Originally Posted By ToonKirby When DAK opened, the Rainforest Cafe had it written into their contract that there would be no other table service restaraunts at the park for a certain number of years. Now that those years have passed, they are now building the Yak & Yeti in Asia and converting the Tusker House to a full service buffet. I was just speculating that it wouldn't surprise me that it was the intention that the Tusker House would eventually convert to full service considering its size, location and its abudance of theming.
Originally Posted By NikkiLOVESMickey I've heard so many bad things about Rainforest Cafe, I wouldn't go there if you gave me a free meal. I'm glad they're expanding the dining options at AKL - I think Disney sold their soul to the devil for a time (as well as their guests' choice of dining options) when they signed that "no other table service for X years" with Rainforest. I for one didn't eat at AKL for the first time until last May because of the limited options.
Originally Posted By MinnieSummer If the buffet is anything at all like Boma's I'll be eating there every trip. If it's like all the other buffets (Chef Mickey's, Crystal Palace, Hollywood & Vine) it will be "just another buffet", nothing special, and I will be dissappointed. I'm also glad that they are not going to have the character dining for all three meals. While I enjoy one at least once during every trip, I also like to be able to eat my dinner without them -- my daughter eats better when they aren't around anyway. Disney has the opportunity to provide a truly wonderful dining experience with this change -- a more upscale buffet restaurant in a park. Let's hope they pull it off.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA <I've heard so many bad things about Rainforest Cafe, I wouldn't go there if you gave me a free meal.> NikkiLOVESMickey, I understand you're misgivings. We've visited a few of the Rainforest Cafes over the years -- Downtown Disney Anaheim, Downtown Disney Florida -- even Las Vegas and in Ontario Mills Mall in So Cal. It's consistently decent food. Certainly not gourmet, but served fresh and hot and relatively good. It's noisy and usually busy, so it's terrific for families who like to let Little Jordan and Madison run around the table and stick crayons up their noses. But for sure, it's the last of those highly themed, theme restaurants and probably not a place for a romantic dinner for two.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 It's a place to take kids when out --( we have 3 in our immediate area) - and I agree, the food is usually consistent if not spectacular ( crab cakes are pretty decent) - fairly expensive for what you get - and noisy....
Originally Posted By bobbelee9 In 2001 Tusker had the greatest veggie wraps. I'm a meat eater but the wraps were delicious, fresh, crisp veggies. Also veggie chips with it, my granddaughter had a PBJ on swirly multi-colored bread. Great place. By 2003, the wrap and kid's bread were gone.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 Ultimately, buffets (be they with characters or sans) are cheaper to run than full serve or even counter serve locations. They also promote obesity and unhealthy eating but that's a whole other subject. Disney is steaming full speed ahead on buffeting their resorts. I couldn't help but notice how many buffets there were at DLP ... from Plaza Gardens to a Tex-Mex in the Lucky Nugget saloon. Tusker House has always been a fave of mine and I'll be sad to not dine there anymore. As to Rainforest, when they started (and began to be in every mall a la Disney Stores) there food was borderline inedible. Since Landry's took them over a few years ago and pruned many locations from the chain (I know one here in the Miami area closed for example), the food has improved but it's still Applebee's quality at premium prices. I do admit I have a bit of a fond spot for my local RC because my grandfather, who died last year, enjoyed going there and seeing all the fish and the cheesy animatronics. So I have a lot of good family memories that really have little to do with the quality of the place ... if that makes sense.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN Why not make the Pizzafari a buffet as well??? God knows I much rather fill up on pizza than cous-cous.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss I just got back from a road trip of the south, and I ate at Tusker House. Sorry to hear of the change. Tusker House was as good as I remembered it from my last trip, and a great value.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<Tusker House was as good as I remembered it from my last trip, and a great value.>> Yes... I remember having a salmon dinner there (complete with rice and veggies) for about $8 that would cost at least $15 at most restaurants. I'll miss the Tusker House, it was my favorite counter service place at WDW; but I'll give the buffet a try before I write it off.
Originally Posted By CTXRover I've seen some mention that the reason that two new sit-down restaurants are opening at AK is because the contract for Rainforest stipualating it be the only sit-down restaurant for x number of years has expired. I believe that is actually true, however, it should be noted that 'Yak and Yeti' will be run and operated by Landry's, the same company that operates the Rainforest restaurants. I am not familiar with the contract agreements between Disney and Landry's, but some have suggested that Landry's still has the hold on any table/full service restaurants at AK for x number of years. Apparently that does not include buffet restaurants though, hence the change at Tusker to a buffet instead of a full service restaurant. I don't know how true that is, but thought I'd throw it our there to see if anyone else has heard the details.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss <<I'll give the buffet a try before I write it off.>> I'm not so much writing off the buffet; Disney has shown they can do a very good one. The thing is, you won't be able to eat there for less than $10.00, which is what you can do now.
Originally Posted By Autopia Deb >>>So I have a lot of good family memories that really have little to do with the quality of the place ... if that makes sense.<<< Makes pefect sense to me
Originally Posted By bayrr326 I think that this could eventually bite them on the ______. There will be no counter service restaurants in Africa or Asia now. That will probably cause longer lines at the other 3. Also, that really shrinks the different kind of counter service food available unless they increase the menus. And Tusker had a true vegatarian option. As far as breakfast goes I hope they move it to another location or it will become just like MK with no counter service breakfast. Of course, I wish the WDW parks had a breakfast like the River Belle Terrace at DL. Great food for a good price.
Originally Posted By CTXRover <<There will be no counter service restaurants in Africa or Asia now>> The new Yak and Yeti restaurant being built in Asia is to include BOTH a counter service location and a full service sit-down restaurant according to the press releases.
