It’s time for the Lunar New Year celebrations to begin at Disneyland Resort! Disneyland Resort’s Festival of Holidays was fun, but we’re ready to see what they’ve got in store for this next festival.

Disney California Adventure’s Lunar New Year Celebration officially starts today (January 21st) and runs through February 13th. Throughout the festival guests will get to enjoy new merch, special eats and drinks, unique entertainment, and more! The Festival has officially begun and we’re reporting from it LIVE! Let’s start exploring!

What is the Lunar New Year Festival?

During the Lunar New Year festival in Disney California Adventure park, Disney gives a “joyous tribute to Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean cultures.” The multicultural celebration is meant to be “filled with happy wishes for health, luck and prosperity throughout the Year of the Tiger!”

The Lunar New Year celebration is underway at Disney California Adventure in Disneyland! It’s the Year of the Tiger 🐅 pic.twitter.com/5jx68NQhEL

— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) January 21, 2022

Throughout the festivities in Disneyland, there is live entertainment, celebrations, and of course, plenty of delicious food. Now, let’s take a look at how Disney is celebrating the Year of the Tiger!

Atmosphere

As you walk through part of the park, you’ll see a Lunar New Year sign to mark the start of the fun!

You’ll see more decorations and signs in parts of the park as well.

The festival takes place inside of Disney California Adventure park at Disneyland Resort, though you will find some tributes (like a beautiful mural) outside of the park itself.

Entertainment

There are various forms of entertainment you can enjoy during the Festival.

We started our day by checking out the Lucky Wishes Wall.

In this space (which is typically open from 10AM to 6PM) you can write your New Year’s Wishes…

…and tie them to the Wishing Wall.

This is a great opportunity to set your intentions for the year or give everyone an inspiring little note.

The wishing wall is meant to give you the chance to “reflect on the past and welcome a new year of prosperity and good fortune.”

As part of the Lunar New Year festivities, you’ll also get the chance to meet Raya in the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail!

Be sure to look for the signs and colorful decorations.

There are 2 lines you can get into when visiting Raya — a photo line and a pass through line.

It’s important to note that Cast Members are not taking photos, you either have to have someone in your party take them or take a selfie. There is no PhotoPass here!

Look! Look! 👀 She’s here! We met Raya! 😍 pic.twitter.com/w3VzIrbRmD

— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) January 21, 2022

Raya is out from 2PM-8PM today, but Cast Members said she doesn’t have a set schedule yet, so be sure to check and see when it opens and what times Raya will be appearing during your visit.

We also stopped by an arts and crafts area where guests could color some items.

They’re so neat!

Read more about the Dragon’s “Pearl of Wisdom” and this special tradition below.

Also happening at the festival is Mulan’s Lunar New Year Procession!

Stop what you’re doing! 🤚 Mulan’s Lunar New Year Procession has made its way through DCA ☺️ pic.twitter.com/udyEpJ6raM

— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) January 21, 2022

This takes place on the path from Pixar Pier to Paradise Gardens Obelisk (and back). The procession has music, costumes, and traditional dances by Asian performing troupes.

How beautiful! ✨ The Mulan Lunar New Year Procession is meant to honor family, friendship, and wishes for a fortune-filled new year. pic.twitter.com/Jb2zhnniXW

— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) January 21, 2022

You can see many characters dressed up for the occasion, like Chip ‘n’ Dale, Goofy, and Mushu. Make sure to look out for Tigger who is leading the procession to celebrate the Year of the Tiger!

The Mulan Lunar New Year Procession continues! Not pictured is Tigger, who is leading the procession because it’s the Year of the Tiger! 🐅🐅 pic.twitter.com/mmk3bnLuMq

— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) January 21, 2022

Over at the Paradise Garden Bandstand, you can see performances from the Melody of China. This trio performs a “fusion of Chinese folk, classical and contemporary instrumentals” on a “traditional Chinese yangqin (dulcimer), pipa (lute) and erhu (fiddle).” When we went by, they were playing “It’s a Small World!”

It’s a Small World, but make it Lunar New Year 🎶🎶 pic.twitter.com/E7wNsXYRf1

— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) January 21, 2022

Want to learn more about the entertainment at the Festival? Click the link below!

Click here to see more about the entertainment at the Festival!

Food

At the Lunar New Year festival, you’ll find some amazing food booths inspired a varieties of cuisines including Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese-inspired food!

The booths open at around 10:30AM, so that’s something you’ll want to keep in mind. Just keep in mind that in the early days of the Festival, Disney might still be getting things together, so things can be delayed. We found that the opening of some of the booths was delayed during our visit on the Festival’s opening day. Ultimately, on the first day of the Festival, booths opened closer to 11:20AM PT.

The Sip and Savor Pass is available for this celebration. If you buy the Sip and Savor Pass, you can get 6 tabs that you can then redeem for qualifying items at the booths.

The dishes you’ll get through the Sip and Savor Pass are tasting-size portions though, so that’s just something to keep in mind!

Be sure to look and see if the item you’re wanting to get is eligible through the Sip and Savor Pass.

Here’s a look at the Sip and Savor Pass Menu…

…and more items that qualify.

