Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom <<What are you talking about? The "make your own T-Shirt" experience by Haines sounds incredibly unique!>> Actually no its not that unique. One of my sister's has two Brother Disney sewing machines ( who knew there were Disney sewing machines ) and they do Disney embroidery. <a href="http://www.allbrands.com/products/abp09239.html?ovchn=SPRI&ovcpn=Froogle&ovcrn=Froogle&ovtac=CMP" target="_blank">http://www.allbrands.com/produ...vtac=CMP</a> Apparently there are literally thousands of embroidery patterns out their but only the Brother Disney sewing machine can do Disney patterns. I guess the Disney patterns are copyrighted.
Originally Posted By danyoung > I've never heard of anyone getting VIOLENT as a result of one of the threads on LaughingPlace.com.< Well, perhaps a bit of hyperbole. But many threads have indeed become verbally violent here at LP. Not so much lately, which has been kinda nice.
Originally Posted By X-san ***the only place I ever see ridiculous waits for is RC because it appeals to all the tourists.*** You'll be happy to know, Spirit, that when you visit Tokyo you'll be able to stroll into RC day or night, anytime, with no wait. The Japanese couldn't give a rats behind about the place (nor Planet Hollywood, I've no idea how they remain open to this day).
Originally Posted By NikkiLOVESMickey I've heard far too many bad things about the RC to even consider going there. I haven't heard of one person saying that they had better than a mediocre experience; the vast majority of people I've spoken to said the food isn't any good. I always figured it was nearly impossible to screw up a hamburger, but from I've heard RC has found a way to do it.
Originally Posted By X-san It is definitely not impossible to screw up a hamburger. Just ask United Airlines.
Originally Posted By X-san I think I've only eaten in RC once in Florida, and it wasn't memorable (I usually remember if a place was BAD though, so I'll assume it was "okay"). It's quite good in Japan though. Only WAY overpriced, so I've only eaten there a couple of times.
Originally Posted By dshyates The food is fair to mediocre, but I enjoy going in and sitting at the bar. Have a big potent fruity beverage and an appitizer then moving on. You can usually get a barstool (which are shaped like animals, some with tails) without a wait. I have yet to figure out why Disney fans seem to have such a dislike for the place. They always say, "The AAs suck, nothing like Disney." All I have to say is have you actually been on a recent Disney ride. They could have put in a plywood flat Gorilla with one waving arm and been better than some of the AAs Disney has installed in recent years. Hell, some of the AAs Disney has put in aren't even AAs, just fiberglass statues recycled from the closed Disney stores. Sure, RC's AAs aren't Mr. Potatohead, but whatever, more barstools for me to chose from.
Originally Posted By NikkiLOVESMickey <<Have a big potent fruity beverage and an appitizer then moving on.>> If I'm going to do that, I can do it at the River Roost in POR. I'm not much on fruity beverages anyway, save the occasional Kungaloosh. <<The food is fair to mediocre...>> << I have yet to figure out why Disney fans seem to have such a dislike for the place.>> If I'm going to plunk down my hard earned money to eat at a restaurant, the food needs to be better than fair to mediocre. As to why Disney fans have such a dislike for the place, MY personal dislike comes from the fact that a) the food is fair to mediocre and b) you can find Rainforest Cafes at malls throughout America. When I go to WDW, I want something special and unique...or at least not something I can find at a mall in Kansas. If the food was decent, I might feel differently, but the way I see it, RC has two big strikes against it.
Originally Posted By Malin <<< You'll be happy to know, Spirit, that when you visit Tokyo you'll be able to stroll into RC day or night, anytime, with no wait. >>> Thats because the venue sucks, I've eaten at a few of these restaurants over the years and the one inside Ikspiari is by far the worst experience. <<< The Japanese couldn't give a rats behind about the place (nor Planet Hollywood, I've no idea how they remain open to this day). >>> You could say that about most of the shops and Restaurants inside Ikspiari. When ever I have visited the place its a ghost town, I can only imagine OLC have these chains tied down to very long leases. Although with the opening of cirque du soleil and the potential new visitors it will attract, Ikspiari may finally pay off.
Originally Posted By Malin Sorry I meant to say pay up for some of these chains. Getting back on topic I read of LP front page that the Virgin Megastore will be gone by the end of the year. I find this quite sad as I used to enjoy visiting and checking out the latest music from America when visiting WDW. If I remember Virgin also closed down its place in Vegas at the Forum Shops a few years back.
