The Year of the Dragon is upon us and Disney is celebrating with the return of Lunar New Year festivities at Disney California Adventure Park. Beginning January, 23, 2024 through February 18, 2024, visitors can enjoy a special tribute to Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean traditions, that include vibrant décor, and joyous entertainment.
Of course, food is a big part of any Asian celebration, and Disney is prepared, with six Lunar New Year marketplaces and select locations at Disney California Adventure Park offering an array of special menu items inspired by Asian cuisines. Some of the highlights from the limited time menu include a strawberry milk tea macaron (available at Bamboo Blessings), Kung Pao Bao (available at Prosperity Bao & Buns), and a Yuja-Pineapple Cooler (available at Wrapped with Love). The new dishes look mouth-wateringly good and I can’t wait to try them all. Details on all the delicious offerings can be found at the Disney Parks Blog.
To that end, visitors can purchase a Sip and Savor Pass, which includes six coupons redeemable for select food or nonalcoholic beverages from participating marketplaces and dining locations at Disney California Adventure Park. The pass is $43 for Magic Key Pass holders (of which yours truly is a newly minted holder!) and $46 for everyone else. I will definitely be getting one of these passes, as it’s a fantastic way to sample the various new offerings!
This year, Meilin Lee and her mother Ming Lee from Disney and Pixar’s Turning Red make their Disneyland Resort debut, and will be available for pictures with a special Lunar New Year backdrop. Also appearing for a limited time is Raya from Raya and the Last Dragon at the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail at Disney California Adventure Park.
Celebratory décor, including an 80-foot dragon kite, is featured at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, and the Paradise Gardens at Disney California Adventure Park will be adorned in red and gold, symbolizing good luck and happiness. Entertainment includes Mushu leading “Mulan’s Lunar New Year Procession” and a nighttime water show, “Hurry Home – A Lunar New Year Celebration.” Disney characters like Mulan, Mushu, Mickey, Minnie, and Goofy will greet guests adorned in special festival attire created by Chinese designer Guo Pei, and a rotating lineup of live performances will include artists like Korean recording artist Luna Lee and the Vietnamese trio, New Tradition.
Check out some great images below and don’t miss this exciting and fun way to celebrate Lunar New Year!
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ANAHEIM, Calif. – Disneyland Resort welcomes the return of the Lunar New Year multicultural and multiethnic celebration at Disney California Adventure Park, Jan. 23 through Feb. 18, 2024. 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. 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.
Guests can check entertainment show times and the full list of menu offerings on Disneyland.com or the Disneyland app.*
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. 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.
Two specialty carts, Kayla’s Cake and Lady Fortunes, offer more festival treats at Disney California Adventure Park.
Downtown Disney District adds to the bountiful celebration with specialty offerings available for a limited time at Jazz Kitchen Coastal Grill & Patio, Kayla’s Cake, Naples Ristorante e Bar, Splitsville Luxury Lanes, Tortilla Jo’s and Wetzel’s Pretzels.
The Hotels of the Disneyland Resort celebrate with themed treats at the Great Hall Cart in Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, Five Spice donuts at Great Maple, and more. Guests 21 and over can enjoy a specialty Moon Dragon cocktail, available at Hearthstone Lounge, Storytellers Cafe and GCH Craftsman Bar.
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. 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.
Additional springtime offerings at Disneyland Resort
For a limited time beginning Jan. 23, Raya from Walt Disney Animation Studios’ film “Raya and the Last Dragon” makes appearances at Redwood Creek Challenge Trail at Disney California Adventure Park.
Guests can save on visits during Lunar New Year and spring with limited-time ticket offers. Now through March 10 (subject to park reservation availability), tickets for children ages 3-9 can visit for as low as $50 per child for a 1-Park per day ticket with the limited-time kids ticket offer.*** Eligible Southern California residents can save on visits until June 2 (subject to blockout dates and park reservation availability) with a special three-day ticket offer.****
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Check entertainment details and schedules at Disneyland.com or the Disneyland app. Entertainment, experiences, and offerings may be modified, limited in availability or unavailable, and are subject to restrictions, and change or cancellation without notice. Both valid Theme Park reservation and admission for the same Park on the same day are required for Park entry. Park reservations are limited, subject to availability and not guaranteed. Park admission and offerings are not guaranteed. Visit Disneyland.com/updates for important information to know before visiting the Disneyland Resort.
Guests must be 21 years of age or older to purchase or consume alcoholic beverages. Limit 2 alcoholic beverages per Guest. A valid government-issued photo ID will be required.
*Message, data and roaming rates may apply for use of Disneyland app and Play Disney Parks app. Availability subject to handset limitations and features may vary by handset or service provider. Coverage and app stores not available everywhere. If you’re under 18, get your parents’ permission first.
**An event Sip and Savor Pass will expire on the stated date and will not be valid at any other event or at any other time. Passes are nonrefundable, subject to restrictions and exclusions, and not valid for Theme Park admission. Certain offerings may be tasting-size portions only, not full entrée sizes. Both valid theme park admission and park reservation required for park entry.
***Offer tickets valid for use beginning 1/8/24, and expire 13 days after the first day of use or on 3/10/24, whichever occurs first. Theme park reservations for Kids’ Special Offer Ticket holders are limited in number and subject to the availability of park reservations allocated to the Kids’ Special Offer Tickets as determined by Disney and theme park capacity. Reservation availability for Kids’ Special Offer Ticket holders is not guaranteed for any date, and reservations may be difficult to get for any particular date, especially as the ticket expiration date approaches. To ensure best availability, make reservations early. On any given date, park reservations may be available for general theme park tickets even though park reservations allocated to the Kids’ Special Offer Tickets are fully reserved. Kids’ Special Offer Ticket holders are not entitled to any reservations Disney makes available to others. Subject to other restrictions and change or cancellation without notice.
****Offer valid only for Southern California residents within ZIP codes 90000- 93599; proof of eligible residency, including valid government-issued photo ID, is required for purchase and admission. Theme park reservations for Southern California Resident Ticket holders are limited in number and subject to the availability of park reservations allocated to the Southern California Resident Tickets as determined by Disney, applicable blockout dates, and theme park capacity. Reservation availability for Southern California Resident Ticket holders is not guaranteed for any date, and reservations may be difficult to get for any particular date, especially as the ticket expiration date approaches. To ensure best availability, make reservations early. On any given date, park reservations may be available for general theme park tickets even though park reservations allocated to the Southern California Resident Tickets are fully reserved. Southern California Resident Ticket holders are not entitled to any reservations Disney makes available to others. Subject to other restrictions and change or cancellation without notice.
Ron is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of POC Culture. He is a big believer in the power and impact of pop culture and the importance of representation in media.
