As part of fall favorite celebrations at Disneyland Resort, Plaza de la Familia at Disney California Adventure Park commemorates everlasting love and familial bonds with culturally rich experiences inspired by the Mexican traditions of Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. The celebration features characters and music from Disney and Pixar’s Academy Award®-winning film “Coco,” including photo opportunities with the hand-carved little Miguel – plus “Coco” merchandise and flavorful dining from Sept. 1 through Nov. 2, 2023.
Heartwarming entertainment featuring favorite ‘Coco’ songs
Several times per day, guests can enjoy “A Musical Celebration of Coco,” when the Storytellers of Plaza de la Familia bring to life the songs and themes at the heart of the beloved film “Coco.” Led by charming singer-narrator Mateo, the talented troupe of dancers, singers and musicians recounts the adventures of Miguel and his fantastical journey from the Land of the Living to the Land of the Dead.
At the Paradise Garden Bandstand, guests of all ages are invited to sing and dance along to live Mariachi music and traditional songs that touch the hearts of all. The Mariachi Divas and Mariachi Espectacular are two groups scheduled to appear on stage.
Family crafts and photo opportunities
- Overflowing with images, colors and symbols, the “Árbol de la Vida” (Tree of Life) provides a vibrant backdrop for photos. Its branches sprout flowers, animals and evocative “calacas” (skeletons) interconnected by the theme of family.
- At the Memory Wall, guests can add remembrance notes to honor loved ones who have been – and will forever be − part of their lives.
- Plaza de la Familia visitors may design their own paper “alebrije” (spirit guide) mask of Pepita or Dante. Traditional “alebrijes” are small figurines representing fantastical creatures with a mix of physical characteristics from many different animals.
- After each performance of “A Musical Celebration of Coco,” guests may pose for photos with the hand-carved, Mexican folk art-inspired little Miguel at the beautiful mural named after “Recuérdame” (“Remember Me”), an iconic song from the film.
- The Miguel’s Memory Box art piece is an homage to Miguel’s beloved family members and the friends he meets on his travels in the Land of the Dead.
Delectable Mexican food
Specially for Plaza de la Familia, Paradise Garden Grill will feature a limited-time menu that invites families to partake in a valued tradition in Mexican culture – enjoying a meal together. Menu highlights include:
- Chile verde chicken flautas (new): topped with avocado spread, shredded lettuce, crema, queso fresco, tomatillo salsa and pickled onions, served with Spanish rice and pinto beans.
- Carnitas burrito: House-made pork carnitas, Spanish rice, pinto beans and salsa verde, served with house-made tortilla chips.
- Chorizo quesadilla (plant-based): Poblano, onions and mozzarella, topped with cilantro crema and served with salsa roja and escabèche.
- Vanilla layer cake: Layers of vanilla cake with cinnamon mousse and sweet cream cheese frosting.
Tributes to Día de los Muertos across Disneyland Resort
- For the first time, a new confectionery sculpture inspired by “Coco” is on display at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. This culinary creation will feature Miguel and his dog, Dante, in alebrije form with a Land of the Dead background comprised of 30 different colors of fondant and 100 colorful tiles made of chocolate, crisped rice cereal and fondant. The sculpture includes over 200 pounds of sweets, including 50 pounds of sugar, 50 pounds of white chocolate and 30 pounds of crisped rice cereal.
- Guests cruising through Cars Land will find that Ramone, one of the local “car-acters,” pays tribute to Día de los Muertos at his detailing shop, Ramone’s House of Body Art, with a traditional “ofrenda” display honoring Doc Hudson.
- Disneyland Park offers its traditional Día de los Muertos display at Zócalo Park in Frontierland. The magnificent installation features marigolds and banners of papel picado, along with two traditional “ofrendas,” sugar skulls known as “calaveras” and an iconic figure of La Catrina. The Rancho del Zócalo Restaurante offers delicious Mexican cuisine for lunch and dinner year-round.
