[Disney] Mickey & Minnie in Kimono Give New Year’s Greetings! Surprise Unveiling of New Ambassadors Also Announced

New Year Celebrations Kick Off at Tokyo Disneyland

Ring in the new year with magic and tradition! On Monday, January 1, 2026, Tokyo Disneyland unveiled its special New Year’s event. The highlight was the “New Year’s Greeting” mini-parade, where Mickey Mouse and his Disney companions greeted guests in stunning traditional Japanese kimono. But the surprises didn’t stop there—the 2026-2027 Tokyo Disney Resort Ambassadors made a spectacular debut, joining the festivities to announce their new roles.

Tokyo Disney Resort is hosting this New Year’s special event from January 1 to January 12, 2026, across both Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea.

New Year’s Greeting Parade

At Tokyo Disneyland, the “New Year’s Greeting” parade is back this year, featuring Mickey Mouse and the Disney gang celebrating the new year in kimono, accompanied by vibrant music. The parade isn’t just about Mickey; floats are surrounded by cars carrying other Disney characters and a 12-member band, adding to the festive atmosphere.

And here’s the big surprise: the 2026-2027 Tokyo Disney Resort Ambassadors, Kameda Shingo-san and Hamanaka Hikaru-san, made an appearance along the parade route to greet guests and formally introduce themselves in their new capacity. These ambassadors represent the cast of Tokyo Disney Resort and serve as goodwill ambassadors.

Meet the New Ambassadors

Kameda Shingo-san and Hamanaka Hikaru-san will take on the role of Tokyo Disney Resort Ambassadors from January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2027. For two years, they’ll engage in promotional, goodwill, and welfare activities, bringing the dreams of Tokyo Disney Resort to people across Japan. The inauguration ceremony was blessed with clear skies, making for a bright and cheerful start to their tenure.

Festive Decorations and Attractions

At the park entrance, visitors are welcomed by decorations featuring Mickey Mouse and, in homage to the 2026 zodiac animal, the horse, a kadomatsu (traditional New Year decoration) adorned with Horace Horsecollar from the Disney short film “Mickey’s Grand Concert.”

But the festivities don’t end there. Special New Year-themed goods are available, along with delicious menu items like “Kinako Mousse & Milk Jelly” (550 yen), which features sweet miso glaze flavors. As night falls, the sky lights up with “New Day, New Dreams,” a fireworks show that fills the park with celebratory energy.

Additionally, Disney hotels are offering special New Year menus, and the Disney Resort Line is selling two types of New Year-design free passes.

It’s a Small World Gets a Marvelous Update

Starting from Saturday, December 27, 2025, the attraction “It’s a Small World” is once again hosting the limited-time program “It’s a Small World with Groot” featuring Marvel Studios characters! Enjoy scenes of Groot flying on a kite and exploring various countries and regions around the globe on vacation. This program continues even after the New Year, running until Sunday, June 28, 2026.

New Year Lottery for Kids

A special highlight this year is the “2026 New Year Lottery” being distributed to kids within the park. Cast members carrying boxes are handing them out, so be sure to grab one! What’s written on the lottery tickets? That’s a surprise to look forward to!

For updates and more, check out the official Tokyo Disney Resort PR on X (formerly Twitter). Here are some tweets from the event:

• Tweet about the New Year’s event
• Another tweet from Tokyo Disney Resort PR

Event Details

Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea are hosting the New Year’s special event from January 1 to January 12, 2026. Don’t miss out on experiencing the New Year at Tokyo Disney Resort!

© Disney

By Tokita Takashi

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