The pass is $40 for Disneyland Resort Magic Key holders and $43 for regular guests.

So far we’ve already seen menus and booths for Longevity Noodle Co., as well as…

…Lucky 8 Lantern…

…Prosperity Bao & Buns…

…and more.

At Red Dragon Spice Traders we grabbed a Mickey Purple Sweet Potato Macaron…

Look at those colors with a ✨touch of gold! 👀 This is the Mickey Purple Sweet Potato Macaron from Red Dragon Spice Traders at DCA pic.twitter.com/OPgEyNL2ND

— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) January 21, 2022

…some Impossible Lion’s Head Meatballs and more!

Click here to see our full review of the Red Dragon Spice Traders booth (and why one item might totally fool you!)

Then it was time for some noodles from Longevity Noodle Co.!

What are you choosing from Longevity Noodle Co.- Garlic Noodles 🍜 or Spicy Pork Dandan Noodles 🌶? Or, go with the Salted Pistachio Cold Brew? 😎📍DCA pic.twitter.com/yrCkfdG7p4

— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) January 21, 2022

There were some really tasty options here (especially for those who like spice!).

Click here for the full review of this booth!

We also stopped by another spot and grabbed a Mulan sipper. These are available at a variety of places throughout the festival.

Look at these details! 👀 Can Mulan get any cooler? 😎 pic.twitter.com/9cg7yQEKxA

— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) January 21, 2022

Over at Prosperity Bao & Buns, we got the Mickey Chinese Hot Dog Bun!

Mickey + brioche bun + hot dogs 🧐 Available at Prosperity Bao & Buns pic.twitter.com/8o61o3wFoT

— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) January 21, 2022

Wondering what this item and the other items at this booth taste like? Click here!

See our full review for the Prosperity Bao & Buns booth here!

And we had some Shrimp Fried Rice with BACON at Lucky 8 Lantern.

Is that BACON with this shrimp fried rice? 🤯🥓🍤 From Lucky 8 Lantern in DCA! pic.twitter.com/Illm5XPzbF

— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) January 21, 2022

This booth also had a gorgeous-looking drink, but the way it tasted was…unique.

Click here for our full review of the Lucky 8 Lantern booth!

Next up, we hopped over to Lamplight Lounge to try some specialty items for the festival. We grabbed the Lunar Cocktail from here as well as some items. A full review on those dishes will be coming soon!

This orange 🍊 drink is the Lunar Cocktail at Lamplight Lounge. Made with Baiju Chinese liquor (gin flavors), smoked 💨 orange syrup, orange bitters and lemon juice garnished with orange peel pic.twitter.com/iCZeAZzGv3

— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) January 21, 2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

We also stopped by the Paradise Gardens Special Events Cart to get some chicken wings in a spicy sauce! Full review coming soon.

‼️Chicken wings in spicy gochujang sauce‼️ Please excuse our drooling 🤤 Available at Paradise Gardens Special Events Cart pic.twitter.com/5dW6vMStBs

— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) January 21, 2022

 

 

 

 

 

At Paradise Garden Grill we grabbed the Tiger Milk Tea and a bunch of other treats.

Look at the stripes! 🐅 Tiger Milk Tea with brown sugar boba at Paradise Garden Grill pic.twitter.com/qSrVLUkyoD

— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) January 21, 2022

At Lamplight Lounge, we had the Kung Pao Baos…

Kung Pao Baos are bringing the 🔥heat🔥 Kung Pao-glazed crispy pork belly, chili peanuts, steamed bao bun, red pepper, and green onion slaw at Lamplight Lounge pic.twitter.com/AuRJhFGaq0

— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) January 22, 2022

 

 

…and the Oolong-dusted beignet donuts!

Who says donuts are just for breakfast? 🍩 Oolong-dusted beignet donuts served with oolong crème anglaise, and orange soy pudding dipping sauce pic.twitter.com/713uOVAnHW

— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) January 22, 2022

 

At Lucky Fortune Cookery, we tried a few specialty drinks added for the festival.

Stay tuned for full reviews on all of the food we tried from the festival!

Click here to see FULL menus for the Lunar New Year Festival!

Merchandise and More

Of course, you can’t have a Disney celebration without some great merch! We’ve already seen a number of Lunar New Year merchandise items available in Disney California Adventure park including an adorable Mickey plush…

…Minnie plush…

…a kids shirt…

…an adult shirt…

…another shirt…

…a tumbler…

…and a spirit jersey.

Here’s a peek at the back of the spirit jersey.

For Magic Key Holders, there’s also a FREE Lunar New Year Button available in Paradise Gardens Park.

Select Lunar New Year items, including Lunar New Year Minnie Ears and more are also available in Disney World and/or online.

So if you want to grab some of these items, you don’t necessarily need to fly over to Disneyland Resort to grab them.

Click here to check out all of the Lunar New Year merchandise!

We’ll continue to update this post with more photos and videos from our time at the Lunar New Year festival in Disney California Adventure park.

Be sure to check back for all the latest updates!

Click here to learn more about Lunar New Year!

Have you ever been to the Lunar New Year festival in Disney California Adventure park? Will you be going this year? Tell us in the comments!