Rainforest or Planet Hollywood?

UPbeekeeper

UPbeekeeper

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Ugh! I had all of our ADRs planned way back at our 180 day mark. We've had a schedule change where we will be heading to US/IOA on a day when I had planned on being in the Disney parks. Now I have to figure out a dinner dining reservation outside of the parks that I hadn't anticipated. I sooo want to go to T-Rex, but can't get a reservation on this date. Knowing my family's likes and dislikes, I've narrowed it down to Planet Hollywood & Rainforest Cafe. Can anyone help me narrow down my decision? Please give me reasoning behind your choice, so I can see how your feedback would apply to my family.

I was leaning towards Planet Hollywood, but I've read in some review that they play loud rap music videos & have a DJ. This is definitely not something I would enjoy during dinner. I'm ok with a noisy atmosphere, but not rap music and a DJ. Was the review exaggerating things?

Rainforest seems like a calmly themed place but nothing on the menu really blows me away. Is the food any good here? Chain restaurant food doesn't bother us if it's decent. We aren't super picky eaters. My husband can be a bit picky, but as long as they offer a half way decent steak as an alternative option, he is happy.

Dining party will include 2 adults & 2 teens. We aren't really picky eaters...we are beyond happy if a restaurant has a decent burger, steak, & chicken option. Teens like seafood, but it's not do or die.

Suggestions?
 
Bob

Bob

Bo0bi3$
Premium Member
Of the two, I'd much rather do Rainforest. I prefer the theme/atmosphere much more. Plus, the food is actually pretty good for a chain. Landry's does a pretty good job with the food at most of their restaurants (if you've ever eaten @ Yak & Yeti, that is another one of the restaurants owned/run by Landry's).
 
ImagineerDude

ImagineerDude

Well-Known Member
We, a family of parents, a teen, and a preteen, walked out of Planet Hollywood before they could serve us our drinks. The service was meh, it was loud, you couldn't understand anything anyone said, and we had to escort ourselves to our table and we had NEVER been to a PH before so we had no clue what to do! We would've went back to Rainforest in a heartbeat, but we had just had it in July and this was only October so we skipped over to the Beach Club for Beaches and Cream. Rainforest is really good! It has a noisy atmosphere, but name a casual family restaurant in Disney that doesn't! The decor is entertaining and we always enjoy it :)
 
acishere

acishere

Well-Known Member
The Rainforest Cafe has a decent burger for a chain restaurant. I have been to the AK one for lunch and one in NJ and they were pretty consistent.

Planet Hollywood had some really lousy food at the Disney location. I haven't bothered to eat at any of their other restaurants so I don't know how common my experience was. I would never recommend the place though.
 
MOXOMUMD

MOXOMUMD

Well-Known Member
They both are loud, lol. RFC has the rainforest noises and the animals come alive every 20 minutes. PH has loud music but not rap. The last times we were there they played mostly 80s/90s stuff because they show the videos on a big screen. The dj was only on weekend nights but definitely wasn't there during the day. These places are based on atmosphere so you choose movies--animals.

I like RFC better myself. They have good ribs and burgers. Volcano dessert is big enough for two. My daughter likes looking at the fish tanks and the gift shop, which is huge compared to PH and actually attached the restaurant where PH's isn't. Just an FYI, if you decide to eat at RFC and can't get into DTD, you do NOT need park admission to eat at the one at AK.
 
ParentsOf4

ParentsOf4

Well-Known Member
UPbeekeeper said:
Ugh! I had all of our ADRs planned way back at our 180 day mark. We've had a schedule change where we will be heading to US/IOA on a day when I had planned on being in the Disney parks. Now I have to figure out a dinner dining reservation outside of the parks that I hadn't anticipated. ...

Dining party will include 2 adults & 2 teens. We aren't really picky eaters...we are beyond happy if a restaurant has a decent burger, steak, & chicken option. Teens like seafood, but it's not do or die.

Suggestions?
Click to expand...
Sorry but why aren't you considering a restaurant at Universal. If you want basic "burger food", why not the Hard Rock or Margaritaville at CityWalk?
 
bsiev1977

bsiev1977

Well-Known Member
UPbeekeeper said:
Ugh! I had all of our ADRs planned way back at our 180 day mark. We've had a schedule change where we will be heading to US/IOA on a day when I had planned on being in the Disney parks. Now I have to figure out a dinner dining reservation outside of the parks that I hadn't anticipated. I sooo want to go to T-Rex, but can't get a reservation on this date. Knowing my family's likes and dislikes, I've narrowed it down to Planet Hollywood & Rainforest Cafe. Can anyone help me narrow down my decision? Please give me reasoning behind your choice, so I can see how your feedback would apply to my family.

I was leaning towards Planet Hollywood, but I've read in some review that they play loud rap music videos & have a DJ. This is definitely not something I would enjoy during dinner. I'm ok with a noisy atmosphere, but not rap music and a DJ. Was the review exaggerating things?

Rainforest seems like a calmly themed place but nothing on the menu really blows me away. Is the food any good here? Chain restaurant food doesn't bother us if it's decent. We aren't super picky eaters. My husband can be a bit picky, but as long as they offer a half way decent steak as an alternative option, he is happy.

Dining party will include 2 adults & 2 teens. We aren't really picky eaters...we are beyond happy if a restaurant has a decent burger, steak, & chicken option. Teens like seafood, but it's not do or die.

Suggestions?
Click to expand...
ParentsOf4 said:
Sorry but why aren't you considering a restaurant at Universal. If you want basic "burger" food, why not the Hard Rock or Margaritaville at CityWalk?
Click to expand...
I was going to say the same thing as Parents.
If you are spending the day at Uni, look into all of the options at CityWalk, since you'll be there anyway.
Unless you are in the Dining Plan and have credits to use, look into CityWalk before making a decision.
 
UPbeekeeper

UPbeekeeper

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Thanks for all of your suggestions. You have helped us make our decision. I made our reservation for Rainforest Cafe. Ironically, this was one of the places we had considered ages ago, when we were initially trying to figure out our ADRs, but it lost out between a tie with T-Rex. Guess it was meant to be anyway. :)

Thanks all!
 
bsiev1977

bsiev1977

Well-Known Member
UPbeekeeper said:
Thanks for all of your suggestions. You have helped us make our decision. I made our reservation for Rainforest Cafe. Ironically, this was one of the places we had considered ages ago, when we were initially trying to figure out our ADRs, but it lost out between a tie with T-Rex. Guess it was meant to be anyway. :)

Thanks all!
Click to expand...

If TREX is what you really wanted, don't hesitate to keep checking for an open rez spot as long as possible. something might become available.
 
englanddg

englanddg

One Little Spark...
Even if you can't get a ressie for T-Rex...don't give up...I've NEVER had one (I don't like either of the Landry's concepts, but the kid is LOVES T-Rex...<sigh>

That being said...Planet Hollywood is just bad...I've eaten there three times (the first cause I didn't know, the other two because people in my party wanted to go)...

But, if you skipped it, you aren't missing anything but a mediocre overpriced meal in a sortof halfway neat setting...but, then again, that's how I feel about both the Landry's restaurants as well...so...grain of salt.
 
englanddg

englanddg

One Little Spark...
Oh, what I meant to add, and forgot...is that I've never had one at T-Rex (a ressie) and yet I've eaten there every year. Longest wait for seating was around 10 minutes...

I wouldn't stress over it. The restaurant doesn't release all of it's seats for advance reservations, and I doubt you'll have any trouble getting in if you really want to and are willing to wait for a short while.
 

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