Credit: Reinhard Link, FlickrMonths ago, a familiar face shifted locations at EPCOT, bringing a change to the World Showcase experience.
Guests visiting EPCOT from May onwards noticed that walls had been erected between the Mexico and Norway pavilions in the World Showcase.
Work in the Mexico pavilion expanded throughout the late spring and summer seasons at the Walt Disney World Resort. Guests have seen shaded seating areas and green space blocked by walls, while additional tarps have made it impossible to view the progress behind the barriers.
At the time, Disney had not confirmed the reason for the construction, but observers noted pavement scoring earlier in the project, suggesting concrete replacement may occur. In June, Donald Duck’s traditional meet-and-greet spot between the Mexico and Norway pavilions became no longer available.
The character, who has long greeted visitors in his sombrero and poncho inspired by The Three Caballeros (1944), became absent from the My Disney Experience app, and the area where he once appeared was closed off by construction walls.
World Showcase highlights the culture and cuisine of 11 countries and often features characters reflecting each pavilion’s theme. Donald Duck has been closely tied to Mexico’s pavilion for years, where his Latin American adventures were represented through his attire.
While Donald stepped away from this location, he hadn’t entirely disappeared from EPCOT; guests found him greeting visitors at the Imagination! Pavilion’s Magic Eye Theater, wearing his classic sailor outfit, before relocating to the Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival lobby. The Fab Five character has since resumed meeting guests in front of the Aztec pyramid in the World Showcase, with times shown on the official Disney World website.
Now, it has been confirmed that the World Showcase has been permanently altered. The walls between Mexico and Norway have come down, revealing new landscaping in the area. As reported by WDWNT, the pathway has been softened out and widened to allow smoother guest access. This marks the latest landscaping change at Disney World.
Disney has previously moved characters around when pavilions or attractions undergo updates. During work on DinoLand U.S.A. at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, some Fab Five characters shifted to other locations around the park.
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