Explore Orlando’s Hispanic heritage and culture with Instagram influencer Jocelyn Aranda.
As a first-generation Mexican American, when it came to finding the place I’d call home, I knew it had to connect to my heritage. I found that here in The City Beautiful. Orlando showed me it’s the true definition of a place made better by the amplification of the cultures that thrive in it.
Discover: Hispanic & Latino Travel Guide
Orlando’s Hispanic heritage is deeply rooted, some of it in places you might not even think of, and more roots are being planted with new businesses owned and operated by Hispanics. It’s easy to feel like you are home when a city and its people welcome and celebrate every part of you! Come with me to see why calling Orlando home is so easy, and learn of places that celebrate Hispanic heritage year round — including some you might not have heard of yet.
Discover: Hispanic Heritage Month Events & More
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Mexico Via Orlando
Did you know you can travel to Mexico without leaving Orlando? You will find the Mexico pavilion in the World Showcase at EPCOT®, part of Walt Disney World® Resort. There you will also often find me jamming away with Mariachi Cobre, which has been a part of this Orlando community since 1982!
Save on discount tickets: WALT DISNEY WORLD Resort
Mariachi Cobre pride themselves in introducing the sounds of mariachi to millions of visitors every year. The sound of the mariachi playing was a common thing in our household growing up. Now, whenever I want to be taken back in time, I just head to EPCOT to listen to them play classic Mexican mariachi songs as well as some beloved Disney music.
Step inside the pyramid modeled after many pyramids that still stand in Mexico today, and you will immerse yourself fully in the culture that raised us Mexicans. After experiencing the entrance paying homage to Diá de Muertos and La Plaza de Amigos showcasing Mexican artistry and artifacts, make sure to grab your alebrije and stop by the Cava De Tequila to try the drink named after them!
The Cava De Tequila is a hidden gem in the Mexico pavilion. Did you know almost everyone you see working there is from Mexico? Some of them are from Tequila, Mexico — the place that invented tequila!
Look around the entire Mexico pavilion, and you will find deep roots that go as far back as 1692, when the original San Angel Inn was built in Mexico. Fast forward to around the 1970s, when after discovering a gold Mickey Mouse that the Walt Disney Company had sent to his parents, Richard Debler Sr., whose father owned San Angel Inn Restaurante in Mexico, saw a unique opportunity.
Debler reached out to Disney with the idea of bringing authentic Mexican culture and cuisine to the company’s Mexico pavilion at Walt Disney World. His proposal led to much of what is now the Mexico pavilion, a beloved destination that continues to share Mexico’s rich culinary traditions with millions of visitors from around the world through restaurants like its very own San Angel Inn.
Next, take a ride on the Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros. At the end you’ll see a map of Mexico — look for the star that has “Guadalajara” above it. That’s where I’m from! Mexicans are lively and you can experience a bit of that at the Mexico pavilion. Así que ahí te vemos para celebrar la Herencia Hispana!
As our roots continue to sprout throughout the city, next time you find yourself with a need for some cultura, visit places like Morelia Paleteria at The Florida Mall® and indulge in a dessert that raised us, una paleta bien fría (a very cold popsicle), dipped and topped with your favorite sweets. It’s like you are transported to la plaza en el Pueblo enjoying one, with the added bonus of getting to spend time at The Florida Mall!
Also, in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, you can find an art exhibition celebrating Hispanic and Latino artists’ work in Orlando City Hall’s Terrace Gallery, part of City District. Running through November 3, 2024, it is free for everyone to come and enjoy!
Authentic Hispanic & Latino Dining
I’ve come to learn that the one thing that gathers people from all over the world is food, and Orlando is creating a food scene that’s unbelievable with the help of every culture that makes up this city. If you are a lover of Mexican food, the list of places to visit is endless, with so many takes on it even I have come to find some dishes inspired by Mexican cuisine to shine bright!
Discover: Orlando Food & Dining
Located at Conrad Orlando, Ceiba is an example of that, adding their touch to Mexican cuisine while keeping the dishes true to their heritage. The atmosphere, decor and views are some of the best in Orlando, a place that celebrates our culture and is bringing a new light to it. Who doesn’t love a fine dining experience while enjoying some amazing tacos or a scrumptious ceviche?
Orlando offers many other options for authentic Hispanic and Latino dining. Those choices include several MICHELIN Guide eateries, starting with the One-MICHELIN-Star Capa Steakhouse & Bar at Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World® Resort and Papa Llama, a Peruvian eatery in our Curry Ford West Main Street district.
Discover: Orlando’s MICHELIN Guide Restaurants
Celebrar Más
Orlando’s Hispanic and Latino community makes up 35% of its population. You will see a touch of that heritage everywhere you look, both in places we have made our own and by visiting new locations honoring Mexican culture and that of many Hispanics and Latinos. All of this makes Orlando the perfect home for this wandering Mexican, because I feel represented and celebrated everywhere I go. Vivir en Orlando es vivir en un lugar que no solo te acepta pero también te celebra y te reconoce en alto.
My first language is Spanish, and I’ve found myself speaking it more now that I live in Orlando than I have anywhere else I’ve lived away from family. I couldn’t imagine calling any other place home. I am proud to be a first-generation Mexican American planting my roots in The City Beautiful where they are being watered by a loving community and a support system that celebrates us all.
Next time you come to Orlando, look around for touches from the Hispanic and Latino communities — you might find them all over the world-renowned places you have come here to visit.
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