50's Prime Time or Sci-FI

[millerjmls]

Which one Sci Fi or the 50's Prime Time ??
We are only going to be at MGM for a few hours in the morning and then a few hours in the evening on a different day. We want to try one of these restaurants that we have heard so much about but we can't decide which one. Any input or suggestions anybody? We have a 4 year old and a 12 year old and want them to enjoy this meal too. Thanks for the help.

 

[Letsbgoofy]

50's Prime Tiem is great - good food and a fun time. My 14 year old loves it! I haven't been to the Sci Fi, but have heard that the food is horrible, which is why we haven't tried it.

 

[HamHam]

We've never tried the Prime Time although really want to but have tried the Sci-Fi twice and neither time did we feel it was worth the money. The meals are pretty expensive for basically burgers, hot dogs and some different types of sandwiches. The last time we went was in August '02 with two 12 year olds. Our server was not friendly at all and made some snide comment when the girls asked if they could have the glow in the dark ice cubes in their drinks - then he never brought them. My meal was awful so I sent it back and by the time they brought another one everyone else was finished eating. All in all it was not a good experience and we'll never go back. I've heard good things about the Prime Time though and we'll definitely get there some day.

 

[fmed845]

If you like to participate with the waitress for some fun then 50's primetime is your place. Forgot to mention good food too. If you want just fun atmosphere then its SCI-FI

 

[stinkerbelle]

I vote for 50's Prime Time!

Better food
Better Atmosphere
You'll be seated together - facing each other.

You're 12 year old can watch his parents be yelled* at by a waitress for not finishing their veggies.

what more could you ask for?



*as a side note - it's not YELLING - it's chastizing...and it's freakin' hilarious if you have the right attitude for it. We've gotten the same waitress our past 2 times...very sassy...so we were sassy right back. She comp'ed us dessert she liked us so much. hehehe

 

[jtjarvis]

Hi there,
I had this very same question a few weeks ago-- it's buried somewhere a few pages back on this board probably! I have a 4-yr-old and a 6-yr-old, both boys. The responses you got are great, and I got some good ones too if you can find my query: I think I called it "50's Prime or Sci-Fi Dine?"

Funny though, most of the replies I got were in favor of Sci-Fi for interest factor for the children and general positive experience, although ratings on food fluctuated! Seems Prime may have the edge on food quality but some of the novelty of it can be edgy too. Some had bad experiences with particularly aggressive wait staff at Prime (i.e., joke going too far or not being well received). Just my input! Hope it might help. I ended up judging in favor of the Sci-Fi Dine for the sheer atmosphere, and took the general consensus advice that you can't go terribly wrong with a burger and shake.

 

[Snowysmom]

We have been to both and definately prefer 50's Prime Time. The food at Sci Fi was awful and not worth the money. The atmosphere, fun, and food at 50's prime time is better.

 

[MandaMom]

I have enjoyed my dining experience at both 50's PrimeTime and the SciFi. We had excellent servers at both restaurants but the food was a little better at the Prime Time.

We still enjoyed our food at the SciFi but all we ordered was the standard burger fare. My daughter enjoyed watching cartoons while eating and our server was very good.

Portions seemed bigger at the PrimeTime but the price was also a bit higher. My husband did not enjoy the attention from our Mom because he does not enjoy interactive dining.

Sorry I'm probably not much help because I liked both but I 'm sure you'll figure it out. Trial and error and all.

MandaMom

 

[scrump]

It depends a lot on your family's character, I suppose. Personally, I prefer SciFi because of the ambience. I know no other restaurant that duplicates it. I have had very positive dining experiences at Prime Time as well, but sometimes the "show" can get too involved and go on too long, which will depend on your CM.

Food is better at PT; as others have said, it's standard burger fare at SciFi.

Hope that helps, both are good. Just depends on what your family may be in the mood for.

 

[QJ411]

We loved 50's Prime Time! We've never been to Sci-Fi, so we can't say anything about it. But in Dec. we took my little cousin (14 yr old "skater" boy) to Prime Time and we had a blast. The food was great...(oh how I miss the Meat-Loaf) and the CM - Sue was so funny.

Once we got seated, she came over and made us set the table ourselves! We had to call her "Mom" and we were "at her kitchen table, we go by her rules". Sue made the boys take off their hats, no elbows on the table...it was SO fun. She also gave us homework to do and made us eat all our veggies!

Didn't mean to spoil anything, but I had to tell you our experience there. It was just so fun. We had a blast, even my little cousin (who sometimes thinks he's too "cool" to do these things) had fun.

So my vote is 50's prime time! Either way, ENJOY!!!

 

[Aimeedyan]

I've eaten at both and PrimeTime was my fave. I liked the fun atmosphere and interaction, and the food was DIVINE!!!!! Really big portions, though, so split meals!

