Rain Forest Cafe Review...save your money!

[MegRN]

We ate here on the last day of January 2008. I hate to say this but it was an over priced disappointment. We had been at AK until close and headed over to Rain Forest Cafe. I didn't realize that we could not use our DDP there. (I guess I should have paid more attention.) We were seated by a birthday party of 10 elementary school age boys, who were running around and shooting spitballs. There oblivious mothers were dining at the table next to them were caught up in their drinks and chatting. Our waiter was friendly but made us feel rushed. I recieved my turkey cesar rollup (which was less than of an Applebee's quality) and fries. (BTW, my husband and I own a resturant) The fries had obviously had been sitting for a while and were limp and cold. I made a request to get some new fries because for my $16 (approx price) sandwich I thought it should be at least warm. Well, he brought out a new plate of fries but they were just the old fries redipped in the fryer! This is a trick some places use to save money or time. The fries were still limp I could tell because the fries come out darker and the extra grease added by redipping makes fries even more limp. (It is hard to describe but if you have seen it done you know exactly what I am talking about) I told our waiter about this and he was going to take them over to the manager and let him know. That was it. No apology, no visit from the manager and no new fries! The fries are extra in addition to the sandwich. I think $2 to add on to a sandwich or burger. I did not expect anything for free I just wanted what I ordered. After giving the waiter the fries that he was going to show the manager, the waiter walked by and gave us the check. They did take the fries off but I never got what I ordered. I felt very neglected. I think that the Rain Forest Cafe knows they have you there, the park is closed and you are on vacation so you aren't going to be a "regular" customer and it really doesn't matter if you return. I was fairly angry when we left. We paid the bill and I left a 20% tip. I am a freak about customer service and doing what I need to so that my customers are happy. I have customers that will drive from other parts of town just to come into my place because they know they will leave with a good experience. Obviously that is not the case at Rain Forrest Cafe.

 

[plutosgirl]

I have to agree. I've been to a few of these in different places (DTD, Canada, Atlantic City) and while the food is okay and the atmosphere different there are sooo many other restaurants in Disney that are well worth skipping the Rainforest for.

To me it was also very very loud in there and you can't sit back and enjoy your meal & conversation...maybe it's just me but I'm telling you it seemed LOUD!!! Won't do it again while in Disney for sure!

 

[bluslag]

We always have a tradition to eat our first night at Rain Forest Cafe at DTD.
We all have a favorite that we can't wait to have and so far we have not been disappointed. Maybe because we are so glad to get to Disney that this meal means we are truly on vacation. I can't say the service has always been excelent but we just laugh it off because we are on vacation!!!

 

[Luv2Roam]

You certainly are more generous than I. Never would I have left a 20% for such poor service.
Correct the RFC is not on the DDP.
In a real pinch DH and I will eat there, but only because I have the Safari Club card -- get a discount and fotl seating.
But even with that, we agree it is over priced and noisy. So we only eat there when we want a sit down and we know there is no nearby place for a walk up, except the RFC fotl.
I can't say we have ever had less than expected food or bad service though.

 

[Minniespal]

Thanks for the review.

 

[MODisneyfan]

They have one of those just outside of Kansas City,KS. I have eaten there many times and the prices at the DTD and AK locations are more then the reg ones. So I agree to save the money.. Now there is one that is really cool. There is only one that I know of and it is located by the Kansas Motor Speedway in the Mall there and it is like Rain Forest but it is Dino Themed.. 100 times better..

 

[KatMark]

We have eaten at the one in Chicago (and we have several of them) and in Las Vegas. While the atmosphere is fun like said previously, the food is mediocre (and overpriced) at best. We feel the same way about Planet Hollywood and won't dine at either franchise in any city.

 

[stagemomx3]

Sounds like the Rain Forest Cafe we have here. I've eaten there once and never again. It was so bad I'm unwilling to try the two at Disney World or the one at Disneyland.

