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{{Template:Infobox Disney ride|| image=mexicoupdate2Mexicopyramid2.jpg| caption='''The entrance to A Mesoamerican pyramid serves as the Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeroscenterpiece of the Mexico pavilion'''.| Country=Mexico

| guests_per_vehicleopened=16| host= The Three Caballeros| duration=8:00| type= Boat RideOctober 1, 1982| custom_label_1 = Formally Known AsNumber of Attractions| custom_value_1 = El Rio Del Tiempo (1982-2008)1|custom_label_2= FastPass +Number of Restaurants|custom_value_2= No5}}The Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros Mexico is an attraction a pavilion located in the within World Showcase at [[MexicoEpcot]] pavilion at . It is located between the World Showcase entrance and [[EpcotNorway]].==Attraction History==The attraction that would one day be known as the Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros, began as an idea A Mexican pavilion was planned for World Showcase since the unbuilt Mexico pavilion. Initiallyarea’s initial development, Disney although early plans called for show Mexico situated across the lagoon (where the [[Canada]] pavilion to feature an attraction titled "Las Tres Culturas de Mexico"sits today) from the plot it would eventually be built on <refname= "video"> http://www.lostepcotmartinsvids.comnet/worldshowcase.html ?p=963 </ref>. This indoor/outdoor boat ride was to take gusts on a tour of three distinct periods of Mexico's history. Beginning with pre-colombian Mexico, At the attraction would then travel through the country's colonial periodoutset, before arriving in modern Mexico. The ride’s storyline came from a Mayan myth which told about the gods taking the gift of music from the jealous sunplanned pavilion was to include two restaurants, and giving it to the songless Earth as well as an attraction named “Las Tres Culturas de Mexico” <ref name="Martinmartin"> httphttps://wwwvimeo.martinsvids.netcom/?p=963 2702430 </ref>. The myth concludes Although well developed, the plans for the Mexico pavilion 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 in the future <ref name= "Life was all music from that time on”martin"/>. The These plans changed however when [[Germany]]’s Rhine River Cruise attractionwas cancelled along with the Japan pavilion's structure was influenced by two Magic Kingdom attractionsMeet the World show. Like If You Compounded by the fact that the plans for an Equatorial Africa pavilion were also shelved, Disney had Wingsa capacity issue. With no other rides in World Showcase, the attraction area would feature rear projected film screens in physical sets. The attraction's not have enough attractions to meet its expected guest capacity <ref name= "colonial scenemartin" would feature singing dolls and />. As a repetitive song in remedy for this situation, Disney decided to make Las Tres Culturas de Mexico an opening day attraction, changing the same vein as [[it's a small world]]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="Martinmartin"/>.

Although Les Tres Cultras de Despite the late starting point of the project, the Mexico was far along in its developmentpavilion opened with the rest of World Showcase on October 1, Disney decided that the attraction would be pushed back to EPCOT Center's Phase II1982 <ref name="Martin"> http://thisdayindisneyhistory.homestead.com/epcotgrandopening.html </ref>. According to these plan's Unlike the attraction's lagoon and load area would be built, with a space left open for the boat ride itselfother World Showcase pavilions, Mexico was designed to be constructed at enclosed within a later datesingle building (aside from the small lakeside cantina). These plans changed however when [[Germany]]’s planned Rhine River Cruise attraction was cancelled along with When the Japan pavilion's Meet was complete, it consisted of two restaurants, one proper shop, and one attraction. The centerpiece of the World showpavilion is a large Mesoamerican pyramid (early plans for a glass walled "old-meets-new" pavilion had been altered early on) <ref name="Martinvideo"/>. Due to the fact that the plans for an Equatorial Africa pavilion were also shelved, Disney had a capacity issuewhich was based on designs from the 3rd century AD. With no other rides in World Showcase, The interior of the area would not have enough attractions pyramid was designed to meet its expected guest capacity look like a Mexican village, based on Taxco de Alarcón, at twilight <ref name= "MartinSpence"> http://land.allears.net/blogs/jackspence/walt_disney_world/theme_parks/epcot/mexico/ </ref>. 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 Besides initially housing El Rio del Del Tiempo. In order to complete , the attraction Mesoamerican pyramid also housed the [[San Angel Inn]] restaurant, which was based on a restaurant in Mexico City (and pavilionof the same name) on time, that opened in 1692 <ref name= "martin"/>. Also within the rides length was shortened by 40% pyramid were various stalls and moved completely inside stands in the Festival Marketplace <ref name= "Martinmartin"/>which sold different souvenirs. Outside of the pyramid is the Mexico pavilion’s aforementioned lakeside restaurant- [[Cantina de San Ángel]].

