EPCOT Remy's Ratatouille Adventure coming to Epcot

[Phicinfan]

Space 220 has started hiring kitchen staff. Restaurants across the US are increasing capacity. By summer, Space 220 will be open... it’s not a big enough deal to require huge announcements.

Okay don't disagree, but Rat is exactly in this spot.....and?

Lack of announcement for Harmonious is more surprising and suspicious. At this point, I suspect October 1st.... maybe they are just trying to space out the 50th anniversary announcements to keep ongoing buzz.
Might also be that Harmonious is simply undecided at this time.

Seriously, this isn't rocket science. Covid had crushed the travel business. They severely cut their budget and delayed projects due to cost. The fact they are delaying things for when HOPEFULLY full parks can happen again, and then you have the crowd drive for the anniversary to get bang for buck isn't surprising. I would doubt you see Harmonious or Space 220 before Oct.

I would not be shocked to see some of this delayed until 40th for Epcot.

 

[havoc315]

Okay don't disagree, but Rat is exactly in this spot.....and?

Seriously, this isn't rocket science. Covid had crushed the travel business. They severely cut their budget and delayed projects due to cost. The fact they are delaying things for when HOPEFULLY full parks can happen again, and then you have the crowd drive for the anniversary to get bang for buck isn't surprising. I would doubt you see Harmonious or Space 220 before Oct.

I would not be shocked to see some of this delayed until 40th for Epcot.

Simply... they wouldn’t be hiring kitchen staff for Space 220 now if you were waiting till October to open it. That’s just not how the restaurant industry works. And remember, it’s being operated by a third party, not Disney. Patina doesn’t make money by waiting.

Rat is not the equivalent of Space. Rat is the first new ride in World Showcase in years, it’s the centerpiece of a huge pavilion expansion. May not be e-ticket, but it’s also not a minor thing.

Space 220 is a novelty restaurant leased to the Patina restaurant group. Patina will open it whenever WDW decides to increase restaurant capacity sufficiently to make it profitable.

 

[Bocabear]

thing is though the parks are already packed...every day...
We were there a few weeks ago and even Disney Springs was blocked off and garages at capacity. They are currently operating with less staff and less F&B venues open, but with the same amount of guests... According to what we experienced, they are full up...

 

[marni1971]

At least at Universal, socially distanced queues will be gone long before October.

How so?

 

[havoc315]

How so?

Call it educated speculation. Universal already has less social distancing than WDW. Florida has no mandatory social distancing requirements. It’s only March, and restricted states are already reducing/eliminating social distance requirements. For example, Connecticut (a blue state) is going to 100% restaurant capacity next week.
If you can have a packed indoor space without masks in March... what’s the point in continuing outdoor masked socially distant queues for another 7 months?
If every restaurant in America is at 100% capacity by May/June... Would Universal really continue voluntary restrictions for months longer?
Personally, I’d be more comfortable in a masked outdoor line (without social distancing) than I would be in a crowded restaurant without masks.

 

[dreday3]

Okay don't disagree, but Rat is exactly in this spot.....and?

Seriously, this isn't rocket science. Covid had crushed the travel business. They severely cut their budget and delayed projects due to cost. The fact they are delaying things for when HOPEFULLY full parks can happen again, and then you have the crowd drive for the anniversary to get bang for buck isn't surprising. I would doubt you see Harmonious or Space 220 before Oct.

I would not be shocked to see some of this delayed until 40th for Epcot.

Didn't they already start selling corporate packages that include reserved seating for Harmonious in October 2021 though? Or was that unfounded info?

 

[Surferboy567]

Didn't they already start selling corporate packages that include reserved seating for Harmonious in October 2021 though? Or was that unfounded info?

I thought they started to sell those packages as well. Don’t think it was unfounded unless someone else knows more?

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Call it educated speculation. Universal already has less social distancing than WDW. Florida has no mandatory social distancing requirements. It’s only March, and restricted states are already reducing/eliminating social distance requirements. For example, Connecticut (a blue state) is going to 100% restaurant capacity next week.
If you can have a packed indoor space without masks in March... what’s the point in continuing outdoor masked socially distant queues for another 7 months?
If every restaurant in America is at 100% capacity by May/June... Would Universal really continue voluntary restrictions for months longer?
Personally, I’d be more comfortable in a masked outdoor line (without social distancing) than I would be in a crowded restaurant without masks.

That translates to “you made it up”

I don’t think using Disney opening on timelines on purpose leads to universal “winning covid”

Nobody is winning covid.

 

[havoc315]

That translates to “you made it up”

I don’t think using Disney opening on timelines on purpose leads to universal “winning covid”

Nobody is winning covid.

Never claimed to have any inside knowledge...
And I never said anything about "winning" Covid..
Not even saying Universal would be right or wrong. Just saying I expect that they will significantly reduce social distancing before October. Not saying that's right or wrong, just saying I expect it to happen.
Just like I expect states to lessen restrictions before October... which they are already doing. Even NYC is starting to loosen restrictions on Broadway theaters (though I don't expect they will be at full operation by October).

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Never claimed to have any inside knowledge...
And I never said anything about "winning" Covid..
Not even saying Universal would be right or wrong. Just saying I expect that they will significantly reduce social distancing before October. Not saying that's right or wrong, just saying I expect it to happen.
Just like I expect states to lessen restrictions before October... which they are already doing. Even NYC is starting to loosen restrictions on Broadway theaters (though I don't expect they will be at full operation by October).

