If you’ve visited EPCOT recently, you’ve no doubt visited the Mexico pavilion (if only to grab a drink at La Cava del Tequila, as one does).
Mexico Pavilion
Of course, you’ve probably also checked in on the classic ride Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros. Well, we were recently surprised a few months ago when we learned that the ride would be closing for two months for refurbishment. Well, Gran Fiesta Tour has reopened — and let’s just say, Disney made a TON of updates to the ride that have left us VERY impressed.
This ride probably needed a little extra TLC, and we were excited to ride it to see what had changed. Turns out, Disney did a lot to refresh the ride. We spoke with a Cast Member there to get ALL the details about what’s new.
Let’s go for a ride!
Although the story and scenes are the same, the projections were switched to digital screens.
Digital screens have replaced the projections
Another HUGE change made to the ride is that it now has a completely new sound system with new speakers and a new sound design for the FIRST TIME since 1982, bringing the original audio tracks from when the ride first opened and then updated in 2007.
It even sounds better!
According to the Cast Member we spoke with, some of the sounds had been lost over time because of how the old sound system isolated different tracks. Now, that’s been restored. This includes the fireworks track in the finale, which is working again and sounds FANTASTIC on the new speakers.
The finale sounds even BETTER
There’s also a bird chirping in the loading area that adds such a pretty extra dimension before you ever even step foot onto the boat.
You’ll hear a bird chirping in the loading area
One thing we noticed is that the digital screens and lightning look so vibrant now, which makes scenes on the ride really pop.
It’s so VIBRANT
The Cast Member also told us that the Marionetta animatronic was refurbished and returned to the ride after a lengthy absence — she made her return in December 2024 right before the ride closed for refurbishment.
She’s back!
Disney has really made an effort to upgrade this ride, perhaps for the first time in a LONG time.
It just looks SO good now!
If you’ll be visiting EPCOT, be sure to pop into the Mexico pavilion to check out the ride updates — you won’t be disappointed! And stay tuned to DFB for more!
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Do you ride Gran Fiesta Tour when visiting EPCOT? Let us know in the comments!
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It’s incredible how many people don’t even know it’s THERE, and there’s hardly ever a line for it.
Incredibly, could be my favorite dark ride because it’s so much fun!
I am SO relieved they did not change this ride to something else! I absolutely love it and the three characters who feature in it – so upbeat and colorful and great to sing along with! At leasta few spots are left in WDW with original characters. Don’t get me wromg, I love Coco, but there is plenty of room in the World for their own space!
So happy to see them showing some love to this attraction. Is there any update on when Test Track will reopen ? We miss it !
what!?? I did not even know about this ride! We will checking it out next time we come……I am so glad you published this little article about this ride. We never knew about it!! Wonder why this ride is never advertised? How are people suppose to know about it? Oh well……keeps the lines short that way…..LOL!
Thanks again for your information!
I’m so excited to see this! I love this ride and it’s always a quick line and nice, dark, cool location to cool off. I’m so happy they gave it some love and a bit of a glo-up.
Great to hear of these updates while keeping the theme and action intact. We ride Fiesta every visit, which is close to 40.
Annual Passholders since semi-retirement in 2019 who live DFB.
We ride it every single time we come! I’m excited it’s open again, yay!
Deana, the ride is in the pyramid in the Mexico pavillion, next to San Angel Inn restaurant. Sometimes there is not a line, or a short one but several times we went there was a line. It is a slow boat ride, not very long, but very relaxing. Gets one out of the hot Florida sun!!
Never had much interest in this attraction. It is kind of hidden in the back of the Mexico pavilion. It needs more hype and excitement. It is alittle boarding. There is no Wow factor.
Don’t listen to Kenp who posted here.
It is neither “boarding” or boring.
One of the top 10 in WDW.