Ratatouille: Press Release and Information

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We are now just one month away from the launch of Disneyland Paris’ newest attraction: Ratatouille L’Aventure Totalement Toquée de Rémy. Along with this new attraction, we’re also getting a beautiful new land, restaurant and soon a boutique (scheduled Autumn 2014). As it is one month to go, Disneyland Paris have released a new press release and information pack filled with a wealth of information. In this article, I’ll present this information in full to you including my own analysis. So, without any further introduction, here is the press release in full:

—Begin Press Release—-

Official opening date: Experience the magic of Ratatouille on 10 July 2014 at Walt Disney Studios Park

Remy stands outside the entrance of Walt Disney Studios Park

It’s officially on the menu: on 10 July 2014, Disneyland Paris unveils a new world dedicated to the Disney•Pixar film Ratatouille. Named La Place de Rémy in tribute to the “little chef,” this all-new mini-land will open in Walt Disney Studios Park and will feature a completely original attraction, inspired by Rémy’s adventures in the film.

The all-new attraction, the 60th to open at Disneyland Paris, is called Ratatouille: L’Aventure Totalement Toquée de Rémy. Guests are shrunk down to the size of a rat and board “ratmobiles” for a zany culinary adventure through Gusteau’s famous restaurant. From a Paris rooftop to the restaurant’s bustling kitchen, cavernous food locker and busy dining room under the careful watch of Chef Skinner… this tasty adventure is full of twists and turns.

Ratatouille: L’Aventure Totalement Toquée de Rémy anchors La Place de Rémy, a corner of the park’s Toon Studios that has been transformed into a Ratatouille-inspired version of The City of Light. This brand new mini-land, exclusive to Walt Disney Studios Park, also features Bistrot Chez Rémy, a table service restaurant serving, among other delicious dishes, the little chef’s famous ratatouille in a larger-than-life setting. A special boutique*, “Chez Marianne – Souvenirs de Paris”, will also open its doors.

Released in 2007, Ratatouille , which won the Oscar for best animated feature film, tells the story of Rémy, a rat who dreams of becoming a renowned French chef. Filmgoers got to know him in an adventure that took him to the top Paris restaurants. With the arrival of Rémy at Walt Disney Studios Park, guests will find themselves in the middle of his exciting culinary adventure.

Ratatouille: L’Aventure Totalement Toquée de Rémy is a first of its kind Disney attraction that features trackless ride vehicles matched to enormous 3D projections of original animation by Pixar Animation Studios. The attraction takes creative imagination and technical know-how, the hallmarks of Walt Disney Imagineering, to create a state-of-the-art storytelling experience. The crazy culinary adventure begins 10 July 2014 , exclusively at Walt Disney Studios Park, Disneyland Paris.

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There is no real new information here, however it is nice to see some pieces of information that we had heard being discussed now written and distributed to the press. So, first all of we have confirmation we’ll be on a Parisian rooftop as well as in the kitchen of the restaurant (We assume Gusteau’s) before going into the dining room and the food locker. Chef Skinner will play a key part in the ride. The second document is a press pack separated into several smaller articles. Let’s look at them one by one.

—Begin Press Release—

The 60th ride at Disneyland Paris

The culinary world of the Disney•Pixar film Ratatouille comes to life in Ratatouille L’Aventure Totalement Toquée De Rémy, a first of its kind Disney attraction that uses trackless ride vehicles matched to an enormous 3D projection system featuring original animation from Pixar Animation Studios.

Guests shrink down to the size of a rat and join Rémy, the “little chef” from the film for a crazy culinary adventure that sends them scurrying through the kitchen, dining room, and walls of Gusteau’s famous Paris restaurant.

Synopsis

The adventure begins when guests become rat-sized and board a « ratmobile », a vehicle that looks like a cute version of the furry rodents from the film. Soon the ratmobiles are on a Paris rooftop where they encounter Rémy and the ghost of Gusteau as they discuss the special meal Rémy wants to prepare in guests’ honor. Moments later, Rémy’s excitement leads to him and the ratmobiles plummeting down to the kitchen floor of Gusteau’s restaurant. Being rats in a human world is fraught with danger, so Rémy and his new friends in the ratmobiles have to quickly move out of sight before Chef Skinner spots them. Rémy leads the way as all of the rats move from one tight hiding place to another. Luckily, Rémy’s human pal Linguini is there to help.

