EPCOT Remy's Ratatouille Adventure coming to Epcot

[Wendy Pleakley]

The ticket levels were meant to be a way to pay for the ride you were going on. Rides like Space Mountain cost the company more to make, and so they charged more to ride. E-Tickets were the highest value ticket.

Rides that cost significantly more were also usually the most astounding rides, and thus, the most popular.

However, over time, with the selling of Tickets in a book, they were used as crowd control by throwing a bunch of the lower tiered tickets in the book to encourage people to ride the cheaper and less popular ride. Over time some rides moved up the tiers as a form of discouraging long lines, and some rides moved down in tiers to encourage people to go on the rides that were waning in popularity.

Once the tickets were removed, Imagineering continued to use the E-Ticket designation internally for projects that were very expensive and cutting edge and deeply immersive. We don't have their list of what they consider to be "Es". And even if we did, Imagineering is held in such low regard that people would immediately be dismissive of the list: "Are they crazy thinking that piece of garbage is an E-Ticket?!!"

For guests, an E-Ticket is any ride that is popular and has long lines regardless of its immersiveness or cost to build or how cutting edge the tech is.

IOW, the "E-Ticket" designation is now pretty useless without a trusted source to make the declaration of what is or isn't "E."

The theme park connoisseurs of this forum can't even agree on it.

I give this post a D.

 

[disneygeek90]

The ticket levels were meant to be a way to pay for the ride you were going on. Rides like Space Mountain cost the company more to make, and so they charged more to ride. E-Tickets were the highest value ticket.

Rides that cost significantly more were also usually the most astounding rides, and thus, the most popular.

However, over time, with the selling of Tickets in a book, they were used as crowd control by throwing a bunch of the lower tiered tickets in the book to encourage people to ride the cheaper and less popular ride. Over time some rides moved up the tiers as a form of discouraging long lines, and some rides moved down in tiers to encourage people to go on the rides that were waning in popularity.

Once the tickets were removed, Imagineering continued to use the E-Ticket designation internally for projects that were very expensive and cutting edge and deeply immersive. We don't have their list of what they consider to be "Es". And even if we did, Imagineering is held in such low regard that people would immediately be dismissive of the list: "Are they crazy thinking that piece of garbage is an E-Ticket?!!"

For guests, an E-Ticket is any ride that is popular and has long lines regardless of its immersiveness or cost to build or how cutting edge the tech is.

IOW, the "E-Ticket" designation is now pretty useless without a trusted source to make the declaration of what is or isn't "E."

The theme park connoisseurs of this forum can't even agree on it.

Are F tickets the ones for IAS now?

 

[UNCgolf]

Are F tickets the ones for IAS now?

They're $ tickets.

 

[orky8]

The discussion right now is more about Under the Sea, as someone made an interesting parallel between it and Rat: they're both fairly large-scale attractions with purportedly high budgets and scope that (for many) fell flat from expectations.

It's an interesting debate as to which is better: I'd personally choose Under the Sea but can understand why Rat wins for others.

Ultimately, though, neither attraction warrants long-term waits above an hour, a virtual queue only, or having to pay to ride. That's one thing that irritates me with the Epcot Ratatouille opening.

I prefer under the sea as well. I was very excited for Rat when I got to go in Paris -- my first trackless ride I've heard so much about. I thought it was just ok. And now, it's the third trackless ride to come to WDW and, by far in my humble opinion, the least exciting.

I do think it's a great fit and excellent addition for Epcot, which desperately needs more family friendly D ticket rides. There is nothing wrong with D-ticket rides, I wish Disney would add many more (without spending hundreds of millions of dollars on each), but the idea that this is the only new attraction we are getting to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Magic Kingdom is horrible.

 

[1HAPPYGHOSTHOST]

So you’re not riding it again then?

Only if it's a walk on. Not worth waiting in a queue for or spending money on a Lightning Lane single purchase for.

 

[1HAPPYGHOSTHOST]

He will only if they add a ramp.

That couldn't hurt it's chances

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

I prefer under the sea as well. I was very excited for Rat when I got to go in Paris -- my first trackless ride I've heard so much about. I thought it was just ok. And now, it's the third trackless ride to come to WDW and, by far in my humble opinion, the least exciting.

