ANAHEIM, Calif. — Disneyland Resort is celebrating the Lunar New Year; this year, it’s the Year of the Dragon.
Most Disney fans know what that means:
“It’s Mushu’s time,” said Dave Nguyen, a Disneyland Resort’s food and beverage team member to Spectrum News, referring to the sidekick dragon in Disney’s 1998 animation movie, “Mulan.”
The Lunar New Year celebration kicked off on Jan. 23 and runs until Feb. 18 at Disneyland Resort.
The Lunar New Year is a 15-day celebration that marks the beginning of the lunar or lunisolar calendar year. The event is mostly celebrated in China and other Asian countries such as South Korea, Vietnam and Singapore.
Most of Disney’s Lunar New Year activities are happening at Disney California Adventure, which has turned red.
Several parts of the California-themed park are adorned in gold and red, symbolizing good luck and fortune for the Lunar New Year.
There’s a Lunar New Year-decorated archway welcoming visitors inside the park.
Disney-themed dragon banners hang on lampposts.
Mickey and Minnie are wearing specially made festive outfits during character meet-and-greets.
Other meet and greets return, such as Mulan and Mushu.
For the first time, visitors can — usually wait hours — to chat and take photos with Meilin Lee and her mother, Ming Lee, the popular main characters from Disney and Pixar’s hit movie “Turning Red.”
The Paradise Garden is popping with activity.
Visitors can hang their New Year’s wishes along a wishing wall.
The Bandstand and Sonoma Terrace offers a rotation of live entertainment, including Korean recording artist Luna Lee, the Vietnamese trio New Tradition, the Korean-American a cappella group Vocal Seoul and other various community performing groups.
There’s a section where families and visitors can learn about the Lunar New Year.
Visitors can play with crafts, watch Chinese calligraphy demonstrations, and read artistic displays about how various cultures celebrate the Lunar New Year.
During the day, Mushu leads the way in “Mulan’s Lunar New Year Procession,” along Hollywood Land to Paradise Gardens Park, which Disneyland officials said honors family, friendship and the potential for a fortune-filled year.
At night, visitors can catch a special showing of “Hurry Home – A Lunar New Year Celebration,” a story of a lantern’s quest to reunite with family, shortly before “World of Color – ONE.”
And there’s plenty of food to be had, with a lot of spice, Nguyen said.
Disney offers a $46 Sip and Savor pass, allowing guests to try various specially made dishes and drinks to mark the occasion.
“We have so much to offer this year, especially being the Year of the Dragon for Lunar New Year, so we’re adding a lot of spices,” Nguyen said. “It’s all different styles of spice, whether it’s flavor spice or heat spice.”
Peanut Dan Dan noodles, spicy kung pao bao, garlic noodles, pork banh mi sandwiches, shrimp lo mein and other Asian-inspired dishes and drinks are on the menu. There’s also a steamed fish available as a family-style dish.
This year’s new drink is a Vietnamese iced coffee with taro on top.
The items are available at various marketplaces, restaurants and food carts throughout Disney California Adventure.
Nguyen said celebrating the Lunar New Year is about family coming together.
“This is one way to bring everyone together, especially through food,” Nguyen said. “It’s Lunar New Year, so we want to wish everyone good luck and fortune.”