gran fiesta tour starring the three caballeros pov

Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros

World Showcase

Guests Can Be

Age interest, thrill level.

Accessibility and Other Information - Opens Dialog

Accessibility

• Must Transfer to Wheelchair
• Wheelchair Access Vehicle
• Audio Description
• Handheld Captioning
• Supervise children at all times. Children under age 7 years must be accompanied by a person age 14 years or older.

Classics, Indoor, Mickey & Friends

Take in the sights of Mexico and the antics of 3 feathered amigos on this gentle boat ride through the Mexico Pavilion.

¿Dónde Está Donald Duck?

Cruise down the Rio Grande on a dark boat ride past some of the most famous sights and cities in Mexico. Is that the missing mallard climbing a Mayan pyramid in Chichen Itza? 

Hilarity and hijinks ensue as the birds go in hot pursuit of their wayward friend throughout this fun-filled ride for all ages.

A Very Animated Experience

Inspired by the 1944 Disney film The Three Caballeros , your adventure comes to life against a backdrop of live-action footage, hand-drawn animation and the jaunty musical score from the movie.

• 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM

Wednesday, April 17, 2024

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7 Facts and Secrets About Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros at Disney’s Epcot

The relaxing boat ride at the Mexico pavilion, known as Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros, actually has a pretty neat backstory and history behind it.  It may not be the most thrilling or exciting attraction at Epcot, but it is definitely unique and has several neat facts and secrets.  Here are seven of these fun facts and secrets about the Gran Fiesta Tour:

7 – The story.

The attraction incorporates a story that helps give you education and exposure to popular sights and experiences within Mexico while incorporating the Three Caballeros into the mix. The attraction is based on the 1944 Disney movie, The Three Caballeros. This edition of the beloved cartoon characters also helps to engage kids in the attraction and make it a little more fun for them. Panchito and Jose spend most of the attraction looking for Donald Duck so that they can make sure he is ready for the concert that they will be putting on in Mexico City. Spoiler: they do find the crazy, loveable Donald Duck, and you will get the opportunity to see him all over Mexico!

6 – This wasn’t the original attraction at the pavilion.

Gran Fiesta Tour Starring, the Three Caballeros, wasn’t the original attraction that was at the pavilion when it first opened. The attraction that we know today replaced El Rio Del Tiempo. Most of the settings from El Rio Del Tiempo were reused to create the same attraction, but the original version of the attraction did not include the characters from The Three Caballeros. The attraction was a ride through of Mexico’s history and utilized a lot of animatronics of Mexican children. The ride was changed over to the current version in 2007 and hasn’t had a significant story change since then.

5 – The ride was originally going to have outside portions.

The original plans for the attraction called for portions of the ride to actually be outside and for the attraction to be longer than it ended up being. This attraction wasn’t going to be part of the opening day attractions for Epcot and was planned for phase 2. There were delays in development for some of the other attractions planned (including attractions in Japan and Germany that we still have never seen come to fruition) that forced Disney to push up the construction date. They realized that there wouldn’t be enough attractions to meet the opening day demand, so they had to rush to get the Mexico attraction completed. The ride had to be shortened by about 40% of the original planned ride length and was redesigned to be entirely all indoors. It would have been very interesting to see how the attraction would have ended up if the creation hadn’t been changed and rushed.

4 – The ride flows around San Angel Inn restaurant.

While on the ride, you may notice that you are passing by guests dining at tables under the manufactured evening sky. It is a really unique experience for Walt Disney World. This restaurant is San Angel Inn, a very popular restaurant located right next to the ride entrance. This is very similar to the Blue Bayou restaurant and its proximity to the Pirates of the Caribbean at Disneyland. This was extremely popular at Disneyland, so this was a way to incorporate this experience at Walt Disney World. For the complete experience, make sure you have a dining reservation to enjoy a meal at San Angel Inn and go on the boat ride before or after your meal. This helps give you all perspectives. Plus, the food there is delicious and worth the stop, so it’s a great excuse to have delicious Mexican food and a margarita.

3 – Panchito is the only caballero who is actually from Mexico.

So Panchito, Jose, and Donald are the crazy characters who are the “stars” of the attraction. Interestingly enough, Panchito is the only one of them who is actually from Mexico. Donald is American while Jose is Brazilian. Panchito is the leader of the bunch, so I guess what he says goes, so that is why they are in his home country to perform in Mexico City.

