As a fan of the movie and a history buff , I find the exhibit to be fascinating . And while it is designed to educate and entertain everyone ( it ’ s in a theme park , after all ), this exhibit can be especially poignant for those in the Latinx community . I spoke with Disneybounding influencer , Uriel Diaz (@ the _ huntysaurus ), about what this film and exhibit have meant to him and why representation matters .
“ When Pixar ’ s Coco was released , the sense of pride I felt was electric ,” Diaz said . “ It was a dream come true to see my culture collide with Disney ... both [ are ] equally such big parts of who I am . The food , music , and family dynamics were all instantly recognizable to my family and culture .”
Coco , though not by any stretch of the imagination the first film to focus on Mexican culture and traditions , was certainly one of the biggest films to date in terms of audience reach to highlight these Mexican stories . And in an important move , Disney hired an all-Latinx voice cast for the film .
While the monumental Pixar film was huge for Diaz , experiencing the EPCOT exhibit based on the film was perhaps even more poignant : “ I was lucky enough to visit the exhibit with my mom and brothers , and it was emotional seeing traditions we celebrate being so
beautifully explained and displayed at the Most Magical Place on Earth . It was so special to experience that with them .”
And despite a strong presence of Mexican culture in his own life , even Diaz experienced something new upon his first visit to the Remember Me ! exhibit . He told me , “ My favorite part was seeing how the papel picado was made . That was incredible to see . We ’ ve always used it for celebrations , but I had never seen it made . It was truly amazing .”
If you haven ’ t yet checked out this hidden gem of the Mexico Pavilion , I highly recommend it . It is EPCOT at its best : learning about other cultures and traditions to gain an understanding and deeper respect for our brothers and sisters .
As for what Diaz hopes non-Latinx guests
Uriel poses at the exhibit with his family , including his mother . PHOTO COURTESY OF URIEL DIAZ
get out of the experience ? “ Obviously the knowledge of a new culture , but mostly , the curiosity to maybe try and carry these traditions in their own families and create new traditions within them . Guests should make it a point to check it out to see all the love and work we put into our culture and our family traditions . It will inspire .”
Seeing how the papel picado is made was a special moment for Uriel Diaz . PHOTO BY COURTNEY REYNOLDS