EPCOT Remy's Ratatouille Adventure coming to Epcot

[EeyoreFan#24]

“Wall People” : Guests who have lost the desire to remain standing and due to lack of available seating find any available vertical surface, usually a wall or low rise fence/curb (and in extreme cases merchandise displays) to use as a back support as they sit on the ground with legs extended as far out into walkways as possible.

They try the purple parade wands, but unfortunately, they startle easily, but the’ll soon be back, and in greater numbers too.

 

[aladdin2007]

Just got back.

It’s a very good ride, but more so a very important addition to Epcot. This park needed a family friendly modern ride addition. It fills out a section of the park with a real red blooded breathing attraction. More like this are needed. Badly. The rest of the park is an aging mess.

Too bad few are allowed to ride it, the whole lottery system is ridiculous. We got on the app at 1:05 return time was not till near 9 tonight, and we werent staying that late, so its just crazy cant be bothered with such things. They need to figure out a better system or just allow standby, you should have the freedom to stand in line if one chooses. Its all getting way too complicated.

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

While I can't say Rat is a favorite of mine, I do agree that it's a solid and fitting addition to Epcot. It certainly lands better when the ride is playing a supporting role vs. the headliner status it gets by default in Paris.

Another nice byproduct of Rat’s positive reception is that it changes the discussion around IP. You see, most of us don’t hate IP because it’s IP; we hate when the integration is weak or unsatisfying.

Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure? Eh, it works.

BatB replacing Impressions for most of the day? Kill it now.

Coco in Mexico? Luca in Italy? Encanto in Colombia (if culturally authentic and well-received)? These could all absolutely work.

Too bad few are allowed to ride it, the whole lottery system is ridiculous. We got on the app at 1:05 return time was not till near 9 tonight, and we werent staying that late, so its just crazy cant be bothered with such things. They need to figure out a better system or just allow standby, you should have the freedom to stand in line if one chooses. Its all getting way too complicated.

This. Whether good, very good, great, or just okay, Rat absolutely doesn’t warrant this exclusivity. (Reminder that starting tomorrow, you’ll be able to work around the 6-8 hour VQ wait by paying up.)

The main problem is that Epcot’s attraction roster is beyond stale, causing excessive waits for anything new. Two new rides and some glowing lights won’t fix that.

 

[Epcot82Guy]

While I can't say Rat is a favorite of mine, I do agree that it's a solid and fitting addition to Epcot. It certainly lands better when the ride is playing a supporting role vs. the headliner status it gets by default in Paris.

Another nice byproduct of Rat’s positive reception is that it changes the discussion around IP. You see, most of us don’t hate IP because it’s IP; we hate when the integration is weak or unsatisfying.

Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure? Eh, it works.

BatB replacing Impressions for most of the day? Kill it now.

Coco in Mexico? Luca in Italy? Encanto in Colombia (if culturally authentic and well-received)? These could all absolutely work.

I agree with this entirely. Rat as filler is fine. Really, my main two issues are:

1. They directly cloned it vs. adjusting the story slightly to fit Epcot. (i.e. IMHO you should enter into the artist's loft illustrating Remy's cookbook - and that takes you into the ride queue as is - and the story is Remy is going to teach you how to make his favorite dish vs. making it for you.)

2. The facades needed a little work, especially the flats. A little less cartoon and more an extension of the original style for the pavilion. And, get rid of the visible supports and terrible sight lines from the Skyliner.

Again, these felt like cheap outs/budget cuts vs. true issues. And I'd say the issue with so much right now is in execution and story/fit - vs. the idea itself.

 

[UNCgolf]

I agree with this entirely. Rat as filler is fine. Really, my main two issues are:

1. They directly cloned it vs. adjusting the story slightly to fit Epcot. (i.e. IMHO you should enter into the artist's loft illustrating Remy's cookbook - and that takes you into the ride queue as is - and the story is Remy is going to teach you how to make his favorite dish vs. making it for you.)

2. The facades needed a little work, especially the flats. A little less cartoon and more an extension of the original style for the pavilion. And, get rid of the visible supports and terrible sight lines from the Skyliner.

