And the Judges report...
I was all over this one! What wonderful ideas! I would like to eat at all of them at least once! Here are my critiques:
Haunted Hogwarts
Cute name! Not usually a fan of Harry Potter, but this is well thought out and fun! I like the announcing of the table assignments with the hat (I did see that part of the movie). Calling the patrons first year students. Great! You should be a Disney Imaginer! I liked the image of the waiter too, much fun for the kids here. Catered to the masses by having three meals with characters. You kept the 999 ghosts! I am so happy. If only I could have eaten with the ghosts at our tables. English food was a bit of a drawback, as I am not a fan of that, but many meals this judge has eaten in WDW for the atmosphere alone, and I would absolutely love to try yours. It was tops on my list for creativity, but the fact that you used a Warner Brothers movie theme necessitates me taking off a point. My Score:4.0
Muppet 3D
This is sounding good just from the name alone! The Muppets were my favorite growing up. I like the number for Disney Dine, and it is the right one, I have it saved in my cell phone and had to check! Reading further, I had been thinking it would be a make your own meal kind of thing ala BDs Mongolian BBQ or something. You know, from the title. Not to be. The seating sounds fun! Like all the characters, but where is Animal? Loved the meal names, Fozzy Navel, cute! Brunch is a nice idea. You had the basics covered, but the little details could have been more interesting. I would go to see my favorite childhood characters, Kermit and Ms Piggy, but I would not be dying to go there. It would be a walk up and see if they have room scenario. My Score: 3.0
Chickapin Hill and the Chickapin Café
Okay, what didnt you think of? You covered all the bases and then some! You also had a fast service café, like they would at WDW. I liked all the areas and choices of places to sit! The moving tables with the well thought out gentle slopes were genius! Might be a little logistically hard. I am not a Splash Mountain fan or Jungle book either, but the restaurant sounds like so much fun that I would have to eat there more than once to get to be in all the places you laid out. The food sounds wonderful as well as atmosphere. Lots of hard work and planning shows. You also should be an Imagineer. My Score: 4.95
Zazu and Iagos Enchanted Tiki Room
I normally only go to the Tiki room to get cool when it is hot, so Buh bye, I will not miss it! Pre show is creative and informative. The costumes were creative as well. I love the layout of the restaurant. I thought it might be tough to seat very many people in such a small place, but making it three stories and having balconies was very creative. The menu looks great; I got a giggle at the mushrooms not making the filter! I like the idea of the heroes being the breakfast characters, but it didnt really fit in too well. I might have gone for characters from Aladdin Genie would have fit better and they boys could have had Aladdin and Genie, while the girls would have liked Jasmine. What do they serve for breakfast that is more Polynesian? I like the American stuff, but a change would be nice. Not marking off for your menu choices, just wondering really. My Score :3.0
Space Munchin
LOVE the title of the restaurant! No need to get rid of Space Mountain, as the space next to it near Cosmic Rays is always closed when we go, could use that. Not marking off, just hoping a Disney Imagineer that is looking to steal ideas reads this and DOES SOMETHING with that space! Smart using standby line and fast pass lines too! I like the way in which you described everything, in story form. The food sounds good, but you were supposed to come up with a character breakfast as a requirement, and I didnt see one. I love Mickey and the rest as astronauts. Atmosphere seemed fine, but missing the oomph. Good to see the TV screens stayed. Again, more of a walk up situation. One point came off for missing the breakfast. My Score: 2.0
Tower Club
Okay, on top of Tower of Terror? Not going to drop, you promise? I dont like falling! Sounds elegant! Glad you kept the bellhop costume. Little seen characters, I will buy that. The menu is different, keeping with the unusual. I like the heart healthy breakfast burrito. The food sounds great. I am having a little trouble combining elegance and unusual. I would go there because the food sounds great, but you are sort of losing me on the atmosphere. My Score 2.5
Pirates of the Cafeteria
Not liking the title so much right now. Boy, it is not a cafeteria like I ever saw! Many menu choices, you covered any food anyone would want at breakfast. I like the characters too, very different from the standard Disney fare! I like the Pirate sword/food server idea, very cute and very Disney. You put a lot of thought into the process of getting orders and then going to the buffet, and then back to the boat. For atmosphere you get high marks as far as the idealistic view. The costumes are the most creative and fitting of the bunch! You probably could not have that many people in there at once, though or gridlock would occur. I really like the idea of keeping it a ride and restaurant. Very creative. It does not meet the requirement of the ride being closed to make way for a restaurant. The food sounded good, what you would already find at Disney, which is okay with me. I liked it, but dont really think it could work. I would definitely want to go there though! I dont think it met the requirement for closing the ride, but was so creative. One and 1/2 points off for keeping the ride open and not really feasible. My Score 3.0
Haunted Mansion: Very thorough and well put together entry. The food choices were not appetizing to me, although probably very accurate for what you are portraying. You used very detailed descriptions and clear images so there were nothing left unclear, I could easily picture the restaurant in my head. What is unclear to me, however, is why you are using a Warner Brothers franchised property for a Disney Restaurant. This was part of the rules for the challenge:
Your restaurant must stay true to the attraction
Redoing the Haunted Mansion themed on a licensed character from a competing studio is not holding true to the attraction at all.