I just think you might be pairing the wrong wine with the meal talking about covid restrictions.

Never serve cab with swordfish

 

[havoc315]

I just think you might be pairing the wrong wine with the meal talking about covid restrictions.

Never serve cab with swordfish

lol... fair enough. Though it does depend how you prepare the swordfish...
And I'll drink cab with almost anything.

Getting back on track... my only point was that I don't believe scheduling Rat for October has much to do with Covid restrictions. Covid restrictions, whether in place or not, wouldn't really prevent an earlier open of the Rat.

 

[disneygeek90]

Call it educated speculation. Universal already has less social distancing than WDW. Florida has no mandatory social distancing requirements. It’s only March, and restricted states are already reducing/eliminating social distance requirements. For example, Connecticut (a blue state) is going to 100% restaurant capacity next week.
If you can have a packed indoor space without masks in March... what’s the point in continuing outdoor masked socially distant queues for another 7 months?
If every restaurant in America is at 100% capacity by May/June... Would Universal really continue voluntary restrictions for months longer?
Personally, I’d be more comfortable in a masked outdoor line (without social distancing) than I would be in a crowded restaurant without masks.

Many restaurants, even in Florida, are choosing to stick to CDC capacity recommendations for restaurants rather than the 100% capacity that's technically allowed.

 

[marni1971]

Call it educated speculation. Universal already has less social distancing than WDW. Florida has no mandatory social distancing requirements. It’s only March, and restricted states are already reducing/eliminating social distance requirements. For example, Connecticut (a blue state) is going to 100% restaurant capacity next week.
If you can have a packed indoor space without masks in March... what’s the point in continuing outdoor masked socially distant queues for another 7 months?
If every restaurant in America is at 100% capacity by May/June... Would Universal really continue voluntary restrictions for months longer?
Personally, I’d be more comfortable in a masked outdoor line (without social distancing) than I would be in a crowded restaurant without masks.

I Was just talking to a friend at UOR during lunch (about other things) but it came up in conversation as it would. They’re hopeful - as we all are - and are pushing the envelope slightly more than others but there’s a definite wait and see mentality now in Uni towers.

 

[havoc315]

Many restaurants, even in Florida, are choosing to stick to CDC capacity recommendations for restaurants rather than the 100% capacity that's technically allowed.

Yes.... but do you expect them to stick to that for another 7 months?
Not much is going to change overnight. But we are already seeing gradually increasing capacity...
Less mandated restrictions..
Gradual easing of voluntary restrictions..

There are still many unknowns. But if 70% of the population is indeed vaccinated by May/June... it's hard to imagine restaurants continuing to "voluntarily" sacrifice their profitability.
I'm not judging whether they *should* go to full capacity. That's a whole other question. Personally, I think we are "opening up" too fast. But I recognize that each time another state lifts restrictions, there is more and more expectation and pressure for other states and localities to do the same.
Case in point -- NYC lifted restaurant capacity to match NJ limits, because they feared customers would just go to New Jersey to dine otherwise.

Absent a big surge in cases (which is still possible), I suspect we will continue to see the trend of decreasing restrictions.

 

[CastAStone]

NYC lifted restaurant capacity to match NJ limits, because they feared customers would just go to New Jersey to dine otherwise.

LOL. No one from NYC would dare come here to New Jersey to eat a meal. It’s not that they’re afraid of catching Covid....they’re afraid they might catch New Jersey.

 

[Touchdown]

How so?

Socially distanced queues and Halloween Horror Nights don’t mix, and can’t happen, not with 10 houses. HHN starts the first Friday in September.

 

[marni1971]

Socially distanced queues and Halloween Horror Nights don’t mix, and can’t happen, not with 10 houses. HHN starts the first Friday in September.

Depends how long the physical queue is

 

[Touchdown]

Depends how long the physical queue is

I don’t know how they would accomplish that, they already squeeze those 4 soundstage queues into every spare bit of space back there and take over midways, not to mention the Shrek house closing down a cross street. I don’t see how they could expand those lines and use the entrance/exit to the park.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

lol... fair enough. Though it does depend how you prepare the swordfish...
And I'll drink cab with almost anything.

Getting back on track... my only point was that I don't believe scheduling Rat for October has much to do with Covid restrictions. Covid restrictions, whether in place or not, wouldn't really prevent an earlier open of the Rat.

It has nothing to do with “restrictions” at all. On this...we agree.

Many restaurants, even in Florida, are choosing to stick to CDC capacity recommendations for restaurants rather than the 100% capacity that's technically allowed.

As they should. First, the mask elimination was to hide from a political scandal in one state...let’s not be stupid here.

Second, the pre-holiday spike was invited and stupid. The post-holiday spike was Moreso...

If they are gonna invite one now...it’s the heights of stupidity. So that’s not a path any business or citizen should invite.

At that point...we should start talking about throwing states out of the Union. It would be time.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I don’t know how they would accomplish that, they already squeeze those 4 soundstage queues into every spare bit of space back there and take over midways, not to mention the Shrek house closing down a cross street. I don’t see how they could expand those lines and use the entrance/exit to the park.

I think this would be a good time for Comcast to decrease its 3D portfolio by about 50% anyway