Disney Is Adding New Updates to EPCOT's Mexico Pavilion

Walt Disney World Resort’s EPCOT theme park is home to four neighborhoods — World Celebration, World Discovery, World Nature, and the World Showcase.

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The World Showcase, in particular, sets EPCOT apart. This unique section of the Park allows Guests to travel to 11 nations — Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Morocco, Japan, The American Adventure, Italy, Germany, China, Norway, and Mexico — without ever leaving Central Florida.

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The World Showcase is a unique experience for Walt Disney World Guests of all ages — whether you choose to “drink around the world” or teach your kids about the importance of understanding other cultures — Walt Disney’s vision for a place where people can travel the globe by hopping from one pavilion to the next is still one-of-a-kind today.

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Now, it appears that Walt Disney World Resort is set to update one of the most popular countries in the World Showcase. A construction permit for work on the Mexico pavilion was recently filed.

The permit is for “General Construction” by New Horizon Construction Services, which can mean anything from minor updates to a major overhaul. Some Guests might even be hoping for the long-awaited rumored Coco (2017) retheme of the Gran Fiesta Tour ride — this is, however, unlikely since Disney has not announced any closures related to this permit.

Earlier today, it was announced that upon EPCOT's July 15 reopening, the World Showcase pavilions will no longer be staffed by international Cast Members. The news broke on FOX 35 Orlando and was confirmed on a Disney Cast Member Union call. The union representative acknowledged that international Cast Members will not, in fact, be present at Walt Disney World Resort during its initial reopening phase. He stated: “There are not going to be any international college program students any time soon staffing Frozen’s ride at EPCOT or the Ratatouille ride in France, or the Mexican boat ride. Any of those things will all be run by domestic attractions workers when they open.” Now, however, there is good news for Guests who enjoy conversing with Disney World Cast Members from around the world and for international citizens who have always dreamed of working at WDW. The Mexico Cultural Representative Program, Norway Cultural Representative Program, and Germany Cultural Representative Program have all begun accepting online applications for 2021. As per the job descriptions on the Disney Careers website, the positions will have start dates between August 2020 and November 2020. This indicates that the Walt Disney Company may be intending to resume their college programs sooner than later. Disney outlines the year-long Cultural Representative Program on each job listing: "The Cultural Representative Program is a twelve-month work experience located at Walt Disney World® Resort, near Orlando, Florida. Participants have the opportunity to share the unique culture and customs of their country with Guests, while working different front line, guest facing roles. Participants must authentically represent one of the countries or regions we have recreated in look and feel at the Walt Disney World Resort. Countries and regions represented are: Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Morocco, Norway, Southeast Asia (India, Indonesia, Thailand), Sub-Saharan Africa (Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe), and United Kingdom." A video that further details Disney's Cultural Representative Program can be viewed below: https://youtu.be/mveSSX8iKv8 Although we can't yet answer the question "When will Disney's Cultural Representative Program resume?," these new career postings are a good sign! Are you excited about seeing international Cast Members at EPCOT again? Tell us your favorite interaction with a Disney World Cultural Representative in the comments! — Credit: Chloe Rice/Disney

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In all likelihood, the permit refers to updates to the Mexico pavilion as a whole, not a specific ride or restaurant. Nonetheless, it is always exciting when a pavilion undergoes some sprucing up to make it even more enjoyable for Guests of all ages!

More on Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros

Related: Donald Duck Animatronic Goes Missing From Gran Fiesta Tour

The official description of Gran Fiesta Tour reads:

¿Dónde Está Donald Duck?
Donald’s disappeared south of the border, and it’s up to the other 2 caballeros 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.

A Very Animated Experience
Inspired by the 1944 Disney film The Three Caballeros, your adventure comes to life against a backdrop of live-action footage, hand-drawn animation and the jaunty musical score from the movie.

What changes do you hope Disney is making to the Mexico pavilion?

Let the expert team at Academy Travel help you plan your next magical vacation to Walt Disney World Resort’s four theme parks — Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios — and the Disney Springs shopping and dining district!