Executive Summary

Originally scheduled to open in summer 2020, Walt Disney World’s Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure attraction in Epcot is slated to open its doors in October 2021. The COVID-19 pandemic is the main reason for the holdup, as Disney’s months-long park closures and compliance with social distancing protocols have significantly delayed the project. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the progress of the Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure project by assessing what is working and what is not working.

Key Challenges to Project Completion

As mentioned, the pandemic has been the main impediment to completing the project. Disney theme parks were completely closed for about four months in 2020; although Disney has not released a statement citing whether or not the project’s construction had continued during that time, the new attraction opening date suggests the project could not be completed as originally expected. Clearly, schedule management is the chief knowledge domain at play here. Even though the delay is not the project manager’s fault per se, this individual must figure out how to work around this challenge and get the project completed in a timely manner.

Even when construction is completed, the logistical challenges COVID-19 presents may make the grand opening another significant challenge. Walt Disney World is currently limiting park capacity to just 35% and requiring social distancing throughout its property, so the company must be prepared to control crowds for the new attraction if those limits are still in place by October (Munarriz, 2021). As many of us know, hype around new Disney attractions can lead to hours-long wait times; managing that vast number of bodies on a daily basis and keeping up with sanitation will be a tall order. Governance management will play a key role after the attraction opens. Given the political and social aspects of governance management, Disney’s management must make sure the company follows protocols to prevent negative publicity, help ensure the safety of park visitors, and avoid possible fines (Wu, 2020). Therefore, there is much more to this project than its construction and completion.

Maintaining the integrity of Epcot while this project is underway poses another challenge. Disney is expanding its France pavilion in the theme park to accommodate the new attraction and keeping surrounding restaurants and rides open in the meantime, so all daytime work on the project must be conducted without distracting from the rest of the pavilion. Disney has historically hidden new construction by erecting walls and keeping noise to a minimum, and the company will need to take great care to ensure the metaphorical curtain is not pulled back. Disney must consider quality management to ensure a smooth process; quality is not just important to the project’s end result, but also to the rest of the theme park.

What Is Working?

The good news for Disney is that Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure is prepared to launch by the new October opening date. Construction is nearly finished and Disney is already preparing for how to handle the grand opening this fall (Bricker, 2021). Given the unexpected events of 2020, delaying the project completion date by a little more than a year is reasonable under the circumstances. A case can even be made that the delay actually benefits the company; the potential for higher park capacity in October could allow more people to enter Walt Disney World, so the prospect of a hot new attraction can entice vacationers to visit the park.

The integrity of the project has also been upheld. As Disney renovates the entire Epcot theme park, the new France pavilion addition is expected to have a highly positive reception (DuBois, 2021). Photos and videos of the attraction’s progress echo the quintessential Disney style and quality that have made the park successful for generations, so it does not appear the delay has hindered the integrity of the end result. Of course, time will tell if that holds true.

What Is Not Working?

Although the project has experienced a reasonable delay, it has been delayed nevertheless. Walt Disney World theme park visitors are waiting longer than anticipated, which could test their patience and reduce some of the hype around the new attraction (Munarriz, 2021). From a project management perspective, stakeholder management is just as important to this potential problem as schedule management. Any negative press could cause a ripple effect that impacts the project’s key stakeholders: Disney shareholders, Imagineers, corporate officials, and park visitors. Making sure these parties are happy throughout the process by maintaining clear and positive communication could ensure a smoother project and help negate the possible effects of bad publicity.

From a marketing standpoint, Disney has not said much about the new attraction recently other than the fact that is near completion. Although this decision is probably intentional, it creates a sense of secrecy and mystery around Disney projects. Focusing on communication management could ensure there are no doubts about the project’s progress and keep stakeholders on the same page. Furthermore, providing more information about the project could lead to better integration management. From ensuring the attraction’s quality to generating positive news about its development, making sure all elements of the project are working together and communicating these updates through various channels can be positive for Disney.

What Could Have Been Done Differently?

If I were the manager for this project, I would have put more emphasis on conflict management once the project was delayed. About 28,000 Disney employees began receiving separation notices in October 2020 and an additional 4,000 layoffs were planned for the first three months of 2021 (n.a., 2021). Many of these lost jobs can be attributed to sales declines during the pandemic, which of course caused friction in businesses worldwide. For Disney’s purposes, I would have assured laborers of their value to the company—whether they are designers, construction workers, or executives. Even though layoffs were likely necessary as the pandemic progressed, being honest and genuine with all stakeholders could have ensured better communication and reduced the negative feedback Disney experienced when it started laying off employees.

I also would have spent more time marketing the project externally. Even though internal stakeholders know much more about the project and its process than outsiders do, external stakeholders such as park visitors and small shareholders could have benefitted from additional information. Therefore, I would have made sure Disney’s marketing and public relations departments talked up the uniqueness of the attraction and spoke more openly about its development. The goal of this communication and stakeholder management plan would be to keep people emotionally and financially invested in the project.

Conclusion: Lessons Learned

Disney and countless other companies have undergone unprecedented challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so great care should be taken to make sure all lessons are learned. For Disney, that could mean keeping a log of pandemic-related challenges and holding post-project meetings with stakeholders to determine what processes could be improved in future situations. Although there is no way of knowing if or when a situation like 2020 could present itself again, it is best to be prepared. Acknowledging mistakes and being honest about project weaknesses can help Disney deliver top-quality entertainment moving forward and maintain its reputation as the Happiest Place on Earth.

Executive Summary

Originally scheduled to open in summer 2020, Walt Disney World’s Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure attraction in Epcot is slated to open its doors in October 2021. The COVID-19 pandemic is the main reason for the holdup, as Disney’s months-long park closures and compliance with social distancing protocols have significantly delayed the project. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the progress of the Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure project by assessing what is working and what is not working.

Biography

Jay is a Content Writer for TFH Publications, where he pens articles about the joys and challenges of raising pets. When he is not writing, Jay can be found watching his beloved New York Yankees or listening to his vintage rock & roll record collection. Learn more about the author here.

Sources

Bricker, T. (2021, February 24). What’s New & Coming to Disney World in 2021 & 2022. Retrieved April 17, 2021, from https://www.disneytouristblog.com/new-next-disney-world-rides/

DuBois, M. (2021, March 09). Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure Is Opening At Walt Disney World On October 1. Retrieved April 17, 2021, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/megandubois/2021/03/09/remys-ratatouille-adventure-is-opening-at-walt-disney-world-on-october-1/?sh=e953dbf4d4b8

Munarriz, R. (2021, March 10). Rats! Disney World Pushes Out New Ride Opening to October. Retrieved April 17, 2021, from https://www.fool.com/investing/2021/03/10/rats-disney-world-pushes-out-new-ride-opening-to-o/

Wu, T. (2020). Optimizing Project Management. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group

Walt Disney layoffs leave thousands of workers in ‘an awful lot of pain’. (2020, December 02). Retrieved April 17, 2021, from https://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/dec/02/walt-disney-layoffs-workers-struggle