Lunar New Yr at Disney California Journey is a celebration of Chinese language, Korean and Vietnamese traditions that runs January 20 by means of February 15, 2023. It’s the primary massive occasion of the 12 months at Disneyland Resort, and on this put up, we’ll share ideas & information for visiting, plus pictures from the annual occasion. (Up to date January 20, 2023.)
The 2023 Lunar New Yr celebration at Disney California Journey rings within the Yr of the Rabbit within the Chinese language zodiac calendar and the Yr of the Cat within the Vietnamese zodiac calendar. The Chinese language zodiac calendar performs a big position in shaping the traditions, holidays, and meals loved in Asian communities all around the globe.
In Chinese language tradition, the rabbit has the distinctive attribute of ready for an opportune second after which leaping into motion. Greater than some other zodiac animal, the rabbit symbolizes luck. Throughout this restricted time occasion, you’ll be capable of 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 loads of cats and rabbits…
Lunar New Yr celebrates the celestial journey of the solar and the moon on their voyage towards one other 12 months. Disneyland Resort’s particular competition invitations you to make recollections with your loved ones and associates whereas sharing needs for good well being, luck and prosperity all year long to return.
Culturally, Lunar New Yr 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, Joyful Lunar New Yr additionally combines genuine tradition with Disney enjoyable.
It’s an ideal little celebration, and actually makes me want that Disney went by means of with its plan for a sequence 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 Yr leisure is nice. There’s an academic element that feels impressed by precise Lunar New Yr celebrations. This offers visitors 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 Yr garb–there’s precise substance to this.
For Lunar New Yr 2023, Mulan’s Lunar New Yr Procession is as soon as once more a cavalcade somewhat than a small processional with a present cease in entrance of Paradise Backyard. In 2023, the procession shall be prolonged all through all of Disney California Journey alongside the parade route from Paradise Gardens by means of Hollywood Land.
Second, the culinary panorama will broaden for 2023, with the addition of two new Lunar New Yr marketplaces: Bamboo Blessings and Wrapped with Love. They may be a part of the returning marketplaces, together with Fortunate 8 Lantern, Prosperity Bao & Buns, Pink Spice Merchants, and Longevity Noodle Co.
“Hurry House – Lunar New Yr Celebration” additionally returns, offered previous to “World of Coloration.”
This heartwarming nighttime water present tells the story of a bit of lantern’s quest to reunite with household for the annual celebration of excellent luck and fortune. In the course of the celebration, you possibly can verify the Disneyland app for showtimes.
Final 12 months, Mulan’s Lunar New Yr Procession debuted a stunning new float with Mulan, Mushu, Goofy, and conventional Chinese language drummers. Embellished in pink and gold to represent luck and happiness, the float options brilliant bunches of pink firecrackers with golden tassels, and delicate pink and gold lanterns that come aglow for after-sunset performances.
My favourite viewing spot–and the place I shot these pictures–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. If you happen to can go to a late afternoon present, try this, as the sunshine hitting the performers makes for some very nice pictures.
There are a ton of performers within the Mulan procession–in all probability about 20-30.
We’d additionally suggest catching the final procession of the day, because it happens after darkish and the lanterns on the floats are illuminated.
Given this and the top quality of the performances, I’m shocked Disney doesn’t attempt to prolong the Lunar New Yr celebration a bit longer. It’s a very nice draw, in all probability not that costly to placed on, and is admittedly standard with visitors.
Moreover, the Paradise Backyard Bandstand presents every day stay performances that includes enchanting conventional musical devices, together with Chinese language, Korean and Vietnamese people dancers. The San Francisco-based musical group Melody of China performs a fusion of Chinese language people, classical and up to date instrumentals.
New for 2023, Sonoma Terrace presents thrilling stay leisure throughout Lunar New Yr. Featured are Chinese language music ensemble Melody of China, Korean-American a cappella group Vocal Seoul, and a wide range 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 it’s possible you’ll spot Tigger, Mulan and Mushu, Mickey and Minnie, and the Three Little Pigs–all dressed of their festive finery.
