Rainforest Cafe Refurbishment

[wdwbiged]

New Bar and top

The Rainforest Cafe at Downtown Disney is adding an outside bar area called Lava Lounge and is redoing the volcano on top of the restaurant so it will erupt. The restaurant will not close during the refurbishment. The new additions are expected to be finished this fall.

 

[AcidPop]

Is it bad that I just had a hysterical vision of the volcano eruption malfunctioning and exploding everywhere, melting all the flesh off the poor people milling outside in that concept art?

Yeah, probably.

 

[skeletonowl]

Is it bad that I just had a hysterical vision of the volcano eruption malfunctioning and exploding everywhere, melting all the flesh off the poor people milling outside in that concept art?

Yeah, probably.

Funniest thing i've read all day!

This sounds like a cool idea! Who wouldn't want to get a little tipsy under a volcano?

 

[jtsalien]

Is it bad that I just had a hysterical vision of the volcano eruption malfunctioning and exploding everywhere, melting all the flesh off the poor people milling outside in that concept art?

Yeah, probably.

I'd enjoy that a lot more than the current restaurant.

 

[TSSD]

Is it bad that I just had a hysterical vision of the volcano eruption malfunctioning and exploding everywhere, melting all the flesh off the poor people milling outside in that concept art?

Yeah, probably.

Think we could send all the Brazilian tour groups there for when that happens?

 

[UNIrd]

Further cementing the Rainforest Cafe as a great place to look at... but not so much to eat.

 

[Cwoolboy]

Is it bad that I just had a hysterical vision of the volcano eruption malfunctioning and exploding everywhere, melting all the flesh off the poor people milling outside in that concept art?

Yeah, probably.

It would be dubbed as "The Worlds Most Realistic Themed Experience.....Come get Your Face Melted Off at The New and Improved Rainforest Cafe!!!" I don't know about you but I'd sit outside and watch the carnage ensue.

 

[BJCool]

Orlando Theme Park News has a general Downtown Disney photo showing new walls up around the area: http://orlandoparksnews.blogspot.com/2012/02/downtown-disney-news-major-rainforest.html

 

[Don Pacho]

Rainforest Cafe Refurbishment

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[Teebin]

This picture is an EXCELLENT example of how show buildings need nothing but white paint. Average visitors see what they want you to see, because it is curious and different. I have NEVER noticed that huge hotel in the distance... and while some of you may claim that you have... I doubt it ruined your experience or caused you to sit down in deep thought. Only a 120-200mm zoom photo like this flattens the image into a horror show. Good that most of us see at 70mm.

 

[BJCool]

Orlando Theme Park News posted this pic of the status of the Rainforest Cafe's change. You can see that they are about halfway done peeling the old facade away.

 

[BJCool]

Orlando Theme Park News has a new update on the rufurb's progress.


The old metal structure that held up the previous volcano facade is completely gone:

Work on the outdoor patio to be rethemed to the Lava Lounge:

 

[BJCool]

AmusementPics has new photos of the new volcano's structure that has replaced the prior one rather quickly. It definitely seems like it will be wider and more iconic than before.

 

[BJCool]

DaMouse checked out the volcano's progress this week.

The refurbished sign:

The steel is still going up for the volcano:

The outdoor bar remains behind tarps but will hopefully be done soon:

 

[Don Pacho]

As of Saturday May 26, 2012

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[Teebin]

Why is this being done? Does Disney have any financial control or input into this? What is the incentive here? The two unfortunate times I have been, it was stupidly busy.

 

[Scarletwebslingr]

Check out that eye candy! Speaking, of course, of the snot flavored jelly bean variety.

 

[Dr. Emmett Brown]

Why is this being done? Does Disney have any financial control or input into this? What is the incentive here? The two unfortunate times I have been, it was stupidly busy.

I don't believe Disney has much financial input into this, if any. The logical thing would've been Rainforest's parent company (I can't recall the name at the moment) wanting to refurb an old structure and Disney giving the green light. There's really no need to go into Rainforest when Earl of Sandwich is just a few hundred feet away.

 

[Brian G.]

There's really no need to go into Rainforest when Earl of Sandwich is just a few hundred feet away.

Agreed, especially during the Holidays.

 

[Dr. Emmett Brown]

Agreed, especially during the Holidays.

Three reasons:
1. Crowds
2. Holiday Sandwich
3. Holiday Sandwich