Please give me your pros and cons to 50's diner or Sci Fi???

[bcarson]

I am trying to pick a table service for are day at MGM. Or just thinking of doing 2 cs that day. Opinions please

 

[thunderbird1]

We're trying 50's PTC for the first time next trip, so I don't have anything to report about that one (yet).

But we've been to Sci-Fi many times. Dh can take it or leave it, but the kids LOVE it. The atmosphere alone makes the restaurant for me, especially for a lunch break on a hot summer day. The one thing I notice is it's the quietest restaurant I've ever been in at WDW, probably because everyone is watching the movie trailers. It was also the most relaxing for me, even alone with 2 kids (who I think were 8 and 2 at the time). We skipped it last trip, and dd said it's the one place she really missed and hoped we could go back to next time. I don't remember the food being particularly fantastic, but I don't remember it being particularly bad either. I'll happily dine on onion rings and milkshakes for an hour of peace and quiet and air-conditioning!

 

[CJ]

As a family of 4, and our last 3 trips with just DD and I, the Prime Time (and Le Cellier) are the only MUST DO's. Pot roast and S'mores, nuf said!

 

[Albertan mom]

Hi,
I copied this off my restaurant reviews from last year.

SCI-FI
We got in within 5 minutes for a 12:30 ressie.

DH had Mushroom Burger, chocolate shake, coke and onion rings
DS8 had Cheeseburger, fruit and cheese appetizer, kids ice cream dessert
DD11 and I shared Ribs, onion rings, coke, and chocolate sundae

DH liked it, and DS liked his.
DD and I did not like the ribs, found them very very salty. There was 6 ribs on the plate, so we had enough, though I only ate 2 because I didn't like them. The onion rings were okay, but very greasy, and I didn't love the beer batter on them. Our server brought us out 2 glasses of coke, and even had split our meal onto two plates. (she also did that to MIL and SIL who shared a bbq chicken sandwich)

The ambience was cute, but it is very dark in there! And amazingly quiet!
We give it an average of 3.25 out of 5.
Would we go again? Yes, if it was free!


50'S PRIME-TIME CAFE
Had a lunch ressie for 12:15, got in within 10 minutes.
It is so cute in there! MIL liked it alot!
We had Mikey for our server, he was too funny. He picked on me the most. When I went to the bathroom, when I came back he asked me what color the soap was. I said pink or blue? He was yelling, well, which one was it? Then he yelled at another server lady that I didn't wash my hands. Too funny. When I would ask a question, he was like "Didn't I just tell you that, duh!" He called DD sis all the time, she thought it was funny. He was snarky, brother-like, teased us, it was great!
DH and DS shared the Fried Chicken, with fries and that green stuff
DD and I shared the Fried Chicken, with mashed potatoes and corn (I asked for corn!) You get 4 pieces of chicken, more than enough to share!
BIL had the PotPie and said it was great. SIL had the pot roast and loved it too.
Appetizers we had salad, didn't care for it. DS also had a smoothie. We all had milkshakes, because we ordered them before we decided to share. We didn't get charged, though we should have for one extra smoothie and one extra milkshake. The shakes were very good!
I didn't finish my corn. The server told me I had to. He came back a few minutes later and I still wasn't done it. He said fine and took my plate. A few minutes later he came back with 'dessert' for me. It was whipped cream with sprinkles on top!! And---corn underneath!! Too funny! Kids loved it there. Fun for all ages!
The Brownie sundae was awesome!
Price would have been $73.92 (for only 2 meals, with app., drink and dessert)
We gave it a 4.5 out of 5.
Would we eat there again, YES!!

We also ate at Hollywood and Vine, and it was okay, but not worth going to again. We had the Fantasmic Dinner Pkg, which made it worth it. Out of those three, Prime Time was the clear winner!

If you have people in your party who have good sense of humor, and like to tease and joke, PT will be great. The props are really cool in there too.

I didn't like that at Sci-Fi you had to sit and be quiet. Plus, you sit 2 and 2 to a seat each, so can only talk with the one by your side. Quietly. But it was a neat ambience. My FIL didn't like SciFi, thought it was too loud with the speaker in his ear, and didn't like how dark it was!!

 

[TimTanyaMichael]

What a difficult decision. We love them both. The pot roast in 50's is so yummy, but the fun of being in a car and at the drive in in Sci-Fi is so much fun. I guess we would pick Sci-Fi. We had so much fun last time we went, and our DS had a great time, he was 5 at the time.

 

[goofypooh]

They're both fun, but very different. Either place is a good choice, it just depends what you like. The food at 50s Diner is very good, but you (and the people in your group) definitely have to have a sense of humor. Your waitress/waiter will tease & pick on you the whole time. If you don't like a lot of attention drawn to yourself, then this is not the place for you! Last time, the waitress picked on my husband & my kids thought it was hilarious!

My kids also love Sci-Fi b/c they feel like they are at a drive-in movie. I like it because it is quiet, cool, and relaxing. A nice break during the day. The food is not bad.........not great, but not bad at all.

 

[scroot]

We have enjoyed them both. The themeing at both is wonderful.

SciFi tends to get bad reviews for their food. Often folks will say the food isn't so hot but the milk shakes are great. The top attractions are the novelty of eating in the cars and the movie trailers.

