Welcome to this month’s Blogorail Green Loop. Today we are taking you on a virtual tour of Epcot’s World Showcase.
The Mexico Pavilion
Welcome, friends, to the Mexico Pavilion, one of the eleven incredible countries depicted in the World Showcase of Epcot! I’m joining my friends at the Magical Blogorail in talking about each of the pavilions, and I’m going to tell you why I love the Mexico Pavilion, and describe in more detail what you can experience when you visit this country — one of the original countries at Epcot!
The Mexico Pavilion is one of my favorite World Showcase countries. Featuring a nighttime outdoor market theme, wonderful shops, incredible smells from the San Angel Inn, and the Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros, this pavilion has it all!
For starters, the structure that is the focal point of the pavilion is the Aztec style pyramid that houses the pavilion. Inside this structure is the open air market, pictured below, with it’s subdued lighting and aesthetics. The Disney Imagineers are such incredible storytellers, when we enter the pavilion I am immediately immersed, perhaps even transported, from Florida to a spring evening in Mexico, with twinkling stars and the smell of delicious food wafting through the air.
Aside from shopping, there are many more things to do. For starters, the San Angel Inn is located in the pavilion; while I have not eaten here, in my mind it is the perfect romantic setting for a wonderful date. This is because the seating overlooks the launch site for the Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros! This ride takes you on a relaxing journey through the heart of Mexico, and you find out that Donald Duck has gone missing — perhaps because of his love of the women? In any event, your journey follows Panchito and Jose Carioca as they look high and low for Donald so that they can perform their concert!
In addition to the San Angel Inn, La Cava del Tequila features appetizers and over 200 varieties of tequila for you to choose from; personally, it’s not my style of hangout, but that’s just me.
Outside of the pavilion is La Hacienda de San Angel. This restaurant, pictured below, is strategically located on the lagoon for great viewing locations of the Illuminations: Reflections of Earth fireworks show.
Additionally, Donald Duck makes his presence known both inside and outside the pavilion. Perhaps the reason he couldn’t be found on the Gran Fiesta Tour was because he was getting his picture with my daughter?
Thank you for stopping by today, and taking a stroll into the Mexico Pavilion with us! Do you like this pavilion? Please let me know in the comments, and thanks!
Here is the map of our Magical Blogorail Green | Tour of Epcot’s World Showcase Loop:
- 1st Stop – Superheroes and Teacups | 3 Reasons to Love Epcot’s United Kingdom Pavilion
- 2nd Stop – The Disney Chef | Why You Need to Say Kon’nichiwa to Epcot’s Japan Pavilion
- 3rd Stop – Magical Memories with the Mouse | My Favorite Epcot World Showcase Pavilion – Morocco
- 4th Stop – DISTherapy | Italy Pavilion
- 5th Stop – Dad for Disney | O Canada!
- 6th Stop – Rolling with the Magic | Fall in Love with France in Epcot’s World Showcase
- 7th Stop – My Dreams of Disney | Mexico Pavilion
- 8th Stop – The Delightful Life | Epcot’s Norway Pavilion: the Past, Present, and Future
- 9th Stop – Bibbidi Bobbidi Booze | Come To Visit Mulan And Stay To Get Canto-Loopy: A Guide To EPCOT’S China Pavillion
- 10th Stop – Disney Mamas | Epcot Spotlight – Germany Pavilion
- 11th Stop – What’s the Point? | The American Adventure
I love the ride with Donald and his two feathery friends! And the inside of the pyramid is amazing, I love the ambiance. Some day I hope to dine there. Nice post!
Thanks for commenting, Lee! Perhaps we need to schedule a time to vacation together, and we can make that ADR for the San Angel Inn? My family isn’t so big on Mexican food, so if I tell them that we are meeting you and Karen perhaps they’ll humor me…if not, I’ll just be that proverbial 3rd wheel on your date night with your wife! :)
Thanks for stopping by, have a great day!
Mike
Great post, Mike. Mexico has always been one of my favorite pavilions. I do love La Hacienda, and the windows are spectacular. On our past trip we got a last minute reservation at San Angel and it was terrific, so much better than I remembered. You’re welcome to dine with us whenever you’d like (if Lee’s family isn’t in town!).
