Rainforest Cafe

[B&Bforever]

HI All

We are going to the land next month. I was wondering about Rainforest Cafe.

Is it worth the trip?
About how much of the cost?

 

[yoyo93]

It's defiantly worth it, we always go to the Rainforest Cafe when we're down there, not only because the food is really good but the atmosphere is fantastic. It's fun, especially if you have kids!
I can't remember exactly what prices are but for the two of us I believe it ran us somewhere from $40-50. It's completely worth it though, if you know you're going to be spending money anyways.

 

[Daniellee725]

Personally I avoid Rainforest at all costs. I've been to most restaurants in the resort, and this would be at the very bottom of the list for me. In Downtown Disney alone there are 2 restaurants that are really good that I would recommend before Rainforest. It's extremely overpriced, the portions are normal, not big enough for the cost, and the food itself isn't bad, just nothing to write home about. You can get better food at House of Blues and WAY better food at the Jazz Kitchen. Not to mention Goofy's Kitchen in the Disneyland hotel and other restaurants in Disneyland. Seriously, there are tons of locations around the country for Rainforest. Try something that is more unique to Disney. The only appeal of Rainforest is the cheesy forest theme and the lame anamatronics that come to life every 15 minutes (it loses it's wow factor after the first time, and just becomes noisy and annoying the next four times you have to watch it).

 

[PineapplePrincessCA]

I think I'm going to be in the minority here, but I hated... HATED the Rainforest cafe. In fact, we ended up leaving the restaurant, even before our food got there. The staff was extremely rude and unhelpful. (Waitress rolled her eyes at us, couldn't answer questions about the menu, etc. She seemed very bothered to have to help us.) I just couldn't stand how extremely LOUD it was. I guess that's the appeal to some people. I got on idea of the atmosphere of the restaurant while waiting outside, but I had no idea it would be so unpleasant inside. We had to literally SCREAM at each other from across the table. After a day of walking around DL, we wanted to relax and enjoy our dinner. It proved to be such an uncomfortable restaurant for us, that we.just.left.

 

[Daniellee725]

I think I'm going to be in the minority here, but I hated... HATED the Rainforest cafe. In fact, we ended up leaving the restaurant, even before our food got there. The staff was extremely rude and unhelpful. (Waitress rolled her eyes at us, couldn't answer questions about the menu, etc. She seemed very bothered to have to help us.) I just couldn't stand how extremely LOUD it was. I guess that's the appeal to some people. I got on idea of the atmosphere of the restaurant while waiting outside, but I had no idea it would be so unpleasant inside. We had to literally SCREAM at each other from across the table. After a day of walking around DL, we wanted to relax and enjoy our dinner. It proved to be such an uncomfortable restaurant for us, that we.just.left.

THANK YOU! My friends always suggest we go there, but I just never saw the appeal. It's ridiculously loud, and the food is totally sub-par. There are literally dozens of better places to eat than Rainforest, and my heart is saddened when people pass up the better places for this cheesy, loud, overdone piece of poop restaurant. I finally got my friends hooked on Big Thunder Ranch BBQ, so we usually go there when we visit Disneyland instead of Rainforest.

 

[yoyo93]

I think I'm going to be in the minority here, but I hated... HATED the Rainforest cafe. In fact, we ended up leaving the restaurant, even before our food got there. The staff was extremely rude and unhelpful. (Waitress rolled her eyes at us, couldn't answer questions about the menu, etc. She seemed very bothered to have to help us.) I just couldn't stand how extremely LOUD it was. I guess that's the appeal to some people. I got on idea of the atmosphere of the restaurant while waiting outside, but I had no idea it would be so unpleasant inside. We had to literally SCREAM at each other from across the table. After a day of walking around DL, we wanted to relax and enjoy our dinner. It proved to be such an uncomfortable restaurant for us, that we.just.left.

Oh my gosh! That's crazy to me! We've neeeever had a bad experience at any of the Rainforest Cafe's we've been to. We've always gotten staff that was super friendly and joked around with us. However I do agree it's a little noisy, we didn't exactly have to scream at each other across the table, but there's a lot more noise than in normal restaurants. Last time we were there we were sat by a waterfall, or a fountain or something so the sound of the water running was the loudest thing.

 

[llump41]

My DW LOVES it. I can take it or leave it. My son took a date there once and will NEVER go again. To each his own. If you've never been go.

 

[bumbershoot]

We're vegetarian, and the foods we can get there are limited, but we quite like them. I love the pita quesadillas without chicken. DS loves their cheese pizza. I can't remember what DH gets, LOL.

When DS was little, the noise was overwhelming to him. As he grew, it became better for him. I can't hear much in normal restaurants, and have found little different in RFC.


I've read that House of Blues recently changed their menu *drastically*, getting rid of just about everything that people longed for...so unless you've been there very recently, watch out recommending it.

 

[blakefamily]

I too was wondering peoples thoughts on this as opposed to other dining options. We have 3 kids with us, and 4 adults. 2 5yr olds and a 2 yr old, I thought they might enjoy the theme and animatronics. Are there other restaurants you would recommend that are kid friendly that are outside the parks? Would the jazz kitchen be ok for kids? I've been to RC at another location and wasn't all that impressed with the food.

