Lunar New Year Festival Begins Today at Disney California Adventure
The Lunar New Year Festival has begun at Disney California Adventure! Now through Feb. 18, 2024, guests can celebrate a tribute to Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean traditions. The limited-time event rings in the Year of the Dragon with food and beverages inspired by Asian cuisine, joyous entertainment and more.
Related – Meilin Lee and Ming Lee From Turning Red Join the Lunar New Year Celebration at California Adventure
New this year, Meilin Lee and her mother Ming Lee from Disney and Pixar’s “Turning Red” make their Disneyland Resort debut, and Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa features new celebratory décor hallmarked by a dragon kite and confectionery display.
Symbolizing good luck, fortune and happiness, Paradise Gardens at Disney California Adventure Park will be adorned in brilliant red and gold. A pavilion decked in bamboo, peach blossoms, golden flowers and banners creates a memorable photo opportunity.
Asian-inspired dining with a Disney twist
Six Lunar New Year marketplaces and select dining locations at Disney California Adventure Park offer an array of dishes and beverages inspired by Asian cuisines – prepared with a uniquely Disney twist. Among the flavorful selections this year are the pork banh mi sandwich, kung pao bao, strawberry milk tea macaron and taro Vietnamese-style iced coffee. Guests can collect special novelties, available for purchase while supplies last, such as the Mickey Mouse-shaped macaron straw clip and Lunar New Year stainless steel tumbler.
Guests may choose to purchase a Sip and Savor Pass, which can be shared among their group or used over multiple visits to this year’s Lunar New Year celebration. The pass includes six coupons redeemable for select food or nonalcoholic beverages from participating marketplaces and dining locations at Disney California Adventure Park.
This year, guests will redeem their Sip and Savor Pass coupons in one of two simple ways, depending on pass type availability:
- This year’s Lunar New Year Celebration is testing a new way for guests to redeem their Sip and Savor Pass coupons. At checkout, guests who receive a scannable pass can let a cast member at the location scan their pass before entering the 4-digit code located on their pass. The remaining number of digital coupons on the pass will be printed on the receipt. Guests may also ask a cast member at any festival marketplace to scan the Sip and Savor Pass and confirm the number of digital coupons remaining on the pass.
- Those who receive a pass with attached coupons can present their Sip and Savor Pass to a cast member at the location with the coupon still attached.
Two specialty carts, Kayla’s Cake and Lady Fortunes, offer more festival treats at Disney California Adventure Park.
Entertainment, art and more
Meilin Lee and her mother Ming Lee from Disney and Pixar’s “Turning Red” make their Disneyland Resort debut, as they ring in the new year at the pathway between Grizzly Peak and Paradise Gardens Park. They love observing Chinese traditions together, and 13-year-old Meilin is so excited that she has begun to turn into her Red Panda form.
For the Year of the Dragon, Mushu from Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Mulan” leads the way in “Mulan’s Lunar New Year Procession,” which honors family, friendship and the potential for a fortune-filled year. As they travel along the parade route from Hollywood Land to Paradise Gardens Park, Mushu and Mulan are joined by dozens of spirited performers.
The “Hurry Home – A Lunar New Year Celebration”nighttime water show performs on Paradise Bay shortly before “World of Color – ONE.” Set to a stirring musical score by Academy Award®-winning composer Tan Dun, it tells the story of a little lantern’s quest to reunite with family for the annual celebration of good luck and fortune.
Disney characters such as Mulan and Mushu, Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and Goofy greet guests at the gazebo in Paradise Gardens. Chinese designer Guo Pei created the beautiful festival attire that Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse wear to honor the celebration; the embroidered wave patterns were designed to suggest the sea and clouds, which symbolize good luck, fortune and fate.
The Paradise Garden Bandstand and Sonoma Terrace present an exciting rotation of live entertainment. New to the lineup are Korean recording artist Luna Lee and the Vietnamese trio, New Tradition. The schedule also features returning favorites: Korean-American a cappella group Vocal Seoul, plus various community performing groups.
At the Lunar New Year Wishing Wall, guests can stroll beneath strings of ornamental lanterns and share their messages of hope, health and happiness for this year.
Guests of all ages can enjoy complimentary crafts, while supplies last, and Chinese calligraphy demonstrations by local artisans. Artistic displays educate guests about the unique story of Lunar New Year in each culture, along with artwork featuring 12 Disney characters as the 12 zodiac animals.
New this year, the dragon kite on display at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa spans 80 feet long and features a custom design inspired by blossoms, symbolizing the rebirth of spring. Three figures of children hold the kite, each representing a culture that celebrates Lunar New Year.
Overnight hotel guests can book a Tai Chi fitness class by Tenaya Stone Spa at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa for an additional fee.
This year’s Lunar New Year merchandise collection will incorporate special motifs for Year of the Dragon. In addition, Arribas Brothers, Kawaii Slime Co., Lovepop and Working to Give are hosting pop-up shops at Disney California Adventure Park. At Downtown Disney District, Lovepop and Pandora Jewelry will each feature a Lunar New Year merchandise item.
If you’d like to celebrate the Lunar New Year at the Disneyland Resort, contact me today! I am a travel agent with Destinations to Travel, my services are free, and I’d love to help you plan a magical vacation.
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