Sci-Fi Dine-in OR 50's Prime Time

[OneTimePoet]

Hi all,

We are a party of 7 heading to WDW in June for my mom's 70th birthday. Ages range from 8 to mid-30s to 70s. I am trying to decide which TS option in HS is better for our group, Sci-Fi Dine-in or 50's Prime Time. We've been to neither of them, and I'm not sure which would be best for a big group. Any thoughts? Here are mine so far....

'50's Prime Time
the nostalgia aspect will appeal to my mom
most in the group don't like 'server acting' - not sure how much they push this
about half the group will dig the comfort food, and half won't

Sci-Fi Dine-In
old sci-fi movies will appeal to my dad and brother
can we all even sit together in those cars?
I've heard the food can be 'meh'

Any suggestions appreciated!

 

[mom2my3kids]

We loved Sci-Fi...We have 50's booked but I really want Sci-Fi again but can not get reservations for the day I need..

 

[goofyintoronto]

This is tough, as I really love both restaurants. I've had great meals at both places. SciFi is a regular for us, we love the food. Never had a bad meal. And the theme is one of my faves. However, for a bday dinner im thinking 50's. When you check-in you can tell them you want a tame server, they'll seat you appropriately. Which menu appeals to your group the most? Thats something to think about. Why not take a vote?

Regarding the seating at SciFi, they do have tables "within a car" if that makes sense? See pics below. I couldn't remember if those tables sat 6 or 8 so I went online and judging from the pics i pulled off the internet, looks like they can accommodate 8. First pic seats 6 and the other pic seats 8. I love this restaurant...its so much fun and one of the quietest meals you'll have.

 

[River Country]

Hi all,

We are a party of 7 heading to WDW in June for my mom's 70th birthday. Ages range from 8 to mid-30s to 70s. I am trying to decide which TS option in HS is better for our group, Sci-Fi Dine-in or 50's Prime Time. We've been to neither of them, and I'm not sure which would be best for a big group. Any thoughts? Here are mine so far....

'50's Prime Time
the nostalgia aspect will appeal to my mom
most in the group don't like 'server acting' - not sure how much they push this
about half the group will dig the comfort food, and half won't

Sci-Fi Dine-In
old sci-fi movies will appeal to my dad and brother
can we all even sit together in those cars?
I've heard the food can be 'meh'

Any suggestions appreciated!

for 50PT they only push it if you push back on it they will act up except for the 1 Spanish server, I cant remember his name but he was hilarious...he was throwing the tray and made our friend clean the table it was hilarious but we love that stuff. If you are not into it they back off
I've always found the food there to be good

Sci Fi I don't believe a party of 7 will be in a car you will be at a long table with a car front. Its very dark in there although the theme of the restaurant is great the food is just like you said "meh" its a very similar to TGI Fridays similar menu too but I would prefer Friday's.

So for overall them i would choose 50PT

 

[steviethegreat]

My mom loves SciFi, but I've read reviews about the food and I decided to skip it. I've been to 50s Prime Time. Our server wasn't super pushy. She chided me about my phone, so I showed her a picture of my dog. She said something about if she sees my phone again, I'm going to be in big trouble. So I kept trying to see what she was going to do ... but she never followed through.

We went during lunch and didn't see anyone doing anything too crazy. I CAN say that the food at 50s was wonderful. We had the cheese appetizer and onion rings (delicious, but I wouldn't get the cheese again, it was just too much.) We also had the pot roast and the chicken pot pie. There was so much food. It was all wonderful, don't get me wrong. It was just a lot of food! We were on the DDP, so we still had dessert left to conquer. When my mom got up, our waitress came over to ask how old my mom was turning for her birthday. And then she loaded our pineapple upside down cakes with ice cream and sprinkles and a candle for my mom.

We had a really great experience there. And then we waddled our way around HS because it really was a lot of heavy food in the middle of the day. But I'd go back! The original wait before we got our table wasn't fun, but we accidentally went to the Sci-Fi instead of 50s Prime Time, so, I'm not sure how long we would've waited if we had been on time.

 

[JZCubed]

Hi all,

We are a party of 7 heading to WDW in June for my mom's 70th birthday. Ages range from 8 to mid-30s to 70s. I am trying to decide which TS option in HS is better for our group, Sci-Fi Dine-in or 50's Prime Time. We've been to neither of them, and I'm not sure which would be best for a big group. Any thoughts? Here are mine so far....

'50's Prime Time
the nostalgia aspect will appeal to my mom
most in the group don't like 'server acting' - not sure how much they push this
about half the group will dig the comfort food, and half won't

Sci-Fi Dine-In
old sci-fi movies will appeal to my dad and brother
can we all even sit together in those cars?
I've heard the food can be 'meh'

Any suggestions appreciated!

If this is about a 70 y.o. birthday - 50's Prime Time. She understands the formica and black & white TV's.

Also, unless you sit at a table in the rear of Sci-Fi, not much of a family meal if you are sitting 2-by-2 in a car in an otherwise dark room with little talking.

Food at Sci-Fi is no better than the so-called comfort food at 50's Prime Time. But I submit that it's easier to share food from plates at 50's Prime Time than the baskets at Sci-Fi.

You can see in my signature that I really think folks should go to Sci-Fi, but for a 70 y.o. birthday, I just think Prime Time is a better alternative.

 

[smiths02]

If this is about a 70 y.o. birthday - 50's Prime Time. She understands the formica and black & white TV's.

Also, unless you sit at a table in the rear of Sci-Fi, not much of a family meal if you are sitting 2-by-2 in a car in an otherwise dark room with little talking.

