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AA Remy in France

jmani56

jmani56

Member
I agree. Last time I was in WDW, there was literally NO sign of anything Ratatouille-related, so hopefully this is permanent.
 
CBOMB

CBOMB

Active Member
DisneyDellsDude said:
The latest "living character" is now in France at Epcot.
http://disneyandmore.blogspot.com/2009/03/remy-audio-animatronic-at-epcots-chefs.html

Looks neat, but my question is why do these "living characters" just go on tour and then vanish?

I think Le Chefs de France would be a perfect permanent location for Remy. It's subtle - unlike a walk around character. It keeps with the theme of both the film and the pavillion.
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I agree with you, and I had the same question for Lee MacDonald a consultant to Disney, and editor of Tales from the Laughing Place Magazine. Here are some quotes from that discussion,

CBOMB- "Is Lucky still pulling down his gig in California? How about the MML? He's been around for a good while now.".

Lee- "Lucky is used fairly infrequently - I think at most there were 3 tour groups per week running through WDI (and I know there have been weeks that AbD have cancelled the program due to lack of interest). He is also used for demonstration purposes but nothing else. He just isn't designed for the rigors of theme park life.

Muppet Mobile Lab is a better vehicle for that technology and another step on. However there are still the same concerns about whether the device can truly stand up to a 12 hour operating day. The answer is still a firm no.

The LCP AAs continue to evolve and I'm sure WDI R&D will eventually crack that nut."

CBOMB- " Is this little character so expensive they couldnt have sprung for another one to test at a French restaurant at WDW?"

Lee- "Again it is trying to see how the parks can use the LCP toys inside the park without them being tied to a show building. This is just another way to infuse the characters into the park that adds meaning to a guest's day. It also demonstrates that you can play with the scale - a full-size walk around Remy is wrong IMHO. Remy is the proverbial little guy and needs to stay that way."


So it would seem Remy could possibly fade into the back ground like the other Living Characters seem to have done. I am a little bit more hopeful he may stay around since there seems to be 2 of him floating around. The one here, and the one in Paris. This is strictly speculation on my part as Lee Mac never indicated any future plans for Remy or any of the other Living Character AAs. I quiz Lee MacDonal about this program every chance I get.
 
MousDad

MousDad

New Member
LeeMac ever so artfully dodged that last (important) question of CBOMB's. You can definitely tell he works for the Mouse.
 
SoccerMickey

SoccerMickey

Active Member
I'm torn because I really want to see the rat in person but the food is so bland at Chefs De France that I'd hate to go to the restaurant and not see it.
 
Buried20KLeague

Buried20KLeague

Well-Known Member
I've got to think this one will stick around for a while... As someone else stated, this is the first time they've made 2 of one of these Living Characters. As of 4 days ago, the one in Paris was by my tableside.

Of course, that could be because the cost to build him is a lot lower than the other Living Characters, too... Doesn't speak, doesn't have to be "self-mobile"... Just has a handful of movements.

Come to think of it, that makes a whole lot more sense than them building a second one to keep around permanently. :brick::mad:
 
SoccerMickey

SoccerMickey

Active Member
Buried20KLeague said:
I've got to think this one will stick around for a while... As someone else stated, this is the first time they've made 2 of one of these Living Characters. As of 4 days ago, the one in Paris was by my tableside.

Of course, that could be because the cost to build him is a lot lower than the other Living Characters, too... Doesn't speak, doesn't have to be "self-mobile"... Just has a handful of movements.

Come to think of it, that makes a whole lot more sense than them building a second one to keep around permanently. :brick::mad:
Click to expand...

Do we know for a fact that its just temporary because the only place I've seen that was Jimhillmedia.com...and we all know how reliable that site is.
 
MousDad

MousDad

New Member
Buried20KLeague said:
I've got to think this one will stick around for a while... As someone else stated, this is the first time they've made 2 of one of these Living Characters. As of 4 days ago, the one in Paris was by my tableside.
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Help me out here. I looked and haven't been able to find a reference to 2 of these anywhere. So are you saying there are 2 of these Remy animatronics - one in Paris and one in Orlando? I was under the impression that the one in Paris has now been moved to Orlando.
 
Buried20KLeague

Buried20KLeague

Well-Known Member
MousDad said:
Help me out here. I looked and haven't been able to find a reference to 2 of these anywhere. So are you saying there are 2 of these Remy animatronics - one in Paris and one in Orlando? I was under the impression that the one in Paris has now been moved to Orlando.
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Yep. He's at the Rendez-vous des Stars (sp?) at the Walt Disney Studios at Paris. Just got back from my trip on Sunday night.

So if there's currently one being seen in Orlando, that makes a pair.

It's gotta be the cheapest "living character" by far to build and operate. Makes sense from a money perspective.
 
MousDad

MousDad

New Member
Buried20KLeague said:
Yep. He's at the Rendez-vous des Stars (sp?) at the Walt Disney Studios at Paris. Just got back from my trip on Sunday night.

So if there's currently one being seen in Orlando, that makes a pair.

It's gotta be the cheapest "living character" by far to build and operate. Makes sense from a money perspective.
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Very good. I take back my earlier comments about making more than one.

If there's multiples, then I don't see any reason why it has to be temporary though.
 
Buried20KLeague

Buried20KLeague

Well-Known Member
MousDad said:
Very good. I take back my earlier comments about making more than one.

If there's multiples, then I don't see any reason why it has to be temporary though.
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Who knows. They might be like cars... When they're brand new, they don't need much maintenance. But the older they get, the worse for wear they become.

Maybe Disney just wants to drive the new car, and at the first sign of wear, go buy a new one. :shrug:
 
CBOMB

CBOMB

Active Member
MousDad said:
Very good. I take back my earlier comments about making more than one.

If there's multiples, then I don't see any reason why it has to be temporary though.
Click to expand...
After talking to Lee MacDonald several times on the subject I'm convinced the technology just isn't reliable enough yet. He was talking about what a nightmare the Imagineers had with Wall-E. There just doesn't seem to be a willingness to put LCs out in the parks until they become reliable, and have a defined role.
 
fireworkz

fireworkz

Active Member
A possible tip for those who want to see Remi - we saw it at dinner on March 5th, but he was only out for about a hour between 5:00pm and 6:00. We arrived for dinner at 5:10 and noticed around 6 he disappeared. We asked our waitress a little later if Remi could come over before we left she told us they don't bring him out while the restaurant is in the middle of a busy dinner period. Makes sense - the small space between most of the tables wouldn't allow for busy waiters, clients, plus Remi going around on a fairly large cart. He would really be in the way during peak times. No idea if he makes a second appearance later in the evening when things settle down a little.
 

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