Walt Disney Company (DIS) -) is at it again, this time at Disney World, bringing new and old beloved characters to its theme parks, to bring smiles to faces young and old. It’s clearly not new to have characters at the theme parks, but it is if it's unexpected.
Disney is constantly finding ways to create immersive experiences that draw in the theme park guests with characters, design, and flare, even borrowing from other companies' intellectual property.
With as much turtle love as exists still today, Disney World bringing in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, whose intellectual property is owned by Paramount Global (PARA) -), into its Hollywood Studios theme park was a great way to engage guests as the costume characters would demonstrate their karate moves, sing, dance, get photos taken and even sign autographs.
Another blockbuster that wasn’t Disney-owned but made it into a Disney theme park was James Cameron’s "Avatar." Disney’s Animal Kingdom was the perfect place to introduce Disney guests to Avatar’s Pandora, where its landscape and alien life fit in seamlessly with two rides: Na’vi River Journey and Flight of Passage.
Unlikely Guests Attend Epcot International Food & Wine Festival
Disney World’s Epcot’s International Food and Wine Festival will run from July 27 through Nov. 18, and during that time, two familiar guests will not only be in attendance, but will also host the Brew-Wing at the Odyssey global marketplace. Iconic Muppets character Dr. Bunsen Honeydew, who was featured in Muppets Lab sketches on "The Muppets Show" from its beginning and in all of the Muppets movies, will appear along and his unintelligible assistant Beaker, according to Theme Park Insider.
The Brew-Wing has more than a ‘Beaker’s’ dozen of different choices from tasty treat concoctions and something satisfying to wash them down with. Why would the Doctor and his assistant host a food convention of sorts? Well, it’s only obvious that when making and inventing new things to try and taste, science of the kitchen is involved. Too bad we didn’t see the Swedish Chef, but there is another opportunity for another day.
At The EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival presented by CORKCICLE, the future of food is being made today with Muppet Labs! Join Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and Beaker as they experiment with tasty flavors at the Brew-Wing Lab. 🧪 🍽️ pic.twitter.com/dmUbfFTT9j
— Disney Parks (@DisneyParks) July 7, 2023
Festival Menu Offers Tasty Foods and Drinks
Menu items include Orange-Cardamom Wings, Traditional Buffalo Wings, Impossible Buffalo Chicken Tenders, Scorching Hot Scotch Bonnet Pepper-Curry Wings, Peanut Butter and Jelly Sticky Wings, Garlic-Parmesan Wings, and Crispy Brussel Sprouts.
Beverage items include Sun King Brewing Caipirinha Lager, Brew Hub French Connection IPA, 3 Daughters Brewing Old Fashion Porter, Blake’s Hard Cider Co. Tropicolada Hard Cider, Bold Rock Reach Berry Hard Cider, 3 Daughters Raspberry Lemonade Hard Cider, Frozen Pomegranate Tea, Pickle Milkshake, Beer Flight and Cider Flight.
At first thought, you might wonder what are the good doctor and his assistant doing at Epcot. Turns out, according to Muppet Fandom, Disney bought the rights to the Muppets from the Jim Henson company back in 2004, so any Muppets could pop out of just about any Disney theme park at really any time. Wouldn’t that be a hoot seeing Link Hogthrob, the Muppet Police Chief patrolling the park, keeping guests safe and in line? Maybe checking out Mahna Mahna conducting in Magic Kingdom’s Main Street Philharmonic could happen too.
