Are reservations necessary for T-Rex and Rainforest?

[FrugalFashionista]

We are arriving at 4pm on Sat Dec 14 then taking the Magical Express to Pop. Should we make reservations for dinner at Rainforest (either location) or T-Rex? Or could we just wing it? I'm afraid of being late!

 

[figment_jii]

We are arriving at 4pm on Sat Dec 14 then taking the Magical Express to Pop. Should we make reservations for dinner at Rainforest (either location) or T-Rex? Or could we just wing it? I'm afraid of being late!

The question always comes down to how badly do you want to eat at one of those two places?

My general sense is that you can probably walk up to either T-Rex or Rainforest (more likely at DTD). That being said, there is always the chance that the restaurants are not taking walk-ups or that it'll be a very long wait.

If you have a smart phone (or tablet), I would look and see what ADRs are available when you land (i.e., while waiting for DME). Then book the ADR at that point. You'll know roughly when you'll get to Pop at that point and can factor in travel time, etc. That way you'll know you have an ADR to eat somewhere and you won't have to worry about going to DTD (or AK) and finding out that the restaurant is full.

You could also make the reservation for a rough guess of when you'll get there (I'd look for ADRs around 7:30 pm). Neither T-Rex nor RFC are credit card places, so you don't have to worry about that if you are late to the ADR. If you know you can't make it, you can always cancel (if you have a phone or a smart phone).

 

[FrugalFashionista]

We have a landrys gift card to use which is the main reason of going there instead of just eating at the resort.

 

[lauradis]

Our walk up at T-Rex on weekday after thanksgiving was 90 min wait.

 

[mmouse50]

I would just call the restaurant directly when you get to ME or POP and see if they have any spots left open - at least you would know an idea if you could get in and you can always ask what the wait time is then and see if it is even worth go to DTD from POP.

But if you plan on going to DTD from POP for dinner, I would take a taxi over and not wait for a bus.

 

[OnlyDisney]

I would just call the restaurant directly when you get to ME or POP and see if they have any spots left open - at least you would know an idea if you could get in and you can always ask what the wait time is then and see if it is even worth go to DTD from POP.

But if you plan on going to DTD from POP for dinner, I would take a taxi over and not wait for a bus.

Definitely call when you land. Rainforest/Trex only put so many tables for ADR in the system, but you can call and usually get a table even if Disney says there are no times available.

 

[kutty]

Almost always at night they have a very long wait for walk up's (1-3 hours, yes 3 hours!). One way to bypass that is getting a Landry's Select membership. Cost is $20, but they throw a $20 credit on there so the overall cost is $0. Also they throw in another $20 for your birthday so it starts to pay for itself very quickly. With that Select card you get a go to the front of the line and not supposed to wait any longer than 15 minutes I believe.