Ride in the “ratmobile”

Guests will discover a vehicle that is, shall we say, a little unusual, letting them enjoy the experience as though they were the size of our lovable little rodents. Welcome to the ratmobile! Specially designed by our Imagineers, this strange and amazing car, which will make all real rodents green with envy, comes in five colours. It is great for families since it holds six passengers. The ratmobile travels in groups of three, but like real rats, none of them follows the same route. They move using a technology that requires no rails.

Now guests can really experience what it’s like to be a furry little rodent in a human-sized world as they dart quickly from hiding place to hiding place during this zany culinary adventure.

—End Press Release—

It is clear from this release that this will be no ordinary sedate dark ride. We can expect a high-octane adventure that will see the Ratmobiles scurrying across the kitchen in the way a rat really would. The synopsis fills me with excitement for the ride, the story sounds intriguing and original. The freshly created animation will make this a highly desirable attraction. The Ratmobiles themselves are larger than the average ride vehicle at Disneyland Paris. A standard family is four or five people, hence making the single rider line a necessity to achieve optimum capacity. The five colours is a cute idea.

The next article consists of an explanatory piece on the new land: La Place de Rémy; look out for information that tells a story behind some of the props we have seen appearing in the land over the past few weeks.

—Begin Press Release—

La Place de Rémy:

Disneyland tribute to Paris

The new attraction, Ratatouille L’Aventure Totalement Toquée De Rémy, will be located in a new area of Walt Disney Studios Park called La Place de Rémy in honour of the energetic “little chef” from the film and the city he loves, Paris. This new mini-land pays tribute to the real City of Light while at the same time evoking the whimsical Paris seen in the film.

Also on the Ratatouille-inspiredmenu is a restaurant, and not just any restaurant, but Bistrot Chez Rémy, with a similar atmosphere and proportions to the restaurant experienced at the end of the attraction. Completing the mini-land, and arriving in the autumn, is a new boutique, once again paying tribute to France: “Chez Marianne – Souvenirs de Paris”.

The Paris of Ratatouille draws inspiration from several iconic neighbourhoods of the City of Light. Place Dauphine and Boulevard Haussmann particularly influence its architectural design. The colours of building façades and the entire neighbourhood are purposefully more intense than in real-life Paris. The Imagineers chose the Paris of the Ratatouille film world which is a valentine to the City of Light. The vitality of the film is completely preserved.

One of the most important elements of La Place de Rémy is its fountain. Filmgoers saw a typically Parisian example in front of Gusteau’s restaurant in the film. To recreate it in the Park, the Imagineers studied many Parisian fountains. The inspiration for our fountain was found in Place des Vosges, with its circular basins and lion heads spouting water. Once the shape and dimensions were decided, the designer Harley Jessup, who worked on the film Ratatouille, personally added the finishing touches that make reference to Rémy, his rat friends and the kitchen. Gourmet rats, of course, hold up sculpted bottles of freely flowing champagne.

La Place de Rémy will include two main streets: Allée des Marchands and Rue Auguste Gusteau. A tribute to the world’s greatest chef, Paul Bocuse, who provided plenty of inspiration for the creators of Ratatouille, will be unveiled on the central square near Bistrot Chez Rémy. The lampposts and benches will also be typically Parisian. Thanks to all these elements created by Disney’s Imagineers, guests will be able to stroll through Paris as it appears in Ratatouille. Fans will also be able to spot references to the film, such as Linguini’s bicycle, Colette’s motorbike or the Vespa stolen by the dreaded Chef Skinner.

—End Press Release—

We all know that this street is probably the Walt Disney Studios Park’s first chef d’œuvre, but the level of detail that has gone into the design is incredible. First of all, I love how the land pays tribute to the Paris we all know and love, whilst presenting the film’s Paris. The two are very different things – Disney have cleverly avoided recreating Paris as if you were there in the knowledge that, if you wanted to go, it’s half an hour away. Harley Jessup has personally supervised the creating of the fountain which really does add a level of authenticity to the land, knowing that a Pixar designer has had an input. Finally, I really like how a tribute will be paid to Paul Bocuse. Time will tell exactly what this tribute will be in the form of.

Another long talked about element of the Ratatouille development is that of the restaurant: Bistrot Chez Rémy. Disneyland Paris have produced yet another article describing it to us.

