Fitting people in cars at Sci-Fi

[taaren]

So I just saw pictures of the Sci-Fi cars in someone's TR. Never been to the World before, and have a question about the seating.

We have a lunch reservation at Sci-Fi on our upcoming trip, and are a party of 8, 5 medium-sized adults and three small children (ages 4, 6, and 7). When I made the reservation the CM told me we would be seated at two cars, as a party of 6 and 2 ... while I'm not ruling out the possibility that two of the adults might want to be far away from the kids by that point in the trip since its our second to last day , it looks like there would be more than enough room to put two of the kids in the middle of the rows and sit with three across so that our party could be in one car (possibly even put one of the larger adults in with the 6 and 7 year old, then squeeze the four year old in with mom and dad).

Would they allow this? Or are the seats only comfortable if you sit 2x2x2? It would be lovely to all be seated together.

 

[J&J]

the cars are small will not fit 8 you will have to get two cars. they will try to get both cars as close as they can.

 

[OhThePain]

...Would they allow this? Or are the seats only comfortable if you sit 2x2x2? It would be lovely to all be seated together.

Depending on what you order sitting 2x2x2 is not even all that comfortable. The booth itself is fine for the most part with 2 people, our issue always seems to be the table itself, it is not very deep and not very long. Once you start adding plates and utensils and drinks and condiments, etc. etc. etc. I just don't see how they can add a third person, no matter how small, into a row.

 

[NMAmy]

I'm not a large person at all but there's no way I'd try to sit 3 across at Sci Fi. The tables aren't very deep. As the previous poster said by the time you get the glasses, the silverware, the dishes, etc, there's just not room for three. DH and I often bump elbows there. It would be really uncomfortable, I'd think, even with three tiny people in there. Unless they eat tiny food on tiny dishes.

 

[Pakey]

We are averaged size people and we have sat 3 across, 2 adults and a 4 year old. I could see a small adult sitting with a 6 and 7 year old.

Usually it's just my husband and I and I've always thought there was more than enough room in the seats.

 

[nkereina]

I say no. We are two average sized adults and it was cramped, especially with our dishes, ketchup, etc. Three kids could probably fit but I wouldn't squeeze an adult in with two kids. There are also several regular tables in the back if you prefer to all sit together.

 

[taaren]

Thanks for all the input.

New Question: I saw on another thread that some of the cars seat 4 people but on the phone it sounded like they would divide us 6 & 2 ...

Do some of the cars seat 6 and some 4? If they gave us two cars with four people each we'd be really happy with that as well. Its mostly the 6 and 2 split I don't care for.

 

[mommyof3princess27]

Thanks for all the input.

New Question: I saw on another thread that some of the cars seat 4 people but on the phone it sounded like they would divide us 6 & 2 ...

Do some of the cars seat 6 and some 4? If they gave us two cars with four people each we'd be really happy with that as well. Its mostly the 6 and 2 split I don't care for.

I only ever seen 5 ppl cars. We were the Hitch hikers in a party of 5's car (4 plus a small toddler) and it was fun. this time with 9...im not so sure how we will fit! LOL

 

[Pakey]

Thanks for all the input.

New Question: I saw on another thread that some of the cars seat 4 people but on the phone it sounded like they would divide us 6 & 2 ...

Do some of the cars seat 6 and some 4? If they gave us two cars with four people each we'd be really happy with that as well. Its mostly the 6 and 2 split I don't care for.

Most of the cars have 3 bench seats to which they assign 2 per seat, making them a 6 car. There are a few cars that only have 2 bench seats making them a 4 car; those are placed where the rows are a bit shorter to allow for walking space. You probably will not be able to request 2 4 seat cars as there are not many.

We have been a larger than 6 group and have always been split into two 6 person cars where they fill the 2nd car with other guests. They are not usually side by side either.

 

[nkereina]

Most of the cars have 3 bench seats to which they assign 2 per seat, making them a 6 car. There are a few cars that only have 2 bench seats making them a 4 car; those are placed where the rows are a bit shorter to allow for walking space. You probably will not be able to request 2 4 seat cars as there are not many.

We have been a larger than 6 group and have always been split into two 6 person cars where they fill the 2nd car with other guests. They are not usually side by side either.

This. What you could do is ask to sit 4 and 4. Then the third row of each car will be sat with a party of two in the back which they call the "hitchhikers". We were a party of two and were sat in the last row behind a party of 4. I agree that it would likely not be side by side, however. Another thing you could do is cancel your ADR and make two parties of 4 ADRs for around the same time, which solidifies that you will be sat 4 and 4. But there's no guarantee it will be near each other or that you will be sat at the same time.

 

[taaren]

Oh dear. Really hoping we'd at least be near each other since its the birthday of one of the party members. Maybe I should just reconsider restaurants ... but we'd planned on it being a DHS day and the birthday boy (man?) asked for a really good burger. Hmm ... to replan or just stick with this one.

 

[si-am]

Oh dear. Really hoping we'd at least be near each other since its the birthday of one of the party members. Maybe I should just reconsider restaurants ... but we'd planned on it being a DHS day and the birthday boy (man?) asked for a really good burger. Hmm ... to replan or just stick with this one.

You could always head to the Yacht/Beach/Boardwalk area for Beaches and Cream (really good burgers) or Big River Grille and Brewing Works (also good burgers). It's a short boat ride or walk away and wouldn't take too much time out of your Studios day.

