Shout Out to "El Rio del Tiempo"

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I like everything about this ride. The simplicity…the travel log…the saludos amigos usage (on the update)…the integration with the pavilion and restaurant (since we have nothing like a blue bayou in Florida…except coral reef)

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Germany does too a bit, with its own romantic "night time" dining experience.

If we consider The Good Turn/Garden Grill as another variation of the theme, than its crazy how EPCOT has three "Blue Bayou" type restaurants. Further Proof of how wonderful the place was/is.

I really don’t see the blue bayou per se…

But I like all three of those spots.

Not a huge fan of bayou in Anaheim…but love it in Paris

 

[ChrisFL]

I think El Rio Del Tiempo was great and especially good in context of when it opened.

What I mean is that, when it first opened, there wasn't easy ways to get a "travelogue" guide of what Mexico was like. Cable TV Travel shows, VCR's and video stores, etc. weren't really a thing when this came out.

So yes, while later on it just seemed like a fun boat ride going through scenes of what you would see on a "travel show", but also had some good native mexican mythology stuff in the beginning.

 

[WondersOfLife]

I find it usually has a line. Not a large one, but long enough consistently to keep the boats mostly filled.

And thats without a lightning lane or DAS to make it lengthy.

 

[ChrisFL]

I find it usually has a line. Not a large one, but long enough consistently to keep the boats mostly filled.

and thats why I believe we haven't seen the Coco overlay for it, because the popularity would probably go up substantially and wouldn't have a queue to handle that many guests (unless they went to permanent Virtual Queue *shudder*)

 

[Animaniac93-98]

Didn't know this book existed until recently, and I was pleasantly surprised to see it included some writing about the development of the Mexico pavilion at EPCOT, along with concept art and production photos. A very nice book that I will enjoy reading over the holidays.

@marni1971 also didn't know Vic Perrin's first take of the SSE narration was the one they ended up using, even after doing others!

 

[HMF]

My take on El Rio is that it's beginning was excellent and the quality was pretty top notch and the stuff about Mexico's indigenous cultures was fascinating then it turned into It's a Small World for one scene and after that was basically a ride through 1980s travel video for Mexico. It was fine for what it was but the beginning sort of implied that it would be something on the level of DL's POTC and it certainly wasn't that. Gran Fiesta Tour on the other hand really isn't that great or even authentic enough to compare. The fact that Panchito is the only one of the characters who is Mexican with Donald being American, obviously and Jose hailing from Brazil as i have pointed out several times and the underhanded implication that Mexico and Brazil are interchangeable is probably culturally offensive to say the least. The first set of screens in the ride don't really blend in with the sets around them which still resemble aspects of the indigenous cultures while what appears on the screens are clearly supposed to be modern day Mexico. The IASW-like scene feels like even more of a bizarre interlude than before and the rest is pretty self-explanatory. I do like the AAs at the end for their historical value but as an attraction I am not that fond of Gran Fiesta. I do believe the Coco ride coming to DCA should be put here instead since it feels far more culturally authentic to Mexico than Three Cabs does and I know they would have to re-design the pavilion to accommodate larger crowds but they had no problem doing that to Norway for Frozen and I would argue that from a cultural standpoint Frozen belongs in Norway much less than Coco belongs in Mexico.

 

[aladdin2007]

View attachment 899457

Didn't know this book existed until recently, and I was pleasantly surprised to see it included some writing about the development of the Mexico pavilion at EPCOT, along with concept art and production photos. A very nice book that I will enjoy reading over the holidays.

@marni1971 also didn't know Vic Perrin's first take of the SSE narration was the one they ended up using, even after doing others!

Its actually a new book release as of a couple months ago, will def order one now.

 

[jah4955]

The fact that Panchito is the only one of the characters who is Mexican with Donald being American, obviously and Jose hailing from Brazil as i have pointed out several times and the underhanded implication that Mexico and Brazil are interchangeable is probably culturally offensive to say the least.

It'd be boring if everyone always agreed 100%, but I don't think this was ever intentional on Disney's part.

Curious...have you seen the 1944/1945 film?

First of all, most who originally viewed 3C in theaters were previously introduced to Jose and already knew that he is Brazilian from 1942's Saludos Amigos (& for those who didn't know those tidbits, the middle third of Three Caballeros 1944 film was all about Jose telling Donald about Brazil).

I always realized since my first ride of the revamp in 2007, that Disney was trying to re-create the format of final third of the film (all about Mexico) but for the Mexico of 2007 (vs. 1944). The problem was/is that even by 2007 I don't think the majority of riders even heard of the 3C. Now its exasperated by the passage of nearly another 20 years (and there are probably very few still left, if any, who even remember seeing the 1944 film in 1944/5). And it never had a full theatrical re-release. Only (partial) TV/video/Disney Channel/Disney+

I do like the AAs at the end for their historical value but as an attraction

(not counting the fact they're over 55 years old) I think they also suffer the same problem the TBA AAs have...too close to water.

As much as I'm "stuck on Donald Duck," I agree 100% Coco is a "perfect" fit for the Mexico Pavilion...provided they solve the problem of complex AAs near water.

 

[HMF]

It'd be boring if everyone always agreed 100%, but I don't think this was ever intentional on Disney's part.

Curious...have you seen the 1944/1945 film?

First of all, most who originally viewed 3C in theaters were previously introduced to Jose and already knew that he is Brazilian from 1942's Saludos Amigos (& for those who didn't know those tidbits, the middle third of Three Caballeros 1944 film was all about Jose telling Donald about Brazil).

I have, though admittedly only once or twice.

 

[HMF]

As much as I'm "stuck on Donald Duck," I agree 100% Coco is a "perfect" fit for the Mexico Pavilion...provided they solve the problem of complex AAs near water.

I am not sure if it is the complexity that is the problem. I believe it's because most of the newer AAs are all electric powered rather than Hydraulic powered and electricity and water famously don't mix.

 

[larryz]

Gran Fiesta Tour on the other hand really isn't that great or even authentic enough to compare.

We all know that GFT does NOT mean "Gran Fiesta Tour" to Bob and the Anaheim crowd...

 

[larryz]

...I always realized since my first ride of the revamp in 2007, that Disney was trying to re-create the format of final third of the film (all about Mexico) but for the Mexico of 2007 (vs. 1944). The problem was/is that even by 2007 I don't think the majority of riders even heard of the 3C. Now its exasperated by the passage of nearly another 20 years (and there are probably very few still left, if any, who even remember seeing the 1944 film in 1944/5). And it never had a full theatrical re-release. Only (partial) TV/video/Disney Channel/Disney+
...
As much as I'm "stuck on Donald Duck," I agree 100% Coco is a "perfect" fit for the Mexico Pavilion...provided they solve the problem of complex AAs near water.

I love how the queue has always had sight lines to the load platform -- it makes it feel like the line goes a bit quicker (to me, anyway).

 

[jah4955]

I love how the queue has always had sight lines to the load platform -- it makes it feel like the line goes a bit quicker (to me, anyway).

Haven't waited for more than 5 minutes in that particular queue since the 80's

 

[TalkToEthan]

investment vs output ratio

Yes, Rio Del Tiempo shines bright here—-outstanding use of limited money.

 

[THEMEPARKPIONEER]

I prefer El Rio but in my opinion even with the AI it’s still a great ride and the song is actually very similar just sped up and new lyrics and vocals.