50's Prime Time or Sci-Fi?

[ShelsGoingToDisney]

We're going in October and have never done a TS at DHS. I am debtating between 50's Prime Time and Sci-Fi. We have 3 kids, 10, 7, & 4. The 50's menu looks more appealing to me over Sci-Fi but I am wondering if the atmosphere at Sci-Fi would be better with the kids? Advice please!

TIA!

 

[Lamandpercy]

We have done both (without kids) and love both. Sci-fi is quite dark inside and as you are in a car the kids sit up front on their own which some kids love. The sc-fi burgers are great as are the milkshakes. The waiters don't necessarily add to the expereince here, the main thing is the sc-fi clips on a big screen at the front. They are on a loop and if you are in there a while you can see the same again. We do enjoy sci-fi, burgers are available at dinner although they are not on the menu you can ask for them. If you do decide on sci-fi take a sweater or cardigan as the AC is usually set to arctic.

Prime Time is also very good, you would all be at the same table and the eperience is created by your waiter (cousin or sister). Most of them are great and really get into the act but there are a few who do not so much. The food here was good, we were on DDP and I couldn't finish my lunch as it was huge. Our waiter was very funny and despite us being 2 adults, he still made us keep our elbows off the table etc.

If I had kids I would maybe go for the 50's PT as the food is a bit different, you can get burgers anywhere in WDW.

 

[trac96]

my family did both in april and my kids {15 & 17} wasn't impressed with sci-fi but LOVED prime time.

 

[laughinplace199]

We've done both and thought the food at Sci Fi was terrible. We eat at 50's PT every trip and haven't had a bad meal yet.

 

[MickeyNicki]

That is a tough choice because they are both alot of fun and have great food..although 50's PT has a better menu IMHO.

For burgers and movies and a very quiet atmosphere I say go to Sci Fi

For the best fried chicken ever, a cool 50's decor scheme and lots of fun with your "relatives" feeding you your food, calling you tattle tales, pushing your elbows off the table, making you sing I'm a Little Tea Pot, etc I say go to 50's

Either way you are going to have a great time and lots of yummy food

 

[SOnotLayuh]

PT is one of our absolute favorite places in the world. It is SO much fun for kids and adults alike.

 

[JoePa4Ever]

50's PTC is one of my favorites. I love the 50's theming & have had pretty good luck with cm's who are into playing their roles, which makes it a fun experience. There are lots of good items on the menu there - I always get the pot roast.

 

[HollVoll]

We haven't tried Prime Time, but our Sci-Fi experience was stinky. Food was good, but the wait time was long and the service was cruddy.

 

[my2disneyboys]

We did 50's Prime Time this May, the atmosphere was pretty cool, but IMO I just didn't like the whole "waitress being rude=funny" thing... I am sure lot's of people probably go because of this, but for me, we just wanted to have our lunch and I found it a little annoying to have to keep chatting with our "cousins" at the tables right next to us. I also have a really shy child, he was hiding under the table whenever the waitress came by because she kept picking on him.... My DH loved this place and said it was one of his better meals (he had the fried chicken) I just thought maybe it would be a better option for dinner, because for lunch it was a heavy meal. They did have a really good Brownie Sundae!! We are trying Sci Fi next time around.

 

[ROEDISNEY]

50's Prime Time is so good. It's a must do every trip. Good food & fun.
Si-Fi use to be real good but ever since they changed the dinner menu. We won't go back. Lunch is better there.

 

[Pakey]

We've done lunch and dinner at both many times. The food at Sci Fi is not that good but we love the little cars for lunch, especially on a hot day. I would never do dinner here; the food is not good. I'm fine with lunch as the onion rings and milk shakes are good so I stick with that. 50's PTC is excellent but the food is heavier than we like to eat for lunch so we always do dinner here. I've tried just about every entree offered here and I've thought they were all good.

 

[ShelsGoingToDisney]

Thanks for all the responses! Looks like 50's PT is winning out. I didn't realize they did anything special there. I just thought the food looked better than Sci-Fi but I figured the kids would prefer Sci-Fi for the special stuff but if 50's does the stuff you all say AND has good food I think we'd prefer that! Thanks!

 

[SPOERLX3]

I would choose Sci-Fi. This is a must for lunch for my family every trip. Burgers, onion rings, and shakes with the drive in movie atmosphere is amazing. We have been to both but this year when we started planning our trip my DH, DD, DGS12 & DGD11 wanted to make sure we were going to Sci-Fi. The one place they did not want to go back to was 50's PT. I thought it was fun but they didn't like it at all. We had a horrible experience at PT last year and the kids left saying that they didn't like it at all. They said the food is the same as what we can get at home and they didn't like the way the waitress acted. So I have scratched it off our list.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I would go with Prime Time Cafe because I believe it has the better atmosphere.

 

[Debbie-TN]

50's Prime Time is one of our favorite places. It's a lot of fun and the food is really good(except for the green beans-we always ask for corn instead). Sci-Fi is ok, but it's mostly sandwiches. The last time we went, they sat us right by one of the speakers and it was loud. I asked if it could be turned down and the server said no, they didn't have any control over them. It was annoying.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Not sure how old your children are, but warn them ahead of time about the waiter/waitress. They will "yell" at them to keep their elbows off the table, they will "force" them to eat all their veggies, they will generally give them a run for their money (and you to) but it is all in good fun. If you're not the type to play along, then I say go to Sci-Fi, but if you're up for some fun and good natured ribbing, 50's PTC is the place for you!

 

[TravelNicholas]

We had dinner on Friday June 19 at Sci-Fi. Our party had 6 people (my husband and myself, our 9 and 10 year old children and my parents) so we fit in one "car". All 6 of us absolutely LOVED it! My 61 year old Mother couldn't stop talking about how fun the atmosphere was after we left! The cars were adorable and, although not very conducive to conversation with 3 rows seating 2, it was honestly the quietest restaurant I've ever been in. Everyone was glued to the movie screen. My parents and husband all had the 'special' - ribs - and raved about them. I had a magnificent shrimp pasta with feta cheese that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend. The shakes, as others have stated, are not to be missed!

 

[jen2207]

We did both last year, but I have to give my preference for Sci-fi. My preference is given purely for the fact that the three kids can sit in their own row of the car, giving me and dh at little more space of our own. But the BEST part is that it is dark in there and the kids sit and watch the movies and it tends to be quieter as everyone is watching the movie etc. Stick to the burgers and shakes - yum!

For food PTC is better, but for a meal with less noise and time to actually sit and relax for a minute - Sci-fi wins for me!!

 

[tami82]

I havent been to it yet but my vote is for Sci -Fi. I think my 3 girls would love the atmosphere much better than at 50's where at waitress is putting on a show telling them not to put their elbows on the table. I dont know if they would find that very enjoyable. Sci-Fi i know they would definitely love so i didnt hesitate to book it.

 

[Madzac]

I have done both and we prefer the Sci Fi with kids. I guess it depends a little one yours kids' personalities. They think PTC if funny if they pick on the parents, but they dont like being picked on themselves. We tried Sci Fi for the first time this trip and that is the one restaurant the whole trip that EVERYONE reuqested to go back to. We did lunch and all just had burgers and they were SO good! Desserts were excellent too. The kids just had a ball in the car and atmosphere.

We will go back to 50's when our kids are teens I think, but for now, Sci Fi!!!