Fans inch into Epcot’s Ratatouille ride area
Epcot now has fewer construction walls and more rats. Walt Disney World recently removed some of the barriers in the theme park’s France pavilion near the upcoming Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure ride.
Visitors can now wander farther back into the plaza, formerly a backstage area normally off-limits to the general public; however, folks cannot get up to the actual entrance of the ride or the neighboring crepes restaurant yet.
What Epcot visitors can see now: An archway with a banner saying the ride will open in 2021, elaborately painted walls, yet another construction wall, a new angle on the park’s faux Eiffel Tower and several stylized rat images. Remy, the lead character of the 2007 Disney-Pixar film “Ratatouille” is built into what appears to be the future waittime sign and into the molded bases of park benches. Fencing on the waterfront side incorporates repeated rats in profile (stare at the curly parts, which are the
tails).
There are a few signs, including one for Rue Auguste Gusteau (a chef character voiced by Brad Garrett in the film) and “crepes a emporter” (or “to take away”). There’s a designated stroller area already and the ever-present “cast members” only notifications near enticing crooks, crannies and doors.
Unless you count checking out
new bathrooms, there’s nothing much to actually do at this point beyond sit, chill and watch the Disney Skyliner gondolas come and go into the International Gateway station. It’s currently fairly quiet in the area, with the gondolas making a low-level hum and the occasional construction noise beyond the wall.
Visitors can peer over the wall and note the curvy décor, where the rigid “real” architecture of France turns into a more whimsical or cartoonish look a la the film.
Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, using characters from the film, is a trackless dark ride modeled on an attraction that debuted at Disneyland Paris theme park in 2014.
Walt Disney World has not launched a new ride since its parks reopened mid-pandemic in mid-July. The last new attraction to open was Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Among the other projects underway at Epcot are Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, a roller coaster in Future World; “Harmonious,” a nighttime lagoon show; and major renovations near the park entrance.
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