In an exciting announcement this month, Oriental Land Co., Ltd., which is the parent company for the Tokyo Disney Resort, announced that they’ve reached an agreement with the Walt Disney Company to develop a new themed port at Tokyo DisneySea. The new port will also introduce another Disney Hotel on property!
This newly planned expansion will create an 8th themed port in Tokyo DisneySea, which will be inspired by a magical spring that leads visitors to a world of fantasy. There will be three distinct areas in the new port that recreate three iconic Disney films:
Frozen
Tangled
Peter Pan
It’s interesting to see Peter Pan being referenced at Tokyo DisneySea given that there is already a Peter Pan attraction in Tokyo Disneyland. I was not aware the movie was so popular in Japan that it warranted representation in both parks. I’m sure the theming will be incredible, and I can’t wait to see more detailed photos once additional information is released.
Tokyo DisneySea’s new hotel will feature a one-of-a-kind luxury wing that will become the most luxurious accommodations available at the Tokyo Disney Resort. I’m guessing that this also means a new park entry location if there is going to be an additional hotel on the Tokyo DisneySea side.
The expansion of Tokyo DisneySea will also create four new attractions to begin operating in 2022. OLC is investing 250 billion yen in this new project, which is the largest additional investment to date for existing facilities. This will all coincide with a large scale enhancement of Tokyo Disneyland, which is scheduled to start operations in 2020.
Here is what has been announced regarding the expansion so far.
Overview of the Tokyo DisneySea Expansion Project
The development area will be in the guest parking area between Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea. That parking will be relocated. There will be four attractions, three food facilities, one shop, and one hotel. The tentative completion date is the fiscal year 2022.
Overview of Tokyo DisneySea Themed Port
Once you enter the new themed port, you’ll see Anna and Esla’s Arendelle kingdom, the forest and tower that Rapunzel calls home, and Never Land, which of course is home to Peter Pan, Tinkerbell, and the Lost Boys. The new attractions and hotel are exclusively designed for Tokyo DisneySea, which means you won’t see these at any of the other Disney Parks. The new port will be connected to the rest of Tokyo DisneySea via a pathway that will run between Arabian Coast and the Lost River Delta.
Frozen Themed Area
The Arendelle themed area will feature an attraction that tells the story of Elsa and Anna. Guests will hop on boats that take you through a storybook tale while enjoying the movie’s iconic songs, and the press release says there will be some surprising thrills. The new restaurant will be located here, set inside Arendelle Castle.
Tangled Themed Area
In the Tangled themed area, guests will see Rapunzel’s tower and an attraction that follows Rapunzel to a lantern festival. There will also be a restaurant inspired by the hideout of the band of thugs from the film. Guests will board gondolas and take a romantic boat tour of Rapunzel’s “best day ever” as she heads to the Lantern Festival with Flynn. Look for flickering lanterns to illuminate the attraction’s climactic scene and Rapunzel and Flynn will sing one of the film’s iconic songs.
Peter Pan Themed Area
The Never Land area will have two attractions and a restaurant. Captain Hook’s ship and Skull Rock are the focal points. This reminds me quite a bit of Disneyland Paris actually.
One attraction here will fly guests over the jungles of Never Land and into a battle with Captain Hook and his crew of pirates. Guests will join Peter Pan as he attempts to rescue Wendy’s younger brother, John. Guests board boats and follow the Lost Boys down the river where Tinkerbell sprinkles pixie dust on the boat. Then guests will find themselves flying through Never Land on an epic adventure that includes 3D imagery from the film and iconic music.
The second attraction takes guests to the oversized world of Pixie Hollow where Tinkerbell and her friends live and work. The restaurant here is inspired by the Lost Boys and their hideout. It will have great views of Never Land that guests can enjoy while eating.
Overview of the New Tokyo DisneySea Hotel
The new hotel will have a Disney fantasy theme and it will be located inside the park! It will surround the magical springs that serve as the core of the new themed port’s story. Park facing rooms will feature beautiful views of the port’s stunning landscape, which gives guests an exclusive experience.
There will be 475 deluxe and luxury guests rooms, with the latter offering the best accommodations at the Tokyo Disney Resort. It is here you will find the merchandise shop that helps share the story of the magical springs found on the hotel’s first floor. Given the prices of official Disney hotels at TDR, I am guessing these will be shockingly expensive. I’m going to need to purchase some lottery tickets in hopes of affording a night here I’m guessing!
Exciting times for both Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea! We can’t wait to watch the changes over the next few years — it will certainly change the views from the nearby Hilton and Sheraton properties that overlook the parking lot where the expansion appears to be going!
Photos Courtesy of Oriental Land Co., Ltd.
A lifelong Disney fanatic and freelance travel and food writer currently based in Belize and the Netherlands. Annual passholder to all Disney Parks worldwide. Bring you Disney Magic from around the globe.
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