Walt Disney World‘s Ratatouille ride has faced mixed reception since it opened in 2021. On the one hand, the ride is a cute, family-friendly addition to EPCOT. In some ways, though, the ride seemed not to adhere to Disney’s own principles for theme park attraction design, until now.
Disney listened to guests’ feedback and changed the Ratatouille ride for the better. We have details on what’s different and side-by-side looks before and after the changes. This follows another EPCOT change prompted by guest feedback. Mickey Visit brings you the latest Disney news and planning resources, including 8 announcements for Disney’s holiday season and new free perks for Disney World hotel guests.
READ MORE – Hidden Secrets of the Disney World Hotels You Haven’t Heard Of
Changes at Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure is located in the France Pavilion of World Showcase at EPCOT. When the attraction opened, Walt Disney Imagineers described it as a “modern-day Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride,” evoking the frantic chases of that classic Disneyland ride, but with modern technology.
Disney World Ride Closure ALERTS, Major Park Changes, Secrets Revealed
Get alerts on closures, park changes, exclusive discounts, and free printables. Trusted by 100,000+ Disney fans & planners.
Within the story, guests have shrunk to the size of a rat and are trying to escape the kitchen of the famous Gusteau’s restaurant in Paris. Riders sit in a 6-seat vehicle resembling a rat, which moves slowly on a trackless system. The vehicle occasionally stops in front of large screens, where simulator-style action unfolds.
The sequences with large screens felt out of place with the rest of the attraction, and with Disney’s standards in general. There was a contrast between the highly detailed kitchen sets of the ride’s physical scenes and the nondescript, floor-to-ceiling screens that weren’t accompanied by any theming. This oversight took guests out of the story by reminding them of the realities of the experience. They were in a vehicle in front of a screen in a blank room, not in a Parisian kitchen.
Disney fans and casual guests alike have noticed and criticized the visibility of large spaces of the floor in front of screens and their lack of theming.
After five years, Imagineers have now fixed this issue by adding huge props in front of the ride’s biggest screens, hiding the problem area where the screen meets the floor. See the before and after.
Keeping with the theme and scale of Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, the large props include a spilled box of noodles, a mouse trap, and a charcuterie board.
This is a huge improvement. While many guests may not notice the change, one could argue they’re not supposed to. Guests can hopefully stay fully immersed in the story better rather than being distracted by the building’s functions.
READ MORE – Secret Things to Do at Disney World Only the Theme Park Pros Know Exist
These changes follow other gradual updates to the ride, including the removal of 3D glasses last fall and the recent introduction of a single rider line, which turned a 65-minute wait into a 12-minute wait for me on a recent visit.
EPCOT is currently celebrating the International Food & Wine Festival. See all the menus for the popular event.
The park recently announced the lineup of celebrity narrators for its annual Candlelight Processional, returning daily at the end of the year.
Don’t Miss the Latest Disney News
Don’t miss the latest Disneyland and Disney World news from Mickey Visit. Join the FREE Mickey Visit newsletter that over 100k readers receive every single week. Mickey Visit is here to help you save money and experience more during your Disney and Universal vacation. See the Mickey Visit guide to Disneyland and the Mickey Visit guide to Disney World for tips.
