50s Prime Time vs. SciFi Dine In

[VMK_Princess_Chloe]

My husband and I are trying to decide between these two for when we go to MGM. We know we want it to be between them. I'm curious what all of you would choose and why, between the two and give your opinions of each? It would mean so much. We are just having trouble deciding. Just trying to find some pros and cons of each.

Thanks so much!!!

Heather

 

[wdw4us2]

The atmosphere at Sci-Fi is great, but we haven't been in a while because the food wasn't that great.

We prefer the Prime Time because the food is fun and so are some of the servers. Instead of the same old food selections they have everywhere else, there are some gems from your childhood. The restaurant can get very loud at times, though.

 

[Amy&Dan]

I love them both. Sci Fi is the one and only restaurant we have been to in all seven of our WDW trips. Prime Time is a hoot and almost like a dinner show if you get a server that is into their role!

Sci Fi: Good burgers, shakes and reubens, extremely quiet and relaxing, the whole place is watching the screen. Its a wonderful place to have a break, eat and recharge. I prefer lunch, if you do go at dinner and want a burger, ask, they aren't on the menu but they are happy to let you order one.

Prime Time: Lots of comfort food selections, its a kick to see the old kitchen decor and if you enjoy interracting with your server all the better. If you don't I wouldn't recommend this one.

If you plan on spending two days at MGM, I suggest both! They are both themed, fun dining experiences, hard to experience anywhere but WDW and since MGM counter service options aren't the best IMHO, its nice to have two fun sit downs to choose from.

 

[audisight]

DF and I always disagree on which one of these to eat at, so now we alternate each trip.
I like 50's beacuse of the food (yummy meatloaf). I also think the CMs who work there are fantastic and really make the trip something to remember. There is so much interaction the whole meal can become a show. DF is not always into this. I also like that there is more room to move around at 50's than at sci-fi.
Sci-fi is good if you want to get out of the sun (the place is very dark and cool) and the movie clips are great, but the food is not all that. You can find the same thing at many other WDW locations. The cars are small and you can't move at all, you are sitting very close to each other which can be nice or not so nice depending on your mood at the time.
For lunch I think Sci-Fi is a good choice, but for dinner I would go for 50's. Have a great trip

 

[OldSchoolDisney]

Sci-Fi has the worst food (especially when you consider cost ) of any restaurant in Disneyworld in my opinion (yes the entire world, not just MGM)...........in case you wonder if I am alone in this opinion there is a thread on this site about "worst dining at Disneyworld"..............Sci-Fi, Tony's and ABC Commissary seem to be the clear "winners" ...........Prime Time gets a couple votes but pretty much every restaurant in Disney does, that just shows personal preference...........only Sci-Fi, Tony's and ABC Commissary really forge ahead and seem to be on a lot of people's list...........

That said there are people who will say it is great, but the majority seem to go against it................

 

[sportears]

Kids love the atmosphere at Sci-fi, because you eat in a car, its dark, and a B movie is playing. The food, however is VERY average. The atmosphere at 50's PT can be very fun if you get the right cast member as a waitor. The food use to be very good, but the quality has slipped in recent years. The food is better than Sci-fi though.

 

[MickeyNicki]

I would like to try Sci Fi for lunch on our next trip. We love the cocktails, fried chicken and smores from the 50's !

 

[zoemurr]

and get a milkshake and spinach/artichoke dip. These were the only thing we ordered last week that had any taste.

Then go to a late lunch at 50s where I hear the food is much better.

 

[solfan68]

Been to both and the theming is terrific at each location. The Sci Fi really brings the drive-in of the fifties back in wonderful clarity, while the Prime Time is June Cleaver incarnate. As noted, the food is better at the Prime Time, but I don't think the Sci Fi is nearly as scary as the monster movies on the screen.

I would say the biggest distinction is the interaction you get at the Prime Time. It can really be quite the hoot, if the CM turns up the drama to 11. That said, not every guest wants to work that hard or be made the center of attention. "Why didn't you eat your CARROTS ?"

I love em both, personally. But this time around we are headed to the Sci Fi on DS5's first trip to MGM.

 

[VMK_Princess_Chloe]

I think we are leaning towards Prime Time because everyone says the food is better. We are on a budget and only going to MGM for one day. We are only going to one sit down restaurant a day. The rest will probably be counter service. All of our sit down restaurants are going to be lunch time, late lunch...we never eat a lot whenwe go to places like this. So, they are all set for around 2pm so we will still be in the lunch hours. Of course one day we will go back and be able to try the other one.

I still want to hear everyone's opinion. This is/will be our first trip to Disney. It's just my husband and I, no kids this time. It's for our anniversary. We've got a little time to decide. We have reservations in for all of the others... but this one was wide open when we called so we are still trying to decide.

thanks for all of your input!! we appreciate it!

 

[Wingedheart]

I agree with everyone - 50s Prime Time would definitely be my choice between these two.

The theming at Sci-Fi is neat, my kids loved the glowing light up ice cubes and they liked sitting in the cars to eat, but the food isn't great, especially for the price.

My DH and I ate at the 50s Prime Time last May and enjoyed it. The food is more substantial I would say than at Sci-Fi, the theming is great, and if you're lucky you'll get a fabulous server who will make you eat your veggies and keep your elbows off the table!

Enjoy!!

 

[holcomb-mania]

We ate at 50sPT on our '02 trip. It was cute, but like so many things at WDW, now that we've done it, we don't need to do it again. The food was not exemplary. It was just meh. None of us care for the nostalgia angle.

We ate at Sci-Fi in '03, in '06, have an ADR there for June, and will more than likely eat there again in October. We love the environment. Old TV shows don't work for us, but old crappy movie trailers rool! The food here is also meh, but we don't order seafood or try to turn Sci-Fi into something it isn't.

We pretty much eat only lunches in the parks, dinners are at resorts. Except for the Plaza (and H&V for the FDP).

 

[cougartrace]

Sci Fi is better for Lunch and 50's is better for Dinner.

Most of the food at WDW isn't spectacular. Its the ambience

 

[biras jim]

I like Sci Fi -- food is average but the "show" makes it another attraction

 

[sarehm]

Atmosphere at Sci-Fi is neat but food sucks. I've been there 3 times now and probably won't ever go back. 50's food is delish and it's fun too if you don't mind the interaction with the servers.

 

[VMK_Princess_Chloe]

yeah, thanks!! We love classic tv and are avid nick at nite watcher's... so we have a feeling we will really enjoy that. I use to love watching nick at nite as a kid with all the black and white tv shows. I'd rather watch those than modern tv any day. I don't know.. We still aren't sure what we are doing on the 6th day.. I may make a reservation for lunch at Sci-Fi, that day.. just so we can experience both.. although we may not go. I feel we would like prime time the best, so far.