—Begin Press Release—

Ratatouille on the menu

at Bistrot Chez Rémy

Delicious French cuisine, like that presented in the Disney•Pixar film Ratatouille, can now be enjoyed by all in Bistrot Chez Rémy, a themed table service restaurant inspired by the world and recipes of the film. The upscale, but light-hearted 370-person restaurant is the creation of Rémy, the rat who loves to cook, and is located in a new corner of Walt Disney Studios Park that’s been transformed into a Ratatouille-themed version of The City of Light. Join us for lunch or dinner at Bistrot Chez Rémy from 10 July 2014.

Bistrot Chez Rémy will welcome guests into a world where they are shrunk to the size of rats immersing them in an oversized world where jam jar lids serve as table tops and champagne corks are turned into chairs. Designed by Rémy and his friends, the restaurant also features everyday human items made large like paper cocktail umbrellas turned into parasols, giant cookbooks standing on end, and plates used to separate seating areas.

On the menu during this Ratatouille-inspired experience, Rémy has prepared a unique menu that includes entrecote, chips, and of course, ratatouille! The “little chef” recommends a seasonal salad to start and a choice of dessert: a selection of French cheeses, including Brie de Meaux, and a fruit salad. Bon appétit!

—End Press Release—

Nothing new here really. A few desert details (Brie de Meaux – yum!). The design of the restaurant will be very ‘Rat-Friendly’. I’m not sure what sitting on a champagne cork with no back will do. I like having a back on my chair. But hey, it might just help me eat quicker. If you’re interested in more about the menu, check out this article from Dedicated to DLP.

Finally, the information pack is rounded off with a spiel detailing Walt Disney Imagineering.

—Begin Press Release—

From fantasy to reality with the creators

of Disney’s attractions, the Imagineers

Guiding Disneyland Paris guests from the dream of animated films to the reality of the Parks with their illusions intact takes more than the wave of a magic wand. It’s all in a day’s work for the Imagineers. This unique group of Creative and Technical people transforms the biggest animated films into immersive experiences you’ll find nowhere else.

The birth of the Imagineers

Walt Disney Imagineering was formed by Walt Disney in 1952 to plan, design and build Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California. Today, Imagineers are responsible for the creation, from concept initiation through installation, of all Disney resorts, parks, attractions, cruise ships and new entertainment venues all over the world. The Imagineering team includes planners, artists, designers, project managers, engineers, architects, art directors, audiovisual specialists, animators, production groups, programmers, site planners, financial analysts and researchers – more than 140 unique disciplines in total. But their work doesn’t stop there: they also design and create restaurants, boutiques and hotels, in short, everything that contributes to “immersing” guests in the magic of Disney.

The unique strength of Walt DisneyImagineering lies in its fusion of creative and technical talents, building new types of shows and entertainment inspired by Disney’s dreams and stories. Thanks to their expertise, Ratatouille: L’Aventure Totalement Toquée de Rémy puts state-of-the-art technology to work, to bring the story to life. John Lasseter who not only directs the Disney and Pixar animation studios but also holds the position of Principal Creative Advisor with Walt Disney Imagineering, himself said, “I promise you that we will not only continue to make the best films, but also the best attractions.”

About the film Ratatouille

Rémy is a young rat who dreams of one day becoming a great French chef. Neither the opposition of his family nor the fact that he is a rodent stuck in a job he hates can hold him back. Rémy is ready to do anything to live out his passion for cooking, and living in the sewer beneath the restaurant of the top chef, Auguste Gusteau, gives him just the chance he needs! Despite the danger and traps he encounters along the way, the temptation to venture into this forbidden world is too great.

Torn between his dream and his role in life, Rémy is about to discover the real meaning of adventure, friendship and family, and to understand that he has to find the courage to be who he is: a rat who wants to be a great chef…

—End Press Release—

So, not a tremendous amount of new information, but enough to satisfy our curious taste buds for just a little while longer. But we don’t have to wait long for more at all. The first people will be riding Ratatouille: L’Aventure Totalement Toquée de Rémy very soon. And I’ll be amongst them. I’m very happy to say that later this month, I’ll be hearing to Disneyland Paris and sampling the new land, attraction and restaurant. I’m incredibly honoured and humbled to have been invited, and I will do my best to bring back as much information as I am allowed to publish.

Stay tuned, June is going to be a huge month.

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