We’ve always been advocates of staying late at theme parks, soaking in the vibes and enjoying shorter wait times on attractions. The park’s have a different atmosphere at night than during the day. That even extends to certain rides, where the experience is different (and possibly better) once the sun sets. We’ve previously ranked our favorite attractions to ride at night in Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World. In this post, we’ll move to our top ten attractions to ride at night in Tokyo Disney!

Going through this exercise at two different resorts already, it’s interesting to see how this topic is a strength at Walt Disney World and less so elsewhere. Some of that is due to WDW just having more attractions that were recently built and outside. Meanwhile at Tokyo Disney Resort, there’s more of a focus on inside rides. The winters are colder there than in Florida or Anaheim, so that’s likely the main reason. Obviously, inside rides aren’t really affected by whether it’s dark or not unless you want to get really nerdy about eyesight and lighting. I’m hoping that no one wants that.

As with our previous posts, the main way I ranked and judged these was based off of the amount of thrill/excitement added at night, how the ride’s different effects look while illuminated. Just like the previous post, most everything is ranked based on the actual ride experience. Facades and queues were minimally factored in and I didn’t consider any shows. If you’re looking for just regular attraction rankings then we have them for both Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea!

Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea are beautiful at night! There were a few attractions that narrowly missed the list like Alice’s Tea Party and Dumbo. I probably prefer both at night but not enough to make the list. Rapunzel’s Lantern Festival in Fantasy Springs also deserves an honorable mention, as the ride starts off outside and is beautiful both in the day and night. Splash Mountain could fit into the 10th ranked spot along with the tie I already have. Let’s get to the list!

10. Tower of Terror & Journey to the Center of the Earth (TDS)

We’ll start with breaking the self-imposed rules multiple ways. Not only do we have a tie but both of these attractions make the list partially because of how incredible their facades are. Both are centerpieces in the gorgeous DisneySea. As for the on ride experience, they are similar in how they briefly interact with the outside. That’s the biggest reason for the tie. Tower of Terror let’s guests peek outside while waiting to fall and Journey shoots guests outside momentarily after encountering the lava monster! I prefer both of them at night but it’s the slightest of changes so 10th felt like the best spot. If this were a ranking of the best things to look at in the dark, then they’d be on top of the list.

9. Western River Railroad (TDL)

Riding Tokyo Disneyland’s train at night isn’t necessarily better but it is different. Western River Railroad circles around the park’s Westernland before ending back in Adventureland. The views are stunning and there’s a peacefulness to this side of the park after the sun sets. I could have added the Mark Twain Riverboat in here, as well, but that closes earlier at times. Seeing the well lit river and Splash Mountain from the train is a nice way to relax at night.

8. Fairy Tinker Bell’s Busy Buggies (TDS)

A few kid friendly entries make the list, including this Fantasy Springs option. Fairy Tinker Bell’s Busy Buggies is better than it has any right to be, both in the day and at night. I’m especially impressed by the lighting package here, as it gives off an imaginative sheen that fits in with the ride. I’d be remiss not to mention my favorite mouse, Cheese, and how good he looks.

7. Raging Spirits (TDS)

This is where the nighttime rankings get tricky! I definitely prefer the other attractions I’ve already listed compared to this coaster. But Raging Spirits is much better at night than during the day whereas the others I’ve listed aren’t drastically different. This Indiana Jones themed ride does look fantastic, especially once the sun sets. The facade lights up in fire and most coasters are better in the dark. In this particular case, the darkness adds some much needed thrill to a ride that goes surprisingly slow.

6. Flounder’s Flying Fish Coaster (TDS)

Another point for kiddie coasters being better in the dark! This ride is in the outside portion of Mermaid Lagoon and jets out by the water here and there. It also has a great view of Arabian Coast. This is one of the best rides to watch fireworks from, if you can time it up correctly. Shoutout to Scuttle’s Scooters that’s nearby and also offers some of the same views. Flounder’s Flying Fish Coaster is especially nice to do at night because the line is much shorter.

5. Jungle Cruise: Wildlife Expeditions (TDL)

I was a little split on this one. Tokyo Disneyland’s version of the Jungle Cruise is my favorite of any park I’ve been in and it looks fantastic during the day! In fact, I might prefer it during the day. But nighttime is an especially festive ride and the lighting looks great all around the animals and inside of the temple. The ride doesn’t typically have much of a weight at night, which is a nice bonus!

4. DisneySea Electrical Railway (TDS)

DisneySea’s train ride takes guests between Port Discovery and the American Waterfront. During the day, sitting on the side that faces the Pacific and staring out for as far as your eyes can see if wonderful. At night, sit on the opposite side and you’ll get to see the park’s mountain and Mediterranean Harbor in its beautiful, lit up glory. With the railway raised above the park, it offers a great view of what the front of the park has to offer.

3. The Happy Ride with Baymax (TDL)

These next couple of picks are a little surprising, at least to me. They shouldn’t be since I’m the one writing this but, you know, never stop surprising yourself. Is that a saying that people hang in their homes? It feels like it is. Anyway, Happy Ride with Baymax is a covered, but open air, attraction that uses the same ride system as Mater’s in California Adventure. It’s always festive, with Cast Members singing and dancing along to the different songs. At night, the party is ramped up a bit with guests huddling around the ride, moving to the music. This is a Disney theme park version of a rave and I find it quite charming, while others might think it’s over the top. It can be both!

2. Aquatopia (TDS)

This outdoor trackless ride zips around the water while looking up at Mount Prometheus. That alone makes it pretty amazing at night! Add in that it’s even less predictable in the dark, when you can’t see some of the usual track layout, and this becomes even more fun. Thrill rides usually get the top spots on these lists but Tokyo Disney Resort bucks that trend, for better or worse.

1. Big Thunder Mountain (TDL)

First place shouldn’t be a huge surprise, after Big Thunder finished first at Disneyland and third at WDW. In Tokyo, this is a runaway winner as other headline attractions are largely indoors. Big Thunder is more fun at night – the effects look better, the turns feel faster and the whole ride feels more alive. The lighting here is spectacular and there’s some incredible views offered, making this an undeniable champion.

Where did I go wrong in my rankings? Let me know that, as well as any questions, in the comments below! Planning a trip to Tokyo? Check out our guide to help you along the way! For those interested in going to Tokyo Disney Resort and Japan with us, fill out this form! If you enjoy what you are reading here on Wandering in Disney please share this post with your friends, as well as like our social media pages. You can also subscribe to the blog via WordPress or email. All of those links are on the right side of this page. Thank you for reading, we really appreciate it!