Surely you know that would be a lawsuit waiting to happen, right? That factor took a major chunk off your score for me because in any business venture, you have to check to be sure you are okay on all avenues, especially legal ones. Score: 4.5 - 2 point penalty assessed for a violation of copyright, which makes the entire theming of your restaurant off - Score: 2.5
Muppetvision 3D: You had one of my favorite group of characters to work with. I love the Muppets! Very creative seating arrangements (SwineTrek). Loved the extra entertainment with MAMMA. Adding a gift shop was a great idea and something to make the Disney corporation proud! I love the idea of naming dishes after the Muppets themselves, but I wish the menu had some more choices. That was the only downside for me. Score:4.5
Splash Mountain: I see that someone has finally learned what Mean Laureen keeps preaching - details, details, details! WOW! You left nothing out! The added details were fantastic. You even created a song/dance interactive element for kids? Wonderful! The only possible thing I could see to make this project even better would be more attention to the actual menu and description of the food. Well done, and I'm not just talking about the steaks! Score: 4.9
Tiki Lounge: Ahh! Another contestant that is giving me the details I love to see. LOVED the banter between Iago and Zazu and William and Morris! Great touch! The images were perfect. I loved how you altered them to show how the tableware would look. Your entry showed more promise in the food area with a better choice and more detail about the food. Love the idea of a boy themed character meal. That is something sorely needed at WDW. Very well done - But there was one thing that killed it for me. You have alcohol offered on your menu. Walt wanted the Magic Kingdom to remain a dry park. Since I'm a firm believer in sticking to real details (as I stuck the Haunted Mansion project with a penalty for using another Studio's franchised property which would be against copyright laws) I feel I need to knock some points off of your score for a big detail that was overlooked. Score: 4.75 - 1 point penalty for alcohol in a dry park - Score:3.75
Space Mountain: Clever name for the restaurant. Good to see the Fab 5 hang out at your eatery! I do wish you had gone into more detail though. Maybe a list of ingredients that the wraps could be made from? One thing I would add to your menu? The chocolate chip cookies like the ones they projected onto the ceilings to look like meteors! You had a good base idea but needed to run further with it. Remember, it's all about the details. Score: 2.5
Tower of Terror: You said "The uniqueness of our dining experience is the unusual." I was thinking that myself when I first started reading your entry. When I peeked to see what was doing what attraction after returning, I somewhat brainstormed myself about these restaurants, asking myself "what would you do". It never occurred to me to turn the TOT into a fancy ballroom dining hall. I automatically assumed it would take on a Twilight Zone type feel. So you do get me there with thinking outside of the obvious. I would have never thought upscale adult type atmosphere! It does work though. I like your choice of foods and like how you listed the prices just like a real menu. The addition of the jazz band was nice. I can see me and my husband wanting to take a night away from the kids for an adult only getaway here. I will preach to you as I did to some of the others though, details can make or break you. Look how some of your competitors described every last detail. Good overall project though. Score: 4.0
Pirates of the Carribean: Well I can guarantee that you will have people flocking to your restaurant. The women will be coming in droves to see the Johnny Depp lookalike while the budget conscious dads will love the fact that you have probably the best price for an inclusive buffet on property! The description of the food was top notch. Not quite sold on hitting the buffet by boat though. I think the water would be quite messy after one or two spills. The character breakfast sounds interesting and a departure from the normal characters. I like that! I think you have a solid idea but have some bugs that would need to be worked out to make it feasible. I was a little disappointed in your images based on their size. It was hard to see what you were trying to show us, especially the map at the end. You have alcohol offered on your menu. Walt wanted the Magic Kingdom to remain a dry park. Since I'm a firm believer in sticking to real details (as I stuck the Haunted Mansion project with a penalty for using another Studio's franchised property which would be against copyright laws) I feel I need to knock some points off of your score for a big detail that was overlooked. Score: 3.75 - 1 point penalty for alcohol in a dry park -Score: 2.75
Hi all
FOOD one of my favorite subjects made this a Great one to Judge
First up Haunted Hogwarts....
