The History Of Rainforest Cafe Mascots

Here is the 4th installment of season 2 of my “History Of” series
In this video I go over the history of every single Mascot and costume from the iconic & nostalgic restaurant chain Rainforest Cafe!
This video idea goes back to mid 2021 when I was trying to figure out what other Mascots I wanted to cover in the next season of the history of series. I then remembered that April was the month of Earth Day and Spring, so I wanted to do a mascot that was associated with those 2 things. What better mascot to do than the ones found at Rainforest Cafe!
I just want to thank all the websites and people who helped me complete this movie!
Shoutout to Chatty Chuck E for helping out with Info & pictures:
His KZbin account: / @chattychucke5535
Instagram
Chatty Chuck: / chatty_chuck
Rainforestcafearchive:
History of Big Al, the Alabama Crimson Tide mascot: • The History Of Big Al,...
NOTE: this channel is recommended for ages 13+ and NOT for kids. This channel may contain videos not suitable for children and have adult language or other things kids shouldn't be exposed to. While some of my videos may be ok for kids to watch I assure you the rest is sure as hell not!

[@petercaruso2502]

Paul Blart: Mall Cop was filmed at the Burlington Mall in Burlington, Massachusetts. I visited that mall on April 15, 2013 (Patriot's Day), but I didn't eat the Rainforest Cafe. I got pizza at the food court. I DID see the costumed "Cha Cha" (with vest) mascot from a distance. But didn't interact with him at all because I have a fear of costumed mascots. The Boston Marathon Bombings happened during my time at the mall. The Rainforest Cafe at the Burlington (MA) Mall operated from October 1998 to April 2016. I often threw coins at the animatronic alligator.

[@birchwwolf]

Former Cha! Cha! here (you even used some video of me in here, what a surprise!) About the color changes at 24:51: the colors would fade from sun exposure or improper cleaning and storage. The costumes were usually kept in a stairwell -- we didn't have space for a changing room. Appearance-wise, I was in a larger city with several locations and Cha! Cha! was expected to be out every hour on the hour for the six warmer months of the year. Tourist season! :) The colder months were more "by appointment only" like you mentioned. We only had the vest for Cha! Cha!. I'm pretty sure Texas and Florida were the only states that went all-in on outfits for him.

[@MichaelSar12IsBack]

I didn't know the non-Cha Cha characters had mascot costumes made. Very interesting. I also appreciate the use of a song from "Zoboomafoo" for the opening. I love that show!

[@ashcashgamer5770]

I loved Rainforest Cafe as a kid. I have old photos of me dining out there and I'm pretty sure for my 6th birthday, my parents took me there to celebrate my birthday. I am celebrating my 21st birthday on the 24th of this month but I'm not eating at Rainforest Cafe for that. I loved the rich jungle theming, the animatronic animals, the food, but I could not stand the simulated rainstorms with sounds of thunder and all the animatronics going insane as a kid. The nearest one is in Ontario Mills and I have many memories of it. Sadly, nowdays the fish tanks are empty, the animatronics are vandalized and broken, and it's a ghost town there. But I liked your video about it's mascot costumes! That brought back many memories of the restaurant chain. :)

[@bluegold1026]

I was unaware that Rainforest Cafe had mascots! I wish I had looked into them sooner. Cha Cha and the gang are adorable!!

[@chattychucke5535]

Great video as always! Glad I could help!

[@itzethan8216]

My favorite mascot Cha! Cha! And his other friends. (There’s so many characters to pick to like so I like all of the mascots)

[@jadenlee7516]

9:24 The frog's got a human in his throat! LOL 😂😂😂😂😂

[@aaronisacharacter]

On top of the college and sports mascots, Maydwell makes a lot of stage show costumes, especially for Koba Entertainment (Dora the Explorer Live, Backyardigans LIVE!, Franklin, etc.) as well as a lot of corporate and brand characters. They're a pleasure to work with.

