The Year of the Rabbit is upon us and cast members at Hong Kong Disneyland and Shanghai Disney Resort “hopped” into the New Year celebration!
Hong Kong Disneyland
Chinese New Year is a time for family gathering and reunion. At Hong Kong Disneyland we started the party with a special milestone: for the first time in three years, we had a face-to-face Chinese New Year Celebration in the park! We were thrilled to see guests’ happy faces around every corner of the resort!
On the first day of the Year of the Rabbit on Jan. 22, we joined our managing director Michael Moriarty, Senior Vice President Tim Sypko, and some Disney friends to kick-start the new year. Of course, StellaLou graced the occasion as our honorary guest! Guests also enjoyed colorful flourishes and whimsical décor that adorn the park throughout the celebration, which lasts until Feb. 12.
Michael Moriarty and Tim Sypko were joined by Louise Lao, director of hotel operations, and Manfred Wong, director of food and beverage, where they enjoyed the traditional lion dance together with guests in attendance at our hotels. The lion dance is a very special element of Chinese New Year celebrations that symbolizes sharing blessings of good fortune and prosperity in the new year.
As is Chinese New Year tradition, in Hong Kong, cast members gave out red packets to guests to spread good luck and good fortune! Inside the Lucky StellaLou 3D red packets, guests found chocolate gold coins as well as shopping and dining vouchers to enjoy the new year.
We not only have fun with our guests, but we also share happiness with our community. On Chinese New Year’s Eve, we welcomed more than 30 friends from the community into the park alongside our Disney VoluntEARS. Together, we drew StellaLou at the Animation Academy and gave out scarves to attendees made by our VoluntEARS – all in the hopes of giving them warmth and blessings.
Shanghai Disney Resort
Meanwhile, at Shanghai Disney Resort, another furry friend took center stage: Judy Hopps! On the first day of the Year of the Rabbit, we joined Shanghai Disney Resort President and General Manager Joe Schott, Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde for one of Shanghai Disneyland’s Spring Festival traditions – awakening two sleeping lions by dotting their eyes to wish all our friends a fortune-filled and prosperous start to the Year of the Rabbit!
At the resort, we have beautiful lanterns everywhere, exquisite décor, extraordinary entertainment and live shows, Rabbit-themed food and merchandise, and more! For a limited time from the Chinese New Year’s Eve to Lantern Festival, a special firework design that forms the Chinese character for “Rabbit” in the night sky will be featured in the spectacular Chinese New Year nighttime show.
Judy Hopps from Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Zootopia joined us as she received her very own mosaic amongst the twelve zodiac signs in the Garden of the Twelve Friends.
As part of our tradition, we hosted a New Year’s Eve celebration for cast members staying in our dorms on Jan. 21. Hundreds of cast who made magic for guests here at Shanghai Disney Resort over the holiday gathered on that evening to celebrate the chance to reunite as “one family.”
We wish all our fellow cast members and Imagineers a bright future for the Year of the Rabbit! Keep following #DisneyCastLife as we bring even more fun into the new year!
Be sure to follow:
- Hong Kong Disney Ambassador team at @HKDLAmbassador
- Shanghai Disney Resort on Instagram @ShanghaiDisneyResort
- Shanghai Disney Resort Ambassador team on WeChat