Ok first thing i have to say is Harry Potter is NOT disney but since the Hosts didn't specifically say you had to use Disney
i wll not hold that against you. Although I would suggest sticking to Disney in the future.
Good attention to detail and i Liked that some of Haunted mansions regulars joined the cast.
I give you a 3
MUPPET 3D....
Love this one My Daughter would drive me crazy if we didn't go she loves Kermit.
I like the tables fashioned after Pigs in space that was one of my favorite bits on the Muppet show.
Family style restaurants are a big hit with me. I like that style of service.
Keeping the main entry orginal is a nice touch.
I also liked that you included info on pricing and discounts
I say a 4
Chickapin Hill and the Chickapin Café....
When the Hosts asked for details You took them seriously... WOW is all I can say I think you covered everything except the location of
the restrooms and if i reread your entry I may find it in there (LOL) I was impressed . Not sure i would be able to enjoy a moving table
but with all the options you offer i am sure everyone could find something that works for them.
Nice touch donating to the Hurricane (Just so everyone knows I scored this entry without using that fact just wanted to acknowledge it)
I give you a 4.5
Zazu & Iago Tiki Lounge...
Having never been to the Tiki Room I am glad you described your place in detail
I like the adventure breakfast My kinda meal.
You did a good job describing everything
not really sure why but this one just didn't GRAB my attention
I say 3
Space Munchin' ...
I love the concept and the way it was written as a story rather than just a list of facts.
That being said however I want more details about the place. Pretend i have never been to Space mountain
i don't know what pictures you are talking about.
Wraps may be Okay for some people but not for me i wished for a little more variety in the menu.
I did like the characters dressed as astronauts that was cool
Again I must say a 3
The Tower Club...
A formal dining experience in WDW. Very nice and eating at the top of the tower would be cool
can we look out and see MGM???
Sounds like a nice place to take the wife to celebrate a special event.Live Big band music is a treat.
We would have to take advantage of Disney childcare back at the room, Not sure kids would enjoy this as much
as adults but that may be part of its Draw
Great menu and i am glad to see the bellhops stayed
you get a 4
Pirates of the Cafeteria...
Is anyone surprised that the Pirate one is MY FAVORITE after all who was the best Survivor Pirate ever??
Oh that was ME wasn't it?
Love the details
Love the menu
What else can I say
Great Job Matey
I give ye a 5
Haunted Hogwarts -- It's a great concept, plenty of detail, very interesting menu. I haven't read the books so I don't know how well it captures the atmosphere. Harry Potter is popular and I'm sure will continue to be so, and this would be a very popular restaurant. There is only one negative I can see, but it's a big one -- the Harry Potter movies were produced by Warner Brothers, so I'm sure that there would be a HUGE problem in Disney getting permission for this. You could have done something Disney-themed like Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party or Nightmare Before Christmas or kept with the current Haunted Mansion theme. Score -- 2.75
Muppet 3D Experimental Meal Experience -- Very timely with the anniversary. This is a great concept. I love the tables resembling the Swine Trek. The menu looks good but there could have been a bit more variety offered. Score -- 4.7
Chickapin Hill and the Chickapin Cafe -- Great details, very inventive concept with the moving tables. It's been done with revolving restaurants, but I've never seen or heard of anything on a track like this. A big part of me likes it, but a small part of me wonders how well it would work. Overall, I do like the idea. I loved the menu; I think I gained weight just reading it. I did notice a big focus on Louisiana cuisine. Joel Chandler Harris, who wrote "Song of the South" was originally from Georgia, which is where I believe the stories and the movie were based. I can appreciate you having different food from across the South. I did see okra, key lime pie, and gravy offered, but I didn't see any barbecue or Brunswick stew. Score -- 4.2
Enchanted Tiki Lounge -- You have a great concept with a lot of detail and a great character meal many have wanted to see for years. I would have given you a 5, but you included alcoholic beverages and the MK is a dry park. Score -- 4.5
