PlayNDine or Sci Fi

[cjemscott]

I can't decide which one - my boys will be 4 and almost 6 at that time and we are doing a lot of Character meals already (Chef Mickeys, CP, Liberty Tree) - I don't know if DH could handle another one and they don't really watch Little Einstein anymore - Do you think SciFi will entertain them also? thanks!

 

[myrsfmly]

All five of the kids that travelled with me last trip (ages 3-15) really liked the sci-fi, being in the car, watching the movies, etc ...kept them really entertained! I am trying Play N Dine for the first time on my August trip so I can't comment on the food or character interaction but the food at sci fi was nothing to rave about, not bad, just nothing exciting, the milkshakes, on the other hand, were worth the price of park admission all on their own!

 

[JodyLynC]

We just did SciFi and my girls loved it. The got the Pirate's Punch drink which came with Tinkerbell lights. (Captain Hook for boys). They split the Cheese Pizza which came with veggie sticks and apple slices. They loved it. DH and I had the chili and burger which we were both really happy with.

The atmosphere is fun and they had a ball laughing at the silly images on the screen. The restaurant is on the loud side, so they were able to be a little more loose than at a typical restaurant.

 

[KatMark]

Our boys when they were younger (they are now 22 and 20) loved Sci Fi. They loved sitting in the cars and watching the film clips--and they are not scary in my opinion. They both sat in the front seat of the car while DH and I sat in the back seat. As you said, you have several character meals already and, truthfully, we dislike H&V a great deal--we think the food is terrible.

 

[cjemscott]

Thanks everyone - I just wanted to feel confident with my decisions! It's so much fun to plan a vacation to WDW, but it's also so much work, huh! If only we all could get paid for our opinions and WDW knowledge! Again, Thanks!

 

[septbaby]

I would do Play 'n Dine. Think of it this way, you can take them to Sci Fi well into their twenties, but this character meal (gets good ratings) has an expiration date. Let them be the little kids that they are and shake their booties with the characters. This is an very interactive character meal, lots of characters and CMs involved in engaging the little ones.

I have it booked for our 6yo. I had it planned for bfast last summer, but we were just too full for another big meal so I canceled and we did CS and the pool instead. He met those characters at MGM later in the trip and loved them so we'll do the meal for Lunch this year, actually on our first park day.

If you really think 3 is the limit I'd consider this one over LTT. You'll get the same characters at Chef Mickey's that you'll see at LTT and Chef Mickey's is one of those gotta do places. Hubby will likely be twirling his napkin at CM's right along with the boys. My nephew absolutely loves Chef Mickey's. He was 5 when we took him and 6 when we go back in August.

Sorry I didn't get to respond sooner.

 

[cjemscott]

I have plenty of time....so you're not too late!

You make some very valid and interesting points - I hadn't thought about the age and only being able to do this meal probably at this trip without them being "too old".

So I guess we might be doing 4 character meals (LTT is my fav, DH likes CP, and I agree with you that CM is a must!)

 

[danielle782001]

Our boys have been three times and loved it each time...They sat sooooo quietly watching the movies...The movies were not scarey to them at all and they really sat at full attention....We all like the food there...It is nothing fancy so don't go thinking you are going to blown away by the food....Stick with a burger, chicken sandwich, that type of thing...The vanilla milkshakes are really yummy!


You can get character meal/buffet overload...It is nice to sit quietly for a change of pace.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

There's plenty to entertain your children here. From the movie clips to the fun seating arrangements, they'll have a blast. I'd suggest this over yet another character dining experience.

 

[momandseandodisney]

my vote is for Sci Fi

 

[fsmith2845]

I would do Play 'n Dine. Think of it this way, you can take them to Sci Fi well into their twenties, but this character meal (gets good ratings) has an expiration date. Let them be the little kids that they are and shake their booties with the characters. This is an very interactive character meal, lots of characters and CMs involved in engaging the little ones.

I have it booked for our 6yo. I had it planned for bfast last summer, but we were just too full for another big meal so I canceled and we did CS and the pool instead. He met those characters at MGM later in the trip and loved them so we'll do the meal for Lunch this year, actually on our first park day.

If you really think 3 is the limit I'd consider this one over LTT. You'll get the same characters at Chef Mickey's that you'll see at LTT and Chef Mickey's is one of those gotta do places. Hubby will likely be twirling his napkin at CM's right along with the boys. My nephew absolutely loves Chef Mickey's. He was 5 when we took him and 6 when we go back in August.

Sorry I didn't get to respond sooner.

Please pardon my ignorance.. but what and where is the Play n dine??

 

[danielle782001]

Please pardon my ignorance.. but what and where is the Play n dine??

It is a breakfast/ lunch buffet held in HS at Hollywood and Vine...The characters are Playhouse Disney and include JoJo and her lion, June and Leo...They have a big "parade" like event every 30 minutes or so...The parade gives the kids time to get up and have fun....The buffet selection is on the smaller side, the food is nothing super special but is okay, characters are fun only if your kids are really into these Playhouse Disney characters, seating is spread out well and is comfortable, noise level is good until the parade begins (then it really loud)...My kids had fun but it is not one they have asked for again and DH and I did not love it.

 

[TexasTodds]

When we went in January we actually did both. My 2 younger kids were almost 4, and 5 1/2, and they loved it! They don't really watch Little Einsteins too much, and I can't remember who the other characters were. We did breakfast at 8:15 or 8:30, before the park opened at 9:00, and then had a 1:45 ADR for Sci Fi, in which we got out at just the right time to walk over and catch the parade.

Play and Dine: The 2 younger ones loved it, and loved dancing. My almost 9 year old didn't really get into it, but he is much more reserved anyway. The food was good, pretty basic stuff, not too crowded early which was really nice. I'm a breakfast person, so this was good for me.

Sci Fi -- DH and I ate here years ago before kids, so it was a sentimental favorite. The kids loved eating in the car, and the atmosphere. Burgers and hot dogs were good, loved the ice cream sundaes. I thought that it was a great place to be to relax, and was actually very quiet inside, which was unusual. We actually had a 2:45 ADR, but changed it so that we could see the parade.

Is there anyway you could do both? I know it sounds crazy, but it really wasn't bad. I guess for us, we also had an extra TS because we didn't use any on our arrival day.

(YEAH--200 posts!)