Lunar New Year kicks off at Disney California Adventure park from January 25 through February 17, 2019. If you’re going to Disneyland with Kids during Lunar New Year, keep reading for our top tips for experiencing Lunar New Year with your little ones.
Lunar New Year with Kids Meet & Greets
The Disneyland app is our favorite place to find up to date character meet and greets. During seasonal events like Lunar New Year, you can meet rare Disney characters (sometimes in rare costumes too!) on a rotating basis in the Paradise Gardens Park Gazebo:
- Mulan, from the Disney animated film of the same name, a strong and independent heroine is celebrated throughout Lunar New Year.
- Mushu is Mulan’s famous dragon side kick.
- Mickey Mouse in his traditional Lunar New Year attire.
- Minnie Mouse in her red Lunar New Year outfit, symbolizing good fortune.
- The Three Little Pigs are celebrated during Year of the Pig, and might even stop for meet and greets too!
Lunar New Year with Kids Parades & Shows
Mulan’s Lunar New Year Procession invites you to join Mulan and Mushu in a colorful and vibrant parade, which is performed multiple times per day in front of Paradise Gardens. Your children will love the music and costumes and they will love seeing it all up close. You can usually get front row spots by arriving about 10 minutes early.
World of Color traditionally shows Hurry Home before the main World of Color show. Hurry Home features Mulan and includes music by Academy Award®-winning composer Tan Dun. No word yet if World of Color will be ready in time to return for Lunar New Year, but if it does, you can get details on reserved spots for World of Color here.
All of these entertainment offerings and more are FREE with your paid admission. Get discount Disneyland tickets here.
Lunar New Year with Kids Activities
When you’re busy rushing from ride to ride, it’s nice to slow things down once in a while. Lunar New Year gives families with small kids (and kids at heart) the chance to do just that! Spend some time enjoying these family activities:
- share your wish for the new year at the Lucky Wishing Wall
- color free a Lunar New Year lantern to take home
- get your face painted with Lunar New Year flair at Paradise Gardens Park
Lunar New Year with Kids Food
Food is a big part of this cultural celebration! You can see the full Lunar New Year menu here, but we recommend these favorites for families to share or kids to munch on:
- Banana milk at Korean Marketplace
- Purple sweet potato macaron at Vietnam Marketplace
- Pork soup dumplings (just like from the short film Bao!) at China Marketplace
- Tilapia with chili-lime vinaigrette with soup, vegetables, and rice at Paradise Garden Grill; served family style
We can’t wait to hear what you tried during Lunar New Year at Disneyland Resort! Keep us posted in the Disneyland with Kids Facebook group and share your photos and trip report.
