WDW Daily News

Lunar New Year, the joyous celebration at Disney California Adventure® Park taking place Jan. 17 through Feb. 9, 2020, commemorates traditions of Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese cultures.

This year, we are celebrating the Year of the Mouse with 24 days of multicultural entertainment and musical performances, fun-filled activities, beautiful décor, delicious cuisine, specialty merchandise and more.

Let’s take a look at what’s in store this Lunar New Year:

• “Mulan’s Lunar New Year Procession” – Celebratory parade led by Mulan that honors Lunar New Year and dedicates the new year’s blessings to family and friendship. Talented performers bring dance, martial arts and drumming to enhance the beautifully colorful procession, which will run several times, daily.

• “Hurry Home – Lunar New Year Celebration” – 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. 
• Disney Character Encounters – Beloved characters Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse will don new festive Lunar New Year attire this year as they greet Guests at Paradise Gardens. Your Clients may also see Mulan, Pluto, and the Three Little Pigs.
• Asian Cuisine – Your Clients can enjoy four festive marketplaces to experience delightful food and beverages inspired by Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese cultures, including Longevity Noodle Co., Lucky 8 Lantern, Prosperity Bao & Buns and Red Dragon Spice Traders. If your Clients are looking to taste their way through the marketplaces, the popular Sip and Savor pass* will be available for purchase.
• Entertainment – Live, daily performances by authentic Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese dancers and musicians will take place throughout Paradise Gardens Park.
• Kid-friendly Crafts and Activities – Your Clients can enjoy complimentary arts and crafts, including dragon’s pearl coloring craft and Chinese calligraphy with local artisans. Plus, new face painting opportunities have been added to the celebration, available for purchase.
• Lucky Wishing Wall – After strolling beneath strings of ornamental lanterns in Paradise Gardens, Guests can write down wishes and tie them to the wall in hopes for a prosperous future.Commemorative Merchandise – Your Clients can discover all-new spirit jerseys, fun bobble-head figures with Chip and Dale, a traditional red envelope set, themed Minnie Mouse ear headbands and more.*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.

Regal Eagle Smokehouse: Craft Drafts & Barbecue is a new fast-casual restaurant opening soon at The American Adventure pavilion in Epcot®. Today we’re sharing a few new details about what is sure to become a Guest favorite foodie spot in World Showcase – including new merchandise on the way!

The restaurant takes its name from the venerable Sam Eagle, the Muppet known for his patriotism and strict sense of duty and honor. He takes all things seriously … and barbecue is certainly one of those things. 

Regal Eagle Smokehouse will be the site for “Sam’s Centennial Cook-Off: A Salute to All Cook-Offs but Mostly Barbecue.” You will be the beneficiaries of this contest – described as “a competition fit for all patriots and pit masters” – as it brings in a variety of classic backyard barbecue selections from across the country to vie for Sam’s top honor.

Sam’s unmistakable visage will be part of the décor at this new restaurant. For instance, Guests will see him on the sign as you walk in …

He will also be incorporated into new Regal Eagle Smokehouse merchandise available exclusively at this tasty locale. 

Stay tuned for more information on this fun new restaurant as we prepare to officially open its doors later this winter.

The final film in Star Wars‘ nine-episode Skywalker Saga, Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker, is finally here. In wrapping up the 42-year story, Rise of Skywalker takes a whole lot of looks back on the films of the past, bringing back a host of old characters and tying up more than a few major plot points and mysteries. It’s full of references to past movies as well–not just with returning characters, but with moments, lines, and images repeated that conjure up eight movies’ worth of memories.

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Take a look at some photos from The New Years Eve Eve 2019 party from Magic Kingdom

Here’s another thing we love about Disney. Magic Kingdom puts on their New Years Eve Fireworks show and party on December 30 AND December 31 every year. Check out the countdown to the New Year!

Check out this clip of the Kiss Goodnight from Magic Kingdom. If you have never heard of this, it is unannounced and usually takes place anywhere from 15-40 AFTER park hours. This is a way to help let guests know it’s time to leave as some may have entered a ride prior to park closing and then exit the ride technically after park hours end for the night. If you get a chance to stay for it, it truly does wrap up your day at Magic Kingdom in a special way.

Who’s ready to ring in the new year? With new attractions, restaurants and more on the horizon for the Walt Disney World® Resort in 2020, we sure are! 

#DisneyParksLIVE stream of 2019 will again bring you a New Year’s Eve fireworks celebration to remember. Join us at 11:45 p.m. ET on Dec. 31, 2019, for a live stream of “Fantasy in the Sky Fireworks” live from Magic Kingdom®Park. Our friends from the Disney Parks Blog will be starting the live stream a few minutes before midnight to share some highlights of what to expect from our parks in 2020!

To view the live stream, simply come back to Disney Parks Blog around 11:45 p.m. ET on Dec. 31, 2019.

A trip to Disney World should be a magical experience for a family, but it can also be plagued with long lines, short tempers and confusion.

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We have all been rejected. That is life. Some of us use that rejection to push us on and take motivation from us, but for others, it can be demoralising. 

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