need help 50's PTC or Sci-Fi?

[alycia23]

Can't decide which place to eat lunch on June 13? Which is better (atmosphere, food, service)? What do you think the best thing on the menu is? It will be just DBF and myself and we are on the DxDP.

TIA

 

[Planogirl]

We personally like the atmosphere at the SciFi Diner better and the food is OK if you keep it simple. I like the chicken sandwich and the burgers are fine. The shakes are real good.

One warning about the SciFi though, you might be placed in the back seat of a car if there's just two of you. Many of the cars have three bench seats and often a family is placed in the front two and a couple is placed in the back third seat. It has happened to us whenever we've gone and it was fine at first but I did wonder during our last visit if we would ever get the chance to sit up front with a clear view.

 

[WL Lover]

Between the two, I would have to choose 50's Prime Time, to me I thought the atmosphere was a lot happier and moving. I did not care for Sci Fi, don't get me wrong though, it was a great experience, but not as great as 50's Prime Time. To me Sci Fi was actually... scary! We went in and sat in a car and they had a huge movie screen in of course black and white, but for me the problem was the movies- they were all about the big, huge, earth killing bugs! Also, you weren't sitting all across from each other talking, you were facing the killing bugs! So if you were to have a bigger family there would be some in the back of the car and some in the front. Prime Time just seemed to have more of an actually sit down, talk to each other meal, with the little tvs, and good burgers and shakes, for me an overall "happier" atmosphere. I cannot remember too much of what is on the menu, but I think at both of the restaurants I got some type of burger, fries, and a great shake! You must get a shake at either place (it completes the feel and look) haha makes you feel that you really are in that era! It is basic food not anything special though.


I hope that helped, whatever restuarant you choose I'm sure you will have a wonderful experice!

 

[Disneyfreak616]

I love both personally but prefer 50's.

I like the food selection better there, and the CM's are just a riot! Definitely more of a family atmosphere.

 

[mdsd8700]

I like both as well and honestly don't think you can go wrong with either. They each have their own unique qualities. Sci Fi as far as I know is really the only one of it's kind. I haven't heard of anything similar anywhere else. If there is something similar I don't think there very many. Where as the 50s diner is a bit more popular. We have a very similar type thing with the antics and dancing, etc. near our home. Still I prefer the 50s prime time. I like the comfort food and most of is good. Sci-fi can be iffy sometimes for the food. At 50s you have to be willing to "play along" as that is what makes it the most fun. Some people are uncomfotable with that. We love it and look forward to it when we do have an ADR there.

Good Luck and enjoy!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I voted for 50's Prime Time Cafe and I would recommend either their Meatloaf or Fish Sandwich.

 

[kat3668]

I voted for 50's prime time. I have only eaten at Sci Fi once and got so sick that I do not know if I ever could return.

 

[OhThePain]

My girlfriend and I like the food and service better at 50's but Sci-Fi has a very unique atmosphere that is slightly better than 50's (50's to me reminds me of my grandparents kitchen from my childhood). 50's has the better meal but Sci-Fi is an expereince worth checking out at least once (we are not fond of the lunch or dinner menus there). In the end I voted for 50's.

On our last trip at 50's for lunch I had the chicken pot pie which was pretty good and my girlfriend had a turkey club sandwhich which she liked. For dessert we split a strawberry shake and s'mores, which were both awesome.

Please note that you can get a shake for your beverage if you wanted, but I would strongly suggest not doing that as it just ends up being way to much.

 

[lady_hlh]

The food is definitely better at 50s PT but they both have cool/different atmosphere. My DD loves them both and asks to return to both of them every trip but I prefer 50s PT.

 

[topmonkeygirl]

I haven't been to 50's Prime Time yet, but I plan on going our next trip. The only reason I'm going to 50's next time is just because I've never been. I love Sci Fi. If you stick to the burgers, onion rings, and milk shakes you'll be O.K. My DH got the ribs last time and they were pretty good. The burgers are awesome, love them. I've read complaints about some of the other food they have there, but I don't think I've read anything negative about the burgers.

 

[cd&kids]

We love both and try to do both every time we visit. Prime Time we prefer for dinner. We've never had dinner at Sci-Fi because the food is just average. Stick with the burgers, fries and shakes. (Shakes are terrific.) It is a great atmosphere. Keep in mind, Prime Time is like a early 1960's typical American kitchen -- with lots of furniture and knick-knacks that make you feel like you're in that time frame. For my wife and I it's amazing because that's when we grew up and it's re-living our childhood. For our kids, it's just an okay fun place. But both are a lot of fun, whatever choice you make, you'll be happy.

 

[TexasMouseFan]

My vote would be to eat lunch at 50's PTC. The food is great and the CMs are really fun. You could always go to Sci-Fi for a milkshake later so that you can enjoy the atmosphere. We have done this and felt like we had enough time to see all the giant bugs! Have fun!

 

[Coconuts]

Sitting in a car was cool but I didn't like that our family couldn't talk during our meal at Sci-Fi. I picked 50's PTC.

 

[kathie859]

I voted for PTC. If you get into the spirit of the restaurant, you'll have a great experience. Once we went and had a laid back server and still had a good time observing the antics around us.

 

[Rustysmom]

We love Sci-Fi because it's dark and cool in there, and my kids love to see the old horror movie clips on the screen.

I tried Prime Time a long time ago and I'm just not into the playing along with the CM business. I know for a fact that if I took my kids there and they told my DS to get his elbows off the table or eat his veggies, he would get upset because he has autism and doesn't get that they are just playing around. I recall eating fried chicken and it was nothing special. Sci-fi's food isn't anything special either, but if we had to pick out of the two it would be Sci-Fi.

 

[iheartdisney]

My vote is for Sci-Fi. They have consistently the best service of the two and the BEST atmosphere. Especially if you are going for lunch. You leave the hot, sweaty, blinding Florida mid-day sun and are dining under the stars. It is good lunch food, and as has been mentioned, the bottomless milkshakes are AWESOME!!!!

50's on the otherhand...
1. They serve more dinner fare- meatloaf and mashed potatoes, fried chicken, etc. VERY heavy for a lunch in the summer.
2. and my big sticking point...service. The first time we went there in '01, DH and I LOVED it! the servers were a hoot, it was like you read in the guidebooks. The other times we have been, '05 and '08...eh. In '08 was the worst, because it was just me and the three kids, and we were sitting there and it seemed like all of the other tables were getting the hijinx and interaction, and our server, when she did come by, was just plain rude. Besides taking our order and bringing our bill, she didn't linger. I was purposely sitting with my elbows on the table. Nothing. Never asked us where we were from,never even brought us the dessert viewer. It was like we were an imposition upon her. So I am never going back, until I read more consistent reviews of the hijinx being spread equally.

 

[alycia23]

Thank you for all the replies. I think we will go with Sci Fi for lunch this trip and definitely do 50's PTC on another trip for dinner with my kids.

Now I have another question for anyone who has been to Sci Fi. How is the car seating? Is it a tight fit from the bench seat to the table? I am pregnant and have a low baby belly and am concerned that I may be uncomfortable in the cars?

 

[anniebean]

My vote is for Sci-Fi

 

[saintfan]

The kids liked the old horror movie clips and sitting in the car.No favs something diff. each time( spinach and artichoke dip was good)

 

[luvdumbo]

I voted for 50's prime time café. The food was great, mmmm meatloaf! Our "cousin" was awesome! I am not a huge eater and was unable to clean my plate so our "cousin" told me to eat my green beans, so when he looked away I just pushed them around on my plate a little to look like I touched them, and he caught me! So he then started feeding me my green beans with the choo choo chant that you do to toddlers and he had our whole kitchen participate in the chant! It was hilarious.