Rain Forest Cafe experience

[glbh]

We had dinner at the Rain Forest Cafe in the Animal Kingdom last Wednesday. We were told to get there around 5:30 because the park closes at 6 and the wait wouldn't be as long. We got there closer to 6 (so much to see). Anyway, signing in and getting a table were a little confusing. The wait was about 30 minutes and we used that time to browse the attached store and purchase some souvenirs. We sat in the gorilla room right in front of the waterfall. My 4 yr. old hated it! Every 10 minutes the gorillas would start making noises and we'd hear thunder and the lights would flicker. The 4 yr. old hid under the table everytime! Our 11 and 9 yr. olds loved it though! The food was pretty good, but pricey! I had the chicken fried chicken and got 2 chicken breasts! Hubby and my dad got the New York Strip which was a huge steak! We were celebrating the 4 and 11 yr. old's birthdays and they brought them dessert and sang to them which the kids loved. Our bill came out to $165

 

[meganbear]

Thanks for the review! I have PS for RFC in May, the kids in our party are ages 5,8 and 9! I've heard it was expensive, but at least the food was good, I've heard such mixed reviews of this place, but I'm happy to hear someone report that they enjoyed it . Well at least until the bill came!

 

[lindajo]

OMG, flashback from October 2002! We visited the RFC thinking that DS2 and DS4 (at the time) would just love it. Boy, was I wrong!! They sat us in the exact same place as you, right in front of the group of gorillas, and thunder, and lightning, and jumping gorillas every 10 minutes. No amount of consoling or explanation("honey, someone is just turning the lights on and off. It's just a big noise machine. The gorilla's aren't real, they're machines"-talk about spoiling the magic!) worked. DS4 was scared but not as bad as DS2, who clung to me the whole time, saying, "Mommy, no no want to see the gorillas.." It was all we could do to eat our $75 dinner (the kids meals are huge for them. You could share the leftovers and split an adult meal between Mommy and Daddy) as fast as we could and get the heck outta there. And I didn't learn, because in Feb this year we went back. All was fine until we sat down, and it started all over again. So we asked for a different seat, and they sat us in front of some big nonanimated heads. We still ate fast to get out of there, although the kids weren't scared, they weren't having a great time either. Why do I bother??????

 

[ncbyrne]

We love the Rainforest Cafe and have eaten at both the one in AK and DD. But, there is one in our local mall (Menlo Park, NJ) and we go there pretty often. The meals are huge, enough for kids to split. My DGDs are 6 and 10 and love the animation and the thunder and lightening! While DH and I split a dessert, the kids walk around the room looking at everything.

 

[hercamore]

wow, that is a lot of $$ at Rainforest.

Get the Rainforest Safari Card and save l0% next time and no waiting.
Cost $15.
herc.

 

[YourMajesty]

We enjoyed our breakfast at the Rain Forrest Cafe at AK. The food was good and portions are huge; however, our three year was also scared of the atmosphere!

 

[Skylarr29]

Every other time I have eaten there Dh and I did not like it at all. We left one night after having said that was the worst meal we ever had. On the next trip we decieded to try it again ( i cant say no to those volcanoe deserts!) It was the best meal ever! Some of the items on the menue are a little out there so order something that you used to is what i would say!

 

[DavidUK]

We had an awful time last time we went to the RC in DTD the wait was long 45 minutes (we even had PSs) we were sat at a table too small for our party and our server was awful! we put it down to it not really being a part of Disney!! we were also sooo amazed at the amount the bill came to, yes the portions are large but they aren't worth what you pay for them, i was very dissappointed and i really wanted it to be a good meal!!!

maybe they were just having a bad day though!!

David,
ironing his way thru his entire wardrobe in the almost nearly warm UK!

 

[emsamom]

May be a little off subject but can you make ps at RF Cafe at both AK and DD?? And if so, how?? Thru Disney dining or directly w/ RF?? Thanks

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

We made a ressie on our trip last November. Could only make it the day of though.

