Distinctly Unpatriotique Changes for “Impressions de France”
Walt Disney World has quietly made significant reductions to the showtimes of Impressions de France, while also scheduling it at about the most inconvenient time of day possible. This post will share details, our commentary, and a quick call to action.
According to Walt Disney World’s new operating schedule, Impressions de France now officially opens at 9 am and closes at 9:30 am each day. The Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along now runs the rest of the day from 10 am until 8:45 pm.
Interestingly, Impressions de France is also listed as operating during Early Theme Park Entry at Walt Disney World on its attraction page, meaning it’s open for on-site resort hotel guests from 8:30 am to 9 am. This update is not yet been reflected on the Early Entry page, but it stands to reason that this change is correct.
Prior to this change, Impressions de France had been shown from 7:30 pm until park closing each day. This certainly was not the ideal schedule, but it actually worked pretty well for us. We frequently caught one of its later showings and then exited in time to grab a spot for Harmonious in the Japan pavilion or back by the Remy topiary near the Metro entrance, which offers a surprisingly good view of the pyro.
With this, the 18-minute long Impressions de France should have 3 daily showtimes, with only 1 of those realistically being watchable by off-site guests. That would require arriving at park opening, and booking it to the back of the park to rope drop the France pavilion–but not do the headliner attraction, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, while its wait times are manageable.
This change is distinctly unpatriotique. To borrow another phrase from Sam Eagle, it amounts to “a salute to all nations, but mostly America.” Well, scratch the “all” nations part. It’s a minor salute to France (or major poke in the eye), plus a major salute to the American-made Beauty and the Beast.
There are several odd aspects of this story, and the first is giving even more showtimes to the Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along. For those who are unfamiliar with it, see our post: We Ranked All 88 Attractions at Walt Disney World. This sing-along is #88, with those rankings concisely describing it as an “offensively bad piece of revisionist lore that spews forth the untold story of LeFou, which should have remained that way. Far worse than a direct-to-video sequel, and proof that fanfic authors might someday see their awful dreams turned into our painful realities.”
For the longer winded version, see New EPCOT Film Review: The Good & The Ugly. (Spoiler: it’s the ugly one!) This is not our bias speaking as diehard fans of Impressions de France. That sing-along is one of the worst things I’ve ever had to endure at any Disney park anywhere. I don’t say this lightly: it’s worse than Dino-Rama.
The Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along is also not particularly popular. It’s not like this is drawing huge crowds or lines, and I refuse to believe it’s scoring well on guest satisfaction surveys or families are clamoring to see it late at night. I might be cynical, but I have not lost complete faith in humanity. I realize young children like odd things, but even they have better taste than this. Playing in a cardboard box is exponentially superior to the sing-along.
As far as further commentary goes, this reminds me of what I wrote back in early 2020 when the reduced showtimes for Impressions de France were first revealed. For years, it has seemed like a foregone conclusion that Impressions de France’s days were numbered. At first, it was feared the theater would be consumed by the expansion of Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure. When it was granted a reprieve from that, many figured it was only a matter of time before that needed the space, either for a shop or supporting offering to help with crowds.
When the Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along was announced, it was a shock that the new offering would alternate showings with Impressions de France. Even when that announcement was made, I assumed it’d be a year or less until a blog post with, “due to its overwhelming popularity and feedback from our guests, the Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along will now have even more showtimes so more guests can enjoy this beloved attraction…”
Three years ago, I wrote that it was an “inevitability” that the Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along would overtake Impressions de France at some point. Granted, I had not been subjected to the sing-along at that point, so I didn’t realize that it would make Stitch’s Great Escape look like a masterpiece of Imagineering.
When I first learned about the March 2023 showtime change for Impressions de France, my reaction was similar. Perhaps the late showtimes proved too popular and didn’t support the preordained conclusion park operations wanted to reach–that Impressions de France should be retired. Surely, moving it to first thing in the morning would do the trick.
That’s distinctly unpatriotique (are there even matinees in France? I cannot imagine the French getting up early for entertainment) and a death sentence for the film, as it cannot compete with Frozen Ever After and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure as rope drop attractions. It will be playing to empty houses. (On a related note, I’m surprised the Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along even opened this early before–no other films in World Showcase do.)
Then I got thinking more about this, and started questioning the premise of my assumption that someone at Walt Disney World wants to kill Impressions de France. Disney finds ways to contort its guest survey and visitor data to reach predetermined conclusions all the time. Things happen “by popular guest demand” all the time that most definitely were not demanded by anyone, let alone a large chunk of guests.