Following a very quick construction, [[Image:ElRiotoGranFiesta.jpg|400px|thumb|El Rio Del Tiempo opened with became the rest Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros in 2007.]]Following its opening in 1982, for a number of EPCOT Center 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 October 1January 2, 1982 2007 when Mexico's only attraction El Rio Del Tiempo closed <Refref>https://d23www.mouseplanet.com/aguide/344/Walt-toDisney-zWorld/Epcot/elWorld-r%C3%ADoShowcase-del-tiempoMexico/El-Rio-del-Tiempo </ref>. Although the The attraction had been quite popular at the time of its openingwas updated and renamed, attendance began to drop during eventually reopening as the 1990s. During this time, rumors were prevalent that the attraction would be replaced by a new Donald Duck attraction; however when El Rio Del Tiempo closed for refurbishment in 1999 no such change took place [[Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros]] on April 6 <ref> http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/elgran-riofiesta-deltour-tiempo/news/27jul1999starring-el-rio-del-tiempothe-refurbishmentthree-updatecaballeros.htm </ref>. Instead, at this timeOn the Gran Fiesta Tour, guests travel through many of the attraction was cleaned up and given new paintsame scenes as El Rio del Tiempo, just in time 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 Epcot’s Millennium CelebrationDonald Duck.

On January 2August 31, 20072009, El Rio Del Tiempo was closed for La Cava del Tequila, a a major refurbishment tequila bar opened inside the Mexico pavilion <ref> http https://www.wdwmagicd23.com/attractionsa-to-z/ella-riocava-del-tiempo.htm tequila/ </ref>. Subsequently, 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 ride establishment reopened on April 6, it featured a brand new storyline consisted of two restaurants, the table service Cantina, and was renamed the Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros new table service restaurant [[La Hacienda de San Ángel]] <ref> httpshttp://wwwland.mouseplanetallears.comnet/10926blogs/Remembering_the_Magic_El_Rio_del_Tiempo__Gran_Fiesta_Tour_Starring_The_Three_Caballeros jackspence/2010/09/la_hacienda_de_san_angel_la_ca.html </ref>. True to its nameAlso in 2010, the Disney characters José Carioca, Panchito Pistoles, and a new Donald Duck, from the 1944 Disney movie The Three Caballeros were added to the attraction meet and the plot greet was changed so that Jose and Panchito now searched throughout Mexico for Donald. In order to tell the new story, HD screens were added to many of the attraction’s scenes and a new soundtrack was given to the ride Mexico pavilion <ref> https://www.mouseplanetwdwmagic.com/10926attractions/Remembering_the_Magic_El_Rio_del_Tiempo__Gran_Fiesta_Tour_Starring_The_Three_Caballeros <mexico/ref>. Furthermore, news/12jul2010-donald-duck-meet-and-greet-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 -mexico-pavilion-construction-now-complete.htm </ref>.

On December 4November 12, 20152017, Animatronics of [[Choza de Margarita]] opened in the Three Caballeros were added to The Gran Fiesta Tour's finale Mexico pavilion <ref name= "D23"> httpshttp://d23www.wdwmagic.com/afterdining/choza-35tequila/news/13nov2017-yearschoza-historicde-threemargarita-caballerosnow-figuresopen-returnat-toepcots-waltmexico-disney-world-resort/ pavilion.htm </ref>. The figures had previously appeared in outdoor margarita stand replaces the former [[Magic Kingdom]] attraction stand that was removed during the expansion of the [[Mickey Mouse RevueNorway]], although they had been absent from Walt Disney World for 35 years <ref name= "D23"pavilion in 2015/>2016.

