Why I'm beginning to dislike DIS boards ;-)

[khrivnak]

....because I finally have everything "down pat" and I come on here and read about something new and decide to change my plans. *sigh*.

Dilemma...

I have my dinner reservations all booked already. Was pretty happy 'bout too.

I come on today, just to read and i see the thread marked T-Rex. My DS 2-1/2 LOVES dinosaurs. I had never heard of this place before (this is our first trip to Disney).

I may have to cancel one of our ressies to try and fit this in to our schedule for him since most of the "plans" revolve around my DDs (9 and 3) because they're older.

Someone could really make my day and tell me this is a QS meal and not a TS, that way I wouldnt have to cancel something.

 

[NuttyDisneyMom]

It is a TS meal. If I were you I would call WDW to make the ressie or TRex directly. For some reason alot of people find the online system has minor "glitches" with TRex availability. HTH!

 

[KatMark]

....because I finally have everything "down pat" and I come on here and read about something new and decide to change my plans. *sigh*.

Dilemma...

I have my dinner reservations all booked already. Was pretty happy 'bout too.

I come on today, just to read and i see the thread marked T-Rex. My DS 2-1/2 LOVES dinosaurs. I had never heard of this place before (this is our first trip to Disney).

I may have to cancel one of our ressies to try and fit this in to our schedule for him since most of the "plans" revolve around my DDs (9 and 3) because they're older.

Someone could really make my day and tell me this is a QS meal and not a TS, that way I wouldnt have to cancel something.

I wish I could...but it is a TS (similar to Rainforest Cafe). When it first opened I remember reading a lot of reivews about it. Some people indicated that it is VERY noisy in certain rooms but that you can ask for a "quieter" room if your child is easily frightened. I read a recent review and they all said the food was great.

 

[Hootch]

I can't make your day. T-Rex is run by the same company that has Rain Forest Cafe. The restaurant is structured the same way with the theming around dinosaurs instead of jungle animals. There are only a couple open and the one at Disney is almost a year old.

There a lot areas around DTD that kids will like. The Lego store is right by T-Rex. Further into DTD there is another store that has all of these Mr. Potato Head pieces the kids can put together. (They also have computerized versions now.)

 

[Jeanieblue114]

TREX is not on the dining plan just so you know.
It is in Downtown Disney and it is owned by the same company that owns rainforest cafe.
You can look at the TREX website for some pics.
They also have a build your own dinosaur section in the store that is attached to the restaurant. It's just like build a bear.

 

[MHSweb79]

Don't forget at Animal Kingdom your DS can dig for dinosaur bones while the older kids do something else. I think there are enough dinosaur-related activities that he will never miss T-Rex.
You'll just have to go back when he's older!

 

[khrivnak]

TREX is not on the dining plan just so you know.
It is in Downtown Disney and it is owned by the same company that owns rainforest cafe.
You can look at the TREX website for some pics.
They also have a build your own dinosaur section in the store that is attached to the restaurant. It's just like build a bear.

In Disney'ese does this mean that even if I cancel a reservation and have a free TS, that I still have to pay out-of-pocket? (sorry..... still learning )

 

[Sandy321]

I understand completely! LOL I feel the same way from time to time!

Like pp - I wouldnt change plans - just plan to make a return trip!!

When AK first opened up - my kids didnt even know about dinoland!! (it was before EE opened!) I just steered them away from that area - that way we could spend time on the trails - which they loved!! Now with EE we spend time in Dinoland - but now we do 2 days at AK!!

 

[Darcy03231]

In Disney'ese does this mean that even if I cancel a reservation and have a free TS, that I still have to pay out-of-pocket? (sorry..... still learning )

Yes

 

[natalielongstaff]

Stick with your original plans and forget you ever heard of T.rex

 

[Jeanieblue114]

yes.
TREX is always out of pocket. It is not disney owned and is not associated with the disney dining plan.
You can sign up for a safari club card at the restaurant. It is about $15 now I think
I have one.
It is good at any TREX or Rainforest Cafe in the country.
It gives a free select appetizer at either restaurant everytime you go OR a 10% discount on entrees.
It also gives you a discount on store merchandise at the stores in those restaurants.
It also gives you walk-up priority seating (you get to jump the line a bit).
The card never expires.

You can take your son into the TREX restaurant and just go on the shop side. He will get to see all of it and look around, maybe make a dinosaur toy (extra charge).
I doubt that he cares about sitting in the restaurant to actually have food.
(btw, I think the chicken kids chicken nuggets at both TREX and Rainforest are shaped like dinosaurs...but I think you can buy those at the grocery store too).

