Need info/opinions on 50's Prime Time Cafe and Sci-Fi Dine-in....

[ehsween]

I've read some brief descriptions of these restaurants, but I was hoping to get more personal opinions or info from fellow DISers.

Some of my wonderings are....

At 50's PT, do they take cues from people who are not as much into it as others? For example, myself, my 3 children, nephew, and Dad would probably love it if they told us to do "I'm a Little Teapot", but my husband and mom would probably be too embarrassed to do it. They'd laugh, but probably wouldn't do it. On the flip side, I'm also concerned about getting a server that isn't really "into" their role. That wouldn't be any fun at all. Any words of encouragement on this?
Since I'm the one sort of planning our dining experiences, I'd feel responsible if I set them up for this fun and unique dining experience and it turned out to be a dud.

For Sci-Fi, I've read such mixed reviews, I'm not sure what to think about taking everyone here. It sounds like at least 75% of the people don't like the food here. Any thoughts or opinions on this?

If you have anything else to add about either of these restaurants, please type away. I'm trying to make a decision about these places and would like opinions.

 

[java]

Well we have 4 children(12,8,3,1) and they love the Sci Fi. It is a must do for us. The food is basic burger, fries onion rings*yummy. And the Reuben is delish!It is a calm cool place to have some downtime-but be warned you will walk around for the rest of the day and many to follow humming along with
"it creeps it crawls .......beware of the Blob.." Negative is it is usually a looooong wait for your ADR
Now on the Prime Time- fun HEAVY food(fried chicken is yummy) but since we go in July it is just too much food for us. In the several times we have gone- we only once had a dud waiter. Oh and as for those not into at your table- those are the ones they hunt out. I will never forget the time they made my too-cool 19 year old brother eat his greenbeans while the waiter made the airplane noise. Oh and the time they made a dad from another table stand in the corner because he didn't wash his hands after using the bathroom(I won't tell how they knew he he he)So it is more of a funny lunch place but if there are people that will not be into it- they will get picked on.
So our everytrip pick is Sci Fi(we even ate their twice last year- good cold place to cool off in the July heat!) beware of the blob..........

 

[LK03]

I booked ADRs for DH and I for Sci Fi since it looks fun. I was reading the Unofficial Guide last night and stumbled upon that restaurant and it had the worst return rate it looked like, like 30% or something. I keep reading the food is bad but all I can think is, chicken strips/fingers are not that hard. I'm hoping chicken fingers and fries will be good. I'm not picky when it comes to chicken fingers and fries. In my mind there is not a bad fry, there are varying levels of how good a french fry could be, and bad, well, I've never encountered a "bad" fry :O

 

[eliza61]

I booked ADRs for DH and I for Sci Fi since it looks fun. I was reading the Unofficial Guide last night and stumbled upon that restaurant and it had the worst return rate it looked like, like 30% or something. I keep reading the food is bad but all I can think is, chicken strips/fingers are not that hard. I'm hoping chicken fingers and fries will be good. I'm not picky when it comes to chicken fingers and fries. In my mind there is not a bad fry, there are varying levels of how good a french fry could be, and bad, well, I've never encountered a "bad" fry :O

Sci Fi is a lot of fun. The food is ok and I think part of the problem is a lot of folks expect great things from all the restaurants at Disney. My family & I go every year for lunch or dinner. We do stick with what we call are safe bets, burgers and fries. My DH tried the ribs one time and didn't like them. He thought that this was because of the sauce (made with coca-cola) and not the preparation. The cm graciously took it back and gave him some thing else. They do have great shakes and the cars are a hoot. Go for it.

 

[planning06]

50's PTC, I've eaten there many times and never been disappointed. Good food and a fun atmosphere.

We finally tried Sci-Fi the last time we went. I was a little nervous b/c of the bad reviews I've seen here, but we enjoyed it and will be going back. We have small children and didn't go there for a 4-star meal. We went in thinking it was a burger joint with a drive-in feel and we were not disappointed. The kids loved sitting in cars and watching movie clips. The food (burgers, chili, shakes, etc.) were good. We got what we expected and thoroughly enjoyed it. It all depends on what you are looking for.

 

[ehsween]

Oh and as for those not into at your table- those are the ones they hunt out. I will never forget the time they made my too-cool 19 year old brother eat his greenbeans while the waiter made the airplane noise. Oh and the time they made a dad from another table stand in the corner because he didn't wash his hands after using the bathroom(I won't tell how they knew he he he)So it is more of a funny lunch place but if there are people that will not be into it- they will get picked on.
So our everytrip pick is Sci Fi(we even ate their twice last year- good cold place to cool off in the July heat!) beware of the blob..........

Now I'm not so sure about the 50's PTC. I don't want to make my dm and dh uncomfortable. As long as they're not put on the spot, I think they'd enjoy it. I'm not sure how they'd react if they're told to use their nose to hold a suger packet to the wall or sing "I'm a little teapot". I would like to think they would take the hint about someone not being the right type of person to "pick on". I would like to think they would only include those that obviously want to be included. I'm really going to have to think about this one. And it bothers me because I think the other 6 of us would enjoy it.

