WDW Dining T-Rex at Downtown Disney Takes Guests on a Dining Adventure to a Prehistoric Time - Walt Disney Boards - Message Boards & Forum Discussing The Genius Of Walter Elias Disney!

**Bigbearsg** · #1 (**permalink**) 10-08-2008, 12:26 AM

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Walt Disney World guests can go on an adventure back in time to dine among the dinosaurs as T-Rex: A Prehistoric Family Adventure, A Place to Eat, Shop, Explore and Discover® opens it doors at Downtown Disney in mid October.

T-Rex, developed by Schussler Creative, Inc. and operated by Landry’s Restaurants, Inc., features dining and retail in a 30,000-square-foot, 600-seat, family-friendly interactive prehistoric environment. The concept is built around water, fire and ice: Guests are greeted with life-size animatronic dinosaurs among cascading waterfalls, bubbling geysers, a fossil dig site and much more.

Schussler Creative Chairman Steve Schussler, the founder of Rainforest Cafe and the T-Rex restaurant, depicts the experience as “edutainment,” noting that this “treat for all five senses” includes artifacts such as fossils – all carefully labeled – that are hundreds of millions of years old, carefully crafted animatronic dinosaurs, and even a meteorite found in Argentina.

A full-size skeleton replica of Argentinosaurus, one of the largest of the dinosaurs and copied from a museum specimen about 125 feet in length, looms over the entrance, joined by a Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton.

The prehistoric theme extends to the menu, which features items with names such as Caesarsaurus (Caesar salad), Raptor Ribs (Asian BBQ ribs), Pterodactyl Wings (Buffalo chicken wings), Triassic Tortellini (tri-colored cheese tortellini) and Gigantosaurus Burger (think really big hamburger!).

Menu choices range from starters (appetizers, salads and soups) to pastas, burgers and sandwiches to a broad selection of entrees plus desserts. Some favorites include rotisserie chicken, fried shrimp, steaks and ribs, tarragon chicken salad sandwich, Cobb salad and “Chocolate Extinction.”

Guests can make reservations by calling 407/WDW-DINE.

**Oh Pooh** · #2 (**permalink**) 10-08-2008, 04:26 AM

Thanks Greg ! I bet it will be hard to get an ADR for this ! Ty for sharing !

goofy101 · #3 (**permalink**) 10-08-2008, 11:07 AM

This is the one place i have got to go and try next year when i am over

mickeypal · #4 (**permalink**) 10-09-2008, 05:27 AM

They were talking about this place on WDW Radio. It sounds GREAT. Definitely for anyone who loves dinosaurs. This will be on my to do list for our next vacation.

**DisneyNutMary** · #5 (**permalink**) 10-09-2008, 07:25 AM

I can't wait to try T-Rex.
I've been waiting a long time for another restaurant that would interest my sons. They are not young enough or old enough to appreciate all of the princesses. They enjoy Rainforest Cafe, so I think they will like T-Rex as well.

**hms1016** · #6 (**permalink**) 10-09-2008, 04:23 PM

My brother is a chef and has gotten a few emails about applying for a job there. It sounds neat.

DisneySchoe · #7 (**permalink**) 10-10-2008, 05:26 PM

Can't wait to try this place out!
Although, don't you guys think Disney should have just added this to Dinoland USA in Animal Kingdom?

**disneymaniac87** · #8 (**permalink**) 10-11-2008, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hms1016

My brother is a chef and has gotten a few emails about applying for a job there. It sounds neat.

and he didn't?!?! He could have been working for Disney!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by DisneySchoe

Can't wait to try this place out!
Although, don't you guys think Disney should have just added this to Dinoland USA in Animal Kingdom?

Yeah I think so too.. but maybe because of room they put it in downtown disney! And for those who come to shop at DD and don't have park tickets, they can still get an amazing Disney Experience

**Bigbearsg** · #9 (**permalink**) 10-14-2008, 08:03 PM

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla., Oct., 14, 2008– Landry's Restaurants, Inc., one of the nation's largest dining, entertainment and hospitality companies, announced that T-REX™: A Prehistoric Family Adventure™, A Place to Eat, Shop, Explore and Discover™ is slated to open on Tuesday, October 14 at Downtown Disney® in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

Landry’s Restaurants, in collaboration with Schussler Creative, developed the amazing concept for this new dining experience. T-REX Café features dining and retail in an interactive prehistoric environment. The concept is built around water, fire and ice. Guests visiting T-REX are greeted with life-sized animatronic dinosaurs, bubbling geysers, a fossil dig site and much more, taking them back to a time when dinosaurs roamed the earth.

"T-REX will attract visitors of all ages with its mix of delicious food and unique entertainment," said Tilman Fertitta, president, chairman and CEO of Landry's. "Downtown Disney is the perfect location for this innovative concept."

"T-REX is the perfect place to uncover never-before-known dinosaur facts and let your imagination roam wild," said Steve Schussler.

T-REX is not just a place to visit – it is a place to explore. Would-be paleontologists can practice their skills in the Discovery Dig Site, a large excavation pit with replicas of fossil bones waiting to be uncovered. The Geode Splitter breaks up geodes to display hidden minerals. Pan for precious stones, gems and fossils within Discovery Creek “sluice”. Plus, guests will be able to expand their knowledge of the dinosaur era and play one of several family-friendly games on the interactive Paleo Screens.

“Landry's and Schussler Creative have a proven history of creating entertaining dining concepts and we are thrilled to work with them again,” said Kevin Lansberry, vice president of Downtown Disney. “T-REX is right in line with our vision to provide exciting and one-of-a-kind experiences for guests of all ages.”