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2 – There are “new” animatronics in the finale scene.

There have been numerous changes around Walt Disney World that have displaced several attractions and shows. The animatronics of the Three Caballeros made their way to the Gran Fiesta Tour attraction in the finale of the attraction on December 4th, 2015. These animatronics were part of Mickey Mouse Revue, which was an attraction in Fantasyland before Mickey’s PhilharMagic was created and took over the location. This was a really cool addition to the Gran Fiesta Tour attraction and a great way to pay homage to an old, forgotten attraction.

1 – You may recognize the child-like animatronics.

These animatronics are recognizable from two aspects. These animatronics are the same that are found in the It’s A Small World attraction in the Magic Kingdom. It was easy for Disney to replicate these animatronics for this attraction, especially since the same movements and scenes that are used to represent Mexico in It’s A Small World are relevant to the Mexico pavilion attraction. Not only that, but these animatronics are also the same ones that were in place when the attraction was known as El Rio Del Tiempo. These weren’t really changed or moved when the ride received its new theme.

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Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros (A Resorts Gal Ride Guide)

Gran Fiesta Tour is a slow-moving boat cruise that offers a unique perspective of Epcot’s Mexico Pavilion. This attraction features three feathered amigos: Donald Duck, Panchito Pistoles, and José Carioca, better known as The Three Caballeros. Below, we’ll look at the details for experiencing this attraction on your next visit.

You’ll find the Gran Fiesta Tour inside the pyramid toward the back of the pavilion. This gentle boat ride cruises down a faux Rio Grande River. Along the way, you’ll see cartoon scenes featuring the Three Caballeros playing at various points.

Here are a few details for experiencing the Gran Fiesta Tour.

Additional Info:

Guests must transfer to a wheelchair. Audio description and handheld captioning are available.

Our traffic signals:

Green Light:

This is an attraction that you must do regardless of the wait. Or it’s an attraction that we deem suitable to experience anytime.

We recommend stopping to check the posted wait times and making a quick judgment call on whether or not to wait.

Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros

Gran Fiesta Tour, formerly called El Rio Del Tiempo, opens daily with the rest of the park and remains open until the park closes. It remains open during extended evening hours when they are offered. It is also on the list of attractions during Epcot After Hours .

When you enter the pavilion’s Mayan Pyramid, you’ll run into what feels like an open-air market. Gran Fiesta Tour’s queue is toward the back left of the pyramid’s interior. The entrance to the queue is next to San Angel Inn Restaurant. It has a large sign overhead.

Here is a look at the queue. It’s not uncommon to find a long line that extends into the rest of the pyramid. However, while the line might appear to have a long wait, the Gran Fiesta Tour has a high capacity and tends to load quickly. So what looks like an hour-long wait might only be 10-15 minutes.

Once you get to the loading area, you’ll board a boat. Each boat has five rows and holds up to four guests per row. Therefore, if you are a large party, you should all fit on one boat. The boat for this attraction is similar to “it’s a small world” at Magic Kingdom. The ride features animatronic dolls, similar to the original Fantasyland attraction.

A cast member will assist guests in ECVs and wheelchairs at the ride’s entrance. They’ll offer the option to board a boat, which requires a step-down. Or, if needed, they will have you wait for a boat that can accommodate a regular wheelchair.

Gran Fiesta Tour’s storyline is that you’re on your way to Mexico City for a concert starring The Three Caballeros. However, Donald Duck has disappeared along the way. So it’s up to Jose Carioca, the Brazilian parrot, and Panchito, a Mexican Charro Rooster, to find him! On your journey, you’ll see some of the sights of Mexico, several dances, a scuba scene, and cartoon cliff diving.

At the beginning of the ride, you’ll pass the giant pyramid and San Angel Inn. Guests from the restaurant can look down and see the boats as they pass. This set-up is similar to the Blue Bayou Restaurant that sails past the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disneyland.

After you pass the pyramid, you’ll float through a series of footage featuring hand-drawn animation overlayed on live-action scenes from Mexico. The music from the scenes comes from the original 1944 Disney film The Three Caballeros .

You’ll continue from room to room as the scenes change to various destinations in Mexico.

Here are some of the animatronics similar to “it’s a small world.”

Here are a few more photos.

Eventually, you’ll travel through a tunnel before reaching the great Mexico City.

Make sure to look up. Faux fireworks explode on the ceiling overhead.

A banner welcomes guests of the Gran Fiesta Tour.

