Editor’s note: Disney hosted the writer for a Fantasy Springs preview visit, including round-trip flights to Japan and a three-night stay at the Tokyo Disneyland Hotel. The opinions expressed in this story are entirely the author’s and weren’t subject to review by Disney or any other external entity.
Disney’s biggest expansion this year is happening at its Tokyo Disney Resort in Japan, and TPG just got a sneak peek inside.
You’ll find two parks at Tokyo Disney Resort: Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea. While Tokyo Disneyland features many classic lands and attractions you can find in other Disney parks, Tokyo DisneySea offers unique lands (called “ports”), theming and attractions. And on June 6, Tokyo DisneySea’s eighth port, Fantasy Springs, will open.
I visited the new Fantasy Springs port and hotel before its public opening. The attractions and theming in this land are impressive, so here’s a first look inside Fantasy Springs — including its four rides, five dining options and all-new hotel.
Related: What it’s like to stay at the Tokyo Disneyland Hotel
What is Fantasy Springs at Tokyo DisneySea?
Fantasy Springs is a new port within Japan’s Tokyo DisneySea.
This port is near the back of DisneySea and offers its own hotel, aptly called Fantasy Springs Hotel. Guests staying in that hotel can access DisneySea through an exclusive Fantasy Springs entrance. However, most other guests will enter Fantasy Springs via a pathway between DisneySea’s Lost River Delta and Arabian Coast ports.
Fantasy Springs gets its name from the “magical waters” surrounding the land. Whether you enter Fantasy Springs from its hotel or the pathway from the rest of Tokyo DisneySea, you’ll immediately be drawn to the port’s rockwork and water features, which tie the land in with the rest of the park.
I love how colors, steam and golden accents make the rockwork appear realistic yet weathered.
Tokyo Disney’s senior creative executive Daniel Jue said there are more than 50 characters represented in the port’s rockwork. This isn’t surprising, considering I noticed a new character depiction nearly every time I walked through the port.
Related: What it’s like to stay at the Tokyo DisneySea Hotel MiraCosta: A hotel within a park
Getting into Fantasy Springs
Disney often limits access to new lands and attractions, and Fantasy Springs is no different. When Fantasy Springs opens, there are a few ways you will be able to access the land (in addition to having your regular park ticket for Tokyo DisneySea):
Standby Pass: You can get a free Standby Pass for Peter Pan’s Never Land Adventure, Rapunzel’s Lantern Festival, Anna and Elsa’s Frozen Journey, or Fairy Tinker Bell’s Busy Buggies in the Tokyo Disney Resort app, based on availability. You must be inside the park to reserve your Standby Pass and receive an entry window to visit the land.
Premier Access: For a fee, you can purchase a Premier Access pass in the Tokyo Disney Resort app and select a designated time to experience the attractions in the land. Premier Access is limited and based on availability. You must be inside the park to purchase Premier Access.
1-Day Passport: Fantasy Springs Magic: This ticket type is available to guests staying at Tokyo DisneySea Fantasy Springs Hotel or guests who have booked an eligible vacation package.
Full details on how to enter Fantasy Springs are available on the Tokyo Disney website.
Peter Pan’s Never Land Adventure
Peter Pan’s Never Land Adventure is a 3D simulator-style ride in Peter Pan’s Never Land that lasts about six minutes. On this ride, you’ll join Peter Pan, Tinker Bell and the Lost Kids on an adventure through Never Land.
KATIE GENTER/THE POINTS GUY
Most of the queue area for this ride is surprisingly dark. There’s a short preshow — all in Japanese, but you’ll get the gist even if you don’t understand Japanese — in a three-tier room; then, you’ll pick up 3D glasses and join another short queue to board the three-tier 12-person ride vehicles.
The ride is spectacular because it offers an immersive experience via its ride vehicle, wind effects, surround-sound music and 3D media projections. Plus, the characters pull you in and help you feel like you are part of the story — even if you don’t understand the Japanese they’re speaking.
The ride combines 3D projections and physical elements in a compelling yet beautiful manner.
You’ll feel like you are flying during parts of this ride — a concept I loved. However, some people in my group did mention feeling a bit motion-sick after the ride.
If you don’t want to wait in a long line for this sure-to-be-popular ride, you can purchase a skip-the-line Disney Premier Access pass for Peter Pan’s Never Land Adventure once you’ve entered Tokyo DisneySea. Disney Premier Access passes are limited based on availability, and you can purchase them using the Tokyo Disney Resort app.
Related: The best times to visit Japan
Rapunzel’s Lantern Festival
Rapunzel’s Lantern Festival is a water ride through Rapunzel’s Forest that lasts about five minutes. On this ride — the first “Tangled” attraction in a Disney park — you’ll watch Rapunzel’s journey as you travel in a gondola to the annual Lantern Festival.
During the preview event, Jue noted in an interview that Rapunzel’s Lantern Festival is “the most romantic attraction we’ve ever built.”
Indeed, this ride has a romantic, feel-good vibe to it. The queue for this ride starts outdoors — where you’ll see a few colorful lanterns — and then it snakes through covered open-air spaces.
Once in your 16-person gondola, you’ll leave the loading area and venture outdoors to see Rapunzel in her tower.
The rest of the ride occurs indoors, where you’ll watch Rapunzel and Flynn Rider’s romance unfold.
You’ll find perhaps the most spectacular area in the entire Fantasy Springs port when you travel through the Lantern Festival part of this ride.
KATIE GENTER/THE POINTS GUY
This ride goes by quickly, likely due to how captivating and visually appealing it is. So, you might find yourself at the end of the ride much quicker than expected.
KATIE GENTER/THE POINTS GUY
If you don’t want to wait in a long standby line, you can purchase a Disney Premier Access pass for Rapunzel’s Lantern Festival, based on availability.
Related: The 11 best hotels in Tokyo for your next Japan getaway
Anna and Elsa’s Frozen Journey
Anna and Elsa’s Frozen Journey is a water ride in Frozen Kingdom that lasts about 6 1/2 minutes.
KATIE GENTER/THE POINTS GUY
The queue is mostly indoors, with the line passing through Anna and Elsa’s library, playroom, family room and greenhouse.
Once you board your 16-person boat, you’ll revisit the “Frozen” story through its music and events. However, English speakers should be prepared to hear their favorite “Frozen” songs in Japanese. You’ll still recognize the obvious melodies, so it shouldn’t be an issue even if you don’t understand Japanese.
Disney intentionally designed the ride vehicles’ motion to match each scene’s emotion. So, for example, you’ll find your boat climbing a ramp, going down a drop or backing up in situations where that motion fits the scene’s emotion.
This ride is likely to be just as popular as you might expect a “Frozen”-themed ride would be. Luckily, you may be able to purchase a Disney Premier Access pass to skip most of the line for Anna and Elsa’s Frozen Journey based on that day’s availability.
Related: The best ways to travel to Japan with points and miles
Fairy Tinker Bell’s Busy Buggies
Fairy Tinker Bell’s Busy Buggies is a quick, family-friendly ride in Peter Pan’s Never Land that lasts about two minutes.
KATIE GENTER/THE POINTS GUY
The queue line takes you through an outdoor garden before you enter a covered queue area. Take notice of the fun theming and cute story while you wait to board this ride.