Rainforest Cafe opened at “Downtown Disney” 30 years ago and has survived many changes including the transformation into Disney Springs. Rainforest Cafe sits at the edge of Disney Springs near Saratoga Springs Resort and you can also find a second location at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. So how on Earth has two Disney Rainforest Cafe locations survived this long?
Rain Forest Cafe is known for its over-the-top theming, animal animatronics, gift shop, and eclectic menu. It’s definitely the type of restaurant you would expect to only see on vacation and is family-friendly with enough options for everyone in your party. On the surface Rainforest Cafe screams fun but there’s no denying the restaurant is outdated and the menu is reminiscent over an over-priced Chili’s.
One pro-tip for dining at Rainforest Cafe is to join the Landry’s Select Club rewards program. It gives you priority seating to any Landry’s restaurant which includes T-Rex Cafe in Disney Springs and Yak & Yeti Restaurant at Animal Kingdom. Landry’s Select Club is a one-time $25 enrollment fee but you instantly get a $25 welcome reward and a $25 reward every year on your birthday. Plus, you earn points every time you dine. For $25, you can pop in to Yak & Yeti anytime you want and get $25 in rewards every single year. Worth it!
Where Rainforest Cafe really shines is its extensive bar menu and appetizer options. If animatronic elephants and gorillas aren’t your thing, the Lava Lounge outside offers great views of Disney Springs or you can sit at the indoor bar with a view of a massive fish tank.
Each Rainforest Cafe has a large store with branded merchandise, toys, and other vacation-related souvenirs. In the age of ’90’s T shirts making a comeback, this is a great place to get an iconic throwback T shirt. This was the idea behind our visit – get matching Rain Forest Cafe “fits” and embrace the nostalgia.
You can get any of the specialty cocktails in a souvenir tiki mug for around $6 more. Pretty wild you can get a souvenir tiki mug for less than half the price of the one’s at Trader Sam’s. Be sure to ask your server what’s available both for souvenir mugs and drink specials. You can also add a floater to any of the cocktails for only $2 more. It’s safe to say Rainforest Cafe is indeed fun.
We tried the “Handmade Margarita” of the day and it did taste fresh and well-made. Definitely a great option for someone looking for a fun cocktail that’s not as sweet as a lot of the other signature cocktails.
The kids menu has a wide variety of dino chicken, pizza, pasta, and healthy options like grilled chicken and sirloin skewers. Most options are priced at $11.99 and come with one side and a drink. It’s nice to see the kids menu is just as extensive as the adult entrees.
Kids Macaroni & Cheese with Go-Gurt – $11.99
Ancient Grain Bowl with Salmon – ancient grains, roasted vegetables, citrus vinaigrette, pico de Gallo – $30.99
We went for lighter entrees which is definitely not what Rainforest Cafe is known for! But hey if they can do healthy meals and mozzarella sticks, what can’t they do? The serving of salmon is impressive and cooked to your temperature preference. The bed of vegetables has a lot of root vegetables making it super filling. The flavors are somewhat bland so even though we wouldn’t order it again, it wasn’t a bad choice.
Taste of the Islands – Caribbean coconut shrimp, mango habanero glazed shrimp, jerks seasoned tilapia topped with pineapple salsa, island rice, and seasonal vegetables – $35.99
The Taste of the Islands is a summer seasonal item, created by the local chefs. It certainly had a little bit of everything but was a total miss. The flavors didn’t work, it was too spicy, too sweet, and too acidic all at the same time. The vegetables tasted like a frozen medley and none of the seafood tasted overly fresh either. A new menu made this item seem more exciting and fresh but lesson learned, I should stick to the basics at Rainforest Cafe!
Did we have a great time? Yes. Would we recommend Rainforest Cafe? Maybe. Should you get a matching T shirt with your bestie, a fun cocktail, and an appetizer? Absolutely. After recently dining at both Rainforest and T-Rex Cafe, I’m confident T-Rex has the better food. Similar menu and style but I’ve never been disappointed by the food.
Watch our full video review to see our unhinged shopping experience and to soak in all the glory of the volcano and rain storms at Rainforest Cafe!
