🧧🐎 Ring in the Year of the Horse at Disneyland Resort

Brandi Parker
Dec 15, 2025
3 min read

Color. Culture. Cuisine. And that unmistakable Disney magic—Lunar New Year 2026 is a must-see celebration.

There’s something truly special about experiencing Disney through the lens of culture and tradition—and Lunar New Year at Disneyland Resort does this beautifully. From January 23 through February 22, 2026, Disney California Adventure Park transforms into a vibrant, joy-filled celebration honoring the Year of the Horse, blending storytelling, food, music, and heart in a way only Disney can. ✨

And the best part?✨ The celebration is included with park admission.

Disneyland Lunar New Year décor display featuring a festive stage with red and gold accents, a Mickey Mouse–shaped emblem, stone guardian statues, and banners reading “Lunar New Year” and “Year of the Mouse,” highlighting seasonal celebrations at Disneyland Resort.

📍 When, Where & Festival Basics

Location: Paradise Gardens Park and walkways around Paradise Bay at Disney California Adventure

Dates: January 23 – February 22, 2026

Included: Entertainment, décor, character encounters

Extra: Food, merchandise, and Sip & Savor Pass

This beloved seasonal celebration honors Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese Lunar New Year traditions, weaving cultural appreciation into every detail—from décor to dining to performances.

Red Lunar New Year lanterns strung overhead with warm lights, featuring traditional tassel details and festive décor, creating a vibrant cultural atmosphere commonly seen during Lunar New Year celebrations at theme parks and resorts.

🎶 Entertainment That Moves the Soul

🐉 Mulan’s Lunar New Year Procession

A guest favorite, this colorful street performance features:

Mulan and Mushu
Traditional dancers and drummers
Bright costumes and high-energy music

Performed multiple times daily, it’s one of the most joyful ways to experience the festival.

🌙 “Hurry Home – A Lunar New Year Celebration”

Before World of Color, Paradise Bay hosts a special Lunar New Year pre-show filled with music, projections, and a family-centered story that adds extra magic to your evening.

Disneyland Lunar New Year parade scene featuring Mushu dancing in the foreground alongside performers in colorful traditional attire, with festive banners, lanterns, and cultural costumes celebrating Lunar New Year at Disneyland Resort.

🐭 Characters in Festive Style (2026 Highlights!)

Lunar New Year is also one of the best times for unique character encounters:

Mickey & Minnie in Korean-inspired outfits and new Chinese- and Vietnamese-influenced costumes
Horace Horsecollar making appearances for the Year of the Horse
Meilin and Ming Lee from Turning Red, joining the celebration

These limited-time costumes alone are worth planning around—especially for photos.

Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse posing together in colorful traditional Lunar New Year outfits, standing in front of festive red and gold décor with cultural banners and symbols, celebrating Lunar New Year at Disneyland Resort.

🍜 A Foodie Favorite: Lunar New Year Marketplaces

If you love EPCOT-style festival food, you’ll adore this.

🌏 Lunar New Year Marketplaces

Outdoor booths serve Asian-inspired dishes and specialty drinks, spotlighting:

Chinese flavors
Korean favorites
Vietnamese-inspired bites—all with a Disney twist.

🎟️ Sip & Savor Pass

A multi-tab pass (typically 6–8 tabs) lets you sample select food and non-alcoholic beverages—perfect for grazing your way through the festival.

Additional limited-time dishes often pop up at quick-service spots and select hotel lounges, with a full Disney Eats Foodie Guide released closer to the event. Check back for updates.

Mickey Mouse–shaped red Lunar New Year dessert held in hand, featuring a gold accent detail and festive design, photographed in front of themed décor celebrating Lunar New Year offerings at Disneyland Resort.

🏮 Atmosphere, Décor & Interactive Fun

This celebration is as immersive as it is festive.

🏮 Lanterns, banners, and Year-of-the-Horse artwork throughout Paradise Gardens Park
✍️ Lunar New Year Wishing Wall, where guests write wishes or resolutions
🎶 Live musicians, dancers, and cultural performances
🎨 Family-friendly crafts and pop-up entertainment

It’s colorful, meaningful, and incredibly photogenic.

Nighttime water and projection show at a Disney park featuring illuminated fountains, colorful mist effects, and large-scale character imagery projected over water beneath a crescent moon, creating a dramatic nighttime entertainment experience.

🗓️ Smart Planning Tips for 2026

A little strategy goes a long way:

Crowds: Weekends and Lunar New Year dates are busiest; midweek offers lighter crowds
Park Reservations: Standard Disneyland reservation rules apply—DCA reservations (or Park Hopper rules) are required
Event Overlap: The festival overlaps with Disneyland After Dark: Sweethearts’ Nite on select nights, which may affect Disneyland Park evening hours while DCA continues normal daytime operations

✨ Why Planning Lunar New Year With Me Matters

As a Certified Disney Destinations Specialist, I help my clients experience Disney with intention, not overwhelm.

I help you:

Choose the best dates for food, characters, or lighter crowds
Build a one-day DCA Lunar New Year touring plan
Time shows, parades, and meals perfectly
Balance festivals with rides, rest, and photo ops

Disney festivals are incredible.

Disney festivals with a plan? Unforgettable.

🧧 Ready to Celebrate Lunar New Year at Disneyland?

Whether you’re all about the food, the culture, the characters, or the photos—this is one of the most joyful seasonal celebrations Disneyland offers.

Let’s design a Disneyland Resort vacation that lets you celebrate the Year of the Horse with ease, meaning, and magic. ✨