Again, these felt like cheap outs/budget cuts vs. true issues. And I'd say the issue with so much right now is in execution and story/fit - vs. the idea itself.

This applies to that entire expansion in various ways. The idea of building a creperie is befitting and a good addition, but the execution of what they actually built is terrible.

 

[Notes from Neverland]

Remy is a fun ride! We both really enjoyed it and loved that it felt far more immersive than Runaway Railway. Some of the sets are great. It was also significantly easier to get a boarding pass compared to the old days of Rise of the Resistance.

 

[Epcot82Guy]

This applies to that entire expansion in various ways. The idea of building a creperie is befitting and a good addition, but the execution of what they actually built is terrible.

Yes. I would actually take it well beyond the France expansion. So much of what is being done seems failure in execution vs. concept. From FEA to the Poly entry to Enchantment to Enchanted Rose to Riviera to the Contemporary room redo, this is my biggest gripe. And made worse by much stronger successes (IMHO) they have had with Beacons of Magic, Steakhouse 71/Contemporary Lobby and Gran Destino. At least one group internally "get it".

 

[UNCgolf]

Yes. I would actually take it well beyond the France expansion. So much of what is being done seems failure in execution vs. concept. From FEA to the Poly entry to Enchantment to Enchanted Rose to Riviera to the Contemporary room redo, this is my biggest gripe. And made worse by much stronger successes (IMHO) they have had with Beacons of Magic, Steakhouse 71/Contemporary Lobby and Gran Destino. At least one group internally "get it".

I'd quibble with a few of your choices -- the Enchanted Rose and the Incredibles rooms at the Contemporary were bad concepts that were also executed poorly IMO -- but I agree with the overall point. The Poly entrance is absolutely another example of fine idea paired with awful execution.

 

[Epcot82Guy]

I'd quibble with a few of your choices -- the Enchanted Rose and the Incredibles rooms at the Contemporary were bad concepts that were also executed poorly IMO -- but I agree with the overall point. The Poly entrance is absolutely another example of fine idea paired with awful execution.

I actually think we may agree more than you think from our past posts. (Meaning I think a monorail-focused redo of the rooms with Incredibles added very subtly in pop art, like the bathroom Jack Jack art and maybe pillows, and the Enchanted Rose should have been a luxurious, dark wood lounge themed to the rose gardens - and featuring subtle nods to the various roses of Disney). I'm each case, the IP should be the subtle nod and second layer - not overt focus for no reason.

 

[lazyboy97o]

I actually think we may agree more than you think from our past posts. (Meaning I think a monorail-focused redo of the rooms with Incredibles added very subtly in pop art, like the bathroom Jack Jack art and maybe pillows, and the Enchanted Rose should have been a luxurious, dark wood lounge themed to the rose gardens - and featuring subtle nods to the various roses of Disney). I'm each case, the IP should be the subtle nod and second layer - not overt focus for no reason.

IP and subtlety is a contradiction. There’s no point if it isn’t noticed and if truly subtly would often just be an unnecessary anachronism.

 

[James Alucobond]

IP and subtlety is a contradiction. There’s no point if it isn’t noticed and if truly subtly would often just be an unnecessary anachronism.

I mean, hidden Mickeys are subtle IP. Sometimes the point is the hidden anachronism or the little wink to where you are.

 

[lazyboy97o]

I mean, hidden Mickeys are subtle IP. Sometimes the point is the hidden anachronism or the little wink to where you are.

Hidden Mickey’s have gone from being something actually hidden to deliberate and distracting motifs forced into designs.

 

[James Alucobond]

I can appreciate that you prefer the classic implementation of them better than what’s going on now, but the point still stands.

 

[UNCgolf]

I can appreciate that you prefer the classic implementation of them better than what’s going on now, but the point still stands.

I think it's a fundamentally different thing. Hidden Mickeys are IP, but the space they're in isn't themed around hidden Mickeys.

If the goal is to use an IP as a draw for a space, then being subtle with it defeats the point. If you're going to be subtle, then the IP is just a little hidden treat and not main point of the theme.

 

[Epcot82Guy]

IP and subtlety is a contradiction. There’s no point if it isn’t noticed and if truly subtly would often just be an unnecessary anachronism.

