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Disney Resort Line

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the monorail line at the Tokyo Disney Resort. For the rail line in Hong Kong, see Disneyland Resort line. For monorail lines at other Disney theme parks, see Disney monorail (disambiguation).

Disney Resort Line
Disney Resort Line train, February 2021
Disney Resort Line train, February 2021
Overview
OwnerMaihama Resort Line Co., Ltd. (The Oriental Land Company)
LocaleTokyo Disney Resort, Urayasu, Chiba
Transit typeAutomated straddle-beam monorail (Alweg‑type)
Number of stations4
Operation
Began operation27 July 2001; 24 years ago (2001-07-27)
Operator(s)Maihama Resort Line Co., Ltd.
CharacterElevated
Technical
System length5 km (3.1 mi)
No. of tracks1
ElectrificationContact rails, 1,500 V DC
Top speed50 km/h (31 mph)[1]
System map

Legend
 Maihama
JE
Transfers
(via short walk)
 Resort Gateway
Tokyo Disneyland
Depot
 Tokyo DisneySea
Bayside
Handicapped/disabled access All stations are accessible
This diagram:

The Disney Resort Line[a] is an automated straddle-beam, Alweg-type monorail line serving the Tokyo Disney Resort in Urayasu, Chiba, Japan. Operated by Maihama Resort Line Co., Ltd.,[b] a subsidiary of the Oriental Land Company (OLC), the system connects Maihama Station to major resort destinations including Tokyo Disneyland, Tokyo DisneySea, hotels, and commercial facilities. Passenger service began on 27 July 2001, shortly before the opening of Tokyo DisneySea.[1]

History

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Plans for a monorail serving the Tokyo Disney Resort began to emerge in the 1990s as the resort expanded. While Tokyo Disneyland was within easy walking distance of Maihama Station, the development of Tokyo DisneySea and several large hotels made the area too large to navigate on foot. The monorail provided a transportation solution while also opening up more land for development, including additional resort hotels.

The project received government approval in 1997, and construction began the following year. Trial operations started in 2000, and the Disney Resort Line opened on 27 July 2001, just two months before DisneySea's opening.[1]

In the years after opening, the line saw steady ridership and several system upgrades. In 2009, the line began accepting IC cards including Pasmo and Suica, and tickets transitioned from magnetic stripe to QR codes in 2025. Fares have been revised periodically in line with changes to Japan’s consumption tax. A major modernization program began in 2019 with the introduction of the Type C fleet, which replaced the original Type X trains between 2020 and 2024.

Operations

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The Disney Resort Line is a single-track, counterclockwise loop linking Maihama Station with facilities throughout the resort. A complete circuit takes about 13 minutes, with travel times of two to four minutes between adjacent stations.[1] Up to four trains operate simultaneously, providing headways as short as 3.25 minutes.

Trains operate under an automatic train operation (ATO) system corresponding to Grades of Automation 3 (GoA3/DTO), with an onboard conductor responsible for door control and safety monitoring. Manual controls are located at both ends of each train; with the forward-facing operating area typically open to passengers with the master controller and instruments covered.

Safety features include platform screen doors at all stations and interlocked sensors on both car and platform doors that prevent departures unless all are fully secured. Station staff are present throughout most of the operating day to supervise boarding and ensure platform safety.

Although the line runs entirely on land owned by OLC and is sometimes mistaken for a park attraction due to its location within the resort, it is legally classified as a public railway. As such, standard fares are charged, IC cards are accepted, and season tickets are available.[1][2] This differs from most other Disney monorail systems, which typically operate fare-free or are included with theme-park admission.

Stations

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All stations on the line are located on OLC property and are not directly connected to public roads. Platform gates are installed systemwide. Tokyo DisneySea Station and Resort Gateway Station use a Spanish solution with separate platforms for boarding and alighting to manage peak crowds.

Station Image First train Last train Platform Connections
Resort Gateway 06:31 23:30 Dual JE Keiyō Line (Maihama: JE07), Ikspiari, Disney Ambassador Hotel, Hotel Dream Gate Maihama
Tokyo Disneyland 06:33 23:32 Side Tokyo Disneyland, Tokyo Disneyland Hotel
Bayside 06:36 23:34 Side Official Hotels (Fantasy Springs, Toy Story, Grand Nikko, Hilton, Hotel Okura, Sheraton, Sunroute Plaza, Tokyo Bay Maihama Hotel)
Tokyo DisneySea 06:40 23:39 Dual Tokyo DisneySea, Tokyo DisneySea Hotel MiraCosta

Rolling stock

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Type X train
Type C train

All rolling stock operated on the Disney Resort Line since its opening has been built by Hitachi Rail using the company’s proprietary Hitachi Monorail standard-size platform.

