It’s a fresh year, and Lunar New Year 2026 is said to usher in a renewed sense of power and resilience. After the Year of the Snake in 2025, which focused on shedding old weight and leaving what no longer served us behind, we now look ahead to the Year of the Horse. This is a year associated with action, energy, and ambition, which honestly feels like exactly the vibe many of us are ready for. While January may have felt like the world still had a little more shedding to do, February 17th, 2026, officially marks the start of the Lunar New Year, and I am more than ready to welcome a fresh wave of something… else. Even the Disney bubble can’t fix everything, but there’s real hope in this important celebration across Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean cultures, and in what it represents moving forward.
As always, the Disneyland Resort is enthusiastically getting in on the celebration. With specialty food and beverage offerings, limited-time entertainment, unique character costumes, and so much more, Disney once again leans into its storytelling roots and long-standing connection to the Asian community. Lunar New Year is a truly special time to visit the resort, offering guests a meaningful opportunity to engage with cultural traditions, vibrant celebrations, and, of course, the incredible culinary influences that make this holiday so beloved by those who celebrate it.
And yet, every year, I find myself asking the same question: why does Walt Disney World continue to lag so far behind by comparison? The common explanation points to demographics, with California’s proximity to Asian countries and its larger Asian American population often cited as justification. But for those of us who value representation, cultural celebration, and yes, a few more dumplings in the parks, that reasoning feels weak. When EPCOT is home to World Showcase and features an entire China pavilion, it’s hard to understand how such a significant cultural celebration can be largely overlooked.
So yes, friends, I will probably keep asking this question year after year until we see Walt Disney World truly get behind Lunar New Year in a way that mirrors Disneyland’s approach. If you’re not deeply familiar with the Asian cultures that celebrate Lunar New Year, events like this matter because they create shared moments, encourage understanding, and celebrate diversity rather than letting beautiful traditions go unseen. And honestly, I don’t know anyone right now who couldn’t use a little more celebration, support, or dumplings in their life.
So let’s talk about it. Should Walt Disney World step up and highlight Lunar New Year with the same care and enthusiasm we see at the Disneyland Resort?
