Lunar New Year Celebration at the Disneyland Resort

January 17, 2020 to February 9, 2020 marks the Lunar New Year celebration and events at Disney California Adventure Park at the Disneyland Resort. There is an abundance of activities, food, music, and celebrations to ring in the Lunar New Year! I recently had the chance to visit during this celebration.

How appropriate that 2020 marks the Year of the Rat in the Chinese Zodiac? Therefore, I’m sure the Disney company was thrilled that this year coincides with the “year of the rat.” They do know a thing or two when it comes to two particular mice…

After researching more on the Lunar New Year, I learned that the Chinese symbol 鼠, is interchangeable between rat and mouse. Perfection, right?!

My family and I once again took advantage of our Annual Flex passes and visited both parks at the Disneyland Resort. I’ll be honest, our main goal of going was to ride Rise of the Resistance… but that did not go according to plan… so instead we started off the morning at California Adventure.

California Adventure Main Entrance

Upon entering the park, it felt a little bare because our last visit had taken place the last few days during the Christmas season. It took a minute to get used to the lack of decor!

However, as you walked into the main area, which is the hub between the entrance of Pixar Pier, guests are greeted with a beautiful arch welcoming you to the “Year of the Mouse.”

As you enter this particular area of the park you will find the first food booth that is one of four festive marketplaces. They showcase food and beverages inspired by Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese cultures.

Live, daily performances of Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese dancers and musicians entertain throughout Paradise Gardens Park. Mulan also hosts and leads a beautiful parade that honors the Lunar New Year with dancers, musicians, and drummers.

Lucky Wishing Wall

My family and I really enjoyed visiting the “Lucky Wishing Wall,” which is very similar to the “Tree of Life” at the Día de los Muertos celebration. Here, guests wrote down memories of remembering their loved ones.

Instead, the “Lucky Wishing Wall” invites guests to write down wishes for the future in 2020.

Our family enjoyed the time admiring and reading the various wishes that guests had written down. Many of them were very heartfelt messages and wishes.

Zodiac Sign Calendar

On the other side of the “Lucky Wishing Wall,” was my favorite display. It presented all the Zodiac signs but depicted with Disney characters! For example, I was born in the year of the Rooster, and the Robin Hood Rooster was depicted for the year!

History and Traditions of the Lunar New Year

At the entrance of the Paradise Garden, one will also find the history and traditions of the Lunar New Year according to how Vietnamese, Korean, and Chinese families celebrate. As a sociologist who studies and teaches about cultures, my heart skips a beat when I see different communities sharing and celebrating various cultural holidays.

This is one of the many reasons why I have such a love for Epcot and its World Showcase! It is absolutely beautiful that Disney continues to showcase and celebrate diversity and culture and traditions for the entire family.

I am planning to go back and visit with my family before the end of the festivities on February 9, 2020. We were not able to see ” Mulan’s Lunar New Year Procession” nor any of the other live performances throughout the day.

There is also an area dedicated to children for making arts and crafts and not to mention the food that we did not have time to savor! We surely cannot wait to go back very soon and continue the celebration for the Lunar New Year! There is just so much to do that we did not have the proper time to enjoy all the festivities!

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if they celebrated the Lunar New Year in the China Pavilion at Epcot? Oh goodness…I have just thought of my wish that I will add to the “Lucky Wishing Well” on our next visit!

Will you be visiting the Lunar New Year celebrations at Disney California Adventure Park this year? Be sure to comment your thoughts and follow Kenny the Pirate on facebook.

-Marisol White