If you’re a fan of the EPCOT World Showcase’s Mexico pavilion, you probably already know that there have long been rumors that the Gran Fiesta Tour ride inside of San Angel Inn Restaurante will be getting a Coco (2017) retheme.
Currently, the boat ride attraction features a classic Walt Disney Animation Studios The Three Caballeros (1944) theme with Donald Duck, Panchito Pistoles, and Jose Carioca playing starring roles.
The official description of Gran Fiesta Tour reads:
Donald’s disappeared south of the border, and it’s up to the other 2 cabarellos from the musical trio—Panchito, the Mexican charro rooster, and José Carioca, the Brazilian parrot—to find him.
Cruise down the Rio Grande on a dark boat ride past some of the most famous sights and cities in Mexico. Is that the missing mallard climbing a Mayan pyramid in Chichen Itza?
Hilarity and hijinks ensue as the birds go in hot pursuit of their wayward friend throughout this fun-filled ride for all ages.
Sorry Jose Carioca you already had your vacation now its Donald Duck’s turn to enjoy his vacation lol! Donald Duck Animatronic at the Gran Fiesta got removed due to tech problems! Hopefully be back from vacation this month! Now the Dos Caballero is back again!
Sorry Jose Carioca you already had your vacation now its Donald Duck's turn to enjoy his vacation lol! Donald Duck Animatronic at the Gran Fiesta got removed due to tech problems! Hopefully be back from vacation this month! Now the Dos Caballero is back again! pic.twitter.com/siSBx0gay0
— DisNoah's Adventures ?????☃️❄ (@disnoahadvntrs) January 5, 2021
Although Walt Disney World officials would undoubtedly make an official announcement before beginning a major renovation project at Gran Fiesta Tour — akin, perhaps, to the Splash Mountain Princess and the Frog retheme announcement — having to refurbish yet another animatronic could certainly indicate to the Imagineering Department that now is the time for a change.
Disney has made clear they want a Coco presence in the Mexico Pavilion.
Although Disney has not released an official statement regarding the retheming of Gran Fiesta Tour to include Miguel, Dante, Hector, Mama Coco, Mama Imelda, and other characters from Disney-Pixar’s Coco, they have made clear that the musical movie’s presence is welcome — and wanted — in the Mexico pavilion.
Most notable is the wandering puppet show, Mariachi Cobre Presents…The Story of Coco, that has been available for Guests to enjoy the past two years during the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival and in 2019 for Dia de los Muertos. As per our previous coverage of the popular puppet show:
The Story of Coco, is a unique puppet show that performs the songs from Pixar’s beloved musical from “Poco Loco” to “Remember Me.” Talented puppeteers, musicians and Folklorico dancers perform mariachi music and tell the story of Miguel Rivera and his journey to and from the land of the dead. Guests will see Miguel strumming his guitar and singing along (with the assistance of his puppeteer of course).
Furthermore, Disney added the Remember Me! exhibit to the interior of San Angel Inn, adding a dash of Coco ahead of any official news regarding the Gran Fiesta Tour attraction’s future. Orlando Weekly reports:
Disney did unveil an interactive Coco themed exhibit, Remember Me!, in the entrance area to the indoor section of Epcot’s Mexico pavilion. The display, which was delayed by a few months, was rumored to be a testing ground for Disney to gauge how popular Coco was to park guests.
Furthermore, Gran Fiesta Tour also regularly has some of the shortest wait times of any ride at Walt Disney World’s four theme parks — EPCOT, Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. This proves that interest in the attraction is not high. A retheme showcasing a popular animated film like Coco could change this.
What do you think? Should Coco animatronics and theming be added to the Gran Fiesta Tour?
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Credit: Pixar/Disney