 

[endy]

My ds15 loves RFC. We've been several times and several locations. Never had a bad meal. I think you go for the atmosphere not the food. Younger kids will love sitting by the fish tanks.
The desserts are very good.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

I too was wondering peoples thoughts on this as opposed to other dining options. We have 3 kids with us, and 4 adults. 2 5yr olds and a 2 yr old, I thought they might enjoy the theme and animatronics. Are there other restaurants you would recommend that are kid friendly that are outside the parks? Would the jazz kitchen be ok for kids? I've been to RC at another location and wasn't all that impressed with the food.

The Jazz Kitchen is fine for kids. They have a kid menu with mostly typical kid things, and an ice cream sundae for dessert is included in the price. (Drink costs extra, but I make my kids drink water.)

 

[HydroGuy]

As you can see, RFC tends to be a "love it" or "hate it" type of place. We are in love it group. Just a fun place with great burgers.

 

[martinolichfamily]

We like going to RF..only been to local ones though...food is ok...but the kids like the surroundings!
If you go to their website, you can print out reading certificates and others for kiddos and their Meals are $0.99 I think.

 

[SilentFeline]

I can't speak about the one in DTD but I went to the one in Vegas recently and I really enjoyed it, as did everyone else in our party of 7 (all adults). My sister and I split the chimi-cha-cha appetizer because we had a heavy breakfast and weren't incredibly hungry. It was delicious! I loved every bit of it. I also had a small portion of someone else's rainforest burger and that was also great. I recommend you go there at least once, even if only for the unique atmosphere. I think it's fun for both kids and adults!

 

[skiingfast]

RFC is something that every kid should do at least once. Like vising DLR or WDW, wading into the ocean, visiting iconic National Parks, DC or NY, flying on a plane. It's just a unique experience.

Would I do it in DLR, if it's your only chance and don't live by one. Would I do it for the food, no way, the ambience.

 

[QueenBeeMB]

Avoid. Yeah it's kind of interesting, but you can get the same emterainment from the lobby. Or eating grabbing a bite at Bengal and riding the Jungle Cruise. Too expensive for not so great food. However if you really want your kids to enjoy it, have at it, ONCE. We are not fans.

 

[bitohoney]

I love Rainforest Cafe! We go everytime we go to DL! I have been to 3 Rainforest Cafe's and DL's is my favorite! Food is great and LOVE the atmosphere!

 

[disneydreamer74]

Add me to the hate it group! The first time we went was maybe 3 years ago and we thought the food and experience was great! But a year ago we went and vowed to never return. Every meal that was ordered was terrible. I could have gotten better food at Taco Bell. The service was bad and like mentioned before the theming wears off quickly. I agree that there are better places to eat in DTD. I put RFC in the same category as ESPN club..yuck! We tried ESPN 2 different trips and the food and service was still awful there too! HOB is always spot on for us!

 

[pixiewings71]

We love RFC, we eat there almost every trip. The food has always been good, if something isn't right we send it back and it's fixed quickly. Service is good, the servers have never been rude to us and we love the atmosphere. We like to sit by the fish tanks (we have 3 saltwater tanks of our own at home) and watch the fish. Yes it's loud, but seriously?? lol So is HoB, so is RBJK, so is TJ's, so is ESPN Zone.....so is basically every restaurant in the DLR area! lol I find that to be a silly reason to not eat at RFC. DBF and I will share a main course because the servings are huge and we can't finish 1 each, if we are feeling very hungry we will have the spinach/artichoke dip and we share it, the girls aren't big fans of the dip but they like the chips. It's plenty of food, we leave stuffed.....and if by chance we have a larger than normal group we get the VOOOOOOOLCAAAAAAAANOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO to share. LOL So good!!

Our family highly recommends RFC to those who ask.

ETA, that I will say the same thing I said in a previous thread, if I had to chose between RFC and RBJK, I would go with the Jazz Kitchen every time, but we don't make that choice too much because the girls like RFC so we tend to go there.

 

[blackjackdelta]

We love RFC, we eat there almost every trip. The food has always been good, if something isn't right we send it back and it's fixed quickly. Service is good, the servers have never been rude to us and we love the atmosphere. We like to sit by the fish tanks (we have 3 saltwater tanks of our own at home) and watch the fish. Yes it's loud, but seriously?? lol So is HoB, so is RBJK, so is TJ's, so is ESPN Zone.....so is basically every restaurant in the DLR area! lol I find that to be a silly reason to not eat at RFC. DBF and I will share a main course because the servings are huge and we can't finish 1 each, if we are feeling very hungry we will have the spinach/artichoke dip and we share it, the girls aren't big fans of the dip but they like the chips. It's plenty of food, we leave stuffed.....and if by chance we have a larger than normal group we get the VOOOOOOOLCAAAAAAAANOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO to share. LOL So good!!

Our family highly recommends RFC to those who ask.

ETA, that I will say the same thing I said in a previous thread, if I had to chose between RFC and RBJK, I would go with the Jazz Kitchen every time, but we don't make that choice too much because the girls like RFC so we tend to go there.

I agree with Kerri, family has to go there when we are at the land, never a bad experience as of yet.

Jack