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Happy Bastille Day!

Today marks the National French Holiday – Bastille Day! Let’s celebrate this with a selection of photos of some of the most impressive Disneyland Paris fireworks displays.

Wishes (2005-2007)

Wishes

Wishes

Wishes

The Enchanted Fireworks (2008-2011)

The Enchanted Fireworks

The Enchanted Fireworks

The Enchanted Fireworks

Saint-Patrick’s Day (2006)

Saint-Patrick's Day Fireworks

Disney’s Halloween Party (2014)

Disney's Halloween Party 2013

Disney Dreams (2012-)

Disney's Halloween Party 2013

Disney Dreams! lights up the night

Disney Dreams!

Bastille Fireworks (2007)

Bastille Day fireworks

Throwback Thursday: Before Ratatouille

Now that Ratatouille: The Adventure is officially open for all guests it’s time to take a look back at how that area looked like before La Place de Rémy in all its beauty was build in that corner of Toon Studio.

This is the plot of land where Toy Story Playland has been build. The costuming building can be seen in the background. This is where La Place de Rémy is build.

Before Ratatouille
Grass field next to Studio Tram Tour loading (2008)

The trees on the right were removed to make way for Toy Story Playland and La Place de Rémy.

Before Ratatouille
The original Studio Tram Tour route (2007)

Part of the original version of Studio Tram Tour Behind the Magic featured a look inside the Disneyland Paris costuming department. Guests could see Cast Members working on park costumes behind glass windows. The workshop was eventually cleared and moved to another location. The space is now partly used for the area’s restrooms.

Before Ratatouille
Costuming workshop (2004)
Before Ratatouille
Narnia costumes (2005)

When Toy Story Playland opened in the summer of 2010 it was now possible to look over the blue construction fences.

Before Ratatouille
View from Toy Soldiers Parachute Drop (2010)

As part of the Toy Story Playland expansion, the first theming appeared on the street running next to the costuming building, which was temporary repainted and a Studio sign added to its façade.

Before Ratatouille
Photo taken in 2010
Before Ratatouille
Photo taken in 2010
Before Ratatouille
Photo taken in 2010
Before Ratatouille
Photo taken in 2010

Ratatouille opens today!

Ratatouille: The Adventure, along with La Place de Rémy and Bistrot Chez Rémy, will open today for everyone!

The attraction has been previewed the past weeks for Cast Members, press, bloggers, AP-holders and shareholders. Now it’s time for all guests to experience Disneyland Paris’ technically most advanced attraction, as well as Walt Disney Studos Park’s first table service restaurant.

If you’re not currently waiting in the queue line for Ratatouille: The Adventure, you can check out our Ratatouille mini-site with links to all our Ratatouille-inspired content.

La Place de Rémy

All our Ratatouille: The Adventure content

Ratatouille: The Adventure is being previewed for press, Annual Passholders and Shareholders. If you are none of those, feel free to discover La Place de Rémy and all of its beautiful assets here on Photos Magiques:

Photo albums

Blog posts

La Place de Rémy

Everything you need to know about Bistrot Chez Rémy

Bistrot Chez Rémy is the first table service restaurant in Walt Disney Studios Park and the largest of Disneyland Paris with its seating for 370 guests. It’s probably also one of the highest themed with oversized props and special designed furniture. Bistrot Chez Rémy can be seen from the unloading station of Ratatouille: The Adventure. A giant glass window separates the attraction from the dining room. Blue Lagoon and Bistrot Chez Rémy are the only Disneyland Paris restaurants that can be seen from inside an attraction.

La Place de Rémy

The restaurant is located in the corner of La Place de Rémy. Besides featuring the main dining room, there’s also a veranda that gives a view on the Paris-themed square. In the original plans this was supposed to be uncovered, but Imagineers quickly realized the Marne-la-Vallée weather would not be suitable for this.

Bistrot Chez Rémy

When entering the restaurant, the theming and props are still regular guest size. Large couches give guests the opportunity to wait for their table. Numerous awards that Chef Rémy won for his cooking skills can be seen on the wall. Behind the cast member desk a framed 5 euro bill can be seen which, according to the story, is the money Rémy received from his first customer.

Bistrot Chez Rémy

Entering the main dining room, the theming changes drastically. Guests are now the size of a rat. The dining room resembles Rémy’s restaurant as briefly seen in the last scene of the animated film Ratatouille. The ceiling is covered in hundreds of green leaves and flowers. Lighting is provided by large Christmas lights (unlike the ones at nearby Toy Story Playland, these are “European” style).

Bistrot Chez Rémy

The furniture resembles everyday human items but enlarged hundreds of times. Guests don’t dine on ordinary tables, instead everything was custom designed by Walt Disney Imagineering. Table tops resemble large jam jar lits or olive oil cans, while the chairs look like the iron baskets that go over a champagne cork. According to Imagineer Beth Clapperton, these were one of John Lasseter’s favorites. Little stools made entirely of cork are also present in the restaurant. Some of the tables feature large cocktail parasols. These were custom designed as well so that they could meet the fire code.

Bistrot Chez Rémy Bistrot Chez Rémy

There are also a few clever references. Among them are the two wine bottles in the veranda part of the restaurant. One bottle is from the year 2007 while the other is from 2014. It’s obvious these refer to the release year of the movie and the opening year of the attraction. But one of the waiters gave it another twist: 2007 was the year when Rémy was discovered by restaurant critic Anton Ego and 2014 was the year he opened his own restaurant.

Bistrot Chez Rémy  Bistrot Chez Rémy

In an effort to increase capacity of the restaurant and to make sure that there’s a good flow of guests entering and leaving, the menu has been made deliberately limited. The starter is always a green salad with Brie croûtons grated cheese. The main dish, and the specialty of the house, is entrecote served with chips, Chef’s sauce and of course ratatouille on the side. Alternatively, there’s also grilled cod and a vegetarian casserole with tofu. One of the desserts that can be ordered is Brie from the nearby village Meaux. The way the restaurant is managed is almost similar how it’s done on the Disney Cruise Line.

Click here to open the full Bistrot Chez Rémy menu in high resolution.

Bistrot Chez Rémy

Vegetarian dish - Bistrot Chez Rémy
Vegetarian dish – Bistrot Chez Rémy

Bistrot Chez Rémy

It’s recommended to make a reservation for Bistrot Chez Rémy by calling the reservation line (+33 1 60 30 40 50) or alternatively by booking at City Hall, Studio Services, at any Disney hotel reception or at the front desks of any other Disney table service restaurants throughout the resort.

There are over 35 photos of Bistrot Chez Rémy in our photo gallery. Click here to check them out.

Update: Brie croutons are not part of the starter salad. This was for the press preview only.

Place de Rémy official dedication with Bob Iger and Tom Staggs

Ratatouille: L’Aventure Totalement Toquée de Rémy, Bistrot Chez Rémy and Place de Rémy were officially inaugurated on Saturday 21 June 2014 in presence of Tom Staggs – Chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, Philippe Gas – Chief Executive Officer of Euro Disney SAS and Bob Iger, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company, as well as the stars of the Ratatouille movie: Rémy and Linguini!

Check out these photos, but there are 40+ more photos right here!

Place de Rémy official dedication Place de Rémy official dedication Place de Rémy official dedication Place de Rémy official dedication Place de Rémy official dedication Place de Rémy official dedication Place de Rémy official dedication

It’s all about Donald Duck

Today marks the 80th anniversary of Donald Duck and that calls for a celebration. Donald first appeared in Disney’s animated short The Wise Little Hen. It took a few others shorts before he became a regular character.

To celebrate this incredible milestone we’ve dug into our archives for some of Donald’s best (pantless) costumes he’s been wearing at Disneyland Paris the past ten years or so.

Donald Duck

Donald Duck

Donald Duck

Donald Duck

Donald Duck

Donald Duck

Donald Duck

Donald Duck

Donald Duck

Donald Duck

Donald Duck

Donald Duck

Donald Duck

Donald Duck

Donald Duck

Donald Duck

Donald Duck

Donald Duck

Ad Luna in Flama Gloria!

On 1 June 1995  Space Mountain: De la Terre à la Lune launched its first rockets to the moon. The story of the attraction was based on Jules Verne’s From Earth the Moon and featured a soundtrack inspired by the themes of the movies Krull and The Rocketeer.

In 2005 the attraction was updated with a new story, special effects and a new unique soundtrack by Michael Giacchino.

There are rumours that, 20 years after the original version opened, a new story will once again replace Mission 2 for the 25th Anniversary of Disneyland Paris. But so far these are just rumours…

Happy Birthday Space Mountain!

Space Mountain: de la Terre à la Lune