Wondering where to start as you dive into this year’s fresh festivities? Here’s your comprehensive guide to the 2023 Lunar New Year at Disney California Adventure Park, with information on activities, live entertainment, schedules, food booths, and more.
The 2023 Lunar New Year at Disney California Adventure Park celebration is back for a brand-new year! During this annual event, Guests can join Disneyland Resort in celebrating Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese traditions. This year, the Lunar New Year festivities run from January 20 through February 15. We’ve broken down everything you can expect to do, see, and eat at the festival in our comprehensive guide to the 2023 Lunar New Year at Disney California Adventure Park.
What is the Lunar New Year festival? It’s the first big event of the year at Disneyland Resort, and it takes place exclusively in California Adventure Park. The Lunar New Year celebration is a multicultural event designed to bring auspicious wishes for health, luck, and prosperity throughout the year ahead. Each year, the theme of the celebration changes slightly to ring in a brand-new year – it’s based off the Chinese zodiac calendar, and for 2023, we’re welcoming the Year of the Rabbit!
in 2023, the Lunar New Year celebration will also get a bit broader, as California Adventure Park will also recognize the Vietnamese zodiac calendar throughout the festivities. So, 2023 will be both the Year of the Rabbit and the Year of the Cat. This means you’ll have a chance to participate not only in themed festivities to celebrate both of these zodiac signs, but also honor multiple cultures. There will be Asian-inspired food and drinks, decor, special merchandise, live entertainment, and even some rare character sightings.
Scroll down to find everything you need to know about ringing in the 2023 Lunar New Year.
2023 Lunar New Year at California Adventure Park
Click or tap the link to go to the section you’d like to read:
- Frequently Asked Questions
- What’s New at Lunar New Year for 2023
- 2023 Lunar New Year Food Booths
- Activities at the 2023 Lunar New Year Celebration
- 2023 Lunar New Year Merch
Frequently Asked Questions
Photo by Disney Parks Blog
When is Lunar New Year at California Adventure Park?
The 2023 Lunar New Year celebration kicks off on January 20, 2023 and ends on February 15, 2023.
How long does the Lunar New Year celebration run for?
It lasts for three and a half weeks – or 26 days total – giving you a little less than a month to experience this multicultural festival.
What are the park hours for California Adventure Park’s Lunar New Year celebration?
During the festival, Disney California Adventure Park is open:
- From 8 AM to 9 PM Monday through Thursday
- From 8 AM to 10 PM Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
Make sure to double-check the park hours before you go! California Adventure Park hours can vary in January and February, and the park typically closes an hour earlier during the week than it does on weekends.
How much is the Lunar New Year festival at Disney California Adventure?
All Disney California Adventure Park festivals, including the 2023 Lunar New Year celebration, are included with the cost of admission to the park.
- If you’re an Annual Passholder, attending the 2023 Lunar New Year celebration costs nothing.
- If you’re purchasing a ticket, a standard single-day ticket to just one park starts at $83.
However, there are other Lunar New Year festival costs to factor in before you head to the park. For example, one of the main draws of the festival is the Lunar New Year Marketplace, which is a collection of food booths where you can purchase a variety of Asian-inspired food, snacks, and drinks. These vary in cost; the cheapest items are typically in the $2 to $3 range. However, the fanciest cocktails may hit $13 to $15.
During the festival, you can purchase a Sip and Savor Pass for a set price (2023 price TBD). This special pass gives you eight tabs to use at the Lunar New Year Marketplace food booths, and it’s wonderfully helpful for anyone who wants to stick to a budget.
If you’re interested in participating in the Lunar New Year festival activities, great news: many are free! Events like Mulan’s Lunar New Year Procession and special Disney character appearances don’t cost a single cent.
And of course, there’s plenty of special festival merch to go around. If you’ve gotta have the 2023 Lunar New Year merch (this year, it’ll be rabbit and cat themed!), be ready to spend a pretty penny.
What’s free at the DCA Lunar New Year celebration?
