Bob Iger says, "No Ratatouille Attractions"

[tasman]

Originally Posted by Sorvian

What exactly is American origin? Is it the humor? Or something else? Because I know for a fact that Brad Bird and other PIXAR people actually travelled to Paris. So what exactly is American origin?

The story is written by Americans. The artwork is by Americans. Being set in France doesn't make it French for me. I would like rides based on classic fables / fairytales / novels of different countries. The look of the rides should resemble the artwork of the respective countries.

[Coheteboy]

Originally Posted by Sorvian

What exactly is American origin? Is it the humor? Or something else?

Because I know for a fact that Brad Bird and other PIXAR people actually travelled to Paris. So what exactly is American origin?

The story. The film. The characters. Paris just happened to be the setting for this film.

To put anything overly Ratatouille in the France pavilion would be to water the feeling and mood down a lot. What makes Epcot tick is because it transports you to the world. That world is intended to be as close to the original as possible. To litter these worlds with references of cartoon characters would be a distraction.

[tasman]

There are lots of classic French children's books...why not turn one into a ride? For example take something like the Petit Prince, use the "Peter Pan" ride system with guests flying in little aeroplanes...or something like that.

[MJMcB]

Originally Posted by tasman

There are lots of classic French children's books...why not turn one into a ride?

Because they don't pimp out...I mean, cross promote a Disney movie/show

[Kuhio]

Not sure a Ratatouille-themed restaurant would be the best fit for the France pavilion, but my mouth did water at some of the culinary creations in that movie. I'd love an opportunity to try the ratatouille featured in the movie, and I don't even like zucchini, eggplant, or tomato that much.

I'm also not crazy about the idea of a Ratatouille-themed coaster, but I prefer it to a Crush-themed coaster. There are already too many Nemo-themed attractions floating around -- The Seas with Nemo and Friends (which includes Turtle Talk with Crush), the Nemo stage show at DAK, and any others I may have forgotten.

[pineapplewhipaddict]

Well, to my understanding, Ratatouille was the worst-performing Pixar film at the box office, which could be why Iger does not want to over-promote the film.

Hmm.

[tasman]

Originally Posted by pineapplewhipaddict

Well, to my understanding, Ratatouille was the worst-performing Pixar film at the box office, which could be why Iger does not want to over-promote the film.

Hmm.

Actually, it has the third highest worldwide gross and second highest foreign gross of any Pixar film. Even if you adjust other films for inflation, over $ 600 million ain't shabby. Iger is just stating what to most of us is obvious...not every film - even a good one - translates well to merchandising or theme parks.

[animagusurreal]

While I agree that not everything has to be a franchise or have a ride, the reasons that Ratatouille is not going to get a ride concern me.

My personal, industry outsider's conspiracy theory is that certain factions within Disney don't like that Pixar made a movie about a rat who loves to cook, since cooking and rats are not pre-established, hip, "relevant" hot topics with their tween target audience. The fact that the movie was a financial success at the box office despite this is perhaps irrelevant to them, or perhaps annoys them even more. I believe that merchandising actually created a self-fulfilling prophecy, whether purposely or subconciously, that rats would not make for marketable toys. The day after the movie came out, I couldn't find a single "Ratatouille" toy at any of the local big box stores (there were books, calendars and band-aids, but no toys). Thus, because Ratatouille "doesn't sell toys," it doesn't get an attraction, underlining the idea that the primary purpose of new attractions these days is to act as advertisements for plastic and plush. Not a trend I like...

Furthermore, I think that they may not like (what I see as) the subtext of Ratatouille. I see Gusteau's as a metaphor for Walt Disney Feature Animation, and Skinner as an Eisner stand-in, with the frozen dinners representing the direct-to-video sequels.

It could just be that they think Ratatouille is a more "artsy" film and wouldn't fit easily as the subject of a dark ride. But, even though I'm against the cartoonization of every corner of the Disney parks in general, I could see Remy hosting an attraction about French cuisine at the France Pavillion in Epcot.

[GhostHost2]

Originally Posted by pineapplewhipaddict

Well, to my understanding, Ratatouille was the worst-performing Pixar film at the box office, which could be why Iger does not want to over-promote the film.

Hmm.

As far as artistic quality goes Ratatouille is the best. Since I am in the arts through theatre and film, Ratatouille really spoke to me, whereas there wasn't as much for me to relate to in Finding Nemo or The Incredibles.

Probably, why Ratatouille is so good is because it was the first movie PIXAR made that wasn't initially approved by Disney. For alot of the development process, PIXAR wasn't even sure if Disney would distribute the film. That gave PIXAR more freedom to make a riskier and more arty movie.

[Baloo]

I would had prefered a ratatouille indoor mouse coaster over another Nemo ride.The concept was pretty cool, i guess t has to do with the phobia people might have but that never stopped them in HISTA

[Baloo]

I would had prefered a ratatouille indoor mouse coaster over another Nemo ride.The concept was pretty cool, i guess t has to do with the phobia people might have but that never stopped them in HISTA.He probably does not see it as marketable as Toy stories and Nemo

[MJMcB]

Originally Posted by Baloo

I would had prefered a ratatouille indoor mouse coaster over another Nemo ride.

ditto. Enough with Nemo. Maybe they could do an Incredibles coaster or something

[Sir_Cliff]

Originally Posted by tasman

Better to have a wild mouse than not to have one I guess, but I wish it's something other than Nemo. There's already Nemo ride, Nemo show, Turtle Talk...more Nemo at one resort is a little overkill IMO.

While overall I think this is fair enough, the kind of thing you're mentioning is one big drawback with Iger's approach. I'm one of those who think they use the characters too much these days and one thing they definitely do is hammer particular franchises into the ground, the chief examples being Nemo and Toy Story. So, as other's said, Iger's comments could be taken to mean they're still going to go hell for leather with the character attractions, just that they'll all be from a few key franchises. In other words, even less variety...

Originally Posted by tasman

The story is written by Americans. The artwork is by Americans. Being set in France doesn't make it French for me. I would like rides based on classic fables / fairytales / novels of different countries. The look of the rides should resemble the artwork of the respective countries.

Originally Posted by Coheteboy

The story. The film. The characters. Paris just happened to be the setting for this film.

Yes, one thing that has really come to the surface recently with all the IASW debates is how authentically foreign a lot of people seem to take these Disney characters to be. They're all American!

Loved Ratatouille, btw. One of my favourite Pixar films.

[OFTEric]

Originally Posted by MJMcB

ditto. Enough with Nemo. Maybe they could do an Incredibles coaster or something

I personally LOVED the incredibles. I found myself identifying with almost EVERY character in the movie.

I think there should be a lot more done with this property i.e. cartoon series, ride, and sequals!

[MJMcB]

Originally Posted by OFTEric

I personally LOVED the incredibles. I found myself identifying with almost EVERY character in the movie.

I think there should be a lot more done with this property i.e. cartoon series, ride, and sequals!

You could build a "family coaster" where you're Dash spinning and running thru battle scenes between the Incredibles (as well as those briefly referred to in the movie) with evil robots and the like