 

[Hobbes]

don't they also do the car noses with a normal table behind that seats 8? I'm sorry I can't think of any other way to describe it Its like a car bonnet-no, hood right? and then theres a long table sideways on-I though I remembered seeing a family of grandparents, parents and about 3 kids sit at something like that just in front of us.....

 

[Hobbes]

sorry-can't work out how to add a photo, but if you look on Allears Rate and Review section theres a picture of what I mean!

http://land.allears.net/reviewpost/showproduct.php?product=118&cat=35

 

[Hopefully]

sorry-can't work out how to add a photo, but if you look on Allears Rate and Review section theres a picture of what I mean!

http://land.allears.net/reviewpost/showproduct.php?product=118&cat=35

That picture still shows a table for 6. Are there bigger ones?

 

[CM Disney]

Used to work at Sci Fi...if you guys think you'll be comfortable sitting 3x3x2 with the children in the 3's then they will allow you to be all in one car just ask the podium when you check in. Otherwise there are cars that are side by side with a gap in between then another pair of cars so the 6x2 or even 4x4 is a more comfortable possibility.

 

[taaren]

Used to work at Sci Fi...if you guys think you'll be comfortable sitting 3x3x2 with the children in the 3's then they will allow you to be all in one car just ask the podium when you check in. Otherwise there are cars that are side by side with a gap in between then another pair of cars so the 6x2 or even 4x4 is a more comfortable possibility.

Thanks, I think we'll just have to see if they can give us two cars together when we get there. If we can, we'll probably go 4x4, if not then we'll just be squishy and go 3x3x2. The youngest kids always seem to be climbing into our laps by the end of the meal anyways ...

 

[catne]

Just a couple of points, to add to your general info about Sci-Fi. It's a fun place to eat but would not do a birthday there...even if you all sat at the same table (the picnic-style ones meant for large parties) it's not the kind of restaurant you make a big deal out of a birthday...people are not really chatting/partying in there. The whole point is being in the pretend cars & watching the silly sci-fi movie clips; there's very little table conversation going on...like a theater, KWIM? It's fairly dark in there, too. I'd choose a different restaurant to celebrate anything...

But if you still choose to go there, a couple of FYIs:

1) if you're average sized adults, you may be able to fit 2 adults with one very small child between you...though it will be tight, and not very comfortable for eating. It is tight-quarters there. But the BIG issue will be the table. Plates, beverages and flatware for 2 people barely fit on the table space. It would be just about impossible to fit a 3rd person's dishes on there too. The tables are unbelievably small. When we ate there, they had to clear the appetizer plate before they could serve the entrees: there just wasn't room to put down 2 more plates when the app plate was stlll there. When they brought refills on the cokes, they had to pick up the old glass to make room for the new glass.

2) It would be very very difficult to have a child on your lap in these seat/table combinations...unless you are a very thin adult & it's a very small child that's more on your shoulder than your lap. These just are not roomy space, and the seats/tables are completely fixed, so you can't scootch you seat back to accomodate a lap-child.

 

[taaren]

Just a couple of points, to add to your general info about Sci-Fi. It's a fun place to eat but would not do a birthday there...even if you all sat at the same table (the picnic-style ones meant for large parties) it's not the kind of restaurant you make a big deal out of a birthday...people are not really chatting/partying in there. The whole point is being in the pretend cars & watching the silly sci-fi movie clips; there's very little table conversation going on...like a theater, KWIM? It's fairly dark in there, too. I'd choose a different restaurant to celebrate anything...

But if you still choose to go there, a couple of FYIs:

1) if you're average sized adults, you may be able to fit 2 adults with one very small child between you...though it will be tight, and not very comfortable for eating. It is tight-quarters there. But the BIG issue will be the table. Plates, beverages and flatware for 2 people barely fit on the table space. It would be just about impossible to fit a 3rd person's dishes on there too. The tables are unbelievably small. When we ate there, they had to clear the appetizer plate before they could serve the entrees: there just wasn't room to put down 2 more plates when the app plate was stlll there. When they brought refills on the cokes, they had to pick up the old glass to make room for the new glass.

2) It would be very very difficult to have a child on your lap in these seat/table combinations...unless you are a very thin adult & it's a very small child that's more on your shoulder than your lap. These just are not roomy space, and the seats/tables are completely fixed, so you can't scootch you seat back to accomodate a lap-child.

Thank you for the heads up. The two couples often share meals, so we'd only have our meal + a kids meal on the plate, so I think we'll be alright on table space if we go 3x3x2.
Good to know DS won't be able to get on our lap. Probably more comfortable for us anyways.
I'll double check with the birthday boy to see if he wants to head over to the Dolphin for his burger since we're in DHS that day, but I suspect he'll still pick Sci-Fi since we're all science fiction gamer geeks. Plus this is the 2nd birthday out of three this week, so we'll be partying at Les Chefs and Kouzzina the day before and two days after.
For all I know the birthday "boy" (36th) might request to sit away from the rest of the gang with the wife so that we're watching his kids and he can watch the movies in peace!

 

[vinotinto]

I agree w/ the comments re: the size of the little tables. They are petite. And elbows often get in the way. But, we fit 2 adults and 2 kids for a picture on a bench, so I think if you are motivated you could fit. Maybe order things more sequentially (split one app, split one entree, instead of ordering two apps, two entrees, etc.).

There are tables that are not set-up inside a car in benches, but are still themed as a car (has a car front and bumper) and has chairs "inside" it. I looked on the web, and I found a couple of pics of this type of table:

You could easily fit 8 people in that table and you would have more interaction for your birthday (or watch the clips, if you prefer). For a birthday and a group that size, that type of table may work the best.