A guide to celebrating the Lunar New Year at Disney California Adventure at Disneyland Resort – what to see, do, and eat.

I love to visit the Disney parks when extra festivals or celebrations are happening because they add so much to your experience with additional activities, parades, Disney characters, and more.

We loved participating and learning during the Lunar New Year Celebration at Disney California Adventure Park at Disneyland Resort. This multicultural celebration welcomes the arrival of spring and the new year on the lunisolar calendar.

The Lunar New Year Celebration includes your admission ticket to Disney California Adventure (except for food purchases) and is full of family-friendly activities.

Some highlights of the Lunar New Year Celebration at Disney California Adventure include:

• Mulan’s Lunar New Year Procession/Parade
• Special appearances by some popular Disney Characters including Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse dressed in colorful attire
• Asian-inspired dishes available to purchase at marketplaces
• Write your wishes on the wishing wall

Meet Disney Characters

Many unique or rare Disney characters are available for meet and greets during the celebration including Mulan, Mushu, and more. In addition, other characters like Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse are dressed in vibrant attire inspired by the Lunar Year.

Tip: The line to meet characters (the characters rotate throughout the day) in Paradise Gardens can be quite long. I highly recommend asking the cast member who they expect you will see before joining the line because more than likely it will not be who is currently meeting guests.

Lunar New Year Wishing Wall

During the celebration, you can stop by the Lunar New Year Wishes Wall located in Paradise Garden to add your own message of hope, health, and happiness for the new year.

Mulan’s Lunar New Year Procession

Mulan’s Lunar New Year Procession is a parade that winds its way through the park multiple times a day. The parade features both Disney characters and spirited groups of Asian entertainers. The parade is full of bright costumes, magical music, and dazzling performances.

Lunar New Year Marketplaces

During the Lunar New Year celebration, marketplaces are set up throughout the Paradise Gardens Park area offering a variety of Asian-inspired dishes for sale. The dishes include Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean favorites.

Some of our favorite dishes from last year included the bao buns and strawberry milk tea macaron.

Tip: If you are planning on purchasing a variety of items from the marketplaces, consider purchasing the Sip and Savor Pass.

Additional Highlights

Hurry Home – A Lunar New Year Celebration is a pre-show (about 6 minutes) added to the nightly World of Color during the Lunar New Year Celebration. The show follows a Little Lantern on a journey to return home for the annual celebration

During the 2023 celebration, the Animation Academy was themed towards the year of the dragon. Therefore the animators taught how to draw various Disney dragons like Sisu from Raya and the Last Dragon.

Commemorative festive merchandise is available for purchase during the celebration, however, some of the popular items go very fast and may not be available during your trip.

Festive decor for the Lunar New Year celebration can be found throughout the Paradise Gardens Park area at Disney California Adventure including bamboo, peach blossoms, golden flowers, and banners with holiday wishes.

As always with Disney, all events, experiences, and offerings are subject to cancellation or change without notice.