Before long, we see that Donald has made it to the concert with his fellow Caballeros.

They are performing on stage.

As you reach the end of the Gran Fiesta Tour, a mural map displays some of Mexico’s major destinations.

On the far end of the mural, The Three Caballeros say, “Adios.”

Regarding the best times to ride this attraction, we usually find fewer crowds in the late afternoon to evening hours. As mentioned above, if the line looks long, it still usually moves swiftly. However, if you stand in line for several minutes and the line doesn’t move, the ride could be experiencing technical difficulties. If that appears to be the case, you might try to return later. Of course, sometimes, the attraction will pause to load and unload guests with mobility issues.

The Resorts Gal Spin on Gran Fiesta Tour

Gran Fiesta Tour is a simple ride with a vintage feel. We love it, but don’t think that it’s a dealbreaker if you miss it. However, if it’s a hot day and you need to cool off, it’s always nighttime inside the Mexico Pavilion! Take a break and ride this charming boat cruise while you’re there. I doubt you’ll feel like you’re wasting time.

For more attractions, we have an entire list of the rides at Epcot . Or you might enjoy these individual articles:

Other Epcot Rides

Soarin’ Around the World at Epcot (A Resorts Gal Ride Guide)

Living with the Land at Epcot (A Resorts Gal Guide)

The Seas with Nemo and Friends at Epcot (A Resorts Gal Ride Guide)

Journey Into Imagination With Figment (A Resorts Gal Ride Review)

Additionally, we specialize in providing information about the resorts and hotels at Walt Disney World . If you are planning a trip, you might enjoy browsing our list of Disney Hotel Reviews . Here are a few of our favorites:

Nearby Epcot Resorts

Disney’s Beach Club Resort Review (The 2 Reasons This Resort is Our Favorite)

Disney’s Boardwalk Inn Review (We Love This Hotel for So Many Reasons-Except These!)

Disney’s Yacht Club Resort Review (Why We Love This Nautical-Themed Hotel)

Disney’s Swan and Dolphin Resort Review

Walt Disney World Swan Reserve Review (Why We Adore This Upscale Hotel)

In the Comments

Do you plan to ride the Gran Fiesta Tour on your next vacation? Did you find this ride review helpful? Do you have any other questions? We’d be happy to answer them based on our experience.

Hi, I'm Amber the owner of Resorts Gal . We have stayed at every single Disney Resort Hotel. Our philosophy? We believe you can have an incredible time at the resorts without ever setting foot in a theme park. We live near the parks and visit weekly and would love for you to follow along.

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Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros

An Attraction in EPCOT

Last updated: April 17, 2024

At a Glance

The Gran Fiesta Tour incorporates animated versions of Donald Duck, José Carioca, and Panchito—an avian singing group called The Three Caballeros, from Disney’s 1944 film of the same name—to spice up what’s basically a slower-paced, Mexican-style It’s a Small World.

The storyline has the Caballeros scheduled to perform at a fiesta when Donald suddenly goes missing; large video screens show him enjoying Mexico’s sights and sounds while José and Panchito try to track him down. Everyone is reunited in time for a rousing concert near the end of the ride.

At the risk of sounding like the Disney geeks we are, we must point out that Panchito is technically the only Mexican Caballero—José Carioca is from Brazil and Donald is from Burbank. In any case, more of the ride’s visuals seem to be on the left side of the boat, so have small children sit nearer the left to keep their attention, and listen for Donald’s humorous monologue as you wait to disembark at the end of the ride.

• Handheld Captioning
• Audio Description
• Must Transfer to Standard Wheelchair

modal#open click->video-modal#modalVideo">Gran Fiesta Tour Attraction Overview

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Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros

Join Donald Duck, Jose Carioca, and Panchito Pistoles, the title characters from Disney’s 1944 animated classic The Three Caballeros , on this Gran Fiesta Tour through Mexican history and culture in the Mexico Pavilion’s iconic pyramid.

Ride Information   Restrictions   Location   Fun Facts   Top 5 Tips

Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros Ride Information

Opening Day: April 6, 2007

Type of Ride: Boat ride through Mexican culture

Age Recommendation: All ages

Duration of Ride: About 7 minutes

Typical Queue Time: Short; typically less than 10 minutes

Single Rider Line: No

Chicken Exit Available: No

Baby Swap Available: No

Type of Vehicle: Boats

Type of Restraint: None

Attraction Open During Early Theme Park Entry: No. See our Early Theme Park Entry page for more information.

