Walt Disney Pictures and Pixar Animation Studios will celebrate this summer's most original animated-comedy, Ratatouille, by bringing a mouthwatering experience to cities across the country with "The Big Cheese Tour" it was announced by Jim Gallagher, President of Buena Vista Pictures Marketing. The tour will kick off today, May 11, 2007, at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, FL and continue to cross the country stopping at many events and major food festivals throughout the summer.

Inspired by Disney/Pixar's Ratatouille, a hilarious comedy about a rat named Remy who dreams of becoming a great French chef, the interactive experience will be highlighted by a thrilling "Big Cheese Slide" which will give kids an exciting ride down a 25' wedge of cheese. Audiences will also be treated to a special sneak peek at Ratatouille inside the 30' state-of-the-art "Eiffel Tower Digital Theater." A Center Stage area features daily cooking demonstrations with a real chef featuring Tasty Treats and Healthy Snacks for busy families as well as daily shows featuring Ratatouille Video Game demonstrations, radio promotions and an inside look at how the animation for Ratatouille was created. Tour goers will also be able to see multiple making-of pieces at various kiosks.

The tour is being supported by a fantastic lineup of promotional partners. Tour goers can interact with Intel Corporation's roaming ambassador chefs, equipped with Intel Centrino Duo processor technology-based laptops using Intel Core 2 Duo processors, where they can take photos with the Ratatouille characters superimposed into the picture, play an interactive game or register for a chance to win an array of prizes. The tour chefs will feature recipes from the General Mills' portfolio of brands and attendees will be able to sample Chocolate Chex cereal as available. Samsung is providing all of the appliances on stage and plasma screens throughout the tour. THQ will provide video game demonstration kiosks where consumers get a chance to sample the latest game.

"Ratatouille is the one truly original comedy this summer and we are very excited to let families all over the country get a unique and up close flavor for the film's humor, exciting Parisian backdrop and its wonderful characters through the 'Big Cheese Tour' experience," commented Jim Gallagher, President of Buena Vista Pictures Marketing. "Besides, who wouldn't want to slide down a 25' wedge of cheese?" he joked.

"This experience promises to bring the magic and excitement of Ratatouille to families across the country," promises Eddie Newquist, President of The Becker Group's Creative Studio, who designed and is managing the touring experience. "Guests will feel like they stepped into the world of Ratatouille."

Directed by Academy Award®-winner Brad Bird (The Incredibles), Ratatouille is the hilarious tale of a rat named Remy who dreams of becoming a great chef despite his family's wishes and the obvious problem of being a rat in a decidedly rodent-phobic profession. When fate places Remy in the city of Paris, he finds himself ideally situated beneath a restaurant made famous by his culinary hero, Auguste Gusteau. Despite the apparent dangers of being an unwanted visitor in the kitchen at one of Paris' most exclusive restaurants, Remy forms an unlikely partnership with Linguini, the garbage boy, who inadvertently discovers Remy's amazing talents. They strike a deal, ultimately setting into motion a hilarious and exciting chain of extraordinary events that turns the culinary world of Paris upside down. Ratatouille opens in theaters nationwide on June 29, 2007.

Ratatouille "Big Cheese Tour" stops will include:

May 11-13, 2007 : Walt Disney World Resort : Orlando, FL
May 19-20, 2007 : Atlantic Station : Atlanta, GA
May 26-27, 2007 : Taste of Cincinnati : Cincinnati, OH
June 1-3, 2007 : Milwaukee Riversplash! : Milwaukee, WI
June 9-10, 2007 : Three Rivers Arts Festival : Pittsburgh, PA
June 17, 2007 : International Cultures Festival : New York, NY
June 23-24, 2007 : Safeway BBQ Challenge : Washington, D.C.
June 30-July 8, 2007 : Taste of Chicago : Chicago, IL
July 13-15, 2007 : TBA : TBA
July 21-22, 2007 : TBA : TBA

Ratatouille was released June 29th, 2007 and stars Patton Oswalt, Ian Holm, Lou Romano, Brian Dennehy, Peter Sohn, Peter O'Toole, Brad Garrett, Janeane Garofalo. The film is directed by Brad Bird, Jan Pinkava.