Disney California Adventure Park’s Lunar New Year celebration is back. It’s the year of the Dagon, and starting from January 23, through February 18, 2024, park guests can enjoy the limited-timed festivities which pay tribute to to Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean traditions through vibrant décor, joyous entertainment, and an array of special menu items inspired by Asian cuisines only at Disney California Adventure.
For the Year of the Dragon, Mushu from Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Mulan leads the way in “Mulan’s Lunar New Year Procession.” Park guests can also enjoy character interactions with some of their favorite Disney characters like Mulan and Mushu, Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy, and Chip and Dale at the gazebo in Paradise Gardens. The characters will be wearing beautiful festival attire designed by Chinese designer Guo Pei created to honor the celebration; the embroidered wave patterns were designed to suggest the sea and clouds, which symbolize good luck, fortune and fate.
These characters will be joined by Meilin Lee and her mother Ming Lee from Disney and Pixar’s Turning Red who make their Disneyland Resort debut.Guests can enjoy complimentary crafts, Chinese calligraphy demonstrations and more at Paradise Gardens, which is adorned in brilliant red and gold for the occasion.
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.
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.
Guests staying at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa will find dragon kite and confectionery displays.
If you decide to spend some time celebrating the Lunar New Year at Disney California Adventure Park, and you want have some of the sweet and savory offerings, then you can purchase the Sip and Savor Pass, which provides six coupons, redeemable for select food and non-alcoholic beverages at participating Lunar New Year Marketplaces and dining locations in Disney California Adventure park. Guests will be pleased to know that the Mickey-shaped Hot Dog Bun and Garlic Noodles are making their return. Those delicious food items will be joined by newcomers Fried Lemongrass Chicken Dumplings and Peach Basil Collins. Other new times include Strawberry Milk Tea Macaron, which is a Strawberry buttercream with milk tea center. For those looking for a non-alcoholic option, there’s the Taro Vietnamese-style Iced Coffee, which is a Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Co. Vietnamese-style Coffee, cocoa powder, and condensed milk garnished with a taro chocolate sweet cream. If coffee isn’t your thing, then you could have the Lunar New Year Punch, which is Mango nectar, tangerine and grapefruit juices, and banana and coconut syrups garnished with mango jellies.
For those looking for some libations and other cocktails, try the Hibiscus Apple Soju-rita, a Blanco tequila, grapefruit liqueur, soju, green apple and hibiscus syrups, house-made hibiscus tea, and lemon juice garnished with a dried apple chip. There’s also a Mango Melon Cocktail, which has Overproof rum, baijiu, allspice liqueur, mango nectar, rock melon syrup, and lime juice topped with grapefruit soda and garnished with a lime wheel.
If you’re vegan, don’t worry, there’s the Kung Pao Bao, a plant-based chicken, toasted peanuts, and scallions bun at the Prosperity Bao and Buns cart. The cart also has some traditional items like the BBQ Pork Bun with kimchi mayo and garlic chile crunch. The cart also has some beer options like Brewery X Grapefruit Panda Pool Party Bamboo Rice Lager, Harland Brewing Co. Tangerine Dragon Fruit Hefeweizen, Stereo Brewing Co. Jasmine Tea Lager, and Eagle Rock Brewery Lychee IPA.
If baos aren’t your thing, then head over to Red Dragon Spice Traders, where you can eat up one of their vegan options, the Spicy Fried Rice with tofu and crispy peas. If you like popcorn chicken, then try Red Spice Fried Chicken Bites, which is their Fried chicken chicharrones in spicy red chile sauce.
There will also be Lunar New Year themed food throughout the park. At the Boardwalk Pizza and Pasta, you’ll find one of their newest options, the Bulgogi Pizza, a pizza with marinated beef and spicy corn, cheese sauce topped with green onion. It’s available in a slice or as a whole. For a sweeter option, there’s the Milk Tea Taro Cheesecake, which is Milk tea cheesecake with a taro mousse.
There’s so much more to offer so you won’t leave the park hungry. Be sure to check out the Disney Parks Blog for a full list of items and where to find them.
Disney California Adventure’s Lunar New Year celebration runs from January 23, through February 18, 2024.