Rainforest Café is a themed dining experience in Walt Disney World with one location at Disney Springs and one outside the entrance of Animal Kingdom. Rainforest Café Disney World is an over-the-top themed dining experience that transports guests to a jungle with animal animatronics, jungle storms, fish tanks, and large light-up drinks.
Frequent visitors may scoff at the lower-end food quality of Rainforest Café Disney World or its in-your-face theming, but the fact remains it is still one of the most popular restaurants at Walt Disney World!
We eat at Rainforest Café on every Walt Disney World trip and this might earn some chuckles or exasperated cries of ‘But don't you know about the good dining at EPCOT?!' yet this remains our tradition. Let's get into why we are frequent Rainforest Café visitors and offer a bit of a defense of this campy restaurant that kids love.
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Why the Rainforest Café Disney World Theme Simply Rocks
The theme of Rainforest Café is that of a tropical rainforest with fake plants, fog machines, waterfalls, fish tanks, and rainforest animals. Each Rainforest Café has a bar, restaurant, and a large merchandise store. The theme follows into the store itself where you can continue to find more of these life-size animals. And of course, an abundance of low-quality products you would come to expect at any highly-themed restaurant.
The theme of Rainforest Café is definitely over the top and as you dine you might even experience a rainforest thunderstorm! The lights will dim and you will see flashes of lights to simulate lightning along with the sound of thunder. Sorry, no authentic rainfalls though. But you are vacationing in Florida so that will become a part of your vacation experience regardless.
Why do so many people poke fun at the Rainforest Café? Most of the criticism revolves around the quality of the food since the menu is a pretty basic American-style menu. You won't find high-end cuisine at this dining location. And if that's what you're looking for, you probably are better off looking at the best options in EPCOT or other best-ranked Disney Springs restaurants. Foodies tend to detest Rainforest Café based on the menu alone. I get it, but that's not entirely the point of the restaurant, is it?
The iconic indoor waterfall at Casa Bonita!
As for the theme, some guests find it a bit over the top and tacky. I think that's the charm! This is also why Casa Bonita in Denver, CO has remained such a core part of every native Coloradoan's memory despite the lack of quality food up until recently.
Pepto-Bismal pink!
Now that the South Park creators have revitalized the restaurant, keeping its Pepto-Bismal pink exterior intact and campy theme the same, while making the menu edible again. And it's more popular than ever with access only available via email invite only. Since the reopening of Casa Bonita people have been flying from all over the country to experience this restaurant with its indoor waterfall, cliff divers, and pirate cave! Campy, over-the-top themed restaurants are still a hit it seems.
The Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen rebranding into Jazz Kitchen Coastal Grill & Patio
Perhaps Disney should take note as we continue to see this trend of minimalist restaurant redesigns pop up time and again. I know I was not the only Disneyland fan to find the redesign of many locations in Downtown Disney to be incredibly boring and a sad departure from loud decor to quiet minimalist. I want to feel like I am visiting Disney, not a suburban outdoor mall.
Kids Love Rainforest Café!
If we look at the group that is going to be the top fans of Rainforest Café you will generally find kids dominating this category! This makes sense as kids tend to love large themes (like those you can find over at the Disney World Value resorts) and so they will gravitate towards the Rainforest Café. Who wouldn't be interested in the restaurant with a giant volcano outside? That is pretty darn cool.
As you can tell, his mind was blown!
My son's first introduction to the Rainforest Café was on his first Disneyland trip at age seven. This was when Rainforest Café was still a part of Downtown Disney (a loss that my family laments to this day) and we had dinner there on our arrival day.
RIP Disneyland Rainforest Cafe
There was no better way to start my son's first Disneyland vacation than with an over-the-top dining experience at the Rainforest Café. And that memory sure did stick! Now at nearly 14, my son still demands we eat at Rainforest Café every Walt Disney World trip. He also has some strong words for Disneyland about the removal of Rainforest Café from Downtown Disney.
If I even suggest skipping Rainforest Café on a trip, I'm met with large protests from my teen who loves this restaurant. He's a simple eater who is content with some burgers and fries while he takes in the larger-than-life theme of the rainforest. It's pretty funny to me that seven years later from his first visit he still counts Rainforest Café as his favorite Walt Disney World restaurant. The higher-end quality table service options cannot hold a candle to this rainforest theme!
If you are planning a trip with kids, there's no better way to impress them than with a trip to Rainforest Café. This theme is just so fun and emulates a big part of the Disney experience which is just to have FUN.
The Food at Rainforest Café Is Really Not That Bad
I also think the grief that I hear about the food at Rainforest Café is a bit underdeserving. The menu at Rainforest Café is not too different to me than eating at a simple American chain restaurant like Applebees or Chili's. I think we've determined that the Rainforest Café is not for the foodies in your group but the menu is average enough to keep most guests happy.
Spinach and artichoke dip- looks the same as something I would get at Applebees!
The price is pretty on par with most Walt Disney World table service dining and often far less than the restaurants that most foodies will covet. Depending on your kid, you might be looking at paying $25 for them to enjoy three bites of a french fry anyway so why not opt for a restaurant with a theme that will keep them entertained?
Cheers to Rainforest Café, I hope my defense of this rainforest-themed restaurant helps enable your decision to book a spot in the volcano on your next Walt Disney World trip.
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We hope you enjoyed our Rainforest Café dining review! Be sure to subscribe to our deals newsletter for all of the latest information on deals and saving tips to help you save money and experience more! Sign up here. Check out our other Disney World articles:
- Disney World Dining Guide: Food Options, Budget Tips, Restaurant Guides
- San Angel Inn Dining Review
- Disney World Cheapest Hotels
- Be Our Guest Dining and Experience Review
- Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Dining Review
Why did Disney get rid of Rainforest Cafe?
There are still two Rainforest Cafe locations at Disney World in Disney Springs and Animal Kingdom. As for the one in Disneyland, this was back in 2018 when there were plans to build a new Disneyland hotel which eventually were scrapped.
Can you enter Animal Kingdom through Rainforest Cafe?
Yes, there is a separate entrance to Animal Kingdom as you exit Rainforest Cafe through the merchandise area.
What park is Rainforest Cafe in Disney World?
Rainforest Cafe is located in Animal Kingdom at Disney World, just outside the front entrance.
How many Rainforest Cafes are left in the world?
There are 23 Rainforest Cafes left in the world.
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We went to rainforest cafe when the kids were little. My biggest reason to skip it is that it is a chain that you can go to at other places Vs other unique disney restaurants.
My older kids still live McDonalds but I don’t go there when we are at Disney either.