Credit: Paul Hudson, FlickrMore changes are heading to EPCOT’s World Showcase.
World Showcase takes up roughly half of EPCOT, with 11 pavilions representing countries including France, Japan, Morocco, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Each has its own restaurants, shops, and entertainment, while several also house attractions, including Frozen Ever After and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure.
Mexico is one of the first pavilions guests encounter when entering World Showcase. Its huge pyramid is home to several restaurants and shops, as well as the indoor Plaza de los Amigos marketplace and Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros, which travels beneath the pavilion by boat.
But one longtime part of the pavilion is now gone. The Oaxacan Wood Carving shop permanently closed after August 31, ending a decades-long run selling handmade wooden figures inside Plaza de los Amigos. Remaining merchandise was discounted by 50% before the closure, and Disney has not announced a replacement.
It has, however, unveiled more changes for the Mexico Pavilion.
Even More Changes Hit Mexico
The Mexico Pavilion has undergone a few small changes in recent weeks, reshuffling where guests can find some of its longest-running offerings. Most recently, both Mariachi Cobre and the pavilion’s Kidcot Fun Stop have moved to new locations inside the pyramid.
Mariachi Cobre now performs inside the Mexico Pavilion, taking over the space previously occupied by Kidcot. The group had previously performed outdoors near La Cantina de San Angel, meaning its shows are now held inside the pyramid instead.
The group has been part of EPCOT since 1982, performing traditional Mexican folk music at the park for more than four decades. Its sets typically run for around 25 minutes, with daily showtimes listed in the My Disney Experience app.
Kidcot, meanwhile, has shifted closer to the pavilion’s entrance. Its previous station was dismantled last week, but the activity has not been removed altogether. Guests can now find the replacement directly inside the pyramid after entering the building.
Kidcot stations are found throughout World Showcase, offering children activities and small mementos themed to each pavilion’s country. In Mexico, the change means the attraction remains available, just in a more prominent spot near the pyramid’s entrance.
Are More Changes on the Way?
Over the years, several rumors have suggested bigger changes for the Mexico Pavilion. Gran Fiesta Tour itself replaced EPCOT opening-day attraction El Rio del Tiempo in 2007, updating the existing boat ride with Donald Duck, José Carioca, and Panchito.
Rumors of another overhaul emerged even before Coco hit theaters in 2017. Since then, the Pixar film has repeatedly been tipped to replace the Three Caballeros, with speculation resurfacing as recently as Gran Fiesta Tour’s lengthy refurbishment in 2025. Disney has never announced such a project.
Coco is now getting a ride elsewhere. Disney announced the first-ever attraction based on the film for Disney California Adventure in 2024, with construction beginning in 2026. That doesn’t rule out an EPCOT version someday, but there is another major obstacle standing in its way.
Space inside the Mexico Pavilion is extremely limited, particularly around Gran Fiesta Tour’s small queue. A Coco overhaul would likely attract significantly more guests, making crowd management difficult without substantial changes to the pavilion. Reports claim Disney previously explored the idea’s feasibility, but it never moved forward.
What’s your favorite part of EPCOT’s Mexico Pavilion?