Space Munchin' -- Good concept but not a lot of details. A lot more could have been done with this. The menu was very limited and I did not get a good feel for the interiors. Score -- 3.5
The Tower Club -- A 1930s pre-WWII jazz club. I'm trying to think, does even Paradise Island have something like this? Outstanding and classy idea, great details on the menu. Maybe some more details on the entertainment, though. Score -- 4.5
Pirates of the Cafeteria -- Very clever concept and a lot of detail on the menu. The floating concept, like the Chickapin Cafe, is interesting and different. I have to wonder, though, how limiting it might be for some diners to come and go as they wish. Again, I have to deduct points for having alcohol in a dry park. Score -- 3.75
Haunted Hogwarts
I loved all the detail here. Everything from the sorting hat to adding Madame Leota to the teachers, and keeping the singing busts. Every meal here is a full character meal. I liked your food choices and loved that you offered a recipe for treacle tart. As other judges noted, you used a non-Disney property, but let's face it, Disney is NOT closing the Haunted Mansion and turning it into a restaurant. This is a game of "what if", and I found your entry brilliant. No deduction from me on using a WB franchise.
The only thing I worry about on your idea is the use of smoke for the food to appear. Makes one wonder about those with asthma, allergies or the smoke affecting the flavor of the food. I also would have very much liked to have seen at least a suggestion of prices or range of prices for each meal.
4.25
Muppet 3D Experimental Meal Experience
I liked all the detail you used in the description of the decor. However, this really confuses me;
"Food will be served family-style, with platters of the different offerings brought to each table, and guests helping themselves to whichever items they want."
Then you list a LOT of food offered for brunch. Are we to go over to the table next to us for lamb or turkey and expect fellow diners to come to our table for the salad or whatnot? Novel idea but I think I'd prefer a traditional buffet line with sneeze guards, thank you very much.
4.0
Chickapin Hill and the Chickapin Café
I am a bit confused by the name as it doesn't really follow this bit for me.
"*What the name of the restaurant would be - it should
hold some ring of familiarity to the attraction name but
should not be identical."
But there may be a connection I've not made.
Your use of detail in everything from safety precautions, the songs and the menu was spot on. I worried a bit at first about moving table, but three inches a minute is quite novel, and once you carefully detailed safety measures, I wanted to go there. You also offered many, many choices. Outside seating for those wishing a quiet meal, family sized dishes, you even have a quick café for those in a hurry. Very detail oriented and well done.
4.75
Enchanted Tiki Lounge
So much I liked in this entry. The character discussion, the servers apparel, your desserts, the characters you selected for your breakfast. You really did shine in those areas.
Unfortunately your menu really lost me. I was forced to make assumption that a family of 4 to 6 people had the option of selecting 2 appetizers and 3 entrees, as it wasn't very clear. Also, in your appetizer selection, it read,
"Pork Potstickers
Chicken Wings Marinated in Satay Oil and Herbs, Baked then Dipped in Your Choice of Islands Spicy Sauce or Barbeque Sauce. Served with Ranch Dressing"
Then your "Waimea Wings" that followed had the same description. Have we mentioned how important details are?
Then, still in the appetizers, you offered;
'"The Islands" House Salad
An Hawaiian Classic and an Islands Specialty. Egg Noodles, Enoki and ****ake Mushrooms
Cooked in a Spicy Seafood Broth'
is it a pasta salad? I don't think I'd even try it to find out what this mess is supposed to be. Your menu seemed more Asian than Polynesian though. At least, the parts that even looked edible did. Such a shame really, because I liked the details in the rest of your menu and entry.
3.5
Space Munchin'
This whole entry was "phoned in". I understand you may have bigger fish to fry in your life right now, but judging this entry...(shaking his head).
You had me talking to myself, cutting through the wait and even told me what I felt. I think not. Ham, pineapple and brown sugar? Was I very ill that day? And, what precisely is "space music"? You told me I found the price "reasonable", and the food delicious but did nothing to prove to me I would. I was looking for a restaurant and not a story.