If you’re hoping to experience the Lunar New Year festivities on a budget, you’ll want to skip the food booths and merch stops. However, one of the most exciting aspects of the celebration is the slew of live performances you can catch throughout the day – and each one of these performances is completely free! While the 2023 entertainment schedule is still yet to be released, you can expect the following live entertainment to be free once you’re inside Disney California Adventure for the festival:
- Meet and Greet Disney Characters, a staple of the festival. You’ll have the chance to snap a photo and visit with rarely-spotted characters like Mulan, Mushu, and Micky and Minnie in special cultural attire.
- Mulan’s Lunar New Year Procession, a captivating procession that travels from Pixar Pier to Hollywood Land with Mulan, Mushu, Disney characters, and some exciting entertainers.
- Live performances at the Paradise Garden Bandstand, which take place throughout the day.
- Hurry Home – Lunar New Year Celebration, a special spin on World of Color that dazzles during the nighttime.
- Lucky Wishing Wall, where Guests of all ages can add their hopes and dreams for 2023.
In addition to these activities and events, you’ll also have the chance to participate in free events sprinkled across California Adventure Park daily. These freebies include kid-friendly crafts and activities, special character meet and greet spots at Redwood Creek Challenge Trail, and explore festive decor.
What’s New at Lunar New Year for 2023
Right now, we’re eagerly awaiting the official word on what will be new at this year’s Lunar New Year celebration at Disney California Adventure Park. Each year, many fan-favorite food booths, activities, and entertainment return – but the festival always brings something new and fresh for a brand-new year. Check back here before the festival kicks off in January to find out what can’t-miss new fun you’ll want to make sure to catch!
We do have one exciting update for 2023: While the food booths have been relatively limited at past festivals, the marketplace is expanding this year! The booths are expanding from just four to a total of six, giving you two brand-new options to try.
2023 Lunar New Year Food Booths
One of the big draws of the annual Lunar New Year festival is the food booths (or, as it’s officially known, the Lunar New Year Marketplace). All of the dishes and
While we’re still eagerly awaiting the announcement of which deliciously creative dishes will be available during the 2023 Lunar New Year celebration, you can always take a peek at last year’s festival booth menus to get a general idea of what will be served. Often, returning favorites appear year after year.
Not sure what to order? That’s why we offer dedicated reviews of each food booth once the festival launches. We try to sample as much food as early in the festival as possible so we can steer you in the right direction.
Here’s the full list of 2023 Lunar New Year at California Adventure Park food booths – check out the full menu for each below:
- Bamboo Blessings – NEW for 2023!
- Wrapped in Love – NEW for 2023!
- Lucky 8 Lantern
- Prosperity Bao & Bun
- Red Dragon Spice Traders
- Longevity Noodle Co.
In addition to these food booths, you’ll be able to try dishes from a variety of cultures throughout Disney California Adventure and Disneyland Resort. Whether you’re popping by a quick-service spot for lunch or wandering through the Grand Californian Hotel, there’s a whole array of treats to taste and beverages to sip. Check out the full list of special food and drink offerings here!
Activities at the 2023 Lunar New Year Celebration
Photo by Disney Parks Blog
In addition to eating your way around California Adventure Park, the Lunar New Year festival offers so much to do, from photo ops to shopping experiences to arts and crafts to actual learning opportunities. It’s your chance to immerse yourself in new cultures and explore the traditions of Lunar New Year, both for the Chinese zodiac and the Vietnamese zodiac.
Here’s a full list of things to do at the 2023 Lunar New Year celebration:
- Lucky Wishes Wall
- Mulan’s Lunar New Year Procession
- Hurry Home – Lunar New Year Celebration
- Special Disney Character Appearances
- Crafts for the Whole Family
Check back here for more information about the characters, event times, and details once the festival draws closer! We’ll update this page with more as it’s released.
2023 Lunar New Year Merch
If you love special edition festival merch, you won’t want to miss out on the 2023 Lunar New Year collection! The festival brings a slew of adorable plush toys, spirit jerseys, and accessories (yes, including backpacks and Ear Headbands!), all of which changes annually to celebrate the Chinese zodiac calendar. This year, which is the Year of the Rabbit, you can expect to see popular Disney rabbits included in the themed merchandise. And because this year’s festival will also celebrate the Vietnamese zodiac, you’ll have double the chance! Expect some of Disney’s best-known felines to appear on merch in honor of the Year of the Cat.
When the festival commences, we’ll bring you more on the hottest merch for 2023.