Food at Sci-Fi is no better than the so-called comfort food at 50's Prime Time. But I submit that it's easier to share food from plates at 50's Prime Time than the baskets at Sci-Fi.

You can see in my signature that I really think folks should go to Sci-Fi, but for a 70 y.o. birthday, I just think Prime Time is a better alternative.

I would have to agree with this. For my family, we will now choose Sci-Fi everytime, but for a 70 y o birthday and a large group of people...I would go with 50s.

 

[Chiz0]

Visited last year and had lunch at 50's Prime time and loved it! It looked homes straight out of the old time TV shows I grew up watching. Only complaint was the waiting area was a bit cramped. This year we will probably try out the Sci-Fi Dine In, I think my son will get a kick out of it!

 

[shruley]

I would say 50's as well. Even if you get one of those bigger tables in the back of Sci-Fi, people aren't really able to talk to each other or converse easily, etc. If the purpose if for a 70 year old's birthday, I say go somewhere where she can see and talk and enjoy the people she's with and you said she would like the nostalgia. Just mention when you check in you don't want an outgoing server and they should accommodate that. if anything, they seem to be toning that down a lot. I would say you are more likely to get a server that does nothing than one that pushes it too far. The food at 50's good, and pretty basic.

 

[nkereina]

We love both, but I would do 50s Prime Time. Its your mom's birthday so if that would appeal to her, I'm sure the rest can deal with the food & antics! But besides that, you'll all be able to sit together. At Sci Fi, they sit in rows of 2, 3 rows per car. I think they will remove the center divider between cars so you can talk across cars but I'm not certain. The seat configuration is not conducive to conversation and while you certainly don't have to be quiet in there, I do find it to be more quiet than other restaurants and I feel compelled to speak softly at times. JMO.

As far as the antics at 50s, the servers are good judges on who they can play with and who's not feeling it. The "worst" that's ever happened to us is the server took a fork full of collard greens and fed them to DH. DH is pretty introverted, but we both thought it was hilarious. No one batted an eye around us.

If you decide on Sci Fi, I've never found the food to be meh. We love it! It is pretty basic fare though - burgers, sandwiches, fries. The food at 50s PT are more substantial entrees - I love the fried chicken personally! I believe you can substitute some of the sides as well, such as fries instead of mashed potatoes, etc.

 

[danielocha30]

I would do BOTH! have late lunch at 50 prime and head to Sci fi for dessert it would be a great celebration! it would take a lot of time but it would be a complete blast from the past!

 

[heidijanesmith]

Agree with above poster, do both.

Sci-Fi is super fun and they have fantastic shakes and deserts! We love the movie clips. We have sat in the larger table and thought it was just as fun as sitting in the cars.

 

[Disney Khaleesi]

Sci-Fi is a must-do for my Dad and I ever trip. We love it!

 

[4GoofyCrew]

For a 70th birthday, I naturally chose the 50PT. It would be most meaningful.

We LOVE SciFi, both the experience and the food. It is a must-do for us!

 

[pauly's girl]

We love both but I agree with PP for more of a family atmosphere and nostalgia I would do 50s primetime!! Sci fi is great but we had a large group and there were no "limos" available so we ended up split between several cars. Although they were next to each other it wasn't the family meal I believe you would want for your occasion.

 

[LBlovesM&WDW]

My mom turns 73 on Monday and made sure I included Sci-Fi in our ADRs for our upcoming trip. We've been to 50s, and while she liked it, she loves Sci-Fi! The nostalgia is there for both of these restaurants.

 

[rosiebean]

If you have several ADRs planned for your trip, not every one needs to be a 'family meal' where everyone sits at the same table. Just saying . We did Sci Fi last trip and loved loved loved the atmosphere. We had a party of 8 and were split between two cars. It *was* hard talking to people in the car next to us, but easy enough to chat some with the family members in front of us. But mostly, each pair sat and talked to each other and watched the wonderful Sci Fi clips on the movie screen. We had plenty of family time during our trip, just relaxing in the a/c in small groups was great, we didn't need to be all together.

Now, if the ADR is one of your only ones, I'd go to PT (which my family likes just as much) where you can sit at one table and celebrate.

I find the food good at both places. Burgers are best at Sci Fi, salads were good too, fried chicken or meatloaf is divine at PT. Both have plenty of nostalgia and incredible milk shakes.

But if you'd be fine at either, if sitting in smaller groups is ok, just look at the menu and figure which one fits best with your party. I don't think you can go wrong with either one.

 

[DeanDoug]

Given your crew, I lean toward Prime Time... 50's formica, "I love Lucy" clips on vintage tvs, I think the vibe will better suited. The menu is also classic (can't go wrong with fried chicken, pot roast, meatloaf or, gasp, a platter of all three!) Enjoy.

 

[Disneylover99]

I would vote Prime Time for a larger party and a 70th birthday. I do love the food at Sci Fi though.

 

[amberpi]

Hi all,

most in the group don't like 'server acting' - not sure how much they push this
about half the group will dig the comfort food, and half won't

Any suggestions appreciated!

I'm this person. That meal would be hell for me. I've never eaten meatloaf; I want no part of a PBJ milkshake; and I don't want to chat with a normal server beyond wine and food recommendations, just to start. I'm not sure they could serve me from the lounge fast enough nor am I sure I'd be willing to go into such a situation. Know just how much they don't like it. People love it, but if you know you've got people who wouldn't, they might be as turned off as I am. You might consider the lounge at the HBD too.

This isn't to be a debbie downer, I love WDW, and there's obviously a market for this type of establishment. Its just not for everyone though. One of the beauties of WDW, something for everyone, if you know some would not like it, why consider it?