Toy Story Hotel at Tokyo Disney Resort
The new Toy Story Hotel at Tokyo Disney Resort is now open! This post shares photos and details about the resort amenities, dining, guest rooms, and more. We’ll also offer a bit of commentary about whether we’d book this when visiting Japan, Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea.
The new Toy Story Hotel is designed by Walt Disney Imagineering and features “playful designs that immerse guests in the creative imagination of Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story films, brings to life the world of toys featured in the popular, award-winning animated features.”
From the moment guests arrive, they will feel like they’ve been shrunk to toy-size and are welcomed as “honorary toys.” As the story goes, Andy has assembled this toy hotel so that his toys have a place to stay and play while he is away at Cowboy Camp.
Outside of the hotel, there are oversized toy action play figures of Toy Story pals. Buzz Lightyear and Jessie are part of Slinky Dog Park in front of the entrance, while Woody and Bo Peep can be found in Toy Friends Square, a courtyard off the lobby.
Here’s a new look at Toy Story Hotel now that it has opened, with updated details and photos…
Toy Story Hotel at Tokyo Disney Resort is a moderate-type hotel with 595 guest rooms–575 standard rooms and 20 superior rooms. The hotel has streamlined facilities and services to bring guests a new option between the existing deluxe and value hotels at Tokyo Disney Resort.
This is the first non-Deluxe hotel on-site at Tokyo Disney Resort, and is located directly across from Bayside Station, in between Hilton Tokyo Bay, Hotel Okura, and Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay Hotel. It’s technically the first non-Deluxe Disney hotel on the monorail loop anywhere in the world.
The guest rooms are inspired by Andy’s bedroom from the first Toy Story film, featuring his iconic blue sky and puffy white cloud wallpaper. There are also Woody’s Roundup inspired headboards, an oversized Mickey Mouse wristwatch hanging on one of the walls, plus other toy-like fixtures and furnishings.
Rooms that sleep up to three guests have two regular beds and a trundle bed, rooms for up to four guests have three regular beds and a pull-down bed.
Shopping, dining, and other amenities include the following…
Lotso Garden Cafe – With an interior inspired by Lotso the pink teddy bear from Toy Story 3, this restaurant is open for breakfast and dinner.
This buffet-style restaurant serves delicious food, including desserts inspired by Toy Story. The colorful dining area with murals depicting Lotso raising smiling fruits and vegetables.
Gift Planet (Disney Shop) – In addition to Tokyo Disney Resort merchandise, guests may also purchase items exclusive to Toy Story Hotel.
Shop Together (Hotel Shop)– This shop offers a range of daily sundries, from diapers and baby items to soft drinks, confections, beer, and more.
Toy Story Hotel’s lobby is a colorful, toy-filled space.
Guests will find slot cars racing on tracks overhead, a giant Bo Peep game board on the ceiling, puzzle pieces used to decorate the floor, colorful furniture and more.
The bright colors and theming continue through the elevator areas and guest corridors.
The hotel has two wings: one side is themed to Buzz Lightyear and the other is themed to Woody’s Roundup.
Outside, you’ll find a variety of common areas.
Slinky Dog Park is the plaza in front of the main entrance to Toy Story Hotel, styled as a board game featuring oversized toy action figures of Buzz Lightyear and Jessie. Toy Friends Square is a garden accessed from the lobby, featuring oversized toy action figures of Woody, Bo Peep, and other Toy Story characters.
Hotel services include online checkin-in, express checkout, and baggage delivery. As this is a value resort, there is no bell service or room service at Toy Story Hotel.
Currently, only guests staying at the hotel may access the hotel and grounds. Either this is a new policy effective for all on-site properties, one exclusively for Toy Story Hotel during its initial opening period, or something that won’t actually be enforced. Regardless, a bit odd. (We’re hoping it’s not going to be enforced–we’d love to dine at Lotso Garden Cafe’s dinner buffet!)
In terms of commentary, I have quite a few thoughts on Toy Story Hotel.
Newer readers might be confused as to why we’re focusing on a hotel announcement for Tokyo Disney Resort. Prior to the world shutting down, we spent a “little” bit of time each year in Japan and were Annual Passholders at Tokyo Disneyland & DisneySea. To that point, we have Tokyo Disney Resort Hotel Reviews & Rankings for all of the third party properties at TDR. So this isn’t exactly coming out of left field.
