Mexico at Disney’s World Showcase

If you are a fan of Walt Disney World, chances are that you know about World Showcase.  World Showcase is an area in Epcot that has pavilions and other representations for various different countries with interesting and entertaining aspects for everyone.  Even if you have not been to this part of Epcot, this series of posts may entice you to plan a visit to Disney’s one stop journey around the world.

Now the Question:  Mexico or Canada?

A question that people ask others about Epcot’s World Showcase is, Mexico or Canada?  This simply means to ask you if you will be meandering through the countries clockwise or counterclockwise, to the left, or to the right.  For this trip, we turned left and headed to Mexico to start.

Arriving at Mexico

The Mexico pavilion at World Showcase opened on October 1st, 1982, when EPCOT Center opened.  To this day, as you approach the Mexico pavilion at Epcot, you will notice that it is shaped like a pyramid of sorts.  According to Abraham, who is from Monterrey, the pyramid was designed with a blend of influences from three different cultures.  They are Aztec, Mayan, and Teotihuacan.

The Pavilion Pet

When I spoke with Ana at Kidcot, she asked me if I knew that the Mexico Pavilion has a pet.  I did not know that!  Did you?  I asked her if the pet was the parrot that we see off to the left when we go down the ramp to the main floor.

Alas, my guess was wrong.  The pavilion pet is name Torito, and he is a pinata.  Ana also told me that Torita has his own page on Instagram.  After looking it up, sure enough, he does.  You can check it out here.

The Mexican Government

When you go into the store called La Tienda Encantada, you will a set of stairs in the back, currently behind the checkout counter.  Abraham, who I mentioned earlier and was a wealth of information, told me about those stairs.  Apparently, up those stairs and behind that door used to be a Mexico information center that was actually run by the Mexican government, right there in the pavilion.

That is pretty interesting, eh?  Do any of you know why the Mexican information center is no longer there?

The Marketplace

Since we are talking about this area already, let us touch a bit more on the marketplace.  When you make your way through the doors of the pavilion, you find yourself in an area that has displays.  It somewhat has the feel of a museum.  You can walk around, look at the displays, and even chat with others about them.

The next step on your journey through Mexico at Epcot is to go through the entryway of Plaza De Los Amigos.

The entire marketplace is set to appear as though you are browsing during twilight.  It is certainly bright enough to see, and it is not so bright that it is uncomfortable for your eyes.  There are quite an assortment of shops in this place, more than a person might realize from the size of the marketplace.  There are even scenes that look like people’s homes.

It was told to me, that the marketplace areas is modeled after the old, central southern, colonial era.  It is both creative of Disney and interesting to me, to see how the Mexico pavilion was designed after such a variety of cultures and times.  They all work together, though.

The Restaurant

Abraham said that the San Angel Inn is modeled after a restaurant in a traditional neighborhood in Mexico City.

You can overlook the restaurant from outside of the restaurant.  The best view of the restaurant is actually from the line queue for Gran Fiesta Tour.  While dining, guests have the view of another pyramid to enjoy during what perpetually looks like the evening hours.  There is a sort of calming ambiance.

The Ride

Have you ridden Gran Fiesta Tour, Starring The Three Caballeros?  This is a boat ride through the pavilion that entertains you in a way that you will need to experience for yourself.  Why is that?  Well, I do not want to spoil it for you since it is a visual ride.  When you visit Epcot’s World Showcase, just be sure to add it to your list.  It will be entertaining and will likely make you laugh.

The Quiet Spot

After walking around an amusement park for hours, sometimes you desire to find a quiet place to rest.  Even if it is only for a few minutes, you want to pause and refresh.  There is a quiet place at Mexico that you may appreciate.  When you climb up the front steps, before going inside, you will see the pyramid looming in front of you.  Turn left.

As you go around the corner of the building, you will start to see this area.  Look at that.  It is not swarming with people.  Maybe you can pause, have a drink of water, and catch your breath.

The Wrap Up

While I have shared a bit of trivia about this piece of World Showcase, there is much to learn about this IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII of Mexico.  Do you know something interesting about the Mexico pavilion that you would like to share below?

As we will be going around the world at Epcot, be on the lookout for more articles over the coming months.  I hope that you enjoyed the first post about Mexico!

By the way, while you wait for us to visit the next country at Epcot, you can take a peek at some neat facts that we learned about Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom.