EPCOT Report: New Exhibit, Ratatouille Ride Merch, Low Crowds & Temperatures
We’re back at EPCOT with the latest updates from World Showcase and Future World! In this Walt Disney World park report, we’ll take a look at Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, American Adventure’s new exhibit, crowds, and walk-on wait times.
As you can probably tell from the above photo of us standing sideways, the weather is chilly right now at Walt Disney World. We’ve had lows in the upper 30s, with even lower “feels like” temperatures. That’s nothing for some of you–we spotted dozens of guests wearing shorts–but it’s been a while since we’ve lived in the Midwest. Although we’ll never be comfortable with the summer humidity, we’ve become pretty acclimated to the warmer weather.
Nevertheless, we opted to brave the arctic freeze, bundled up, and headed out to EPCOT to check out the latest changes and take advantage of the low crowds. One thing we’ve learned over the last several years is that cold weather like this is the perfect time to visit. Floridians don’t leave the house if it drops below 60 degrees, and even the “tough” Midwesterners are often caught off guard by the impact of humidity on how cold it feels. The result is parks emptying out after the sun goes down…
Before we get started with the photo report, we should note that the 2021 Taste of EPCOT Festival of the Arts is still ongoing through February 22. It’s not covered here, but see our 2021 EPCOT Festival of the Arts Review for thoughts and photos.
Spoiler: it’s the best event of the year at EPCOT! (Our only disappointment with it thus far is that we’ve gotten really unlucky with the paint by numbers mural, and invariably catch its first day, rather than when it’s in finished form.)
We’re also not going to fixate on construction progress at EPCOT, as we just did that a couple of weeks ago.
If you’re curious where things presently stand, look at those photos and then imagine what could be done in the span of two weeks working at a relatively leisurely pace. That about sums it up. Instead, we’ll focus on other updates here, starting with crowds and wait times…
After a couple months of extending under the monorail track and wrapping around the corner, the line for Test Track now typically stays under its canopy.
During recent visits, the posted wait has not eclipsed an hour. We’re seeing times as low as 15 minutes, and averaging around 30. Pretty similar story for Soarin’ Around the World.
When EPCOT’s headliners have ~30 minute posted waits, that means you’re going to encounter walk-ons pretty much everywhere else.
You really don’t even need an itinerary on weekdays right now. Just do attractions at your leisure and focus on enjoying EPCOT’s Festival of the Arts.
This bridge at the front of World Showcase is often one of the more congested areas of EPCOT. You’ll find past park reports on the blog picturing it as a sea of people.
Above is the current crowd situation at EPCOT, encapsulated in a single photo.
Walt Disney World has released merchandise for Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure ahead of the attraction’s opening. This occurred over the weekend, and much of it had already sold out by the time we got around to checking it out.
Presumably, it’s not so much “sold out” as the inventory shifted from being sold by Disney to being sold by eBay pirates. We’d recommend waiting, as this will certainly be restocked–and end up on shopDisney. (You can’t complain about eBayers but also buy from them.)
Please do not construe this merchandise release as a “sign” that the opening of Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure is imminent. The only thing it’s a sign of is Disney’s desire to make money. And that’s not exactly breaking news.
As we discuss in our Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure Opening & Info post, the attraction has been more or less finished since last fall, ready to open whenever advantageous.
The reason the first set of construction walls are down is because the Morocco restrooms went down for refurbishment. The first section of the Streets of Paris opened because World Showcase needed more restroom capacity.
Neither the merchandise nor the restrooms have any bearing on the attraction’s opening date. Nevertheless, we see many Walt Disney World fans view these as “clues” and are eager for any “rumors” about Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure opening “any day now.” (Those are all heavy air quotes.) There’s no reason to believe that’s happening.
A look at “crowds” from the second level of the Japan pavilion.
We also went inside the Mitsukoshi Department Store, and were literally the only guests in there. Spotted some fun new items, including some Nintendo merchandise and a tanuki mug.
Also headed up to the Katsura Grill seating area for a “Moment of Zen.”
