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'Quinceañera,' Disney style: A rite of passage for Hispanic teenage girls

Dewayne Bevil

Sentinel Staff Writer

August 30, 2008

Walt Disney World is intensifying its Hispanic culture offerings with the introduction of a quinceañera event, which culminates today with a grand ball built for princesses.

Disney's Royal Quinceañera Weekend centers on the rite of passage of 15-year-old girls. Families of a dozen teenagers have paid several hundred to several thousand dollars to share in the celebration at Epcot.

"The girls are the princesses for the night," Disney spokeswoman Mari Santana said. "It's a wedding without a groom."

Last year, Disney World debuted quinceañera packages with options such as horse-drawn carriage rides or visits by Prince Charming.

Today each Royal Quinceañera will be formally presented to her assembled families and guests at a combined dance at the World Showplace Pavilion, decorated in blue, white and silver (" Cinderella colors," Santana said). The traditional shoe ceremonies will be included and a special cake from Disney chefs provided.

Participants will watch IllumiNations, Epcot's nightly fireworks and laser show, from a private viewing area. That will be followed by dancing until midnight under the direction of a bilingual DJ.

"Destination quinceañeras" are a trend, said Isabella Wall, an entrepreneur who has become known as "the fairy godmother of quinceañeras."

"Girls celebrating their coming of age, they dream of that princess day where they get to wear that big dress and that tiara," Wall said.

"What place is more perfect than Disney?"

Gabriella Flores and her family are vacationing here from Jersey City, N.J., and will attend the event. It's her sixth trip to Disney World.

She's bringing along her "big, poofy Cinderella-type dress," and she's not worried about sharing the spotlight with the other participants.

"It's your moment, but you also share with your family and friends that you're becoming an older woman," she said.

"I get to share with everybody."


Dewayne Bevil can be reached at dbevil@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5477.

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