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Celebrate Lunar New Year at Disney California Adventure

by Leap on January 23, 2024 10 Los Angeles   Video

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We are so frogcited to celebrate the Lunar New Year at Disney California Adventure in 2024, starting Jan. 23, 2024! The growing festival leaps into the new year celebrating the Year of the Dragon. Mushu is beyond excited about this. With appearances from Mulan and Mushu, and of course, Mickey and Minnie, the celebration includes a Lunar New Year procession, complete with more beloved characters, firecrackers, dancers and a dragon.

Celebrate Lunar New Year at Disney California Adventure - Mulan

Overview of Lunar New Year at Disneyland

Celebrate Lunar New Year at Disney California Adventure - Mushu walks by

Lunar New Year celebrates the traditional turning of the lunisolar calendar which is observed by many different Asian cultures, including China, Vietnam, Korea and more. Over the past few years, Disney has seen this festival explode (it's a fireworks thing) in popularity since it began. Lunar New Year at Disneyland Resort runs from Jan. 23 to Feb. 18, 2024.

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 traditional food, beverages and sweet treats from Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese and other Asian cultures at festival marketplaces and other dining locations. While you nibble your treats, you can enjoy music and shows.

Entertainment at Lunar New Year at Disney California Adventure

Celebrate Lunar New Year at Disney California Adventure - Procession float

You will generally find festive Lunar New Year entertainment throughout the day and well into the evening. While all of the entertainment is frogciting, our favorite spectacle is Mulan's Lunar New Year Procession. The procession now takes over the entire parade route from Hollywood Land to Paradise Gardens Park. The procession travels in that same direction for all showtimes.

The float is adorned with golden tasseled firecrackers and red and gold lanterns. Catch it again in the evening, if you can, because they glow! The ceremony also features a dragon dance, as well as Chip 'n' Dale and lotus flower and fan dancers. The dragon looks particularly cool at night.

Celebrate Lunar New Year at Disney California Adventure - dragon

Check the entertainment schedule for the procession, which takes place several times in the afternoon and early evening. On the Paradise Garden Bandstand, listen to Melody of China performing Chinese folk, classical and contemporary instrumental songs. Take a seat in the afternoon to enjoy your festival food in this area, while you watch and listen to the trio play various traditional instruments, such as the Chinese dulcimer (yangqin), lute (pipa) and fiddle (erhu).

Celebrate Lunar New Year at Disney California Adventure - Vocal Seoul

Vocal Seoul, an L.A.-based Korean-American a cappella group, sings contemporary music on select afternoons and evenings at Sonoma Terrace. Luna Lee, New Tradition and Melody of China each perform in Paradise Gardens Park on select days.

“Hurry Home – Lunar New Year Celebration” returns in 2024 for Lunar New Year at Disneyland. This six-minute World of Color pre-show begins at 9 p.m. PT, before the first World of Color showtime of the night. Featuring Mulan and Mushu, this story of family and friendship is told through the use of water fountains, lights, projections and music. The show follows a little lantern on its quest to return home and reunite with loved ones for the annual celebration of good luck and fortune. Hoppy news! World of Color — One returned from refurbishment earlier than planned on Jan. 19, 2024, just in time for Lunar New Year!

Celebrate Lunar New Year at Disneyland - Mickey and Minnie pose for pictures in their Lunar New Year garb

Characters at Lunar New Year at Disneyland

Celebrate Lunar New Year at Disney California Adventure - Mei and Ming Lee meet a park guest

Meilin Lee and her mother Ming Lee from "Turning Red" appear during the Lunar New Year celebration this year! They are very popular since this is the first time these characters appear in the park. Mei is so excited that has begun to turn into her Red Panda form (by sprouting red hair and a tail)! You can find them between The Little Mermaid and Grizzly River Run. We ran into a park guest who bounded as Mei's friend Miriam to meet them!

You can meet Mulan, Mushu, Mickey and Minnie all dressed in their Lunar New Year’s best, at Paradise Gardens Park. Hop into line in the morning when it first opens for the shortest character waits. Characters usually come out between 10 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. You can also see other characters (such as Goofy)!

Raya — from "Raya and the Last Dragon" — is once again at Redwood Creek Challenge Trail from 2 to 7:30 p.m., but check her hours in the Disneyland app. At times, cast members may cap the line to meet Raya. Her area is beautifully decorated with colorful lanterns to welcome her guests. She spends a lot of quality time with each party.

Celebrate Lunar New Year at Disneyland - Raya poses for guests

Lunar New Year Crafts and Activities

Celebrate Lunar New Year at Disney California Adventure - Free coloring craft

If you're looking for a quick break between tasting all the savory food and visiting your favorite characters, you can participate in free crafts during Lunar New Year at Disneyland. Complete a dragon's pearl coloring craft next door to Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta or experience Chinese calligraphy with local artisans. Be sure to write down your wishes and tie them to the Lucky Wishing Wall (in Paradise Gardens Park) in hopes of a prosperous New Year!

Celebrate Lunar New Year at Disney California Adventure - Lunar New Year calligraphy

Disneyland Lunar New Year Merchandise

We love seeing the exclusive Lunar New Year Disneyland merchandise available during this time of year. The bags, ears, clothing, red envelopes and more can help you fully celebrate the Year of the Dragon. You can purchase some souvenir Mickey Mouse red envelopes to bring home to your family, filled with wishes for good fortune and happiness in the coming year. There are ears, spirit jerseys, pins, plushes and all kinds of goodies to help you celebrate Lunar New Year Disney-style.

