Celebrate the Chinese New Year Traditions with a Magical Twist at Shanghai Disney Resort

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Celebrate the Chinese New Year Traditions with a Magical Twist at Shanghai Disney Resort

Shanghai Disney Resort is ready to celebrate the Year of the Pig and help guests enjoy the Chinese New Year! They want to help guests rediscover all the joy of the holiday with a magical twist. For the entire year, from January 19-February 19, there will be unforgettable Chinese New Year experiences, activities, and offerings for guests. There will be new, exclusive merchandise, food, beverages, and season entertainment for guests near and far.

The brand-new festivities were revealed today during the event all about the Chinese New Year, held at the Shanghai Disneyland Hotel. Many celebrities attended the event. Pan Hong–Shanghainese actress and leading film star; Kong Xiangdont–internationally-known pianist; Xu Lijia–Olympic sailing champion; Ji Cheng–fashion designer; and Sun Dou’er–the male lead performer for the Mandarin production of the Beauty and the Beast musical.

There will be a wide-range of new offerings and shows during the festival season. The Chinese New Year 2019 Firework Celebration: A Feast of Love and Light, will shine the night sky with amazing colors and shapes dancing above. For the first time ever, guests are able to bring their entire family for a fantastic reunion dinner at Shanghai Disneyland Hotel on February 4 and 5. The dinner will celebrate with one of the country’s traditional meals while Disney enhances dinner with their magic.


Celebrate the Chinese New Year Traditions with a Magical Twist at Shanghai Disney Resort

To honor the tradition of decorating homes for the New Year, Shanghai Disney Resort will dress itself in festive decor to create the magnificent New Year ambiance for guests. This includes Mickey lanterns, floral garland, Chinese couplets, paper decorations, and more. To complete the New Year experience, reds and golds will be all through the park and resort, and complete with Chinese New Year melodies.

From the moment guests step on Mickey Avenue, they will be immersed in the New Year decorations. Guests can also meet Mickey Mouse and his pals dressed in brand-new Chinese New Year costumes. They will also be able to meet Duffy, ShellieMay, Gelatoni, and Stella Lou! Goofy will be seen in his God of Fortune costume to bring extra excitement to the festivities.

Celebrate the Chinese New Year Traditions with a Magical Twist at Shanghai Disney Resort

Hamm–our favorite pig from the Toy Story films–will be around the resort wishing guests a prosperous year, to signify the Year of the Pig. There will be many picture perfect photo opportunities around the resort as well. In the Garden of the Twelve Friends, a special picture can be taken of the pig zodiac dressed in gold coins and red couplets. There will also be a beautiful photo backdrop in the Gardens of Imagination.

Celebrate the Chinese New Year Traditions with a Magical Twist at Shanghai Disney Resort

Performances and ceremonies are an extremely important part of Chinese New Year traditions. Ignite the Dream: A Nighttime Spectacular of Magic and Light will also add in the Chinese New Year 2019 Firework Celebration: A Feast of Love and Light, on select nights from January 25-February 10. There will also be a showing on the Lantern Festival, February 19.

Each morning, guests can enjoy a special performance, led by Mickey and Minnie Mouse. Near Storytellers Statue, Mickey and Minnie Mouse will wish good fortune for the day. Many times during the day, Mickey and his pals, will have a special performance of Shanghai Swing, in Celebration Square. This high-energy show features vintage Shanghai-style clothes and encourages guest to “swing along!” –Shanghai Disneyland Resort

Guests can also write down their wishes on wish cards in The Wishing Garden, to send out their hopes and dreams for the year ahead. The Wishing Garden returns as part of the Garden of the Twelve Friends transforms into the special holiday-themed garden.

Celebrate the Chinese New Year Traditions with a Magical Twist at Shanghai Disney Resort

There will also be a special carnival at the Wishing Star Market in Disneytown, where guest will continue to celebrate. Traditional Chinese snacks will be offered. The Wishing Star Skating Rink will offer an experience for all ages to remember for years! Through Disneytown will be more locations for guests to capture their fun.