Ride Photo Available For Purchase: No

Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros Ride Restrictions

Height Requirements: None

Flash Photography or Video Allowed: No

Shopping: Shopping options abound inside Mexico’s multipurpose pyramid. Ceramics, sombreros, pinatas, worry dolls, leather goods, jewelry, apparel, and pottery can all be purchased at the spacious indoor marketplace.

Dining/Refreshment: Augmented by views of a volcano, a pyramid, and Gran Fiesta’s Tour’s boats, guests can enjoy a table service lunch or dinner at San Angel Inn . Offerings at this charming restaurant include steak, beef, pork, chicken, and fish entrees; tacos; quesadillas; soups; salads; and a plethora of margaritas.

Restroom: Facilities are situated in the Odyssey Center. This is across the World Celebration border from the Mexico Pavilion.

Smoking Location: Smoking is permitted in designated smoking areas only. Disney parks are smoke free.

Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros Fun Facts

Did you know.

• Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros replaced a more serious boat ride, “El Rio del Tiempo,” in 2007. Translating to “The River of Time,” El Rio del Tiempo had operated since Epcot’s opening day, October 1, 1982. El Rio del Tiempo was augmented by an upbeat tune of the same name.
• Gran Fiesta Tour features The Three Caballeros.  Donald Duck, Jose Carioca, and Panchito Pistoles from The Three Caballeros (1944) host the attraction. Of the trio, only Panchito is from Mexico, Jose Carioca being from Brazil and Donald from the United States. Jose Carioca had previously appeared with Donald in Saludos Amigos (1942).
• Content differences notwithstanding, the facades and dolls seen during Gran Fiesta Tour are largely unchanged from those of El Rio del Tiempo.
• An imposing pyramid—within the larger pyramid—and a volcano are seen at the beginning of the cruise.
• The protagonists of Gran Fiesta Tour travel via flying sarape, essentially a magic carpet .
• Donald, Panchito, and Jose Carioca enjoy Mexican beaches, restaurants, and dances during the attraction.
• The segment with the dolls is reminiscent of It’s a Small World .
• The theme song, “The Three Caballeros,” from The Three Caballeros is heard instrumentally throughout the attraction.  In addition, the trio singing the lyrics at the end of the voyage.
• Gran Fiesta Tour sits aside the San Angel Inn restaurant, effectively making San Angel Inn the Walt Disney World version of Disneyland Park ’s Blue Bayou Restaurant , which occupies the same position for that park’s Pirates of the Caribbean attraction. Similar restaurants, “Blue Bayou” and “Blue Lagoon,” complement the respective Pirates of the Caribbean attractions at Tokyo Disneyland Park and Disneyland Park Paris.

Hidden Mickeys:

Top 5 Tips for Grand Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros

• With negligible wait times, guests can enjoy Gran Fiesta Tour at their pleasure.
• Consider making an ADR for San Angel Inn and requesting a table with a view of Gran Fiesta Tour.
• Do not expect an educational attraction. Gran Fiesta Tour provides more laughs than information.
• “The Three Caballeros” song may linger in your head for a while after riding Gran Fiesta Tour.
• Consider watching Saludos Amigos and The Three Caballeros prior to your visit such as to better appreciate this attraction.

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Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros: A Fun Feathered Adventure Through Mexico!

The Three Caballeros is classic Disney. We’re talking 1940s-Technicolor-starring-Sterling Holloway-classic! Disney’s seventh full-length film. This movie follows the adventures of Donald Duck and his friends – Panchito, the Mexican charro rooster, and José Carioca, the Brazilian parrot – through South America using a blend of both animation and live action.

Today, this fun little flick lives on in the form of the Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros ride at EPCOT . Part of the Mexico Pavilion, Donald and his amigos fit right in with this part of the World Showcase!

Now, we all know Donald has a penchant for getting into trouble, so it makes sense to take some precautions before riding. We’ll fill you in on the feathered frenzy, so it’ll be smooth sailing for your own Mexican adventure!

¡Bienvenido a Mexico!

An impressive pyramid bids you an architectural welcome to the Mexico Pavilion at EPCOT . Modeled after an Aztec temple, you’ll see nods to Quetzalcoatl (a dragon-esque Aztec deity) in the serpent heads lining the skyward staircase. Sprouting up around the temple is a lush jungle, and inside the pavilion, you’ll discover the Plaza de los Amigos. It’s always twilight in the plaza, and a volcano simmers menacingly on the horizon. However, that doesn’t seem to bother the locals, as this “open-air” market is always bustling!

