After making a splash at the 2001 opening, DisneySea has delighted parkgoers from day one. Fantasy Springs is the newest of the eight “port of calls,” joining Mediterranean Harbor, Mysterious Island, Mermaid Lagoon, Arabian Coast, Lost River Delta, Port Discovery and American Waterfront.
Announced back in 2018 and delayed due to construction delays caused by COVID-19 restrictions, the largest expansion in Tokyo Disneyland’s history finally opened in June 2024 at the cost of $2.1 billion and has continued the tradition of inspiring guests from around the world.
Fantasy Springs is built around three thematic lands: Frozen Kingdom, Rapunzel’s Forest and Peter Pan’s Never Land. Attractions include state-of-the-art rides, one-of-a-kind merchandise and uniquely themed foods and eateries.
Frozen Kingdom
Inspired by Frozen, this land transports guests to Arendelle. Set against the backdrop of Elsa’s Ice Palace and Arendelle Castle, the attention to detail makes it feel like you’ve stepped into the movie. Anna and Elsa’s Frozen Journey, a six-and-a-half-minute boat ride with scenes inspired by Frozen and Frozen Forever, tells a more expansive story than the EPCOT and Hong Kong Disneyland rides of the same franchise.
Rapunzel’s Forest
Themed after the movie Tangled, this one features Rapunzel’s tower and a guest favorite dining spot, The Snuggly Duckling. Rapunzel’s Lantern Festival is a slow boat ride attraction with a stunning final scene featuring “I See the Light” from the movie’s soundtrack that delights ride-goers in a way that leads them wanting more as they exit the soft-glowing lantern filled room.
Peter Pan’s Never Land
This is the third separately themed area of Fantasy Springs and features pirate ships, Lost Boys adventures and Peter Pan’s Never Land Adventure, where guests find themselves flying through Never Land in a cutting-edge 3D adventure featuring iconic scenes and music from this beloved Disney classic movie.
Peter Pan’s Never Land is also home to Fairy Tinker Bell’s Busy Buggies, an outdoor spin ride with a queue that immerses you in the story before ever setting foot on the ride itself. Tinker Bell’s perspective is emphasized through an oversized world that highlights her fluttering and ever-changing motions through Pixie Hollow. The ride is short, at just over two minutes, but is a charming addition to the 35-acre Fantasy Springs.
Architecture and Design
Architecture and Visual Design are highlighted throughout Fantasy Springs. Each land is meticulously designed paying attention to every imaginable detail, fully immersing guests and blending Disney fantasy with realism. Numerous waterfalls and Instagram-worthy photo opportunities abound, offering magical twists around every bend. Fantasy Springs is an awe-inspiring visual experience unique to this Tokyo park.
Not to be missed, once inside Fantasy Springs are the exclusive specialty merchandise offerings, including souvenirs available as add-ons at food outlets, such as Gummy Candies with a Mini Snack Case in the shape of a Fantasy Springs Book or a souvenir Wet Wipe Case in a Peter Pan motif found at Lookout Cookout in Neverland.
Preparing for a Visit to Fantasy Springs
The port of call has not escaped criticism, including high demand coupled with limited capacity, the over-reliance on technology and limited Restricted Access.
Since opening, Fantasy Springs has operated where DisneySea parkgoers need to purchase a special 1-Day Passport: Fantasy Springs Magic which is only available to guests staying at the newly opened Fantasy Springs Hotel located adjacent to the park of the same name. Once you have purchased your admission pass to DisneySea, Standby Passes which are available for free or Premier Access passes both rely solely on the Disney app which can sometimes be slow and unable to keep up with demand from the user’s perspective. Additionally, mobile ordering is required at some restaurants within Fantasy Springs which causes some confusion and delays, especially if technical issues arise.
Guests cannot even enter Fantasy Springs without a valid attraction pass, and once you exit, you are not allowed to re-enter unless holding the 1-Day Passport: Fantasy Springs pass, making the port of call much more crowded than guests would expect as many park goers remain in the land, glued to their phones trying to secure additional Standby or Premier passes for the four Fantasy Springs rides. All of this makes it harder for the general guest to experience the area without prior reservations or additional costs.
While the overall experience is magical, the logistical and operational challenges have been common points of frustration with guests visiting the newly opened area. Access is restricted to help manage the otherwise crushing crowds, and at this time there is no known published date to when the restricted access system will stop the need for passes to access Fantasy Springs.
With that knowledge, the key to gaining access with a Standby or Premier Access pass is to arrive at DisneySea early, up to an hour or more before park opening and try and secure a pass immediately upon entering the gates of DisneySea. You can build your DisneySea itinerary after securing your Fantasy Springs entrance time by securing an attraction pass. In theory, it is possible to experience all eight ports of call in a single day; however, given the inability for most guests to re-enter Fantasy Springs after exiting the area, is best to plan on two full days at DisneySea. One day would be spent for the other seven ports of calls and their numerous and exceptional rides, attractions and dining options and a second day exclusively in hopes of accessing Fantasy Springs and obtaining Standby or paid Premier Access passes for the four rides within the newest port of call. Once you have experienced what you want or are able to secure passes for within Fantasy Springs, it’s easy to enjoy the remaining hours re-riding your favorite rides within the greater DisneySea park, or just taking a bit of a slower pace to enjoy this one-of-a-kind park.
To fully immerse yourself in the Fantasy Springs experience, stay at the Tokyo DisneySea Fantasy Springs hotel. The hotel comprises of two buildings: Grand Chateau (luxury) and Fantasy Chateau (deluxe). The hotel also boasts three dining options, all of which are currently restricted to guests of Tokyo DisneySea Fantasy Springs Hotel until further notice. Special consideration for La Libellule is further restricted to guests of the “Grand Chateau” accommodations.
Fantasy Springs is a feast for the eyes and adventure seekers looking for the latest and great technological advances within a Disney Park. Though the effort and time spent on the mobile app can be frustrating, those challenges fade, leaving only fond memories and a strong desire to visit again.
Cole Sjoholm
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