Unless Disney's planning on losing its liquor license and getting a record fine from the state of Florida, I think we can assume that the kids in that picture ain't drinkin' beer.
From the picture, Gaston's Tavern looks, uh, heavily inspired by the Hog's Head Pub in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando's Islands of Adventure. This would hardly be the first example of Disney knocking off a competitor's design or concept. (Take a ride on the Log Flume at Knott's Berry Farm sometime.) But should Disney go for a straight copy of Butterbeer, or try something a bit different?
That's my "what would you do?" question for you.
Splash Mountain won raves and an enduring fan base not because it copied Knott's Log Flume, but because it took that basic design and layout and fused it with "Song of the South" to create a unique narrative and musical experience. If Disney thinks that offering "Butterbrew," or whatever they call it, in the Magic Kingdom will be enough to keep potential visitors from heading up I-4 to Universal Orlando, I think Disney's underestimating its audience.
Butterbeer's a hit not just because it's a tasty drink (which it is). Fans love Butterbeer because it gives them a rare chance to experience a beloved theme using their sense of taste, as well as their eyes and ears. Butterbeer was part of the Harry Potter books and movies and by tasting it - and using that additional sense to do so - fans feel even more connected with that Wizarding World.
Beauty and the Beast doesn't offer any such imaginary food. That puts Disney is a bit of a bind. First, there's no unique food or drink from the movie that fans have been dying to try. (Though I'd love to sit down for that animated feast!) Second, since Butterbeer was imaginary, Universal was free to make it taste like something unusual - which it did. Despite the fears of some parents, Butterbeer tastes nothing like alcoholic beer. It's a sweet, butterscotch-like drink that has as much in common with alcohol beer as root beer does.
If Disney simply copies that, it won't be offering a unique taste, as Universal did, for Butterbeer now already exists. And if Disney simply tries to create a non-alcoholic version of beer for its kid visitors, well, O'Doul's already exists, too, doesn't? And does Disney really want to endure the potential parent backlash from hawking that to kids?
So either Disney just settles for copying Universal (boring!) or it needs to find some unique flavor and identity for its frothy mug beverage.
Personally, a creamy chocolate/peanut butter drink sounds absolutely delightful to me. If I were in Disney's test kitchen, I'd be looking to popular milkshake flavors for inspiration in trying to find a new flavor for a creamy-headed soft drink.
But what do you think?
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As far as saying that Gaston's Tavern looks like a rip of of Hog's Head, I think that's a bit much. Sure it MAY look like Hog's Head, BUT it will more than likely look like how it did in Beauty and the Beast, which was around LONG before the Potter movies.
Maybe something with rose?
http://bit.ly/leUzfD
(Conflict of interest, I run this site)
By the way Zena.
Is that the " Ye Olde Jerusalem" pub in Nottingham Castle ? Think it dates back to 1100 and is a very nice pub.
As for beverages, I'd go for a signature labled Root Beer or Crem Soda with characters from the flick on the label(s)
1. I actually think the artist's rendering of the pub looks a heck of a lot like the one in the actual movie...which was probably the whole point, right?
2. I'd say Disney doesn't even attempt to create a "new" drink. I'd just go with brewing their own line of root beer, birch beer, white birch beer, vanilla cream soda. Sell floats and bottles of the stuff to take home. They can easily make a ton of money selling something unique and delicious without flat out copying Universal. That's how I've always imagined the pub, anyway.
Heck, I don't even care if they team up with A&W or Barq's or whatever and sell their root beers. The point is that it's a pub that sells turkey legs and other counter service food along with big frosty mugs of cold drinks. It's gonna serve it's purpose.
I don't think people should read too much into it.
I wouldn't be surprised to find out that it's just rootbeer, like old bar in Bear Country used to serve. And if it is coming up with it's own beer, of course it isn't butterbeer, silly to even consider Disney expecting it to do that well. Nonetheless, it could provide a fun and unique experience for those younger kids to taste something that they equate to beer, something they can't have, whether it be because it's fiction or their age.
As for the design of the pub. I think it looks like the movie, which I need not point our predates Potter. Not only that, but it looks bigger, less crooked and more french country that Hogs Head anyway. I think it was somewhat unjust, uncalled for, silly....something.... to say it looks like a copy
I don't think Disney really has a "signature" drink that was found in any film.
What they should be doing is going beyond that and providing a unique experience... or at least seemingly unique. Maybe a Little Mermaid themed restaurant, or even though some people are sick of Pixar themed attractions, a Wall-E themed space station where you DON'T get fat.
If this is true, it seems rather desperate and pathetic. Universal found a magic formula to drive attendance to record numbers based on the most successful movie franchise to date.
I am starting to like Disney less and less, and we used to be hardcore visitors. I think a lot of it has to do with the awful shows they crank out.. they are simply awful.
I'm sure many will say it's harmless, but so were candy cigarettes, and they don't make those anymore. It's just in poor taste, I think. The last thing we need is kids emulating drinking.
Just my thoughts - for comparison sake, I also find the fighter jets over the Castle disturbing - I mean, juxtaposing war machines over the symbol of the happiest place on Earth. I can't think of anything more creepy.
The picture is kind of disturbing (kids drinking beer). But even if people wouldn't freak about giving their kids Near Beer (yes, I am that old to remember the term), kids wouldn't drink it. I will readily admit, I am a beer snob to an extent. I don't drink "yellow, fizzy beers". You are not going to get NA Guinness. You get NA Milwaukee's Best. No child is going to like that taste of that. Not that they would like the Guinness either, but my point is near beer tastes terrible!
The milkshake idea seems to be the best so far.
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Sorry kids!