We were so frogcited that Disneyland invited us to celebrate Lunar New Year at Disney California Adventure in 2022! The festival came roaring back for the Year of the Tiger. That means Tigger is bouncing in for some Lunar New Year Disneyland fun to celebrate with Mulan and Mushu, Mickey and Minnie, and of course, The Three Little Pigs! New for 2022, Raya — from "Raya and the Last Dragon" — makes appearances in the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail. (You'll want to read our tips below about how you can meet her.) Plus there is a new Lunar New Year procession, complete with characters, firecrackers, drummers and a dragon. Never have we been so hoppy to begin a new year as we are this year!
Lunar New Year celebrates the traditional turning of the Chinese lunisolar calendar. Over the past few years, Disney has seen this festival explode (it's a firework thing) in popularity since it began. The Lunar New Year Festival runs from Jan. 21 to Feb. 13, 2022.
The number of days for the festival has expanded in recent years, and we have been toadally excited about the new food and entertainment. You can taste even more traditional food, beverages and sweet treats from Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese and other Asian cultures at Asian marketplaces and other dining locations this year. While you nibble your treats, you can enjoy music and shows.
The year 2019 was the Year of the Pig, and we enjoyed seeing The Three Little Pigs in Mulan's Lunar New Year Procession. We're hoppy to say that they have stuck around for meet-and-greets in 2022! It's the only time we get to see them at Disneyland Resort. The Year of the Mouse was 2020, so Mickey and Minnie had fun hosting that year's event. The park was closed for 2021, so we're toadally excited to be celebrating again at Disney California Adventure in 2022.
Celebrate Lunar New Year at Disney California Adventure
Lunar New Year Entertainment
You will generally find festive Lunar New Year entertainment throughout the day and well into the evening between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m.
While all of the entertainment is frogciting, our favorite spectacle is Mulan's Lunar New Year Procession. It used to take place on the waterfront, but there is a new float for 2022. The procession now stays on the parade route of Paradise Gardens Park.
The 2022 Lunar New Year procession travels from the Pixar Pier gate to the Obelisk in front of the pier and back. A bouncing Tigger leads the way! Not far behind, the float carries Mulan and Mushu with traditional drummers. Goofy dances and waves from the back of the float. The float is adorned with golden tasseled firecrackers and red and gold lanterns. Catch it again at night, if you can, because they glow! The streets are filled with a dragon along with Chip 'n' Dale, plus umbrella and fan dancers. The dragon looks particularly cool at night (and is even a different color).
Check the entertainment schedule for the procession, which takes place several times in the afternoon and evening. Hop back soon for our 2022 video!
On the Paradise Garden Bandstand, listen for Melody of China performing Chinese folk, classical and contemporary instrumental songs. Take a seat in the afternoon to enjoy your festival food while you watch and listen to the trio play their traditional Chinese dulcimer (yangqin), lute (pipa) and fiddle (erhu). Downtown Disney celebrates Lunar New Year with a new Lunar New Year mural on the corner of the ESPN Zone building.
World of Color does not return until spring 2022, but next year, we can look forward to catching a six-minute World of Color pre-show called "Hurry Home — Lunar New Year Celebration" before the main show. This story of family and friendship features Mulan and Mushu and is told with fountains, lights and music.
Lunar New Year Characters
You can meet Tigger, Mulan, Mushu, Mickey, Minnie and The Three Little Pigs, all dressed in their Lunar New Year’s best at Paradise Gardens. Hop in line in the morning for the shortest waits. This year, Tigger jumps in for the Year of the Tiger. In 2023, it's the year of the Rabbit. We have a few Disney rabbits in mind who could possibly step up (or hop up) to host! The characters may rotate for photos, so you never know whom you'll get to meet! In 2022, the characters are more distanced from each other and guests (compared to past years).
Raya also makes special appearances in 2022. You can find her in the forest of the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail. Being rare and new, she is the trickiest character to catch because the line gets capped when it's full. She comes out every hour on the hour for about 30 minutes starting mid-afternoon. Once she heads back to check on her armadillo, Tuk Tuk, the line reopens and almost immediately fills. Then you will wait for her to return about 30 minutes later. Her area is beautifully decorated (especially at night) with colorful lanterns. She spends a lot of time with each party. Just follow the advice of the cast member in charge of the line to know when you should linger and hop in line at the right time. You need to be patient, able to act quickly and then be patient again.
