Lunar New 12 months at Disney California Journey is a celebration of Chinese language, Korean and Vietnamese traditions that happens in January and February. It’s the primary large occasion of the 12 months at Disneyland Resort, and this shares information, ideas & tips for visiting, plus photographs from the annual occasion. (Up to date January 6, 2025.)
The 2025 Lunar New 12 months celebration at Disney California Journey rings within the 12 months of the Snake within the Chinese language zodiac calendar, with culinary delights, enjoyable festivities and Disney Characters, from January 17 via February 16, 2025. The Chinese language zodiac calendar performs a big function in shaping the traditions, holidays, and meals loved in Asian communities all around the globe.
Occasion highlights through the 2025 Lunar New 12 months at DCA embody:
- Market menus celebrating scrumptious Asian delicacies
- Asian-inspired decorations
- Particular appearances by some well-liked Disney characters—together with Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse—wearing all-new colourful Korean apparel
- Mulan’s Lunar New 12 months Procession, on choose days
- Hurry House – A Lunar New 12 months Celebration pre-show, in entrance of World of Shade – ONE
- Child-friendly crafts and actions
- Commemorative festive merchandise
One other upside of Lunar New 12 months at Disney California Journey is that it ought to happen throughout one of many slower stretches of the 12 months at Disney California Journey. As soon as the preliminary rush for opening weekend (and extra importantly, the Martin Luther King Day vacation), Disneyland tends to be pretty quiet till the Presidents’ Day or Ski Week crowds arrive in full drive.
Even with the return of the 2025 Southern California Resident Disneyland Ticket Deal and Disneyland youngsters ticket supply for 2025, in addition to the Disneyland Half Marathon throughout this timeframe, we’re nonetheless anticipating most dates in late January via mid-February to be pretty uncrowded. To make certain, the parks gained’t be empty, however they gained’t be bonkers busy–as has been the case for a lot of dates. We anticipate this development to proceed within the lead-up to Disneyland’s seventieth Anniversary–however that’s a bit past the scope of this put up. For additional dialogue, see What to Anticipate of Crowds at Disneyland in 2025.
Throughout this restricted time occasion, you’ll have the ability to partake in a joyous cultural celebration with a contact of Disney magic, that includes Asian-inspired meals and drinks, vibrant décor, memento merchandise, uncommon characters, thrilling leisure, and extra…
Lunar New 12 months celebrates the celestial journey of the solar and the moon on their voyage towards one other 12 months. Disneyland Resort’s particular pageant invitations you to make recollections with your loved ones and buddies whereas sharing needs for good well being, luck and prosperity all year long to return.
Culturally, Lunar New 12 months is a multi-day annual custom that’s the customary time to mirror on the previous and step into a brand new lifetime of hope, prosperity, and happiness. Very similar to ¡Viva Navidad!, which is like an occasion straight out of circa-1982 EPCOT Middle, Completely happy Lunar New 12 months additionally combines genuine tradition with Disney enjoyable.
It’s an incredible little celebration, and actually makes me want that Disney went via with its plan for a collection of “Small World Celebrations” that started a number of years in the past with Opa! A Greek Celebration. Maybe now that Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is open, DCA will begin providing some counter-programming to attract locals away from Disneyland.
The Lunar New 12 months leisure is nice. There’s an academic part that feels impressed by precise Lunar New 12 months celebrations. This offers friends an genuine slice of tradition alongside the enjoyable of the Mulan processional and particular character meet and greets.
Fortunately, it’s not merely characters from Mulan and Mickey Mouse in conventional Lunar New 12 months garb–there’s precise substance to this.
For Lunar New 12 months, Mulan’s Lunar New 12 months Procession is as soon as once more a cavalcade reasonably than a small processional with a present cease in entrance of Paradise Backyard. The procession might be prolonged all through all of Disney California Journey alongside the parade route from Paradise Gardens via Hollywood Land.
Second, the culinary panorama will broaden, with the addition of two new Lunar New 12 months marketplaces: Bamboo Blessings and Wrapped with Love. They may be part of the returning marketplaces, together with Fortunate 8 Lantern, Prosperity Bao & Buns, Purple Spice Merchants, and Longevity Noodle Co.
