The ONE Reason I’m Skipping Disney World Next Year

Okay, so, I have a confession to make.

Rapuzel’s Forest in Fantasy Springs at Tokyo DisneySea

After years of faithfully making my annual pilgrimage to Disney World, 2025 is going to look very different. Why? Because I’m trading the familiar Florida magic for something even more enchanting — the Tokyo Disney Resort. And there’s only ONE reason why I’m planning on hopping across the globe instead of hitting up Disney World next year. So let’s talk about it!

As I was saying, even though I’ve been making the trek to Disney World annually, I’m trading it all for the Tokyo Disney Resort next year, and it all comes down to one single reason — the lantern festival scene in the new Tangled ride in Fantasy Springs at Tokyo DisneySea.

What’s So Special About This Ride?

Rapunzel’s Lantern Festival isn’t just another boat ride. It’s an experience. Picture this: You’re floating through the dreamy world of Tangled, joining Rapunzel and Flynn Rider on the best day ever. You’ll visit iconic scenes from the movie starting with Rapunzel in her tower…

Rapunzel in her tower…

…and Flynn watching her…

Flynn!

…Rapunzel swinging by her hair…

“Swing Swing”

…and Rapunzel healing Flynn with her hair’s magical powers.

Rapunzel’s healing hair

But the absolute showstopper is the Lantern Festival scene. You know, the one where the sky is filled with glowing lanterns and you feel like you’re IN the movie, living out that impossibly romantic moment when Rapunzel and Flynn realize they’re perfect for each other.

The Lantern Festival

Frankly, it may be the most romantic scene in any Disney ride we’ve ever seen. It’s the kind of Disney magic I didn’t even know I needed until now.

Why I’m Choosing Tokyo DisneySea

Let’s be real: Disney World is amazing, and I’ll always love it, but sometimes, a Disney fan’s gotta branch out. Fantasy Springs is brand new. Plus, Tokyo Disney Resort has a reputation for setting the bar ridiculously high when it comes to immersive experiences.

And honestly the thought of sitting in that boat, surrounded by glowing lanterns and hearing “I See the Light”…I’m tearing up just thinking about it. That’s something I can’t pass up.

Will I Miss Disney World?

Of course I’ll still miss Disney World. Skipping my usual dose of Dole Whips and EPCOT fireworks feels a little bittersweet. But trading Cinderella Castle for an entirely new Disney adventure sounds totally worth it to me.