==Plot=====El Rio Del Tiempo <ref name= "epcotbook"/>=Current Attractions=='''[[Image:ElDancersskel.jpg|350px|thumb|Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The mariachi skeletons in Festival of the Children scene in El Rio Del TiempoThree Caballeros]]El Rio Del Tiempo began with '''- On this indoor boat ride, guests boarding their boats follow Panchito Pistoles and heading off towards a large Mayan pyramid. José Carioca (from the 1944 Disney movie The boats then entered ancient ruins. Here, a statue Three Caballeros) as they search all of a Mayan High Priest would come to life and speak to the passing boats. Guests were also told that long ago a great civilization had flourished in Mexico. All around the room, one could see various natives performing different ritualsfor Donald Duck. The first ritual, was an elaborate dance titled "Nature and Science". This dance spoke to the native's understanding of man's relationship with the universe. The second ritual performed was titled "Mathematics and Astronomy". This dance highlighted the advanced understanding that the Mayan people had about these subjects (including their understanding of absolute zero). Finally, the third ritual shown was titled "Quetzalcoatl and Tezcatlipoca". This dance spoke of the native's views on the never ending struggle between good and evil, as personified Gran Fiesta Tour replaced El Rio Del Tiempo in a battle between the feathered serpent of light and the tiger god of darkness2007. Before exiting ancient Mexico, guests would see Aztec King Moctezuma II (who would lose his kingdom to Spain) predicting the subjugation of his people.

After passing through ancient times==Former Attractions=='''[[El Rio Del Tiempo]]'''- On this indoor boat ride, guests arrived could take a scene titled Festival of relaxing tour to see both the Children, which represented Mexico’s period of colonization. In the this scene, Audio Animatronic dolls danced history and celebrated, as the narrator told guests that Mexico’s ancient diverse culture still thrivedof Mexico. During El Rio Del Tiempo opened with the festival, rest of the dolls sang [[Vistas De Mexico]]pavilion on October 1, a song written by X Atencio 1982 and Armando Corralit closed on January 2, 2007. After exiting El Rio Del Tiempo was replaced by the colonization sceneGran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros, guests entered modern timeswhich uses many of the same scenes as its predecessor. Screens in this room featured:

* '''[[La Cava del Tequila]]'''- A scuba divertequila bar where guests can talk to "tequila connoisseurs" as they try various tequilas, margaritas, and Mexican appetizers.

Following these sights, guests entered a city where two rival merchants attempted to sell their goods. The merchants would follow guests along the river, until the boats reached the attraction's finale. The end of El Rio Del Tiempo featured a large fiesta inside the city. On their left, guests could see marionettes riding a carousel, as fireworks went off in the night sky. The dolls in this room sang ''[[Fiestas De MexicoChoza de Margarita]] which carried on until guests reached the unloading area. Before disembarking the narrator would tell guests'''- This outdoor stand specializes in margaritas.

{{Quotation| “Goodbye. We will meet again==Shopping=='''Festival Marketplace'''- Located within Mexico’s Mesoamerican pyramid, until then, may you always be delighted with the beauty Festival Marketplace is home to all sorts of Mexico"}}stands which sell authentic Mexican merchandise. Guests can also find [[Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros]] merchandise here.

===The Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros===[[Image:ThreeCaballerosfinale2.jpg|350px|thumb|The Three Caballeros reunited at the end of the Gran Fiesta Tour. Photo: D23]]The Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros also begins with guests boarding longboats and sailing of towards a Mayan pyramid. As guests progress past the pyramid, they come across a screen which shows Panchito Pistoles and José Carioca ''' La Tienda Encantada'''-two members of Located within the famous Three Caballeros. Guests learn that the trio is supposed to perform a concert in Mexico CityFestival Marketplace, but unfortunately, Donald Duck (the third member of the group) is nowhere to be found. In order to reunite the trio in time for the concert, Jose and Panchito board their magic carpet Pepe this shop sells clothing and set off to find Donaldaccessories.

