Rainforest cafe??????

[3kidsdisney]

Has anyone been to the rainforest cafe-either in animal kingdon or downtown disney??? I have heard some good reviews and would like to try it but not sure which one. Also not sure if I sould make PS since i don't know which one we will go too. has anyone just gone without PS??? and not waited tooo long??? We are going in October and hope it won't be to crowded. I read the info on PS and it said if you make the PS and don't show up, it's ok so I might just do that for both but would like some input. Thanks Ann

 

[The Duchess]

I don't think Rainforest Cafe accepts PS. We have been to both, AK and DD. The food is average but it's pretty entertaining for the kids with the simulated jungle decor and animals.
We're planning on going for lunch again this trip, but it's not on of the places I'm excited about.

 

[Leenita]

We are going to AK rainforest on 9-13-02 and were able to make ps for our lunch there. We have a big party(10) and were not able to make it through the regular ps phone # but they gave us the direct number and we were able to get our ps. I have never eaten there and am excited about it!

 

[Meriweather]

We've eaten at both. The menus and atmosphere are the same.
DTD seems to be busier.
PS depends on time of day...we made them for AK.

 

[ZPT1022]

Okay, 3kidsdisney, how old are your three kids? I ask because we took DD, 13 months to the Rainforest Cafe near us thinking she would love all the animals, but she totally flipped out. She was more afraid then I have ever seen her before. The second time the "thunderstorm" started I grabbed her and ran out and FH says he has never seen me run so fast Just something to consider, I am not trying to be a big downer, we love it there, just DD apparently does not

 

[f-LORI-da]

I've always enjoyed breakfast at RFC moreso than lunch or dinner. Great eggs benedict and juices and coffee. Can't say which location I prefer.

 

[flower]

We love the food at RFC! Their breakfast is our favorite. PS were made w/no problem. Enjoy!

 

[AuntBJ]

You may also want to join the Safari Club before you go. It paid for itself with one trip for me. Here is the link: www.rainforestcafe.com/RFC/Clubhouse.asp

 

[3kidsdisney]

First off, thanks for all the input. I think we will give it a try. Our kids are 4yrs. old and twins 23 months-at the time of our trip. I don't think they will be scared but who really know. I know I would like to check it out. Thanks again. Ann

 

[crisi]

We've eaten at the Rainforest Cafe at the Mall of America (we live about 15 minutes away) a couple of times. The food is less than spetacular.

Our kids were also spooked by the thunderstorm the first time we went (they would have been 18 and 30 months about). We managed to make it through dinner, but it wasn't pleasant. And weren't thrilled with the experience when we returned at 2 and 3.

We don't bother with it at Disney, since we have it so close at home, but I think they are pretty cookie cutter.

 

[Daisimae]

We went to the RFC at AK for breakfast first thing in the am. We made our PS for 8am. After I got a look at the menu and told DH what I wanted, I entered the park and got FastPasses for the both of us for the Safari. By the time I got back they were serving our meals. I LOVE Tonga Toast!! When we finished breakfast we were within our FP time and walked right on to the Safari. It was a very good experience. The only thing I didn't like was the strength of the A/C. It was freezing cold in there!

We are going to do the same thing next time.

Daisimae
P.S. Getting from RFC to the Safari might have been a little quicker for me. I use an ECV in the parks.

 

[patgoofy]

I can't wait til our December trip We have made a tradition of eating at RFC outside the AK on the first morning of checking into Disney. We just LOVE the pie of the viper its like a huge pizza enough for two people

 

[musicfan]

You can make PSs at the AK RC, but not at the DD RC. We never make them and have always gotten in quickly -- BUT, we always go around 2 or 3 pm. We have found the AK RC to be less crowded than the DD.

We are food snobs, and we have always enjoyed the RCs at WDW. We've never been to the ones off property, so we can't comment on those, but we've always found the food at the WDW RCs to be tasty. The portions are always huge, so we usually get two entrees to split between three adults (two adults and a 16-year-old, actually). We figure if we're still hungry after the entrees we can get dessert, but I don't think we ever have!

 

[Mom2DS]

I agree with AuntBJ above. I just called about the Safari Club this morning and found out that you can save 10% for you and 3 guests (or get 1 appetizer) not only at the RF Cafe, but at any of the Landry Restaurants. This will save us a bundle as we eat at Joe's Crab Shack pretty frequently!! It costs $15 and that is for a lifetime membership. You also get a $10 gift certificate when you join and a $5 certificate both on your birthday and your sign-up anniversary each year -- and you can use these in conjunction with the 10% off. Sounded like such a good deal that I joined right away!!

We're just 118 days from the "Magic"!!

Dawn

 

[AuntBJ]

BTW, this is what my flyer from the Safari Club says about Priority seating and reservations: "Members only seating privileges seven days a week, for parties of six or less. Guaranteed Reservations ensures your party of six or less a table when you call at least 24 hours in advance. Priority Seating on a walk-in basis ensures you quick attention, and a table as soon as possible before non-Safari members."

It also gives a phone number for all of the RFC's. I did not attempt to make a PS or reservation for the DD RFC but we did walk-in and were seated right away.

I mailed in my check for my membership and received my $10 gift certificate and also received my $5 birthday certificate before I left on my trip.

 

[MrsPete]

1. To the poster who called RFC directly to make a reseravation: Would you please post the phone number?

2. To the people who have joined the Safari Club: Can you use your sign-up $10 coupon AND your birthday coupon (mine falls one month before my trip, so I should have one) AND your 10% off at the same meal?

3. If my husband and I BOTH join, could we use the TWO sign-up $10 coupons if we had separate checks (each of us paying for ourselves and one child)?

 

[Mom2DS]

MrsPete -
Sorry I can't be of much help with the using 2 coupons and discount question -- didn't even think about asking them about that one! Don't see why there should be a problem with both you and your husband using coupons if you have separate checks and club cards though!

If you call 1-800-552-6379, ext 5235 (Safari Club), the lady there is very helpful and should be able to answer these questions for you.

Hope that helps!!
Dawn

 

[AuntBJ]

The number for the RFC at AK: 407-938-9100

The number for the RFC at DD: 407-827-8500

I believe you can only use 1 gift certificate at a time. I used one on my dinner along with the discount and used the other one in the gift shop.

 

[SheDaisy0088]

If you are a Member of the Safari Club you can go to the Elephant and they will do the priority seating there. The longest wait we have had since becoming members is about 30 minutes. That is when the wait was over 2 hours!!!

We were able to use a $5 gift sertificate and the 10% discount.

 

[Russell]

Just did this today. I called Disney and made a PS for Rainforest At AK for lunch. They said the Downtown location did not accept reservations. I called anyway and guess what? They do! Madke a dinner reservation for another night. Which sure beats the two hour wait and walk we went through last time! But it's a great place. The kids love it and is one of their highlights. Food isn't spectacular but not bad.