“Hurry House – Lunar New 12 months Celebration” additionally returns, introduced previous to “World of Shade.”
This heartwarming nighttime water present tells the story of a little bit lantern’s quest to reunite with household for the annual celebration of excellent luck and fortune. Through the celebration, you’ll be able to test the Disneyland app for showtimes.
Final 12 months, Mulan’s Lunar New 12 months Procession debuted a stunning new float with Mulan, Mushu, Goofy, and conventional Chinese language drummers. Adorned in crimson and gold to represent luck and happiness, the float options vibrant bunches of crimson firecrackers with golden tassels, and delicate crimson and gold lanterns that come aglow for after-sunset performances.
My favourite viewing spot–and the place I shot these photographs–is close to Prosperity Bao & Buns, with Mickey’s Enjoyable Wheel (or no matter they’re calling it now) within the background.
The costumes are beautiful within the processions. When you can go to a late afternoon present, do this, as the sunshine hitting the performers makes for some very nice photographs.
There are a ton of performers within the Mulan procession–in all probability about 20-30.
We’d additionally advocate catching the final procession of the day, because it happens after darkish and the lanterns on the floats are illuminated.
Given this and the prime quality of the performances, I’m shocked Disney doesn’t attempt to prolong the Lunar New 12 months celebration a bit longer. It’s a very nice draw, in all probability not that costly to placed on, and is actually well-liked with friends.
Moreover, the Paradise Backyard Bandstand presents each day reside performances that includes enchanting conventional musical devices, together with Chinese language, Korean and Vietnamese folks dancers. The San Francisco-based musical group Melody of China performs a fusion of Chinese language folks, classical and modern instrumentals.
Sonoma Terrace presents thrilling reside leisure throughout Lunar New 12 months. Featured are Chinese language music ensemble Melody of China, Korean-American a cappella group Vocal Seoul, and quite a lot of group performing teams.
In fact, character meet & greets are a part of the occasion, which is a pleasant contact for households. Get pleasure from particular appearances by Disney characters on the Paradise Gardens Gazebo, the place you’ll be able to meet a rotating assortment of characters.
On prime of that, the titular character from Walt Disney Animation Studios’ movie Raya and the Final Dragon, returns to Disneyland Resort through the Lunar New 12 months celebration. Underneath a forest cover deep within the coronary heart of Redwood Creek Problem Path, you might encounter the heroic Raya.
Whereas in Paradise Gardens, head over to the Fortunate Needs Wall to share your individual particular needs of hope, well being and happiness.
There’s additionally complimentary arts and crafts, together with dragon’s pearl coloring craft and Chinese language calligraphy with native artisans. Plus, new face portray alternatives have been added to the celebration, accessible for buy.
The very best half about Lunar New 12 months at DCA is that it doesn’t really feel prefer it’s merely a ruse to promote some costly occasion merchandise and overpriced menu objects to locals (though that’s a part of the equation). There’s a real effort to make this an enriching and entertaining expertise for friends, and that is precisely the type of factor that belongs in EPCOT.
There are many cool decorations up round Paradise Backyard.
It might not look like it from the photographs right here, however there’s loads to see exterior of the procession.
Along with this, there’s different reside leisure on the band stand stage that you may get pleasure from whereas consuming, plus stations the place friends can get their faces painted, artwork stations for teenagers, and a number of other spots arrange with instructional information about Lunar New 12 months within the varied cultures that remember it.
Despite the fact that it’s the winter “low season” at Disneyland Resort, Lunar New 12 months will nonetheless draw crowds. Anticipate that to carry true all through the occasion. The meals cubicles are particularly busy, as are the meet & greets, which routinely have hour-plus strains.
On the plus facet, you’ll be able to seize a final minute spot for the cavalcade and have an incredible view. Similar goes for the leisure in Paradise Backyard, which is a comparatively uncrowded space of Disney California Journey.
Now, let’s take a more in-depth have a look at the meals being served up at DCA’s Lunar New 12 months festivities…
Lunar New 12 months Meals Menus
One of many highlights of Lunar New 12 months at Disney California Journey is the marketplaces, serving quite a lot of Asian-inspired dishes ready with a Disney twist.
