Lunar New Year Archives - Over The Top Mommy

Lunar New Year

Disneyland Resort’s Lunar New Year Celebration: the Year of the Mouse January 17 to February 9, 2020.

January 3, 2020 / California, Disney, Disneyland Resort, Family Fun, Orange County, SoCal Fun, Travel

This is not a sponsored post All opinions are my own.
This Lunar New Year, Disneyland Resort will celebrate “the Year of the Mouse” at Disney California Adventure Park from January 17 through February 9, 2020. The 24 day, multicultural celebration, will have exciting live entertainment and musical performances, including “Mulan’s Lunar New Year Procession” and the return of the heartwarming “Hurry Home – Lunar New Year Celebration” prior to the “World of Color” nighttime spectacular, for guests to enjoy.This unique Lunar New Year celebration comes alive with a touch of Disney magic as transformative Asian celebrations dedicate the new year. Guests will experience inspired food, music and entertainment with loved ones as they celebrate the Year of the Mouse together. Lunar New Year, traditionally celebrated within Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese cultures, celebrates the celestial journey of the sun and the moon on their journey towards another year. Highlights of the Lunar New Year celebration this year at Disney California Adventure include:

“Mulan’s Lunar New Year Procession” is a celebratory parade led by Mulan that honors Lunar New Year and dedicates the new year’s blessings to family and friendship. As a special treat for the Year of the Mouse, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse join the procession in new celebration attire, along with Goofy in his “god of Good Fortune” attire and Chip ‘n’ Dale in their red vests. Talented performers bring dance, martial arts and drumming to enhance the beautifully colorful procession. “Mulan’s Lunar New Year Procession” will run several times, daily.
“Hurry Home – Lunar New Year Celebration”, is a heartwarming nighttime water show at Paradise Bay prior to “World of Color” which tells the tale of a little lantern’s quest to reunite with family for the annual celebration of good luck and fortune. Guests will be delighted to see Mulan as a part of the little lantern’s journey.
Beloved characters Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse will don new festive Lunar New Year attire this year as they greet guests at Paradise Gardens. Other characters guests may find in this area include Mulan, Pluto, and the Three Little Pigs who also join in the Lunar New Year celebration.
Guests will enjoy four festive marketplaces to experience delightful food and beverages inspired by Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese cultures, including the new smoked beef bulgogi short rib and the peach sojito, as well as many other new and returning favorites. The popular Sip and Savor pass* is available for any guest to purchase if they wish to get the best value as they taste their way through the festive Asian marketplaces, Longevity Noodle Co., Lucky 8 Lantern, Prosperity Bao & Buns and Red Dragon Spice Traders. A special Lunar New Year menu at Paradise Garden Grill offers items inspired by traditional Asian fare, plus a Festival Cart inside Paradise Gardens and special food options at Lucky Fortune Cookery in Pacific Wharf.
Live, daily performances by authentic Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese dancers and musicians will take place throughout Paradise Gardens Park.
Enjoy areas for guests to try complimentary arts and crafts. One area features a complimentary dragon’s pearl coloring craft, and another features Chinese calligraphy with local artisans. Plus, new face painting opportunities have been added to the Lunar New Year celebration, available for purchase.
A Lucky Wishing Wall, located in Paradise Gardens, is where guests may write down wishes and tie them to the wall in hopes for a prosperous future.
The educational art walls provide guests with information about the festival, including fun details such as “What Year Are You?” as well as the unique story of Lunar New Year in each culture that celebrates the sun and moon festival.
Inspiring Lunar New Year décor symbolizes good luck, fortune and happiness in bold red and brilliant gold. Guests will see ornamental lanterns and banners wishing guests a Happy Lunar New Year in English, Chinese, Korean and New Lunar New Year merchandise inspired by different cultures of East Asia will be available for purchase. This year, guests will find all-new spirit jerseys, fun bobble-head figures with Chip and Dale, a traditional red envelope set, themed Minnie Mouse ear headbands and more.

In addition, the Disneyland Resort is offering special hotel offers during the Lunar New Year celebration, making this an ideal time for guests to visit Disney California Adventure. Guests may find more information at Disneyland.com.

*Sip and Savor Pass entitlements may only be redeemed during regular Lunar New Year celebration operating hours, and the Pass expires on February 9, 2020. Each coupon may be redeemed for one (1) food or nonalcoholic beverage item at a participating Marketplace location. Excludes novelties including souvenir tumblers. No discounts apply. Nonrefundable, nontransferable, may not be redeemed for cash (in whole or in part), no substitutions and no change given. Subject to restrictions and change without notice. Separate Theme Park admission required.

Some images are property of Disneyland Resort and used with permission.

Celebrate Lunar New Year and the “Year of the Pig” at Universal Studios Hollywood Starting February 2

January 13, 2019 / Lifestyle, Los Angeles, SoCal Fun

This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.

