The Rainforest Café is a nationwide chain of restaurants. (You can find more information on whether there is one near you at www.rainforestcafe.com, the chain’s website.) There are two on Disney property, one at Animal Kingdom and one in Downtown Disney. In Downtown Disney’s Marketplace, Rainforest Café serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
The décor inside is, well, rainforest. There are animatronic animals and a great big saltwater tank to entertain and amuse, especially children. The menu here is pleasing for all with specialty items like lobster dip and lots of great flavors and marinades on the beef, fish, and chicken dishes. There are also vegetarian and kids options. Rainforest Café does not accept Disney Dining Plan.
While I have never eaten at either Rainforest Café in Disney World I have been to one back at home and it was a fun experience for me. However, I am not sure I would recommend this for couples. With so many choices in Disney World, and the possibility you have one at home, I would check out the locations on the website first before making my Advanced Dining Reservation here.
Menu: Lunch & Dinner
Photo Credit: Ken
Melissa has created Chip & Company’s ‘Guide to Walt Disney World: Restaurant & Snack Options’ posts as well as chronicling her Disney baking (and cooking) exploits In the Kitchen. She also writes original articles about her experiences visiting Walt Disney World and finding Disney magic in her home state of New York. Melissa is a World History teacher and you can find her on tumblr. Oh & you should probably know she believes in fairytales.
The atmosphere is fun, but it can be loud and I would suggest that if your child doesnt do well with loud sounds and moving sights, you may want to avoid. Overall I thought the food was ok, but not really worth the price when you could instead visit characters at a park location and have photos and autographs with them, which saves time later of not having to stand in line for the meet and greats.
What a fun place to shop and eat. While waiting to be seated we walked around the shop and were so amused with all the life like animals and scenery. We then were seated and the hostess and servers were prompt and courteous. They gave lots of recommendations so if you’ve never been to a Rainforest Café you won’t feel lost looking at the menu, just ask and they will give you the best choices to wet your pallet. We were also celebrating my daughters Birthday and at the end of the meal, we had already made arrangements with the server to bring the ‘Sparkling Volcano’ as a dessert for her (which it’s big enough for everyone to share) and most of the servers got together and brought it out while singing their special birthday song. With the animatronics of the animals acting like you were really in the jungles of the rainforest and the sound of nature, water and sometimes even thunder, it was truly a fun and wild dining experience.
The food is nothing spectacular but the atmosphere is worth going. If you never been to a rain forest cafe you need to make it a point to go at least one time.
We love this place. Great food but really we go for the atmosphere!!! Same as the Trex restaurant. They both are a must each trip
I’ve always preferred the Rainforest Cafe in downtown disney to the one in animal kingdom. We have reservations this september and I can’t wait to go back!
While they may have other Rainforest Cafe locations throughout the country, the one at Downtown Disney is something special. It’s large volcano, combined with the Disney Magic that simply exudes through the entire property makes this a must try!