 

[Jakesmom1]

We have gone to Sci Fi and we were very happy with the food. My DS and DH had burgers with fries and enjoyed them. I had the ceasar salad with chicken and it too was very good. Be sure to have a shake they are wonderful.....

We are going to try the 50's PT in two weeks because my DS thinks "it will be cool" I will let you know when we get back how it was. He doesnt realize the type of things that go on, and I know he would not want to participate but he insists on going here for dinner.

 

[ValkyrieMinnie]

We enjoyed both the 50's prime time and Sci Fi. We ate twice at Sci-Fi and had good food. I would recommend both. When we went to the 50's prime time, everyone I saw was 'into it'. The kids loved it and really enjoyed how the waiter told Dad to "get his elbows off the table" and "clean his plate"!

 

[La2kw]

We were very underwhelmed by the food and the antics the one time we ate at 50's. We have had no desire to ever go back. We enjoy Sci-Fi more (though we don't love it either), because of the whole drive-in concept. The food is just as bad as 50's, unless you order a burger. The sundaes are good as well. MGM has the worst dining options of all the parks, IMO.

 

[tortoni]

We've been to both and enjoyed both. If I had to choose one, I'd go with SciFi. It's fun to watch the movies and eat in the cars. We've been to SciFi several times and would likely go back for the atmosphere. While we enjoyed Primetime, I think it's more of a one-time thing. As for food, neither has great food. In these situations, you will be happy if you order the basics--sandwiches, salads, burgers, shakes. Those are tasty at both places. Sandwiches are large and suitable for sharing.

 

[lovmy2girls]

Haven't tried 50's yet, going in a few weeks, but we have tried SCI fi. We liked the food. Sure it is not fine dinning, but it is not CS either. WE had the open faced steak sandwich and thought it was really good. Good alcohol too Girls had the regular chicken strips and fries meal.

 

[LUVMICKEY]

We have eaten at both and enjoy the food and atmosphere more at 50's PT. It's mostly all comfort food and we've never been disappointed there. We go there every time we go to Disney and have never had a Dud for a waiter or waitress. As far as picking on people, well i'm one that does get embarassed easily but in there everybody is into the whole thing so when they came after me to eat my vegetables or take my elbows off the table I was really okay with it. Everybody is doing the same thing and it's just alot of fun.

Michele

 

[tkitty]

I think that we'll be trying Sci-Fi for lunch in Aug. Not expecting anything fancy, just that Disney atmosphere. I hope that it's not nessesary to have ressies for lunch. Never used dining plan befor, but I do have all ADRs for dinner.

 

[CoolDisneyCat]

We eat at 50's almost every trip. DD24 and I do not want to be picked on and it has never been a problem at all. I think the servers are good at figuring it out. The food is pretty good and it fun to go. We almost always have to wait a long time after our ADR in the way too crowded lounge.

We have only been to Sci Fi once and I doubt we will go back. After waiting over an hour to sit close together, our party of 6 was spead in 3 different cars at far points in the room! The teenagers were not happy at sitting in the backseat of a car with people they didn't know! The food was bad bad bad! The movie reel way too short. It just kept repeating over .. and over .. and over .. while I ate my very bad burger and waved to my friends!

 

[MisunderstoodLilo]

I've been to both Sci Fi and Prime Time and liked them both. If I was given the choice, based on food, I'd go back to Prime Time. If the choice was based on atmosphere, I'd have to think about it a little!

I think the CMs at PT can judge who wants to play and who doesn't. They'll still tease and make you take your elbows off the table, but if you're not into being a "total brat" like I was, they'll let you slide. The night we were there, we saw all CMs into their roles. The food was awesome and some of the best on WDW property!

Sci Fi's food is pretty lacking. If you're a small party, they'll have you share a car, so it's hard to have a conversation with your dining partners. But, the darkness and the cheesy flicks are still worth checking out. I've been to Sci Fi twice, and it will be a while before I go back, only because I want to try other MGM resturants.

Good luck!

 

[DMville]

PT had great food and great enormous desserts when we were there a couple weeks ago. Our server wasn't a loud "make a show out of everything" type, he had more a dry wit. But he interacted very well w us and the whole room and really only played w those who gave it back to him. Did not set out to embarrass anyone, nor did any of the other waitstaff that I saw.

Was a great lunch and one of our better dining experiences of the trip. Will be doing it again. Oh those desserts!!

 

[La2kw]

I think that we'll be trying Sci-Fi for lunch in Aug. Not expecting anything fancy, just that Disney atmosphere. I hope that it's not nessesary to have ressies for lunch. Never used dining plan befor, but I do have all ADRs for dinner.

You definitely want to have ressies for lunch in August.

 

[bubba73]

I have eaten at 50's PT and I can tell you honestly, I will not be going back. It is not my type of restaurant. All the food was greasy and fried and what I had was not even good. I couldn't enjoy the "interaction" with the wait staff. I know that my parents and my Aunt and Uncle really enjoyed it. They thought it was fun and thought the food was good. Just takes me one step closer to believing that I was adopted.