I disagree entirely. The entire concept of the subtle or hidden mickey goes against that idea. I agree in Chapek's world your statement is true. But, it goes to the concept of taste and quality. It's quite literally the difference between Art of Disney and Art of Animation. And you can see that difference in many of the current projects.

Steakhouse 71, the renovated Poly DVC (not hotel side) rooms, Gran Destino lobby and even the renovated AKL Rooms all use subtlety. They appropriately match their place and setting. They convey the quality of the resort/restaurant. They then use touches of characters to drive the greater setting of being at Walt Disney World. In fact, I would argue Yacht Club took it too far, and having the admiral Mickey lamp or something like that would have been a welcome subtle IP touch. It's a matter of taste and quality, I guess - driven by the price point.

 

[Epcot82Guy]

I think it's a fundamentally different thing. Hidden Mickeys are IP, but the space they're in isn't themed around hidden Mickeys.

If the goal is to use an IP as a draw for a space, then being subtle with it defeats the point. If you're going to be subtle, then the IP is just a little hidden treat and not main point of the theme.

That identifies the issue for me. If the IP is going to be the draw, then that makes sense. Hence the Value Resorts. It's this weird mix of the two where they are trying to be luxury resort and IP character draw at the same time. It just doesn't work for me or make thematic sense. There's a reason Chef Mickey's isn't Signature but California Grill is.

 

[lazyboy97o]

I disagree entirely. The entire concept of the subtle or hidden mickey goes against that idea. I agree in Chapek's world your statement is true. But, it goes to the concept of taste and quality. It's quite literally the difference between Art of Disney and Art of Animation. And you can see that difference in many of the current projects.

Steakhouse 71, the renovated Poly DVC (not hotel side) rooms, Gran Destino lobby and even the renovated AKL Rooms all use subtlety. They appropriately match their place and setting. They convey the quality of the resort/restaurant. They then use touches of characters to drive the greater setting of being at Walt Disney World. In fact, I would argue Yacht Club took it too far, and having the admiral Mickey lamp or something like that would have been a welcome subtle IP touch. It's a matter of taste and quality, I guess - driven by the price point.

But that’s just it, the narrative isn’t supposed to be self referential that you are at “Disney”.

And I am shocked that the lobby that just abruptly turns into hard angles at Gran Destino is repeatedly being called out as good design.

 

[Epcot82Guy]

I would argue the narrative is the exact problem! Because now there isn't one. There are several and they clash. Leave aside the IP or not. They are all stories. Poly had a story. It was a location. And it was a theme. It is not the Moana hotel. It is not set in Moana's village. If Moana is the theme (i.e. the story), then it fails greatly. The resort should be themed to it. So, if it's not the theme, then it should fit into the theme. I would argue that is a retro tiki/luxury(ish) hotel set in the south seas. So where do you use Moana? In the the decor. The art work on the DVC side does that well. It's Disney's version of that story, so they use their characters to supplement the story. The characters are not the focus, and they fit. The hotel side fails on that. And, it also fails as the Moana hotel since it didn't push the idea far enough if that's the idea.

Place setting isn't story. And clashing stories are a problem. It would be like opening a modern Seattle/Portland coffee house in Wilderness Lodge because it's set in the Pacific Northwest. Or, to be more Disney, having buzz light year, Wall-E and Mickey in a jedi costume meet and greet in Galaxy's Edge. While some would enjoy that, it creates those clashing stories. That's the problem.

And yes, I know this isn't the first time going back to Splash even - but it doesn't make it better. These clashes takes you out of the story. It's ironic because they are absolutely draconian about this within a single IP land. Then throw it out the window when it's an existing land with a story.

As for Destino, I actually agree on the hotel design itself. There are some beautiful parts and some issues. I meant Destino was a great success on utilizing IP.

 

[dreday3]

Went on Remy tonight, adorable ride. Very fun.

Staying at Gran Destino. GORGEOUS. And....they upgraded us to a deluxe suite for the entire 9 nights!!!!!!

 

[DisneyCane]

How long is the 7AM VQ staying open since ILL has been added and started taking up capacity?