I do think it's a great fit and excellent addition for Epcot, which desperately needs more family friendly D ticket rides. There is nothing wrong with D-ticket rides, I wish Disney would add many more (without spending hundreds of millions of dollars on each), but the idea that this is the only new attraction we are getting to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Magic Kingdom is horrible.

Completely agreed. I'm honestly surprised the Epcot version has been generally well-received, as I see it as the kind of experience this group usually tears apart.

Perhaps it's the pent-up desire for anything new, or already knowing what to expect from WDS. In any case, it seems to be meeting expectations, but it certainly doesn't compare to what Disneyland received for its 50th (or even what WDW received for DL's 50th!).

Fingers crossed the nighttime entertainment wows us, and that Tron + Guardians can open before the celebration concludes.

 

[Sir_Cliff]

Completely agreed - I hadn't thought much about the entertainment (seeing as this year it became more of a non-factor), but that's so true as well. Mariachi Cobre adds so much to Mexico, and I hope Matsuriza (the Taiko drummers of Japan) return at some point. Serveur Amusant in France would also catch my eye unexpectedly.

I really hope management continues to understand how much the entertainment adds to WS as they start to bring the park back up to normal operations. It almost feels like a throwback to "old Disney" that they have continued to put the effort into finding and paying good, appropriate entertainment for each pavilion.

I like your attitude toward the rest of World Showcase - the base might be old, but it's still so good (it's not like ornate Moroccan architecture can get stale!), and there are aspects of it that are fresher. The food scene has also seen frequent updates, with many of the newer restaurants (from Via Napoli to Takumi-Tei) being well-received. I'd be shocked if we never receive a new pavilion, and hopefully post-COVID reopening there's more of an impetus for another country to establish a presence in WS (or an IP integration Disney can't resist building out, like Encanto).

Thinking again about the "old Disney" throwbacks, it did also occur to me that World Showcase is one of the few places where the shops sell different things mostly related to each pavilion/land and often not even Disney-branded. There are actually some interesting, unique shops still in this part of a WDW park! While I get why some may not find "shopping as entertainment" all that compelling, I do think it adds at least some interest to looking in the shops as you may still find something random you want to buy that you can't just pick up at World of Disney. Perhaps the benefit of neglect, but I do hope there is decent management at the park that understands why this kind of thing is what sets Epcot apart at a time it is struggling for an identity.

On that note and perhaps randomly, I think fondly sometimes of this video of Liberace giving a tour of his Palm Springs home (don't ask how I came across it by chance!) and mentioning a purchase from WDW that is a testament to the kinds of, ahh, unique things they used to sell in the parks:

Also agreed that AK is my favorite park! Unpopular opinion, clearly, but it's my favorite Disney park, edging out DisneySea and Disneyland, and that's more for the continent lands (Africa and Asia) than Pandora. When they tear out Primeval Whirl, somehow it'll be even better.

Glad to find another big AK booster! For me it's also far more about the continent lands than Pandora. If I'm honest, while I can see that Pandora is an impressive feat of Imagineering, it doesn't really do much for me as a land. Seems more a case of how Rhode and those working with him were able to do something great with a bad brief. Also agree with Primeval Whirl, which may have been my least favourite WDW attraction!

Wow, what a place to quarantine! Of course I imagine it wasn't so magical at the time, with the park and resort closed - will probably change her impression of the HKDL Resort forever.

Once she got out and the resort was open again she went back to HKDL despite not being a Disney fan as such, so I guess she wasn't too scarred! Apparently they did bus them through the HKDL carpark to the very grim quarantine centre, though!

That attitude about extended time abroad is fantastic, and it's something I really wish I did (never studied abroad for a semester, and haven't worked abroad yet). Hong Kong seemed like a great option for a while, but the volatility now is sad to see; I hope things stabilize soon.

Yeah, it is certainly sad to see what has been happening in HK. It has such a huge expat community that I imagine China wants to keep there generating wealth, but I guess this will probably result in the expat bubble becoming even more impenetrable.

