Panchito, José Carioca, and Donald Duck have returned to their rightful place at the finale of the Gran Fiesta Tour in the Mexico Pavilion after being fully restored.
The three audio-animatronic figures have been missing since the early part of the year because of a refurbishment. According to reports, the historic trio have been rebuilt from the ground up using the latest technology to replace components that were originally made by hand nearly 50 years ago.
Walt Disney Imagineering recently introduced a welcome surprise to Epcot’s World Showcase with the unveiling of a new audio-animatronic finale to the Mexico Pavilion’s Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros.
In place of the former animated movie scene that formed the attractions finale since its major refurbishment in 2007, three audio-animatronics figures now complete the ride with Panchito, José Carioca, and Donald Duck taking the stage.
The figures are actually recycled from the Magic Kingdom’s Mickey Mouse Revue, which closed in 1980, when it was moved to Tokyo Disneyland in 1983. The three animatronics performed as part of that show until 2009, and have since appeared at various special events, but will now have a permanent home again at Walt Disney World in Epcot.
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