presents...
Many years ago, Cryptids roamed the Earth searching for a place to fit in. While so many got lucky, a jackalope by the name of Jackie L. got stuck with not knowing what to do. One day, Jackie stumbled into the Hollywood scene where he gathered new knowledge of the film industry. It blew him away, and he saw that this is where he wanted to be. Yet, he was not an actor or director but had stellar cooking skills. This led him to become a caterer for many studios and productions across America. One day, when traveling to Florida, Jackie stepped into Walt Disney World after catering for a Disney Parks commercial shoot. On set, Mickey approached Jackie for a business proposal after trying some of his delicious food. Mickey proposed a new restaurant inside of Hollywood Studios. While he was hesitant to accept at first, Jackie accepted since Hollywood Studios celebrates the life of filmmaking (or at least it used to...). Jackie's restaurant immediately soared to new heights, bringing in many famous faces from the Hollywood scene. What is the name of this restaurant by the new face of Disney's Hollywood Studios? Well, it's none other than the Cryptid Cafe.
(Jackie L.)
ABC Commissary is replaced by Cryptid Cafe. The area around it is made a bit more spooky, mainly by darkening up some of the area making it seem more like an evening/dusk kind of vibe. Little flyers dot the area, for Cryptid Cafe and Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant, inviting people to come take a look. If you look down, you can see creature prints in the pavement leading up to the Cafe.
The exterior of Cryptid Cafe keeps the ABC Commissary look intact, as it has a lot of that art deco feel. Yet, instead of improving on it, we make it look worse. The building is painted a sea green with some faded spots here and there. Some faded posters feature previous acts that have appeared in the Cryptid Cafe, as well as posters with easter eggs to huge inspirations to this restaurant. The main striking point is the bright, neon sign that is meant to be the focal point of the exterior. Jackie L. is lit up in lights as the yellow letters light up the sky. The dark, gloomy nature of the building combined with the posters and neon creates a sense of mystery and curiosity about what might be in the building. For guests that enter the restaurant without knowing what is inside, it is a huge surprise.
With the current ABC Commissary boxed in on either side by the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater, and Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, major structural changes to the space for the Cryptid Café are not entirely possible. The layout of the restaurant does allow some minor updates to the physical space as it transitions from a quick service offering into a sit-down affair.
Still utilizing the current entrance, guests will continue to walk down the main corridor that does an excellent job of providing a grand entrance to the restaurant. Current barriers along this space will be updated to provide a more intimate dining experience for those in the dining rooms and leave guests first glimpse of the dining rooms for when they sit down. Dotting the walls of the entry are various photos of Jackie L, the restaurant’s patron, and many of his friends and odd acquaintances.
Here, guests with reservations or those checking on walkup capacity will be greeted by the host team and directed down the rest of the corridor to the newly constructed lounge until their table is ready. This new, comfortable seating spot takes up a portion of the now vacated ABC Commissary order and waiting area. The thematic choices from entry continue here as guests can take a few minutes to peruse the odd photos and memorabilia that dot the walls.
The layout of the old Commissary and now updated entrance and lounge produce two separate dining areas, each with their own unique style. Still utilizing the art deco style, the updated furnishings and fixtures of each room provide a more distinct look for the new Cryptid Café to accentuate the uniqueness of the restaurant itself, as well as provide more of a club/café type atmosphere. The design overall strikes a balance of mysterious and dark in keeping with the mood change to the park along the former Commissary Lane, but still light and inviting to make the overall dining experience a thoroughly enjoyable one.
Part of the redesign of the space also allows for the inclusion of several pop-up spots for Jackie L. to make appearances throughout the restaurant. Each dining room offers 3-4 of these spots in various alcoves and heights ensuring no matter your seat, you will have a great seat for any of his random drop ins.
Of course, one mustn't forgot our host, Jackie L. Much like Sonny Eclipse, Jackie makes an appearance in the restaurant via the magic of audio-animatronics. That's about where the similarities end, though. Jackie isn't really a singer and he doesn't have a dedicated stage, per say. Instead, he pops up in various places in the Café at different times to entertain nearby guests with stories of his more notable patrons as well as general banter. Unlike most animatronics, Jackie is controlled and voiced live by a hidden performer, to allow for more organic conversations and ensure no two meals are the same.
Some sample bits of dialog:
"Hey, what's with the "half-me in the headlights"-look? Never seen a jackalope before?"
"Any of you guys seen ol' Nessie recently? I've heard she's started an ice cream place nearby, but I haven't had the time to check it out."
"Come on, don't be afraid to order a lot; my family gets a whole feast when we eat out. Then again, I have at least 15 siblings, so..."
"Ah, the Chimichanga, excellent choice. That is actually El Chupacabra's favorite; the goat's blood really brings out the flavor. ...Just kidding! The goat's blood is a special request from him."
"Oh, hey! Bigfoot's here! How's it been, B.F.? Harold's new job treating him well? ...Wait a second... False alarm, everyone! It's just a guy with a beard."
"Actually, speaking of Bigfoot, did you know the guy was the stunt double for Lon Chaney in The Wolfman
and was the lead in the original King Kong? The range on that dude..."
"Now, I'm not exactly the singing type usually, but I just had to make a little song for one of my regulars. Ahem." (To the tune of YMCA) "Mothman/ There's no need to feel down/ I said, Mothman/ Lift that man off the ground"
MENU
Appetizers
Mothman Wings: Five chargrilled or fried wings served with a spicy black bean sauce
Sasquatch Salad: Al dente zucchini noodles or linguini tossed with pesto
Jersey Deviled Eggs: Deviled eggs pickled with beets with bacon and chives
Nessie's Special: Fried mixed seafood with cocktail sauce and lemon wedges
(Mothman Wings)
Entrees
Bicorn Burger: Fresh American bison with cheddar and barbecue sauce cooked to preferred temperature
Chupacabra Chimichanga: Deep fried burrito filled with goat meat, rice, refried beans, and a spicy "blood" red salsa
Fried Thunderbird: Chicken thighs and legs with a juniper berry jam and frybread on the side
Fur-Bearing Trout: Trout with a "fur" of fluffy rice atop it, served with tartar sauce
(Fur-Bearing Trout)
Dessert
Jackalope Chow: Vanilla ice cream topped with chocolate covered almonds, pretzels, and raisins
Huckleberry Pie: The state pie of Wyoming served with freshly made vanilla whipped cream
(Huckleberry Pie)
Cryptid Cafe is mean to bring you into a new, lavish atmosphere even with some of its gloomy looks, showing that you should never judge a book by its cover.
____
Credits:
-- great work on that btw I assume 