Between you and me, neither of these attractions is that bad! It's easy to get into critic mode when we have certain expectations (for instance, I expect motion out of a trackless ride vehicle, which Ratatouille is fairly light on), but they're all pleasant enough. Frozen's blank walls look cheap, but the AAs are fluid and impressive, while Under the Sea wins me over with the joy of its signature scene, even if the figures are lame.

As for Ratatouille....it might be the score? Perfectly pleasant soundtrack for a few minutes, even if not much is happening with the vehicle.

Well, yes, neither is Superstar Limo or Primeval Whirl! I do see some positives in Under the Sea and I get that old school Fantasyland rides were always simple, but for me this one is off in terms of charm and scale. I'll be honest and admit that I don't really notice the Frozen walls when on the attraction, but I get why it is an issue others do notice.

For Ratatouille, the music certainly helps and I guess I just find it fun and kind of charming. It's certainly not perfect and the lack of motion is noticeable. But, what can I say, I liked it!

 

[pdude81]

Completely agreed. I'm honestly surprised the Epcot version has been generally well-received, as I see it as the kind of experience this group usually tears apart.

Perhaps it's the pent-up desire for anything new, or already knowing what to expect from WDS. In any case, it seems to be meeting expectations, but it certainly doesn't compare to what Disneyland received for its 50th (or even what WDW received for DL's 50th!).

Fingers crossed the nighttime entertainment wows us, and that Tron + Guardians can open before the celebration concludes.

It's a new ride at Epcot without destroying anything else. That's worth celebrating.

 

[ᗩLᘿᑕ ֊ᗩζᗩᗰ]

It's a new ride at Epcot without destroying anything else. That's worth celebrating.

It's the little things! lol

 

[pdude81]

It's the little things! lol

It's been a rough 20 years there

 

[UNCgolf]

Well, yes, neither is Superstar Limo or Primeval Whirl! I do see some positives in Under the Sea and I get that old school Fantasyland rides were always simple, but for me this one is off in terms of charm and scale. I'll be honest and admit that I don't really notice the Frozen walls when on the attraction, but I get why it is an issue others do notice.

For me, it's not solely the bare walls -- it's that the sets in general are sparse. There's a bit of simple scenery around the AAs and that's basically it for most scenes. I was completely blind going in (hadn't even seen photos) the first time I rode and I came off thinking it was one of the worst rides Disney had ever built.

While that judgment was probably a bit harsh, I think it's the most underwhelmed I've ever been on a ride and I didn't exactly have high expectations.

Under the Sea feels like it was trying to have the simplicity of an old school Fantasyland ride combined with a larger, more impressive scale in certain scenes, and it just falls flat. They probably would have been better off intentionally going for a smaller scale and actually keeping things simple; the other option was to go ahead and build an E-ticket full of impressive scenes and effects. Instead they did neither.

 

[J4546]

i know im in the minority, but I really like under the sea, and i try to go on everytime i visit CA. pre covid in the less crowded parts of the year it was basically a walk on, sometimes a 10 minute wait. totally worth a 10 minute wait. I will say I dont know how they spent 150 million on it either, that number seems crazy to me

 

[UNCgolf]

i know im in the minority, but I really like under the sea, and i try to go on everytime i visit CA. pre covid in the less crowded parts of the year it was basically a walk on, sometimes a 10 minute wait. totally worth a 10 minute wait. I will say I dont know how they spent 150 million on it either, that number seems crazy to me

It's not a bad ride as a walk-on, but I think that's part of the problem. Between the money they spent on it and the overall scale (not to mention the elaborate queue) they were clearly hoping for a huge hit.

I think if people actually had to wait an hour or longer to ride it, it would be widely hated (kind of the opposite of Na'vi River Journey in that regard).

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

It's a new ride at Epcot without destroying anything else. That's worth celebrating.

While I don't think Ratatouille will move the needle for me, I can't argue this point haha.

In a way, it's actually nice to have well-liked attractions that you don't care for; one example that immediately comes to mind is TSMM. I'm still shocked the ride was so popular it warranted a capacity expansion, but at least that means fewer guests in line for the other attractions I like.

I think if people actually had to wait an hour or longer to ride it, it would be widely hated (kind of the opposite of Na'vi River Journey in that regard).

