EPCOTNews

World Showcase Ride Closed: Update Happening Today at Disney World

As spring break crowds continue to surge at Walt Disney World Resort, EPCOT's Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros is scheduled to reopen today, March 15, following a lengthy refurbishment. However, uncertainty surrounds the reopening after technical issues forced Disney to cancel a planned soft opening just one day prior.

Skeletons perform on bridge on Gran Fiesta Tour ride
Credit: Disney

The Mexico pavilion attraction closed for maintenance on January 6, the same day as Magic Kingdom's Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and has remained unavailable to guests ever since. Its return today is expected to help alleviate crowd congestion at EPCOT during one of the busiest travel periods of the year. Notably, Magic Kingdom's Lightning Lane Premier Pass has sold out for several consecutive days, despite its $449 price tag.

While EPCOT has already completed major updates with the 2024 debut of World Celebration—featuring CommuniCore Hall and CommuniCore Plaza—other Disney World parks remain in the midst of substantial transformations. Magic Kingdom is overhauling Frontierland, including the iconic Rivers of America, Disney's Animal Kingdom is reimagining DinoLand U.S.A. as the Tropical Americas, and Disney's Hollywood Studios is preparing to introduce Monstropolis on the former Grand Avenue location of the park. EPCOT's redesigned Test Track, inspired by the original World of Motion, is also expected to debut later this year.

Monorail in front of Spaceship Earth at EPCOT
Credit: Disney

Reports indicate that Gran Fiesta Tour's planned soft opening was halted yesterday when several animatronics inside the ride malfunctioned. Disney World cast members ultimately closed the queue so maintenance crews could address the issue, disappointing guests who had hoped to experience the attraction ahead of schedule.

Located in EPCOT's World Showcase, Gran Fiesta Tour joins Frozen Ever After in the Norway pavilion and Remy's Ratatouille Adventure in the France pavilion as part of the park's signature lineup of culturally-themed attractions.

Will you be visiting Gran Fiesta Tour this weekend? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

Thomas Hitchen

When he’s not thinking about the Magic Kingdom, Thomas is usually reading a book, becoming desperately obsessed with fictional characters, or baking something delicious (his favorite is chocolate cake -- to bake and to eat). He's a dreamer and grew up on Mulan saving the world, Jim Hawkins soaring through the stars, and Padmé Amidala fighting a Nexu. At the Parks, he loves to ride Everest, stroll down Main Street with an overstuffed pin lanyard around his neck, and eat as many Mickey-shaped ice creams as possible. His favorite character is Han Solo (yes, he did shoot first), and his favorite TV show is Buffy the Vampire Slayer except when it's One Tree Hill. He loves sandy beach walks, forest hikes, and foodie days out in the Big City. Thomas lives in England, UK, with his fiancée, baby, and their dog, a Border Collie called Luna.

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