Credit: Tokyo Disney Resort (left), Dick Thomas Johnson, Flickr (right)One Disney park has taken extreme measures to control entry to one theme park today.
Although every Disney destination has its crowded days, few compare to Tokyo Disney Resort. Home to Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea, the resort is notorious for the massive throngs that gather at its entrances. In recent years, videos of the dense crowds outside Tokyo DisneySea – often hailed as the best Disney park in the world – have gone viral.
Today, in an effort to control these crowds, the resort has been forced to introduce a lottery system at one park entrance.
This followed reports of guests crowding the Grand Château Gateway – the hotel guest-only entrance to Fantasy Springs from Tokyo DisneySea Fantasy Springs Hotel – late last night in an effort to be among the first to enter Tokyo DisneySea.
Even in front of the entrance inside the Fantasy Springs Hotel, there are already dozens of people waiting for tomorrow’s Happy Entry.
I checked with the cast member, and they said that this is purely hotel guests lining up on their own initiative, so the actual order may vary back and forth.#TDR__now
#TDR_now
ファンタジースプリングスホテル内エントランス前にも既に明日のハッピーエントリー待ちが数十人います
キャストさんに確認したところ、こちらはあくまでも宿泊ゲストが自主的に並んでいるだけのようなので、実際の順番は前後する可能性があるとのこと。#TDR__now #TDR_now pic.twitter.com/JHQztajD1u— BKのディズニーChannel (@maihama_sanpo) September 29, 2025
At one point overnight, this line for Grand Château Gateway was so long that guests claimed it was impossible to see the front.
As one X, formerly known as Twitter, user wrote, “The cast member guy also said that since it’s all too unprecedented, he couldn’t fully grasp the situation…”
ファンタジースプリングスホテル宿泊者限定のエントランス、
アーリー待ち列最前見れないくらい並んでたキャストのお兄さんも初めてのことすぎて状況把握しきれてないって言ってた、、
グランドシャトーも抽選のやり方まだ決まってないらしくてちょっと不安、💦
bbb恐ろしい、、 pic.twitter.com/w9vlER2S7X
— おみず (@__76om) September 29, 2025
As a result, Tokyo Disney Resort introduced a lottery system to determine who could enter the park and in what order via this morning.
One representative per room was allowed to enter this lottery on behalf of the group, with the lottery beginning at 6 a.m.
Due to expected crowding for the Happy Entry admission on September 30, entry order from Grand Château Gateway will be determined by lottery.
We ask for your cooperation in ensuring safe operations.【Assembly Point】
Date and Time September 30 6:00
Location Grand Château LoungeThe lottery will be limited to one representative per room. If staying in two or more rooms, it is possible to enter them together in the lottery.
If you exceed the time, you will not be able to participate in the lottery, so please understand this in advance.
※Baggage inspection will begin from the Happy Entry admission start time.
＜ハッピーエントリーのご案内＞https://t.co/EEIhVyRR9i
９月３０日のハッピーエントリーご入園に関して混雑が予想されることから、グランドシャトー・ゲートウェイからのご入園順は抽選とさせていただきます。
安全な運営にご協力をお願いいたします。【集合場所】
日時 ９月３０日 ６：００… pic.twitter.com/eFlJUTcwdc— ໊ (@_fantasysprings) September 29, 2025
Today is particularly busy for Tokyo DisneySea as the park is hosting the final performances of Big Band Beat: A Special Treat, a jazz show featuring Mickey Mouse and friends. This has run at the park since 2006 (although it was slightly reworked in 2021).
Crowds were allegedly so bad outside Tokyo Disney Resort last night that police arrived on the scene.
On the final day of BBB, the all-nighter group waiting for opening (at the pedestrian entrance) had about 4-50 people by 23:45, and roughly 150 people at the sports park.
The police were here until just now, announcing over the speaker that a report had been made, but they basically did nothing and left.
BBB最終日の徹夜組（開園待ち）は23:45で歩行者入口前に4,50人くらい、運動公園にざっと150人ほど
先程まで警察もいて通報入ってまーすってスピーカーで言ってましたが、ほぼ何も対応せずに帰っていきました。 pic.twitter.com/MuvZsrOqLd
— 【ジョマジ】ジョー・マジック【YouTuber】 (@joejoemagic) September 29, 2025
Guests who arrived in the park early had a better chance of securing paid Disney Premier Access tickets to the show, which apparently sold out as early as 8.01 a.m.
Grand Château Gateway has the advantage of allowing guests to step directly from their hotel into one of the resort’s most beloved lands. Fantasy Springs opened last year, with mini areas inspired by Tangled (2010), Frozen (2013), and Peter Pan (1953). Attractions include Anna and Elsa’s Frozen Journey (the park’s take on Frozen Ever After), Rapunzel’s Lantern Festival, Peter Pan’s Never Land Adventure, and Fairy Tinker Bell’s Busy Buggies.
In its early days, demand for Fantasy Springs was so high and entry restrictions to the land were so tight that one of the easiest ways to secure access was to book a room at Tokyo DisneySea Fantasy Springs Hotel. However, with rooms costing significantly more than most other Tokyo Disney hotels – such as the Tokyo Disney Celebration Hotel and the Tokyo Disney Resort Toy Story Hotel – and securing a room was no small feat.
Have you visited Tokyo DisneySea Fantasy Springs Hotel?