Walt Disney World has quietly made important reductions to the showtimes of Impressions de France, whereas additionally scheduling it at about probably the most inconvenient time of day attainable. This put up will share particulars, our commentary, and a fast name to motion.
According to Walt Disney World’s new working schedule, Impressions de France now formally opens at 9 am and closes at 9:30 am every day. The Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along now runs the remainder of the day from 10 am till 8:45 pm.
Interestingly, Impressions de France can be listed as working throughout Early Theme Park Entry at Walt Disney World on its attraction web page, which means it’s open for on-site resort lodge company from 8:30 am to 9 am. This replace shouldn’t be but been mirrored on the Early Entry web page, nevertheless it stands to purpose that this variation is appropriate.
Prior to this variation, Impressions de France had been proven from 7:30 pm till park closing every day. This actually was not the best schedule, nevertheless it really labored fairly effectively for us. We continuously caught one in all its later showings after which exited in time to seize a spot for Harmonious within the Japan pavilion or again by the Remy topiary close to the Metro entrance, which affords a surprisingly good view of the pyro.
With this, the 18-minute lengthy Impressions de France ought to have 3 day by day showtimes, with only one of these realistically being watchable by off-site company. That would require arriving at park opening, and reserving it to the again of the park to rope drop the France pavilion–however not do the headliner attraction, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, whereas its wait instances are manageable.
This change is distinctly unpatriotique. To borrow one other phrase from Sam Eagle, it quantities to “a salute to all nations, but mostly America.” Well, scratch the “all” nations half. It’s a minor salute to France (or main poke within the eye), plus a significant salute to the American-made Beauty and the Beast.
There are a number of odd points of this story, and the primary is giving much more showtimes to the Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along. For those that are unfamiliar with it, see our put up: We Ranked All 88 Attractions at Walt Disney World. This sing-along is #88, with these 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 model, see New EPCOT Film Review: The Good & The Ugly. (Spoiler: it’s the ugly one!) This shouldn’t be our bias talking as diehard followers of Impressions de France. That sing-along is among the worst issues I’ve ever needed to endure at any Disney park wherever. I don’t say this flippantly: it’s worse than Dino-Rama.
The Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along can be not notably in style. It’s not like that is drawing enormous crowds or strains, and I refuse to consider it’s scoring effectively on visitor satisfaction surveys or households are clamoring to see it late at evening. I is likely to be cynical, however I’ve not misplaced full religion in humanity. I notice younger kids like odd issues, however even they’ve higher style than this. Playing in a cardboard field is exponentially superior to the sing-along.
As far as additional commentary goes, this jogs my memory of what I wrote again in early 2020 when the lowered showtimes for Impressions de France have been first revealed. For years, it has appeared like a foregone conclusion that Impressions de France’s days have been numbered. At first, it was feared the theater could be consumed by the growth of Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure. When it was granted a reprieve from that, many figured it was solely a matter of time earlier than that wanted the area, both for a store or supporting providing to assist with crowds.
When the Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along was introduced, it was a shock that the brand new providing would alternate showings with Impressions de France. Even when that announcement was made, I assumed it’d be a yr or much less till a weblog put up 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 in the past, I wrote that it was an “inevitability” that the Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along would overtake Impressions de France in some unspecified time in the future. Granted, I had not been subjected to the sing-along at that time, so I didn’t notice that it could make Stitch’s Great Escape seem like a masterpiece of Imagineering.
When I first realized concerning the March 2023 showtime change for Impressions de France, my response was comparable. Perhaps the late showtimes proved too in style and didn’t assist the preordained conclusion park operations needed to achieve–that Impressions de France must be retired. Surely, transferring it to very first thing within the morning would do the trick.
That’s distinctly unpatriotique (are there even matinees in France? I can not think about the French getting up early for leisure) and a loss of life sentence for the movie, because it can not compete with Frozen Ever After and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure as rope drop sights. It can be taking part in to empty homes. (On a associated word, I’m shocked the Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along even opened this early earlier than–no different movies in World Showcase do.)
Then I received considering extra about this, and began questioning the premise of my assumption that somebody at Walt Disney World needs to kill Impressions de France. Disney finds methods to contort its visitor survey and customer information to achieve predetermined conclusions on a regular basis. Things occur “by popular guest demand” on a regular basis that almost all undoubtedly weren’t demanded by anybody, not to mention a big chunk of company.
There are thus two prospects. The first is that there was merely no approach to therapeutic massage the numbers and visitor suggestions to achieve a conclusion that ending Impressions de France is what company needed. This could possibly be as a result of it does stronger per present numbers, has increased visitor satisfaction scores, or each.