As Panchito and Jose fly high above Mexico, Donald Duck is shown below wearing souvenirs and taking photos. As guests enter the next scene, they see that Panchito and Jose are still searching for Donald. Other screens in '''La Princesa de Cristal'''- Located within the room show points of interest in MexicoFestival Marketplace, including a Mayan pyramid this Arribas Brothers shop sells crystal and a gondolaglassware.

Continuing on, guests enter the next room where they see Donald chasing after a parasailing boat that is driving away with his swimsuit. Overhead, Jose and Panchito leave a smoke message for Donald, which reads, “donde esta Donald?” (where is Donald). Moving forward, guests see that Jose and Panchito are now looking for Donald '''Mariachi Cobre'''- This authentic mariachi band can often be found playing outside in a Mexican restaurant. When they ask a waiter if he has seen a duck, the man humorously shows them a roasted duck, causing them to flee. Meanwhile, across the room, Donald is shown attempting to rock dive, with predictably disastrous resultsMexico pavilion.

As dusk sets on Mexico, Panchito ==Fun Facts and Jose continue to search for Donald in the air. Unknown to them however, Donald Trivia==* A Ring Carver stand is actually scuba diving below. Exasperated, Jose proclaims that located within the show is about to startMexico pavilion <ref> http://www. As guests enter the next room, they see a mariachi band playing as women dancewdwthemeparks. Jose and Panchito are finally able to find Donald, and although they need to pull him away from the women, the trio is eventually able to make it to their concert. The attraction’s finale then takes place in Mexico City, as fireworks shoot overhead and Jose, Panchito, and Donald perform their signature song, “The Three Caballeros”. After witnessing the concert, guests return to the loading dockcom/details/epcot/world-showcase/mexico-pavilion/ring-carvers </ref>.

==Cast * Both the Moctezuma Brewery and the San Angel Inn contributed money to the construction of the Mexico pavilion <ref> http://www.wdwradioyesterland.com/2014/09/disney-twenty-something-gran-fiesta-tour-starring-three-caballeros/ worldshowcase.html </ref>=='''Donald Duck'''-Tony Anselmo.

'''José Carioca'''* At one time, flamingos could be found near the bridge in the Mexico pavilion. They have since been removed <ref> http://www.disneypix.com/EPCOT/WorldShowcase_OLD/1989b/WS1189-Rob Paulsen13.htm </ref> <ref name= "Spence"/>.

==See the Attraction!==To see The Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros or El Rio Del Tiempo, click play below.Mesoamerican Pyramid <ref name= "Spence"/>===

===* The Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros===carving located at the bottom of the pavilion’s stairs is called a stele.

{{#ev:youtube|NrQDKY9LVmQ|420}} ==Fun Facts and Trivia==* The entry way to the interior of the Mesoamerican pyramid is designed to look like a Mayan Ceremonial Hall. Here, various art exhibits are displayed.

* Animator Eric Goldberg was responsible for animating Inside the Three Caballeros for the Gran Fiesta Tour <ref> http://www.chuckjones.com/artists/eric-goldberg/ </ref> <ref> http://www.mainstgazette.com/2012/03/el-rio-del-tiempo.html </ref>pyramid, guests can see a Sun Stone (an Aztec calendar).

* X Atencio and Armando Corral wrote The Illuminations firework show is actually controlled out of a small office located at the music for El Rio Del Tiempo, some top of which is reused in The Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros <ref> http://www.disboards.com/threads/el-rio-del-tiempo-song-got-the-lyrics.637690/ </ref>Mexico's pyramid.

* In the scene where all The interior of the Audio Animatronic dolls pyramid is designed so that guests feel as if they are singingexiting the mayor's residence as the enter the Plaza del Los Amigo (which houses the pavilion's Festival Marketplace, guests can catch a glimpse of a Donald Duck piñata the Gran Fiesta Tour entrance and the San Angel Inn <ref>https:name="Martin"//c2.staticflickr.com/4/3445/3268057872_c50253fff1.jpg </ref>.