[@skunkman9815]

Did you say backyardigans??!! I love the backies!!😊

[@hayleywaalen2612]

I wish there was a TV show based on this restaurant

[@jadenlee7516]

And I would be the voice of Cha Cha

[@hayleywaalen2612]

@@jadenlee7516 Cool

[@gwenbrown918]

@@jadenlee7516naw Chris prat will voice cha cha

[@lionblaze0384]

33:36 I froze in a cold sweat when you mentioned Monkey Joe. I lived at my local Monkey Joe's as a child. I went missing in a Monkey Joe's Slide and gave my mom a heart attack because I got scared to come down. Monkey Joe was my best friend. Monkey Joe's was my home. Please talk about Monkey Joe

[@Doofusfelix2]

he’s doing it!

[@TI_Tajador]

I never went to one as a kid because there wasn't one near me. However, I did see one when I went to Nashville a few years ago. I ended up buying a magnet from there, and it's still on my fridge :) Also, I really like how you used that song from Zoboomafoo in the intro!

[@Personalquestion]

Loved the zaboomafoo music at the beginning

[@StephentrainboyRailfanbrony]

I love this video and also I watched your channel videos and I love you man keep up the good work

[@SeanTheDisneyGuy]

I wish I could meet Cha Cha at any "Rainforest Cafe" location!

[@surfinshinji6845]

Great vid!! I went to the location at Mall of America when I was young, and maybe the one in Disney World too? I remember being kinda freaked out by the animatronics but otherwise really enjoying it! I had a Cha-cha t shirt that ended up being one of my favorite shirts and some sticky bugs and other toys from the gift shop :p

[@hayleywaalen2612]

It's still there.

[@mattgamer5420]

26:12 Anyone noticed Cha Cha with Chuck E. Cheese?

[@ralftoonz7474]

I did

[@Nolanthedisneyfan95]

Buffalo Wild Wings and the Chick-fil-A cows were also present!

[@maxproductions4164]

My favorite one is the first Maya costume because she looks similar to the pink panther

[@Nolanthedisneyfan95]

I felt the same vibes, also nice profile🎉

[@Drexify]

i just love the zoboomafoo introoo!! Good work!

[@jadenlee7516]

28:36 Ozzy should've had a personality similar to Gritty from Ed Snider

[@eman96744]

Yes I went to this place when i was a kid .

[@jaredtm4493]

It's a shame that you didn't use Welcome To The Jungle by Guns N Roses in this video.

[@greentree68]

It’s probably copyright reasons.

[@GtW714]

Don’t worry, he made up for it by putting “Hungry Like the Wolf” by Duran Duran in the credits for his new video where he talks about Great Wolf Lodge.

[@jaredtm4493]

@@GtW714 I know

[@RAINBOWFirendsFAN]

@@jaredtm4493Ok Ok we know ok ok ok

[@ThePrescriber]

Great video King 👑

[@PepperClarkalso]

Oh i remember this restaurant in Downtown Disney but now it's closed by a stupid star wars store they put in and i have ALL the figurines from there i got but i never seen the costumes but great video as always!

[@ivanthevaluable2559]

When I open up my own animation company, I will make a Rainforest Cafe cartoon called "Cha-Cha's Rainforest Diary" Tracy the Tree will be in it, and Iggy's name will be changed to Ivan

[@spongegenerator]

The first Bamba costume looks like a Bumba popsicle because his eyes look like gumballs that are used on Popsicles

[@theworldofcharacters8877]

We went to the forest cafe at Disney World in Disney Springs

[@averyb316]

I went to the Rainforest Cafe in Disney Springs in 2020 (right before Covid).

[@80sDisneyFan]

I first heard of Rainforest Café through the funding credits on Curious George DVDs lol.

[@maxproductions4164]

Me too

[@JoCox4048]

Me three

[@jadenlee7516]

Me four but on TV

[@Pizzacam-xf9hz]

To me I think the Bomba, Maya, and Tuki costumes were probably made by the same company that made the original Nile and Cha-Cha costumes

[@furbyadventures]

Cha-Cha the frog 🐸 I thought his name was cha-cha real smooth that's a joke

[@JacobFiveash]

I love your videos!

[@Nolanthedisneyfan95]

His puppets are like Jim Henson resurected

[@skunkman9815]

My favorite rainforest cafe characters are cha cha and tuki

[@Nolanthedisneyfan95]

But the first tuki costume was nightmare fuel😮

[@brianbartee01]

Toot! Elephant! 0:04

[@jadenlee7516]

16:48 Chuck E's Favorite Song!

