How to Meet Rare Disney Parks Characters like Mulan and Raya in 2023

If you’re a fan of the more “rare” Character experiences at Disney Parks and Resorts, or if you just love heroines like Raya and Mulan, here’s how you can meet them at the start of the New Year!

Fans love Disney Parks for their imaginative, thoughtful, and immersive entertainment, like character meet-and-greet opportunities. However, for some of Disney’s “rarer” characters, it’s often more difficult to spot them in the Parks, either because they only appear seasonally or have fewer set times compared to other characters. Such is the case for Mulan and Raya.

While Guests can sometimes find Mulan outside the floral Mickey in Disneyland Park, her appearances are varied and unpredictable. Plus, Raya’s introduction to Disneyland last year was temporary to celebrate the release of Raya and the Last Dragon (2021), and she only appeared at the Walt Disney World Resort recently. What’s more, the Magic Kingdom limited her presence to the Adventure Friends Cavalcade, and she is not available to interact directly with Guests on the East Coast.

In contrast, Guests can easily find Mulan and Raya every year during the Lunar New Year Celebration at Disney California Adventure Park. Guests can meet Raya, the warrior princess from the Southeast Asian-inspired kingdom of Kumandra, along the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail in the Grizzly Peak portion of the Park.

Additionally, Mulan and her dragon sidekick Mushu will be greeting Guests from the Paradise Gardens Park Gazebo along with Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse in festive cultural attire. Moreover, this year, Disney will extend the route for “Mulan’s Lunar New Year Procession” throughout the entire Park! Beginning in Paradise Gardens, the parade honoring family, friendship, and fortune hosted by Mulan and Mushu features dazzling displays from real performers within the Asian American communities of California.

Disney California Adventure’s Celebration of the Lunar New Year at the Disneyland Resort in Southern California begins on January 20 of 2023 and lasts until February 15. For more information on Character set times and locations, plus showtimes for parades and performances, Guests can check real-time updates via the Disneyland app. Additionally, Mulan also meets Guests at EPCOT’s China Pavillion.