Lunar New Year and CA Food and Wine returns !!

[Astylla]

Taken directly from the Disney Parks Blog. Still some dates available for Magic Key discounts on hotel rooms so got my GCH stay all set!

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...sney-california-adventure-food-wine-festival/
Fan-Favorite, Limited-Time Festivals Return to the Disneyland Resort in 2022: Lunar New Year and Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival

by Kelsey Lynch, Public Relations Director, Disneyland Resort
I know many of us are looking forward to a fresh, new year in 2022, especially after missing some of our favorite theme park experiences this past year! Today, we are delighted to share that two fan-favorite, limited-time festivals will be back next year at Disney California Adventure park! The Lunar New Year celebration will take place from Jan. 21 through Feb. 13, 2022, and Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival will run from March 4 through April 26, 2022. Mark your calendars!
There’s something so special about the limited-time festivals at Disney California Adventure park. For some, it’s all about the decadent food and beverage offerings. For others, it’s the unique festival experiences and fun characters. No matter what your festival delight, one thing is for sure – there’s no shortage of Disney magic! Here are some highlights for what to expect when these festivals return.

Lunar New Year, Jan. 21 – Feb. 13, 2022
Lunar New Year at Disney California Adventure park is a joyous celebration that commemorates traditions of Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese cultures. The festival is filled with multicultural performances, special activities, culinary delights, beautiful décor, celebratory merchandise, and more!
In 2022, we will be celebrating the Year of the Tiger at the Lunar New Year festival. New this year, Tigger will join in on the fun, along with beloved Disney characters including Mulan and Mushu, Mickey and Minnie, the Three Little Pigs and more, all donning their festive attire.
Adding to the excitement of Lunar New Year, Raya from Walt Disney Animation Studios’ film, “Raya and the Last Dragon” will be appearing for the very first time at Disneyland Resort during the celebration! You’ll be able to see Raya in a setting inspired by her native Kumandra, recreated in the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail.
The captivating “Mulan’s Lunar New Year Procession” will return. This bright and bold performance hosted by Mulan and her faithful dragon, Mushu, will feature dozens of spirited parade performers as they honor family, friendship, and the potential for a fortune-filled new year. Live musical entertainment will also be enjoyed at the Paradise Garden Bandstand.
The Sip and Savor Pass will also be back, for extra enjoyment as you taste your way through the four Lunar New Year marketplaces, all featuring delicious Asian cuisine. Additionally, there will be special Lunar New Year-inspired food and beverage offerings at select dining locations throughout the park.
Other cherished Lunar New Year traditions including the Lucky Wishing Wall and craft activities will also be enjoyed at this year’s celebration.

Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival, March 4 – April 26, 2022
In 2022, family and friends will come together to get a taste of what they’ve been missing at the Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival! At the festival, you will be able to explore California regions and neighborhoods in a number of ways, from the delicious fare, to the vibrant entertainment, fun festival merchandise and more.
During the festival, you’ll get to taste your way through a dozen festival marketplaces that offer an assortment of mouthwatering bites and beverages for every palate. There will also be the option to purchase a Sip and Savor Pass to enjoy the unique marketplace offerings. Complimentary culinary demonstrations with local, celebrity and Disney chefs will return for the whole family to enjoy on Saturdays and Sundays during the festival. And for those looking to enhance their festival experience, special signature events will also be available to book and purchase, including the Carthay Circle Winemaker Receptions, and Wine, Beer and Mixology Education & Tasting Seminars.
Entertainment will fill the festival’s stages, with live musical performances at the Palisades Stage and Paradise Gardens Bandstand, visits with Chef Goofy and friends, and craft activities.
Additional details about the upcoming Lunar New Year celebration and Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival will be shared on Disneyland.com soon. Plus, keep your eyes posted to the Disney Parks Blog for foodie guides and more content as the festivals draw nearer!

 

[dieumeye]

Glad these are coming back and that they’ve announced the dates. With the way reservations are working now, they really need to start announcing stuff much farther in advance.

For example, weekend Key reservations for the Lunar New Year Festival are currently filled up, and while I’m sure they will sporadically release more, it just takes a lot more planning to make sure that you can get dates that work for you.