[@Nolanthedisneyfan95]

And it hits pretty hard😂

[@alexbowen3854]

do the oregon ducksmascot costume history please

[@RosetheOtterOfficial]

I like this video also @Nathan Spies I like the puppets you're very talented!! also I say my favorite Rainforest Café mascot(s) is Maya & Rio 🦜🐆

[@gonkdroid3712]

Even though this doesn’t relate to rain forest cafe. You should make the history of Corpus Christi’s Chuck E. Cheese a man died there a while ago

[@gonkdroid3712]

Well a man did die there

[@jimbofamily3536]

I love rainforest cafe

[@skunkman9815]

The maya costume kinda has a koala nose

[@bewearstar9462]

I have been to 2 of they one in San Francisco and one in Chicago when it was still open

[@pawpetassociates]

You should do a history video of McDonaldland mascots!

[@sandrawalls-anderson4936]

Thanks chatty chucky

[@sandrawalls-anderson4936]

0:43 so creative

[@anthonymarziano9984]

I imagine the rainforest case was a exiting place to go to, when are you going to upload another video.

[@NathanSpies]

Not sure

[@Therealcory9]

🎉😊😅❤huujijnjjj

[@jamessartstudio7904]

I'm really sad about the Paul Blart Mall Cop location because that was my childhood Rainforest Cafe

[@Nolanthedisneyfan95]

What is the song in the beginning? I have watched this video about 10 times and still don't know the name. Also was it played in the restaurant? If so me and my family went to the Disney Springs location in Nov 7 2023 and did not hear this song?

[@Looney-Toons119]

Hey I have a question about rainforest Cafe and I'm not talking about the mascots When and were did the first rainforest Cafe closed Or how many locations closed

[@NathanSpies]

The first rainforest cafe opened in 1994 at the mall of America, it then relocated to a different floor of the mall in 2016 where its still open. In total about 35 locations have closed since the early 2000s

[@Looney-Toons119]

@@NathanSpies ok I understand also that's a lot of closures

[@Looney-Toons119]

Oh and btw curious George funding rainforest Cafe makes a hole lot of sense because monkeys are like rainforest animals so I respect that

[@spongegenerator]

Is the Chuck E. Cheese history video of Florence Kentucky going to come out this month

[@spongegenerator]

The gray wolf water park mascot I get why are you gonna make it come out in June because that’s when summer hits

[@bradleycotton3237]

Who thinks they should make a cartoon with the Wild Bunch characters? I’ve already picked out the title. _The Wild Bunch!_ And as for the cast, here’s my picks. Rob Paulsen as Cha-Cha 🐸 Tom Kenny as Ozzie 🦧 Jim Cummings as Iggy 🦎 Kevin Michael Richardson as Bamba and Nile 🦍🐊 Sofia Vergara as Rio 🦜 Ariel Winter as Tuki 🐘 I don’t know who’d voice Maya the jaguar though. 🐆 But I’m sure the characters would talk about animals, their habitats, and how to protect them from becoming endangered and caring for the environment.

[@ivanthevaluable2559]

Myself, I'd make a cartoon about them on Velazquez Entertainment. The show would be called "Cha-Cha's Rainforest Diary" and would follow the adventures of our lovable tree frog and his friends going on adventures in what is known as the Ramblin' Rainforest. The cast would be the same as your comment, but I think Tress MacNeille would be the actress for Maya the Jaguar, and Tracy Tree, who would also be in it.

[@ivanthevaluable2559]

Me: *hears the name "Iggy Iguana"* Also me: *COUGH COUGH* TEXAS ROADHOUSE

[@jadenlee7516]

Lol

[@primusvsunicron1]

Yak & Yeti is also in Animal Kingdom

[@jadenlee7516]

I heard of Rainforest Cafe when watching Curious George

[@Nolanthedisneyfan95]

I never knew R.C sponsored tv shows until I watched this

[@jaydensmith2943]

I like to think that cha cha is a relative to Kermit the frog

[@superjefftheallenginesgoan9646]

Ah cool 😎 cha Cha the tree frog is with the buffalo wild wings mascot chuck e cheese the culver's mascot the Chick-fil-A cow and a inflatable T-Rex mascot

[@cool644]

Can you do Great Wolf Lodge next

[@GigaChadObject]

20:30 true

[@Lazystone]

As a kid when I walked in I was scared of the animatronic snake, the fake thunder and that talking tree with the creepy eyes.

