The festival for Lunar New Year at Disneyland Resort is something you do NOT want to miss!
While the Disneyland Resort has been celebrating the Lunar New Year for a while now, the last few years Disney has taken it up a notch. Now the celebration takes place at Disney California Adventure with lots of activities and excitement throughout the day!
By the way, you may already be familiar with Lunar New Year, also commonly referred to as Chinese New Year. But many Asian countries celebrate the Lunar New Year, and you’ll find China, South Korea, and Vietnam represented at the Disneyland Lunar New Year festival!
In 2025 the Lunar New Year celebration takes place from January 17 through February 16, 2025 and takes place along the festival corridor near the entrance to Carthay Circle Restaurant all the way to Paradise Gardens.
In 2025 we are celebrating the Year of the Snake!
PS – If you love food festivals, you won’t want to miss the Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival, and the Disneyland Festival of Holidays!
Guide to Lunar New Year at Disney California Adventure
Table of Contents
Disneyland Lunar New Year Character Meet and Greets
Meet & greets include Mickey, Minnie, Three Little Pigs, and Pluto in special festive attire, and Mulan and Mushu! Mulan is my favorite princess so it’s always a treat to see her in the spotlight.
The character meet and greet location is under the big gazebo in Paradise Gardens. (Tip – You can ask Cast Members when certain characters are expected to greet guests. Lines get long so plan ahead!)
Guests can also meet with Raya from Raya and the Last Dragon over in the Redwood Trail Challenge area. The queue area is beautifully decorated with colorful lanterns and is worth checking out! There’s also a food booth tucked away back there that typically has no wait.
Mulan’s Lunar New Year Procession
Aside from the meet & greet, you can see Mulan and her friends during the Lunar New Year Procession, which takes place at various times during the day (check the app during your visit).
The Procession travels from Silly Symphony Swings and proceeds down the Festival Corridor before turning around and coming back. This year’s Procession features dozens of talented performers, and Mulan and Mushu on their own beautiful parade float!
Disneyland Lunar New Year Free Activities
I also enjoyed the activities, which are fun for kids and adults alike. I left a wish on the Lucky Wishing Wall and picked up some lovely Chinese character art, and kids crafts are available near Ariel’s Undersea Adventure. All of these activities are free!
While you’re in the Paradise Gardens area, stop and enjoy the live performances happening on stage throughout the day.
Disneyland Lunar New Year Festival Food
My favorite part of the Lunar New Year at Disneyland celebration is the same as every holiday festival … the food! There are six food marketplaces set up this year, along with special dishes available at Paradise Garden Grill and other dining locations.
Disneyland Lunar New Year Sip and Savor Pass
This year, the Sip and Savor Pass is back! Save a bit of money when you use your Sip and Savor on select food items. Purchase your pass at the Sip and Savor cart or the merchandise cart along the corridor.
Mobile Ordering for Disneyland Lunar New Year Food
You can mobile order Lunar New Year selections from Paradise Garden Grill, Pacific Wharf Cappuccino Cart, Sonoma Terrace, and Lucky Fortune Cookery.
Disneyland Lunar New Year Food Menu
Lunar New Year Marketplaces
For up-to-date menus for Lunar New Year, check out the official Disneyland webpage for Lunar New Year Festival.
Several locations in Downtown Disney will also have special offerings for Lunar New Year, including Jazz Kitchen Coastal Grill, Naples Ristorante, and Splitsville.
Disneyland Lunar New Year Merchandise
When you’re done eating, be sure to check out all the cute merch that’s available this year, including a special Spirit Jersey! Some merchandise may also be available at World of Disney in Downtown Disney District.
The Disneyland Lunar New Year Ears are always a hot item … grab a pair before they sell out!
If you can’t make it to Disneyland Resort during the festival, there is Year of the Dragon merchandise available at Disney Store (while supplies last).
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It’s a shame this festival only lasts for three weeks because it has become one of my favorites! So don’t delay if you want to partake in the fun of Lunar New Year at Disneyland!