You’ll see several nods to the movie Coco throughout the pavilion (so fun!), Mexican artifacts, and a folk art gallery. The Mariachi Cobre band has several performances throughout the day and is considered staple entertainment for the World Showcase. Mariachi Cobre is an experience in live artistry as the musicians not only play wonderful songs, but a puppeteer also brings Miguel from Coco to life while Folklórico dancers twirl in time to the twang of his guitar strings! It’s a feast for the eyes and ears.

But to get a real taste of Mexico , you’ll want to try one of the dining experiences at EPCOT ! For truly authentic flavors, you’ll want to get a dinner reservation at La Hacienda de San Angel . With fresh tortillas, fresh salsa, and handcrafted margaritas, this restaurant is on the “fine dining” end of the spectrum. (Taco Bell, who ?)

Both lunch and dinner are served at the San Angel Inn Restaurant (prices are a little cheaper than La Hacienda ), and quick service bites like tacos and nachos can be found at La Cantina de San Angel.

From the food to the music to the setting, the Mexico Pavilion is definitely one you won’t want to miss marking down in your EPCOT passport !

Enter: The Three Caballeros!

Of course, no trip to the Mexico Pavilion is complete without experiencing the Gran Fiesta Tour at EPCOT ! While Donald and his pals play a big part in the theme of the pavilion now, they haven’t always been the tour guides for this section of the World Showcase.

From 1982 to 2007, a boat ride called El Rio del Tiempo was the pavilion’s main attraction. Located inside the pyramid, this ride took guests back in time to the days of the Aztecs and eventually into the midst of a modern-day market in Mexico City. The finale was a lively festival celebrating Dias de los Muertos. With its very own theme song, the ride was essentially EPCOT ‘s own It’s a Small World .

This ride was replaced by the Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros , which celebrates 16 years in the park this April! Although it’s always difficult to watch rides come go, much of the Gran Fiesta Tour was imported directly from El Rio del Tiempo. The style, track, and sets are practically the same, but Donald, Panchito, and José bring a fresh storyline, their sense of humor, and a classic Disney twist to the attraction.

The Gran Fiesta Tour Ride Experience

The Gran Fiesta Tour is a dark-ride, boat-ride combo, and as you sail along, you’ll get to take in the sights and sounds of Mexico. However, there’s also a tale to go along with the pretty scenery – Donald Duck is lost, and it’s up to his amigos, Panchito and José, to find him!

Projections of the animated birds are interspersed throughout the ride, and their shenanigans often overlay footage of real Mexican landmarks, combining cartoon and live action, just like in the original movie. There are also audio-animatronics throughout the 3D sets, further immersing guests in the world of The Three Caballeros.

We love that Donald , Panchito, and José audio-animatronically join our 3D world to serenade us during the gran finale of the ride!

“ We’re happy amigos, no matter where he goes. The one, two, and three goes, we’re always together! ”

~The Three Caballeros (theme song)

Although the Gran Fiesta Tour is a boat ride, you won’t get wet on this gentle seven-minute journey. However, you may get The Three Caballeros song stuck in your head! (“The Three Caballeros” is actually the title of that catchy theme tune!) Because of the ride’s relaxed nature and the fun antics of the adorable feathered friends, it’s an excellent family-friendly attraction.

Gran Fiesta Tour wait times are generally short (around 10 minutes), so it’s a perfect ride if you’re looking to kill a little time before lunch or simply escape the Florida heat. Gran Fiesta won’t give you an adrenaline rush, but it is supremely cute – and that’s worth checking out! If you’re a fan of It’s a Small World , The Enchanted Tiki Room , or just good old Donald Duck, then you’ll definitely love this EPCOT experience !

The Three Caballeros characters have been available for meet and greets in the past, though as of writing, Donald Duck (dressed in his fiesta best!) seems to be flying solo. You may also spot The Three Caballeros in topiary form during the EPCOT International Flower Garden Festival and, of course, find them gracing plenty of merchandise.

We love the various themes throughout the Mexico Pavilion, from an appreciation of music and family via Coco to the joys and loyalty of friendship with The Three Caballeros. There’s so much to enjoy in this slice of the World Showcase – including tacos! – and we hope you’ll have a great time if you decide to visit Donald and his pals!

