The Lunar New Year celebration at Disney California Adventure started on January 23. This celebration continues and celebrates the “Year of the Dragon” through February 18th and is full of entertainment, foods, activities, merchandise, and more! It also has the arrival of Meilin Lee and Ming Lee from Disney and Pixar’s Turning Red. On the opening day of the Lunar New Year celebration, Daps Magic was invited to Disney California Adventure to check out this annual tradition and also learn more about it. Daps Magic also got the opportunity to interview Esteban about some of the highlights found at the Lunar New Year celebration! Check out the interview here:
Along with knowing about the dates, here are a few things to keep in mind about the Lunar New Year celebration:
- 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. For more details, guests can visit Disneyland.com.
- 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.
Along with the big picture details about the Lunar New Year celebration, here is an interview with Arielle about the food and merchandise for this special time:
Here are a couple of things to keep in mind about the Sip & Savor pass this year:
- There are two different types of Sip & Savor passes this year, depending on 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. More details are available on Disneyland.com.
- 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.
- The Sip and Savor Pass receipts will show “Disney Dining” on them. THIS DOES NOT MEAN DISNEY DINING IS COMING TO THE DISNEYLAND RESORT. It is simply a part of Disney’s computer system.
Daps Magic will continue to cover the Lunar New Year celebration at Disney California Adventure. Below are videos and other articles of Daps Magic’s Lunar New Year celebration. We hope they will be useful and enjoyable for you!
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