 

[Astylla]

Glad these are coming back and that they’ve announced the dates. With the way reservations are working now, they really need to start announcing stuff much farther in advance.

For example, weekend Key reservations for the Lunar New Year Festival are currently filled up, and while I’m sure they will sporadically release more, it just takes a lot more planning to make sure that you can get dates that work for you.

I have the advantage of my work schedule that I actually want weekdays since my days off are Wednesday through Saturday and I live 6 hours away. So I often tend to fly down or drive down after work Wednesday and fly back or drive Thursday or Friday,
Though to be fair the weekends for Lunar were already booked up early last month , however just this week when looking for last minute openings with my Dream key , could go everyday this week including Saturday.

 

[gelatoni fan]

Glad these are coming back and that they’ve announced the dates. With the way reservations are working now, they really need to start announcing stuff much farther in advance.

For example, weekend Key reservations for the Lunar New Year Festival are currently filled up, and while I’m sure they will sporadically release more, it just takes a lot more planning to make sure that you can get dates that work for you.

This. If they want people to make reservations 90 or 120 days in advance, they need to publish the events, operating hours and entertainment schedule before then. It's ridiculous that people are forced to book their dates early due to availability and then all of a sudden find out that fireworks are only on the weekends or an after hours event would lead to the park being closed early on the day they were planning to go.

I originally had a Disney+ Day reservation but cancelled it due to changing travel plans. If they had announced Disney+ Day 90 days in advance, I would not have cancelled that reservation. By the time of the announcement, there was no reservation availability so I ended up not going.

 

[shosh1530]

Excited to see this as we are planning a trip for late January coinciding with the Lunar New Year festival. In previous years, do the activities only happen on weekends? We are planning a Tues-Friday stay and not sure if we'll hit the park on Friday or not.

 

[DisSurfer878]

Excited for this! How cute to incorporate Tigger into The Year of the Tiger!

 

[BadPinkTink]

Oh my goodness, for the first time in forever I will actually be at the parks for one of the special festivals. Year after year I have followed them here on Dis and watched YouTube videos and now one of my days will be during the Lunar New Year Festivals.

Beyond excited, and yes I know there will be the usual reports from Ap's and locals that the food is not up to standard or this or that is missing or that they are upset and disappointed that it wasn't the same as what they used to go to. But I don't care. It will be a brand new experience for me, something I might never get to experience again. I'm so glad that I have 1 park per day tickets and that I'm staying within walking distance so that I can do open to close on my California Adventures Day so that I don't miss any of the extra things.

 

[bookgirl]

Excited to see this as we are planning a trip for late January coinciding with the Lunar New Year festival. In previous years, do the activities only happen on weekends? We are planning a Tues-Friday stay and not sure if we'll hit the park on Friday or not.

I'm visiting in the same time frame. Kind of excited to see.

 

[DharmaLou]

I already planned to be there late January & just booked airfare for the first week of food and wine too.

 

[SherylLC]

well this is exciting!!!

 

[Dobermanns]

Excited to see this as we are planning a trip for late January coinciding with the Lunar New Year festival. In previous years, do the activities only happen on weekends? We are planning a Tues-Friday stay and not sure if we'll hit the park on Friday or not.

For the festivals, festival-specific entertainment and food booths run everyday during the festival period. This was the case pre-pandemic, and since reopening, the current Festival of the Holidays is the same. I generally visit the parks during the week and don’t feel like I miss anything at the festivals.

 

[Dobermanns]

Glad these are coming back and that they’ve announced the dates. With the way reservations are working now, they really need to start announcing stuff much farther in advance.

For example, weekend Key reservations for the Lunar New Year Festival are currently filled up, and while I’m sure they will sporadically release more, it just takes a lot more planning to make sure that you can get dates that work for you.

Yeah I feel your pain. Being DVC member, I always book my stays at the villas at GCH 11-months out. When the Merriest Nites were announced, it ends a week before my stay. Doh! I did manage to go last month but stayed off-site.
Luckily, for the Lunar NY and F&W festivals, I had booked my stays based on past festival dates so I am set.

