Credit: Kwong Yee Cheng, FlickrEPCOT is hosting a special event for D23 Gold Members that brings back dishes from the Mexico Pavilion’s original menu. This event, called The Spirit of the Mexico Pavilion: A D23 Experience, is on March 11, 2026. It sold out quickly, leaving many Disney fans unable to register. Attendees will enjoy food from San Angel Inn’s 1982 menu, along with premium tequila tastings and a special cocktail honoring Walt Disney’s 1943 visit to Mexico City.
The ticket price is $349 per person, excluding park admission. The chance to try food that hasn’t been served in over 40 years was too appealing for the D23 Gold Members who managed to get tickets when they went on sale on February 12 at 1 p.m. ET.
The event’s quick sell-out shows how powerful nostalgia can be when fans get access to experiences they can’t find anywhere else. For longtime visitors to EPCOT, this event offers a chance to taste food just like they did in the 1980s, linking them to Disney World’s history. Newer fans, who never tried the original menu, will get a glimpse of what EPCOT dining was like when the park first opened.
What the Event Includes
The $349 ticket price covers several distinct experiences within the Mexico Pavilion, each offering different elements of Mexican culture and cuisine. The La Cava Experience provides a private guided tasting with Tequila Ambassador Humberto Soto featuring six premium agave spirits ranging from blanco to aged tequilas plus an artisanal mezcal. The tasting includes chips and guacamole, a keepsake “Agave Connoisseur Club” pin, and a commemorative tequila cocktail glass with the La Cava Tequila logo etched by Arribas Brothers.
At La Cava del Tequila, guests can enjoy “The Aztec Eagle,” a D23 Member-exclusive cocktail created in collaboration with The Walt Disney Archives. The drink pays tribute to Walt Disney being honored by the Mexican government with the Order of the Aztec Eagle during his visit to Mexico City in 1943, connecting the experience to Disney history beyond just theme park nostalgia.
The centerpiece is the San Angel Inn dining experience featuring a menu created specifically for this event with some of the restaurant’s most beloved and popular items since its 1982 opening. Guests select an appetizer, main course, and dessert from the tasting menu, plus receive a San Angel Inn margarita. Each attendee also gets a replica of the original 1982 San Angel Inn menu as a keepsake, allowing them to see exactly what dining options were available when EPCOT first opened.
Event credentials are provided to all participants, marking them as part of this exclusive experience and likely serving as collectible items for D23 members who treasure documentation of special Disney events they’ve attended.
The San Angel Inn Menu Mystery
The most intriguing aspect is the recreation of dishes from San Angel Inn’s original 1982 menu. Disney hasn’t revealed which specific items are being served, leaving fans to speculate about what dishes were popular enough to warrant inclusion and what flavors defined Mexican cuisine presentation at EPCOT over 40 years ago.
Restaurant menus evolve constantly based on ingredient availability, changing tastes, operational efficiency, and guest feedback. What seemed authentic or appealing in 1982 might differ substantially from what San Angel Inn serves today. The original menu likely reflected what American theme park guests in the early 1980s expected from Mexican cuisine, which may or may not align with more contemporary or regionally accurate interpretations.
For culinary historians and Disney fans interested in how theme park food has evolved, this event offers rare insight into EPCOT’s early dining philosophy. The Mexico Pavilion was designed to showcase Mexican culture and cuisine to guests who might never visit Mexico, so the original menu choices reveal what Disney Imagineers and culinary teams believed would resonate with 1982 audiences.
The D23 Gold Member Advantage
This event highlights the exclusive experiences available to D23 Gold Members, who pay an annual fee for access to special events and merchandise not open to general Disney fans. With a ticket price of $349 on top of the membership fee and EPCOT park admission, attending could exceed $500 per person.
D23 frequently offers unique experiences like behind-the-scenes tours and meet and greets with Disney Legends. The Spirit of the Mexico Pavilion exemplifies this, adding value for dedicated Disney enthusiasts.
The quick sellout suggests that ticket availability was limited or that demand surpassed expectations. This instant sellout enhances the event’s allure for those who secured tickets while creating anticipation and envy among those who didn’t.
Park Admission Requirements for Event
Attendees need valid EPCOT park admission for March 11, which is not included in the $349 ticket price. This means either purchasing separate single-day tickets, using existing multi-day passes, or accessing the park through Annual Passholder benefits. Parking also isn’t included, adding another expense for guests driving to the event.
The March 11 date falls on a Tuesday, potentially a slower park day than weekends but still requiring advance planning for anyone traveling specifically for this experience. Out-of-town D23 members attending would need to factor in hotel costs, flights, and other vacation expenses on top of the event ticket and park admission.
The Nostalgia Factor
This event is compelling because it taps into EPCOT nostalgia, which has grown as the park has changed significantly. Many longtime fans regret the loss of original attractions, feeling the park has strayed from its educational roots.
Recreating the 1982 San Angel Inn menu directly addresses this nostalgia, evoking memories of family vacations and the excitement of the park’s early days. For Disney, such events highlight that nostalgia is a valuable asset to monetize, allowing them to charge premium prices for experiences that are relatively inexpensive to produce.
What This Means for Future Events
The recent sellout indicates that Disney should consider hosting similar culinary history events at other EPCOT pavilions and parks. Recreating opening-day menus from various Disney World restaurants could attract D23 members and dining enthusiasts.
Pavilions like France, Italy, Japan, and Morocco, with rich culinary histories, could support these experiences. Additionally, restaurants in Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom have menus dating back to the 1980s and 1990s that can be reimagined for special events. The key challenge is balancing exclusivity with accessibility; too many events diminish their appeal, while too few frustrate fans eager to participate.
For Those Who Missed Out on the Event
D23 members who missed the recent event should keep an eye out for future culinary experiences and exclusive park events. The quick sellout indicates strong demand, suggesting Disney will offer similar opportunities soon. Following Disney news sources is essential, as many exclusive events sell out in minutes.
The Spirit of the Mexico Pavilion embodies the perks of D23 membership: exclusive access to unique Disney experiences, connections to Disney history, and chances to participate in memorable events. For the Gold Members who got tickets, March 11 promises a true taste of EPCOT’s past.