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By Soarin’ Diva

Jose, Panchito and Donald animatronics at Gran Fiesta Tour in Epcot

Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros

There were a lot of rumors confirmed recently at the 2017 D23 Expo, but there are a few out there that still haven’t been confirmed or discounted. One of these rumors involves the EPCOT attraction, Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros. The rumor floating around was that this attraction was being remade into a new attraction featuring Coco from the yet to be released Disney Pixar movie by the same title.

Gran Fiesta Tour at Mexico Pavilion, Epcot

Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros

Boats for Gran Fiesta Tour at Epcot Mexico Pavilion

Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros

View of San Angel Inn restaurant from Gran Fiesta Tour boat

Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros

Let’s take a look at EPCOT’s Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros. This is one tour at Walt Disney World that you don’t have to pay a separate fee to experience. This is an eight minute boat ride that (DIVA TIP: is very gentle and child friendly having no height requirements and needing no restraints). The attraction itself is located in the Mexico Pavilion at World Showcase inside the Mayan pyramid. The ride is based on of the 1940’s Disney movie, The Three Caballeros. Panchito and Jose must search for the missing third Caballero, who is none other than Donald Duck, throughout the ride. They have to find him in time to perform for their big concert in Mexico City. Each room of the ride features a cute scene with Donald popping in and out while music from The Three Caballeros plays in the back ground. You will even find animatronics of Donald, Jose and Panchito at the end of the ride, reunited again and singing for their audience. There are also many other adorable animatronics throughout the attraction, and you may recognize them as being very similar to the animatronics in the attraction It’s A Small World.

Panchito and Jose searching for Donald on Gran Fiesta Tour at Epcot

Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros

Scene from Three Caballeros movie

Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros

Beautiful architectural design inside Gran Fiesta Tour attraction at Epcot

Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros

Personally, my husband and I never miss this ride on our trips.

DIVA TIP: Being tucked away inside the Mayan pyramid, this attraction usually has a short wait time as well.

We love that Walt Disney World still has an attraction featuring one of the Fab Five, and we would be devastated to see it go. When you think of Disney, you think of Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy and Pluto, yet there are only two attractions at this time that include any members of the Fab Five; the other being The Barnstormer at Magic Kingdom. How is that even possible? Yes, I know there is one slated to feature Mickey Mouse, but it has been a long time coming, and I have to say that I was devastated at the idea of removing The Great Movie Ride to add this attraction in. I would also be upset at the removal of Gran Fiesta Tour to add a new Coco attraction in. I love that Disney is adding so many new things and updating others, I just wish it weren’t at the cost of some of the attractions we have now. I think we can all agree that EPCOT would benefit from adding more attractions to it rather than removing some and adding others in their place. There is plenty of room to keep current attractions and add new attractions as well.

Animitronics inside Gran Fiesta Tour attraction at Epcot

Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros

Animatronics at Gran Fiesta Tour at Epcot

Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros

Tribute the Mexico's Day of the Dead at Gran Fiesta Tour at Epcot

Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros

Though it seems Gran Fiesta Tour is safe for now as there were no official announcements of its closure at the D23 Expo, rumors still abound about it. I’ll be honest, the fact that the rumors weren’t disputed by Disney strikes fear into my heart for the survival of this cute and fun attraction. Perhaps they don’t plan for the ride to be replaced by Coco until the movie itself is actually released, which would mean it would happen at a date late enough to not warrant an official D23 announcement. I hope I’m wrong, I really hope they can save Gran Fiesta Tour for many, many years to come, and perhaps add Coco in with a separate attraction. The more, the merrier in my opinion. I guess we will just have to wait and see what happens when the Coco movie is released at the end of this year.

What are your thoughts on it, have you ridden Gran Fiesta Tour? Are you a fan, or are you ready to see it go? Maybe you haven’t gotten to experience it yet, but you are thinking of planning a trip? If so, now is your chance to take a tour with the Three Caballeros! Do you need help planning your trip? Feel free to contact our recommended travel agent and our own Military Diva, Patricia at All for Dreams Travel, and she can do all the work for you. Best of all, all of her services are FREE! Click here to request a quote today!

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