Changes

A Mexican pavilion was planned for World Showcase since early on in the area’s initial development. Early , although early plans for World Showcase showed show Mexico situated across the lagoon (where the [[Canada]] pavilion sits today) from the plot it would eventually be built on <ref name= "video"> http://www.martinsvids.net/?p=963 </ref>. InitiallyAt the outset, 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 pavilion boat ride were initially going to be pushed back to [[EPCOT Center’s 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 in the future <ref name= "martin"/>. These plans changed however when [[Germany]]’s planned Rhine River Cruise attraction was cancelled along with the Japan pavilion's Meet the World show. Due to Compounded by the fact that the plans for an 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>. Unlike the other World Showcase pavilions, the Mexico pavilion was designed to be enclosed within a single building (aside from the small lakeside cantina). When the pavilion was complete, it consisted of two restaurants, two shopsone proper shop, and one attraction. The centerpiece of the pavilion is a large Mesoamerican pyramid (early plans for a glass walled "old-meets-new" pavilion had been altered early on) <ref name="video"/>, 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 based on a restaurant in Mexico City (of the same name), that opened in 1692 <ref name= "martin"/>. Also within the pyramid were various shops stalls and stands in the Festival Marketplace <ref name= "martin"/>which sold different souvenirs. Outside of the pyramid is the Mexico pavilion’s aforementioned lakeside restaurant- Cantina de San Ángel.

Following its opening in 1982, for a number of years the Mexico Pavilion saw a relativity small number of changes. Throughout its history, the shopping stalls located within the pyramid have changed, and more lights were added to the marketplace <ref name= "martin"/>. Furthermore, in the mid 1990s, a second store was added to the pavilion's interior <ref name= "martin"/>. The most substantial change to the pavilion however, came on January 2, 2007 when Mexico's only attraction El Rio Del Tiempo closed <ref> https://www.mouseplanet.com/guide/344/Walt-Disney-World/Epcot/World-Showcase--Mexico/El-Rio-del-Tiempo </ref>. The attraction was updated and renamed, eventually reopening as the [[Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros]] on April 6 <ref> http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/gran-fiesta-tour-starring-the-three-caballeros.htm </ref>. On the Gran Fiesta Tour, guests travel through many of the same scenes as El Rio del Tiempo, however they now feature HD screens which allow guests to follow José Carioca and Panchito Pistoles (from the 1944 Disney movie The Three Caballeros) as they search around Mexico for Donald Duck.

In 2010 [[Cantina de San Ángel ]] closed for refurbishment. At this time, the original 1982 building was demolished, and a larger building was constructed in its place <ref name= "video"/>. When the establishment reopened, it consisted of two restaurants, the table service Cantina, and the new table service restaurant [[La Hacienda de San Ángel ]] <ref> http://land.allears.net/blogs/jackspence/2010/09/la_hacienda_de_san_angel_la_ca.html </ref>. Also in 2010, a new Donald Duck meet and greet was added to the Mexico pavilion <ref> https://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/mexico/news/12jul2010-donald-duck-meet-and-greet-at-the-mexico-pavilion-construction-now-complete.htm </ref>.

On November 12, 2017, [[Choza de Margarita ]] opened in the Mexico pavilion <ref> http://www.wdwmagic.com/dining/choza-tequila/news/13nov2017-choza-de-margarita-now-open-at-epcots-mexico-pavilion.htm </ref>. The outdoor margarita stand replaces the former stand that was removed during the expansion of the [[Norway]] pavilion in 2015/2016.