The architecture, flowing water, lanterns, and background music make for incredibly relaxing atmosphere. Since it’s unlikely we’ll be back in Kyoto anytime soon, this will have to suffice!
In disappointing World Showcase news, the “The Soul of Jazz: An American Adventure” has debuted in the lobby of American Adventure. Its debut is not what’s disappointing, rather it’s the scale that falls short.
This new exhibit celebrates the distinctly American musical art form, originated by African Americans and fusing the influences of many different cultures. Apparently, you’ll soon be able to use the Play Disney Parks mobile app to interact with the exhibit and test your knowledge of jazz.
I was expecting this to be a fairly elaborate exhibit based upon the previews and press releases hyping it up. There are even banners outside on lampposts around American Adventure advertising the exhibit.
To my surprise, it’s a single wall and two display cases. It’s perfectly adequate and a nice little display, but I feel it would be better suited as a “quiet discovery” guests could stumble upon like other World Showcase exhibits. (Or a significantly larger installation.) Instead, Disney has opted for the overpromise and underdeliver route. Perhaps that’s just my perception, though.
We also caught the last performance by the Voices of Liberty. It was a very small crowd, undoubtedly owing to the ~40 temperatures.
However, during the day, they’re performing to packed houses. Even on light weekdays, we’ve had trouble finding seats. Absolutely love to encounter that temporary inconvenience, as the popularity of these shows is what brings back more live entertainment.
Also pretty quiet in Italy, despite its restaurants being open.
It’s been a while since we’ve done Via Napoli, but we plan on doing it again soon so long as they continue seating outdoors.
Continuing in World Showcase, we have some good news–wait times are down dramatically for Frozen Ever After.
We haven’t seen the line extend into the China pavilion in the last couple of weeks. (Keep in mind, we only do weekdays at EPCOT.) During our evening visit, the attraction was a near walk-on; we only waited 3 minutes.
I’m definitely a fan of short wait times, but can’t say the same of plexiglass barriers installed on the boats in Frozen Ever After. Either it’s safe to seat every row due to the short duration of the attraction, constant movement, and airflow–or it isn’t. Plexiglass does not change the equation on aerosol transmission.
Sorry, but I’m going to keep harping on safety theater so long as Walt Disney World keeps making changes as if our collective understanding of transmission is stuck in last March. Mitigation needs to evolve beyond barriers, sanitizing, and surface disinfection. Disney still has not once addressed ventilation or air filtration, which are significant concerns in restaurants, shows, and other indoor settings. Yet the “plexiglass proliferation” continues unabated. We’ll happily take the lower wait times the plexiglass brings with it, but the barriers themselves are not moving the needle much on actual safety.
In the saga of the Three Caballeros Audio Animatronics in the finale of Gran Fiesta Tour, we have a humorous development: cardboard cutouts. This follows the Donald Duck AA being propped up by a box, followed by his figure being replaced by a floral memorial.
I honestly think Walt Disney World is trolling us at this point, because no one but hardcore fans are paying attention to the daily goings on of a C-Ticket attraction in the winter off-season. Expect these flats to stick around for a while, as Disney has indicated the Audio Animatronics won’t return until spring. Disney has offered no clarification as to whether they mean this spring. Two years later and we’re still waiting on the winter “blast-off” of Space 220 Restaurant.
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you think about what we’ve covered in this EPCOT update? If you’re planning a visit this winter, are you looking forward to the low wait times and crowds? Plan on buying any Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure merchandise? Thoughts on the proliferation of plexiglass–does it make you more or less comfortable? 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!
“Also headed up to the Katsura Grill seating area for a “Moment of Zen.” That has got to be one of our favorite spots in all of WDW too.
Not going to be traveling there from NYC any time soon so it so great to experience it all through your wonderful writing and fantastic photography. Thanks for it all and keep up the good work!
Not directly related to Epcot, but relevant to this blog’s well-justified love for Ample Hills: Here’s a deep dive into how the company failed, and Bob Iger’s personal role(!) in the matter.
https://marker.medium.com/the-shocking-meltdown-of-ample-hills-brooklyns-hottest-ice-cream-company-66b27dc1791d
That was an interesting article. Thanks for posting it.
