50' Prime Time

[Stacy's a freak]

I am relatively new to the Disney Boards, but I've noticed that many people rave about this restaurant (50's Prime Time). But, when my sister and I ate at this restaurant in 1994, we had not heard of it before and thought it looked fun. After we got a table (for lunch), we noticed that there was a strange odor. It was hard to pinpoint, but it smelled like a mixture of pledge and mildew. We had ordered our meals before it became too much to handle so we dealt with it together with the gramma-type chick yelling "... eat your veggies or NO DESSERT!"

When my husband and I went there on our honeymoon in 1996, I refused to go there because of the smell, which I still remember to this day (I understand that the gramma chick was part of the ambiance). But tell me ... is the smell part of the "experience" too? If so, WHY?! It was difficult to stomach food with that smell enveloping us. And, if so, are they trying to say that the average 50's home smelled like a flood had just passed through and only pledge could be used to clean it? Please everyone... help me to understand why this is such a beloved restaurant. Maybe you will even convince me to give it another try during our much-anticipated October trip.

Thanks - Stacy

 

[AZKathy]

Never noticed a smell with our visits to Prime Time. I love the restaraunt and make sure we go every trip.

If you don't like the craziness of the eat your veggies and clean your plate and no elbows on the table, you may want to find another place. We like the craziness and play along all the time.

By the way welcome to the DIS!!!

 

[#1hockeymom]

Ever since our first visit to MGM we have gone to the Prime Time! I will never ever forget the look on my daughter's face when her daddy was made to eat all his green beans by "open the hanger and let them fly in"!

When I first told my children this week my daughter asked if we were going there for a meal. My son soon chimed in with "I want a pbj shake!" I don't know what they put in those things, but they are to die for!

Debbie

 

[kdibattista]

I never noticed the smell either

 

[#1hockeymom]

anyone know if you can get the pbj shakes to go? I think it would be great to order a few, then go sit out by the lake and watch the world go by!

Debbie

 

[princesstommi]

I have never noticed a smell in any of my visits to Prime Time. And yes, Disney does do *smells* for theming, but not gross ones in retaurants! (I would hope) I'm guessing it was a one time thing.

Give it another try! Prime Time is one of our favorites, and on our must-do list.

But if you go again, and you do have a problem like that, definitely don't be afraid to tell the CMs and either have them move you to another table, or that you don't want to stay for the meal.

 

[Stacy's a freak]

I thought about saying something but I didn't want to dampen the atmostphere, if it was meant to be.

Thanks to everyone for your opinions. It will be cool to see what this poll looks like after a few days

 

[Moosysmom]

I ate there solo in 2001 and had a great time. Didn't notice any smells, ate all my food, but the waitress made me wear a bib because I was reading a book while eating. The kids at the table next to me got a great laugh out of it. I would definitely go again.

 

[Badger Brent]

5 or 6 times there and no smells either. Have fun and go with the flow with the CM's. If it's not your thing, try the other rest. available at mgm. Have fun either way.

 

[Chloesmom]

We have eaten there many a time and no smells...and I cannot stand odd smells like mildew so it had to be a freak thing.
I love PT...and since I am a food vacuum I never get the airplane treatment....never anything left on my plate.

 

[cinmell]

I've been there a few times and never noticed a smell so it was probably a one time thing.

 

[JulesMom]

Never noticed a smell...and I think the place is fun

 

[TreeOfLife]

Stinks alright... Especially with waiters and waitresses that lack talent to stay in character...

Yukky place

 

[WDWalways]

I LOVE Prime Time and like others posted I make sure to get there on every trip - been there so many times I can't even count since 1991/92 time period and never smelled anything bad or like you described - love that meatloaf!!

 

[Chuck S]

I never noticed a cleaning agent smell, perhaps the folks that were there prior to you left a terribly mess that had to have extra cleaning, or the floor had to be mopped.

If you go again, I'd advise ordering an entree, rather than a sandwich. The meatloaf, pot roast and fried chicken are all very good!

This restaurant isn't for everybody. If you can't join in the fun -or- if you're just too sensitive to "eat you veggies" you'd be better off elsewhere.

 

[Eeyore1954]

Never noticed a bad smell -- just the yummy ones of all the food!

My DW and I love this place and love the food. My favorite is the meatloaf -- wonderful comfort food.

Like others have said, if you don't like a lot of zaniness while you eat, this restaurant is probably not one you'd like. We love the servers and the antics! This is a must-do on every trip to WDW -- sometimes more than once!

 

[travelbug]

My sister and I DID experience a terrible smell at the 50s Prime Time in Feb., but not the smell you're describing. We were having a wonderful meal and enjoying the atmosphere a lot, when a very unkempt couple was seated right next to us. Bless their hearts, they seemed like nice sincere people. But the odor was so strong and so horrible that we finished up as quickly as we could. We tried really hard to not react visibly, but it was sure challenging. Thankfully, we were almost done anyway. Others in the room appeared to be very much aware of the problem too.

I truly felt badly for them. So sad.

 

[rcyannacci]

Loved the food, didn't notice a smell, but I did feel slightly uncomfortable. I love a good performance (and we had a pretty good waiter- Uncle someone), but it was just too much stress for me to try to play along. Maybe I felt guilty because I wasn't as much fun as they expected me to be? I loved all the kitchey 50's decorations, but didn't feel like I could wander around because I would be walking across someone else's "stage." Maybe because I have a lot of actors as friends, but I kept looking at the servers and wondering what they were like in real life, or what they were talking about in the (backstage) kitchen. In other arenas, I do truly buy into the Disney "magic," but this is a little too interactive for me. Anyone else, or am I just a big old fuddy-duddy?

 

[DaveH]

I have never noticed a bad smell there. I would suggest the next time you are at Disney and have that odor, please say something and asked to seated elsewhere. I am sure they will try to move you. We pay way too much not to be able to enjoy ourselves.

If you do not like zannyness I would not go there. I have done it solo, with DW and with 100 more or less DISers and always had a great time. I am so sorry you had the bad experience there.

 

[Stacy's a freak]

Thank you so much to everyone for the responses. I can tell that this restaurant is a favorite to many and I now feel it is my duty as a new DISer to give it another shot.

In the meantime, let's keep the poll going. I'm getting some fun results