These meals cubicles are the identical stands used for DCA’s Meals & Wine Pageant and its Pageant of Holidays. Whereas Lunar New 12 months’s culinary part will not be as fleshed out as these occasions, it’s beginning to broaden and are available into its personal. We’ve already tried a number of dishes from the final two incarnations of the occasion, and have usually favored what we’ve tried.
Notice that because of there being so few meals cubicles, the strains can get lengthy. We advocate rope dropping the marketplaces, ordering as near 10:30 am as doable. From what we’ve seen, Longevity Noodle Co. has the longest strains, with friends stretching again via the World of Shade seating space all through the day for this market. Prioritize this one.
Alternatively, you’ll be able to place orders at a single market, after which go to the pickup strains at different cubicles from there. These return strains can nonetheless be prolonged, however you’ll save a superb period of time this manner (assuming Disney doesn’t “disable” the multi-booth ordering, which does occur now and again).
For the very best worth in your epicurean journey, we advocate shopping for the Sip & Savor Cross. This offers six vouchers, redeemable for meals and nonalcoholic drinks at Lunar New 12 months Market kiosks and different choose eating areas.
We often make a cross of the marketplaces earlier than redeeming any vouchers, making observe of the objects which might be costliest out of pocket, and thus supply the very best bang for buck with the Sip & Savor Cross. A great rule of thumb is paying for the desserts out of pocket and utilizing the Sip & Savor Cross on the extra formidable savory snacks.
- Mini Char Siu Pork Shanks with rice and pineapple chutney (New)
- Strawberry Milk Tea Macaron: Strawberry buttercream with a milk tea heart
- Brown Sugar Milk Tea: Joffrey’s Espresso & Tea Co. Ceylon Tea, hotteok-inspired brown sugar syrup, maple and butter pecan syrups, and oat milk garnished with banana milk-infused whipped cream (Non-alcoholic beverage) (New)
- Dragon Fruit Cocktail: Dragonberry rum, white rum, lychee purée, dragon fruit and Chinese language five-spice syrups, lime juice, and house-made coriander tea garnished with a dried dragon fruit wheel
- Lunar New 12 months Mickey Formed Mild-Up Straw Clip (New) (Restrict two per particular person, per transaction; no reductions apply)
Longevity Noodle Co. Menu
- Garlic Noodles with zesty garlic butter sauce and Parmesan cheese
- Shrimp Lo Mein Noodles with stir-fried greens
- Tropical Coconut Cooler: Coconut cream, coconut milk, house-made jackfruit syrup, dragon fruit syrup, lychee nectar, and cherry juices garnished with mango coconut foam and rainbow jellies (Non-alcoholic beverage) (New)
- Mandarin Citrus Mule: Mandarin vodka, grapefruit liqueur, lime juice, Mandarin and apricot purées, and candied orange syrup topped with ginger beer and garnished with orange rock sweet (New)
- Lunar New 12 months Mickey-shaped Mild-Up Straw Clip (New) (Restrict two per particular person, per transaction; no reductions apply)
- Quesabirria Eggroll with guajillo pepper consomé
- Chocolate Firecracker: Mild chocolate mousse, chocolate ganache filling, chocolate almond dacquoise, and popping sweet that includes DOVE Darkish Chocolate (New)
- Guava Lemongrass Cocktail: Silver rum, guava nectar juice, house-made lemongrass syrup, and lime juice garnished with a lemon wheel (New)
- 12 months of The Snake Margarita: Reposado tequila, lime juice, kiwi syrup, and mango purée garnished with a snake gummy (New)
- Lunar New 12 months Mickey-shaped Mild-Up Straw Clip (New) (Restrict two per particular person, per transaction; no reductions apply)
Prosperity Bao & Buns Menu
- Kung Pao Bao with plant-based rooster, toasted peanuts, and scallions
- Purple Panda Bao: Jumbo pork and vegetable bao with chile-garlic sauce
- Harland Raspberry Yuja Lemonade Ale (New)
- Strawberry-Lychee Cocktail: Bourbon, strawberry purée, lychee syrup, and lime juice garnished with a skewered lime gummy (New)
- Lunar New 12 months Beer Flight (New)
- Research Break Lychee & White Tea Onerous Seltzer (New)
- Three Weavers Expatriate IPA (New)
- Brewery X Panda Pool Occasion Lager
- Lunar New 12 months Mickey-shaped Mild-Up Straw Clip (New) (Restrict two per particular person, per transaction; no reductions apply)
Purple Dragon Spice Merchants Menu