That was a great read–thanks for sharing!
My family is visiting Disney World next week and through President’s Day weekend-I see it is forecasted to be quite busy in the parks. In your expertise, how crowded do you think it will be? Shoulder to shoulder? Miserable? We don’t plan on doing any dining.
Thanks for all you do! I’m jealous of the cold temp pictures. My favorite and best times in Disney have been when the temps are 50 and lower. As a girl you don’t have your legs sticking to rides, your hands stay clean with gloves (this has always been my preference even pre-COVID) and you cannot tell what day a picture was taken because you have the same coat on all week! Living my dream, but I hope by late fall or early 2022 we make the trek back down from Buffalo. As DVC members its been hurting my heart to not be in Disney every 6-8 months. First world problems for sure, but thank God for Disney+, am I right? Keep up the great work!
Any word on if Tron is going to open for the anniversary? We are scheduled to go in November, but might reschedule based on Tron and Covid.
Tron is definitely not opening in 2021. As shown in previous updates, the openings in the building (where the coaster trains come outside and return inside) have been fully sealed up/weatherproofed, so construction is expected to completely halt until at least the start of the new fiscal year (i.e. October).
Tom, any idea when more of the Morocco pavilion will reopen?
Freeze warning for Lake Buena Vista on Thursday, Feb 4, from 1AM to 8AM. Then it will get a bit warmer after that. Be prepared.
Thanks for all that you do! What are the current mask requirements?
They’re covered here: https://www.disneytouristblog.com/faq-guide-face-masks-disney-world/
While you are correct about the plexiglass barriers doing nothing about aerosol transmission (small particles that stay airborne), they are useful against sudden expulsions of large droplets (which are propelled forward and quickly fall downward), such as from a cough or sneeze, or even a scream. After all, social distancing does not do anything about aerosol transmission either. The whole point of being six feet apart is to be out of the path of most large droplets. Certainly airborne (small) particles are much more important than anyone gave them credit for several months ago (hence the recommendation to up our mask game to those with better filters). However, there is a big decrease in risk when we stay out of the way of the sprays or large particles, and if they want to fill ride vehicles in such a way people are not six feet apart, the plexiglass barriers will help mitigate risk. A sneeze through a cloth mask will still spray large droplets even if the mask is worn correctly (never mind the ones below the nose or quickly removed during the sneeze by people who don’t want snot in their masks!) That being said, I hate the barriers and think that they take a lot away from the ride experience, but it will not be forever. So I disagree about it being safety theater.
Given rider orientation, face masks, movement, and other mitigation, I have a hard time believing plexiglass is moving the needle much on attractions. In face to face interactions–like a gift shop checkout–absolutely.
With that said, I’d still be inclined to give the barriers the benefit of the doubt if Disney were actually taking ventilation and air filtration seriously, and the plexiglass were Disney just being overzealous about safety and erring on the side of caution. But they are not.
Everything Disney has done in terms of safety has been visible and tangible. (In fairness, it’s not just WDW–most businesses are taking the same approach.) That’s presumably by design; it’s something consumers see and feel comforted by, much like physical security post-9/11.
Me gusta Los Tres Cardboarderros! Viva Donald, Jose, y Panchito!
I love a cold and quiet night at Epcot! Thanks for the great photos, as usual, Tom!
“Floridians don’t leave the house if it drops below 60 degrees”
As a native Floridian, this statement is absolutely true. Thanks for the laugh.
Every region that seldom sees a certain type of weather has its “rules” like that. Californians don’t leave the house if it’s raining!
Does the last day of the festival have the same things or does it dwindle down and things leave early like when you go to an expo and booths break down early? Or will the offering the still be good on the last day?
Thank you!
Everything is around until the very end, disappearing overnight after the last day.
We were at Hollywood Studios today and it was the same…literally empty as soon as the sun went down. I planned ahead (thanks to your advice about how cold it could get) but it was easy to see who hadn’t as the park was filled with people in jedi robes and tightly-clutched rebel blankets. Tomorrow is Epcot, so this is perfect timing for tips for us! Thanks as always.