None of that will shock me. I’m not kidding or exaggerating with my criticism of the Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along. It is atrocious. Even common company, who are usually way more forgiving of something with their favourite characters, possible acknowledge this.
The second risk is that Walt Disney World can’t finish Impressions de France with out extra penalties. Back whereas researching our put up about cultural representatives returning to EPCOT, I spent an inordinate period of time studying laws and legislation assessment articles concerning the work visas utilized in World Showcase. That analysis was overkill for the article, however I discovered it fascinating.
In any case, one of many issues that caught with me was that the aim of the visas that Walt Disney World makes use of are for “sharing of the history, culture, and traditions of the country” of their nationality. This made me wonder if Cast Members who’re assigned completely to Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure or the Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along can qualify for that visa.
In different phrases, Impressions de France is likely to be sticking round not as a result of Disney needs to maintain it, however as a result of they want to maintain it as a way of complying with the visas used for cultural representatives. This is only speculative on my half–it’s one thing that I believe is likely to be true, and that will make sense to me, however I don’t have any perception in some way.
If the second state of affairs is correct, Impressions de France is protected, albeit at an extremely inconvenient time. If the previous is appropriate, it may be “saved” with additional suggestions from company. Either manner, we strongly suggest that followers of the movie share with Walt Disney World how they really feel about this scheduling change.
Whenever applicable, we suggest that company respectfully categorical disappointment and clarify how the corporate’s choices and practices will affect your holidays with Walt Disney World by emailing [email protected].
If you’re going to go to EPCOT and have been planning to see Impressions de France however are dissatisfied by inconvenient showtimes, tackle it when collaborating in visitor satisfaction surveys, deliver it up if you happen to converse with managers or others in park management, and even proactively contact Guest Relations to politely allow them to understand how you are feeling.
“Respectfully” and “politely” are the operative phrases right here for a purpose. While an irate rant may make you really feel higher, it’s not the path to take in case your aim is effectuating change. We’ve seen and heard manner too many company supply snide or sarcastic suggestions; venting may be cathartic, however that’s about it. “You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar” is a cliche, nevertheless it’s additionally one {that a} disturbing variety of adults don’t appear to know.
Given all the unfavorable modifications and visitor unfriendly insurance policies that Walt Disney World has enacted within the final couple of years, it’d seem to be the corporate now not cares about visitor satisfaction and suggestions. It’s in all probability true that there are some on the highest ranges of management who don’t, or focus extra on goal KPIs, however there most actually are leaders on the bottom in Florida who care. In many instances, it’s merely a matter of them having the ability to present “support” when combating for issues, budgets, and so forth.
Ultimately, we all know this can be a prolonged put up and odd standalone matter for a “simple” scheduling change. However, we felt it was value writing about for a few causes. First, as a result of the final time we coated the schedule change–again in early 2020–that put up garnered 65 feedback, many coming from pissed off followers who love Impressions de France.
Clearly most of the brilliant and delightful readers of this weblog get pleasure from Impressions de France and would need to learn about this information. It’s additionally attainable that suggestions from the neighborhood has helped Impressions de France stick round for the three years since.
Second, we’re sharing out of selfishness. We see Impressions de France greater than we do actually some other attraction in EPCOT. We’ve made a concerted effort to go to each one in all its filming places in France (that’s us within the photograph above, recreating the scene within the photograph above that). We’re in all probability the closest factor Impressions de France has to tremendous followers, and I’ll by no means hesitate to make use of this weblog as a platform for pro-Impressions de France propaganda.
In my protection, our motives are pure of coronary heart. Impressions de France is one of the best film-based attraction in EPCOT, virtually utterly timeless (solely a few 80s outfits), in addition to a wonderful and efficient ‘sales pitch’ for visiting France. By distinction, the Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along is an abomination to which nobody must be subjected. So actually, this put up isn’t simply egocentric–it’s an act of neighborhood service, warning associates who may in any other case unwittingly see the sing-along. 😉
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Learn about inns on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To lower your expenses on tickets or decide which kind to purchase, learn our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets put up. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips put up takes a novel take a look at intelligent objects to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, one of the best place to start out is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for every little thing you’ll want to know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you consider the scheduling change for Impressions de France? Will this make it tough or not possible so that you can watch one of the best movie in EPCOT? Worried that this implies extra company will by accident be subjected to the Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along? Any questions we can assist you reply? Hearing your suggestions–even whenever you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!