[@TheIntelligentElephant71133]

This where i am going too next month for vacation 🐸 🦍 🦧 🦜 🐊 🦎 🐆 🐘

[@brandonharrischannel7516]

I’ve been to that one

[@memethyst]

wow i didnt know there were other characters besides chacha

[@Scream.619]

I remember going there when they had it at Downtown Disney

[@gemmycorneralt8343]

thinking about trying to get the gemmy doll

[@jadenlee7516]

33:36 Foreshadowing

[@NathanTagalicorn12345]

Question: Why can't these mascots be on for sale?

[@NathanSpies]

Because they are owned by Landry’s Inc

[@pikachuhutch234]

@@NathanSpies Do a Mascot concept for the Golden State Warriors please?

[@rexentertainment5255]

i went to the raintforest cafe but i went there at niagara falls

[@Ian-es3ec]

Never knew rainforest cafe has a history

[@deionpehowdy]

Me Neither.

[@ralftoonz7474]

I found out who made one of the early cha cha costume. It was made by Tracy waller. 10:22

[@superjefftheallenginesgoan9646]

Can you do the history of buc-ee the buc-ees mascot

[@michealdixon1273]

I went there twice as a kid. The first time I went I was terrified of the gorillas and elephants but the second time I went was when I went with my friends and we were seated next to the elephants and I wasn't really afraid of them anymore. We had fun though. I wish there was one in baltimore.

[@Invaderzimheavymetal]

The second Chacha mascot that you talked about this actually the first mascot tell me if I'm right or I'm wrong I could be right

[@brandonharrischannel7516]

There’s one in gurnee mills

[@jessicamartin321]

0:00 Animals (Zoboomafoo Warning) Who Could it Be? Song

[@jessicamartin321]

Zoboomafoo

[@eduardorenteria2695]

I ❤ r a I n f o r e s t c a f a

[@coolkid57456]

yee haw

[@coolkid57456]

@Aito H a normal cowboy says it

[@counterstrikeglobaloffensive28]

my local rainforest cafe in auburn hills michigan got rid of their tracy tree

[@spongegenerator]

First I see Chuck E. Cheese with the middle finger now I see charged with a middle finger what’s next

[@PrimeStone]

When I was a small a kid I thought this was a restaurant that Disney created. But yeah

[@bethbug8448]

This is one of the songs from Zoboomafoo

[@SimplyBetterDouchebag]

6:46 WHO PUTS BANANAS ON- actually, it sounds better than pineapple on pizza..

[@user-wg5xv7xf3u]

how to Suit up Cha cha the frog

[@makez2355]

her mewed so much

[@zaythecreator846]

0:01

[@StormX6]

Ted Nivison’s favorite video

[@kringus_kahn6511]

Bamba is the best

[@QuintonOLaughlin]

I would agree, even he's like Donkey Kong.

[@Carloshurtadostudios]

32:47 33:15 damn he is A ladies man congratulations to him

[@devin5657]

9:26

[@Tristan-ur7kx]

hi

[@gwenbrown918]

The frog’s name is cha cha real smooth frog

[@Blue.844]

i have a chacha toy

[@KingWaluigi07]

Restaurant mascot ideas: Dog Cat Pig Bee Elephant Hippo Beaver Woodpecker Duck Chicken Like I Said it’s just an idea

[@Wayfinder_Triko]

Maya can also use They/Them pronouns! im going to call them nonbinary

[@Ekio._.official]

Yeah it ain't him

[@blue_duck7226]

I'm sorry, but I swear, after he admitted he was a furry, I just straight up stopped watching him...

[@skunkman9815]

Just followed the Instagram accounts you suggested And i said nathen sent me

[@KyleBrownIsALoser]

16:38 Great Lakes Crossing mentioned