So, you don't HAVE to eat at the restaurant to go in and enjoy the atmosphere and play in the store. Plus, like other people said, Downtown Disney has soooo much other fun stuff to do. The Lego Store is near TREX and you can play forever there. The Toy Store at Disney has tons of toys to play with and there are 2 places in DTD where there are dancing water fountains shooting out of the ground and kids play in them for hours (take your bathing suit).
THe best part about it all is that everything there at DTD is FREE!

 

[ExtinctDino]

....because I finally have everything "down pat" and I come on here and read about something new and decide to change my plans. *sigh*.

Dilemma...

I have my dinner reservations all booked already. Was pretty happy 'bout too.

I come on today, just to read and i see the thread marked T-Rex. My DS 2-1/2 LOVES dinosaurs. I had never heard of this place before (this is our first trip to Disney).

I may have to cancel one of our ressies to try and fit this in to our schedule for him since most of the "plans" revolve around my DDs (9 and 3) because they're older.

Someone could really make my day and tell me this is a QS meal and not a TS, that way I wouldnt have to cancel something.

We were there last week, but just walked around the place. The baby woolly mammoths were our favorite. If you want to do more than just look, you could just split some nachos and order sodas, or desserts or something. You don't have to replace one of your current ADRs.

 

[onelilspark]

Just to throw it out there...I've heard that younger children (and I'm never around kids, so I assume 2.5 is young, right? ) can be terrified at T-Rex. Even if they like Dinosaurs. The noise and the huge creatures can scare them. When it first opened there was a video of a kid who was totally freaked out by it posted on here.

Soooo, it might not be totally a bad idea to skip it until he's 5 or so. You know, just so when the noises come he can deal with it a little better.

I'm by no means an expert on children (as already evidenced...) but I just want to make sure you're aware of that so if you decide not to go, you don't beat yourself up over it. Oh, and if you're in DTD, you can always go into the store and help him build his own Dino! I'm sure he'd love that!

 

[clanmcculloch]

THe best part about it all is that everything there at DTD is FREE!

Going into a toy store with kids is rarely free.

 

[CAJUNWDWFAN]

....because I finally have everything "down pat" and I come on here and read about something new and decide to change my plans. *sigh*.

Dilemma...

I have my dinner reservations all booked already. Was pretty happy 'bout too.

I come on today, just to read and i see the thread marked T-Rex. My DS 2-1/2 LOVES dinosaurs. I had never heard of this place before (this is our first trip to Disney).

I may have to cancel one of our ressies to try and fit this in to our schedule for him since most of the "plans" revolve around my DDs (9 and 3) because they're older.

Someone could really make my day and tell me this is a QS meal and not a TS, that way I wouldnt have to cancel something.

One thing to take note of that T-Rex is very loud and some people claimed that their young kids were scared of the dinosaurs in this restaruant.

 

[khrivnak]

thanks for all the advice. I think what I'll do is just take him there and we'll walk around and look. He'd love that (I hope).

Last question... Ive seen the park hours posted for MK, AK, etc., but does DTD also "close" at a certain time or are you free to wander around there until whenever?

 

[bluejasmine]

We are eatting at Trex a night or two before we check into WDW. Maybe you can do that.. Or maybe go to Trex and then book a 2TS and cancel one of ur other ADRs..I have heard of alot of small kids being afraid of this restaurant but you know ur child best..

 

[Jeanieblue114]

Going into a toy store with kids is rarely free.

VERY good point!..

 

[Jeanieblue114]

thanks for all the advice. I think what I'll do is just take him there and we'll walk around and look. He'd love that (I hope).

Last question... Ive seen the park hours posted for MK, AK, etc., but does DTD also "close" at a certain time or are you free to wander around there until whenever?

I think it closes at 10 or 11. You can probably walk around, but it would be closed and dark. It doesn't have any turnstile entrance or anything like that. It just looks like a big stripmall/shopping center....only super duper fun with a lot of surprises.

 

[stitch34]

While we really enjoyed TRex on our last two trips, I'd say skip it and keep your plans as-is.
It is not on the dining plan.. so even if you have an extra TS dining credit to cover it, wont' matter, they won't take the dining plan there.

it is really cool inside - but really we didn't find it to be dinosaurs EVERWHERE. You can certainly take a quick peak in there if you happen to be over at DTDisney and check out a couple dinosaurs. Also there is the build a dino - could be fun for your son - and cheaper doing that then paying out of pocket for a meal there.
And he's 2 and a half you said? I think at that age, he'd be just excited to see some dinos by the entranceway of the restaurant and would get his dinosaur fix and be just as thrilled as if you had actually eaten in there! And yes, don't forget the dinosaur stuff at Animal Kingdom for him, too!

But keep your plans as they are.
And yes, I totally agree - I get everything squared away and then read about this or that and great, now want to fit something more into the schedule, try another restaurant after reading stuff on here!