Looking for a novel attraction to visit over the weekend? Try Downtown Disney District’s newest floral display! Inspired by Isabela from Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Academy Award-winning “Encanto,” these silletas are a cultural expression, as well as being perfectly beautiful like Isabela herself!
Silletas are intricate floral arrangements, used in Columbia, commonly assembled on wooden structures. They are used for the Feria de Las Flores, or flower festival, which is an annual festival that compels silleteros to travel 16 miles on foot down the mountainside to carry their flowers to the city. At Disney, each skillet is being used to represent a different Business Employee Resource Group (BERG) at the Disneyland Resort and across The Walt Disney Company.
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The Resort Enhancement Team worked hard to bring representation to the forefront of their design. Brett of Resort Enhancement and Jeff, Design Team Lead, said they hope that guests can learn a little bit more about the different communities and groups each silleta represents.
The design begins with Isabela at the Poppy Fountain and continues throughout Downtown Disney. The concept is that Isabela has created these giant floral arrangements. Each piece combines Colombian culture and a specific culture or group of people.
The COMPASS silleta represents the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities and allies. Flowers like orchids, jasmine, and lotuses, traditional to these regions, were used to represent the water that connects these lands.
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The PRIDE silleta represents all Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and allied cast. It displays the progressive Pride colors.
The SHALOM silleta has plants that are indigenous to Israel, like poppies, cyclamen, and narcissus. An olive tree on the silleta has six olives, representing the six pillars of the SHALOM BERG’s mission – synergy, history, allyship, legacy, obligation, and meaning.
The WIN silleta represents the Disneyland Resort Women’s Inclusion Network (WIN) BERG. It utilizes colors like purple that represent Women’s History Month but also features plants like thistles, inspired by Isabela’s love of unconventional plants.
The SALUTE silleta represents the military. There are six color stripes, representing the six branches of the military – Air Force, Coast Guard, Army, Navy, Marines Corps, and the Space Force.
The NAATV silleta represents Native American and Indigenous colleagues and allies. It utilizes medicinal plants like sage and flowers indigenous to Southern California like wildflowers and poppies.
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The PULSE silleta represents the Disneyland Resort PULSE BERG (People United to Lead, Serve, & Excel), which supports professional growth and well-being for cast members of African and Caribbean descent. The flowers in the skillet include African violets and hibiscus.
The HOLA silleta represents Hispanic, Latino, and allied cast members. This silleta shows 27 flags in alphabetical order to represent the 27 nations of Latin and Hispanic communities. Since Colombia is part of the Latin community, traditional Colombian flowers like gladiolus, sunflowers, and lilies were used.
The ENABLED silleta promotes respect, parity, and appreciation of people with disabilities. For example, gold-colored flowers were used to symbolize the autistic community. This is because, in the periodic table of elements, gold is represented with the letters AU, the first letters of the word autism.
“My hope is that guests and cast alike will not only appreciate the beauty of each silleta but for the power of the meaning behind each one,” said Resort Enhancement Area Manager Dawn. (Disney)
Which one is your favorite?
Photos courtesy of Disney
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