How do you like Rainforest Cafe DTD?

[Anater]

I think we've narrowed this restaurant down as the best choice for our four year old while at DTD. We'll be visiting on a Saturday evening. I've read some pretty scathing reviews of the place as far as waiting times and poor service. I have heard good things about the food, but we're really going there for the atmosphere. Can anyone let me know what their experience was like? Do they accept reservations or is it better to purchase their Club Card to cut down on waiting time? We don't have one where we live and I doubt we'll be visiting another one anytime soon. Thanks!

 

[teacups]

I read those same bad reviews before our trip (1 1/2 years ago) but we went anyway, becasue like you we dont live near one. We had the absolute most enjoyable time! The food was REALLY good, the service was nothing to throw a party about, but I cant recall the last time I had that anyplace, and the "WOW!" of it was just great! Our wait wasnt long since we took the advice of folks and called ahead and went fairly early, I think about 5:30. No problem at all. The place WAS PACKED as we were leaving though. We timed it perfectly!!! We sat upstairs by the elephants, and had a huge salt water tank as our wall. When it rains for the first time your kids will oooo and awwww! (you will too).

I loved it.
We are going again in October.

 

[godalejunior]

We went there with DS, 5, in Jan. and he loved it and the food was great. Service was great as well. We made reservations in advance and had no problems getting in, granted it was during a slower time though.

 

[disney-super-mom]

We go there every year with our kids, and we've always had a very enjoyable time, good food, and good service!

 

[silence]

we usually eat here once on each trip. we like the food, our party's only complaint is the NOISE. my mom always complains that it is too loud to have any type of conversation with the music playing.

my two kiddos like it here too. last trip we actually stopped here for breakfast....we didn't realize they were open that early.

 

[Avery's mom]

To answer your other question about the Safari card - YES you should get it!! We don't visit any other Rainforest Cafe except the ones at Disney, yet the card is SO worth it for us. With the card, it doesn't matter when you go, you don't have to wait for a table. With an impatient 4 year old, that is worth the price alone. But, then you get a discount or a free appetizer, I forget which (it's been a year since we visited). And you get a discount on merchandise in the store. You get little coupons on your birthday, too. I could be mistaken about the reason for it, but I would swear that we have gotten much better service since we got the card, too.

 

[joeysmommy]

We have a Rainforest Cafe in SF, so the kids were familiar with it, altho the gorillas and the lightning scare my kids(3 and 5) a little.

At DTD, we had ressies for 8pm, walked right in and were seated right away.
They sat our party of 13 in a little alcove, which was private, but the kids couldn't see a fish tank or any animals. The service was good, our waiter was very efficient and friendly.
We were all hungry so we just stayed at our table, had dinner and were out in an hour.

This trip we will skip RFC, been there done that.
The food is nothing special. I'm usually disappointed with whatever I order, and I'm not THAT picky. The kids meals are standard, mac and cheese, chicken fingers etc. The portions are big, so you could split them

 

[DLR29]

Yes! We eat there almost every trip. We even bought the Safari Club Card. Great for getting seats quickly and for getting a free appetizer or 10% off I think. Usually we go for the appetizer. We eat there a lot because we know there will always be something for everyone. However, the service is not anything to write home for.

 

[Anater]

Thanks everyone for your input - the responses are encouraging and I'm sure we'll have a great time! I think I'll also sign up for the Safari Card, since we're going around Holiday time I don't want to take a chance on having to wait more than 10-15 minutes for a table.

 

[mystic_path]

We always go there every trip. The atmosphere is WONDERFUL! SOOOOOOOOOO COOL! and the food to match. We love eating here. Its actually one of the first places we always recommend besides Mimi's.

 

[BraMax]

We just ate there last week. The service was wonderful. We had a waitress named Lezzlee. We didn't have ressie but we went at 5:00 and we got patio seating right away. The food was wonderful and we could still hear the thunderstorm and gorilla going off. The kids love the place.

 

[bumbershoot]

So there's a gorilla at the DTD restaurant?

There are elephants at my local RC. Weirdly the whole experience just freaked out DS, and he refused to believe that he had been there as a baby.

We ended up getting everything to go (we had already ordered by the time we realized that keeping him there was going to be a bad scene) and the food was good, the servers didnt' make us feel bad for leaving (I'm guessing it's commonplace), but it wasn't quite the same, eating in shifts in the mall's play area!

Maybe the concept of a gorilla will work better for DS, rather than the big elephants...

And I think, safari club seating be darned, requesting a seat right next to a fish tank will help him out as well.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

i re,mber when our local one opend up first time going was day it opened. my sisters bday jan 1st and well it was grate i love the noise the ampmasphear and the lightning rain stuff we had grillas elphents and others

I will be going in nov. my bday will be a few days befor it. i am getting the card
Do you get free apatizer only once or each time you vist?

 

[mott]

We love the breakfast there. I think only the one here and at AK in WDW serve breakfast. Or at least, most of them don't. I'm not a huge fan of lunch/dinner only because I think it is pricey and the food is nothing spectacular (but not bad). But breakfast is AWESOME!

 

[limace]

I kinda disagree with some of the above praise. It was fun for the atmosphere, and the service was fine, but I really think it's overpriced and the food was just OK. The portions were obscenely huge-I found that somewhat annoying, as we weren't that hungry, and having to pay twelve bucks at lunch for way more food than I could eat was frustrating. We called the day before and got early reservations for lunch and waited only a couple minutes. I personally wouldn't bother with the Rainforest card unless I ate there regularly as I don't think 10% off is worth it and the portions are large enough that I'd skip the appetizer (though you could just order an appetizer for your main course). How much does that Rainforest card cost anyway? I couldn't find anywhere on their website or on the registration card at the restaurant that said.

 

[bumbershoot]

It was $15, I think. Which is more than halfway covered by that first free appetizer you get.

I did just what you said in your post, I had the appetizer for my meal. It was a quesadilla thing, but without the meat, and it was DELICIOUS. DH and I were supposed to share it and the veggie burger, but I ate all but one piece of the quesadilla and almost all of the salsa.

Jade, you get the free appetizer each time, if that's what you choose (the other option is a percentage off your meal, up to a certain number of people on your check, but that's really never going to be cost-effective for my family as it is now...the appetizer will always win out).

 

[mimichan]

The cost of the Rainforest Safari Club Card is $15.00 but you will receive a $10.00 gift certificate with your permanent card to use on your next visit so you end up only paying $5.00 for the membership. And yes, you can get either a free appetizer every time you visit there or the 10% off, up to a party of 4. Oh, and you can use it for PS if your group is 6 or less and you get 10% off merchandise in the store. So for the most part I think it's pretty much worth it to get a membership.

 

[dreamcometrue]

we love the Rainforest Cafe...but as others mentioned, calling ahead is a must! Otherwise, you may get there and have them tell you it's a 2 or 3 hour wait! Esp. on a weekend!