Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure in EPCOT: Small Rat, Big Fun!
When you travel to Paris, there are a few things you should add to your bucket list. The Eiffel Tower is a given, and there’s always the Louvre, but we all know the real reason to travel there: the food! Croissants, baguettes, crepes…
There’s so much to try, it’s hard to know where to begin! But if you can only dine at one place while you’re in Paris, make sure it’s Gusteau’s, where you can get an exclusive kitchen tour led by their chef, Remy.
Located in the France Pavilion at EPCOT, we encourage everyone to join in on Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure! Wonderful for the whole family, this exciting journey is always in perfect taste.
Bon appetit!
Welcome to Paris (Kind Of)
When you arrive in EPCOT and start making your way toward Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure (in an expanded area of the France Pavilion), you’ll find yourself immersed in the sights and sounds of Paris.
Well, Pixar’s Paris, anyway.
While the buildings, walkways, and waterway definitely give off that distinct Parisian vibe (c’est magnifique!), there are some delightfully creative liberties taken that add extra pizzazz to the setting and subtly identify it as Remy’s world.
For those not in the know, I suppose we had better come clean… Chef Remy is actually a rat. But he’s a very tidy, civilized rat with the best palate in Paris! So, give his cooking a chance, okay? Remember what Gusteau always said: anyone can cook! (Here are some of our favorite recipes if you want to test the theory yourself!)
As you stroll through the city, look closely at the gorgeous wrought iron gate and the carvings on the benches—you’ll notice many of them take the shape of a rat. Like any classic Pixar production, there’s plenty of hidden detail in the area! And like any Pixar film, there are no 90-degree angles, either! Having perfect right angles actually looks strange in digital animation, so Pixar has to use “crookedology” to make things look straight—a tradition that’s carried over to this real-life mini-land.1
One of the not-so-hidden rat-scapes is the fountain just in front of Remy’s ride entrance. This stunning photo-op is abounding in adorable bronze rats, as well as the clever design of gushing champagne bottles.
Everything about this area is light and beautiful, creating a spectacular backdrop during the day or night. Additionally, there’s even a yummy crepe restaurant where you can grab some savory galettes or indulge in some sweet crepes before (or after) your adventure with Remy!
Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure: Prepping the Kitchen
As you prepare for a tour of Gusteau’s restaurant with Chef Remy, there are a few things you might want to know.
Truly fit for the whole family, there are no height or age restrictions when it comes to hanging out with Remy. (Makes sense, considering he’s only a couple of inches tall.) While the ride is exciting, there’s nothing too scary! There are moments of relative darkness, and—shrunk to the size of a rat—you and Remy are being chased out of the kitchen by giant, angry humans. This aspect might seem frightening to small children, particularly grouchy Chef Skinner reaching out to grab you.
The ride vehicles themselves are super cute be-whiskered rats, subtly communicating the idea that you’re a rat now, too. Each rat-rod seats six people, three per row, and the back row is elevated so no one’s view of the ride is obstructed. Like Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, the rats are totally trackless. They spin around and go in whatever direction gets them away from angry chefs! If you’re prone to motion sickness, Remy’s wild chase sequences could make you feel queasy, but for some folks the smooth, trackless ride actually helps prevent any sickness!
Now, when it comes to the line, it’s important to note that Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure virtual queue is no longer available.2 While the ride started out with a virtual queue, it has since moved on to a regular standby line (or you can purchase a separate Lightning Lane pass for the ride if you’re worried about missing it). Generally, the best time to catch a short wait time is first thing in the morning, as soon as EPCOT opens!3
Once you enter the queue, it magically transports you to the rooftops of Paris, where Gusteau’s restaurant sign shines the brightest of all. The movie soundtrack (which is just wonderful) plays softly, setting the mood: a quiet, sophisticated evening in the City of Light…
Running With Remy
Once you don some 3D glasses, you’ll see you aren’t Remy’s only companion this evening. Gusteau (in imaginary ghost form) is here, too, helping Remy decide what to cook: ratatouille, of course!
But, as you might’ve guessed, things quickly go awry and you fall through a skylight into the kitchen. (Don’t worry, there aren’t any actually drops—the sensation is achieved through an illusion using enormous screens!)
Seamlessly integrating physical props with the screens, you’ll really feel like a tiny rat as you dodge around people’s feet and hide in a freezer full of enormous food! (We’re talking grapes the size of your head and a 1.2-ton ham!4) If the “shrinking” aspect wasn’t cool enough, Remy’s ride is actually 4D—that is, it incorporates sensational elements to further immerse riders in the rat race! Feel a splash of water when Linguini shoves you aside with a mop, then feel your skin prickle with heat as you cower beneath an oven. Oh, and enjoy the delicious scent of fresh-baked bread wafting through the restaurant…
From kitchen to the dining room, to a beautifully candle-lit reunion with your fellow rats, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure is a feast for the senses you’re sure to love.
Want to keep the culinary adventure going? You’ll find some amazing Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure merchandise in EPCOT; from cheeseboards to aprons, to recipe books, there’s everything you need to become a five-star chef! (But if you’re asking for my merch recommendation…definitely a Remy plush!)
Until next time…au revoir!
Have you been on Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure? Do you consider it a “must ride” at EPCOT? Let us know in the comments below!
Cover Image
Photo: Cozinhando Fantasias via Flickr
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