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Mexico is a pavilion located within World Showcase at [[Epcot]]. It is located between the World Showcase entrance and [[Norway]].
==History==
A Mexican pavilion was planned for World Showcase since early on in the area’s development. The planned pavilion was to include two restaurants, as well as an attraction named “Las Tres Culturas de Mexico” <ref name= "martin"> https://vimeo.com/2702430 </ref>. Although well developed, the plans for the Mexico’s boat ride were initially going to be pushed back to EPCOT Center’s “Phase Two”, and be built at a later date <ref name= "martin"/>. At this point in the pavilion’s development, the load area and lagoon were to be constructed, with the idea that the ride itself would be built at a later date <ref name= "martin"/>. These plans changed however when [[Germany]]’s planned Rhine River Cruise attraction was cancelled along with the Japan pavilion's planned attraction. Due to the fact that plans for an Equestrian Equatorial Africa pavilion were also shelved, Disney had a capacity issue. With no other rides in World Showcase, the area would not have enough attractions to meet its expected guest capacity <ref name= "martin"/>. As a remedy for this situation, Disney decided to make Las Tres Culturas de Mexico an opening day attraction, changing the attraction’s name to El Rio del Tiempo. In order to complete the attraction (and pavilion) on time, the rides length was shortened by 40% and moved completely inside <ref name= "martin"/>.
Despite the late starting point of the project, the Mexico pavilion opened with the rest of World Showcase on October 1, 1982 <ref> http://thisdayindisneyhistory.homestead.com/epcotgrandopening.html </ref>. When the pavilion was complete, it consisted of two restaurants, two shops, and one attraction. The centerpiece of the pavilion is a large Mesoamerican pyramid, which was based on designs from the 3rd century AD. The interior of the pyramid was designed to look like a Mexican village (based on Taxco de Alarcón) at twilight <ref name= "Spence"> http://land.allears.net/blogs/jackspence/walt_disney_world/theme_parks/epcot/mexico/ </ref>. Besides initially housing El Rio Del Tiempo, the Mesoamerican pyramid also housed the San Angel Inn restaurant, which was designed based on a restaurant in Mexico City (with the same name), that opened in 1692 <ref name= "martin"/>. Also within the pyramid were various shops and stands in the Festival Marketplace <ref name= "martin"/>. Outside of the pyramid is the Mexico pavilion’s lakeside restaurant- Cantina de San Ángel. Nearby, guests can also now meet Donald Duck in his Mexican outfit.
