These 10 Disney World restaurants are great to see but terrible to dine in
3. The Rainforest Cafe, Disney Springs/Animal Kingdom
Once, there were scores of "theme restaurant" chains in the U.S. They're mostly dying out, with Disney Springs having a few. T-Rex is surprisingly good, from the dinosaur theme to the food. The same cannot be said of the Rainforest Cafe. The theme is good with the robotic animals and the huge fish tanks and the occasional "storm" entertains. That fits for the Animal Kingdom version.
Yet the food itself is poor, from burgers to pasta to chicken, none of which is cooked right and can vary from bland to just atrocious. You're better off spending money in the gift shop and wandering around than trying for an actual meal at a chain that refuses to die.
2. Planet Hollywood, Disney Springs
Amazingly, long after Pleasure Island met its end, this eatery is one of only three left in what was once a popular chain. It's been remade into a "planetarium" and an updated menu by Guy Fieri that attempts to fix some issues. For movie buffs, the draw is the huge array of props from various blockbusters even if it can be loud.
The food isn't as terrible as it once was, but the portions can be wild, such as huge burgers loading way too much on it, and the spice can be too much for some guests. The fact is there are lots of places around Disney Springs offering better fare at cheaper prices, so while the kids will love the movie memorabilia, there's a good reason why this restaurant chain never took off.
1. San Angel Inn, Mexico Pavilion, Epcot
This is a real shame. The interior of the Mexico pavilion in Epcot is absolutely amazing. It's always twilight with a vibrant marketplace of stands selling wares and the San Angel Inn a great restaurant spot. It's set by the river, with guests seeing the jungle, a temple, and even a smoking volcano while boats for the river ride pass by. It's a gorgeous and romantic setting. Too bad the food doesn't match it.
It can vary from tacos that will burn your tongue to so mild it's downright bland. Some may be lucky to get a good meal now and then, but for the most part, anyone who dines here agrees that the food in the outdoor La Hacienda is a far better place for Mexican fare than this place, which wastes its great setup.