Lunar New Year Crafts and Activities
Before or after visiting characters, you can do free crafts. Complete a dragon's pearl coloring craft along the parade route. Experience Chinese calligraphy with local artisans. Be sure to write down your wishes and tie them to the Lucky Wishing Wall in hope of a prosperous New Year!
Disneyland Lunar New Year Merchandise
We love seeing the exclusive Lunar New Year merchandise. The cups, ears, clothing and more can help you celebrate the Year of the Tiger. You can purchase some souvenir Mickey Mouse red envelopes to bring home to family, filled with wishes for good fortune and happiness in the coming year. There are red lanterns, T-shirts, themed Minnie Mouse ear headbands, spirit jerseys, a tumbler, plushes and all kinds of goodies to help you celebrate Lunar New Year Disney-style. The Lunar New Year red balloons bobbing around always add to the festivities.
Just as you may have experienced shipping delays in the past year, not all of the merchandise arrived in time for Lunar New Year. The new ears, pins, red envelopes and balloons had not made it by the time we visited. Hopfully, they come in soon! The spirit jersey, other shirts, tumbler and Mickey plush were available. The Mulan sipper, available at select food locations, is a bamboo sipper that looks pretty cool.
If you're a Magic Key holder, hop by the Magic Key area under Sully Symphony Swings for a free Lunar New Year button from 1 to 7 p.m. daily. There is a special photo-op there as well. Magic Key holders get a discount on the Sip and Savor pass, as well as a decorated lanyard with it.
Lunar New Year Festival Food
One of our favorite parts of Lunar New Year is getting a taste of the Asian cultures by trying delicious foods. Several restaurants offer Asian-inspired menu items during the event, and the four Festival Marketplaces offer Asian dishes with a Disney flair. Pick up a Sip and Savor Menu to help you make your choices before ordering. Items can be purchased individually, or you can purchase a Sip and Savor Pass, which comes with six tabs to be exchanged for select food and nonalcoholic beverage items.
The Sip and Savor Pass is $43 ($40 for Magic Key holders). The pass expires Feb. 13, 2022, and can be purchased at the Sip and Savor Cart, Seaside Souvenirs, Lunar New Year Marketplaces and the Merchandise Pergola. The lotus flower glow cube is not on the Sip and Savor pass.
Here's a look at the 2022 Lunar New Year food and beverages (offerings subject to change for future years). The bottom line is everything tastes better when shaped like Mickey! Most items are available through Feb. 13, 2022, unless noted.
Festival Marketplaces
The following festival marketplace themes returned in 2022. There are so many new choices this year!
Our favorite way to save time is to find the food booth with the shortest line. Order several of your foods at once and take your receipt to each booth to collect your food. We love skipping lines! Just don't lose your receipt! You'll find plenty of seating where you can enjoy your treats in the Paradise Gardens festival area.
Lucky 8 Lantern
- Shrimp fried rice with garlic bacon edamame
- Smoked beef bulgogi short rib on rice with green onion salad (a Frog Family favorite)
- Peach Yuja-Ade (alcoholic beverage)
- Kloud Brewery (alcoholic beverage)
- Lotus flower glow cube
Longevity Noodle Co.
- Garlic noodles (has real chunks of garlic and was a hit with our tadpoles)
- Spicy Port Dandan noodles (we got this twice and the second one was spicier than the first!)
- Salted pistachio cold brew
- Young Master Brewery (alcoholic beverage)
- Lotus flower glow cube
Prosperity Bao & Buns
- Mickey Chinese hot dog bun
- Char siu BBQ pork bao
- Prosperous Tiger (alcoholic beverage)
- Lychee Celebration (alcoholic beverage)
- Panda Pool Party Bamboo Lager (alcoholic beverage)
- Lotus flower glow cube
Red Dragon Spice Traders
- Spicy three-cup chicken on jasmine rice (pretty spicy!)
- Impossible Lion's Head Meatballs (a great plant-based choice)
- Mickey purple sweet potato macaron with creme fraiche (fun and yummy!)
- Dancing Firecracker
- Master Gao Brewery (alcoholic beverage)
- Lotus flower glow cube
Disney California Adventure Restaurants with Lunar New Year Offerings
This year brings many more Lunar New Year food locations around the park and even inside Disney's Grand Californian Hotel (on select days)!
Paradise Garden Grill Restaurant (Smaller tasting portions are available and are on the Sip and Savor Pass. However, if you want to purchase full sizes or not use the tabs for items at this location, you will get your food a lot faster through Mobile Order.)
