Ladies and Gentelman.... Ratatouille!

[carlins_leap]

I suppose it depends on what you're looking for in a ride/attraction.
I've watched the video (though I'll encourage my girls not to do the same - I'd love it to be a surprise for them) and I think the new attraction looks stunning.

Full of the usual high quality surrounding sights and sounds you expect at DLP & not catering too much for any particular group.
As someone has already said - it looks like it has something for everyone.

My 2 younger girls will enjoy everything about it as they can be easily scared & my eldesy daughter will enjoy taking in another easier going attraction in between the bigger rides she normally drags mum onto

 

[rastuso]

The attention to detail is nice, and it's a "cute" ride it seems.

I'm just surprised how Disney keeps spending massive amounts of money on really fancy rides clearly geared to small kids.

Spending $100 on something like Transformers is understandable. Spending that on something geared towards toddlers seems pretty ridiculous.

I hope it's a great ride. I'm still hoping to ride it in soft openings in 2 weeks. But, it is definitely not a ride that I will drive back to Paris later in my vacation to ride, if I miss it. Something that cost so much money SHOULD be enough to lure me back during my possible once in a lifetime Europe trip, being that I am an absolute dark ride fanatic.

My son and I were VERY much looking forward to Cafe Remy too. But after seeing that it is a very expensive restaurant with essentially 3 choices of food, and only ratatouille as a side, which looks unappealing, and not even like the movie (how could they NOT be serving the food from the movie, it's mind-boggling), we're skipping it.

I get what Disney is doing. They are spending huge cash on rides to try and hook todays kids like their parents were hooked. Thing is, they are just one player in a huge market now. A couple really expensive kiddie rides isn't going to create that complete devotion to Disney. And it's totally going to unimpress your standard preteen and teenager.

-Jason

 

[Jonjo]

Having gone on the ride 6 times on Sunday, I have to say it is fantastic. It is the best dark ride in DLP and in the whole of Europe. The 3D projections are just amazing, and the tackless rat vehicles give you a very smooth ride, until they start to shake, tilt, and zoom around the ride as you become part of the action.

 

[ILOVEDLP]

Having gone on the ride 6 times on Sunday, I have to say it is fantastic. It is the best dark ride in DLP and in the whole of Europe. The 3D projections are just amazing, and the tackless rat vehicles give you a very smooth ride, until they start to shake, tilt, and zoom around the ride as you become part of the action.

Not jealous at all
We you be doing a mini trip report ??

 

[dlpSteve]

The video is no way to judge the ride, at all. My podcast co-host was there this weekend and wrote a big review which you can read here. He said the video conveys about 10% of what you really feel and see on the ride.

 

[cherrymarzipan]

Having gone on the ride 6 times on Sunday, I have to say it is fantastic. It is the best dark ride in DLP and in the whole of Europe. The 3D projections are just amazing, and the tackless rat vehicles give you a very smooth ride, until they start to shake, tilt, and zoom around the ride as you become part of the action.

Fantastic! How long would you say the ride lasts?

 

[dlpSteve]

4 and half minutes

 

[rastuso]

The video is no way to judge the ride, at all. My podcast co-host was there this weekend and wrote a big review which you can read here. He said the video conveys about 10% of what you really feel and see on the ride.

WOW, I must have watched the wrong video.

I know that guests to media days are under pressure to kiss up to the parks, so they keep getting invited to media days. It's why I feel most of the media, especially entertainment, has very little integrity. But, this seems to be going above and beyond.

He pretty much lost me at "this is another attraction that blows the term E Ticket out of the water."

Maybe the part of the video I didnt' watch contains a section where you enter a room full of animated scenery, and the cars start moving like Spider-man. Maybe that part was purposefully edited out of what is online, through a seemless edit.

But I don't think so. It's almost as if this was written as a response to the MANY people I've seen on lots of boards, stating their disappointment. The problem is, the video is real. The lack of movement of the cars is real. The way the screens don't seemlessly blend in is real. This review is... I don't know what.

"These are the most advanced ride vehicles ever devised"? After Gringott's is unveiled? They tilt? I still would LOVE for someone to show me where in the video you can see the vehicles tilting. Perhaps they can pitch 1 or 2 degrees, and it's just imperceptable in the videos?. I didn't even see a part where the vehicles go onto a platform that moves, like the Tigger room in Hunny Hunt.

I feel reviews like this do a disservice to persepective travelers, as it is presented as a third party, non-biased opinion, and hypes the ride to a level that there is no way it can deliver at. It goes beyond presenting an opinion, and instead goes into another realm. Reviews like this are destined to upset people in the future. Just like the people at the Dwarf Hill media day who kept saying how roomy the cars were, and even Pooh sized people will fit fine.

But, I'm sure your friend will be invited to the next media day.

I personally can't WAIT to see the surprise rooms when I ride, and witness first hand these ultra advanced ride vehicles that are sure to amaze me to no end in their complexity and advanced technology. They SPIN!!!!! Holy crap!!!!

-Jason

 

[rastuso]

I feel this is a much more typical media day review:

http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201406/4085/

Still saying the ride is great, which is almost required if you want to get another invite, but clearly setting the expectations that future riders should have.

-Jason

 

[dlpSteve]

Well aren't you Mr Negative! I don't think anything will change your mind.

FYI we do not bias any of our reviews or articles and if you read others or listen to the podcast you would know that. Mark has been hyper critical about DLP on many occasions as he is a long time Disney Parks fan and a very knowledge able one at that. DLP don't choose sycophants to attend press events, and this group on Sunday featured some of those who have been most critical of the parks over the years.

The review as written on the way home from France before people had even seen the videos, but hey, that matters not to you I suspect.