Primetime also has great themeing and the added attraction of the t.v. at each table. In my experience the wait staff is more fun at Primetime. I feel the food is also much better.

Which every you choose I hope you have a great time and meal.

 

[Ellasgirls]

We have done both in the past and they are just different atmospheres. Both good. Primetime is a great time interacting with the waitress (she acts like your mom..."get your elbows off the table") and is a great fun restaurant. Sci-Fi is quiter because everyone is watching the "outdoor" theater screen. I personally would go for 50's Prime Time if you can- we had a great time there!

 

[Cory's Gal]

We had lunch at PTC and loved it! My Dad had the pot roast, my mom had the meatloaf, my DH had the pot pie, and I had the stacked sandwich, we all loved our meals!! Then we split the angel food cake with berries, it was delicious!! We would absolutely eat there again! The service was great as well!!

 

[sandyam76]

We have been to both restaurants!! We also liked them both equally!! My DD loved the fact that on both occasions, at the Prime Time, my DH and my DF had to set the table and take their hats off!! She also got a sticker that said she was a member of the "Clean Plate Club" and that the dessert menus are on view masters!! The Sci Fi was fun too just because you got to be in a restaurant that is literally an old drive in theater!! The food was fine and both places, nothing fancy, just plain burgers and home cooked meals, like pot roast, meat loaf and fried chicken. The fried chicken is my and my DH personal faves at Prime Time!! Either one you choose you and your family will like I am sure!!

 

[Stinkerbell317]

I like 50's PT better. The pot roast alone is enough reason to go there. But it is so fun to interact with the staff there. My kids really get a kick out of it.

I did not enjoy the Drive In as much. The kids just stared at the movie the whole time, we had to split up into 2somes to fit into the "car" booths, the food was just mediocre.

 

[kjbrown]

We've been to both, and granted every place has it's good days and bad days, but we thought the Sci Fi was terrible. Although we arrived early for our ADR, we were seated 45 minutes after the time. We had a 2 1/2 year then, so it wasn't exactly a fun wait.

Then we got to our table, which while cute and cleverly themed, isn't ideal for two adults and a 2 1/2 year old. Then, lastly the food was terrible and the service slow.

Compare that to the 50s Prime Time Cafe! We got there and were seated almost instantly! The waiter was hilarious and the food was GREAT. My DH loved the meatloaf, I had the roast chicken, both were great. And how can you say anything bad about a place that has the best SMORES anywhere?! Definitely a to 50sPT.

 

[1000th happy haunt]

We've eaten at the 50s Prime Time twice. The first time, our server was a dud. I had to really act up, and he finally made me stand in a corner. But trust me, I wondered what was so fabulous about the restaurant after our first meal there.

The second time was much much better. The server was really on top of things, and it was a lot more fun.

So the pro and con of 50s Prime Time is your server. If you have a good server, it's a good experience, if you have a bad server, it's a bad experience.

 

[Stitchfans]

Ate at Prime Time for the first time this past March. We all enjoyed our meals. Planning on trying Sci Fi for the first time March coming up.

 

[futreWDI]

I would vote for 50's over Sci-Fi anyday. If you want to enjoy a meal as afamily Sci-Fi is not the way to go. If you sit at a table there, you don't get the experience of sitting in a car facing the screen but if you choose to sit in the cars, you don't face eachother so conversations can be limited. 50's food is out of this world and IMO it by far has the best atmospheric themeing out of any restaurant. Each little area is its own kitchen with a TV and old TVland type TV shows playing. The waiting area is a living room with Dad's bar. Having a great server makes the experience even better. I think there is a thread on here where people listed who their favorite servers were. I know that if you go and ask at the counter for a "fun server" they don't usually oblige but if you ask (at any restaurant) for a server by name, they will do everything they can to get you that server although you may need to wait a little longer.

 

[northie]

Have eaten at both several times, and enjoyed both. Food is a little better at PT, but love the atmosphere at SciFi, and certainly did not feel the need to be quiet there! We chatted just like we always do when we eat. I honestly never noticed anyone was being quiet in there at all.

Will go back to both.

.

 

[Mousemom]

Our family has eaten at both. We all really like the Sci Fi and eat there at least a couple times each trip. The atmospehre is great and even though we always hear such horrible things about the food we think it is fine. (maybe we are easy to please) We especially love their desserts. We did no care as much for the 50's prime time and actually like the menu at sci fi better. My kids, 20 & 14 at the time, were not in to having someone close to there own age tell them to keep their elbows off of the table etc... I had more fun with all the bantering than they did. Maybe if the waiter would have been older it would have been more fun for us. We look at many of the restaurants as part of the attractions of the park. Some we like, some we don't. All a matter of what you like. Give them both a try if you can.

 

[Disneyof3]

Never been to 50's Prime but Sci-Fi we love. The atmosphere the kids love and the sitting in the cars while eating makes my youngest all happy . The food is wonderful and filling and the shakes are to die for . I've heard good things about 50's and we want to try it but if the waitress tells my youngest he can't have dessert until he finishes his meal he will start crying and I don't want that. I heard that you can tell the waitress that it won't work at our table and they won't do it?