EPCOT Remy's Ratatouille Adventure coming to Epcot

[kinglsyyy]

Not just fear.

People are struggling to pay their bills. Work. Eat. A Disney vacation isn't the top priority for a lot of the people who used to come here. You also forget that WDW relies HEAVILY on TOURISM from out of the country. Travel restrictions, etc. A lot is going into people not coming.

Disney took away everything that would attract the usual mass of tourists coming. They'd be kinda crazy to say "hey, come on in and ride our new ride" as we attempt to social distance and not have crowds.

Though, arguably, shouldn't having a reservation system help calm that demand?

I know some crazies will hang out on the Boardwalk walkway to 2am to be the first to ride but Rat isn't going to be a MAJOR draw. IMO. People aren't going to suddenly book a flight to see Ratatouille.

So I think we’re talking about a couple different issues.

1. Marketing
2. Attendance demand
3. Covid Safety

1. Marketing wise, I feel that opening it later this year is a superior strategy. It will start the demand for Epcot sooner. But won’t take away from demand in the future.

2. They clearly want more people to attend, or they wouldn’t be offering tons of deals. They are actively trying to increase demand right now, and are advertising to increase demand. So I don’t understand the they dont want the demand claim.

3. They set a max capacity for each park, and there are days when they hit that capacity. Reduced capacity in conjunction with masks and social distancing is working at all the parks. Florida’s contact tracing has proven this. So Ideally for WDW and all the parks its goal should be to get that reduced max capacity everyday. This would maximize revenue while keeping everyone safe. I don’t see how this would be any different then say people this past weekend waiting in lines to get in to HS for ROTR, MFSR,MMRR.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Does it make sense to play that card this year when it might draw a couple thousand people that they may not have room for with distancing, or play the card next year when hopefully the restrictions are gone or reduced, and a lot more people are willing to travel?

The challenge with this thinking is there are some people who will say why should I come now when there are two more big rides about to open, so they hold off and they get no bang for their investment.

3. They set a max capacity for each park, and there are days when they hit that capacity. Reduced capacity in conjunction with masks and social distancing is working at all the parks. Florida’s contact tracing has proven this. So Ideally for WDW and all the parks its goal should be to get that reduced max capacity everyday. This would maximize revenue while keeping everyone safe. I don’t see how this would be any different then say people this past weekend waiting in lines to get in to HS for ROTR, MFSR,MMRR.

This indeed is the main point that should factor into everything: There's a cap on attendance. WDW doesn't have to worry about overcrowding past COVID safety limitations when they have control over how many get into the park.

Opening up Rat would help refill the resorts (at the expense of locals still holding onto APs).

Someone will probably suggest they pull a “SW:GE” —open the back of the pavilion but with the E Ticket closed and only the creperie and merch kiosk actually open.

As long as they don't market it as "open early" but as "preview of the courtyard."

 

[Surferboy567]

This indeed is the main point that should factor into everything: There's a cap on attendance. WDW doesn't have to worry about overcrowding past COVID safety limitations when they have control over how many get into the park.

Opening up Rat would help refill the resorts (at the expense of locals still holding onto APs).





As long as they don't market it as "open early" but as "preview of the courtyard."

Quick question though: Would they want the potential of EPCOT capping as soon as Rat’s date was announced? Not sure if that is a good look. They would immediately fill within seconds.

For the record, I’d prefer it to open this year.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Quick question though: Would they want the potential of EPCOT capping as soon as Rat’s date was announced? Not sure if that is a good look. They would immediately fill within seconds.

For the record, I’d prefer it to open this year.

As @Magic Feather mentioned above, WDW is having trouble reaching Epcot's current COVID cap. Less guests than max is less income than max. Opening Rat would change that. People would sign up for an Epcot day than they normally wouldn't have.

Right now, other parks are hitting caps, especially for APers, so, it's not like that's not already the case.

 

[MrHappy]

As much as I hope it’ll be addressed it wouldn’t be the first time

View attachment 495508

View attachment 495510

(A great case of if you know it then you know it)

I’ve never been good at photo hunt, what is the issue here

This indeed is the main point that should factor into everything: There's a cap on attendance. WDW doesn't have to worry about overcrowding past COVID safety limitations when they have control over how many get into the park.

Opening up Rat would help refill the resorts (at the expense of locals still holding onto APs).





As long as they don't market it as "open early" but as "preview of the courtyard."

Assuming and hoping recent vaccine reports of 50-100 mill by end of year, with an increasing cadence throughout Q1 with mass availability by March, I’d circle April 1 as the official date WDW will come out of the shadows

 

[marni1971]

I’ve never been good at photo hunt, what is the issue here

The first photo is Disneyland. A structural beam was placed in the wrong place which meant the exit sign above and between two sets of doors was fitted off centre. WED painted a Figaro on the wall trying to re-centre the sign.

Years later, the same restaurant was built in Paris but the sign was placed central. Figaro was added as a tongue in cheek “we got it right this time”

 

[doctornick]

Opening up Rat would help refill the resorts (at the expense of locals still holding onto APs).

