Mexico

History

A Mexican pavilion was planned for World Showcase since Epcot's conception. The pavilion was two include two restaurants and an an attraction, known during planning as "Las Tres Culturas". Although the pavilion's conception was finished in time for it to open with the rest of World Showcase, Disney originally wanted to push back it's opening until "Phase Two" of Epcot. When plans for an Africa pavilion were cancelled, and the attractions set to be built in Germany and Japan were cancelled, Disney had a problem. Without the other attractions, World Showcase would not be able to meet the demands of guest capacity. To resolve this problem, Disney decided that the Mexico pavilion, with it's large boat ride attraction would be built on time. In order to complete the pavilion on time however Disney had to rush it's construction and shorten the boat ride.

After a lot of work, the Mexico pavilion was ready for opening day. When the pavilion was complete, it consisted of two restaurants, two shops and one attraction. The centerpiece of the pavilion was a large MesoAmerican pyramid, which was based on designs form the 3rd century AD. The inside of the pyramid, houses Mexico's boat ride (then called El Rio Del Tiempo) as well as the restaurant San Angel Inn. From the San Angel Inn, guests an look out over a river where they can see another MesoAmerican pyramid and smoking volcano. The restaurant is based on a Mexican City of the same name, which opened in 1692. The interior of the pyramid was designed to look like a Mexican village (based on Texaco) at twilight. Two shops are located on either side of the village, with one of their facades hiding San Angel Inn's kitchen. Also located in the Mexico pavilion is the lakeside restaurant, Cantina de San Ángel.

Since it's opening in 1982, the Mexico Pavilion has seen a relativity small number of changes. Besides some of the shopping stalls changing, and the addition of more lights inside the pyramid Mexico stayed the same until 2007.