Not every Walt Disney World restaurant is created equal.
Inside the sandwich
Walt Disney World offers a WIDE range of culinary options, from quick service comfort food all the way to a MICHELIN star restaurant. However, there are some Disney World restaurants that — to put it mildly — we feel like could disappear tomorrow and few would miss them. That doesn’t necessarily mean their food is bad either – though food quality does play a role – but it could also simply be that they’re redundant, or well past their cultural expiration date.
Planet Hollywood
There was a time when Planet Hollywood was the coolest chain restaurant in the world thanks to each locations’s selection of movie memorabilia, the backing of stars like Bruce Willis, Sylvester Stallone, and Arnold Schwarzenegger, and some fun menu times like cereal-battered fried chicken. However, that time was 1995. Nearly three decades later, the massive Planet Hollywood at Disney Springs sits like an eyesore. Plus, the remodel from last decade removed any potential ’90s nostalgia vibes the original might have had.
Planet Hollywood… stands out at Disney Springs
Rainforest Cafe (Animal Kingdom)
Speaking of ’90s theme restaurants, there are not one but two animal animatronic-filled Rainforest Cafes on Walt Disney World property. Now, we can forgive the one at Disney Springs somewhat as the restaurant fits the general vibe of the eateries in the Marketplace area, plus the volcano exterior is admittedly very cool. However, the massive one outside of Animal Kingdom just feels redundant at this point, and serves as little more than a reminder that there are real animals — and better food — just inside the park.
Rainforest Cafe outside of Animal Kingdom
Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano
We’re a bit torn on this one. We’d be a bit remiss to see ANOTHER part of the classic DIsney/MGM Studios lost to time. However, Mama Melrose’s food simply doesn’t stand up in the modern era of Walt Disney World restaurants, and its theming isn’t enough to carry it through, especially compared to some of the park’s other themed eateries. Plus, we’re still miffed that the space didn’t become the Muppet-themed Rizzo restaurant it was allegedly originally designed to be.
Mama Melrose
Again, we’re sure there are fans of these restaurants – some of you may even yell at us over this – but in our minds each of them has reached their expiration date as far as being part of Walt Disney World is concerned. Stay tuned to DFB for more thoughts on Disney dining.
Why Making Dining Reservations in Disney World Can Be Terrible Advice
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Do you agree that these restaurants wouldn’t be missed at Walt Disney World, or do you think there are others that deserve to go first? Let us know in the comments below.
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Could not disagree with you more on the 3 restaurants.
No, I do not agree at all regarding the 3 restaurants
Mama Melrose should become a Swedish chef (muppets) themed restaurant. I feel like that’s a missed opportunity for greatness.
Was not impressed at all with Mama Melrose. Food was mediocre.
They should have torn down Planet Hollywood when they did the redo of Springs. It has been bad for a long time .
I do like Mama’s though.
You’re nuts! Mama Melrose’s food is delicious and the prices are decent.
Disney-MGM Studios
I agree with getting rid of Mama Melrose! I have only eaten there once and was not the least bit impressed! I never liked Planet Hollywood after eating at the one in San Diego, California, so that one is a must destroy for me. As for Rainforest, for those folks that have picky eaters, this one should stay!
boarded up and never spoken of again? that seems a bit harsh
You can add Ale & Compass to that list.
Not mama. melrose. we have eaten there many times and always enjoyed it. Is it the best Italian on property? not in the slightest. But it is decent and portions are decent and pricing is relatively good.
teri
Mama Melrose is very good,also the theming there is really cool and relaxed.
We just ate at Mama Melrose and their new menu was wonderful and our server was amazing! We sat in the back and enjoyed looking at the memorabilia on the walls too. I think people just jump on the bandwagon against Mama Melrose.
Mama Melrose is a great place to have a meal at Studios. Relaxing, not too pricy,. Planet Hollywood and Rainforest Cafe have both list their way.
We eat at the Rainforest almost every trip! Something for everyone even my picky eaters. It also has reasonable prices
I used to really like Mama Melrose’s in the early 2000s. It had some great dishes like a veal scallopine and lobster ravioli. Sadly those disappeared and the overall quality took a nose dive in the mid-2000s. I’ve been back a handful of times since, but I’ve been disappointed every time. These days, Mama Melorose tends to make Olive Garden look like fine dining. It doesn’t need to be boarded up, it needs a new chef and new management to offer great Italian food.
ADD 1900 PARK FARE TO THAT LIST. HORRIBLE. THEY SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES.
We eat at mama melrose every time we go to HS. I think it’s really good!!
Yep, I totally agree; all three need to go.
Add Tony’s Town Square and Coral Reef
I love Mama Melrose! I like it much better than Olive Garden that someone mentioned earlier. Olive Garden is horrifically spicey, and burns my mouth. At Mama Melrose’s you can actually taste the food because it isn’t spicey. Yep, Mama Melrose’s all the way!!