Experience the Magic

See the 2023 guide to the magic kingdom’s fireworks dessert party.

Did you know Disney offers a way to enjoy the nightly fireworks show from a reserved seat? Here is everything you need to know about the Magic Kingdom’s Fireworks Dessert Party to decide if it’s worth the splurge for your family!

What’s your favorite part of the Mexico Pavilion at EPCOT ? Have you been on the Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros? Tell us all about it in the comments below!

¡Adios amigos!

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The MouseEars TV Creative Editor is passionate about making the world a happier place through the power of writing. She is the author of a historical fantasy novel, WildWood Revisited, and lives by Walt Disney's motto: "When you believe in a thing, believe in it all the way." She firmly believes that Mickey-shaped pancakes magically taste better than regular pancakes.

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Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros

• Dark Boat ride

Gran Fiesta Tour is a Dark Boat Ride located at Epcot in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, United States. The ride is themed after the Three Caballeros characters, from the 1944 film of the same name.

The ride originally opened as El Rio del Tiempo. after the closure of this version, it was decided that a ride based off the Three Caballeros characters would replace the old version. It would reopen 4 months later on April 20, 2007. The ride has never changed, aside from on December 4, 2015, when the finale screen of the characters, were replaced by animatronics of the characters, from the former Mickey Mouse Revue show. The ride continues to operate to this day.

• Water rides
• Donald Duck
• Saludos Amigos

Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros

• View history
• 3 Attraction Summary
• 4 Development
• 5 Voice talents

The attraction begins in a queue area decorated with posters indicating that The Three Caballeros are to perform a concert tonight.

After boarding the boats, guests float around the Mayan pyramid in the back of the pavilion's main room. Soon, guests enter a tunnel on the side of the pyramid, where Panchito Pistoles and José Carioca of The Three Caballeros introduce themselves, only to find out that Donald Duck , the third member of the group, has run off, prompting Panchito and José to set off on a frantic search for their missing friend.

The next few scenes show Donald touring Mexico with José and Panchito flying on a magic serape , looking for him.

Donald takes in the sites throughout the country. He visits Aztec Pyramids and goes boating, parasailing, cliff-diving and scuba-diving, among other activities.

One scene has characters similar to It's a Small World with dancing animatronic dolls and a Donald Duck piñata . Once past this area, guests enter a cave, which features different scenes of live-action footage with the Caballeros.

After leaving the cave, there are three panels featuring a Mariachi band in the first, some Mexican girls and Donald in the second with Panchito and José pulling away Donald from the girls in the third.

From the mariachi party, guests float into Mexico City , where fireworks are going off overhead and The Three Caballeros are finally performing their concert.

As the journey ends, guests pass a mural map inspired by the one that appears in the film before they arrive at the unload dock.

• Panchito , the leader of the trio, is the only Mexican character of the three, as Donald Duck has always been portrayed as a citizen of the United States while José is a Brazilian. In the movie , Panchito is often seen firing guns into the air and whooping, while José smokes cigars. As with the House of Mouse , probably due to Disney's Standards and Practices, the characters were toned down for the ride and don't smoke or shoot.
• With its dancing animatronic dolls and miniature movies, the ride is a hybrid of the aforementioned It's a Small World and the now-defunct If You Had Wings attraction at the neighboring Magic Kingdom park.
• The ride uses Hanna-Barbera sound effects for the cheesy humor.
• The Aracuan Bird makes a cameo in one of the animations.

Attraction Summary [ ]

Departing from the docks and going past a Mayan pyramid, the attraction begins with  José Carioca  and  Panchito Pistoles  introducing themselves with music and realizing that  Donald  has gone astray. Not wanting to be late for their concert stop in Mexico City, they set off on the flying sarape to look for him. While they search for him, Donald Duck takes in the sites throughout the country. He visits Aztec Pyramids, goes boating, parasailing, cliff diving and scuba diving among other activities. Eventually, Panchito and José catch up to Donald at a Mariachi performance and have to pull him away from numerous girls in order to finally reach their concert, with the attraction ending with a performance of the Three Caballeros song. Guests go past a mural map inspired by the one that appears in the film before they unload at the dock the attraction began at.

Development [ ]

Animatronics from the Mickey Mouse Revue placed into the finale in 2015.