Plenty of surprises await guests as well. Greeting guests as they begin their Enchanted Storybook Castle adventure will be Pan Hong. She is the iconic Mandarin-voiceover for “Once Upon A Time” Adventure. The Enchanted Storybook Castle adventure showcases the story of Snow White in a Shanghainese soundtrack.

January also rolls out the latest addition to the Mickey in Shanghai merchandise. These new travel collection is only available at Shanghai Disney Resort. Classic images of Mickey and Minnie Mouse, iconic city landmarks, local snacks, distinct culture, and Shanghainese phrases are featured throughout the merchandise.

Celebrate the Chinese New Year Traditions with a Magical Twist at Shanghai Disney Resort

Family reunion dinners are a longstanding tradition in Chinese culture. On February 4 and 5, in the Cinderella Ballroom, at Shanghai Disneyland Hotel, guests will be delivered a signature experience. The meal will not only be delicious, but will be a sight to see! Children can take a break from the meal and give a try at traditional paper-cutting activities, sugar painting, and even attempt making their own dumplings. During the dinner, guests can enjoy a live screening of the Chinese New Year Gala on televisions in the ballroom.

There will be a Chinese New Year Feast, from February 3-10, at Lumière’s Kitchen, featuring a magnificent buffet. Guests will have plenty of opportunities to capture all the memories of their meal, with  Mickey, Minnie, and other Disney friends in their Chinese New Year costumes.

There are many other places to find traditional Chinese New Year holiday yummies. Wandering Moon Restaurant and the Royal Banquet Hall will have traditional meat and savory dishes. Remy’s Patisserie and II Paperino will also release unique, sweet, Disney dishes for the occasion. There is something for every food craving during the Chinese New Year season.

Celebrate the Chinese New Year Traditions with a Magical Twist at Shanghai Disney Resort

Don’t forget to bring the magic home with you! To honor tradition, Shanghai Disney Resort is releasing more than 40 limited-edition Chinese New Year merchandise items. The collection is inspired from customary colors and symbols in the Chinese culture. The merchandise includes a diverse variety of golden pigs, lantern designs, gold ingots, couplets, and other traditional items that are believed to create great holiday gift choices. Be sure and also check out the “Lucky Bags” returning again this year filled with exclusive merchandise inspired by Hamm the pig. Guests who purchase a Lucky Bag will have a chance to win roundtrip air tickets to Hong Kong from China Eastern Airlines.

Celebrate the Chinese New Year Traditions with a Magical Twist at Shanghai Disney Resort

New plush dolls, including Mickey, Duffy and their friends are also available! They’ll be dressed in the traditional red and gold colors and Chinese costumes. The colors also carry over to the resorts new fashion line. The shopping experience continues with brand-new sequined Minnie headbands, cross-body bags, limited-edition Chinese New Year pins, and more. All the merchandise is perfect to commemorate the New Year.

Celebrate the Chinese New Year Traditions with a Magical Twist at Shanghai Disney Resort

The time is now to extend your Lunar New Year Celebration. Be sure and check out all the decorations at the Toy Story Hotel and Shanghai Disneyland Hotel. The entryway, lobby, and beyond greet guest with traditional decorations and bright Disney additions created for the occasion. There may even be a few surprise visits to meet and greet Goofy in his Chinese New Year outfit! Last, families can also choose to stay in a themed room filled with decorations inspired Mickey and Minnie to celebrate the Chinese New Year.

Photo copyright by Shanghai Disney Resort.

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Laura is a travel agent, gym fanatic, wife, mom of 1 beautiful little girl (& 3 dogs and 1 cat), and can't count how many time she's been to Walt Disney World Resort. She is a lover of all things related to travel, but Disney Destinations are her passion. She lives in the great state of Texas, and eats any kind of Mexican food she can get her hands on daily.
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