My ‘biggest’ piece of commentary about Toy Story Hotel is that it’s absolutely hideous. Back when the last concept art was released, I joked that I liked it better as a demolished events hall. (Bonus points to anyone who gets the reference.)
For all of the complaints about Pop Century or other new rooms at Walt Disney World looking like hospitals, Toy Story Hotel actually does remind me of a children’s hospital…or maybe a colorful prison?
This and the version in Shanghai Disneyland (why did they make another after seeing the results there?!) pretty clearly demonstrates that Toy Story is not a property that lends itself to a tower hotel.
The vibrant, larger-than-life style of Walt Disney World’s Value Resorts works much better for animated movies.
Admittedly, we hold Tokyo Disney Resort and Oriental Land Company to a higher standard than Disney, but this looks awful by any measure. It’s even more awkward and odd in context, which is squeezed between several third-party hotels, all of which have restrained exteriors. Soon, it’ll be across from the highest-end luxury hotel at Tokyo Disney Resort, too.
In fairness, you can’t see the outside of Toy Story Hotel from the inside–and the guest rooms actually have a fair amount of whimsy and character. With that said, they also look noticeably smaller than the rooms at the Sheraton or Hilton, which also have themed kids’ rooms in addition to their more modern, adult rooms.
Speaking of those other hotels, it’s hard to imagine booking this over the Sheraton or Hilton on either side of Toy Story Hotel. Both of those offer tremendous value, and can routinely be booked for ~$150 on weeknights.
Judging by the prices of Tokyo Disney Celebration Hotel (located off-site), the Toy Story Hotel is more significantly expensive than either the Hilton or the Sheraton on average, while being uglier (subjective) and offering weaker amenities and smaller rooms (objective).
Ultimately, the interior decor looks reasonably cute at Toy Story Hotel, there are some fun features, and the buffet sounds attractive (Tokyo Disney Resort does an excellent job on the all-you-can-eat front), but I cannot imagine staying there.
Basically, this post only exists to offer a long-winded warning against booking Toy Story Hotel. The most positivity I can muster is that Toy Story Hotel provides much-needed hotel capacity, and hopefully it’ll relieve some of the demand for other hotels.
If your budget allows for them, Hotel MiraCosta and Tokyo Disneyland Hotel are unbeatable–two of the top 5 Disney hotels in the entire world–and worth every penny. If your budget does not allow for those, book the Hilton, Sheraton, or even one of the on-site Japanese hotels.
They may not be “Disney,” but we’ve never felt like that has been an impediment to immersion. All of the third party on-site hotels have Disney shops, in-room TDR channels, exemplary service, stunning views of either the parks or Tokyo Bay (and Mt. Fuji on a clear day), and are located on the monorail loop.
Planning a trip to Tokyo Disney Resort? For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Tokyo Disneyland & DisneySea Trip Planning Guide! For more specifics, our TDR Hotel Rankings & Reviews page covers accommodations. Our Restaurant Reviews detail where to dine & snack. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money post. Our What to Pack for Disney post takes a unique look at clever items to take. Venturing elsewhere in Japan? Consult our Ultimate Guide to Kyoto, Japan and City Guide to Tokyo, Japan.
YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you think of the Toy Story Hotel? If you’ve been to Tokyo Disney Resort, what is your favorite on-site hotel? Planning on disregarding our advice and booking it anyway? Think this is a good addition to the Tokyo Disney Resort hotel lineup, or do you also wish it remained a demolished events hall? Do you agree or disagree with our assessment? Any questions? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
Outside: overbusy and a little cheesy. Inside: a little too loud but better. Moderately priced and on the monorail loop- sold. I’ll be staying there.
I’m not a fan of this post since I think the hotel looks awesome… but HOW COOL IS THAT PHOTO OF THE MONORAIL WITH MOUNT PROMETHEUS AND TOT??!?!
Thanks for the kind words–I got up early for that one. (Not really an impressive feat given that jet lag wakes me up early every day in Japan.)
