Possible Attraction in France pavilion (Epcot) Update - new Attraction Greenlit

[21stamps]

@21stamps I really value your contributions as a member of this site. I don't want to be difficult. I just think we see this one differently. I feel we probably agree on more things than we disagree.
Be safe and enjoy the parks!

I'll agree to disagree. I just thought it would be an interesting discussion after I read a few comments on it.
Now back to a Rat and Beauty and the Beast. Which by the way my vote would be for Ratatouille.

 

[PorterRedkey]

Right. And the movie does not say if it is in the Middle East or in Morocco. It just uses Arabic names.. which could be in either, right?. But it's based on a story where Aladdin and Jasmine do travel to Morocco. So in my opinion, that assumption would be the more logical one.

I just thought the subject was interesting and again, curious to hear the thought process behind the Middle East only reasoning.

It's called Arabian Nights so I think it mostly takes place on the Arabian peninsula. The sorcerer was from Maghreb -

This does include Morocco, but it really refers to all of northern Africa. I am sorry I just don't buy the connection to the Disney movie.
Even if the movie is set in Morocco, the connection is so loose. Why force that franchise into a WS pavilion?

 

[PorterRedkey]

I'll agree to disagree. I just thought it would be an interesting discussion after I read a few comments on it.
Now back to a Rat and Beauty and the Beast. Which by the way my vote would be for Ratatouille.

I do think it would be a better fit, but BatB is planned to be longer and an upgrade from Rat. I am torn. I wish we could get BatB in the Mk and Rat at Epcot.

 

[21stamps]

It's called Arabian Nights so I think it mostly takes place on the Arabian peninsula. The sorcerer was from Maghreb -

This does include Morocco, but it really refers to all of northern Africa. I am sorry I just don't buy the connection to the Disney movie.
Even if the movie is set in Morocco, the connection is so loose. Why force that franchise into a WS pavilion?

Because the only connection to an actual Arab speaking country in the story would be Morocco. So it wouldn't be a far stretch, and much more likely than the Middle East. That's my take on it.

I do think it would be a better fit, but BatB is planned to be longer and an upgrade from Rat. I am torn. I wish we could get BatB in the Mk and Rat at Epcot.

I'd be good with that!

 

[PorterRedkey]

I have never hated the Arabian Nights so much as I do right now.

 

[PorterRedkey]

I heard France may get a ride. It a tower drop ride themed to Tarzan climbing the Eiffel tower. You know Tarzan took place in the jungles of France, right?

 

[PorterRedkey]

I feel the same way. Frozestrom was a stretch at best but I really don't want to go down that road again and rehash that argument. I think Rat is OK for France since it's actually set in Paris (for sure, not just a fictional somewhere that could maybe be in France) and the movie is named after a French food and has reference to French culture. I also think Mulan could work for China. Aladdin would be a stretch IMHO if the ride was a book report style ride re-telling the movie plot. If they went 3 Caballeros style and had Aladdin and Jasmine take us on a tour of all things Moroccan that might work a little better for me. I just prefer if they are going to add an IP to WS that it's used to highlight the culture and people of the country.

A Mulan dark ride telling the history of China would be a dream come true in this IP-first new world. I hate it, but I am ready to accept IP's in Epcot ONLY if they help tell the story of the country that they are pushed into- unlike Frostrom.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Ok let me try to understand...

Ratatouille clone from WDSP being placed on the expansion pad between Morocco and France... But your comment about the layout has me intrigued. Will guests access it from the WS promenade or somehow from within France pavilion?

Aerial pic for general discussion reference:
View attachment 184347

The entrance could be immediately to the left of Chefs of France making it look like the entrance to just another one of France's restaurants and that the French Pavilion is just slightly wider.

 

[Mike S]

Sure sure, I just mean if some are making the case that BatB is worlds better than Rat, still don't think it would be worth the disruption to World Showcase.

Too late to stop any kind of disruption, especially with current management. The terrible deed has already been done. Rat and B&tB are equal in a disruptive sense in my eyes. World Showcase is not nor was ever meant to be IPs around the world. I'm just sucking it up and hoping for the better ride. There's really no more hope for Epcot no matter how people try to spin Ratatouille as an amazing fit. Neither of these options are.

I do think it would be a better fit, but BatB is planned to be longer and an upgrade from Rat. I am torn. I wish we could get BatB in the Mk and Rat at DHS.

This typo happens so frequently it's just bizzare...

A Mulan dark ride telling the history of China would be a dream come true in this IP-first new world. I hate it, but I am ready to accept IP's in Epcot ONLY if they help tell the story of the country that they are pushed into- unlike Frostrom.

You know that won't happen. It's ok, this is just the bargaining stage. Only one step away from acceptance.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

I think at this point, that is the best we can hope for. Chappie will cram the IPs down our throat. I just hope they don't forget that WS is about the countries, not the IPs. If the IP can help tell the countries story, I will be more inclined to accept it. If not it will seem forced.

A Mulan dark ride telling the history of China would be a dream come true in this IP-first new world. I hate it, but I am ready to accept IP's in Epcot ONLY if they help tell the story of the country that they are pushed into- unlike Frostrom.

I am so not interested in the stories of Morocco or China. I don't watch the PBS movies in world showcase. Whatever cursory knowledge I could absorb from a Disney attraction, I can learn a lot more in three seconds on Wikipedia. None of it is proprietary. Rarely would it be impressive in my opinion.

Go ahead, Chappie. IP to your heart's desire. I'm no snob, I'm there to enjoy myself.

