Festival season has begun at Disneyland Resort, with the annual Lunar New Year celebration landing at Disney California Adventure. Over the past decade, Disneyland's Lunar New Year festivities have grown from relatively modest weekend events to week-long extravaganzas that have revamped the theme park's entertainment and food offerings.
The celebration, which runs through February 18, merges traditions from Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese cultures with the company's familiar roster of characters. Being the Year of the Dragon, for example, the return of Mulan's Lunar New Year Procession was a natural fit. (The mini-parade features a Chinese dragon puppet, as well as an appearance by Mulan and her dragon friend Mushu.)
If you're planning a trip to the Anaheim theme park in the next few weeks, here's what you should make time for.
What to eat
The colorful tangerine mousse cake is part of Disney California Adventure's Lunar New Year dining offerings.
(Todd Martens / Los Angeles Times)
The centerpiece of California Adventure's Lunar New Year festivities is food, with special offerings that honor, modify and combine various traditions. These encompass the theme park's restaurants, resort hotels, and a series of pop-up food stands throughout California Adventure, similar to those the park offers during its Food and Wine Festival and holiday events at the end of the year, although a little smaller in scale.
On the opening day of the festivities, I tried everything my stomach and wallet could handle, including a few offerings from the six food trails spread along California Adventure's main promenade. I also delved into holiday menus at the park's Pixar-themed Lamplight Lounge and the Grand Californian's Hearthstone Lounge.
Highlights of the stalls included a quesabirria egg roll, which managed to make the difference between an egg roll and a quesadilla thanks to a generous amount of melted cheese, and a tangerine and orange mousse cake, which looked bright and bulbous and was more airy than it was fruity.
It's worth noting that California Adventure's food stalls can be hit or miss. I've never really been disappointed, but I've never been completely enthralled either, as these are small bites designed to be savored. I found the Lemongrass Fried Chicken Dumplings I had a bit lacking – the mixture of too crunchy and chewy was contrasting and distracting, resulting in an item that felt unseasoned and bland. The red spice-friendly chicken bites, while containing a decent amount of heat, were light on meat, at least in the small assortment I was served.
Vietnamese-style Taro Iced Coffee is one of many limited-time food and drink options at Disney California Adventure's Lunar New Year celebrations.
(David Nguyen/Disneyland Resort)
Still, the four options were enough to function as an impromptu dinner, and I'm looking forward to trying the garlic noodles, a barbecue pork bun, and the Vietnamese-style taro iced coffee, the latter of which came highly recommended . The park offers a “Sip and Savor” pass, which sells for $46 and allows for six bites or non-alcoholic drinks. Since most dishes and drinks cost between $6 and $9, the pass may offer a small discount (the pass is $43 for those who have the Magic Key annual pass).
However, I highly recommend trying to get a reservation at Lamplight Lounge or getting on the restaurant's waitlist while you're in the park. Lamplight already has one of the resort's best dishes: the sweet and spicy shepherd's pork chop, and during Lunar New Year it offers a spicy pork belly noodle dish.
At $27, it's more expensive, but it's a big plate with seasoned Szechuan sauce and a nice mix of flavors and textures, with carrots, cucumbers, and peanuts completing the presentation. I was hoping to add a dessert of Lunar New Year milk tea and taro donuts, but I was simply too full. Next time.
What to see
Mulan's Lunar New Year Procession returns for Disney California Adventure's Lunar New Year celebrations.
(Todd Martens / Los Angeles Times)
Disney has a rich history with dragons – Maleficent, Elliott, Figment, the fire-breathing demonic figure at the end of Mr. Toad's Wild Ride – and while part of me hoped the Year of the Dragon would be an opportunity to showcase this. rich tapestry of creatures, the resort has drawn on old standbys. The aforementioned Mulan Lunar New Year Procession has returned, giving Mushu, the reddish-orange dragon from the animated film, a starring role at the center of the small parade.
Most importantly, however, is the fact that the mini-parade successfully fuses Disney characters with cultural traditions. Several segments mention folk dances and the meaning behind different colors and flowers. Whether it's martial arts or fan-and-umbrella dancing, the narrative ties everything back to the character of Mulan, but it's nice to see Disney's entertainment team use the company's characters as a jumping off point into other customs. .
“Turning Red” characters Meilin Lee and her mother Ming Lee meet guests during Disney’s Lunar New Year festivities.
(Disneyland Resort/Christian Thompson)
The same goes for the charming World of Color pre-show “Hurry Home,” a heartwarming story of a lantern searching for a house. It's another returning piece from Disney's Lunar New Year celebration and centers around a nostalgic, melancholic score by composer Tan Dun and fun scenes involving Mushu. It has a more painterly feel than the main World of Color exhibit, which gives it a personal touch.
The Lunar New Year has also introduced a new character encounter at the park. It's welcome to see Meilin Lee and her mother Ming Lee from the Pixar film “Turning Red” arrive at the parks as the two play lightly with the mother-daughter dynamic in their short time with guests.
Characters encountered long lines on the opening day of the Lunar New Year, a good sign, I hope, for the long-term appeal of “Turning Red,” a film that delicately addresses the emotional turmoil of puberty, the insecurities of youth and the complexities of family relationships.
And don't miss this special place for reflection.
There's even more, as there will be live sugar art and several days of the Lunar New Year will highlight Chinese and Korean musical traditions (check the Disneyland site for specific performance dates and times). But it's also worth spending a moment in the Paradise Gardens section of the park, as the Lunar New Year Wishing Wall can be found here. It's a place where one can take a few minutes to connect with other guests over their hopes and dreams for the coming year, as well as write their own personal message.
Smile, cry or write a note dreaming of a little goodwill. I will be back hoping for emotional healing next year. It's a little hidden corner, connecting those theme park fantasies with our own.