 

[BadPinkTink]

Ok, talk to me about the sip and savor pass. I just watched some videos from 2020 Lunar New Year and it was $42 for 6 or was it 8 passes?? My main questions is how do you get this pass?

I know from reading Disboards that some people think its not good value and some people have had issues ordering the food or with food availability. I also saw that in 2020 if you wanted to use the sip and savor pass you had to queue up at the booths, as it was not available on mobile ordering.

I have decided to get the sip and savor pass as it is something new to me and from the videos of 2020 it looks like a cool souvenir, as it was on a lanyard.

What about the merchandise? Is there anything in the shops in Downtown Disney or is it only sold in California Adventures? I know there will be a mad rush by the locals so if I can get just one or two things I will be happy.

 

[Dobermanns]

Ok, talk to me about the sip and savor pass. I just watched some videos from 2020 Lunar New Year and it was $42 for 6 or was it 8 passes?? My main questions is how do you get this pass?

I know from reading Disboards that some people think its not good value and some people have had issues ordering the food or with food availability. I also saw that in 2020 if you wanted to use the sip and savor pass you had to queue up at the booths, as it was not available on mobile ordering.

I have decided to get the sip and savor pass as it is something new to me and from the videos of 2020 it looks like a cool souvenir, as it was on a lanyard.

What about the merchandise? Is there anything in the shops in Downtown Disney or is it only sold in California Adventures? I know there will be a mad rush by the locals so if I can get just one or two things I will be happy.

For the current festival, the pass is $52 for 8 tabs for MK holders. It is a few dollars cheaper than the non-MK holder price. So for MK holders, it comes out to $6.50 per tab.
Most of the savory items are more than $7 or $7.50 each. So for me, that works Since I don’t drink, I can’t say whether it works for the alcoholic beverages or not. I think it’s in-person order only, and the lines might be long.
As far as merchandise goes, in the past, popular items would sell out early in the festivals. They are usually at the booths in DCA only, although I do remember them selling the Lunar NY AP items by Stage 17.

 

[BadPinkTink]

For the current festival, the pass is $52 for 8 tabs for MK holders. It is a few dollars cheaper than the non-MK holder price. So for MK holders, it comes out to $6.50 per tab.
Most of the savory items are more than $7 or $7.50 each. So for me, that works ☺ Since I don’t drink, I can’t say whether it works for the alcoholic beverages or not. I think it’s in-person order only, and the lines might be long.
As far as merchandise goes, in the past, popular items would sell out early in the festivals. They are usually at the booths in DCA only, although I do remember them selling the Lunar NY AP items by Stage 17.

thank you this is all new to me, and after being banned from entry to the USA from March 2020 to November 2021, even just being in DCA standing in line and soaking up the atmosphere will be amazing to me.

 

[Dobermanns]

thank you this is all new to me, and after being banned from entry to the USA from March 2020 to November 2021, even just being in DCA standing in line and soaking up the atmosphere will be amazing to me.

You are welcome! I can totally relate. When they first reopened DTD, we were so happy to be back. Just to be on property again! Enjoy your trip!

 

[upritbass]

Wow, what great (i.e. lucky) planning! Holiday Festival booths this week, Lunar New Year for the January trip, last two days of Food and Wine for the April trip.

BTW, that's a definite 'no' for alcohol with the pass. Also, the CMs tell you for optimum value to use it only for the higher priced items and pay cash for anything that costs less than $6.50.

 

[cruisehopeful]

I'm super pumped for these. I already have VGC reservations during both of the events! Going to be so convenient to go eat and then roll right into bed.

 

[Astylla]

I'm super pumped for these. I already have VGC reservations during both of the events! Going to be so convenient to go eat and then roll right into bed.

I put put feelers to rent points to all my contacts who tend to grab me last minute ones but for Food and Wine the magic key discount during the week was too good to pass up and not much more than renting usually puts me back. I stayed at GCH during Oogie Boogie and it was THE BEST.

 

[Dory92130]

Yeah OBB+VGC hard to beat combo. Not as needed for Food/Sip/Lunar; but having a mid-afternoon crash site is great to have and digest for night round