 

[ro80]

The last time we went there (May 2006) it was definitely overpriced and a big disappointment. We made it a must do every time we went previous to that but not anymore. There are way too many restaurants in Disney where the quality is far better. We won't be going back any time soon....

 

[BabyPiglet]

I love RFC. Sorry you didn't enjoy it.

 

[ilovecountry]

awww I'm sorry you didn't enjoy it. I loved it in Animal Kingdom, the one in Chicago is just blah. The Disney one was so much better, we loved it so much

 

[gatorgirl2]

Blus:

Isn't that funny. My family does the same thing. We usually arrive in Disney on an evening flight so we go to RFC in DTD to strategize on our "plan of attack" at the parks for the upcoming days. We have RFC here in Nashville, but my kids don't want to go because they feel it will spoil the magic of going there at Disney. We love the coconut shrimp.

Now that we'll be staying at SSR this trip, we'll be able to walk over,once we get settled in our room.

 

[lntsmom]

I've been to the one in Overland Park KS and the one in the Mall of America.

We had more than one bad experience in the one at Oak Park Mall. Once we waited over an hour to be seated and order. While waiting for our meal to be served the power went out. Not the power in the mall...just the power for Rainforest Cafe. They brought us our food...in the dark...but told us we'd have to take it and go eat out in the mall. We weren't offered any discount despite this!!!

That was our worst experience. None of our experiences there were great if you are judging the food. So, why did I go? Because my kids thought it was great. So, once a year or so we'd go as a treat for them.

If you want to pay $9 for the dino shaped nuggets you can get at the store, this is the place to go. And, yes, it is ALWAYS incredibly loud. The polished concrete floor helps to guarantee that.

If anyone eats at RFC, they should be aware that they are paying for the animatronics, not a quality meal.

 

[stellablue]

I'm sorry to hear you had such a negative experience, but I have to say I'm not surprised. I've never been to the RFC at DAK but I have been to a few around the country & every time I've walked away unsatisfied & feeling like I wasted my money. We do not eat at this place anymore.

For me, it's several things I do not like about this place. I don't like the atmosphere. The fish tanks are cool & animals but I find it so loud & dark in here, I have trouble socializing with whoever I'm eating with. Though I've always found the waitstaff friendly, it seems to be a pattern that they disappear once the food is dropped off & I don't see them again. I'm not a pain with a waiter, but I do like to be checked in on. I have not yet found a meal there I truly enjoyed-I've tried entrees, salads, sandwiches. I find the quality of food sort of cheap for the really high prices they sell it at.

One thing I want to add about your experience though (and I'm not trying to defend them!), about the french fries incident-my guess is that they didn't dump the fries back in the cooker-that would be a MAJOR health violation. My guess is that they probably did give you a new batch, but the new batch came out just as yucky

I think DAK is in dire need of more TS restaurants. Next time, you might try hopping on the bus for a few minutes over to AKL and give Boma or Jiko a try-much better quality of food here!

 

[fireman1]

wow. I have reservations for there in one week. I'm second guessing about going now. I have a 13 yr old daughter that very much wants to go to it though, so I still may give it a try.

 

[PGHDisneyfan]

WOW im a little suprised, my wife and I hit the Rainforest for our favorite- Bambas BBQ wrap and we have never had a perticularly baby experience. As for the wait at the DTD location- come on its Disney, every resturant is packed come evening. As far as the food goes Rainforest is owned by Disney (as are all the associated resturants since they were bought from Landrys) If you arent happy and feel over charged speak up- I would! We go there often because our neice and nephew have a bunch of food allergies and they always take care of our needs. On our last Rainforest visit in Pontiac MI the head chef came out to talk to us at our request to tell us ingredients were in our food.

Im sorry so many of you have had a lousy experience there. We are headed to Disney in May, I will have to take a more careful look at our service and food and see if maybe im just turning a blind eye!