Rainforest cafe? Am I nuts??

[dzneelvr]

When my DS and DD were little, we would always make the 2 hour trip to RFC in Chicago after a WDW trip; it was a way of reliving an exact replica of something we'd done on the trip to Florida-- Usually during the boring winter months. It WAS like being back in Disney and I have no regrets for doing it

 

[ChrisAlli]

Is the one in AC on the boardwalk??? I don't think I could get DH to drive there just for that, but maybe when we're in OC NJ for the summer we could drive over. I didn't know there was one there.

When Franklin Mills Mall first opened they had one, but that was so long ago, it's making me feel old!!!!

 

[MyHappyEnding_]

The one is AC is on the boardwalk between Trump Plaza and Caesars. It's a bit small, but still fun!

 

[TheWog]

Why does that not surprise me?? I think RFC is the closest thing to Disney without going to Disney!!

I've gone to one nearest Bicker and never experienced large crowds or a wait. The noise is from the occasional Elephant or Gorilla, but that I like. DS8 loves RFC and he will love that there is one at Disney as well. Me have to stop by and check it out.

 

[curiouser]

I've gone to one nearest Bicker and never experienced large crowds or a wait. The noise is from the occasional Elephant or Gorilla, but that I like. DS8 loves RFC and he will love that there is one at Disney as well. Me have to stop by and check it out.

That's surprising. I went to school (college) across the street from one and the dinnertime wait was always astronomical and the noise was immense. It was always stuffed to the gills as well, and hard to get around.

 

[TheWog]

We must have been lucky each time we have gone. Of course we don't go on Friday nights, so I can say maybe we have avoided crowds because of that.

 

[dreamscometrue47]

We've gone when the kids have needed a Disney fix to the RFC in the next town over from us at the Burlington Mall. Long waits usually (and I'm really not crazy about the food, but we're really not there for the food now are we??) but it's still a lot of fun.

 

[tcb2317]

Some info regarding the RFC-The 1st Rainforest Cafe is in the Mall Of America in Bloomington, MN. The AC Rainforest is on the Boardwalk at Trump Plaza- can't miss it.
Franklin Mills Mall in Phila opened in 89.

The Phila Rainforest Cafe didn't open until 97 or 98 (I was on the opening staff there) but only lasted a couple years. It closed for a bunch of reasons.

Number one- a basic RFC is rumored to cost upwards of 8 million to build out. That's a big nut. Number two- they put it in the wrong section of the city to make it a 'destination attraction'. Rather than put it in Center City where the Market Street/Olde City tourist area (near the historic district, PA Convention Center, the hole where Disney Quest was supposed to go,etc.)Instead they put it in the Far Northeast where the drawing power is marginal at best. If it was in CC, it would've been far more easily accessible for tourists,and people from all parts of the city and the suburbs of PA, NJ,& DE. People from Southwest Philly or Deptford aren't going to drive 45 minutes to eat a $9 burger and look at a robot monkey and big fishtank, but they might be more apt to drive 20 minutes. If they do come that far, they'll most likely come once- that's it. Reason number 3 was that they put it in an outlet mall. For the most part people are coming to look for bargains. The bargain hunters don't wanna pay $30 bucks plus tip for lunch for 2 people, when they can hit the food courts and eat for $10. If you want people that are more willing to spend the cash it would've been more well off in CC, or if they had to put it in a mall King Of Prussia or Cherry Hill would have been more suitable. Number 4- MISMANAGEMENT!!! We had the some of the worst managers ever. They didn't have a clue. I could go on and on about this. I have stories about them that would blow the mind of anybody that works in the restaurant and bar business.

Sorry the post was so long, but whenever someone mentions the ill fated Philadelphia RFC, I just have to vent. But for the record, even though I had a less than stellar working experience there, I still visit the Atlantic City and WDW locations.

Todd

 

[battricia]

just a word about the AC rainforest cafe. The menu is not the same as the one in DTD. I really wanted to go and when we got there we noticed they didn't have much in the way of vegetarian food (the one in DTD has LOTS of stuff!). I'm pretty sure their menu didn't even have a veggie burger! because that's what my boyfriend was looking forward to. We were really disappointed and went somewhere else. (Thankfully we didn't go to AC for the rainforest cafe alone!)

tricia.

 

[heatherfeather24]

I have sort of the opposite reaction. Because I live within 40 minutes of three RFC's (Gurnee, Schaumburg, and Dowtown Chicago), it never even occurs to me to go to RFC in DTD -- it's my been there, done that, can do it at home restaurant.

That said, I will drive 1.5 hours each way to Popeye's in Lake Geneva for fantastic cheesburgers overlooking the water.

 

[bigmerle1966]

I'm the same about RFC, we have some that are pretty close and I have been there done that, so going in Disney isn't something I would do.

However, whenever I go to the mall I have to go to the Disney store for that same reason.