Lunar New Year is coming to Disneyland and Universal Hollywood

January 18, 2017, 11:53 AM · Southern California's theme parks are preparing for their annual Lunar New Year celebrations, with special entertainment and food.

The festivities kick off this Friday at the Disneyland Resort, where Disney California Adventure will be celebrating for 17 days, through Feb. 5. Mulan and Mushu will appear in a new pre-show to World of Color, called "Hurry Home," which will follow the travels of Little Lantern on its way home to its family for the Lunar New Year. The park also will roll out several Asian-inspired food stands as well as a special Lunar New Year menu at Paradise Garden Grill. Here's the full line-up (prices not yet available):

China

Xiao Long Bao – Pork soup dumplings with black vinegar and ginger
Luo Bo Gao – Turnip cake with sausage and oyster sauce
Egg Tart
Passion Fruit Green Iced Tea with Lychee Popping Pearls (non-alcoholic)
Tsingtao Lager

Korea

Kimchi Bokkeumbap – Kimchi-vegetable fried rice
Yachae Mandu – Steamed vegetable dumplings with sesame-garlic soy sauce
Yasik – Sweet rice and dried fruit cake
Banana Milk (non-alcoholic)
Black Beer Stout
Hite Pale Lager

Vietnam

Bang Chung – Sticky rice cake with pork
Chao Tom Voi Nuoc Cham Chua Ngot – Sugar cane shrimp skewer with sweet and sour sauce
Purple Sweet Potato Macaron
Ca Phe Da – Vietnamese iced coffee

Paradise Garden Grill

Japchae – Stir-fried vegetables and noodles with tofu
Galbi – Grilled beef short rib with steamed rice and kimchi
Cach Chien Ca Gion Ngon – Whole crispy tilapia with chili-lime vinaigrette and steamed rice
Pho – Beef Noodle Soup
Mango Pudding
Banh Khoai Mi Nuong – Cassava-coconut cake
Almond Milk Tea with Fruit Jellies (non-alcoholic)
Max Beer Lager

Up the road at Universal Studios Hollywood, the "Year of the Rooster" starts Saturday, Jan. 21, also running through Feb. 5. The event will welcome Kung Fu Panda stars Po and Tigress to the park for the first time, as well as the return of Universal's Mandarin-speaking Megatron, from the Transformers franchise.

The park's Universal Plaza will be decked out for the event, with red Chinese lanterns, a plum blossom arch, and lampposts featuring each of the twelve zodiac animal signs. Asian-inspired treats also will be available for sale.

All events (excluding the food) are included with park admission. We will be at Disneyland tomorrow night for a preview of the Lunar New Year celebrations — and the return of the Main Street Electrical Parade (weather permitting). Then we're heading to Universal Studios Hollywood over the weekend for the start of the Lunar New Year festivities there.

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