Celebrate Lunar New Year at Disney California Adventure - 2024 merchandise

Food novelties are always popular at Disneyland. Here's what's available for Lunar New Year 2024:

  • Lunar New Year Stainless Steel Tumbler: Available at Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta, Cappuccino Cart, Clarabelle’s Hand-Scooped Ice Cream, select outdoor vending carts, Paradise Garden Grill, Smokejumpers Grill and Studio Catering Co.
  • Lotus Flower Glow Cube: Available at Bayside Brews, Cappuccino Cart, Clarabelle’s Hand-Scooped Ice Cream, Hollywood Lounge, select outdoor vending carts, Paradise Garden Grill, Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe, Little Red Wagon and Refreshment Corner.
  • Mickey-shaped Macaron Straw Clip: Available starting Jan. 23 at Corn Dog Castle, Mortimer's Market, Outdoor Vending Carts, Paradise Garden Grill, Schmoozies!, select outdoor vending and Smokejumpers Grill.

Look for the Hot Dog Bun Mickey Mouse Disney Munchling. It's available as of Jan. 27 at Trolley Treats. You can also meet the pastry chef who created the iconic treat there at 9 a.m. that day!

Lunar New Year Festival Food

Celebrate Lunar New Year at Disney California Adventure - Lunar New Year egg roll and mousse

One of our favorite parts of Lunar New Year at Disney California Adventure Park is trying delicious foods. Several restaurants in the park offer Asian-inspired menu items during the event, and six Festival Marketplaces offer Asian dishes with a Disney flair. 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.

Celebrate Lunar New Year at Disney California Adventure - Food from Longevity Noodle

The Disneyland 2024 Lunar New Year menus are great. Our favorites for 2024 include the Shrimp Lo Mein and Dragon Cocktail at Longevity Noodle Co.! For a full list of 2024 Lunar New Year food and beverages (offerings change each year), hop over to our Food Menus post.

We created a downloadable version of the festival menus that you can use! We used them on opening day and found they helped to easily locate the different foods offered for the festival and to order many foods at once.

Celebrate Lunar New Year at Disney California Adventure - Sip and Savor Pass with Passport

A Sip and Savor Pass is $46 ($43 for Magic Key holders), without tax included in 2024. It is good for six tastings at the festival booths and for a few items at other food locations. The 2024 Sip and Savor Pass can be used through Feb. 18, 2024, 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 and macaron straw clip are not on the Sip and Savor Pass. After doing the math, I discovered that you'll want to use it for items over $7.66 (over $7.16 for Magic Key holders) to actually save money.

The Sip and Savor Pass no longer has removable tabs. Instead, the cashier scans the code on the back, and you will type in the 4-digit pin under it. When you get your receipt, it will indicate how many tastes you have left at the bottom.

One of my favorite ways to save time is to find the food booth with the shortest line and order several of your food booth foods at once. Then you can take your receipt to each of the other booths to collect your food items. 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 Park festival area.

Lunar New Year Celebrations at Hotels

Celebrate Lunar New Year at Disney California Adventure - Red dragon hangs from the ceiling of the Grand Californian Hotel lobby

New in 2024, a giant dragon is suspended from the ceiling of Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa great hall. Also new in 2024, Mulan visits the great hall on Monday and Saturday afternoons to tell stories at 1 and 2 p.m. and greet guests after. You can see dolls in clothing that represents their culture and of course buy treats at the cart. Our Lunar New Year food menus post has more details on food items served at the hotels for Lunar New Year.

Celebrate Lunar New Year at Disney California Adventure- Mulan strikes a pose in the lobby of the Grand Californian

Whether you usually celebrate Lunar New Year in your home, or you want to learn more about this holiday, you will love experiencing Lunar New Year at Disneyland. The frog family and I have learned a lot about the celebration over the past few years, and we always enjoy taking part in the festivities. The tadpoles love it too!

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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Jan 23, 2024 at 4:18 p.m. Sue Says...

Do people wear Lunar New Year Spirit Jerseys from other years? Mine is the year of the ox. Also, is there anything special on February 10, actual Lunar New Year?

Reply
Jan 24, 2024 at 2:17 p.m. FrogBlog Says...

Hi Sue!

You're toadally fine with wearing a different year's spirit jersey! As far as we know, Disney hasn't announced anything extra special planned on Feb. 10.

Hoppy planning!

Mommy Frog

Reply
Jan 22, 2023 at 4:58 p.m. Ashley Leiterman Says...

I'm actually in the photo with Oswald in background at the marketplace . I feel honored as a cast member to be in it. Is it possible if I can have a photo of that. Thanks and Happy Lunar new year

Reply
Jan 23, 2023 at 9:29 a.m. FrogBlog Says...

Hi Ashley!

We're so hoppy that you reached out! We will email you, so keep an eye out :) Hoppy New Year!

Hoppy planning!

Mommy Frog

Reply
Feb 2, 2022 at 1:55 p.m. Anne Says...

Thanks for sharing this and happy Chinese day

Reply
Feb 2, 2022 at 8:11 a.m. FrogBlog Says...

Hoppy Lunar New Year, Anne!

Keep hopping!

Leap

Reply
Feb 4, 2022 at 9:44 p.m. Anne Says...

Thank-you for this Chinese New Year of tiger

Reply
Feb 4, 2022 at 6:03 p.m. FrogBlog Says...

Hoppy Lunar New Year, Anne!

Keep hopping!

Leap

Reply
Jan 25, 2020 at 3:11 p.m. Susan J Henry Says...

What about fireworks??

Reply
Jan 27, 2020 at 3:06 p.m. FrogBlog Says...

Hi Susan!

The only Lunar New Year themed nighttime entertainment is the precursor to World of Color - "Hurry Home, Little Lantern."The Disneyland Park fireworks will be operating as usual but are not themed for the holiday.

Keep hopping!

Leap

Reply
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