Universal Studios Hollywood will usher in the “Year of the Pig” and celebrate Lunar New Year beginning February 2 and continuing through February 17. Uniquely-themed programs will feature Hello Kitty, DreamWorks’ Kung Fu Panda masters Po and Tigress and a Mandarin-speaking Transformer’s MEGATRON. This spectacularly-themed Lunar New Year tradition will take place within Universal Plaza, located at the heart of the theme park. Under a curtain of customary red Chinese lanterns and stunning plum blossom Wishing Trees, the festivities will come to life as guests discover the 12 zodiac animal signs accompanied by their symbolic attributes.The centerpiece of the Lunar New Year festivities will feature DreamWorks’ Kung Fu Panda Jade Palace Performance Stage and the exciting Dragon Warrior Training Show based on the beloved Kung Fu Panda franchise. The energetic experience is designed to engage guests of all ages in an interactive martial art demonstration performed by Master Po and friends. The immersive event will also feature seasoned animators teaching guests techniques to draw Po and the Furious Five as keepsake mementos.

Some of the Lunar New Year festivities this year will include:

DreamWorks Kung Fu Panda’s famous Mr. Ping’s Noodle Shop is back by popular demand to serve up delicious culturally-themed food such as Po’s Dumplings, Dragon Warrior Bao, Oogway Eggrolls and Secret Ingredient Stir Fry Noodles. Mr. Ping himself will be on hand to interact with guests and take memorable souvenir photos.
Beloved global pop icon Hello Kitty, created by the global lifestyle brand Sanrio, will further complement this year’s Lunar New Year celebration when she steps out in style wearing her signature red bow and specially-designed Lunar New Year attire. Hello Kitty will be available to meet guests at the Hello Kitty Shop located within the new Animation Studio Store.
Keeping with Universal Studios Hollywood’s Lunar New Year tradition, a Mandarin-speaking Transformer’s MEGATRON will greet guests at the entry of the festivities. The imposing 12-foot-tall robot leader of the DECEPTICONS will interact with guests, engaging them both in Mandarin and in real time conversation reflective of his persona. A resident of Universal Studios Hollywood, MEGATRON is one of the stars of Universal Studios Hollywood’s thrill ride, “Transformers™: The Ride-3D.”
Illumination Entertainment’s Minions from the theme parks’ popular Despicable Me Minion Mayhem ride will also join the festivities, stepping out in style and dressed up in brightly colored traditional Lunar New Year attire.

Uniquely themed experiences offered in Mandarin include the theme park’s signature Studio Tour and the exclusive VIP Experience, both of which provide two distinctive and revealing looks at an authentic movie and television studio. Featuring expertly-trained Mandarin-speaking tour guides both opportunities provide insight into the world of movie-making magic as guests enjoy a front row seat and behind-the-scenes access to one of the largest production studios in the world. In-language park maps are also available for guests.

Guests can continue their Lunar New Year celebration at Universal CityWalk’s Dongpo Kitchen restaurant featuring upscale and modern Sichuan cuisine. Inspired by China’s premier restaurant Meizhou Dongpo, Dongpo Kitchen offers the comforts of a casual dining environment with both indoor and al fresco seating and caters to an eclectic palate with a variety of signature dishes.

Universal CityWalk’s newest restaurant, Vivo Italian Kitchen, serving freshly prepared authentic Italian fare in a newly designed modern setting, also invites guests to toast the “Year of the Pig” offering its haute cuisine menu in several languages, including Mandarin.

With so much to see and do at Universal Studios Hollywood, why not consider grabbing the all-new 2019 Season Pass, which invites guests to experience the fun all year long for just $139 when purchased online. More details about it can be found at http://www.UniversalStudiosHollywood.com

Images and video are property of Universal Studios Hollywood and used with permission.

Join OCTA on February 21 For a Free Family Event at the Irvine Station to Celebrate the Lunar New Year! (They’re Giving Away Tickets to Ride the Metrolink, Too)

February 12, 2015 / Celebrations, Holiday Fun, Lifestyle, Los Angeles, Orange County

Lunar New Year is the most celebrated holiday of the year for the nearly 1.5 million people of Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese descent living in Southern California. Celebrate Lunar New Year by visiting the 116th Annual Golden Dragon Parade and Festival in Los Angeles’ Chinatown. With colorful parades, elaborately decorated floats, marching bands and cultural performances by some of the nation’s best Chinese acts, this free event is fun for all ages.

Before riding Metrolink to L.A. on February 21, join OCTA for a Lunar New Year celebration at the Irvine station. This is a free event for the whole family. Just arrive at the Irvine Metrolink Station at 8:00 a.m. Enjoy a traditional Lion Dance and enter to win Lucky Red envelopes. Bring a non-perishable food donation for Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County to play Plinko and win a prize.

The first 100 people at the Metrolink Irvine Station on February 21 will each receive a free Metrolink ticket too, for a ride up to LA! (First come, first served)

Metrolink is the best way to get to LA from Orange County. You’ll avoid traffic and parking hassles and enjoying a relaxing ride with friends and family. The train is a great way to start your family adventure to Los Angeles.