So there is a move to do a piece or Ratatouille's(pronounced: Couture) licensing as upscale with high end kitchen supplies and food products. Obviously, Ratatouille is not as easily merchandised as Cars, so perhaps this is the right way to go. Andy Mooney has had success taking the princesses in to the couture market. Just read this LA Times article to see.
But don't get the wrong idea. At the 2007 Licensing Show in New York, which is happening right now, the focus is still on Disney's bread and butter, core properties at mass market retailers(i.e. princesses at Wal-Mart). I think the biggest surprise is how well Cars is doing. Most films have a merchandise life of about a year after the movie comes out, but Cars is still going strong and is turning in to an evergreen property, the only Pixar film besides Toy Story to do so. So what does this mean for us as Disney fans? Well besides seeing more Cars merchandise at our local Target, expect DCP to pressure the other division of the company to keep Cars vibrant. This is good news for anyone that can't wait to ride "Carland". Also if Uncle John has any desire to do a sequel to Cars, I promise that the Walt Disney Company would be happy to oblige.
There is one other thing I am almost positive about, I don't think Cars will go couture.