On high of that, the titular character from Walt Disney Animation Studios’ movie Raya and the Final Dragon, returns to Disneyland Resort in the course of the 2023 Lunar New Yr celebration. Underneath a forest cover deep within the coronary heart of Redwood Creek Problem Path, it’s possible you’ll encounter the heroic Raya.
As famous above, the 2023 Lunar New Yr festivities ring within the Yr of the Rabbit within the Chinese language zodiac calendar and the Yr of the Cat within the Vietnamese zodiac calendar. For this event, Oswald the Fortunate Rabbit and his sweetheart Ortensia the (Fortunate?) Cat be a part of
the Lunar New Yr!
This marks Ortensia’s debut at Disneyland, and for the event each Oswald the Rabbit and Ortensia the Cat are wearing particular outfits paying tribute to those cultural celebrations. (Anticipate lengthy strains as Disneyland followers love uncommon characters–particularly ones showing for the primary time who even have historic ties to Walt!)
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 most effective half about Lunar New Yr at DCA is that it doesn’t really feel prefer it’s merely a ruse to promote some costly occasion merchandise and overpriced menu gadgets to locals (though that’s a part of the equation). There’s a real effort to make this an enriching and entertaining expertise for visitors, and that is precisely the form of factor that belongs in EPCOT.
There are many cool decorations up round Paradise Backyard.
It might not seem to be it from the pictures right here, however there’s lots to see outdoors of the procession.
Along with this, there’s different stay leisure on the band stand stage you can get pleasure from whereas consuming, plus stations the place visitors can get their faces painted, artwork stations for teenagers, and a number of other spots arrange with instructional information about Lunar New Yr within the varied cultures that commemorate it.
Though it’s the winter “low season” at Disneyland Resort, Lunar New Yr will nonetheless draw crowds. Anticipate that to carry true at some point of the occasion. The meals cubicles are particularly busy, as are the meet & greets, which routinely have hour-plus strains.
On the plus facet, you possibly can seize a final minute spot for the cavalcade and have an ideal 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 Yr festivities…
Lunar New Yr Meals Menus
One of many highlights of Lunar New Yr at Disney California Journey is the marketplaces, serving a wide range of Asian-inspired dishes ready with a Disney twist. These embrace Longevity Noodle Co., Fortunate 8 Lantern, Prosperity Bao & Buns, and Pink Dragon Spice Merchants.
These meals cubicles are the identical stands used for DCA’s Meals & Wine Competition and its Competition of Holidays. Whereas Lunar New Yr’s culinary element isn’t 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 appreciated what we’ve tried.
Observe that as a result of there being so few meals cubicles, the strains can get lengthy. We suggest rope dropping the marketplaces, ordering as near 10:30 am as attainable. From what we’ve seen, Longevity Noodle Co. has the longest strains, with visitors stretching again by means of the World of Coloration seating space all through the day for this market. Prioritize this one.
Alternatively, you possibly can 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 very good period of time this fashion (assuming Disney doesn’t “disable” the multi-booth ordering, which does occur infrequently).
For the very best worth in your epicurean journey, we suggest shopping for the Sip & Savor Cross. This offers six vouchers, redeemable for meals and nonalcoholic drinks at Lunar New Yr Market kiosks and different choose eating areas.
We often make a cross of the marketplaces earlier than redeeming any vouchers, making observe of the gadgets which are most costly out of pocket, and thus provide 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.