Respectful disagreement is always welcome here. I’m sure a LOT of Disney fans love the look of this hotel. I am well aware that my opinion is just that, and certainly not the gospel! 🙂
Like the Value resorts at WDW, this one is clearly aimed at children. I’m sure a lot of little ones would think this is the coolest place in the world.
Considering how the rates at the Hilton Tokyo Bay have increased over the past five years (they now often reach or exceed that of Disney’s Ambassador Hotel), I think the Toy Story Hotel rates will be competitive with Hilton. (I would never stay at The Sheraton–one and done because it was old and tatty.)
We stay at Hilton Tokyo Bay all the time (well, until November 2019) and seldom paid over $140 per night. However, we never book stays encompassing Friday or Saturday nights, nor do we travel during Japanese holidays.
Most of the Sheraton Grande’s rooms were redone ~4 years ago. The new “Ocean Dream” rooms are fantastic. There are also a bunch of random “themed” rooms that aren’t so great, but they’re not as bad as the old standard rooms.
Hey Charlie, PLEASE give the Sheraton another chance… stayed in one of the renovated rooms 3 years ago and LOVED IT!!!
I LOVE these rooms. So well themed, and theming is what I love in Disney hotels. They look far better than any of the value hotels at WDW. The outside is a bit ugly, I’ll give you that, but honestly I’d deal with that for the rooms depending on price. If only they’d done as good a job on the exterior design.
Do you just not like Pixar? You didn’t like the Incredibles rooms either :p
I love Pixar, and I think these rooms are cute and whimsical. Nice for what they are.
Personally, I’d just rather stay at the Hilton and Sheraton. Those are huge, full-service hotels with more spacious rooms that will probably average half the cost of these. If Toy Story Hotel is for some reason cheaper than the Hilton or Sheraton, I’d book it.
It looks like math link cubes? It actually does look similar to a psychiatric hospital across the river on Wards Island. Similar windows and mass of structure. But, in all seriousness, can you imagine if children’s hospitals and hospitals in general did have full themed out buildings like this?
If I can take my family to Tokyo Disney Resort, I’d be more than happy if we had to stay there.
Wasn’t Lotso a bad guy who tried to kill all the other toys? Sure, eating in his cafe sounds like fun!
The outside comes off looking like Tetris Game.
I see a sun in the upper right – are they suppose to represent blocks that make up the outside of houses?
I love Toy Story! But I’d probably never stay there. If I’m on a budget, it’s the Sheraton Grande (stayed once and loved it), if budget is not an issue, I’d go with Miracosta (bucket list hotel!!!).
By the way, forget castle pics… that last pic of the monorail with Mount Prometheus and ToT in the background is THE best TDR pic out there, no contest! If only I could have that as my screen desktop, I’d be a happy worker bee forever 🙂 Great job on that one, Tom!
What this hotel needs is a vr experience that has you with locking hands with woody and buzz and accepting your fate in the incinerator scene. great for kids
They have so limited space that I hate to see them waste it on something so hideous.
I thought the rooms looked nice and was surprised by your negative commentary, and then I saw the outside of the hotel. Oh my.
I appreciate the Tokyo content. Iv’e been reading as we debate a spring trip. We have a perfect chance to go in late March and flight prices to Tokyo have been at least reasonable, though significantly higher than Europe. I’m curious what you would do: grab the reasonable fare and hope Japan opens? Wait until Japan opens and hope flights stay the same or get cheaper? Just grab one of these insanely cheap fares to France/Italy/Switzerland and leave Japan to another year?
We’ve been booking refundable accommodations–since pricing for those is at the mercy of domestic demand more so than international visitors–to lock-in lower rates, and canceling as we go.
We have yet to book any flights, even seeing the fairly reasonable rates. There’s a lot of unused flight capacity right now, so no reason to believe airfare will jump once reopening is announced. I think they can add flights to the schedule faster than they’ll fill up. Who knows, though.
Looks wonderful to me! Moving away from the boring new Disney modern. We stayed at the Hilton when we were there (and there was a scary earthquake) and it was lovely. My son and his girlfriend are going to be staying at the Celebration Disney Tokyo hotel for their honeymoon . They love classic Disney but will love this place too! I can’t can’t stand places that cater mostly to adults.
If I ever get to Tokyo I’d probably stay there!!