Epcot World Showcase: Mexico Pavilion

Last summer we took a look at each of the 11 Pavilions around Epcot’s World Showcase, giving readers an overview of each and hardly scratching the surface of the international culture on exhibit. Come, stroll with us along the 1.2 mile concourse and discover some more of the magic.

April 1982 Mexico Pavilion construction, Disney Parks blog

Let’s enter World Showcase from Future World and begin our virtual global trek at Mexico. This Pavilion is one of 9 that opened with the Park in 1982. (Morocco opened in 1984, followed by Norway in 1988.)

The pyramid architecture was inspired by third century Meso-American design. Its structure merges three distinct cultures of ancient Mexico: Mayan, Aztec and Toltec. The building itself is a replica of the Aztec Temple of Quetzalcoatl at Teotihuacan, Mexico, altered slightly by Mayan influence and displaying Toltec art.

The Mexico Pavilion is one of 5 selected to test market the new International Ears hats. Germany, Italy, United Kingdom and Canada Pavilions are also included. The hats arrived on store shelves last month.

Today’s Takeaway:

The smoking volcano in the distance of the Plaza de los Amigos inside the Mexico Pavilion does not represent any particular volcanic mountain of Mexico. However, there are several active volcanoes in the country, including Colima, located to the south of Guadalajara and last erupted in 2009, and Popocatepetl, located to the southeast of Mexico City and last erupted in 2006.

Volcanoes can erupt in different ways. Some mildly bubble over and periodically send a plume of dust and ash into the surrounding atmosphere. Others explode violently, shooting molten rock, lava and billows of suffocating sulfur and other toxic fumes miles into the air and entombing everything in their fiery path.

Today, simulate two different volcanic eruptions at home.

You will need:
• 1 empty 20-oz water bottle
• 1 20-oz bottle of cola, unopened
• playdough (homemade or store bought)
• 2 pie tins or other shallow dishes
• ½ C vinegar
• 1 C water
• 2 Tbsp baking soda
• a few drops of red food color
• 1 package of Mentos candy
• small funnel

*PERFORM this experiment outside under adult supervision!*

Set water bottle in one aluminum pie tin and unopened bottle of cola in the other. Shape play dough around each bottle to form a volcano. Allow to set until firm or semi-firm.

For MILD eruption (as seen in January Magical Mouse Schoolhouse post on Aulani):
Use funnel to pour water and baking soda into water bottle. Add food color. Gently stir with long spoon or stirring stick. Pour in vinegar and watch volcano erupt!

For EXPLOSIVE eruption:
Remove lid from cola bottle, drop in several Mentos (the more you add, the higher the blast) and quickly back away to view explosion. NOTE: Mentos may need to be cut in half in order to fit bottle opening.

SCHOOL SUBJECT: Earth Science
SKILL LEVEL: Middle Grades

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