 

[cherrymarzipan]

4 and half minutes

Thank you and I really enjoyed reading the review (as best I could while avoiding looking at the pictures!) which sounded very genuine to me. Looking forward to seeing for myself in a few days.

 

[Jonjo]

I know that guests to media days are under pressure to kiss up to the parks, so they keep getting invited to media days. It's why I feel most of the media, especially entertainment, has very little integrity. But, this seems to be going above and beyond.

-Jason

Nope - we are under no pressure to kiss up at all. Unlike the profesional press who have expence accounts and were given free hotel rooms, those invited to the Fan Press Preview had to pay for their own travel and accomodation to attend this event.

Some of the French fans have already said they are disapointed with the ride and Tweeted this as soon as they got off.

There were quite a few fan press bloggers, podcasters and fan website owners in attendance this weekend and I'm sure over the next few days everyones opinion on the ride will be on-line and I expect there will be some good and bad reviews published.

 

[DLPaddict]

Not sure how people can start to judge an attraction if they have never experienced it and are giving a review from a non professional youtube video?

I haven't watched any videos or looked at any spoilers, but from what I have heard from MANY people including guests who got into the soft opening on Sunday is that it's an amazing and fun attraction.

I cannot wait to fully immerse myself in this whole new land before even making any comments on how good or bad it is. Can't judge something you haven't experienced

 

[rastuso]

Well aren't you Mr Negative! I don't think anything will change your mind.

FYI we do not bias any of our reviews or articles and if you read others or listen to the podcast you would know that. Mark has been hyper critical about DLP on many occasions as he is a long time Disney Parks fan and a very knowledge able one at that. DLP don't choose sycophants to attend press events, and this group on Sunday featured some of those who have been most critical of the parks over the years.

The review as written on the way home from France before people had even seen the videos, but hey, that matters not to you I suspect.

I'm actually Mr. Realist.

It's not like the Disney community didn't just experience this.

When the Dwarf Hill media day occurred, everyone said how amazing the ride was. How comfy it was. How it truly was a full E-ticket ride experience, despite the fact that it was less than 2 minutes long, and only featured one real dark ride scene

Then the "normal folks" reviews started to come in. They were full of people saying the cars were very uncomfortable. the ride was "cute", but seemed really short. There were plenty of people that had the "that's it?" mentality. And how you can't even see the final scene during the day, because of sun glare.

Then the wave of folks saying these complainers had simply overhyped the ride.

Why must we do it again for Ratatouille? It seems like the honest review is that it is a very well done family/kids ride with vehicles that can spin, but not too fast, since there is no height requirement. You move through detailed static sets, and then watch videos on very large screens, and there is some gentle movement that syncs with it that is sure to amaze toddlers and elementary school aged kids.

Anyone reading that will get an idea of what the ride is. And if they go there and are utterly amazed at what they see, that's great, but they won't be disappointed when the ride isn't the be all end all of ride technology presented in your friend's review.

-Jason

 

[gavvy]

After viewing all the videos that I could see I really cant see how some of you have made the comments you have, the cars would tilt and move in time to the screen, so you are unlikely to see much movement on a small camera, its a dark ride and you cant see half the detail.

One one video it does show a car behind spinning somewhat, so I think I will reserve judgment until I ride it. From what I see it looks very neat and promising.

Hopefully It will drive some attendance to DLP and encourage them to build more!

 

[rastuso]

The cars spin. That is clear. You can tell the lack of tilt by watching the first video which you can see another car, and the bottom of the screen, in frame throughout most of it.

Or you can simply look at the ride vehicle base size, compared to the Spider-man vehicles, which have a base 3 or 4 times the size, and realize there is no way they can move like the Spider-man vehicles.

Transformers (note the multiple connection points to teh bottom of the vehicle, and the shocks.):

http://www.wbcgraphics.com/uploads/2/2/4/9/22496520/3573370_orig.jpg


Ratatouille (note the single connection of vehicle to base, and no space for any sort of hydraulic or pnuematic devices): No way this thing is tilting anymore than a tiny bit:

http://i843.photobucket.com/albums/... never was/ratatouillevehicle2-1.jpg:original

 

[Bexx]

But we weren't expecting a ride like Transformers or Spiderman. One of my DDs wouldn't ride Transformers if you paid her, but is looking forward to riding Ratatouille. This is exactly the type of ride that was needed at this time for Disneyland Paris - something for all the family.

 

[rastuso]

But we weren't expecting a ride like Transformers or Spiderman. One of my DDs wouldn't ride Transformers if you paid her, but is looking forward to riding Ratatouille. This is exactly the type of ride that was needed at this time for Disneyland Paris - something for all the family.

And it is a family ride. But to review it and say it is more advanced than Spider-man, and has full motion, isn't really being honest. And, believe it or not, some people WILL then be expecting a ride like Spider-man. Especially after reading such a review.

-Jason

 

[Bexx]

I presume it is considered more advanced because it's trackless, not so much to do with how much movement the cars have and how wild the ride. Besides I don't think that at any point in the review any comparisons were made to any of the rides at Universal.

Anyway I hope you get to experience and enjoy the ride for what it is, when you come over on your trip.

 

[gavvy]

And it is a family ride. But to review it and say it is more advanced than Spider-man, and has full motion, isn't really being honest. And, believe it or not, some people WILL then be expecting a ride like Spider-man. Especially after reading such a review.

-Jason

I don't get the point, the ride spins, rotates, apparently vibrates and is trackless, this is not supposed to compare to any other ride, maybe mystic manor or pooh honey hunt, and if you compare it to them it has a lot more movement.

Comparing a cartoon ride to 2 rides with a more adult theme is unfair, and you are bound to end up disappointed.

Why not give it ago before you compare it to anything, and then take the ride for what it is.