By the time we arrived back from our cruise down memory lane to POR, the clouds had given up on holding it all in, and it had started to lightly drizzle. The outside of T-Rex was PACKED with people, and we hoped against hope that the huge line formed outside wasnt for people just checking in for scheduled reservations
. Luckily, it was not.......it was for walk-ups. Poor folks that would be waiting up to 2 hours to get a table.
We were able to check in directly to the side of the little kiosk outside of the restaurant, and then we were directed to a holding area on the opposite side of the restaurant from the walk-up line. While it still seemed congested there, surprisingly the line moved fairly fast, and of course theres lots to look at (being our first time there) so the waiting didnt seem to take long at all.
Before we knew it, we were being scooped up by a greeter and taken to our table.
We were seated in the Ice Cave, which was blue when we arrived at our table.
Then it was red.
Then purple. Wow
.
Let me say, the inside of this restaurant is incredibly themed. We have been to a Rainforest Cafe before (in Niagara Falls) and while it was okay, it neither the atmosphere nor the food knocked our socks off. We much preferred the overall effect of T-Rex to the Rainforest Cafe. How would the food measure up?
Our server, apparently, was having some issues (perhaps with guests at another table?) so another server came by a couple of times to apologize for the delay in getting someone to tend to our order. Eventually, a very capable and friendly young lady came over to take drink and appetizer requests. While the guys stuck with regular schmegular soda, I opted to give the Shark Water a whirl.
Final verdict: it was okay. A little too coconutty for my taste, but neat to look at. It was nice that we all got to sample something a little different from the norm .
Jake, of course, ordered his fried cheese. And like at TGI Fridays, he had to test the stretchability of said appetizer (cause you know, we have to declare a winner between the two restaurants). While he said it was very, very tasty......TGIs gets the nod for both overall taste and overall stretchability. For those well behaved little boys and girls reading with your parents, do not try this at home!!
We took a stroll through the building while we waited for our entrees to arrive, taking some additional photos of the other various themed rooms. I really, really liked the aquarium room, and would probably request a seat there on a next visit. I must admit I found the ice cave to be very loud (particularly during the meteor shower), very dark, and the vivid colours changing to be hard on my head.
For those new to my trip reports, I will give you a small bit of back ground. I am a brain tumor survivor (14 years this past Christmas). Following an awake craniotomy in December 1998 to remove an astrocytoma in my right temporal lobe, I was left with a seizure disorder for which I was treated for 10 years. Thanks to an awesome medical team at Toronto Western Hospital, I have lived to see my boy (who was not quite 3 at the time) grow into a young man. Unfortunately, while the body healed almost in its entirety, there are a few little issues that still plague me to this day (and probably will forever). One is a sensitivity to lights, particularly strobe lights and flashing lights. The other is a sensitivity to a change in air pressure. The light issues used to provoke seizures. With all this time passed, both the lighting and the air pressure now usually just spur on headaches and (as a result of the headaches), nausea. So while we were awed and impressed by the wonderful effects of the ice cave, and the rain began to beat down outside.........
............on came the nausea. And the headache. Well, drat
.
A couple of gravol (never leave home without em) and I knew I would be fine in a while, once out of those lights and safely back at the hotel. But my entree? Not a hope. Couldnt do it.
So the boys dined together while I kicked back and soaked up the atmosphere instead. Our waitress was super awesome about packing up my tortellini in a to-go container (which was awesome, by the way......I chowed down later that night, once my head and stomach both returned to normal operations) and ended up bringing the boys a container as well. Like others have said, the portions were very, very large....if my two fellas cant finish an entree with their appetites, you know theyre big!
Now, dont think because of my head issues that this had a negative effect on our experience whatsoever. The head probs are just my reality......and let me tell ya, I am just happy to be here, I don't let some residual minor health issues bog me down. We very much enjoyed our evening, and would definitely revisit on a next trip. Food was yummy (like other visitors, we found it very good......not spectacular or noteworthy, but very good nonetheless), and they really have spared no expense on the theming. Next time, though, its no ice cave for this girl. They can put the brain damaged near the aquarium, underneath the jelly fish.
Back at the hotel, we jumped into our jammies and enjoyed the rest of the evening watching TV and eating our T-Rex left-overs. No hot tub tonight with the rain continuing to fall outside. Then it was off to bed......tomorrow was a very, very busy day, our final full day in Orlando. We would kick the morning off with a very special Shrekfast at Gaylord Palms. Fiona, Puss N Boots, and the green ogre himself had a table reserved with our name on it!
.
.
) So yes, WDW is very short drive from SW. We would probably visit DTD a few times....love EoS, WPE and Goofy's WAY too much. I love going there in the morning when it's quieter.
.
. Its not the first time nor the last!!
. But I am no where near remarkable. I just got the blessing (and yes, it was it blessing in its own way) very early on in life of the lasting lesson of what's really important in the grand scheme of the world and not to sweat the small stuff (but ya know I do anyway from time to time.....I am a woman, after all 
).
). Its a good day to be inside and on the Dis! 
Piling into the truck, we were soon on our way to Gaylord Palms to experience a whole selection of their special Christmas festivities, beginning with our much-anticipated ShrekFeast (that's breakfast with Shrek) at Gaylords beautiful Villa de Flora restaurant.
. He winked and said If you stay with us here at Gaylord, you get a 10% discount on your dining. Which I have already applied to your bill. So enjoy your stay with us, and Happy New Year!. Then he was off. He just earned himself an extra nice tip. 
