Originally Posted By Admin This topic is for Discussion of: <a href="http://www.LaughingPlace.com/Blogs/Maletic/View-77.asp" target="_blank">7/13/07 Ratatouille in World Showcase?</a>
Originally Posted By twirlnhurl I think that there are too many places where the awesome Ratatouille characters would fit better then the France pavilion. I am not entirely averse to having a cartoon presence in the World Showcase, but they need to keep the focus on the country in question. The Gran Fiesta Tour walks the line of characters and country quite well. Also, I don't mind the Hunchback artwork in the waiting area for Impressions du France, because the movie was based on a French book and the film faithfully recreated (in animated form) several Parisian landmarks. If Disney wants a Ratatouille restaurant,I hear Fantasyland has a huge empty space near Pooh's Playful Spot. I also hear that the Disney Studios has a dire need for new attractions. Why not consider those locations, where the character would feel more at home?
Originally Posted By magnet Ratatouille in EPCOT? No way, I'd hate it. Gran Fiesta is different because the focus is still on Mexico.
Originally Posted By figment1986 while it might fit in a sense... it doesn't fit in other senses. Bell and beast fit for meet and greets since it is a French tale... Ratatouille doesn't fit as its a American tale set in France. perhaps Remy can have a restaurant in mgm inside the pixar place?
Originally Posted By gmaletic >Belle and Beast fit for meet and greets since it is a French tale Interesting. I'd argue that Belle and Beast don't fit any better than Remy would. I mean, what other French fairy tale characters show up in the France pavilion? If the answer is "none" (I think it is), then you have to conclude that they're there because they're Disney characters, not because they're French.
Originally Posted By bobbelee9 Well it is Disney World. They are French characters from a Disney movie, that's the tie. Same with Pooh, Mary Poppins, Aladin, etc.
Originally Posted By gmaletic >Well it is Disney World. They are French characters from a Disney movie, that's the tie. Same with Pooh, Mary Poppins, Aladin, etc. Correct, but that's what I'm questioning in the post: is it okay to put Disney characters in the France pavilion just because they're French? When Epcot opened, I don't think it would have been. (The mission at that time was to provide a little slice of the "real" France, not do a "Franceland" populated with French Disney characters.) Not totally arguing that it's wrong; just noting that it's a definite change from what came before.
Originally Posted By ToonKirby >If the answer is "none" (I think it is)< The "Hunchback of Notre Dame" characters have appeared there as well. I have no problem with the characters appearing in the different countries, but I'm not sold on a full-fledged attraction based on an animated film there.
Originally Posted By gmaletic >Not totally arguing that it's wrong; just noting that it's a definite change from what came before. Let me clarify that statement: it isn't necessarily "wrong" to have characters in World Showcase, what's wrong is that it muddies the definition of what World Showcase is supposed to be. Which is precisely what the problem has been with Epcot as a whole since not long after it opened.
Originally Posted By bobbelee9 I know what you mean, and I'm not disagreeing. I guess the thinking was without the characters at EPCOT, younger kids wouldn't want to go, so maybe the parents wouldn't want to go either, or they'd just rush through. How many years did I hear that EPCOT is only for adults? Disney probably just took the easy way out to increase attendance.
Originally Posted By BrooklynsMom While I feel that a meet and greet would be ok, I do not feel that there needs to be an entire restaurant dedicated to this film in World Showcase. MGM would be a much better place for a restaurant of this kind. The Hollywood and Vine Character Breakfast with the Litlte Einsteins and Jojo is fantastic, perhaps another one of those would be perfect.