There are thus two possibilities. The first is that there was simply no way to massage the numbers and guest feedback to reach a conclusion that ending Impressions de France is what guests wanted. This could be because it does stronger per show numbers, has higher guest satisfaction scores, or both.
None of that would surprise me. I’m not kidding or exaggerating with my criticism of the Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along. It is atrocious. Even regular guests, who tend to be much more forgiving of anything with their favorite characters, likely recognize this.
The second possibility is that Walt Disney World can’t end Impressions de France without additional consequences. Back while researching our post about cultural representatives returning to EPCOT, I spent an inordinate amount of time reading legislation and law review articles about the work visas used in World Showcase. That research was overkill for the article, but I found it fascinating.
In any case, one of the things that stuck with me was that the purpose of the visas that Walt Disney World uses are for “sharing of the history, culture, and traditions of the country” of their nationality. This made me wonder whether Cast Members who are assigned exclusively to Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure or the Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along can qualify for that visa.
In other words, Impressions de France might be sticking around not because Disney wants to keep it, but because they need to keep it as a means of complying with the visas used for cultural representatives. This is purely speculative on my part–it’s something that I suspect might be true, and that would make sense to me, but I don’t have any insight one way or the other.
If the second scenario is accurate, Impressions de France is safe, albeit at an incredibly inconvenient time. If the former is correct, it can be “saved” with further feedback from guests. Either way, we strongly recommend that fans of the film share with Walt Disney World how they feel about this scheduling change.
Whenever appropriate, we recommend that guests respectfully express disappointment and explain how the company’s decisions and practices will impact your vacations with Walt Disney World by emailing [email protected].
If you’re going to visit EPCOT and were planning to see Impressions de France but are disappointed by inconvenient showtimes, address it when participating in guest satisfaction surveys, bring it up if you speak with managers or others in park leadership, or even proactively contact Guest Relations to politely let them know how you feel.
“Respectfully” and “politely” are the operative words here for a reason. While an irate rant might make you feel better, it’s not the route to take if your goal is effectuating change. We’ve seen and heard way too many guests offer snide or sarcastic feedback; venting can be cathartic, but that’s about it. “You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar” is a cliche, but it’s also one that a disturbing number of adults don’t seem to grasp.
Given all of the negative changes and guest unfriendly policies that Walt Disney World has enacted in the last couple of years, it might seem like the company no longer cares about guest satisfaction and feedback. It’s probably true that there are some at the highest levels of leadership who don’t, or focus more on objective KPIs, but there most certainly are leaders on the ground in Florida who care. In many cases, it’s simply a matter of them being able to show “support” when fighting for things, budgets, etc.
Ultimately, we know this is a lengthy post and odd standalone topic for a “simple” scheduling change. However, we felt it was worth writing about for a couple of reasons. First, because the last time we covered the schedule change–back in early 2020–that post garnered 65 comments, many coming from frustrated fans who love Impressions de France.
Clearly many of the bright and beautiful readers of this blog enjoy Impressions de France and would want to know about this news. It’s also possible that feedback from the community has helped Impressions de France stick around for the 3 years since.
Second, we’re sharing out of selfishness. We see Impressions de France more than we do literally any other attraction in EPCOT. We’ve made a concerted effort to visit every one of its filming locations in France (that’s us in the photo above, recreating the scene in the photo above that). We’re probably the closest thing Impressions de France has to super fans, and I will never hesitate to use this blog as a platform for pro-Impressions de France propaganda.
In my defense, our motives are pure of heart. Impressions de France is the best film-based attraction in EPCOT, almost completely timeless (only a couple of 80s outfits), as well as a beautiful and effective ‘sales pitch’ for visiting France. By contrast, the Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along is an abomination to which no one should be subjected. So really, this post isn’t just selfish–it’s an act of community service, warning friends who might otherwise unwittingly see the sing-along. 😉
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YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you think of the scheduling change for Impressions de France? Will this make it difficult or impossible for you to watch the best film in EPCOT? Worried that this means more guests will accidentally be subjected to the Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
I sent in an e-mail. I love this charming and dated film SO much! (Your scene recreation was adorable).
