Which Rainforest Cafe?

[srobinet]

I currently have reservations for the DTD location on a Saturday night in November. We will be using Disney transportation during our stay. Since there is major construction going on at DTD would the Animal Kingdom location be a better choice? Is the AK Rainforest inside the park or at the entrance? We will not be visiting AK this trip. If we do go to DTD is the restaurant still easy to find with all of the construction walls up?

 

[lovethattink]

At DTD The Rainforest Café will be the first restaurant you see when you get off the bus.

At AK, the restaurant is right before the AK admission gate.

 

[willowsnn3]

I have seen but never eaten at the one in DTD, but we love the one at AK. You do not have to enter the park to enter the restaurant, but you can also enter the restaurant from inside the park. With park admission of course.

 

[Robo]

I currently have reservations for the DTD location on a Saturday night in November. We will be using Disney transportation during our stay. Since there is major construction going on at DTD would the Animal Kingdom location be a better choice? Is the AK Rainforest inside the park or at the entrance? We will not be visiting AK this trip. If we do go to DTD is the restaurant still easy to find with all of the construction walls up?

Some of the shops in the DTD image below are gone, but it shows the relative position of the Rainforest Cafe.

 

[wolf29]

As you are using WDW Transportation, it seems to me that the DTD location would be the choice. You'll most likely be much closer to wherever you will be heading for the rest of the evening that at DAK.

 

[Sandy Fisher]

We'd never eaten at the Rainforest at AK, but during our trip first week of May, we were on our way out of the park and it was approaching lunchtime. DH said I don't think there's anywhere here we want to eat, so we'll get the bus and go somewhere else.
As we were going past Rainforest, I decided to ask the CMs near the ticket/band checkpoint if there was any chance of getting a lunch seating. He said we could go in and ask.
We did and were seated within 10 minutes. Had we been willing to sit at the bar, we'd have had immediate seating.
It was a hot humid day and we were ready for a cool spot. Nice to have table service, AC, adult drinks, and a nice choice of food. Totally enjoyed it. Can't believe we never did that before.
We were actually headed back to the resort and then to Epcot later in the day, so it worked out well for us.

 

[andyman8]

Unless you're already planning on spending the afternoon at DAK, I'd go with the RC at DTD. I've eaten at both and really enjoyed the two of them, but I you could make an evening out of your dinner at the RC in DTD. Afterwards, you could explore the Marketplace, shop at WoD, visit Goofy's Candy Co., and briefly head over to the West Side to grab some Italian Ice (delicious and the only place in WDW to get it) and maybe, if you have the money, do Characters in Flight for $18. Definitely worth trying once so long as you don't have a fear of heights.

Disney Transport will drop you off at the Marketplace. Because of construction, that's the only place buses are currently dropping off guests. Speaking of which, PI is a mess but beyond that (particularly Marketplace) construction isn't too bad. I'd definitely recommend DTD.

 

[lustergirl]

OP: good luck in your choice. I am pondering the same question. I have never been to Rainforest Café in all my trips, want to try something new. I thought of the one at MK for lunch then catching the parade afterwards. Or exploring DTD after eating at the Café the is an option as well.

 

[Malibustyle23]

OP: good luck in your choice. I am pondering the same question. I have never been to Rainforest Café in all my trips, want to try something new. I thought of the one at MK for lunch then catching the parade afterwards. Or exploring DTD after eating at the Café the is an option as well.

There is a Rainforest at DTD and Animal Kingdom but there is no parade at either.

 

[HiHoWeGo]

OP: good luck in your choice. I am pondering the same question. I have never been to Rainforest Café in all my trips, want to try something new. I thought of the one at MK for lunch then catching the parade afterwards. Or exploring DTD after eating at the Café the is an option as well.

There is no RC at MK.

OP, if you will be at AK until dinner time, I'd just stay a little longer and enjoy RC after AK. You will combine AK/RC transportation and avoid the hassle of the DTD construction. Of course, if you plan DTD time then you can choose the DTD RC for the same reason. But if DTD is not in your plans, and AK is, the AK RC would probably be most convenient.

Have fun!

 

[srobinet]

Thanks for all the replies. Robo the maps were awesome, I was concerned about construction issues and not being able to get around easily due to all the construction walls. We don't have plans to go to AK this trip so DTD wins.

 

[Momoftwins+1]

After an over an hour wait WITH reservations at RFC at DTD 2 years ago and then waiting another 1 1/2 hours for food we decided to steer clear of it this June and hit RFC at AK. We arrived early after being in the park and were taken right to an amazing booth that backed up to a large fish tank, were served quickly and had a fabulous meal. You don't have to go into AK so no need for a ticket and the service was 100% better than at DTD hands down.

 

[jco_direwolf]

A couple of things.

First, in full disclosure mode, I don't think RC is worth going to a WDW. Just don't find the food good enough, and I don't care for the atmosphere (too loud).

That said... I have gone to both because others I was traveling with wanted to go. For that matter I've been to RC on the Strip in Vegas for the same reason.

I would not go to the DTD unless, I was already there or staying at SSR so I could just walk. The buses from/to resorts from DTD just seem to take forever.

Also if you don't get the times/days you want though Disney, call them directly. They seem to only put a small percentage of their total seats to Disney Dining.