 

[21stamps]

I am so not interested in the stories of Morocco or China. I don't watch the PBS movies and watch showcase. Whatever cursory knowledge I could absorb oh my Disney attraction, I can learn a lot more in three seconds on Wikipedia. None of it is proprietary. Rarely would it be impressive in my opinion.

Go ahead, Chappie. IP to your heart's desire. I'm no snob, I'm there to enjoy myself.

I do watch PBS.lol..but, I don't need Epcot to be PBS. The whole "characters in world showcase" topic has been this-
Elsa and Anna shouldn't be there..because they aren't from Norway, (only a place that looks like Norway.)
Aladdin and Jasmine shouldn't be in Morocco, because they are from Agrabah..(but the movie could very easily be related to Morocco)
But-
A talking Rat in France!!! Yes! He should be there. Who cares that he's a rat..the movie actually says "France". So it's realistic, educational, and fitting.

I agree with you, I'm there to enjoy myself. I'm good with any of the above.

 

[ryguy]

I vote BatB in the new fantasyland, rat in France. To me that makes the most sense. Best of both worlds.

 

[britain]

Too late to stop any kind of disruption, especially with current management. The terrible deed has already been done. Rat and B&tB are equal in a disruptive sense in my eyes. World Showcase is not nor was ever meant to be IPs around the world.

Your opinion is certainly valid. Personally I can easily imagine an alternate universe where there was no Rat movie, but the whole concept and design of Remy, the rat who loves to cook in a Paris restaurant, being an idea that was uniquely created for Epcot. Like Figment.

I can't imagine that Epcot's designers would send you on some Fantasyland adventure (although malstrom had two, TWO brief encounters with trolls, the rest of the ride was historic, natural, and modern Norway).

I suppose the proposed Soviet Union attraction was going to take people through Russian folktales.

 

[AKL2003]

I vote BatB in the new fantasyland, rat in France. To me that makes the most sense. Best of both worlds.

Probably the reason why it won't happen that way...lol

 

[MisterPenguin]

Remy v. Marie: The Ride

It'd be a lot like Itchy and Scratchy, but with Marie... and Remy.

 

[Figment Newton]

Yeah, Rat in Epcot and BATB in Fantasyland would be the best case scenario with these two rides. Rat fits more with the style of Epcot than BATB and you could always tweak the ride to focus more on Paris, maybe Remy is chased out of kitchen and through Paris? (from what I've seen the ride is mostly screens and could be realistically edited) For Fantasyland, I just wonder if they used up to much space already or would there be room for another major attraction?

 

[GoofGoof]

I am so not interested in the stories of Morocco or China. I don't watch the PBS movies and watch showcase. Whatever cursory knowledge I could absorb oh my Disney attraction, I can learn a lot more in three seconds on Wikipedia. None of it is proprietary. Rarely would it be impressive in my opinion.

Go ahead, Chappie. IP to your heart's desire. I'm no snob, I'm there to enjoy myself.

Go to MK. Plenty of rides based on classic Disney stories. Does every park need to be exactly the same?

WS was never intended to be a PBS documentary on the countries themselves. It's a celebration of the cultures of the various countries represented. Basically a living travel brochure for the host countries intended to give people a taste of the culture and vibe of the countries through architecture, food & drink and attractions. I have no problem with characters in WS as long as they are used properly (see Mexico pavilion). It's also possible to have fun and enjoy yourself without needing to go on rides based on popular movies.

I do watch PBS.lol..but, I don't need Epcot to be PBS. The whole "characters in world showcase" topic has been this-
Elsa and Anna shouldn't be there..because they aren't from Norway, (only a place that looks like Norway.)
Aladdin and Jasmine shouldn't be in Morocco, because they are from Agrabah..(but the movie could very easily be related to Morocco)
But-
A talking Rat in France!!! Yes! He should be there. Who cares that he's a rat..the movie actually says "France". So it's realistic, educational, and fitting.

I agree with you, I'm there to enjoy myself. I'm good with any of the above.

Frostrom is a bad fit because the ride has nothing to do with Norway. It doesn't matter if the movie was set in Norway or someplace that looks a lot like Norway. The original Maelstrom ride gave a flavor of Norway. The Frozen ride just tells the story of the movie with singing. Don't get me wrong, it's a pretty decent ride and with good AAs and it's wildly popular but that doesn't make it a good fit.

As I said before I think Rat is OK for France. Not a great fit, but it's passable. Food is a big part of WS and a big part of French culture in general so a ride that shrinks you down and takes you through a French restaurant is at least somewhat in the spirit of WS. Is it ideal, no, but better than a random IP that is based in a fictional place that may be located in the host country.

As far as Aladdin goes I would want an Aladdin ride that features all of the characters from the movie. It could be really good, but isn't a good fit for WS. Maybe if Aladdin and/or the monkey took you on a tour of things Moroccan as hosts that would work, but it wouldn't be as popular that way so unlikely to happen.

 

[wdwgreek]

The fact the rats movies is all about Gastronomy and french Gastronomy makes me feel a bit more comfortable with it, as long as its built on the expansion pad and not gutting Impressions du France.

 

[jt04]

The fact the rats movies is all about Gastronomy and french Gastronomy makes me feel a bit more comfortable with it, as long as its built on the expansion pad and not gutting Impressions du France.

Impressions still impresses. And needs to be one of the 'layers' of the pavilion.

I guess another franchise they could consider is Hunchback.

 

[wdwgreek]

Impressions still impresses. And needs to be one of the 'layers' of the pavilion.

I guess another franchise they could consider is Hunchback.

It is an amazing travelogue, it really has stood up fantastically, expect maybe the 14 year old couple getting married, i kid. i kid.