T-REX greets visitors with a skeletal version of a 125-foot long replica of an Argentinasaurus, which was not only the largest dinosaur of the period, but quite possibly also the largest and heaviest animal to ever walk the earth. Just inside the front doors is an animatronic Tyrannosaurus waiting to greet the guests. Also upon entering T-REX, guests will be greeted by a giant animatronic octopus sitting on top of the Shark Bar, motioning guests in for a specialty drink and a view of a 5,000-gallon shark tank. Lava rock, greenery and lighting effects combine to transport visitors into a time long ago.

The 30,000 sq. ft. restaurant seats 600 guests and is divided into several separate, distinctive dining rooms, each with its own theme and animatronic dinosaurs. The Ice Cave, for example, resurrects the woolly mammoth, while the Fern Forest is the home of a Triceratops and its infants, along with a Stegosaurus. Other exciting areas include the Coral Reef Dining Room, Sequoia Room and Geo-Tech Room. Also an amazing meteor shower travels across the dining room ceiling every 20 minutes.

But, while the décor may be prehistoric, the food facilities are cutting-edge. The Kitchen of Fire offers an open kitchen with a giant rotisserie that allows visitors to see meals being prepared. Dishes such as Triassic Tortellini, the Bronto Burger and the one-of-a-kind Boneyard Buffet will keep both carnivores and herbivores extremely happy. Delicious desserts such as Chocolate Extinction and Meteor Bites provide the perfect finish to a rich dining experience. For those who want to take the

T-REX experience home, the Dino-Store provides a wide variety of dinosaur-related apparel and gifts.

Young dinosaur fans will especially enjoy the chance to take home their own personal dinosaur with Build-A-Dino™, Where Best Friendosaurs Are Made™, a store opening in T-REX. Developed by Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. in partnership with T-REX, the store will offer several prehistoric animal toys with a variety of accessories and outfits from which to choose.

**Bigbearsg** · #10 (**permalink**) 10-21-2008, 04:09 AM

YouTube - T-Rex Cafe Walt Disney World Grand Opening

Thought you all mite like this from OH LOU Mongello WDW Radio

goofy101 · #11 (**permalink**) 10-21-2008, 11:16 AM

this place looks so cool!!!!!!!

**DisneyNutMary** · #12 (**permalink**) 10-21-2008, 11:26 AM

I can't wait to try it. It looks cool, and I think my son is going to love it there

Gabe1 · #13 (**permalink**) 10-21-2008, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigbearsg

YouTube - T-Rex Cafe Walt Disney World Grand Opening

Thought you all mite like this from OH LOU Mongello WDW Radio

All Ears and Mr. Hill have good pictures posted. It sounded like RainForest before the opening, now that I see it, Rex looks almost identical right down to the bar area, just different theming. Bet it will be easier to get into the RainForest now. Doubt folks will do both.

We have a couple RainForest's in IL. The crowds are not what they use to be. The ones here kinda hurt themselves when they shrunk the food portion and kept the price the same. When we asked we were told people complained that the portions were too large. Hmmm.

**disneymaniac87** · #14 (**permalink**) 10-21-2008, 01:41 PM

Yeah that does look a lot like Rainforest cafe.. But that does look like a pretty cool restaurant

BellTinkR · #15 (**permalink**) 10-21-2008, 11:33 PM

Passed by the outside on Sunday. It's HUGE, and from the perspective of those staying across the lake at Saratoga Springs, it might actually be considered a blight on the DTD "skyline". However, it did look like a fun place, and you're right - it's a variation on the Rainforest theme. At Rainforest they call "John party of six, your safari is ready to leave", and at T-Rex they say "expedition" in stead of safari.

Loopy747 · #16 (**permalink**) 10-30-2008, 09:59 AM

We ate at the trex last night. We won't be returning there again. The service was BAD! Glasses we always empty. Prices were way too high for the food. The kids meals were 7 bucsk not including a drink, it was 2.00 extra then my son wanted a refill and they charged a 1.00 for it. It was a huge disappointment to me. They had tyson dino nuggets, chips and baked beans. I had an sandwich which wasnt very good. My husband had chicken fried steak and didnt like it either. For our family of 5 it cost us over 80 bucks. Yeah it was cool looking in there but a huge let down for us.

**Bigbearsg** · #17 (**permalink**) 10-30-2008, 10:28 AM

Thank you sound like I dont need to go there in Dec.

Loopy747 · #18 (**permalink**) 10-30-2008, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigbearsg

Thank you sound like I dont need to go there in Dec.

It is a neat place to see. LOL Take a look around while at downtown disney. I would just skip eating there. My kids were pretty scared of it. they have a metor shower that happens like every 15 to 20 minutes. All 3 of my kids were shaking they got so scared. LOL BUT they are big chickens. they are afraid of everything. I took a few pictures with my cell phone. I will see if photobucket will let me upload them, it doesnt seem to like me lately.

Mydream · #19 (**permalink**) 12-18-2008, 04:04 PM

We tried T-Rex the first week of December. Of course it feels and looks similar to Rainforest Cafe, but personally we thought the food was better. Loved the food and the decor. Also, they had sweet-n-low. Which as you know can be hard to find at Disney. I would highly recommend giving it a try if you get to DTD.

**WDBArnyVee** · #20 (**permalink**) 12-18-2008, 09:09 PM

We might be trying out the T-Rex cafe on our trip in February. But, it's a quick trip so we might not be able to fit in enough of the stuff we want to do.