Originally Posted By X-san ***You could say that about most of the shops and Restaurants inside Ikspiari.*** Not really. At times when Ikspiari is busy (yes, they do have such times lol) like dinner on a Friday or Saturday night, you'd have to wait an hour or more at Monsoon Cafe or the Chinese place near AMC and several other popular restaurants...but even at those times PH and RC are dead. It's pretty bizarre. Not sure how the Ikspiari Rainforest cafe differs in terms of "experience" (they're all the same to me, just a cheesy themed restaurant), the food is okay. Overpriced though (as is PH..bigtime).
Originally Posted By X-san "Sorry I meant to say pay up for some of these chains." I doubt it would make any difference for the two in question, for the reason I mentioned above.
Originally Posted By dshyates See, Nikki I think all the food at DtD, with the exception of Wolfgang's main dining room, is fair to mediocre. Some are just plain bad, like Fulton's. And Fulton's is far more expensive the RC. I take RC for what it is, It's a fun place with good drinks, and OK food. I would never wait for a table. Heck I don't even know that I would chose it as a dinner spot even with no wait, considering all the other choices in the area. I haven't actually eaten dinner in DtD in years. But while in DtD, RC is fine/fun to stop in for a beverage. Certainly there are places Disney owns/operates that are just as expensive and mediocre. I hear the new Waves in the contemporary is only good if you get it for "free" with the dining plan. Not a good place for locals to pop over for Dinner lke Artist Pointe or California Grill, even though it looks upscale. And as far as Disney's specialness over RC's commonality. Disney lost that luxury when I started being able to buy Mickey Toilet paper at Wal-Mart and the Disney store came to my local mall in WV. The closest RC to me is 7 hours away in Baltimore. The only places I have visited RC are the 2 at WDW and the one at the DLR. but if I was at a mall with a RC beside a Grand Lux Cafe or a Smith & Wollensky I would chose either of those over the RC for dinner. To me RC just feels like I'm on vacation and a perfect fit with Disney as overpriced themed entertainment. For me personally I don't really see a lot of difference in RC and Disney these days.
Originally Posted By dshyates Oh, and just let me add (just renmembered) the food at RC is about 1000% better than what Disney offers at the Poly's Luau. Talk about awful food.
Originally Posted By barboy Being a huge Rainforest Cafe fan I've hit it in 4 countries now(USA--4 locations, Japan---TDR, Mexico--Cancun, France---DLP) and the differences among them are as different as each Disney theme park. Some are stellar while others I have no desire to ever go back. The ones in TDR's Ikspiri and DlP's Village are beyond woeful while the ones in Downtown Disney Anaheim and San Francisco are splendid. WDW's are just ok--nothing special but worth my time if I'm hungry, in the area and there is no wait.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo I love RFC - DLP, DL, the 2 at WDW, the one in SF, and the London one. I love Mojo bones, and really adore the whole place. I have never had a bad meal in one.
Originally Posted By dshyates Here is some concept art: <a href="http://www.attractionsmagazine.com/blog/?p=587" target="_blank">http://www.attractionsmagazine...g/?p=587</a>
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<You'll be happy to know, Spirit, that when you visit Tokyo you'll be able to stroll into RC day or night, anytime, with no wait.>> Gee, I'm going to travel across the planet to dine at an overpriced, loud, mediocre, kiddies restaurant when I have one eight miles from home. Uhm ... no, I don't think so. <<The Japanese couldn't give a rats behind about the place (nor Planet Hollywood, I've no idea how they remain open to this day).>> Well, I guess the Japanese have better taste than most American tourists. Although, to be fair, Planet Hollywood had very good food when they first started out 15-20 years ago and were a novelty. I don't know about them now. All of the South Florida locales have been shuttered for a decade.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Getting back on topic I read of LP front page that the Virgin Megastore will be gone by the end of the year. I find this quite sad as I used to enjoy visiting and checking out the latest music from America when visiting WDW. If I remember Virgin also closed down its place in Vegas at the Forum Shops a few years back. >> I didn't even know they ever had one in Vegas. I never noticed it anyway. But, yeah, it's sad the O-Town branch is closing. Maybe they can put an Old Navy or Gap outlet store there instead. I have seen that place enough to know that it made money, so I must wonder if it didn't make enough (due to Disney's rent?) or the Mouse just wants to completely change the feel of the place. Either way, they just keep removing reasons for me to go there and spend money.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Virgin is going I suspect due to the fact that Richard Branson sold off the Virgin Megastores (which then closed) here in the UK last year. I suspect it ran it's lease and is now closing.