The line is operated with a fleet of five six-car Resort Liner trains,[1] based on Hitachi’s typical design but modified with Mickey Mouse–shaped windows. Each train is finished in a distinct wave-themed color scheme.[3] Although the trains are equipped for fully automatic operation, an employee rides in a cab at the rear of each train for safety monitoring.[4] Up to four trains operate on the loop simultaneously, with a minimum headway of approximately three minutes.[1]

Beginning in July 2020, the original Type X fleet was gradually replaced by Type C trainsets with similar exterior color schemes.[5] The transition was completed on 1 January 2024,[6] and a special “last ride” event for the retiring Type X trains was held on 1 September 2024.[7] The overall investment for the fleet replacement project, which also included upgrades to signaling systems, was approximately ¥12.5 billion.[8]

Externally, the Type C trains differ from the first-generation Type X through the removal of the front-window antenna, a revised two-tone livery, and significantly enlarged passenger windows—about 50% larger—to improve visibility.[8][9]

The Type C interior increases total capacity to 564 passengers, compared with 537 on the Type X.[10] Interior space is expanded in both height and width, and the bench seating has been redesigned to improve comfort and speed passenger flow. The design incorporates Mickey Mouse-themed upholstery and Mickey-shaped hand straps at three heights for children and adults. To enhance accessibility, wider free-space areas are provided in the third and fourth cars, and the forward observation area in the lead car has been redesigned.[7][8][9]

Type X (10 series)
Set Car No. Remarks
Blue (1) 11 12 13 14 15 16 Replaced 18 January 2022[11]
Yellow (2) 21 22 23 24 25 26 Replaced 3 July 2020[12]
Purple (3) 31 32 33 34 35 36 Replaced 18 November 2022[13]
Green (4) 41 42 43 44 45 46 Replaced 1 January 2024[6]
Peach (5) 51 52 53 54 55 56 Replaced 23 January 2021[14]
Type C (100 series)
Set Car No. Remarks
Yellow (1) 111 112 113 114 115 116 Introduced 3 July 2020
Pink (2) 121 122 123 124 125 126 Introduced 23 January 2021
Blue (3) 131 132 133 134 135 136 Introduced 18 January 2022[11]
Purple (4) 141 142 143 144 145 146 Introduced 18 November 2022[13]
Green (5) 151 152 153 154 155 156 Introduced 1 January 2024[6]

Ridership statistics

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The annual ridership figures for the line are as shown below.[1]

Fiscal year Passengers per year
2002 19,374,000
2007 15,370,000
2009 16,700,000

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Japanese: ディズニーリゾートライン, Hepburn: Dizunī Rizōto Rain
  2. ^ 株式会社舞浜リゾートライン, Kabushiki gaisha Maihama Rizōto Rain

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Terada, Hirokazu (19 January 2013). データブック日本の私鉄 [Databook: Japan's Private Railways]. Japan: Neko Publishing. p. 57. ISBN 978-4-7770-1336-4.
  2. ^ "東京ディズニーリゾート・オフィシャルウェブサイト".
  3. ^ 私鉄車両編成表 2010 [Private Railway Rolling Stock Formations – 2010]. Japan: JRR. August 2010. p. 35. ISBN 978-4-330-15310-0.
  4. ^ "Disney Resort Line Monorail". Retrieved 17 November 2025.
  5. ^ "ディズニーリゾートラインに新型車両「リゾートライナー(Type C)」が2020年春デビュー！" (in Japanese). 25 September 2019. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  6. ^ a b c "「リゾートライナー（Type C）」にグリーンの車両がデビュー" (in Japanese). 1 January 2024. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  7. ^ a b "ディズニーリゾートライン「リゾートライナー(Type X)」運行終了へ". マイナビニュース (in Japanese). 10 July 2024. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  8. ^ a b c eguchi (27 September 2019). "ディズニーリゾートライン、125億円で新型車両「リゾートライナー（Type C）」来春導入" [Disney Resort Line to introduce new train "Resort Liner (Type C)" next spring at a cost of 12.5 billion yen]. Tourism Economy Newspaper. Retrieved 19 November 2025.
  9. ^ a b "ディズニーリゾートラインに 新型車両「リゾートライナー(Type C)」が2020年春デビュー！お気に入り" [The new "Resort Liner (Type C)" train will debut on the Disney Resort Line in spring 2020!]. Tokyo Disney Resort. 25 September 2019.
  10. ^ "株式会社舞浜リゾートライン". www.mrc.olc.co.jp. Retrieved 16 November 2025.
  11. ^ a b "ディズニーリゾートライン、ブルーの新型車両を導入 1月18日に運行開始". ITmedia ビジネスオンライン (in Japanese).
  12. ^ "鉄道ファン：ディズニーリゾートライン、ピンクの新型車両「リゾートライナー（Type-C）」を1月23日運行開始".
  13. ^ a b "2022年11月18日（金）「リゾートライナー（Type C）」にパープルの車両がデビュー！". プレスリリース・ニュースリリース配信シェアNo.1｜PR TIMES (in Japanese). 1 November 2022.
  14. ^ "ディズニーリゾートライン、ピンクの新型車両「リゾートライナー（Type-C）」を1月23日運行開始". 22 January 2021.
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