Pictures & Video: Lunar New Year Festivities at Disney California Adventure
Disney California Adventure is home to, in my opinion, the best Christmas entertainment in any Disney park, Viva Navidad. But did you know it’s also home to an annual celebration of Lunar New Year? Starting today and running until Sunday at Paradise Gardens, you can find cultural entertainment, food, activites, and Disney characters all decked out in Lunar New Year gear. The main attraction is the Lunar New Year Procession hosted by Mulan and Mushu. It features a group of performers in elaborate costumes that dance and drum along with the music (listen closely and you’ll notice the music is from the old Mulan parade at Disneyland and Disney’s Hollywood Studios).
More pictures after the jump.
The character meet and greet spot is located next door to Paradise Garden Grill. Here you can meet Mushu, Mickey & Minnie (in Lunar New Year gear), or Chip & Dale (also in Lunar New Year gear). The characters rotate every 20 minutes and the line can get quite long so you don’t know who you’re going to meet.
Lanterns and other ornaments can be seen all around Paradise Gardens.
A guardian lion stands at the entrance to Paradise Gardens.
Information boards showing how Korean, Chinese, and Vietnamese families celebrate Lunar New Year.
Here guests can write and hang their wishes.
Lantern making is one of the arts and crafts guests can take part in.
It wouldn’t be a Disney event without limited edition food.
The menu is a bit limited and expensive. $5.25 for a single park bun is a bit outrageous. But at least it tastes good.
All guests can get face painting for free. The only cost is the time you’ll spend in line.
Here you can find out which animal zodiac was represented during your birth year.
Cultural entertainment is presented on the Paradise Gardens bandstand daily 11AM to 5PM.