Shanghai Disney Resort celebrated the first day of the Year of the Rabbit on January 22, 2023, with a traditional lion eye-dotting ceremony at Shanghai Disneyland that kicked off the Spring Festival.
The Ceremony
In attendance, for the first time ever, were Zootopia’s Judy Hopps, along with Nick Wilde, who both joined Mickey and Minnie for this auspicious time-honored ceremony to spread fortune and prosperity to guests from near and far.
Joe Schott, President and General Manager of Shanghai Disney Resort, together with Mickey, dotted the eyes of two lions, awakening them as they bring best wishes and luck to everyone
The Celebration
As the resort “hops” into the Year of the Rabbit, guests arriving at Shanghai Disney Resort will be treated to a lineup of special offerings themed to the Spring Festival, one of the year’s most important holidays.
The festivities will run until February 10, immersing guests in the unique New Year atmosphere with specially-designed Spring Festival-themed décor, exciting performances, culinary delights, celebratory merchandise, and much more.
Various special entertainment options will be available for guests to experience, including the high-stepping “Mickey Avenue Shanghai Swing!,” which features Mickey and his friends dressed in Spring Festival outfits, joined by dancers in vintage Shanghai-style clothing.
Meet the Characters
Mickey Avenue in the park has once again become a hub of celebration throughout the Spring Festival period. Guests can meet Mickey and his pals dressed in their finest Spring Festival outfits as well as pose for photos in front of stylish photo backdrops.
Oswald the Rabbit will be making an appearance, and guests will be able to catch Judy at selfie spots on Mickey Avenue for the first time, making for one-of-a-kind memories for the Year of the Rabbit.
New Year Wishing Garden
As one of the most popular activities at Shanghai Disneyland, the Garden of the Twelve Friends has been transformed into the “New Year Wishing Garden” again this year.
And this year, the resort continues the popular New Year “wish” tradition by inviting guests to write down their wishes on special rabbit-shaped cards adorned with pictures of Judy or StellaLou to hang in designated locations within the garden. Limited quantities of the special wish cards will be available each day during the New Year.
In honor of this year’s zodiac animal, Judy received her very own mosaic amongst the twelve zodiac signs in the Garden of the Twelve Friends.
Echoing the year’s optimism, the mosaic depicts Judy cheerfully heading to the metropolis of Zootopia by train with the landmark skyline in the background.
Plus, to help ring in the Year of the Rabbit, the Spring Festival Drum Ceremony, another Spring Festival tradition at the resort, will be held in the Gardens of Imagination every morning. Presented by Mickey and Minnie, along with Judy for the first time, the drums will send season’s greetings and good wishes to guests each day.
Fireworks
As a spectacular highlight of the Spring Festival celebration, the nightly fireworks display celebrating the theme of “Our Families” brings guests together with loved ones to enjoy an all-around experience of splendor and magnificence.
A special element in the show will feature a firework design that writes the Chinese character for “Rabbit” in the night sky.
Disneytown
Guests visiting Disneytown will also have a chance to encounter the lion dance and dragon parade during the holidays, as well as the Magic Glee Club singing at the Marketplace stage, sharing blessings and wishes of good fortune to guests for the coming year.
Additionally, a wide variety of exciting experiences, including the Spring Festival Market, workshops, folk performances, and dance moments are waiting for guests in Disneytown on select days throughout the Spring Festival.
Will you be visiting Shanghai Disney during the Year of the Rabbit? Let us know in the comments.
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