As Walt Disney once said, " Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world. It is something that will never be finished. Something that I can keep developing and adding to." With many new park updates announcements some get us more excited that others and we have been anxiously anticipating a new addition to the World Showcase at Epcot. The France pavilion is one of our faves and we love the movie Ratatouille, so we thought this development would be a great addition. This week we were offered the opportunity to preview this new area early with an Annual Pass Preview reservation. Read on for all the details of the new area…
A sign for the AP only event.
A Remy topiary outside the new area.
The entry sign is so authentic looking!
The New Expanded France Pavilion
Tucked behind the existing France Pavilion, the Imagineers have seamlessly added on more Parisian streets. On the very right side, closest to the waterway, there is a path that leads to this new area. The expansion most notable additions include new restrooms, a restaurant, and the new Remy attraction. To us the street seemed quite sizable with plenty of Parisian details to enjoy as well. From detailed store windows, colorful flowers, signage at more, this little street truly captures the essence of strolling though Paris. It was interesting to us as some aspects looked very similar to the Remy area in Disneyland Paris, but was different enough to feel brand new to us.
The front of the new Remy attraction.
A view of the Eiffel tower above the street.
A view down the street.
A rely detail on the street.
A store front window.
Themed signage.
New Remy Merch
While there isn’t a full store in the new area there is an outdoor kiosk selling special Remy themed merchandise. Items we saw included:
Plush Remy
Remy ears
Chef hats
Remote control mice
Apparel
and other small toys
There were quite a few toy options.
Ears and cheese necklaces.
The outdoor kiosk offered a pretty good selection.
These chef hats have a lot of interactive detail.
New French Food Options
La Crêperie de Paris
The new sit-down restaurant addition is called La Crêperie de Paris. This quaint little bistro offers a Prix Fixe Menu for $33. This price includes
Choice of Soup of the Day or Salade Maison
Choice of one (of six) savory Galette (Buckwheat Crêpe)
Choice of one (of five) Dessert Crêpe
and a Glass of Hard Cider, Soda, or Juice
When we visited the line was quite long so we opted for the quick service option attached right next door…
The menu at La Creperie de Paris.
The front of La Creperie de Paris.
Crêpes À Emporter
Attached to La Crêperie de Paris is a service window called Crêpes À Emporter. The menu is very similar with some of the crêpe options being the same along with drinks and ice cream as well. We liked that if the main restaurant is busy you can quickly grab a bite and enjoy outside. The menu includes items such as:
Galettes (Savory Crêpes)
Crêpes (Sweet Crêpes)
Glaces (Ice Cream)
Drinks such as Ciders, Wine, Champagne, and non alcoholic beverages.
We loved enjoying a champagne toast and sampled both a sweet and savory crêpe. While the housemade hazelnut & chocolate spread crêpe was good we found it didn’t have quite enough filling. On the other hand while we were nervous to order a buckwheat based option the bechamel, cheese & ham galette was amazing. So gooey and flavorful. Yum.
The menu at Crêpes À Emporter.
The Housemade Hazelnut & Chocolate Spread Crêpe.
A Champagne Malard Excellence Brut toast for two!
The Bechamel, Cheese & Ham Galette.
New Remy's Ratatouille Adventure Ride
Now for the big attraction that was the excuse for the new expansion: Remy's Ratatouille Adventure ride! We have experience this ride while visiting Disneyland Paris and were curious to see if it was the same. As far as we can remember the ride is exactly the same, but we do know the queue is different and there is no Bistrot Chez Remy restaurant at the end. It was great to experience this ride again and we love the attention to detail throughout…
A sign featuring Chef Skinner.
Remy patterned wallpaper.
A Gusteau sign inside.
Everyone boards a rat mobile that fits 6 people in two rows. This ride features trackless technology (similar to Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway and Rise of the Resistance). That technology is combined with 3D glasses with large screens as well as some real life props to give the full experience. We find that the different colored rat vehicles offer slightly different experiences (going faster, more twitchy, etc). The ride immerses you into Rem'y world as you make your way around scenes familiar from the movie while the narration is a mix of both English and French adding to the authentic Paris experience! This ride is fast paced and exciting and we like riding again as it can feel like a slightly different experience depending on what rat mobile you are in.
A view of the rat mobiles in the ride.
The loading area.
A scene from the kitchen.
The refrigerator room.
Fun Photo Spots
The last thing we wanted to mention was the photo opportunities in this new land. The architecture and details are so pretty there are a few good spots for some fun memories. We have found that a Photopass photographer is usually stationed in front of the ride for a pretty fountain shot or a magic shot featuring Remy himself! We also think it’s neat to see this area during the day and night for different picture options.
A magic shot with Andrew holding Remy.
Love this new magic shot option!
The classic fountain pose.
This little vespa made a perfect photo spot.
Final Thoughts
We think this new addition to Epcot is great! Adding more to the park is always a nice way to keep things fresh and spread crowds out. While this France expansion is one little addition to one pavilion there truly is a lot of value here. We look forward to coming back and enjoying the ride, the food, and simply strolling the Parisian streets. Until next time, au revoir!
If we had to choose our favorite Epcot festival, it would be the International Festival of the Arts (presented by AT&T). While all of the festivals have food, this one has food that looks beautiful. There are so many opportunities to interactive with art and it is the best way to buy a memorable piece for your home. This week we were invited by Disney Parks to a Media Event to get a sneak peek at new additions to this year’s event. Let’s dive in and explore all the fun new artful offerings…