Planet & Rain have no business here.
Mama would be great to reimagine with the Muppets. Soo much potential.
Sorry. I like all of these.
Rainforest Cafe Animal Kingdom rocks. Menu great for kids and adults. Bathrooms so cool. We go every year.
Ate at mama melrose as last resort a few weeks ago. My meatballs came out cold. Luckily the kids meals were ok. Just felt like the quality was off and it’s hidden in a corner. Would make sense to make it muppet themed because at least it would go with its surroundings.
I love LA Lasagna, but the Planet Hollywood retheme was a total bust. We like Rainforest Cafe too, the deals on Landry’s gift cards and Landry’s Select Club savings always save us a ton of money at their restaurants. There are too few table service in restaurants at Animal Kingdom, much less reasonably priced, for this one to go. It’s also incredibly helpful that you don’t have to enter the park. One trip, we were visiting Winter Summerland, and we had hoped to eat lunch at Blizzard Beach, but it didn’t open that day. Rainforest at Animal Kingdom was a great nearby substitute. Mama Melrose’s isn’t always the best place for Italian food, it definitely has waivered in that respect over the years. But, we love the NY strip and the cheesy penne side that comes with it, and we have not been let down by that choice over many years. And the theming is better than a lot of places. I wouldn’t mind a Muppets re-theme, but I’d be very concerned that if they closed MM’s down, they would leave it closed for years and years as they have done so many things. And there are too few table service restaurants at Hollywood Studios for one to go there too. I’d rather see Hollywood and Vine shuttered. The theming is weak, the food the past 2 or 3 times we’ve been there has been awful, and no matter how nice you are or how slow it is, you have a better chance of winning the lottery than getting your drinks refilled. Nope. These all need to stay. There are a lot of other places that need a re-think before these.
I have never eaten at Mama Melrose. It just was too out of the way. Maybe a Muppet theme would work. I like Rain Forest, but Planet Hollywood needs to go the way of the dodo. It’s a prime spot so Disney should put something fresh there.
Agree completely! Planet Hollywoods and Rainforest Cafes everywhere should be closed! We have them here in Niagara Falls and they are just sad to see. Never wanted to eat at Mama Melrose’s – that says something right there!
We like Rain Forest, but could afford to lose 50’s cafe.
We love the Rainforest Cafe. We always eat there when we go to Disney World. We were heartbroken that they removed the one in Disneyland. The other two restaurants I’d be ok with losing. I do agree with Allie that Melrose should become a Muppet restaurant, that would be really great!
You are correct! I’d drop out PizzeRizo before Mama Melrose. Perhaps we should consider them as one location and remove both?
I guess I’m a big kid but I love Rainforest Cafe especially in Disney Springs (and its sister, T-Rex Cafe, is my absolute favorite in all of wdw)!! Great theming, air conditioned, good old comfort food and shopping! I don’t go to wdw for great food but consider myself lucky when I find something delicious. I eat to refuel but also to sit, relax for a few and cool off. Seldom go to Hollywood Studios anymore. Much preferred Eisner’s vision, the movies, etc. Planet Hollywood too noisy! Much better places in Disney Springs. But…to each his own!!! That’s the best part of wdw. There’s something for everyone! I just wish they’d stop closing the best (my fave) places to eat in each park! ☺
We love Mama Melrose! While not a mind blowing experience, food is more than acceptable, the atmosphere is great, and it’s reasonable priced. Would be a huge loss!
Nailed it! Mama Melrose was just not “tasty” for us. Planet H is old hat. and RF has always treated us as 2 old people who don’t even drink alcohol….low tip possibility…ignore and concentrate on the “big tip” tables! Our first visit years ago was just to grab a salad and the server said “2 salads cheapest thing on the menu “
Mama Melrose has always been good when we ate there. I would add Crystal Palace to the list. We ate there twice and food and service was awful and we won’t be trying it a 3rd time.
Our family enjoys Mama’s – I know it’s not great Italian but we always have a good time here and leave with a smile.
isn’t this what a family meal is all about Charlie Brown
crystal palace is a must do when we visit wdw
Yeah, Mama Melrose can go away. We were also turned off by 50’s Prime Time. Maybe because I’m 78 and the nostalgia for my childhood kitchen isn’t there. The family does enjoy Rain Forest, however. I’d also dump the Pizza Place in EPCOT’s Italy. The food is good, but the waitstaff has disappointed us every time through either delays or errors in the order.
I do want to see the return of lunch at the Rose and Crown in EPCOT’s England. It used to offer a great lunch.
Not sure where you are coming from on these three suggestions but we have dined at all three many times and enjoyed the experiences. You should put space 220 on your list, way over priced, mediocre food at best, and its a room with a bunch of big TV screens all equating to a ripoff….. How you can put Mama Melrose and Rainforest on your list is crazy. Rainforest has the best breakfast on property.