
Policy officially addresses the gray area of Kingdom Hearts.
Japan has a passionate and unabashed love for both Disney characters and cosplay, so you might expect Tokyo Disneyland and Disney Sea to be packed every day with guests dressed as Mickey, Elsa, or any of the other dozens of stars of the Disney Animated Canon. In reality, though, the theme parks bar cosplay for almost the entire year (though they make an exception for little kids who want to dress up).
However, the parks lift their cosplay ban for two brief periods a year, at the start and end of their Halloween celebrations. This year’s final round of cosplay opportunities started on Tuesday and runs until October 31, but before you slip on your costume and head to Disneyland or Sea, you’ll want to make sure it fits with their cosplay regulations.
Costumes with hems that drag along the ground are not allowed, nor are tight bodysuits that show off every contour of your nether regions. On a similar note, outfits that show off too much skin are also unacceptable, as are masks, makeup, or fake mustaches and beards that obscure the wearer’s facial features.
Oh, and one other thing: costumes that aren’t of Disney characters are prohibited.
Now, it should be noted that Tokyo Disneyland and Sea take a pretty liberal attitude regarding the definition of “Disney character.” Obviously, characters from Disney animated works are permitted, but so are their Pixar corporate cousins. Live-action properties, such as the recent live-action Alice in Wonderland movies directed by Tim Burton, are also fair game.
As a matter of fact, a number of Disney-produced live-action television and film franchises with no animated versions whatsoever are allowed. Want to dress up like Hannah Montana or National Treasure hero Benjamin Gates? Go for it, says Tokyo Disneyland. Also OK are costumes based on characters from Disney theme park attractions, stage shows, and parades.
However, there are limits to how inclusive the parks are willing to be. Disney may now own Marvel, but the installments of the Marvel Cinematic Universe aren’t on the list of allowed costumes (although the animated Big Hero 6, with its heavily reworked character designs, is). And since this is Japan we’re talking about, another gray area that needs clearing up is Kingdom Hearts, the video game franchise with a cast composed of Disney stars and Square Enix adventurers.
The series is specifically mentioned on the list (which can be viewed in its entirety here), with a notice that Kingdom Hearts characters hailing from Disney properties are permissible, but those originating with other companies (i.e. Square Enix) are not. So if you and your friends were hoping to roll up to Tokyo Disneyland dressed as Sora, Riku, or Cloud Strife, you’re out of luck.
Source: Tokyo Disney Resort via Jin
Top image: Tokyo Disney Resort
Insert images: Wikipedia/Quentin X, Wikipedia/Sushiflinger



Tokyo Disneyland/Disney Sea announce cosplay rules, allowed characters for Halloween 2019
There’s a Kingdom Hearts hotel room with a functioning Keyblade coming to Tokyo Disneyland【Pics】
Japanese TV program chuckles at Shanghai Disneyland’s “non-Disney” characters, like…Mulan?
Tokyo Disneyland cancels Christmas
Adorable cosplaying one-year-old steals the spotlight at Tokyo Disneyland 【Video】
Japanese restaurant chain serves Dragon Ball donuts and Senzu Beans this spring
Starbucks Japan releases first-ever Hinamatsuri Girls’ Day Frappuccino
Japan has only one airport named after a samurai, so let’s check out Kochi Ryoma【Photos】
Tokyo street sweets: The must-snack treats of Nakano’s Refutei
Family Mart’s Shibuya Cat Street shop hosts first-ever rescue cat photo exhibition for Cat Day
Japan Extreme Budget Travel! A trip from Tokyo to Izumo for just 30,000 yen [Part 1]
Unusual vending machine in Akihabara sells drinks you won’t find anywhere else in Tokyo
Beautiful blue apple jam is taking the Japanese internet’s breath away!
Take a trip to Japan’s Dododo Land, the most irritating place on Earth
The etiquette rules for visiting Shinto shrines in Japan
Highest Starbucks in Japan set to open this spring in the Tokyo sky
The 10 most annoying things foreign tourists do on Japanese trains, according to locals
Tokyo Skytree turns pink for the cherry blossom season
Yakuzen ramen restaurant in Tokyo is very different to a yakuza ramen restaurant
Shibuya Station’s Hachiko Gate and Yamanote Line stairway locations change next month
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Starbucks Japan adds new sakura Frappuccino and cherry blossom drinks to the menu
Japan’s new “Cunte” contact lenses aren’t pronounced like you’re probably thinking they are
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Foreigners accounting for over 80 percent of off-course skiers needing rescue in Japan’s Hokkaido
Super-salty pizza sends six kids to the hospital in Japan, linguistics blamed
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura Frappuccino for cherry blossom season 2026
Foreign tourists in Japan will get free Shinkansen tickets to promote regional tourism
Naruto and Converse team up for new line of shinobi sneakers[Photos]
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting the lines at a popular Tokyo gyukatsu restaurant?
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
The awesome outfits of cosplayers at Tokyo Disneyland
Kingdom Hearts Keyblades open the doors at new Tokyo Disneyland hotel rooms【Photos】
Tokyo Disney Sea adds pitch-black sausage, other spooky treats for Halloween
Tokyo Disneyland and Disney Sea are getting their own exclusive Pocky
Tokyo Disney Resort plans 300-billion yen expansion, rumored to be third Tokyo Disney theme park
Tokyo Disneyland and Disney Sea will close for two weeks because of coronavirus fear
The reason Tokyo Disneyland has no mosquitos (plus three other cool things about its water)
How we enjoyed Tokyo Disneyland and Disney Sea’s Christmas parades
Tokyo Disneyland rings in Japanese New Year with special parades, kimono, and a flatulent pig
Grumpy Man’s Guide to Tokyo Disney: A bitter ex-fan shares his side of the 35th anniversary gala
Tokyo Disneyland will require visitors to wear masks indoors when it reopens next month
No screaming on roller coasters, please, say Tokyo Disneyland, other Japanese amusement parks
Eating Our Way Through Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea【You, Me, And A Tanuki】
Brand-new Beauty and the Beast area and Baymax attractions coming to Tokyo Disneyland 【Pics】