Thanks, Roe! I may just have to take you up on your offer! :)
Thanks!
Mike
Good to hear of the changes at San Angel Inn. Last time we were there it was less than stellar but the ambience makes me want to give it another try.
I’ll never forget my youngest shutting down this ride because he would not keep his hands out of the water. He’s 15 now and we still tease him about his first ride at 4.
Whoops! That is a great memory, Patricia! Thanks for sharing that with us, and have a great day!
Mike
When we first visited Epcot, back in 1988, I was so impressed with the ride because it reminded me of It’s a Small World. Of course, it has changed over the years, but my kids enjoy it. The Mexico pavilion is a favorite because it’s almost always the first one that we visit! I’ve always enjoyed walking into it, doing the Kidcot Fun Stops, riding the ride, exploring the shops . . . It’s just so much fun! I have yet to eat inside either, though – we’re also not huge Mexican fans. We ate outside last year, though, and the nachos were pretty darn yummy!
Sounds like a Blogorail dinner date at San Angel Inn is in order! Thanks for commenting, Heidi! Have a great weekend!
Mike
Another one of my favorite pavilions. Home of our favorite EPCOT attraction, The Gran Fiesta Tour, then go visit Donald and mock him for not wearing pants. :)
I really like the Gran Fiesta Tour as well, although I can’t say I’ve ever mocked Donald about his pant collection! ;)
The Gran Fiesta Tour is a must do for me every trip. Plus, on a hot day, this is the most wonderful World Showcase pavilion! :)
It sure is a great pavilion on a hot day, Cindy! Thanks for commenting, and have a great weekend!
Mike
I love the Gran Fiesta Tour! I’m really excited about seeing the new animatronics at the end on our next trip. It’s nice that so much of this pavilion is located inside. It’s a great spot to escape the rain and the heat!
I don’t think I knew about the new animatronics, Melissa! Thanks for letting me know, I need to get us back there sooner rather than later! It’s hard to believe that it’s been 21 months since we were at Walt Disney World!
Mike
I’m strangely obsessed with the Gran Fiesta Tour… Seriously, I ride it at least 10 times each trip. And San Angel Inn is my faaaaaaavorite resteraount in Walt Disney World! Now I’m feeling so homesick for Epcot. :( – Jerusha, TheDisneyChef.com
I love it too, Jerusha! It’s like taking a ride around Mexico, and the mischief that Donald gets into — priceless!
Mike
I love the Mexico pavilion! The boat ride is so much fun! I’ve been known to ride it over and over again, and stop and watch the glass blowers for a while in between rides. I could seriously watch them all day! They are so talented!
I love this pavilion. It’s an especially great respite on a hot summer day. It’s so great that it’s all indoors! A couple of visits ago, I introduced my son to San Angel Inn and now he asks to eat there every visit. Of course, it’s a must to do the Gran Fiesta Tour!
Well, great! I just posted elsewhere that France was my favorite pavilion as far as atmosphere, but now I’m torn. I am such a huge fan of all things World Showcase! :)
One of my fondest memories is when my girls were toddlers and we spent probably an hour just hanging out inside the Mexico pavilion playing instruments. When the Gran Fiesta Tour opened (from El Rio de Tiempo) I was immediately a fan, and think that anyone who disagrees probably just hasn’t seen (or doesn’t know the history of) Saludos Amigos and The Three Caballeros. And who doesn’t love La Cava?! :)
I love the Mexico Pavilion! It’s a great place to get out of the heat for a bit, and I am a fan of the Cava De Tequila, which doesn’t hurt things. :) I also think that Fiesta Donald, as I’ve taken to calling him, is one of the cutest looks for a Disney Character of all time!
Some of our most lovable family memories were made at this pavilion and San Angel Inn. Photos with Donald Duck, listening to Los Tres Reyes Magos during the Christmas holidays, climbing the pyramid, my kids love this spot. (Now to figure out how to say “unforgettable” in Spanish!)
My 6-year old loves Gran Fiesta Tour, and I love that there is never a wait! Overall, I enjoy the atmosphere inside the pyramid and enjoy spending time inside and out of the sun!