On Tuesday, September 9, thousands of Walt Disney World Resort guests visiting EPCOT were met with unexpected disappointment when Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros closed for much of the day and into the night. The ride’s abrupt shutdown prompted a rare public apology from Disney leadership.
Even though Walt Disney World Resort is home to some of the most advanced theme park attractions in the world, technical issues can still occur. From minor malfunctions to unexpected guest behavior—like dropping a cell phone into the ride path—rides occasionally experience unplanned downtime. Most problems are resolved within an hour or two, and guests with paid Lightning Lane reservations can return later in the day or skip the line for another attraction.
On Tuesday, however, the closure of Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros lasted far longer than typical maintenance periods. Thousands of EPCOT guests received a mobile push notification from EPCOT Vice President Matt Simon, apologizing for the inconvenience:
“Pardon the Inconvenience
On behalf of the entire team at EPCOT, I'd like to apologize that Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros is currently unavailable. Our Cast Members are working diligently to get the attraction up and running again, and we are sorry you are not able to experience this attraction at this time. I hope you will enjoy some of our other attractions during your experience in the park today.
Matt Simon
Vice President, EPCOT”
According to a Disney Park guest who spoke with Disney Fanatic, Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros did not reopen on Tuesday. The attraction, however, resumed normal operations on Wednesday morning.
Walt Disney World Resort has not provided details on what caused the extended closure, but at the time of this article’s publication, the ride was operating as expected.
Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros
Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros is a slow-moving boat ride located inside the pyramid building of EPCOT’s Mexico World Showcase Pavilion. Guests follow Panchito and José Carioca on a search for Donald Duck, who is busy exploring some of Mexico’s most famous sights. The ride also passes by San Angel Inn Restaurante, a Table Service dining location inside the pyramid.
Did you miss out on riding the Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros at EPCOT on Tuesday? Share your experience with Disney Fanatic in the comments!
