Changes

On January 2, 2007, El Rio Del Tiempo was closed for a major refurbishment <ref> http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/el-rio-del-tiempo.htm </ref>. When the ride reopened on April 6At this time, it featured was decided that the attraction would recieve a brand new storyline featuring José Carioca, Panchito Pistoles, and was renamed Donald Duck, from the Gran Fiesta Tour Starring 1944 Disney movie The Three Caballeros . According to director George Scribner: {{Quotation|"When I started at Walt Disney Imagineering, vice president Tom Fitzgerald had this idea," George Scribner said. "So I said, 'What if it's a concert they're going to perform but Donald gets lost? Jose and Panchito would have to find him through Mexico and that would take us to different places.' Once we got the OK, we went to Mexico to film the live-action footage that would be combined with Eric's animation<refname= "Wade"> https://www.mouseplanet.com/109268216/Remembering_the_Magic_El_Rio_del_Tiempo__Gran_Fiesta_Tour_Starring_The_Three_Caballeros The_Three_Caballeros_Return </ref>. True to its name}} Overall, the Disney characters José Cariocaphysical that had been featured in El Rio Del Tiempo remained mostly intact. In fact, Panchito Pistolesthe only physical changes to the attraction took place in the ride's final scene, where the carousel was replaced with an outdoor stage, and Donald Duckthe addition of a mural in the load area <ref name= "Wade"/>.  While the El Rio Del Tiempo sets remained in place, from new screens were added throughout the 1944 Disney movie attraction, featuring brand new animation of The Three Caballeros were added . Scribner and art director Goldberg (who animated the characters) wanted this animation to have the attraction same look and feel of the plot was changed so that Jose original Three Caballeros animation, including the work done by Ward Kimball and Panchito now searched throughout Mexico for DonaldFred Moore <ref name= "Wade"/>. In order addition to tell the new storyanimation, HD screens were added to many of the attraction’s new live-action scenes were filmed in Mexico, and a new soundtrack was given to written for the ride attraction. This soundtrack included not only the song "The Three Caballeros" from the original film, but also a new theme titled "Paso Doble" written by Richard Bellis<ref name= "Wade"/>.  The Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros officially opened to guests on April 6, 2007 <ref> https://www.mouseplanet.com/10926/Remembering_the_Magic_El_Rio_del_Tiempo__Gran_Fiesta_Tour_Starring_The_Three_Caballeros </ref>. Furthermore, at this time the San Angel Inn was expanded into an area that was previously part of El Rio Del Tiempo <Ref name= "epcotbook">The Epcot Explorer's Encyclopedia: A Guide to Walt Disney World's Greatest Theme Park </ref>.