WDW Daily News

Wrapping up the Holiday season with five, festive days, the Disneyland Resort will celebrate Three Kings Day at Disney California Adventure Park, Friday through Tuesday, Jan. 2-6, 2015. The Three Kings Day celebration provides guests with a new opportunity to delight in the cultural experience that is “Disney ¡Viva Navidad!,” a fun and popular event that has run throughout the holiday season with a colorful street party, authentic and merry music, and traditional Mexican foods.

New at the park this year for Three Kings Day is “The Spirit of Navidad,” a joyful storytelling performance presented by two bilingual, musical artists. This festive addition will deepen guests’ appreciation of the various Latino traditions celebrated during Christmas, New Year’s Eve and Día de Los Reyes (Three Kings Day). The storytellers will perform interactive musical interludes throughout this spirited celebration. Guests may take photos with sculptures of the Three Kings bearing gifts and enjoy a traditional sweet treat known as Rosca de Reyes. Children may participate in crafts and make paper crowns with sparkling “jewels.”

Three Kings Day has been celebrated for generations in Mexico, Spain, Latin America and other countries as part of the Christmas story. It commemorates the day the three kings (the magi or “wise men”) followed the star to Bethlehem bearing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

• The Three Kings Day celebration at Disney California Adventure unfolds in Paradise Gardens, near the site of “Disney ¡Viva Navidad!,” an event inspired by the warmth and joyous holiday spirit of the Latino culture. The area is decorated with holly, banners and authentic cultural icons, including traditional papel picado hand-cut art decorations.

• Along with the new storytelling performances, sculptures of the Three Kings will be displayed in Paradise Gardens. Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and Goofy also will appear in their “fiesta” costumes, along with The Three Caballeros: Donald Duck, Panchito from Mexico, and José Carioca from Brazil.

• Jan. 2-6 are the final days to enjoy the exciting “Disney ¡Viva Navidad! Street Party.” Performing six times daily, it features The Three Caballeros on a colorful holiday float, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse transported on brightly decorated street tricycles, flag-bearers carrying papel picado banners, Mexican folklorico dancers, Brazilian samba dancers and drummers, plus giant mojiganga puppets depicting Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus.

• At the Paradise Gardens Bandstand, guests will enjoy performances by traditional Mariachi, Norteño, and other regional music groups. Also at Paradise Gardens, community music and folklórico troupes perform throughout the weekend.

• Three Kings Day guests also may participate in the ongoing “Disney ¡Viva Navidad!” arts and crafts, storytelling and face painting, and they will discover a selection of unique merchandise.

• Dining locations in Paradise Gardens continue to offer popular Mexican food options in honor of the holidays. Menus feature Mexican dishes such as pozole (hearty stew), chicken mole drumettes, champurrado (Mexican-style hot chocolate), sweet tamales, torta al pastor (pork sandwich) and buñuelos (deep-fried sweet treat). Traditional Rosca de Reyes bread is offered for Three Kings Day.

• The Three Kings Day festivities add to all the holiday fun at the Disneyland Resort, including nightly snowfall on Main Street, U.S.A., “A Christmas Fantasy” parade, “it’s a small world” Holiday and Haunted Mansion Holiday attractions in Disneyland Park, plus bell-ringing carolers, special Cars Land décor and the dazzling “World of Color – Winter Dreams” holiday water spectacular in Disney California Adventure Park.

To join the conversation about Disneyland Resort at the Holidays, guests may use the hashtag #DisneyHolidays.

Guests at the Disneyland Resort will ring in the New Year and show their Disney Side with special New Year’s Eve entertainment, including live music and fireworks at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Parks. Here’s a look at the exciting opportunities, which are in addition to the festive Holidays fun.

At Disney California Adventure Park:

• Throughout the park, guests will enjoy a variety of live musical performances to get into the spirit of the new year. They also will enjoy a countdown to midnight at each stage location.

• At Paradise Bay, guests will count down to midnight and the New Year with a lively display of water, flames and fireworks.

• Special Mickey Clock sourdough bread and sparkling apple cider are available throughout the park.

• Guests may enjoy a memorable meal at Disney California Adventure Park on New Year’s Eve. Dining reservations are recommended and can be made online or by phone by calling (714) 781-DINE. Menu items include:
  • Herb roasted rack of lamb served with potato rosti, seasonal vegetables and zinfandel jus (Ariel’s Grotto, Paradise Pier)
  • New York steak served with mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables (Wine Country Trattoria, Pacific Wharf)

At Disneyland Park:

• Guests will enjoy the “New Year’s Eve Fantasy in the Sky Fireworks Spectacular” to celebrate the arrival of 2015.

• An exciting welcome to the new year will be celebrated at five party locations throughout the park with live bands, DJs and a countdown to midnight.

• For a special New Year’s Eve meal, guests may enjoy signature food items at restaurants throughout the park.
  • Surf and Turf: Sirloin steak, shrimp skewer, mashed potatoes, sautéed broccoli, sundried tomato butter and herb beurre blanc sauce (Carnation Café, Main Street, U.S.A.)
  • Jambalaya Skewer (Bengal BBQ, Adventureland)
  • Chocolate funnel cake with peppermint (Stagedoor Café, Frontierland)
  • Pan seared New York strip loin a la Oscar, served with dungeness crab meat, béarnaise and chive café au lait sauce (Blue Bayou, New Orleans Square)
  • Roasted pork chop, served with Calvados apple sauce, braised greens and sweet potato soufflé (French Market, New Orleans Square)
  • Flat iron steak, served with garlic mashed potatoes, butternut squash and green beans, and a slice of pecan praline yule log (Café Orleans, New Orleans Square)

Throughout the Resort:

• To commemorate the New Year’s Eve celebration, guests may purchase a limited edition pin featuring Oswald the Lucky Rabbit.

• Guests may pick up complimentary hats and horns at Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park to become part of the festive celebration. Supplies are limited.

• Guests ringing in the new year may enjoy a special meal at one of the many restaurants located in the hotels of the Disneyland Resort and throughout the Downtown Disney District:
  • Napa Rose offers two options for a memorable meal on New Year’s Eve. For early dining, guests may be seated from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. to enjoy a four-course country feast. At the late night gala dinner, beginning at 8:15 P.M., guests may enjoy live music, champagne and a Napa-style five-course tasting menu. Visit com for more information.
  • At Steakhouse 55 at the Disneyland Hotel, guests may enjoy a cabernet poached tenderloin of beef with black truffle potato puree and citrus butter gratinée, along with other special offerings.
  • At Storyteller’s Café at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, guests may select a special rib-eye steak with garlic mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables.
  • PCH Grill, at the Paradise Pier Hotel, offers a variety of items, including panko-herb crusted vegetarian lasagna, herb marinated roast and traditional winter holiday desserts.
  • Guests may check online for special offerings at the many restaurants of the Downtown Disney District.