We don't find the food terribly expensive there and like it pretty well. Not the best but not the worst we have ever had. The atmosphere is too overwhelming IMHO. Toned down it would be great. Not a place to go to have a conversation though.

SG/Linda

 

[mom2mira]

The gorilla thing is good to know. We are going in May and my DD will be 3 3/4 then. She used to brave anything, but she has been going through this sacred phase. She wanted to go to this Babies r Us Grand Opening so much about a month ago because the Cat in the Hat and some other characters were going to be there. When we got there she didn't want to have anything to do with them and buried her head in my shoulder. Hoping we don't have the same problem around the park with all the characters, but never thought a restaurant may scare her.

On the cost note, please someone please tell me that the VKL vouchers can be used there for dinner. From everything I have read here I got that impression. We have dinner ressies, but I'll need to change to lunch if we can't use them at dinner.

 

[MAGICinMYHEART]

Originally posted by emsamom
May be a little off subject but can you make ps at RF Cafe at both AK and DD?? And if so, how?? Thru Disney dining or directly w/ RF?? Thanks

I had made PS for our trip last week. They made no difference they took my name told me to wait in the line. Behind everyone else that just walked-up. I made my PS though Disney Dining.

 

[magicmouse2]

We didnt have to wait long in September and we did not have PS. The portions are huge so its best to share. I could have split 1 kids meal between my 2 DDs and still had leftovers. The food was good especially the volcano dessert . I can understand how under 5s could get scared of the animals though. Every time the gorillas started to shake and scream the kids would yell 'shut up dad'

 

[dgaston]

Yes you can use VKL vouchers at the AK RFC during the evening, since there is no separate lunch and dinner menu. We have done this ourselves, and enjoyed the meal. The servers were familiar with the vouchers, and worked to get us the maximum use out of it, suggesting appetizers, steak and lobster combo, and desserts.

 

[motaei]

We were in the elephant room. It definately was more overwhelming than I had thought it would be. Like the gorilla room, the animals made loud noises and the thunder & lighting went off. Not a good place for conversation. It started bothering me after a while. Portions were quite large though. We brought leftovers back for DH, who could not make it to AK that day due to work. (don't ask)

If you get the cheese pizza for the kids, be warned that they use fresh oregano sprinkled on the top. Our friends had to ask for new pizzas because their twin DS-10 would not eat their pizza with "that green stuff" on it.

We had a late lunch & did not have to wait long.

 

[daystar]

Hi,
My family had lunch over christmas holiday 2003....There was about a 30 minute wait but that was okay we checked out their gift shop....The food was excellent but yes pricey.... Our family of four bill was around 90.00 and that was for lunch but that also included desert...Someone else mention on here about the volcano desert can't remeber exactly what it is called but it is sooo good....My husband and i shared the dessert it was so big and we still couldn't finish it.....My youngest son who is five thought the gorilla's were cool....I guess it depends on your kids if it's going to scare them or not ,my kids were amazed by it....My boys are usually bored and all over the place but they were so interested into what was going on around them that they didn't have time to get bored or get antzy....I really suggest in trying this place atleast once, i think it's worth the money....Really doesn't matter where you eat in WDW you will still pay a high price....

 

[We Believe]

We make this one of our stops on every trip. Glad to hear that your older kids loved it. I can see where a young one could be frightened.

On the subject of your bill, it does seem to cost a lot to save the rainforest doesn't it? just kidding

 

[Teaching in NV]

We too visit the Rainforest every time we go to WDW. This year, we bought the Kingdom Lunch Vouchers through connections123.com. what a great deal! The portions are HUGE and my 16 year old DD usually eats only an appetizer (they are truly a meal in themselves) Our other DD (4 years old) traditionally eats a bit of whatever we eat - it never pays to get her her own meal. So DD and I split one meal (she ate the appetizer and dessert and was a happy camper), DH and younger DD split another (he ate just about everything and was also well fed and happy). A meal that would have been over $100 came to just over $60