Hello everyone. As i've told you i'm currently on vacation and won't be able to post daily articles but here is one with interesting news about the awaited Ratatouille dark ride supposedly coming at the Walt Disney Studios for DLP 20th Anniversary.
Recently, the picture below appeared on Twitter. The picture was shot at Walt Disney Studios and is showing works on the right of Toy Story Playland area, where the Ratatouille dark ride is supposed to be built. You can see on the left of the picture part of the orange/purple structure of TSP RC Racer half pipe coaster. Toy Story Playland will open mid august and you can count on me for a full report about it, but for now we will have a closer look at this picture. Obviously the workers are building a kind of arch, but, if you click on the picture to see it in larger scale and have a look at the top center of the arch what you'll see engraved is Ratatouille chef Gusteau. As a matter of fact what is sculpted on the arch is this picture of Gusteau that you can see at the top of this article.
Now, what intrigued me is the style of the arch itself. The more i look at it, the more it reminds me the style of the archs of Paris most famous bridge: the " Pont Neuf ", that you can see on the picture below.
The next picture is a close shot of a Pont Neuf arch and although the WDS arch is not perfectly similar there is reminiscences of the style in the WDS arch, specially with the "vertical lines" all around the circle of the arch.
Also, it's interesting to note that the WDS arch, which probably will be the "entrance" of the Ratatouille area, have a certain depth. It don't seems to have a 30cm depth but at least 2 meters/7 feet. So, and although i might be wrong as this is not an insider info, i think that this arch designed by WDI Imagineers might be a Paris bridge arch. And WDS guests which will go through it will have access to the Ratatouille area. If i'm right, i must say that going through a Paris bridge arch might be a brilliant idea for the entrance, but again, please note that i don't have confirmation on this, it just my own conclusion when i look at the picture.
Anyway, whether this arch will be the entrance of the Ratatouille area or not, it's also one more sign that this awaited dark ride is coming for real at the WDS. D&M readers were the first to know as i've confirmed it to you many months ago but it's always good to have a confirmation in "real", isn't it? I remind you that the Ratatouille dark ride will use a trackless moving platform and 3D projection effects and will open at the WDS in 2012-2013.
Pictures: copyright Disney-Pixar, DR
Il n'y a aucun doute sur le fait qu'il s'agisse de l'entrée. Sur le plan oficiel de Toy Story Playland, le miniland se termine par un cul de sac, précédé d'un tonneau bleu géant renversé. Sur cette photo de l'arche, on voit clairement que la face opposée de l'arche a une forme de tonneau et est bleu. On peut donc en déduire que l'entrée "frontale" de l'aire Ratatouille se fera par cette transition pour le moins habile, l'autre entrée pouvant être vraisemblablement située au niveau du trompe l'oeuil "Toon town", à coté de Crush's Coaster.
ReplyDeleteP-S/ J'ai une question: quand on poste un commentaire sur ce blog, est-il plus judicieux de le faire en anglais?
Yes, please English.
ReplyDeleteI think your right with the blueprint remark, I see no reason to have this arch other then for a ride.... Remember, Disney has done this before with TOT bathrooms.
Je ne sais pas si c'est ce que tu as dis, mais je pense qu'il n'y a en fait qu'un seul passage (au Nord Est du MiniLand j'entend, l'entrée principale étant le géant Buzz l'Eclair au Sud), mais qu'il n'aura pas la même forme des deux cotés ! Dans Toy Story Playland, la sortie sera représentée par le tonneau bleu, et dans la rue de Paris, ce sera l'arche du pont. Dans ce cas, il y aura bien une séparation entre le monde normal/Paris et le jardin d'Andy où nous aurons la talle de jouets ! Voila, je crois qu'on pense pareil =)
ReplyDeletePS : C'est vrai ça, peut-on écrire en français ?
Sorry, english next time...
ReplyDeleteJe suis un Américain qui aime ce blog, pas Alain. Je voulais juste après sans fixer un compte. Je sais un peu de français, mais vraiment mal à l'écrire.
ReplyDeleteDans la mesure ou ça vous est possible, oui, il est préférable de poster un commentaire en anglais.
ReplyDeleteOk, I was just wondering, cause I've seen some French comments sometime on this blog, but since it is mostly read by english speaking people, I understand. Adrien, yes that's what I said (about the blue barrel/Parisian arch), But I guess there will be at least one more exit, because otherwise, the Ratatouille area would be another cul-de-sac.
ReplyDeleteWow, what an eagle eye! This seems like a good sign that a Ratatouille attraction is on the way.
ReplyDeleteSeems to me that it's a bit late to cash in on a dark ride based on Ratatouille, but I suppose it couldn't hurt, either.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like you've exceeded your bandwith on photobucket, I can't see any of the Ratatouille related photos.
ReplyDeleteI'm getting a message from your photobucket too. You need to up grade or remove some photos.
ReplyDeleteLove the blog though!
Yes, just saw this Photobucket problem. I'm taking care of the upgrade to pro account and everything should be fine in the next days. Sorry about that and thanks for your patience!
ReplyDeleteI went there today and, from a backstage point of view, I could even seen the road that leads to a side entrance of TSP and it's all Paris-themed, with classical iron lamposts and fences. I think this all section is due to open whith the new land as an access but there's no doubt it's gonna be a different atmosphere. Reminds me of Epcot's Franch pavillion...
ReplyDeleteIt would be great, a mini area on the theme of Paris!
ReplyDeleteWow, I never would have noticed this! It certainly seems that the bridge is being built exactly for that reason.I am very excited for this ride, and glad you will update us. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteWe were right ! http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=13644630&id=278714015614
ReplyDelete