When Ratatouille opens

[SL6827]

When the new Ratatouille ride opens at Epcot, how bad will the crowds be at the IG entrance at Epcot? Will one have to arrive there hours ahead of time for stand by?

 

[gharter]

It depends on if that ride is open at RD or not. Given that Frozen is open at RD, I would expect it would be. I think the line at the main entrance will be longer. I expect the line at the IG to be much longer as it will significantly shorten the walk to Ratatouille. and now you have the Skyliner potentially, adding a lot of people to the IG.

 

[OKW Lover]

The entrance facilities at IG have been significantly expanded. It shouldn't be any more of a bottleneck than the front entrance.

 

[Boopuff]

If (big if) WDW gets the construction crews back up and running (they haven't been working through this crisis) the opening date could be awhile off. Also, I still think that there will be limited crowds going forward.

 

[FCDub]

Literally no way to know before the ride has even opened. Unless you'll be there for opening day – which is not even set in sand, let alone concrete – I wouldn't spend a second stressing about it in advance. Wait until people have actually done it.

 

[AngelDisney]

I hope there will be FP for it. But would its opening be delayed due to COVID-19? Really looking forward to riding it in December.

 

[rteetz]

But would its opening be delayed due to COVID-19?

Considering it was expected to open this summer that still is fairly broad but yes I expect a delay from what if was originally expected to open in early summer (May-June). We could instead be looking at a August-ish opening. This is all dependent on when the parks reopen though and when construction, training, etc. resumes on it.

 

[YawningDodo]

The entrance facilities at IG have been significantly expanded. It shouldn't be any more of a bottleneck than the front entrance.

I had read before my January trip that IG had been expanded, but I was still surprised how much bigger they'd made it when I got there--hadn't think they had enough space to put in as many tapstiles as they did. It was pretty crowded getting in through there most of the times I entered the park from the Skyliner, but I don't know that it was necessarily worse than the front gate.

 

[DisSurfer878]

Considering it was expected to open this summer that still is fairly broad but yes I expect a delay from what if was originally expected to open in early summer (May-June). We could instead be looking at a August-ish opening. This is all dependent on when the parks reopen though and when construction, training, etc. resumes on it.

It's definitely going to be interesting, because RIGHTBEFORE the closure they updated MDE to show the new France expansion on the map.
It was looking like a MDW opening was inevitable. Skyliner overhead pictures showed it was virtually complete From the outside.

i think an opening date will really be determined by how far along they were on the inside, and when they can get it up and running for th 72hr test

 

[rteetz]

It's definitely going to be interesting, because RIGHTBEFORE the closure they updated MDE to show the new France expansion on the map.
It was looking like a MDW opening was inevitable. Skyliner overhead pictures showed it was virtually complete From the outside.

i think an opening date will really be determined by how far along they were on the inside, and when they can get it up and running for th 72hr test

They also need time to train cast which have all been furloughed. You also have the new restaurant as part of this expansion.

 

[DisSurfer878]

They also need time to train cast which have all been furloughed. You also have the new restaurant as part of this expansion.

I could be wrong, but I had thought I read that restaurant staff had begun Training before this closure. doesn't mean anything if they don't come back, but i thought I saw it on the rumors board

 

[rteetz]

I could be wrong, but I had thought I read that restaurant staff had begun Training before this closure. doesn't mean anything if they don't come back, but i thought I saw it on the rumors board

I don't recall but with the extended closure you likely would have to retrain at least some. All cast will have to sort of go through that. When the parks reopen I expect Cast to be brought in days if not weeks before to ready the parks and get retrained on anything they would need to be.

 

[gatour]

I would not expect much difference in the crowds. It will still be mostly people staying at the Boardwalk Hotels and the hotels on the Skyliner route. There is no parking unless you are staying at those hotels.

 

[gharter]

Compared to pre-Skyliner, it could be a lot more people. Previously it was Yacht and Beach, Boardwalk, Swan and Dolphin only.
With the Skyliner, you can add people from Caribbean Beach, Riviera, Pop Century and Art of Animation.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

It will interesting to watch. For the first time in forever the IG will provide a notable logistical/locational advantage to rope drop a brand new, seemingly popular attraction. That's a dynamic that has never really existed before at the IG.

 

[MomOTwins]

It will interesting to watch. For the first time in forever the IG will provide a notable logistical/locational advantage to rope drop a brand new, seemingly popular attraction. That's a dynamic that has never really existed before at the IG.

I don't think there will be an advantage. DCL will just hold the IG rope droppers before the bridge to Franche until the Future World guests arrive and merge.

 

[HuskieJohn]

Also to consider at this point I think living with CoViD, its more likely now that RAT runs on a Virtual Que in addition to FP+


Any rumors as to if this work is being completed or still stopped? If my EPCOT day happens on June 20th I just assume that the ride will not be open by then.

 

[MomOTwins]

Also to consider at this point I think living with CoViD, its more likely now that RAT runs on a Virtual Que in addition to FP+


Any rumors as to if this work is being completed or still stopped? If my EPCOT day happens on June 20th I just assume that the ride will not be open by then.

All construction has been halted.

 

[Carrie Ellis]

I wonder why they halted all construction. Seems like they could have done some.

 

[FCDub]

Because building a theme park ride based on a cartoon is not an essential business during a pandemic.