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Hello there fellow world travelers, foodies and lovers of all things World Showcase! We are coming up on Cinco de Mayo, also known as Battle of Puebla Day which celebrates the victory of Mexico in the Franco-Mexican War on May 5th, 1862. While not a federal holiday in Mexico, many folks celebrate with military parades and recreations of the infamous battle, as well as celebrate in a similar way we are known here in the states – by having an all around good time! 

Epcot and the breathtaking world showcase knows how to celebrate culture, and the Mexico Pavilion is one of the most exciting, stunning segments in all of the park. Whether it’s the unique offerings of the Food and Wine festival, any time of the year, or of course Cinco de Mayo, you are bound to be delighted by what you can experience, see, learn and eat in the Mexico pavilion. In honor of this day of celebration and the beautiful country of Mexico, let’s grab a margarita and tour one of the most thrilling countries in the World (Showcase)!

Caballero Donald

I’ll take Donald any way I can get him, but I’d be lying if I said I weren’t partial to Caballero Donald. He is fresh off of the tour bus with the Three Caballeros and you won’t want to miss him before he’s back on the road! In true Donald fashion, he is charming yet lovably feisty, in a way that is just enough to find it endearing. He can be found in front of the ancient Aztec pyramid anytime of the year, so make sure you keep an eye out for your favorite duck in a sombrero and poncho!

Mariachi Cobre – Including Coco!

One of my favorite things about any of the pavilions in the World Showcase is the music, oftentimes live bands, that represent the culture in a unique and special way. Mariachi bands are known for their zeal and lighthearted fun, and the Mariachi Cobre in the Mexico pavilion takes the cake! From their fun, traveling (literally) performance during Festival of the Holidays to the most recent addition of the story of Coco into the act at the beginning of last year, Mariachi Cobre has been busy bringing adventure, stories and culture to you through their beautiful music. These guys (and gals!) can be found performing on the steps of the Mexico pavilion throughout the year.

Gran Fiesta Tour

If you haven’t taken the Gran Fiesta Tour, or have once or twice and are in the habit of bypassing it, I strongly encourage you to reconsider making the time for this adorable attraction. I personally love the theming and the Three Caballeros, but there is so much more to this ride than the ride itself. I love the Mexico pavilion at night, and stepping inside (where the queue is) really is quite breathtaking. Not only do you take a tour through Mexico on the attraction, you also get to browse the shops and look on at the diners and the beautiful San Angel Inn. A history lesson, music, and delicious food? Count me in!

The Best Food in all of Epcot

My all time favorite food is Mexican – I could, and often do eat it several times a week from the comfort of my home. But nothing quite compares, except maybe those homemade tortillas and mole in Cozumel, to the authenticity of the food in the Mexican pavilion. Food and Wine festival is a great way to sample the dishes from a savory taco de puerco (pork belly corn tortilla with salsa verde) to a sweeter capirotada de chocolate (chocolate bread pudding!) not to mention any of the mouth watering Margaritas ( the apple cider one during food and wine is my personal favorite!). If you can manage to score a reservation to the beautiful aforementioned San Angel Inn, you will not be disappointed with the authentic offerings as well as the breathtaking view. 

In the midst of my Disney withdrawals (to be fair, they kick in about 3 hours after arriving home from a Disney vacation) I have been making a list, as well as sublists of all of things I miss the most about the Disney parks in order to accomplish those first and foremost when the parks reopen. Somewhere in between the Haunted Mansion and The People Mover is the Mexico pavilion in the World Showcase. From the music to the food, the attraction to the cutest Donald in all the land, I truly can’t wait to make my way back to this vibrant, culturally rich pavilion.