Originally Posted By FoxHound I'm wondering if, as part of the re-branding of the Studios, Mama Melrose's Restaurant will get a Ratatouille makeover. This restaurant was originally going to be a Muppet Restaurant, with Gonzo as the chef, and Rizzo and the other rats as waiters. The rats were supposed to run around overhead---I think the place was even designed for the animatronics. Since the Muppet idea seems like it will never happen, I wonder if Remy the rat will be invading this eatery soon. I guess it will depend on if the movie is successful. I just can't see them letting the rats invade an eatery in Epcot's France.
Originally Posted By dshyates I think that is a great idea. It would go great with the Disney/Pixar rebranding. Though it should be EXTREMELY subtle. Something low key enough to not whip the kids into a frenzy. Though an animatronic show kitchen like some high end restaurants have would be cool. And I would like to see it go a little more upscale in feel. A great place to teach the kids how to eat like adults. "I HOPE NOT!!!!!! Please, leave some areas of the parks cartoon free!" Oddly enough when I spend a couple of grand for a trip to a place called "The Disney/Pixar Studios Theme Park" I'm not really looking for a cartoon free zone. Wierd huh? That said I do believe that OUTSIDE the parks especially in a themed environ like WL or AKL, the toon presence should be omnipresent yet almost invisible.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 If it was a subtle overlay and they improved the food, I would be thrilled. Mama Melrose was a place we used to frequent but after a few less than stellar visits in a row, it's now been a few years - replaced in our rotation if you will.
Originally Posted By Doobie I thinking leave some areas of the park rat free. It's nice for a cartoon but Remy is no Mickey. I'm not sure I want him in the kitchen. Doobie.
Originally Posted By FoxHound Yes, there is a certain "ick" factor (which I think would actually attract kids), but as originally planned, it was supposed to have animatronic rats from the start. At least Remy is more hygenic than Rizzo the Rat (anybody see the Muppets Take Manhattan, where the rats really got into their cooking). Hey, Chuck E. Cheese is a rat!
Originally Posted By brotherdave Personally, I'd rather see the Muppet version of the restaurant than Ratatouille. I love the idea of the animated Rizzo and the muppet rats running around the restaurant. Also, imagine every so often, an animatronic Swedish Chef appears to help create a 'culinary masterpiece', but the usual hilarious, inept results occur. Just think of all of the wonderful Muppet hijinx that could occur!!! Yep, the Muppet restaurant sounds much more appealing to me!!!
Originally Posted By trekkeruss They could turn Chefs de France into another character meal. Not that I want another dreaded character meal overtaking an adult restaurant.
Originally Posted By FiveBearRugs <<trekkeruss: Not that I want another dreaded character meal overtaking an adult restaurant. >> It'll be like the cleansing of Times Square all over again! J/K As for the Ratatouille/Muppet restaurant... why do I get the feel that it would pretty much be like a Disney version of Chuck E. Cheese (who I thought was a mouse)? You'd have the AA characters on a stage... and then have the kids play skeeball and video games... and then cash the tickets in...at this rate you might as well take out Pizza Planet (which my sister and I dined at whilst my mom and grandpa ate at the Brown Derby). Come to think of it, Chefs de France could have had <<Le Petit Dejeuner avec La Belle et Le Bete>> or <<Le Petit Dejeuner avec Quasimodo et Amis.>>
Originally Posted By rhodisney Speaking for myself, I'm not going to be a fan of any resteraunt that has RAT-a -anything in it's name!
Originally Posted By FoxHound It's my understanding that the restaurant itself was built as originally developed, just without the animation (of Rizzo and the rats on unicycles)or the Muppet references. The characters would not be on a stage, but rather running on tracks overhead. I believe there was supposed to be video screens with action going on "behind the scenes"(this sounds sort of like the Alien themed pizza place at Tokyo Disneyland).
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 ^^That's true ... not sure how exactly it was going to play out. I also wouldn't be shocked if this resturant was rethemed ... to the Muppets. Just saying ...
Originally Posted By Shadow wolf Eh, I would prefer if they kept Mama Melrose's the way it is. You don't need a reasturant themed to a new film comming out to be good. Besides, I would prefer if the Muppets invaded the Great Movie Ride.
Originally Posted By FiveBearRugs <<Shadow wolf: Besides, I would prefer if the Muppets invaded the Great Movie Ride.>> You could have an AA version of The Muppet Show opening (seasons 2-5 with the archways) or better yet, have Sweetums come out at the end a la The Muppet Movie. As for the new Pixar film, the creators originally wanted to have a wrestling scene with the title character and his brother, and then go around Paris annoying random people. I think it was going to be called "Boratatouille".
Originally Posted By dshyates First you need to take into account they are about to rebrand the park disney/PIXAR studios. With exactly ONE Pixar attraction (Toy Story Mania). With Lasseter in charge my money won't be on Rizzo et al. And if they are to include AAs of any kind in an expensive table service restaurant, please for Gods sake don't whip the kids into a frenzy. A small show kitchen off to the side. with kitchen rumble and that flash of fire you get when they flambe something once every 6 minutes is all you need.
Originally Posted By aracuanbird FoxHound...great catch. Really, for years I pined for this project to happen with Muppets in the kitchen. I'd all-but-forgotten it. The Remy connection rocks.
Originally Posted By aracuanbird FoxHound...great catch. Really, for years I pined for this project to happen with Muppets in the kitchen. I'd all-but-forgotten it. The Remy connection rocks.
Originally Posted By FoxHound Thanks aracuanbird! Of course it's purely speculation, but really, if they do something with the movie, it seems like the cheapest option to take over an existing restaurant with the foundation already set up for animated rodents. I'd assume they'd wait to see how the movie does before any kind of attraction is built. I guess some people might get grossed out by animatronic rats in a restaurant, but those folks probably would stay away anyway (or run out, disgusted, screaming, complaining to CM's----because of cute little talking, cartoonish, robotic Remy).
Originally Posted By FoxHound Well, since "Pixar Place" was announced for the Studios, it seems like Mama Melrose's probably won't add any rats. However, if the movie does well, maybe we'll see a "Le Ratatouille" restaurant somewhere else---the movie seems to pitch the idea.
Originally Posted By ChiMike A month ago I thought the idea was ho-hum, but after seeing the movie twice in two weeks I will tell you that I could see it being a great idea for Mama Melrose's. They need to make the Studios cohesive. If it has to be Disney Pixar Studios, well, then, do it right. This would be a great piece of the puzzle.
