EPCOT’s Mexico Area Closed for Trump-Era Renovation

On Thursday, EPCOT guests noticed some unexpected construction walls between the Mexico and Norway World Showcase Pavilions. Walt Disney World Resort has not provided any details about the mystery project.

According to WDWNT, the beige-colored construction walls start next to Donald Duck’s meet-and-greet in the Mexico World Showcase Pavilion. Green scrim connects the construction walls to the stone wall that lines the area, blocking some greenery and part of a walkway from guests. The walls extend to Anna and Elsa’s Royal Sommerhus in the Norway World Showcase Pavilion. In this area, a green scrim also blocks the area behind the wall where tables and chairs are usually available for guests.

As with most construction areas around Walt Disney World Resort, the beige walls feature PPG Paints-branded signs with several quotes and images inspired by Disney and Pixar characters. “You have to do whatever it takes to seize your moment,” reads one sign inspired by Coco (2017). “Change is nature,” reads another, alongside a silhouette of Remy from Ratatouille (2007).

Walt Disney World Resort hasn’t provided any details about this mysterious construction project between the Norway and Mexico World Showcase Pavilions at EPCOT. Imagineers recently wrapped up another maintenance project inside the Mexico Pavilion, refurbishing the Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros attraction.

These construction walls aren’t the only mystery to take over the EPCOT World Showcase this year. Since June 2023, construction walls, scaffolding, and scrims have surrounded several guest areas in the Canada World Showcase Pavilion, blocking access to a section of the pavilion that once housed Le Boutiques des Provinces. The former luxury shop closed in the early 2000s, and the building has remained empty since.

Earlier this year, crews erected scaffolding around an entrance to the Hotel du Canada facade. Construction materials were spotted behind plywood walls in the area shortly after Walt Disney Imagineering filed permits to “install signage” on the building.

After nearly two years of intrigue, Walt Disney World Resort finally announced that the empty space in the Canada World Showcase Pavilion would soon host “Château de Voyage,” a Disney Vacation Club (DVC) lounge. This follows McKim’s Mile House, a DVC-exclusive lounge that recently opened in Frontierland at Magic Kingdom Park.

Which EPCOT World Showcase Pavilion is your favorite and why? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments!