50's Prime Time -What was your experience

[crasher11]

In May 09 we dined at 50's and our "Cousin" got after me for drinking my ice tea to fast, telling me it wasn't a race. So I told her it was hot out there and I was just thirsty.... Well here came 5 more "cousins" with glasses of ice tea for me, then one of them announced to the rest of the room that "Mom" was going to have to break out the plastic sheets tonight because I drank to much tea... Our boys were laughing so hard

The food was great also, along with the antics... we will eat there again

 

[Dorisk3]

I'd say we had a 'meh' experience.

Our server was nice, not super role playing, but fun and cool. The atmosphere is great- I recognized a few things there from my childhood!

The food was pretty blah I thought- fairly bland. I probably would not choose to eat there again, once is probably enough.

 

[WantToGoNow]

We had an awesome server. We had a group of 11 including 6 kids - my oldest dd, dh and myself were the only ones that knew about the antics that happen in this restaurant and we were hoping for a good server. My dh was told to slow down and let the rest of the family catch up and then when we started giving him our leftovers, he was called a human garbage can. I purposely left 1 green bean on my plate to see what would happen - I was fed it airplane style. My ds8 kept asking for refills of his soda - on the last time he was brought out 5 additional cups (already had 3) and the entire restaurant was told that he'd need rubber sheets that night. We shared the soda's - he didn't get to drink them all. My cousin's dd2 made quite a mess around their end of the table - he made her a bib and hat out of napkins. This is the only restaurant that the kids want to go back to.

 

[LilGMom]

Out of three experiences (we go by the three strikes you are out rule) one was decent and the other two were awful. The food was worse than blech and the service was non-existent.

 

[Disney-Kim]

I wouldn't fret...we have really noticed that the waiters/waitresses have toned it down these last couple years...we used to think they were more fun.
they do ask you to set the table and no elbows...etc

they can tell if you are a family who is into it or not and they will not harass you.

I would recommend the fried chicken and the meatloaf...ALWAYS GOOD !

 

[tinkerfan1]

We love it. The fried chicken and the milk shakes are great. They have teased my oldest son (he tempted them by putting his elbows on the table) and my husband (because of his somewhat shaggy hair). However, it was all in fun. They did make my son pick up the dishes with a teenage girl from another table. It was pretty funny. They also asked my youngest son to help by holding the clean dishes last time we were there. A different server asked why he was standing there holding dishes and our server just said, "because I told him to but now he can sit back down" and told him she didn't need him anymore. She was funny. It is all in good fun and the food is great.

 

[Luv4Dis]

I have eaten here many times and have always enjoyed it. The food is very very good! Every waiter/waitress I've had definitely brings attention to your table if you try to hid the veggies or you don't eat them all. One vacation the waiter yelled, got everyone's attention in our section of the restaurant, and did the "airplane' to feed her the green beans she didn't eat...LOL She was a little embarassed, but we all got a good laugh out of it! I think on one trip I got a clean plate sticker....little embarassing...but hey the food was good

 

[Elmo9607]

My mom has been a victim of the "green beans with whipped cream and sprinkles on top"

She doesn't like green beans, and therefore had no intentions of eating them. She LOVES to get the waiters/waitresses all riled up, so she asked for them "to go"

So...our waitress returned a few minutes later with the green beans with a huge pile of whipped cream and sprinkles in a take out container. It was absolutely hilarious.

A few years ago we went with my uncle, who was not very aware of the restaurant's antics, was sure he would not fall victim to any of them! We told him about the "airplane feeding" of the green beans...and his response? "Well I'd like to see them try!!"

At the end of the meal, guess who was the only one who got their green beans fed to them airplane style? Yep...you guessed it. His kids thought it was the funniest thing ever.

Overall, we have noticed that they have toned it down somewhat, but if you egg the staff on they will play along. It's always worth it everytime we go.

 

[dallastxcpa]

We ate at 50's in september and I ordered the Pot Pie. it is huge.

Needless to say I couldn't finish it. So while my DH was called skippy and fed the last of his veggies the waitress just kind of overlooked my half eaten plate.

 

[happymommy]

I've eaten there about 4 times I think.

I agree, the servers really are usually great about picking up on the tone of your party. My DH isn't really into the whole "shtick" of goofing around, so they were pretty mellow (but we found it cool that our "cousin" was from an area in Kansas City that my DH grew up in one trip).

They are very flexible and helpful; once, I was with my best girlfriend and all of our kids (husbands had to stay home and work!). She's got 4 boys, two the same age as my kids and then twins a year younger (yes, she has 4 kids within 3 years!). Her twins are apraxic, and can now speak at 10 but at 6 barely could speak, and they've had lots of hurdles to overcome. It was their birthday the month before, but she asked if we could sing for them. They were given cupcakes with sprinkles and we sang to them, and it was so sweet.

I'm not too into the whole country fried foods or what I grew up eating (meat loaf, pot roast, etc... as I grew up in the late 60's and 70's in the Midwest), but, everything I've eaten there is honestly EXCELLENT! My friend and I shared the fried chicken (one piece is plenty for me), and they even brought two separate plates, and we each got side dishes as well, and there was no extra charge. The kids must have loved whatever they ate.

The decor is very cute, especially for folks my age (over 40) as I recall so much of that in my grandparents' houses, and my mom's older stuff too.

I think if you're really looking for the whole experience, I would tell them that you want someone who's really into it when you check in. Otherwise, if you're not, I do agree they pick up on that.

One day, my kids and I ducked in to escape a huge downpour that had just started. It was late afternoon, so I got a glass of wine at the bar, and my kids the glow cube drinks. We were given the menu and ate right there at the bar. That was nice, as we didn't have any ADR's and they were booked up.

 

[tinkmom2]

I think we had a new waitress when we went. She told my DH not to put his elbows on the table a few times but that was it. I saw other tables getting more interaction from their staff. The food was ok but not great. DH had the meatloaf. The shrimp cocktail consisted of 3 shrimp on a plate. I had the chicken and the kids I believe had mac and cheese. The waiting area is very small and my youngest was two at the time running back and forth in the living room. I think we are going to try the Sci-fi the next time we go.

 

[maiapapaya]

The food was pretty good - big portions, but our waitress was a dud! She did her job fine, but totally did not get into the role - it definitely wasn't our group - we were ready to play! She just seemed like she had a really low key personality. Our kids were so disappointed, especially because the table next to us had a fantastic waitress who was totally into it. Our kids just kept watching what was going on at the next table and commenting on how they wished we had a different server. I would recommend that you go with the attitude that it's nothing more than the meal. That way regardless of which type of server you get you won't be disappointed. If you do happen to get a good one then it's a bonus.

 

[sharadoc]

There was even an ice bucket there that my mom still owns! The CM's thought I was out of my mind when I was taking a picture of an ice bucket.

Our table in the summer had a canister set that I have in my kitchen! It was my mother's from the 50's and I have it as a display on top of my cabinets. I took a few pictures, too.

I have a matching cookie jar and recipe box that Disney didn't have, so I was thinking of finding out if I could "will it" to Disney for the 50's PTC.

Wouldn't that be cool - having something of yours be a Disney prop??

 

[3floridarays]

We ate there in December (counter service in the bar) and again in February in the main dining area. Loved the Chicken Pot Pie...did not love the fish sandwich.

We were not picked on at all and did not see or hear anyone else getting picked on. No comments, no nothing. I kept wondering if they had changed their approach.

 

[Jill Schwartz]

We ate there late summer 2007 when the three kids were pre-teens. All three requested we eat there again this summer. I thought the food was pretty good, but not to die for or anything like that. My family seemed to enjoy it more. I just remember PILES of food. I think perhaps milkshakes could count as your beverage on the meal plan, so of course my kids ordered them. Needless to say, nobody could finish their dessert.
I remember the dessert was S'mores which were yummy and gooey...I was just so stuffed from my pot roast I couldn't enjoy it.
This time, if there is anything lighter on the menu I will go for that. I'm sure my kids will have plenty left to give me few bites of theirs, and then I can enjoy the most important part of any meal...dessert!

Oh, and our server was great. I remember he kept picking up our camera and taking random pictures...alot of his own face really close up!

 

[DisCopper]

I've been a bunch of times and I think they take a lot of cues from you. Most of the time, we've played along and had fun. On one visit, though, we were tired and just not into it. Instead of playing "dad," the waiter talked a lot with us about how the place worked. He also told a great story about trying to get a kid to eat his vegatables. He secretely got the family's phone number from the parents, and called them during dinner after they'd returned home... just to make sure the kid was eating his peas!

 

[DisneyHardin]

I'm so glad the OP asked this question and for all the responses because I was wondering the same thing. I booked us for a dinner at PTC in June and have been worrying about the interaction because my DH will NOT have a sense of humor about having someone "airplane" veggies into his mouth. Hopefully we will get one of the "toned" down waitresses.

 

[Mckymousefn]

We went to 50's Prime Time for Thanksgiving in 08. Its a must for now on! Our waiter was Byron and was so much fun! He walked up to our table and right away my son told him that i had my elbows on the table... so my son had to stand in the corner for tattling. After serving his time in the corner, Byron made him come back to the table and tell us he was sorry and how much he loved us. My son was 14 at the time & he didn't mind it at all. Me and 2 of my kids had the turkey meal for Thanksgiving and it was soooo good. Hubby had the pot roast and he loved that as well. My 3rd child had the fried chicken and he enjoyed it at well. For desert we had the smores and dads brownie sundae... both were YUMMY!!

 

[2minny]

we ate there last time for the first time. It was fun, the waitress had my pre-teen stand in the corner with he nose to a sugar packet because she didn't eat all of her veggies. But my pre-teen was egging her on the entire lunch, trying to get a reaction. We all had a fun time. The food was ok, it was a nice change (home cooking) from other restaurants, but not fantastic. This time my kids want to go back to our "usual" sci fi. HOWEVER, the waitress tried to have fun with the table next to us and the woman must not have expected it, she ended up leaving IN TEARS and left her food on the table. Her family kept going out to check on her, she was sitting outside. The waitress kept apologizing. It was so strange. I think the waitress told her if she put her elbows on the table again, she would make her sing a song to the other customers.

 

[Disneyrsh]

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