I love the Lunar New Year. Living in Sydney, Australia, there is a huge population and cultural influence from Asian communities, and this tradition has become something that the city here celebrates every year. I really enjoy watching the plans for the Lunar New Year come together at the Disneyland Resort. With all of the festivities, food, and excitement, I think it is a wonderful addition to the lineup of cultural celebrations that are observed at the Disney Resort. However, on occasion, I can’t help but feel like our East Coast friends are missing out at Walt Disney World.
I’m not someone who believes that both coasts should be a carbon copy of each other; I appreciate their differences and the opportunity to experience both separately, though when it comes to observing and learning more about the cultures in our world, I do think it is a shame that Walt Disney World has not yet begun to cultivate their own celebration of this annual event. Especially when they have the perfect place to host it! EPCOT’s World Showcase is famous for highlighting the festivals that are important to the culture represented in each pavilion, and yet, while there might be some token merch or a limited show, very little occurs to mark this occasion at EPCOT’s China pavilion, or anywhere else in the resort.
If you’ve missed the details on what can be found at the Disneyland event, held in Disney’s California Adventure Park, you can see all the details here: Your Guide to the Lunar New Year Celebration at Disneyland, now including all of the Marketplace menus that were just released!
Let me know what you think. Should the Lunar New Year be celebrated more prominently in Walt Disney World?
