By: Jenny Bond, a Marvelous Mouse Travels agent
Disneyland has a few wonderful festivals offered each year, but their Lunar New Year Celebration is definitely one of the most unique and deserves a place on your travel plans! For 2022, Lunar New Year takes place January 21 - February 13 at Disney California Adventure Park.
This year (2022) is the Year of the Tiger...and of course, that means it's also the year of the Tigger! Lunar New Year is full of characters and Tigger joins them this year for both their processional and for greeting opportunities. Other characters featured in the Lunar New Year Celebration include Mickey & Minnie, Mulan & Mushu, the Three Pigs, and Raya!
In fact, Raya has her own special meet & greet area in the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail. It is a pretty elaborate set up with great decorations and quite a few lanterns. I recommend going at night so you can see them all lit up! Raya chats with guests and takes some great pictures...if you don't know how to pose, don't worry; she's got some great poses for you! They close the line to meet Raya after a certain number of people, so if the line is already closed, I recommend asking a cast member when Raya will be returning and get in line 20-30 minutes before that to secure your spot.
Not only is the decor at Raya's meet & greet beautiful, but throughout the entire Lunar New Year area, you will see gorgeous details like red lanterns, streamers, educational signage, and more. The entire place is adorned with bright red and gold, and it is just beautiful!
Mulan's Lunar New Year Procession is a must-do for everyone who will be there during the festival. It is held multiple times a day in the pathway from Pixar Pier Gate to Paradise Gardens Obelisk and back. It features an amazing Chinese dragon, beautiful traditional dancing, and fun characters!
Other entertainment and activities include the Melody of China trio playing their traditional instruments, kids crafts including coloring a lovely paper fan, a Chinese calligrapher (where you can also get a free take-home souvenir!), and the Lucky Wishes Wall where guests can write a special wish or message of hope for the new year.
Being a foodie, one of my favorite parts of Lunar New Year is the food! There are so many incredible options that it will take multiple visits to try them all! Festival marketplaces feature various Asian foods and drinks to purchase. In addition, Paradise Garden has been transformed into a festival center that features Asian-inspired dishes as well. Two of my favorites were the Char Siu BBQ Pork Bao and the Whole Fried Fish.
If you want to try multiple dishes, you may want to consider the Sip & Savor Pass, which sells for $43 and includes coupons for 6 different foods or non-alcoholic drinks at the booths. Not all dishes qualify for the Sip & Savor pass, but many do. You can purchase it at multiple locations including the Sip & Savor cart over by The Little Mermaid - Ariel's Undersea Adventure.
If you have a trip to Disneyland planned before February 13 this year, make sure you plan some extra time - and appetite! - to check out this special celebration. If you can't make it this year, plan a trip next year. The festival is usually held each year at the end of January to middle of February...plus that's the perfect time for a quick Disneyland escape, right?
Please reach out to Jenny, an agent with Marvelous Mouse Travels to plan your next vacation or you may contact Marvelous Mouse Travels.
