Shanghai Disney Resort announced details of their Chinese New Year celebration honoring the Year of the Snake.
Chinese New Year at Shanghai Disney Resort
Shanghai Disney Resort will celebrate the Chinese New Year or Spring Festival from January 15 to February 14, 2025, adding festivities to the Disney Winter Frostival, which has been ongoing since November. The New Year officially begins on Wednesday, January 29, 2025.
Gary the Snake & Decorations
The Year of the Snake symbolizes wisdom and elegance in the Chinese Zodiac. Gary the snake from Walt Disney Animation Studios’ upcoming “Zootopia 2” will represent this year’s Zodiac animal. Disney revealed Gary, voiced by Academy Award-winner Ke Huy Quan, during D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event last summer. A video teasing the celebration provides us with our first look at Gary’s animation.
Gary will appear on Spring Festival decorations throughout Shanghai Disneyland. In the Gardens of Imagination, Gary will appear as part of the main lantern decoration. The Garden of the Twelve Friends will transform into a New Year Wishing Garden with Gary decorations around the Year of the Snake mosaic (the mosaic currently depicts Kaa from “The Jungle Book” but they have changed a mosaic before). Special decorations featuring Gary-themed elements and Spring Festival details will also be on Mickey Avenue.
The resort will also be decorated with Chinese lanterns themed around various Disney characters and stories, as well as red and gold décor representing luck and good fortune. Snake-inspired garlands will be at the park entrance and a centerpiece will be at Celebration Square.
Characters & Entertainment
Spring Festival Celebration: “Our Families” will return to Enchanted Storybook Castle from the eve of the Spring Festival on January 28 through to the Lantern Festival on February 12. The nighttime spectacular features projections of Disney families and a special fireworks effect writing the Chinese character for “snake.” Gary will appear in the projections.
Mickey, Duffy, and their friends are debuting new outfits. Mickey and Minnie wear festive red outfits emblazoned with dragon and phoenix elements, plus snake elements on their shoes. Mickey and Friends will host a gala, playing instruments and dancing to drive away the “Nian” beast and usher in good luck.
Duffy and Friends wear new pastel outfits. Duffy’s shirt has a gourd pattern symbolizing fortune and wealth. His friends wear clothes decorated with lucky elements like fish, persimmons, butterflies, and Ruyi. They will get together to make traditional Chinese paper-cutting decorations.
Winnie the Pooh and his friends in the Hundred Acre Wood will also appear in gold and red New Year outfits.
“The Adventure of Rhythm” returns to the Storyhouse Stage from January 20 to February 16. This live stage show debuted for a limited run in the summer of 2024. It features music and characters from “Moana,” “Mulan,” “Pinocchio,” “The Aristocats,” “The Lion King,” “Aladdin,” “Wreck-It Ralph,” and “Turning Red.” There are different versions of the show so returning guests get unique surprise experiences.
Other returning entertainment offerings include the daily Spring Festival Drum Ceremony, Mickey Avenue Shanghai Swing, and Goofy dressed as the God of Fortune, who will appear on Mickey Avenue.
Zootopia Lucky Year
Zootopia will get in on the festival with “Zootopia Lucky Year” celebrations. Lanterns of all shapes and sizes depicting elephants, rabbits, and gazelles will adorn the city. Stickers featuring animal-based New Year windows will be on the windows and doors. Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde will wear red New Year scarves.
Zootopia will have a special series of merchandise: the 2025 Spring Festival Zootopia Collection. Itmes include keychains, New Year red packets, and other accessories.
Duffy and Friends Celebration Hall
Coinciding with the New Year celebrations, Duffy and Friends Celebration Hall will open in Adventure Isle. This space is the reimagined Tribal Table, combining Duffy and Friends-themed dining, shopping, and entertainment in one destination. It will open on January 13.
Murals on the walls display Duffy and Friends enjoying activities and adventures. The space will transform from day to night with changing decorations to reflect the group’s different activities. At the heart of the hall is a mural depicting Duffy and Friends gathered around a campfire.
The menu includes grilled and barbecued foods, celebration packages, and exclusive souvenirs. It extends the “From Farm to Disney Table” concept, offering a series of monthly exclusive dishes made with seasonal farm produce sourced from across China.
Spring Festival Menus
Dining venues across Shanghai Disney Resort will offer special New Year dishes. The Royal Banquet Hall will offer Spring Festival family set menus and a themed brunch. Shanghai Disneyland Hotel’s Aurora will have a celebration set menu with stencil cuttings of fish and “Fu” (symbolizing fortune and good luck) adorning the food.
Mickey-shaped chocolate pieces decorate select treats at CookieAnn Bakery Café and the monthly exclusive ice cream flavors at Donald’s Dine ‘n Delights.
A selection of food and beverage souvenirs will be available, including the red and gold gourd-shaped Cookie Ann Hot Cup and Duffy and Friends Popcorn Bucket depicting the characters celebrating the Spring Festival in their new outfits.
Merchandise
The 2025 Spring Festival Duffy and Friends Collection includes character-themed headwear, a Duffy backpack, and Duffy and Friends plush and keychains that can be paired together to create good-luck phrases and blessings by combining lucky elements on their outfits. This collection will launch on January 9. Details of the following collection launches will be shared later.
The 2025 Duffy and Friends Snake Zodiac Collection includes keychains of all seven friends dressed in snake outfits.
The 2025 Spring Festival Mickey and Friends Collection will include merch decorated with Mickey, Minnie, and the gang in traditional Chinese outfits.
The 2025 Spring Festival Winnie the Pooh and Friends Collection features the Hundred Acre Wood friends wearing lucky snake caps.
Spring Festival Lucky Bags filled with offerings will also be available.
Disneytown & Hotel Experiences
Disneytown will have New Year shows and activities. The Spring Festival Market will offer traditional folk activities and New Year snacks. Guests can watch folk performances or craft New Year’s decorations at the Spring Festival Lucky Workshop. More New Year entertainment options will be throughout Disneytown.
Both Shanghai Disneyland Hotel and Toy Story Hotel will be adorned with snake decorations and offer a diverse program of special entertainment and activities.
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