Sunday Brunchies and
Crunchies: Maurice's Munchies
January 22, 2012
I just recently had the fortune of viewing the
theatrical release of Beauty and the Beast in 3D on the
glorious big screen, and though I did not have the favorite
theatrical treat of a bag of popcorn, the buttery, salty puffed and
popped snack came to mind while thinking of how to close our
Beauty and the Beast themed week for FromScreentoTheme.com. With
all the possible food related articles I could have written to
celebrate Beauty and the Beast and Disney Food, the perfect
topic came to me while discussing the film with friends. Though
recipes for Beef Ragout, Cheese Souffle, Pie, and Pudding en flamb'
would have been great topics, my friend reminded me about a terrific
new(ish) outdoor food stand right in the heart of Fantasyland:
Maurice's Amazing Popping Machine.
Characters from Beauty and the Beast seem to
be popular proprietors of food establishments in Fantasyland. We
have seen Lumiere serve up French Fries in his Kitchen and Mrs.
Potts dish out ice cream from her Cupboard (you can read all about
that here in the very first edition of the Sunday Brunchies and
Crunchies series). With the upcoming 'Be Our Guest' Restaurant for
New Fantasyland, those characters closed up shop for bigger and
better things. Fortunately, Belle's father Maurice decided
Fantasyland still needed a taste of what was coming.
Popping up sometime around 2011, Maurice's Amazing
Popping Machine opened shop by the construction walls of
Fantasyland, close to the scattered seating area where Dumbo once
flew. In addition to popcorn, this stand also sells bottled water,
soda, and the usual ice cream and frozen treats found in Disney
World. Maurice's Machine had multiple functions!
Though many of these stands are set up around the
park, the Imagineers did incredibly well with this one; not only is
it functional in its purpose, but for the environment and the time
of its opening as well. First of all, Maurice's Machine provides a
preview of what kinds of theming elements we'll be seeing with the
new Beauty and the Beast themed area of New Fantasyland, and
if this is just a popcorn stand, imagine how great the actual
restaurant will be! Secondly, one can fantasize or formulate how it
exactly contributes to the story of Fantasyland and its new
additions.
The Imagineers always come up with some story to
nearly everything in the parks. They even drew one up for an
attraction name change when Cinderella's Golden Carrousel became
Prince Charming's Regal Carrousel. Though I have not read any
official back story to this little stand, I can guess as to what it
could be. In Beauty and the Beast, Maurice leaves town and
travels through the forest to go to the fair to exhibit his Wood
Chopping Contraption. As we know, he misses the fair, and the
machine is never presented. Additionally, Chip destroys that machine
in his successful efforts to rescue Maurice and Belle, who were
trapped in his basement workshop. Surely, Maurice cannot let his
life's work go to waste, so after Belle moves in with the Prince, he
travels from the castle back to his workshop to dream up his next
invention.
Screen Capture from Walt Disney Pictures Beauty and the Beast
On his way home, he passes the farmlands on the
outskirts of the village, passing hay stacks and cornfields. Then,
inspiration hits him! Anyone can chop wood, they don't need an
invention for that. But popcorn is not quite as common as wood
choppers. Once back in his workshop, he grabs his favorite
dog-legged clincher and recycles all of the coils, metal pipes,
chimneys, and dials from his previous invention. Maurice strikes up
a deal the farmer of the cornfield, and gathers up several bushels
of ears to supply his Amazing Popping Machine.
When New Fantasyland officially opens, the walls
will come down to reveal a Fantasy Forest that was always there and
we've never seen. In the meantime, Maurice has left his village and
went through the forest to present his latest invention at the
tournament fair that's taking place in the Cinderella Castle
Courtyard. Now guests from all over can enjoy the fruits of his
labor at the fair and pretty soon guests will be able to visit
Maurice's home and village. Perhaps he'll even let us see his
workshop too.
Screen Capture from Walt Disney Pictures Beauty and the Beast
The Disney theme parks are set a part from other
theme parks by the stories they tell not just in their attractions,
but in the whole environment as well. Everything plays a part,
everything has a purpose. Be it futuristic talking trash bins in
Tomorrowland to Prince and Princess restroom signs in Fantasyland,
there is nothing too small to tell a tale. So next time you're in
Fantasyland, grab a bucket of Maurice's popcorn and think of this
story or let your own imagination create a tale as old as time.