For sure, Na'vi River Journey belongs in this same group, although at least it was clearly a C-ticket from the start. I find it similarly enjoyable to these others (and would also choose it over Rat) but would skip all of them if the wait is longer than 15 minutes. Maybe 20 for Ratatouille because it's new, and maybe 25 for Frozen because the AAs are good.

 

[Sir_Cliff]

For me, it's not solely the bare walls -- it's that the sets in general are sparse. There's a bit of simple scenery around the AAs and that's basically it for most scenes. I was completely blind going in (hadn't even seen photos) the first time I rode and I came off thinking it was one of the worst rides Disney had ever built.

While that judgment was probably a bit harsh, I think it's the most underwhelmed I've ever been on a ride and I didn't exactly have high expectations.

Completely fair, though I didn't find the sets inappropriately sparse if I'm honest. I think I'm alone on this, but I actually thought the pacing was especially good on FEA. There are a few really nice little moments along the way that speak to the pacing and in which the music plays a big role, like coming out at the top of the lift hill to the music of Do You Want to Build a Snowman and seeing the little Olaf AA skating around or even the switch after the Let it Go scene around Marshmallow and the little baby snow things. The lighting is good at creating the right atmosphere, the ride system adds to this atmosphere, and the AAs are all top notch. Finally, I find it strikes a nice balance between featuring the music and familiar settings from the film but avoiding just recounting the story book report style.

For me, it's one of the few signs Disney still knows how to design a good dark ride. I know that's a minority opinion, though!

Under the Sea feels like it was trying to have the simplicity of an old school Fantasyland ride combined with a larger, more impressive scale in certain scenes, and it just falls flat. They probably would have been better off intentionally going for a smaller scale and actually keeping things simple; the other option was to actually build an E-ticket full of impressive scenes and effects. Instead they did neither.

Completely agree here. I can imagine an alternate version on a smaller scale that relied more on blacklight along the lines of Snow White, Alice, or Pinocchio at Disneyland with, perhaps, a few advanced animatronics in the mix that would have hit the spot. Or, as you say, actually make it an impressive E-ticket. The scale is often too big for me and the figures too shiny and plasticy.

 

[orky8]

It's a new ride at Epcot without destroying anything else. That's worth celebrating.

Yes. It’s a great addition. But just a good ride. And that’s ok. Not every ride needs to or should be great.

That this is the hot new ride for the 50th (of another park) is sad . And the cost for this ride, a clone, just boggles my mind.

 

[UNCgolf]

For sure, Na'vi River Journey belongs in this same group, although at least it was clearly a C-ticket from the start. I find it similarly enjoyable to these others (and would also choose it over Rat) but would skip all of them if the wait is longer than 15 minutes. Maybe 20 for Ratatouille because it's new, and maybe 25 for Frozen because the AAs are good.

I think NRJ is a class above any of the others, and would be willing to wait 15+ minutes longer for it than any the rest. That's because the things it does really well are among the things I enjoy the most, so I understand why other people feel differently.

None of them are worth long waits, though.

I also despise TSMM and wouldn't wait 10 minutes for it.

 

[UNCgolf]

For me, it's one of the few signs Disney still knows how to design a good dark ride. I know that's a minority opinion, though

This is the way I feel about NRJ! And also clearly a minority opinion.

EDIT: Although good maybe isn't the right word. I enjoy it, but I suppose it's more that it shows they still know how to build something with the proper foundation to be a good dark ride.

 

[doctornick]

It's a new ride at Epcot without destroying anything else. That's worth celebrating.

And it's being added to an area of the park devoid of rides which really needs it. And is the type of ride that Epcot could really needs being family friendly and good capacity. I expect once the newness dies down, it will be a good example of a ride that is popular (most people will want to ride it) but not too popular (people won't wait in a massive line for it or base the value of their Epcot day on whether they get to experience it).

Regardless of the exact level of "value" of the ride itself (which is all subjective), it's a great addition to Epcot. They could use a couple of similar additions to other pavilions in WS (I've said before doing some stuff like the DL Pinocchio ride in Italy or the Alice ride in UK would really help to spread out the offerings in Epcot and round it out for most guests).