Disney closes long-standing artisan shop in EPCOT’s Mexico Pavilion

The permanent closure of a long-standing artisan shop in EPCOT’s Mexico Pavilion marks a significant shift in the theme park’s operational direction. On August 31, 2026, Disney closed the Plaza de los Amigos shop, where master artisan Alba Hernandez Santiago had spent 24 years hand-painting Oaxacan alebrijes. The shop was shuttered following a brief liquidation sale, and the nearby Kidcot cultural craft station was subsequently dismantled.

Industry insiders suggest the vacated space may be repurposed to manage queue overflow for La Cava del Tequila, a popular bar within the pavilion. This closure is viewed as part of a broader, multi-decade trend at EPCOT, where the original mission of serving as an educational World’s Fair is being replaced by entertainment focused on alcohol sales, festival booths, and animated movie franchises.

This event follows a pattern of removing resident craftspeople from the World Showcase area over the last 15 years. Previous examples include the removal of Germany’s traditional egg painter in 2012 and Japan’s candy sculptor in 2013, signaling a move away from live cultural demonstrations toward more commercialized attractions.