sci fi dine in vs. 50s prime time

[mekay1012]

We booked adr for the sci fi dine in, but the reviews I've read are not all that great. We chose it because the menu seemed to have more choices that we would like versus the prime time cafe. Are we going to be really disappointed eating here? My dh loves sci fi and we thought my dd would enjoy eating in the cars.

 

[PearlySwan]

We booked adr for the sci fi dine in, but the reviews I've read are not all that great. We chose it because the menu seemed to have more choices that we would like versus the prime time cafe. Are we going to be really disappointed eating here? My dh loves sci fi and we thought my dd would enjoy eating in the cars.

^^^ We've never been to 50's Prime Time but did have dinner at Sci-Fi Dine In Theater. We absolutely loved our burgers, onion rings, fries, Reuben, and milkshakes! No they don't have them on the dinner menu, but you can still order them off the lunch menu. The milkshakes are so think you need spoons to eat/drink them! All the food was fantastic and the setting was quite unique. I'd say if you've read the menu and the selections appeal to you more than 50's Prime Time, then keep your Sci-Fi Dine In Theater ressie. Eat there at least once, then make up your mind about it. Keep your ressie and enjoy!

 

[kathie859]

And prefer Prime Time over Sci-Fi. But only go if you can get into the spirit of being served by "moms", "aunts" and "cousins". I've read that some people don't care for the teasing and antics (we do and have always had a great time) I thought the food at PT was better than Sci-Fi.

OTOH, the seating arrangements and the movie viewing at the Sci-Fi is a lot of fun.

Happy planning.....

 

[Sweet Melissa]

I've only had lunch at each, never dinner. I don't really prefer one menu over the other. I liked the theming better at Sci-Fi, but I don't know if I would still feel that way with a child. The seating arrangements can be awkward for parties with an odd number.

 

[Dawn68PA]

We always loved Sci Fi until our last visit. Movie clips are rare. It's all ads for the snack bar and a cartoon. Ribs were all fatty, DH said his steak was horrid - no taste.

We are trying 50's on our next trip.

 

[NotTooGoofy]

I've had both for lunch and to me, the quality of the food at PrimeTime is better than Sci-Fi. If you're not into the antics that kathie859 mentioned, you can sit in the Tune-In Lounge to the left of the cafe and still order off of the menu.

 

[Esmerelda]

Having done both in the past; hands down Prime Time Cafe wins.

We have always had very good meals (not to mention some great electric lemonade for mom and dad once!) in the PTC. Both of our son's (late teens) think it's a very fun place and the food was rated high by both.

I think out of 4 visits I can recall, we had one server that wasn't really into it. Every other trip, it's been nothing but fun!

 

[nicolepdonnelly]

This is a popular debate and I've read through several in the past with 50's coming out on top often.

We have been to both for dinner 50's this summer - 3 kids loved the shakes and their dinners- fried chicken and pot roast DH enjoyed his pot roast but I had the steak and it was really bad- dry bland etc

Sci fi this Nov for dinner- Kids again loved theirs- it was their favorite of our vacation (minus Cali Grill- but you can't compare that to anyting in the parks)
DH can't remember what he had- but it was palatable I didn;t find anything on the entree menu I would like so I got 2 appetizers (chili and onion rings) It was really good- might have been my fav in the parks too

One huge plus for me- the seating- we sat in a car with the kids in front of us and they sat and ate and shared their food quietly watching the screen and never bothered us once. The whole dining room is on the quiet side which is rare in Disney- so relaxing after the hustle and bustle of the park all day

So- all in all I would really like to do sci fi again- we are going back in Feb and ended up making an ADR at 50's right before our Nov trip - I wish I could switch it now to sci-fi but we'd have to go really late and didn't want that.

Good luck with whatever you choose!

 

[yellowlabforever]

I have been to Sci-Fi, I didn't like the food I had (ham sandwich). We are going to try 50's I think on our next trip. I think if it were me I'd go to 50's prime time cafe. It sounds like a lot of fun.

 

[jpeka65844]

Not that other posters on the boards don't have good opinions or info, but my recommendation is never, ever, change/cancel an ADR based on what other people here have said. Sooner or later you will find EVERY restaurant Disneyworld reviled AND revered here on the boards.

You had the instinct to book this restaurant for your family for some excellent reasons, so stick with your gut and make the decisions for yourself.

FWIW, my family loves them both.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Personally I would go with Prime Time Cafe.

 

[hoosiergirl7]

Have never done 50's PTC yet, but would like to. Had lunch at Sci-Fi in April '08 and thought it was just OK. I wasn't too thrilled about being crammed into one row with our then 4 yr old son. It was a very tight squeeze. Would I do Sci-Fi again? Maybe.

One of my really good friends was a character cast member at Disney from 2000 until 2004 with her husband. Her in-laws bought into DVC when they were working down there and take the family every year. My friend absolutely LOVES 50's PTC. It's one of her favorite restaurants on property. The food for her has always been really great and she loves the atmosphere. She keeps encouraging us to do it every time we plan a trip.

 

[jess20k]

The atmosphere is fun at Sci Fi, but we did not like the food at all! We do like the atmosphere as well as the food at 50's PT though. It is a must do for us. I LOVE the fried chicken entree, it is so good. So is the pot roast. Kids would probably enjoy the atmosphere of the Sci Fi better though, so it is just a matter of having to decide on what is better suited for your family.

 

[ThinkTink09]

I debated changing my ressie for Sci-Fi last year due to the neg reviews I read....but I am sooo glad I didn't!! It was such a fun place; themed really well. We got the burger and oreo shakes; very yummy. Sci-Fi is one of the TS I plan on returning to this year! I would agree with others; you have to try it yourself to see if it's for you.

 

[wdwmom0f3]

I like them both but we like 50's Prime time much better because the food is a lot better to us there. A friend of mine who went with us this past Sept wanted to try Sci Fi out so she and her girls went, and they didn't like it much at all. They thought it was neat inside, but the food was not so good. I honestly think that everyone shoudl try it once, but at lunch.

 

[michelleiada]

We have done both. We loved the 50's Prime Time Cafe. The food was very good and the theming a lot of fun. The Sci-Fi theming is fun but we thought the food was terrible. It is the only on site dining that we did not enjoy. The ribs were horrible, coudn't even eat them. I would not go back!

 

[pampam]

We like the food and service at PT, but we like the ambiance at SiFi, so we compromise. We have our meal at PT but go to SIFi for our ice cream sundae.

 

[catrax]

The last time we were in Disney World, we called ADR and they had only one reservation available for our time frame - Sci-Fi. I read the reviews,too, and was miserable about it, but we were hungry, so we went for it. I was really surprised! The atmosphere was kitchy and cool and the food was GREAT - maybe it was a fluke! The only thing is that it's not very good for conversation since you're not facing your companions. My kids (4 and 2) LOVED it. We're definitely going back this August.

 

[SuzieN]

I love 'em both!!! I've always had good meals at both places. The burger at Sci-Fi is delicious, as is the fried chicken at Primetime. If you want to try Sci-Fi, by all means try it!!! I tried 2 restaurants that get pretty dismal reviews here in October and thought they were both great!! (San Angel Inn and Tony's) You won't know if you'll like it until YOU try it!!!