Disneyland Resort has celebration overdrive at the moment. Three different promotions are currently overlapping: Get Your Ears On, Lunar New Year, and Valentine’s Day. For a time period that was once considered the off-season, there sure is plenty to see and do.
Lunar New Year
Gong hei fat choy everyone. Disney’s Lunar New Year celebration returned early this year, with extended dates through February 17th.
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We sent Stephenie (@StephisHappening) and Alanna to attend opening day on Friday. Steph will lead you through the celebration below, and then we’ll see some video from Alanna.
The bulk of the festival takes place in Disney California Adventure along the parade corridor near Paradise Gardens.
Disneyland Lunar New Year Celebration video:
Mulan’s Lunar New Year Procession
Mulan returns for this beautiful parade that features the Three Little Pigs for the Year of the Pig. The waterfront location is beautiful and gives them more space than in previous years when it was hosted in Paradise Gardens.
It’s so rare to see the Three Little Pigs these days, but it’s absolutely delightful that they are featured in this show for the Year of the Pig.
As you can see, we had to shoot into the sun . . . but it came out lovely anyway.
Asian Food Marketplace
This is the first year a Sip and Savor pass has been offered for the Lunar New Year celebration. Similar to the one at the Festival of the Holidays, for $39 ($35 for pass holders) You can get 6 food and/or non-alcoholic beverages from the Lunar New Year Festival booths. Can’t decide if it makes sense to purchase? Once you see the food, you’ll likely want to dive in. You can easily find 6 things to try.
The familiar Food and Wine Festival booths have been decorated for Chinese New Year and have creative signs which explain what’s offered in each location.
Lucky 8 Lantern
Longevity Noodle Company
Prosperity Bao & Buns
Red Dragon Spice Traders
Festival Food and Beverage Cart
Paradise Garden Grill
Pro tip – If you want to use your sip and savor pass, or you want a sample sized dish, you can order festival sized versions of the following entrees, in addition to full-size versions:
Merchandise
There are also a number of special merchandise offerings for Chinese New Year at Disney this year. Many of them are from Shanghai Disneyland.
Crafts and Activities
Paradise Gardens hosts Mulan and Mushu as well as Mickey, Minnie, and Pluto in traditional Lunar New Year clothing. You’ll also find artisans who will paint your name in Chinese, as well as coloring stations.
Character Meet and Greets
Lucky Wishing Wall
Add your wish for the new year to the wishing wall in Paradise Gardens.
Melody of China
You’ll want to grab a performance schedule for the day to catch the musical acts featured during Lunar New Year.
Lunar New Year Decorations
The area between Little Mermaid and Paradise Gardens is where the Lunar New Year celebration is located. You’ll find the various things to do scattered throughout this location.
Disneyland Mini Update
Chinese New Year isn’t all that’s happening at the Disneyland Resort. Let’s check out what’s going on over at Disneyland with Valentine’s Day and Project Stardust.
Valentine’s Day
Disneyland’s Valentine’s celebration has been expanded this year. Decorations, props, and food have popped up everywhere.
Valentine Hunt
One of the major additions this year is this Easter Egg hunt-style game called Minnie’s Valentine’s Day Surprise. It’s $6.99 for the map, and you’re guaranteed a prize at the end.
Similarly to the egg hunt, you are given a map (of sorts, it’s more of a list of clues) and some stickers. Stick the right sticker to the right valentine as you find them around the park.
Redemption is on Main Street, across from the Emporium. You’re welcome to redeem at any time, even before finishing the hunt. You receive one of two packs (if you want both, you need two game boards), with six valentine cards each.
I love little things like this for seasonal events, it gives us something new to do. . . good exercise too!
Valentine’s Day Food
Some new food and treat options have been added around the park for Valentine’s Day this year.
Cherry Mousse Dessert, Dark chocolate ganache and chocolate crunch with red velvet spray, gold dust, and mini heart sprinkles:
Strawberry Bundt Cake:
Heart-shaped Linzer Cookie:
There are plenty of options to choose from, and the usual Valentine’s Day candy even has a few new things.
If you’re a foodie, Disney’s official blog has the low-down on food and locations. I’m hoping to stop by and try the Piranha Lemonade Slushy at Bengal Barbeque and the Southern Pork Belly Sliders at the River Belle Terrace. I’m a big fan of seasonal food that’s more savory than sweet.
Valentine’s Day goes through February 18th.
Project Stardust: Castle Refurbishment
Sleeping Beauty Castle’s ongoing refurbishment continues this week. More scrims have popped up, higher now. Soon the whole thing will be covered and the concept art scrim will be installed on top.
The Fantasy Faire side of the castle has that nice Sleeping Beauty background art, but the Snow White Wishing Well side still has a plain green scrim. I’m wondering if that means that the wishing well area will get absorbed into the construction.
This and That
The French Market facade is getting an exterior refurbishment.
Some of the princesses have been seen with their princes, presumably for Valentine’s Day.
Soundsational Returns!
We caught the first viewing of the return of Soundsational. Check the times guide for parade times. Two new Mickey centered floats have been added to celebrate Mickey’s 90th birthday and the Get Your Ears On campaign! First, on loan from Tokyo, it’s an adorable wood toy style Mickey pull toy! Goofy pulls it around, and he seems exhausted! It must be heavy. The second new float is a giant birthday cake. We love Soundational and the energy it brings to the park.