Great to hear–so long as you don’t mind the weather, you picked the perfect time to visit!
Tom thank you for your insight on the plexiglass barriers being absolutely worthless. Disney did this to appease a certain crowd & I’ll leave it at that. We were there this Christmas and Frozen was Horrible. I sat in the back row and the plexiglass barriers were not only dirty with water spray but were reflective to the point of making the ride completely worthless and Unenjoyable. This is and other reasons I will not return or spend any more money with Disney until this absurdity has stopped. I’ll be taking my business to Universal Orlando for the foreseeable future…
Great photo’s as usual. I saw you guys at Epcot the day you shot the acrylic pylons from under Spaceship Earth towards the flag. I was between y’all and the fountain shooting up at Spaceship Earth. Upon getting my shot and looking forward I saw you composing your shot of the pylons. Was afraid I may have inadvertently “photo bombed” your shot. After realizing I had just seen “the Bricker’s”, I wanted to meet y’all in person, but had just arrived (driving in from Coastal Georgia), and well…..had to pee like a race horse at the moment 🙂 Kept an eye out for the rest of the evening, but unfortunately never saw y’all again.
I’m a huge Disney fan myself (at almost 60 years of age), and love strolling through the parks (and property) taking pictures as you do. Often the sole purpose of my visits (besides the escape from the “real world”). Your pictures however are much better than mine! You have a great eye. Discovered your blog a year or so ago and have been a subscriber/follower since. Hope to once again run into y’all someday and meet you in person.
Haha, too bad you couldn’t say hello but I totally understand your priorities at that moment! Nice to meet you virtually, and likewise hope to meet you in person someday.
Love your updates reports! If you had to do Epcot or MK this Sunday/Monday which would be the better choice?
Crowds will be lower in both parks on Monday, but EPCOT will see a bigger drop-off. However, crowds are so low right now that even a “busier” weekend day at EPCOT might not be too bad (especially with cool temps and rain forecast over the weekend).
I’d still probably do MK on Sunday and EPCOT on Monday, but this week, it doesn’t make a huge difference.
The very short line for Frozen in Epcot was one of the first things I noticed last week. We had seen it all the way back to China in earlier months and this time it ended right in Norway in the middle of the day.
You guys look like popsicles! Going to be -25 windchills here in WI this coming weekend. Thanks for keeping Disney afloat till we can get there in March.
Ha! I’ve done Caballeros a few times this season and I’d actually forgotten there were meant to be AA’s in the final scene. It’s actually quite an underrated ride in my opinion.
Plexiglass dividers obstruct the view in Frozen but the attraction truly ruined by them is Living With The Land. If you get a back seat on that you’re just going to be looking at a distorted mess.
I wonder what the medium-term plan is for Spaceship Earth. I’ve loved riding it – especially since I said my goodbyes to it in March – but it’s maintenance status is getting into “beyond a joke” territory now. It could do with a good clean but I also get the impression there may be major issues with the track.
Spaceship Earth is going to *need* maintenance and likely a track replacement at some point in the next couple of years. With increased optimism about travel, I’m actually surprised WDW hasn’t put that one back on the schedule. They’d be better off getting it out of the way now and having it done by mid-2022 when business really picks back up.
Probably just being an optimist, but maybe the plan for Spaceship Earth is to wait until after the WDW 50th. If it were me, I would wait so as not to have another huge construction project taking down a major ride as the 50th is getting started. At least wait a few months in if they need the time.
My mom and I were evacuated from Spaceship Earth during our last trip! We stopped in the “computer age” section – a bit creepy with the animatronics still moving! Yes it definitely needs some maintenance.
I do really love Spaceship Earth and its story about knowledge, writing, communication, and connection!
I love spaceship earth but after being stuck on it then evacuated in fall 2019 visit, I am no rush to go back on until it’s extensively maintenances. We walked down with lights on where the final decent from space to end of ride. I was shocked how filthy the ride was and seems like it hasn’t been cleaned since 1982.