For those of you who listen to our podcast, you know we have a running joke. We always announce Disneyland Paris projects way before Disneyland Paris does. In fact, for the last few projects Disneyland Paris management never announced them, they just happened. There are a few cases in point as the moment. We know they are building a large World of Disney store to the right of the Gaumont Cinema and we know that Disney have been developing a Ratatouille attraction for the Walt Disney Studios park.
It is the latter that has been brought to the forefront in recent days. At the recent Annual Shareholder’s meeting last week, Disney focused on the successes of 2010 and the anticipated Magical Moments Festival coming this April. There was no mention of a new store or Ratatouille. That was, until Shareholders got their questions in. After some digging, Philippe Gas, CEO of the resort did admit that the Ratatouille attraction was indeed real and that they were very well advanced with the project. Tell us something we didn’t know!!!!
All the evidence already points to this happening. Back in 2010, there was the strange addition of a Parisian style street opened with Toy Story Playland. The street led to the back entrance of the toy themed area and to a blue construction wall. Behind that wall was a clearing that contained some pallets and digging equipment. As one point last year, there were even pallets seen with Ratatouille written on the side. It could possibly have been a Cast Member joke but also a real possibility with the recent news from Gas. Not only that, but a contractor in the US, known as David Mackey Dry Wall, posted an image with the title “Ratatouille Ride Element” Take a look here or at the image below
Even though Philippe Gas has confirmed what we already knew was true he also said that it is a long way off. Don’t expect to see this attraction at the parks until 2012 at the earliest. Plans always anticipated this to arrive between the end of 2012 and the first quarter of 2013. If nothing else. at least we have had an announcement, of sorts!