Agree very sad and email also sent. When it played on a regular basis, the show was also an excellent and safe place to take refuge during one of Epcot’s many thunderstorms. The visa angle is interesting. I have no info one way or the other. My suspicion is there’s a plan to clear out all the films and turn the theatre into another Food & Wine venue like Appleseed Orchard in Canada. I think that debuted when the Circle-Vision 360 film was down and being replaced by the current version. Appleseed has been a 2 year experiment and probably very successful. And guests have a much longer trek to the back of the Canada Pavilion than to the France theatre. As an aside, that new film is a real let down and a shocker given the talent. Bad script not bad talent. Marty Short’s original was the best. But the point is the theatre would generate more income selling tiny pricey shots of champagne and itty bitty canapes during Epcot’s growing festival seasons. I suspect WDW wants to leverage that real estate and no ‘free’ film including our aging classic will stand in the way of festival expansion. Begs the question of what country is next. To really crawl down the rabbit hole, can you imagine what ‘festivalizing’ the Mexico Pavilion would be like? Maybe once current contracts are up for negotiation we’ll see a remodel. Souvenir stands replaced by festival food booths. Maybe a win win for guests who can at least nosh in AC sheltered from Florida’s weather.
Mom dieu! Didn’t Disney get funding from the governments that sponsored the various pavilions? I’m guessing it’s a poorly drafted contract provision that requires the film be shown but doesn’t say how often.
Oh, that’s a myth. The only governments who funded pavilions were Norway (indirectly partially funded business consortium who funded the pavilion and Morocco (more or less directly funded via holding company). China and Canada were funded solely by Disney, the rest had business sponsorship funding.
E-mail to Disney sent! Impressions de France remains the gem of Epcot. Let’s keep it running as long as possible.
Tom, Thanks for sharing. Since our WDW visits began over 15 years ago, my family and I have always loved Impressions de France. To me, it’s one of those “DNA” aspects of EPCOT. So sad. There is an extreme like of depth, empathy, and first-hand guest experience in some of these Disney decisions. Has anyone sat next to the terrace door at Topolino’s? I did tonight. You’d think they would have figured out how much of noise annoyance it is to nearby patrons. It’s awful. Even the cast members complain about it. In similar fashion, the international member working the theatre in France rolled his eyes today as he admitted park attendees to the theatre showing of the BATB national treasure. How embarrassing. From another room at the Riviera (the irony continues), my wife adds her approval to Tom’s recent opus of a blog!
Sorry… meant to say “extreme lack” versus “extreme like.” There is nothing to like about Disney’s decision in respect to this matter.
Tom, Thank you for advising of the sad new schedule for Impressions de France and an address to voice our concerns. We enjoy late nights in Florida and will never be at a rope drop so we will miss one of our favorite attractions. The scenery and music of Impressions de France is always lovely to behold. I hope that the powers that be are reminded that adults deserve entertainment too.
Thanks for writing this. I was excited to watch it this summer while in Epcot. But can’t with the new schedule change. I will definitely be writing in. We watched the beauty and the beast thing and my princess loving 9 year olds called it a waste of time.
This ridiculous time change for IDF is actually worse than Beauty and the Beast Sing a long. Image that. Very confusing.
I went to see the Beauty and the Beast singalong 2 years ago only to see if it was truly as bad as you said it was (and because I’m a completionist who wants to eventually do everything in WDW). It was THAT bad, rescued only by watching a middle-aged dad sing along with gusto and embarrass the preteen girls and his wife who were with him.
My only hope is that these are all placeholders for a new film that is taking longer to approve. Hey, one can dream!
We made a special trip back to Epcot to see our favorite attraction..Impressions de France. I forced us to watch the abomination that is the sing-a-long so we could say we tried it, and despised it. I am so frustrated! it’s a beautiful, timeless film..
why are they doing this?! Honestly, we’re DVC and Annual Passholders (from Michigan! Howdy!) but this year we chopped the time we spent at Disney in half…we’re going to another part of the state for 3 weeks It’s a small step of shaking my fist at them and what they’re doing to a former beloved company…but if everyone does it maybe they’ll notice? Or not. Sigh.
One of my favorite things at EPCOT. I will be sending a plea for its saving.