- Spicy kung pao tofu with zucchini, yellow squash, broccoli, red peppers, peanuts and fried rice garnished with garlic deep-fried chips (Sip and Savor portion available)
- Pork belly Bahn mi (Sip and Savor portion available)
- Korean-style BBQ chicken — half chicken with steamed white rice, kimchi, pickled cucumbers and sesame seeds (Sip and Savor portion available)
- Whole fried fish with sweet and sour sauce, steamed rice, stir-fried vegetables and chicken soup (served family-style for two)
- Green tea raspberry parfait — green tea mousse, raspberry jelly, white sponge cake, white chocolate mousse and candy pearls
- Sides of steamed or fried rice
- Tiger milk tea with brown sugar boba (this was so refreshing in the afternoon!)
- Soju cocktail with Soju, ginger beer, lemon, basil, Fresno chile and lychee flavor-filled boba
- Mulan Sipper with choice of fountain beverage at the time of purchase
- Lotus flower glow cube
Paradise Gardens Special Events Cart (items available on the Sip and Savor Pass)
- Gochujang Wings — chicken wings in a spicy gochujang sauce
- Asian-style street corn — corn on the cob rolled in spicy gochujang sauce
- Korean-style BBQ nachos with bulgogi pork belly, cheesy corn sauce, gochujang crema, fresh radish and spicy cucumbers on house-made chips
- Orange-flavored cotton candy
- Mango-pineapple pie
- Mulan sipper with assorted bottled beverage water
- Puffed Rice Pale Ale
Seasonal Cart in Redwood Creek Challenge Trail
- Brown sugar steam bun topped with blue cream cheese icing
- White hot chocolate: Blue white chocolate topped with toasted marshmallow whipped cream and purple sugar
- Warm apple cider cocktail with spices, and cinnamon whiskey garnished with a cinnamon stick and a caramel rim (alcoholic beverage)
Studio Catering Truck (available through March 1, 2022)
- Hoisin pork sliders: Marinated pulled pork on Hawaiian rolls with apple slaw
- Green tea slush with almond milk, green tea, and vanilla
- Lemongrass-ginger lemonade with lemongrass, lemon juice, ginger and mint
Lucky Fortune Cookery (items available on the Sip and Savor Pass)
- Hong Kong-style milk tea: Black tea sweetened with condensed milk served over ice
- Mulan sipper with fountain beverage at the time of purchase, Hong Kong-style milk tea or Vietnamese iced coffee
- Lotus flower glow cube
Cappuccino Cart (items available on the Sip and Savor Pass)
- Baked char siu bao
- Mango-pineapple pie (this pie may sell out early)
Lamplight Lounge
- Korean-style BBQ nachos with bulgogi pork belly, cheesy corn sauce, gochujang crema, fresh radish and spicy cucumbers on house-made chips
- Kung pao bao with Kung pao-glazed crispy pork belly, chili peanuts, steamed bao bun, red pepper and green onion slaw
- Oolong donut — Oolong-dusted beignet donut served with oolong crème anglaise and orange soy pudding dipping sauces
- Lunar cocktail —Baiju Chinese liquor, smoked orange syrup, orange bitters and lemon juice garnished with orange peel (alcoholic beverage)
Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa
The GCH holiday cart opens only on select days in the hotel this Lunar New Year for the following treats (as well as Valentine's treats) through Feb. 14, 2022:
- Lantern whoopie pie filled with vanilla buttercream and dipped in pearl sprinkles
- Assorted tiger-striped chocolate pretzel sticks
- Mickey-shaped tiger sugar cookie dipped in red chocolate with gold Mickey-shaped tiger
- Mickey-shaped tiger-striped sugar cookie dipped in red chocolate with gold tiger stripes
Goofy's Kitchen
Chef Goofy added some spicy chicken and pork belly bao buns to the menu for Lunar New Year!
Whether you usually celebrate Lunar New Year in your home, or you want to know more about this holiday, you will love experiencing Disneyland Lunar New Year at Disneyland. We learned a lot about the celebration over the past few years, and we always enjoy taking part in the festivities. Hoppy Lunar New Year! We wish you health, peace and prosperity this year!
Have you celebrated Lunar New Year at Disneyland? Let us know in the comments if you've joined in on this festive celebration, and what your favorite activities were. Start the new year off with the most bang for your buck with hoppin' deals on discount Disneyland Resort tickets.
Related: Complete Guide to Disneyland Events
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