Sci-Fi is good, too, it's just not "my thing"

I think you'll be pleased with either, really =)

 

[The_Advanced]

I have eaten at the 50's Primetime a long time ago when I was about 14 years old (I'm 22 now). I get turned off when I get harassed by characters/actors so I would not go back there, the woman pressured me to finish my food and I became ill that night.

I went to Sci-Fi when I was there last week and I thought the food was fantastic. We all had barbecue chicken sandwiches and the service was also right on. The atmosphere and the feeling of being in a whole other place really drew me in and I had a wonderful time being there.

 

[grimp]

If you have children, then go to Si-Fi drive in. First of all it has cars to eat in instead of tables, a significant factor to children. The food is not only full scale meals, so you can order an sandwich and shake. The food is noticealby better at Si-Fi. As a matter of fact, I would be surprised if your kids didn't puke after being forced to eat 50's Prime Time meals; believe me, those dishes are deplorable, more or less matching the ill attempts at humor by the waiters.

I know that people have raved on these boards about 50"s Prime Time meals and I just wonder who these people are, and what their restaurant experiences have compared to mine. I can only believe that those proponents of 50's Prime Time have long ago suffered taste bud death at the hands of repeated fast food.

 

[grimp]

Actually, if I were to eat again at MGM, I would probably go to Pizza Planet and share a Pepperoni pizza, a vegi pizza and a Pizza Planet salad between three people, plus order a few of their cookies. My second choice would be Mama Melroses. Definately avoid the Commisary unless you are into grease. Again, avoid 50's Prime time and only go to SiFi for the atmoshpere.

 

[pigget74]

I guess it all depends on who you get for a server. We tried Prime TIme twice and had a horrible server both times. THere was no interaction what so ever--we even stated at the front desk that we woould like a server who played the part--my kids were very disappointed both times. We have gone to Sci-Fi twice as well and loved it both times. We had awesome servers --my kids had a great time. Can't wait to go back in May.

 

[taylor1293]

50's Prime Time gets my vote.

The food is wonderful and the interaction between the servers and the customers is fantastic! We drove over to MGM Sat night just to eat there, and we weren't disappointed!

We've eaten at Sci-fi and I think everyone should eat there once. However, it's too dark and it weird sitting with your back to people in your party. Plus, the food isn't worth returning for.

Edited to say: If you have anyone in your party who doesn't have a sense of humor or minds being teased a little. 50's prime time may not be the best place. We were seated next to such a family last weekend. They were so uptight, no sense of humor at all. I guess they didn't realize what they were getting into .

Teresa

 

[exwdwcm]

I enjoyed both, but really loved 50s primetime=- i guess part of it was i worked next door at hollywood and vine (back when it was just a cafeteria, not character meal) and always could hear the fun stuff going on over there. The waitress joked with us a lot and gave us a hard time, cuz she knew we enjoyed it and played along. Many people don't enjoy that while eating, but we had a blast. We had a contest to see who got a 'clean plate' sticker.

My family thoroughly enjoyed the food (huge portions), the great service and the atmosphere. We had a blast, and we were a party of 8 adults (25-55) and one 8 year old. We also ate at Sci Fi on another trip, and while I enjoyed the atmospehre (huge sci fi fan), i couldn't say much for the food or selection available. IT was worth going once for atmosphere, but that's about it.

I already have PS for my sister and I when we go in month- to 50s primetime. can't wait.

 

[LoveThatDarnMouse]

If you like the interaction with the staff (and if you get good staff) then the Prime Time is your spot. I think, though, that with kids the age of yours~they would probably prefer the Sci-Fi. I can't remember the food in either place HOWEVER~if you get one dessert the whole time you're there you have GOT to try the Malts at the Prime Time (you don't have to be seated for that, you can get them at the counter to go). We went back twice for them and they are TO DIE FOR!

 

[marmar]

We were all set for a fun meal at prime time and both wait staff in our room were dead fish. Only disappointing meal we had on our ultimate Disney trip, which included lunch at the castle and illuminations dinner at the Rose & Crown patio

 

[wannabee princess]

A lot may have to do with the server you get - no telling until you are there on that though! I personally would go with PTC.

Example, when we were at PTC in Dec. the CM we had was just right! Good interaction, gave our oldest (12) a hard time, because the 12 yo would dish it right back (in a playful way - not a smart aleck way). We got into a discussion about using shortened names vs. full names (Daniel vs Dan, Rebecca vs. Becky). When I was eating my green beans, he came up and said I didn't have to finish every bean on the plate probably because earlier a table had a teenaged boy stand up because he didn't finish his green beans.

We enjoyed our food and the good natured kidding that we experienced and that that we saw. The people around us and the CMs we observed all were having a good time - no one being mean or unhappy.