Tearing up at the 'Happiest Place on Earth': Disneyland celebrates Dia de los Muertos
You'd expect big smiles at the “Happiest Place on Earth,” but on a media tour of Plaza de la Familia, a fall celebration at Disney California Adventure Park, I found myself tearing up.
I grew up in Southern California and spent a lot of time at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure as a kid, but I'll admit that I've never felt particularly culturally seen at either park. It wasn't until Disney and Pixar's 2017 film "Coco" that I saw my family and our traditions reflected in the characters on screen.
In recent years, Disney overall has made strides toward diversity and inclusivity in their parks. Disney California Adventure Park celebrates Lunar New Year in January and, in late fall and winter, celebrates a Festival of Holidays.
My eyes lit up when I saw the vibrant marigold archway and skeleton figures flanking the entrance to Plaza de la Familia. Tucked in a quiet corner of Disney California Adventure at Paradise Gardens, Plaza de la Familia is honoring the Mexican traditions of Día de los Muertos through Nov. 2, with colorful decor – such as papel picado, marigolds and sugar skulls – and immersive cultural experiences like mariachi music and an opportunity to honor departed loved ones.
It was easy to forget I was in a theme park, but the Mariachi Divas snapped me back with a performance of “Un Poco Loco” from "Coco."
Plaza de la Familia offers a space for those familiar and unfamiliar with the Día de los Muertos traditions to connect with the meaning of the celebrations. Signage appears in English and Spanish, and there are, of course, subtle nods to "Coco." Several times during the day, dancers, singers and musicians perform "A Musical Celebration of Coco," which recounts Miguel's journey from the Land of the Living to the Land of the Dead.
Disney California Adventure Park developed Plaza de la Familia in 2017, shortly before “Coco” was released in theaters. To avoid spoiling the film, the area did not include characters like Miguel at the time. Disney Live Entertainment Show Director Tracy Halas said the space hasn’t changed much since 2018.
“It’s a tradition. A lot of families come every year,” Halas said. “We really hesitate to change it because that's kind of a legacy to this story and to the space”
Watching Rachelle Walias, 42, craft a paper alebrije mask with her daughter, Malia Walias, 8, reminded me of when my mom would take me to the Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach, California, to make papel picado for our ofrenda at home. Even though my mom and I live on opposite coasts now, we always share photos of what our ofrendas look like each year, which bittersweetly grow with photos of loved ones each passing year.
There's a special (and emotional) place at Plaza de la Familia called the Árbol de la Vida and Memory Wall, which reflects the true heart of Día de los Muertos. It's a space where guests can leave notes of remembrance to honor lost loved ones. Thousands of tags with names are tied to chains surrounding the Árbol de la Vida. It's an overwhelming sight, and as you scan across the notes, you can't help but feel a connection to strangers.
Cynthia Garcia, 41, was also visiting Plaza de la Familia for the first time. She wrote down the names of her deceased loved ones such as her father, brother and pets. "It's very emotional. It brings out your heritage and your beliefs of how you feel about the afterlife. So it's a great way to remember your loved ones."
“When you leave (Plaza de la Familia), you feel a different kind of honor and respect for that heritage," Halas said. "You don't have to have Mexican heritage to be enjoying the space, learning and really respecting that kind of culture.“
Said Garcia, "We weren't expecting that at all."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Disneyland makes space for memories, mourning for Dia de los Muertos