That’s my question: would Rat opening draw more people to travel to WDW and stay in the resorts? I don’t really know (it would certainly do it somewhat but the question is to what extent). If it would increase resort bookings and help Epcot hit capacity caps regularly (without negatively affecting the other parks’ attendance) then it would seem foolish to not open as soon as possible. The cost of running the extra rides/area seems marginal in the grand scheme of things.

And when things go back to “normal” hopefully sometime next year, they can still use Rat (and Mickey) as a “new” attraction for advertising given how few people will have passed through the gates to ride them. Plus they’d still have two new big rides opening in 2021, maybe a new night show and maybe even a (borrowed) light parade to advertise. I think opening Rat now to spread that out more makes sense.

 

[MisterPenguin]

In the end, one can never have enough rodent-based attractions.

 

[castlecake2.0]

They could simply just ... open it one day. LOL

That has been discussed as an option

 

[SJN1279]

Without any inside knowledge, I still think Guardians doesn't open until Summer 2022 at the earliest.

They are going to need an attraction for 2022, since Rat and Tron are coming for 2021.

 

[Surferboy567]

Without any inside knowledge, I still think Guardians doesn't open until Summer 2022 at the earliest.

They are going to need an attraction for 2022, since Rat and Tron are coming for 2021.

They aren’t going to sit on a 450 million dollar attraction. It is coming for the 50th.

 

[doctornick]

Without any inside knowledge, I still think Guardians doesn't open until Summer 2022 at the earliest.

They are going to need an attraction for 2022, since Rat and Tron are coming for 2021.

I doubt it since they’ll want it open for the 50th.

When is the Play Pavilion planned to open?

Also they could always do something like a new show (Rivers if Light replacement?) as a big opening in a given year like 2022

 

[UpAllNight]

It’s after 2021 I fear for. After Tron, Guardians and Rat we have nothing in the works, and it doesn’t feel like Disney are anywhere close to being in the mindset to green light new attractions. A lean half decade atleast awaits.

 

[Jones14]

It’s after 2021 I fear for. After Tron, Guardians and Rat we have nothing in the works, and it doesn’t feel like Disney are anywhere close to being in the mindset to green light new attractions. A lean half decade atleast awaits.

That’s why I wouldn’t be surprised to see something pushed back to 2022. Guardians seems like the most obvious choice; Rat is almost done and Tron is likely going to be the focus of the 50th anniversary.

 

[Surferboy567]

It’s after 2021 I fear for. After Tron, Guardians and Rat we have nothing in the works, and it doesn’t feel like Disney are anywhere close to being in the mindset to green light new attractions. A lean half decade atleast awaits.

That’s why I wouldn’t be surprised to see something pushed back to 2022. Guardians seems like the most obvious choice; Rat is almost done and Tron is likely going to be the focus of the 50th anniversary.

I’m not expecting much...but isn’t that always how it is? Then D23 comes along. Obviously, this is different because of COVID but still.

 

[doctornick]

I’m not expecting much...but isn’t that always how it is? Then D23 comes along. Obviously, this is different because of COVID but still.

I think the biggest question will be Universal. Epic Universe is now off the table for a few years, but if the Nintendo stuff opens in Studios instead and if the 3rd gate ends up being built for sometime in the 2020's, I don't see how Disney can just ignore that and not do anything of significance.

 

[Surferboy567]

I think the biggest question will be Universal. Epic Universe is now off the table for a few years, but if the Nintendo stuff opens in Studios instead and if the 3rd gate ends up being built for sometime in the 2020's, I don't see how Disney can just ignore that and not do anything of significance.

Definitely, Mario Kart and Nintendo as a whole even makes me excited as a gamer. I’m not exactly a Uni fan.

We do know something though:

1.) Their has to be SOMETHING in terms of news coming since we don’t know anything about the 50th. This is even more important because of COVID and the relaunch.

2.) As of now, next year’s D23 is happening and will probably bring at least one announcement of worth.

 

[Surferboy567]

Just had a thought if Rat was going to open this year wouldn’t they have announced it already?

I get COVID throws a wrench in the plans and all that but we are in September already.

EDIT: On second thought, it could be a bad PR move though.

 

[Magic Feather]

That’s my question: would Rat opening draw more people to travel to WDW and stay in the resorts? I don’t really know (it would certainly do it somewhat but the question is to what extent). If it would increase resort bookings and help Epcot hit capacity caps regularly (without negatively affecting the other parks’ attendance) then it would seem foolish to not open as soon as possible. The cost of running the extra rides/area seems marginal in the grand scheme of things.

And when things go back to “normal” hopefully sometime next year, they can still use Rat (and Mickey) as a “new” attraction for advertising given how few people will have passed through the gates to ride them. Plus they’d still have two new big rides opening in 2021, maybe a new night show and maybe even a (borrowed) light parade to advertise. I think opening Rat now to spread that out more makes sense.

Mickey appears to have been deemed past its marketing prime already. Usually attractions have a ~3-4 month window where they can be the “star” of ads, and Mickey missed it due to the pandemic. Disney doesn’t want to squander that window for Rat.

 

[Brer Panther]

It’s after 2021 I fear for. After Tron, Guardians and Rat we have nothing in the works, and it doesn’t feel like Disney are anywhere close to being in the mindset to green light new attractions. A lean half decade atleast awaits.

What about the Splash Mountain retheme?