EPCOTNews

Permanent Mexico Pavilion Closure Followed by Even More EPCOT Changes

One EPCOT pavilion is undergoing more changes.

The Mexico Pavilion has been part of EPCOT since the park opened in 1982, combining dining, shopping, entertainment, and one of World Showcase’s few rides inside its enormous pyramid.

The iconic Mayan-style pyramid in the Mexico World Showcase Pavilion at EPCOT
Credit: Paul Hudson, Flickr

Guests entering the building find Plaza de los Amigos, an indoor marketplace designed to resemble a nighttime Mexican plaza. The same space is also home to San Angel Inn Restaurante, La Cava del Tequila, several shops, and Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros.

Now, several pieces of that familiar setup have shifted within a matter of days.

The first major change came at the end of August, when the Oaxacan Wood Carving shop permanently closed after August 31.

The longtime retail location sold handmade wooden figures inside Plaza de los Amigos. Its remaining merchandise was discounted by 50% ahead of the closure, but Disney has not announced what will eventually take over the space.

The wood carved statues in the Mexico World Showcase Pavilion at EPCOT
Credit: Michael Gray, Flickr

That closure has now been followed by two more changes elsewhere inside the pavilion.

EPCOT Moves Two Longtime Mexico Offerings

Mariachi Cobre has moved from its longtime outdoor performance area into the Mexico Pavilion itself.

The group now performs inside the pyramid in the space previously used by the pavilion’s Kidcot Fun Stop. Before the move, Mariachi Cobre could regularly be found outside near La Cantina de San Angel.

Mariachi Cobre is one of EPCOT’s longest-running entertainment acts. The group has performed at the park since 1982, presenting traditional Mexican folk music throughout World Showcase’s history.

Its performances generally run for around 25 minutes, although exact times can vary. Disney lists the group’s daily schedule through the My Disney Experience app.

Donald Duck, dressed in a colorful Mexican-inspired sombrero and poncho at Disney World
Credit: Disney

Moving indoors gives Mariachi Cobre a considerably different setting, placing its performances directly inside the pavilion’s marketplace rather than along the World Showcase promenade.

Kidcot, meanwhile, has also been relocated rather than removed.

The old Mexico Kidcot station was dismantled last week as Mariachi Cobre moved into its former space. A new station has since appeared closer to the entrance of the pyramid.

Kidcot Fun Stops are located throughout World Showcase and give younger guests activities and small souvenirs inspired by each pavilion.

Mexico’s new location means families can now find the station almost immediately after entering the pyramid, instead of farther inside the marketplace.

epcot mexico pavilion
Credit: Disney

The changes are relatively small individually, but they arrive immediately after the permanent Oaxacan Wood Carving closure, making the Mexico Pavilion one of the more visibly fluid areas of World Showcase right now.

Attention Turns Back to Gran Fiesta Tour

The recent reshuffle has also revived a much older conversation surrounding the pavilion.

Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros has operated inside the pyramid since 2007, when it replaced the opening-day EPCOT attraction El Rio del Tiempo.

The replacement retained the boat ride format but introduced Donald Duck, José Carioca, and Panchito, sending guests through Mexico as José and Panchito search for Donald before their concert.

For years, however, the attraction has faced recurring speculation about another possible transformation.

Coco has repeatedly been linked to the Mexico Pavilion, with rumors suggesting the Pixar film could eventually replace Gran Fiesta Tour.

Gran Fiesta Tour
Credit: Disney

Those rumors began circulating even before Coco reached theaters in 2017 and returned again during Gran Fiesta Tour’s lengthy refurbishment in 2025.

Disney has never announced plans for a Coco attraction at EPCOT.

Instead, the company confirmed the first Disney ride based on the film for Disney California Adventure in 2024. Construction on that attraction began in 2026.

There is also a practical reason why an EPCOT version would be complicated.

Gran Fiesta Tour has a relatively small queue tucked into an already crowded indoor pavilion. A major Coco attraction would likely attract far more guests, potentially requiring significant changes to how people move through Plaza de los Amigos.

What's your favorite part of EPCOT's Mexico Pavilion?

Chloe James

Chloë is a theme park addict and self-proclaimed novelty hunter. She's obsessed with all things Star Wars, loves roller coasters (but hates Pixar Pal-A-Round), and lives for Disney's next Muppets project.

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