2.5
The Tower Club
Wow. Dinner and dancing, or little spotted character breakfast in a different atmosphere. A menu worth perusing. Set dinner hours, and no feeling of being rushed through a meal. The entire atmosphere quite different than usually seen in amusement park eateries.
Far and away my favorite entry. You may want to edit more carefully in the future though, you had one or two spelling errors, and didn't capitalize names, that sort of thing, as some can be quite persnickety about that sort of thing.
4.9
Pirates of the Cafeteria
I would feel truly sorry for anyone who had to actually prepare the food there. You tried to bury us with your menu didn't you? I have questions about some of your choices. People, including children climbing in and out of boats while carrying plates of food? How often do you intend on changing that water? Why did you not add any other Disney pirates, such as Captain Hook and Smee to your character cast? I did like your treasure map, so diners can find where to go, but they'll "bleep"-y well need it.
I think you had some great ideas, but didn't know when or where to stop. It would be an absolute nightmare to try and run this place.
3.9
Hi everybody!
It's been busy here so this weeks reviews will be short and sweet. Here they are:
Haunted Hogwarts-I absolutely loved your concept. Very well excuted down to the smallest of details! I'd love to eat here! However, I don't see Disney putting Harry Potter in the Magic Kingdom. They don't own the rights to him or his story. So, although I loved it, I felt I should penalize for this.
Total Score: 4 out of 5
Chickapin Hill Wow! I don't know what to say! You topped the charts with this one. What attention to every little detail! Just fabulous! Also loved your donation for the month of September.
Total Score: 5 out of 5
Zazu & Iago's Tiki Lounge Very nicely done.
Total Score: 3.5 out of 5
Space Munchin Nice ideas! Wraps are good astronaut food!
Total Score 3 out of 5
The Tower Club Good ideas, nice fit with the tower.
Total Score 3 out of 5
Pirates of the Cafeteria Interesting ideas. Maybe a bit overdone. I was surprised to see alcohol being served in the MK but didn't penalize for it. Who knows, it might be a nice addition!
Total Score 2.5 out of 5
Muppet Vision 3D restaurant This sounds like fun! I'd like to eat here!
Total Score 3.5 out of 5
OK, that's All my reviews! Sorry so short, pressed for time this week!
Emily
I am finished with my homework, here are my findings
Haunted Hogwarts-Good effort, wrong label.
If you stated you bought the rights first, then maybe we could do this. I like the idea, your setup is nice.
I had to take points off for lack of detail in the price of your meal as well as using a non-disney icon for your project.
Final score = 3.8
Muppet 3D Experimental Meal Experience-Nice style, character choice and price level.
Your detail was good, love Muppets in space idea for décor. The character interaction choices are awesome. Everybody thinks of Kermit but the kids really want Sweetums and Bean!
The price was nice but the dinner menu could offer a hair more.
Final Score = 4.7
Chickapin Hill-Decent effort, confusing layout.
Id do a napkin wave but the dance you're doing is a bit extensive to learn during a meal. The dining layout is a bit complicated with the floors spinning and moving. Open up the middle-make that the only part that revolves
then maybe. I have to knock off a little for lack of pricing detail.
The New Orleans flair to your dinner menu is a nice touch as well as the generous hurricane donation you added.
Final Score = 4.3
Zazu & Iagos Tiki Lounge-Good choice of Character meal and excellent Flair.
Ive always enjoyed the layout of the Tiki hut, I like the way you expand up in your design. The CM costumes are a nice touch, the dishware and atmosphere are also on my list of plusses for your restaurant idea.
The food offerings could use a bit more-too much chicken and Tofu, wheres the real food? Im really not one to eat a lot of chicken. Your cost for dinner is a tad high for the food you offer.
Final Score = 4.5
Space Munchin-Good idea that needs elaboration.
You were a little short in the detail. You were off to a good start in detailing the layout. There was only one character offered for the kids. The menu is more of a counter service menu than a sit down and there was no price detail.
Final Score = 4.0
The Tower Club-Very Nice!
Your food offerings were excellent, your detail divine. The ambiance and style were exquisite. The price level was reasonable for such an elaborate dining experience.
Couldve used a tad more on the character meal detail.
Final Score = 4.8
Pirates of the Cafeteria-Excellent Job!
Definite customer appeal, excellent pricing, good layout, excellent detail. Good theming, swords in serving, cute costumes.
You couldve used a better word to describe your CM headgear other than do-rag.
Final Score = 4.9
