Grand Nikko Tokyo Bay Maihama

The inside of this resort is beautiful and unlike anywhere I’d seen before. Our room was roomy, with comfortable beds, a separate toilet, and a great view of the bay. We checked in early because our room was ready, and throughout the stay every team member we passed paused to acknowledge us, even when they seemed busy. That level of service really impressed me. The monorail is close by and makes both parks easy to reach. A tip: get the pass for unlimited rides that day. There’s a buffet restaurant for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We ate dinner there once, and it was what you’d expect. You may not use it much if you’re heading to the parks early, eating there, and staying until closing around 9 pm. The parks’ food is quite affordable, too. This is a great choice if you’re staying for access to Disney.

The rooms and food were okay, but for the premium price I expected more from the facilities and service. It felt like there was a charge for everything, even just getting water, which was unlike the other hotels we stayed at in Japan. And despite being in a very touristy area, almost none of the staff we spoke with could speak English. I would have expected at least someone at reception to be able to help. The location is the clear upside: it’s right in the Disneyland resort, close to the monorail. That convenient spot seems to be reflected in the room prices.

The Christmas decorations across the hotel’s large area were a lovely surprise, and the laundry facilities came in handy. Getting to Tokyo Disney Resort is very easy with the nearby Disney Monorail, which was a big plus for us. We had a nice stay at the Grand Nikko Tokyo Bay Maihama. The rooms and beds were very comfortable. There’s a 24/7 convenience store and a couple of restaurants, though food choices at the hotel are somewhat limited, especially since there’s no room service. All in all, a great experience for anyone visiting the Disney parks.

For more than $200 USD a night at the beginning of February, we got the most basic room, with two twin beds. That didn’t feel like good value. The pool costs extra, too. The lobby is pretty, but the hotel is absolutely huge, so walking anywhere can take 15-20 minutes. It seems primarily set up as a wedding venue. There are only two restaurants and the food choices are very limited. There’s no room service, and the hotel sits in a food desert, so you have to take the train to go anywhere. The 24/7 convenience store is limited, nothing like the 7 Elevens we know and love in Japan. It wasn’t very convenient, either, apart from being 15-20 minutes from the main gate of Disney Sea on the opposite side of the park. We were on the ninth floor and had to sleep with the balcony doors open every night because it was so hot and there was no AC. I’d look elsewhere if you want value from a mid-scale hotel, or stay on the other side of Tokyo Bay where it’s more affordable and take their free shuttles to the parks. I wish we had.