How do you book Sci Fi dining at Hollywood studio?

[PolyNeverGirl]

Years and years back I was able to get reservation at Sci Fi dining and sat in one of these cute 50's car watching the big screen downing bar food. But no more. In the last 3 trips we went (between Jan 2019 till Sept 2021), I have never seen Sci Fi dining came available for booking. What's your strategy to get the reservation? Thanks!!!

 

[Debbie Jean]

Sci Fi is always a favorite of mine, but in the past couple of years it has become extremely competitive. If you are staying on property, take advantage of your 60+ dining reservation window and try for a time later in your stay. I can usually score something by 65 or so. This is really important if you are looking for a prime time. It helps to be flexible... midafternoon suits me and it more likely to be open. My ressie this trip is for 3:05 PM which is perfect.

You can also try signing up for a Disney dining alert service... mouse dining and touring plans seem to be very popular. You get a notification when there is an opening. I have to say, I think because more people are using these services, you need to jump as soon as you get the text/email and have a speedy connection... they book almost immediately.

And remember, you can continue to check even after you arrive... people do cancel at the 24 hour mark to avoid the no show charge.

Good luck! I love Sci Fi... I'm older that dirt and it really brings back such fond memories of my childhood

 

[StageTek]

I, too, wonder how people are snagging a reservation at Sci-Fi.

I got a last minute res in Sept 2019 because I arrived in The World as Dorian was threatening to hit. But other than that I've never managed to get one.

 

[Aela]

Only time I have ever seen them during my first booking day is if I check later into my trip. If you are trying to get one for day 60 or 60+1 it won’t happen.

 

[0FF TO NEVERLAND]

Touring plans dining reservation finder. Never couldn’t get something I’ve wanted sooner or later. Then again, it depends on how many people you actually have in the party.

 

[_19disnA]

We ate lunch at SciFi back in 2019 since the place next door (don't remember the name) was closed for renovation and there weren't many other dining choices in that area of the park. Didn't have a reservation and had no trouble getting seated. We preferred the regular tables at the back of the restaurant. Not sure why this place is so popular. The short movie clips won't mean much to anyone under 50 since they won't know what TV show/movie they are from. The lunch food was just average and the interior seemed like it was time for a refresh. We wouldn't choose to eat there again.

 

[Jonfw2]

I had the same experience a few months back- literally everything- Be Our Guest, Oga's- was available at some point or another, but never Sci Fi. And I was only looking for reservations for 2.

At the time, I assumed it was Covid related as they simply weren't seating as many people- if you had two in a vehicle, they would have in the past sat another party with you.

I don't know where they are at this point with seating, but if they're still following the above practice, then capacity is greatly reduced.

 

[maltdizzy]

Sci-f is hard to book in less than 60+4.

One important tip: If you are a party of 1, 3 or 5...round up! Sci Fi will not show availability for odd-numbered parties. Just leave the extra seat as unassigned guest. Anytime you are an odd-number party and can't find an ADR in WDW ), try rounding up to a even number (this is pretty much required at most TS for parties of 1).

 

[BroadwayHermione5]

Keep trying odd times. If you don’t mind a later lunch or an earlier dinner, keep trying odd times.

 

[focusondisney]

Sci Fi is still not seating unrelated parties together. So that makes it even harder. We are also a party of 2 & we had to round up to 4 to get a spot in September.

 

[PolyNeverGirl]

Sci Fi is still not seating unrelated parties together. So that makes it even harder. We are also a party of 2 & we had to round up to 4 to get a spot in September.

Ahh that explains it

 

[MsOnceUponATime]

Sci-f is hard to book in less than 60+4.

One important tip: If you are a party of 1, 3 or 5...round up! Sci Fi will not show availability for odd-numbered parties. Just leave the extra seat as unassigned guest. Anytime you are an odd-number party and can't find an ADR in WDW ), try rounding up to a even number (this is pretty much required at most TS for parties of 1).

I had no issues getting Sci Fi for a party of three for my upcoming trip so this can't be true.

 

[maltdizzy]

I had no issues getting Sci Fi for a party of three for my upcoming trip so this can't be true.

Many, many here, including myself, have run itno this for years. Just this past August, I saw zero reservations for 3, but an entire afternoon was available for 4 (so I booked for 4). There is no penalty for showing up with less people than the ADR is for.

 

[MsOnceUponATime]

Many, many here, including myself, have run itno this for years. Just this past August, I saw zero reservations for 3, but an entire afternoon was available for 4 (so I booked for 4). There is no penalty for showing up with less people than the ADR is for.

While many have run into it, Sci Fi will show availability for odd-numbered parties. I only wanted to point this out so as not to mislead people into thinking that it is not possible. It is possible, and may take effort (although I had no issues at 60 days and now have four people instead of three ), but it's definitely possible.

 

[alecam]

It was my absolute first reservation I made for my 60 + 5, and I was terrified I wouldn’t get one, but I did right at 6am. I booked my Ogas and Ohanas after I snagged sci-fi.

 

[Dancer84xoxo]

We got one right at 6:00 on 60+3 in October. We had to do a 3:00 lunch time though! Crazy there were no later times!

 

[trompettecon]

Only time I have ever seen them during my first booking day is if I check later into my trip. If you are trying to get one for day 60 or 60+1 it won’t happen.

Agreed. At 65 days minimum. Even the search engines’ text are impossible. Someone always beats you to it.

 

[PolyNeverGirl]

Wow I never stay on site fore more than 4 days.. Maybe that's why.. and this time the Galactic cruiser broke my 6 day streak!! So my reservation is 2 days BWV + 2 days Galactic + 2days Bay Tower. So I am out of luck to be able to do 60+5 :/

 

[pigletto]

Sci-f is hard to book in less than 60+4.

One important tip: If you are a party of 1, 3 or 5...round up! Sci Fi will not show availability for odd-numbered parties. Just leave the extra seat as unassigned guest. Anytime you are an odd-number party and can't find an ADR in WDW ), try rounding up to a even number (this is pretty much required at most TS for parties of 1).

Thank you very much for this tip ! I made ADRs Sunday and couldn’t get a reservation for the last day of my trip which seemed odd. Turns out it was because we are a party of 3. So I tried your advice and now we are booked.

 

[Sherry Berry]

I just kept checking until something popped up.