When Disney invited me & my family to a media preview event to experience the improved France pavilion in Epcot as well as the new ride, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, I could not have been happier! [There’s a complete video mash-up of our experience at the end for all you visual friends!]
Our family absolutely loves Disney World! We usually go 4-6 times a year, and we hadn’t been in over a year!
The last time we went, the events team invited us to experience the safety improvements in the middle of COVID’s 2020 Summer. We saw the masks being strictly enforced, temp checks at the gate & the social distancing in full effect. I was very interested to see what the parks were like a full year later.
The Trip
We loaded up the day before & decided to make the drive over early. We wanted to play in the pool & spend some downtime together before the early Epcot check-in. A quick stop at Chick-fil-a for some road trip fuel, of course!
We opted to stay at the Beach Club again, we love their pool & boardwalk vibe! That afternoon we were dodging Florida summer thunderstorms, floating in the lazy river, sliding down the waterslide, and enjoying the sand-bottom pool!
We are big fans of Disney. But Epcot was always one of the parks that we scheduled in when we needed more of a “down day.” There were only a few rides that were enticing to my son, Roux, who is now 4. This Ratatouille ride was definitely a big perk for young family entertainment in the park!
The media team asked us to arrive in the Epcot parking lot at 7:45 am. They loaded us up on buses and took us through the back entrance – since the park was closed & this area isn’t open to guests until October. We stepped off the bus and we were welcomed by many friendly faces, you know, the Disney way. We walked under the SKYLINER & scanned our magic bands to enter the park.
They set us up with a little schedule for the day, giving us times to sit and eat at the new restaurant & a time to ride! We got to explore the area until our time came to eat. The media team gifted us the cutest Remy ears from the new merchandise line.
The Atmosphere
As we walked up to the France Pavilion, I truly feel all the french vibes! The first thing I saw were are the iconic bouquinistes that line the Seine River that traditionally sell books, souvenirs, posters, etc. This is one of those attention to detail moments that really brings you to another part of the world. So well done.
Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure will officially open to the public on October 1st, 2021. It will be a part of “The Most Magical Celebration” Disney World is hosting to celebrate their 50th Anniversary! This ride sticks with the Epcot theme of hosting Disney characters & Disney stories in the countries that inspired them. The Frozen ride is in Normandy, and this Ratatouille ride is in France.
We passed an adorable grassy Remy, happened to stumble on Remy & Emile, and then passed under the arch structure that is modeled after some of the metro signs in Paris – which brought us to the walkway for the ride. Remy is everywhere. He is in the ironwork on the benches, the sewer caps, and the wait time signs.
We enjoyed a light little breakfast they had set out for us with fruit, french croissants, and macaroons. All the new merchandise was set up & Disney staff were there to demo everything for us. The Ratatouille collection is adorable! They have plenty of adorable toys, stuffed animals, Remy ears, necklaces, hats, and then a wide variety of cooking-themed merchandise too! We saw aprons, cheese plates, knives, a rolling pin, and other serving items that were so sweet.
The curbs we walk beside are weathered, just like they would be in France. The flowers are outside of every window. Even the artwork on the side of the building is aged. The authentic french street signs were a beautiful touch!
The Food!!
As we walk under the arch, we run right into La Crêperie de Paris. We waited patiently for our dine time & could not wait to sit down and try these crêpes we smelled all morning. The staff was wonderful. They were friendly & helpful. They had a limited menu available for us – and so we obviously just ordered one of everything 😜. In the pictures below you will see the Classique, Gourmande, and the Melba. They served us hard cider, I don’t drink, but I thought it was pretty special to be able to raise my glass with the Eiffel tower right outside my window. The crepes were all 10/10. Absolutely amazing! I took a picture of the full menu for you too! We will definitely make this a priority food stop with each visit.
The Ride
Now, on to the ride!!! The ride is such an experience! We absolutely loved the whole thing! This ride is a motion-based trackless 4D dark ride. We grabbed our glasses, got into our adorable little mouse “rat mobile” and were immediately shrunk down to rat size. The ride kicks off with us falling through the roof of Gusteau’s restaurant. This starts an all-out chase. The cooks are chasing us & Remy through the kitchen, the freezer, the oven, and eventually into the dining area. We eventually escape & are left with a big sigh of relief! This is a quick, fast paced ride complete with all the visuals you’d ever want AND fresh smells from the kitchen. It’s adorable and a much needed family-friendly attraction at Epcot!
We would definitely recommend Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, this whole FRENCH experience, to you and your family on your next trip to Disney World. The area is gorgeous and has definitely European vacay vibes all around.
We are so grateful we had this opportunity as a family & hope you get to enjoy it too!
Safety Guidelines
As for safety, I was pleased to see they have loosened up on some of their restrictions/guidelines while maintaining ones that make a lot of sense. Masks were required indoors. Social distancing is still encouraged, line separations & dividers are still being used, but it’s not over the top restrictive. No temperature checks at the gate.
One more thing I have to share!! The media team gifted us a reload-able gift card with this cute & practical little bungy wrist! This little guy was so helpful! I love that you can pre-load up to $1000. They never expire. They are good at any Disney location, store, restaurant, etc. What an easy way to do Disney!
I hope you enjoyed reading about our experience at Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure! Thank you again to Disney for our invite!!