Longevity Noodle Co. Meals Menu:
- Garlic Noodles: Lengthy noodles tossed in zesty garlic butter with parmesan
- Spicy Pork DanDan Noodles: Pan-fried noodles with floor pork and spicy tri-chile sauce
- Raspberry Oat Milk Tea: Joffrey’s Espresso & Tea Co. Ceylon Tea, raspberry and demerara syrups, and oat milk garnished with skewered raspberries (New)
- Lotus Flower Glow Dice
Fortunate 8 Lantern Menu:
- Quesabirria Eggroll with Guajillo pepper consommé crammed with Oaxaca cheese, beef birria, and a facet of guajillo pepper consommé (New)
- Mandarin Mousse Cake: Layers of mandarin mousse with vanilla cake and clementine compote completed with white chocolate crunch balls and a tangerine glaze (New)
- Coconut-Lavender Matcha Foam Iced Espresso: Joffrey’s Espresso & Tea Co. French Bistro Mix, coconut milk, coconut cream, and white chocolate sauce garnished with lavender matcha, coconut foam, sea salt, and purple sanding sugar (Non-alcoholic) (New)
- Lotus Flower Glow Dice
Bamboo Blessings Menu:
- Mickey Mouse-shaped Sizzling Canine Bun: Brioche-style Mickey Mouse-shaped buns full of sizzling canine and completed with sesame seeds and scallions
- Mickey Mouse-shaped Purple Candy Potato Macaron: Pink macaron crammed with purple candy potato buttercream and a crème fraîche middle
- Younger Grasp Brewery Pale Ale with mandarin and bergamot zest
- 4 Sons Lunar New Yr IPA
- Grasp Gao Brewery Child Jasmine Tea Lager
- Three Weavers Brewing Co. Moon Rabbit: Golden stout with vanilla and Vietnamese cinnamon (New)
- Stereo Brewing Co. Gingerine: Ginger wheat ale with tangerine, honey, and lemon juice (New)
- Brewery X Inexperienced Tea Rice Lager (New)
- Anderson Valley Brewing Co. Black Rice Ale (New)
- Tsingtao Premium Lager (New)
- Tsingtao topped with a frozen mango beer foam (New)
- Fortunate Flight: Tsingtao, Younger Grasp Brewery, Stereo Brewing Co., and Three Weavers Brewing Co. (New)
- Prosperity Flight: 4 Sons Brewing Co., Grasp Gao Brewery, Brewery X, and Anderson Valley Brewing Co. (New)
- Lotus Flower Glow Dice
Prosperity Bao & Buns Menu:
- Pepperoni Pizza Bao Bun served with marinara (New)
- Char Siu BBQ Pork Bao with pickled pink onion and jalapeño
- Peach Yuja-Ade: Yuja-lemongrass purée, dragon fruit and peach syrups, lemon juice, and butterfly pea flower tea garnished with a lemon wheel (Non-alcoholic)
- Soju Peach Yuja Ade: Soju, yuja-lemongrass purée, dragon fruit and peach syrups, lemon juice, and butterfly pea flower tea garnished with a lemon wheel
- Lychee Celebration: Gin, prosecco, lychee syrup, yuja-lemongrass purée, and grapefruit juice garnished with an edible purple orchid
- Lotus Flower Glow Dice
Pink Dragon Spice Merchants Menu:
- Gochujang Elote: Steamed corn on the cob rolled in gochujang aїoli and cotija cheese drizzled with spicy gochujang sauce (New)
- Pink Spice Fried Hen Bites: Fried rooster chicharrones in spicy pink chile sauce (New)
- Guava Whiskey Cocktail: Whiskey, ginger liqueur, guava nectar, coconut cream, and lime juice garnished with a lime wheel (New)
- Dancing Firecracker: Pineapple and lime juices, guava nectar, spicy honey, and house-made hibiscus syrup garnished with a lime wheel (New)
- Lotus Flower Glow Dice
Wrapped With Love Menu:
- Pork and Shrimp Wontons with a black garlic sauce (New)
- Bok Choy & Mushroom Dumplings with a black garlic sauce (New) (Plant-based merchandise)
- Pineapple Baijiu Cocktail: Darkish Rum, baijiu, Allspice Dram, pineapple and orange juices, and falernum syrup garnished with a dried pink pineapple chip (New)
- Grapefruit-Melon Wine Cocktail: Sauvignon blanc, grapefruit liqueur, watermelon purée, rock melon syrup, and lime juice garnished with skewered grapes (New)
- Lotus Flower Glow Dice
Paradise Backyard Grill Menu:
- Kimchi Bokkeumbap: Kimchi, potato, carrot, and onion fried rice with egg and Korean chili paste topped with crispy candy and bitter tofu and black sesame seeds (New) (Plant-based Merchandise)
- Shrimp Lo Mein: Lo mein noodles tossed with shrimp, mushrooms, onions, carrots, and bok choy (New)