For those wondering what happened to parts of A Bug’s Land, Lee Unkrich, the soon to be former director at Pixar, posted that Pixar Studios received Heimlich this week.
Homecoming! #Heimlich #ChewChewTrain #aBugsLife #Pixar #JoeRanftRIP pic.twitter.com/iLDbWnKjoE
— Lee Unkrich (GET VACCINATED) (@leeunkrich) January 25, 2019
Josh Cooley, the Toy Story 4 director has this to say:
Bought a new car. pic.twitter.com/DJEMoEbcWy
— Josh Cooley (@CooleyUrFaceOff) January 25, 2019
MICECHAT ANNIVERSARY WEEKEND EVENTS AND GUMBALL RALLY
JUST DO IT
MiceChat Anniversary weekend is February 8, 9, & 10th! Join us for three days of events and activities. Don’t miss the Friday evening cocktail reception celebrating Disney super legend Buzz Price, our Sunday morning breakfast with David Koenig and the very first Disneyland tour guide, and our most affordable Gumball Rally ever, making this the PERFECT year for you to give it a roll. And please don’t miss the MiceChat Sunday meetup at Disneyland on February 10th . . . the event that started it all. All of the amazing events are listed below. Please help us spread the word. We can’t wait to see you!
TIP: Sign up for the Rally, then add the Combo Ticket Package for the best deal on Anniversary weekend. If you aren’t doing the Rally, the Combo Ticket Package (listed below) is your golden ticket to Anniversary Weekend magic!
The Buzz Way Cocktail Reception
Feb 8th, 7:30 – 9:30 PM – Wyndham Garden Hotel
A panel discussion and cocktail reception celebrating the great Buzz Price, the Disney super-legend who helped create the business model for Disneyland (and Walt Disney World) and discovered the land that the Happiest Place on Earth was built on. Joining us will be David Price, Buzz Price’s son and a themed entertainment star in his own right. David will have copies of his new book about his dad, which contains chapters written by theme park industry luminaries who worked with and were inspired by Buzz Price. The event will feature never-before-seen videos of Buzz and his thoughts on theme parks which will leave you wishing there were more men like him around today. We will also have a unique opportunity to pick up a copy of the book Buzz himself wrote which is now long out of print! Plus, Disney Imagineer Terri Hardin Jackson will be joining us!
The Hotel Indigo (the sister hotel to the Wyndham and immediately next door) is offering a special rate of $109 per night (for the nights of the 8th and 9th) with complimentary WiFi, Parking, and amenity gift. Contact [email protected] and request the MiceChat Anniversary rate.
Buzz event info and tickets HERE
Gumball Rally!
February 9th – 7am until 8pm
The world-famous Gumball Rally is rolling your way on Saturday, February 9th. Do you have what it takes to ride the most attractions at Disneyland in a single day?
Gather together a team of 2, 3, or 4 friends or family members and enjoy the most fun you’ve ever had at the Happiest Place on Earth.
This year’s Rally is inspired by the 50th anniversary of the Haunted Mansion. We’ve been dying to have you.
Gumball Rally Links:
The First Tour Guide
Breakfast
Feb 10th, 8:30 AM – The Anaheim Hotel
Disneyland author, David Koenig, introduces us to the man who was Disneyland’s very first tour guide in the months before Disneyland even opened to guests. David will interview Bob D’Arcy and we’ll see images of Disneyland that no one has seen before. We’ll also have a chat with David about his own new book coming out and books will be available from Bob & David as well as some additional surprises!
Enjoy a traditional American breakfast of Scrambled Eggs, Bacon, Sausage, Seasoned Breakfast Potatoes, Assorted Pastries, Whole Fruit Display, Trinidad Regular & Decaf Coffee, Evolution Herbal Teas, and Water Station
This event will also serve as the Gumball Rally Award Party. The winning teams and special awards will be given out at this event.
Breakfast event info and tickets HERE SPECIAL
MICECHAT ANNIVERSARY TICKET COMBOS – (YOUR BEST VALUE)
Add both MiceChat Anniversary events and save $10 off our already low rates (buy the General Admission Combo Ticket). OR – Get VIP seating at both events and a special signed gift for just $20 more (buy the VIP Combo Ticket)
MiceChat Anniversary events Combo Tickets HERE
MiceChat Anniversary Noon Mega Meet
Sunday, February 10th
Disneyland
Don’t miss the event that started it all so many years ago. Join us for a classic noon meet up in the central hub of Disneyland. We’ll have lunch, then head off to experience what we call the “West Side Wonders”. This year is the 50th Anniversary of the Haunted Mansion, so we’ll be sure to do that. And if time allows, we’ll also ride the Mark Twain, Pirates, see the Tiki Birds and much more. Disneyland is fun in a group (even if it’s a busy day). Chat, make friends, and have a wonderful time celebrating 16 years of MiceAge/MiceChat.
That’s it from the Disneyland Resort for now. How do you feel about Lunar New Year this year? Are these expansions of seasonal offerings with Lunar New Year and Valentine’s Day a good thing or are there too many seasonal promotions? Let us in the comments below.
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