specify time to return. At that time, you will be asked to show your discounted ticket or official disability certificate, have your photo taken to verify your identity when you return and also be given an explanation about how to ride the attraction.
Toy Story Mania!
We had dinner at Cape Cod Cook-Off which is spacious and wheelchair accessible.
Cape Cod Cook-Off
Duffy was printed on the hamburger wrapper.
We headed to the central sea area which is the venue for the spectacular night parade, “Believe! Sea of Dreams,” finding no room in a large crowd around the sea. However, a cast member kindly ushered us to the wheelchair priority area with a light shining at our feet. The area is located on the second floor on the west side of the sea. We enjoyed a fantastic view from there!
The wheelchair priority area for the parades
Along with music with the message of keeping your dreams alive, we admired projection mapping inspired by Disney movies, impressive fireworks and sparkling floats. I felt as if I had been in a wonderful dream!
A scene from the parade
We returned to Toy Story Mania! after the parade. This ride is wheelchair accessible with a specially designed slope. You can play the shooting game in your wheelchair.
The specially designed slope
* Part of the photo has been blurred because photography of characters inside the attraction is prohibited.
Lastly, we enjoyed Turtle Talk. This is a theater-style attraction with wheelchair seats. The conversation between the sea turtle called Crush and visitors is funny. I can only post the photos taken from a distance on the blog due to restrictions on photography inside the attraction. The large ship named the S.S. Columbia is the venue for Turtle Talk.
We head for Turtle Talk.
The S.S. Columbia
DisneySea Station
On the way back from the park, a cast member at DisneySea Station ushered me to the platform opposite to the regular gate, where I was able to board the monorail. I was happy with the courteous treatment until the very end.
The ticket gate wheelchair users go through
The platform opposite to the regular gate
What would the world be like in the vision Walt Disney created?
People often say that you return to reality once you leave Disney Resort. Walt Disney, the founder of Disneyland, was, however, a real person. He created the theme park to appeal to both adults and children with the message that dreams can come true. Many people around the world have embraced his vision and Disney Resort is there today as a result. Regardless of whether you are a wheelchair user or not, you are one of those fascinated by his vision as you read this blog. Which do you call reality?