I may be a member of the sole demographic poised to benefit from this early entry showing of Impressions de France: I am made uncomfortably ill by that “behind the walls” sequence in Ratatouille, and have sworn to never ride it again, BUT am visiting Epcot next week with a friend who is excited for a first-time experience with the attraction. I’ve been joking that she can ride while I sit in front of the fountain with a Grand Mariners martini, but I’d much rather enjoy Impressions de France. If WDW isn’t going to update/preserve the film for Epcot’s visitors, I’ll personally launch the petition to bring it to Disney+. The sound track, alone, should earn the film a protected status!! (BTW – I have a pitch for Disney+: “Park Nostalgia Specials” – order a pair of 3-D glasses for home viewings of Magic Journeys and Captain Eo, airings of the original World Showcase films, and an app-paired “make your own soundtrack” version of the Monster Sound Show. Who is with me???)
I am with you for Magic Journeys,.. We listen to it on Spotify and float away with the dandelions,..
I love the idea of “protected status” for Disney attractions. It could never happen for several reasons, but wouldn’t it be great if an independent board comprised of Imagineers and hardcore Disney fans/experts (like the Brickers!) could certify things like Impressions or Mr. Toad or even the lobby waterfall at the Poly and give them protected status, like UNESCO.
One can dream.
We love Impressions de France – we made a solid effort to see the first “showing” of it in the evening when we were at Epcot in November – we arrived 20 minutes before the first official showing time so we wouldn’t miss it, then sat around for well over an hour before they started letting people into the theatre. I don’t know what was going on – all of the very authentically actually French CMs were just standing around looking bored and it was almost as though they just forgot or just up and decided not to show it until later. (We told our kids that actually made this experience the experience far more authentically French.)
Long story short, hopefully they will get at least the three 18 minute shows you are calculating before switching over to the Singalong (which we have never gone to based on both your review and our love for Impressions de France).
We just returned from WDW. We planned Sunday as our Epcot day and planned to see Impressions de France. Apparently, that was the first day they changed the schedule (without warning) so we missed our only opportunity to see it! So very disappointing! I am going to send a letter and fill out the survey they sent. It is truly one of my favorite things to do (and my adult children feel the same way).
Email sent to customer service. I was very disappointed and confused by this news. Impressions de France is a wonderful attraction and one of the last that still accomplishes Epcots original mission. Here’s to hoping enough of us speak up to effect change. Thanks for highlighting this, Tom.
Tom,
My wife and I totally agree, while we surely haven’t seen IDF as many times as you guys, this new schedule makes it nearly impossible to enjoy an EPCOT original and classic attraction. Unfortunately, Disney these days is all about the money and/or marketing.
This group has not come up with an original concept since the EPCOT Millennium Parade. These days, ALL the night time fireworks and entertainment is nothing more than a marketing reel of Disney product. It’s sad!
Something odd is going on here. I feel like this is probably a peacock fight among two middle-management folks on different sides of the Impressions du France vs BatB Sing Along debates (there’s no way either film warrants attention from anyone truly high level). This is a bit of a tin foil hat theory, but I wonder if whoever approved the Sing Along is in denial about its lack of popularity and thinks the Impressions showings are better attended because they occur when more people are in the park. And so whoever is in charge of the schedule said, “Alright, I’ll change the times and then you can see if the attendance numbers for the Sing Along go up” (probably while rolling their eyes).
This breaks my heart. “Impressions de France” is a beautiful and timeless movie, showing France in a gorgeous theatre with enveloping screens that take us to this amazing country (which I have visited several times.) I usually speak to the French cultural representative(s) after the movie, and tell them how much I love it and what a great ambassador it is for the country. France was America’s first ally and has always had a special relationship with the U.S. How can Disney diss it? I haven’t seen the “Beauty and the Beast” singalong (and on my last visit I did the Frozen singalong at HS for the first time because a fellow adult guest told me it was enjoyable for adults.) Does Disney want to reduce its audience to young families and drunken twenty-somethings? Is this film not as profitable for them as Drinking Around the World? I will definitely be sending a letter! Thank you for your excellent essay on this issue.
Add my wife and myself to the list of fans for Impressions de France. Every time we go to EPCOT, we make a point to see it. We were very disappointed back in December when we had to wait until late in the evening to see it.
It’s possible we may not be the target demographics for WDW anymore. We each went to EPCOT in the first week after it opened (separately, I was 12 years old at the time and did not know her) and have been huge fans of EPCOT ever since. However, we used to love it more when it was less about Disney movies and more about education and future possibilities.
9:00 – 9:30am?! Ridiculous! The last change was bad enough. I’m definitely writing to WDW. I love IDF.