Lunar New Year Celebration 2016 at Disney California Adventure

Gong Xi Fa Cai!

Wishing you a prosperous and successful new year!

At this time of year, several countries including China, Korea and Vietnam celebrate the Lunar New Year and depending on the culture, this can last up to 15 days. (So technically we’re still in time as the 2016 Lunar New Year began on February 8^th!)

For the past few years, to commemorate the start of this event, Disney California Adventure has thrown their own Lunar New Year Celebration at the Paradise Garden area and this year I finally got the chance to stop by as it only ran for one weekend!

The festivities included an opportunity to Meet & Greet characters such as Mickey and Minnie or Chip ‘n Dale in traditional costumes.

Chip ‘n Dale Meet & Greet for the Lunar New Year.

You could write down your New Year’s wish and have it added to the wall of wishes everyone else had contributed.

You could listen to performances over at the Paradise Garden Bandstand or try special food offerings.

But my favorite part of the event was the parade/show which ran a few times each day.

Mulan and Mushu led off the parade as it made its way over to the Paradise Garden area.

There were beautiful dancers…

And awesome drummers…

And a terrific dragon dance!

I really loved watching this wonderful performance and definitely want to go back and see it again next year! My only complaint is that since the park Celebration only runs for one weekend, not enough people would get to experience it. I think it should run for two weekends or at least one full week. It would also be nice if there were an educational storytelling component to it ala the Three Kings show during Viva Navidad! to explain the cultural relevance and history of this annual occasion, rather than just posting some signs in the area about it.

Mousertainment Memorandum: Each year is considered to belong to a different animal in the Chinese Zodiac. 2016 is the Year of the Monkey. In a completely random, yet awesome coincidence, this year also celebrates the 50^th anniversary of one of my all time favorite TV shows and performing groups: The Monkees! Two of the original band members (Mickey Dolenz and Peter Tork) will be touring in concert this year in honor of that special milestone anniversary! And I’m hoping I’ll get the chance to see them perform once again! Hey, hey, they’re The Monkees!

Did you visit the Lunar New Year Celebration at Disney California Adventure this year? Would you like to see this celebration extended next year or see more similar cultural events at the park?