- Fireplace Rooster Wings with sesame-seaweed crunch (New)
- Spicy Gochujang Rooster Tacos with yuja citrus cabbage slaw (New)
- Peach Makgeolli Cocktail: Peach rice wine, citron vodka, ginger liqueur, cucumber syrup, and white grape and lime juices garnished with a skewered frozen peach and grape (New)
- Lunar New 12 months Mickey-shaped Mild-Up Straw Clip (New) (Restrict two per particular person, per transaction; no reductions apply)
- Phở Dip with rice noodles, sliced beef, shaved jalapeños, pickled onions, and Phở broth (New)
- Fried Lemongrass Rooster Dumpling with plum sauce
- Mandarin Orange Cream Puff full of citrus cream and Mandarin compote (New)
- Taro Vietnamese-style Iced Espresso: Joffrey’s Espresso & Tea Co. Vietnamese-style Espresso, cocoa powder, and condensed milk garnished with taro-chocolate candy cream (Non-alcoholic beverage)
- Lunar New 12 months Mickey-shaped Mild-Up Straw Clip (New) (Restrict two per particular person, per transaction; no reductions apply)
For an entire rundown of all particular menu objects accessible this 12 months, see the 2025 Foodie Information to Lunar New 12 months at Disneyland Resort.
A perennial favourite for us is Paradise Backyard Grill. This counter service restaurant usually has the very best particular menu for Lunar New 12 months, and some different choices could be discovered on the Pageant Meals and Beverage Cart.
Whereas you should utilize the Sip & Savor Cross on smaller parts at Paradise Backyard Grill, it additionally serves full meals which might be formidable and pleasant. We favor ordering the total measurement variations and paying out of pocket for these, because the snack-sized parts have a tendency to chop corners and supply worse bang for buck.
One in all our favourite “traditions” through the occasion is becoming a member of Man Selga of TouringPlans.com to devour the Complete Fried Fish, which tastes so significantly better than it appears to be like. I’m additionally an enormous fan of the Bánh Mì, if you’d like one thing a bit extra…typical.
General, Completely happy Lunar New 12 months is an occasion that’s nicely price experiencing for those who’re a Disneyland native, actually into cultural experiences, or are pondering of an early-year Disneyland Resort trip. We had been actually impressed by the general high quality of Completely happy Lunar New 12 months, and ended up spending about half the day over in Paradise Backyard having fun with it. It appeared very well-liked with different friends, and we’ve by no means seen Paradise Backyard this busy–it’s even busier throughout this than throughout Viva Navidad.
As an added bonus, January and February are usually nice months to go to (for those who don’t thoughts some refurbishments) because the crowds are at their lowest factors of the 12 months, and “winter” in Southern California has air quotes round it for a purpose. The occasion itself is a really prime quality little providing you possibly can spend a few hours experiencing, and is a pleasant gesture for locals and those that need one thing new or distinctive. For most individuals, it isn’t going to be one thing round which a visit must be deliberate, however contemplating that it’s solely operating for 4 days, it’s glorious.
Planning a Southern California trip? For park admission offers, learn Suggestions for Saving Cash on Disneyland Tickets. Find out about on-site and off-site motels in our Anaheim Resort Opinions & Rankings. For the place to eat, take a look at our Disneyland Restaurant Opinions. For distinctive concepts of issues that’ll enhance your journey, take a look at What to Pack for Disney. For complete recommendation, seek the advice of our Disneyland Trip Planning Information. Lastly, for guides past Disney, take a look at our Southern California Itineraries for day journeys to Los Angeles, Laguna Seashore, and tons of different locations!
Your Ideas
Excited to fulfill Disney characters through the 2025 Lunar New 12 months festivities at DCA? Something on the meals cubicles look good to you? Does Lunar New 12 months Celebration seem like a basic “edutainment” expertise, or does it look uninteresting to you? When you have been, what do you consider Completely happy Lunar New 12 months? Any ideas so as to add? Listening to from you is half the enjoyable, so in case you have further ideas or questions, please share them within the feedback!