- Dak Bulgogi: Korean BBQ rooster served with rice and kimchi
- Bánh Mì: Grilled pork stomach with pickled carrots, cucumbers, daikon, and jalapeños with a spicy mayo
- Candy and Bitter Complete Fish served with steamed rice and stir-fried greens (served family-style for 2) (New)
- Tiger Milk Tea with BobaBam Brown Sugar Boba (Non-alcoholic) (New)
- Hite Beer
- Blackberry Soju Cocktail: Soju, blackberry purée, and lemon juice with a touch of ginger (New)
- Lotus Flower Glow Dice
Lamplight Lounge Menu:
- Surf & Turf Fried Rice: 5 Spice-rubbed New York steak, sautéed shrimp, fried rice, ginger pea purée, and chile oil topped with a carrot salad (New)
- Sesame Seed Donuts: Donuts topped with sesame seed brittle and served with a kaya jam dipping sauce (New)
- Three Weavers Brewing Co. Seafarer Kolsch-style (New)
- Lamplight Lounge Lunar New Yr Cocktail: Han Soju, Aperitivo Aperol, carrot and orange juices, and cream of coconut garnished with a raspberry and mint (New)
Lamplight Lounge – Boardwalk Eating Menu:
- Pork Dumplings with Chinese language broccoli, roasted mushrooms, Fresno chiles, and fried shallots (New)
- Lamplight Lounge Lunar New Yr Cocktail: Han Soju, Aperitivo Aperol, carrot and orange juices, and cream of coconut garnished with a raspberry and mint (New)
As proven above, Paradise Backyard Grill has a particular menu for Lunar New Yr, and some different choices might be discovered on the Competition Meals and Beverage Cart.
Our favourite tends to be Paradise Backyard Grill, because it serves full meals which are formidable and pleasant. Certainly one of our favourite “traditions” in the course of the occasion is becoming a member of Man Selga of TouringPlans.com to devour the Complete Fried Fish, which tastes so a lot better than it seems. I’m additionally an enormous fan of the Bánh Mì, in order for you one thing a bit extra…typical.
General, Joyful Lunar New Yr is an occasion that’s effectively price experiencing if you happen to’re a Disneyland native, actually into cultural experiences, or are considering of an early-year Disneyland Resort trip. We had been actually impressed by the general high quality of Joyful Lunar New Yr, and ended up spending about half the day over in Paradise Backyard having fun with it. It appeared very standard with different visitors, 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 (if you happen to 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 cause. The occasion itself is a really top quality little providing you could possibly spend a few hours experiencing, and is a pleasant gesture for locals and people who need one thing new or distinctive. For most individuals, it isn’t going to be one thing round which a visit ought to be deliberate, however contemplating that it’s solely operating for 4 days, it’s wonderful.
Planning a Southern California trip? For park admission offers, learn Suggestions for Saving Cash on Disneyland Tickets. Study on-site and off-site resorts in our Anaheim Resort Critiques & Rankings. For the place to eat, try our Disneyland Restaurant Critiques. For distinctive concepts of issues that’ll enhance your journey, try What to Pack for Disney. For complete recommendation, seek the advice of our Disneyland Trip Planning Information. Lastly, for guides past Disney, try our Southern California Itineraries for day journeys to Los Angeles, Laguna Seaside, and tons of different locations!
Your Ideas
Excited to satisfy Oswald the Fortunate Rabbit or Ortensia the Cat for the primary time in the course of the 2023 Lunar New Yr festivities at DCA? Something on the meals cubicles look good to you? Does Lunar New Yr Celebration appear to be a basic “edutainment” expertise, or does it look uninteresting to you? If in case you have been, what do you consider Joyful Lunar New Yr? Any ideas so as to add? Listening to from you is half the enjoyable, so you probably have further ideas or questions, please share them within the feedback!