A Three Caballeros-inspired update to the Mexico Pavilion's boat ride was a long-persisting rumor since the early 2000s. Eventually, in 2007, El Rio del Tiempo closed for the long-rumored change. New footage was shot and the new animation for the attraction was directed by Eric Goldberg .

On December 4, 2015, the attraction received an update, replacing the ending scene's animation with the animatronics of the Caballeros from the Mickey Mouse Revue . This was part of earlier plans for the attraction, but refurbishing and repurposing the figures was delayed until then for budgetary reasons.

Voice talents [ ]

• Tony Anselmo as Donald Duck
• Rob Paulsen as José Carioca
• Carlos Alazraqui as Panchito Pistoles

Gallery [ ]

• 2 Bradley Uppercrust III
• 3 Inside Out 2

Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros

¿Dónde Está Donald Duck?

Donald’s disappeared south of the border, and it’s up to the other 2 caballeros from the musical trio—Panchito, the Mexican charro rooster, and José Carioca, the Brazilian parrot—to find him.

Cruise down the Rio Grande on a dark boat ride past some of the most famous sights and cities in Mexico. Is that the missing mallard climbing a Mayan pyramid in Chichen Itza? 

Hilarity and hijinks ensue as the birds go in hot pursuit of their wayward friend throughout this fun-filled ride for all ages.

A Very Animated Experience

Safety, Accessibility and Guest Policies

Times for gran fiesta tour starring the three caballeros.

• Loungefly / Merchandise / Shopping / Walt Disney World

Calling ALL Three Caballeros Fans—You NEED This Loungefly!

by Cassie Agundes · April 15, 2024

The back-to-back celebrations of St. Patrick’s Day and Easter have us feeling a bit  of holiday fatigue. Anyone else?

Gran Fiesta Tour

Well–there’s no time to relax…Cinco de Mayo is quickly approaching and we’re already planning our trip to Mexico (Pavilion, obviously) to celebrate. And our Cinco de Mayo visit to the location wouldn’t be complete without the new Three Caballeros Loungefly!

The Three Caballeros Loungefly Bag

When in Mexico Pavilion, the Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros is a  must. 

And–thanks to the attraction and their very own film–the adorable birds have garnered quite a following. This is exactly why we were so excited to spot the Three Caballeros Loungefly Bag  today in  Discovery Trading Company at Animal Kingdom!

Three Caballeros Loungefly

The bag is  $88 and shows the musical trio playing their instruments in front of the attraction with fireworks, musical notes, and stars scattered in the background.

The back is just as bright and fun as the front, courtesy of the rainbow straps and accents, as well as the “Mexico” logo on the bottom. 

One side of the bag says, “¡Saludos Amigos!”…

…while the other side has more icons.

The interior has a bright blue pattern showcasing the musical trio with more fireworks, musical notes, and stars around them.

And the best part about the bag? IT GLOWS IN THE DARK! 

            View this post on Instagram                         A post shared by MickeyBlog.com (@mickeybl0g)

So what’re you waiting for? Head over to the resort to grab your own. And we’ll keep updating you with the latest in all things Disney, so stay tuned to MickeyBlog.com.

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New The Three Caballeros EPCOT Mexico Pavilion Loungefly Backpack

A new Mexico pavilion Loungefly backpack featuring The Three Caballeros is available at Walt Disney World after first debuting at Disneyland. We first found it in Discovery Trading Company at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

The Three Caballeros Mexico Pavilion Loungefly Backpack – $88

The backpack is black with fireworks, stars, and music notes in the background. The Mexico pavilion pyramid facade is in the background, while Donald, Panchito Pistoles, and José Carioca are in the foreground with their guitars.

Both side pockets have fireworks, but one side says, “¡Saludos Amigos!” the original 1942 film that introduced José and inspired the development of “The Three Caballeros.”

The trim and straps are striped in many colors.

On the back is the logo for the Mexico pavilion with the Aracuan bird above.

The Three Caballeros and the Aracuan appear on the interior lining, which is bright blue.

The design represents the Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros , which is the main attraction of the Mexico pavilion. It takes guests on a slow-moving boat ride through Mexico as José and Panchito search for Donald, who is exploring the country. It culminates in a performance featuring The Three Cabelleros as audio-animatronics, playing a concert.

A limited edition pin featuring the attraction was released earlier this year.

For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today on  Twitter ,  Facebook , and  Instagram .

The post New The Three Caballeros EPCOT Mexico Pavilion Loungefly Backpack appeared first on WDW News Today .