We started taking DS there when he was 3. There was nothing there that I wouldn't want him to see, and I really censor what he watches. He really enjoyed the whole experience.
The "movies" are just clips, mostly from very old "B" movies from the 50's. Yes, they are tame even by preschooler standards. There's nothing there that's very frightening or gory.
My DS almost 4 has been going there since his first trip when he was 1. He loves the Sci-fi, it's one of his favorites. He actually laughes at the movie clips. They aren't all "monster" alien clips. There's a few cartoons in the reel. It's really fun.
With everything else going on, the kids can be easily distracted from the movie screen.
My 7 y.o. grandson did not like the Sci-Fi movie clips last summer ... months later he was still talking about how the scientists "stabbed the giant man with a giant needle" (syringe) ... he wasn't really scared, but grossed out.
And this is the kid that likes Godzilla, Small Soldiers, MIB, etc.
Both of my boys loved Sci Fi, they are 4.5 and almost 9. My youngest got sooooooo excited when Tom & Jerry came on! LOL They say that we "gotta do this place again"
We went to the Sci-Fi Diner this past week on 8/11. My DD absolutely loved the Diner. She is also a certified scaredy cat. She pretended to be scared for some of it but the "movies" playing are very PG. A couple of them are even cartoons, Tom and Jerry was one of them.
Whenever this subject comes up I have to share my DS's experience there when he was 6! He was not scared but about 3/4 of the way thru the meal he asked if I would take him out. He said all the screaming women being carried off by monsters was bothering him. He liked the rest of the atmosphere but apparently that was making him uncomfortable. Even though we thought he was being a little over sensitive we respected his request and didn't tease him about it. We all have our issues afterall .
Thanks everyone for your input. My son doesn't scare very easily so it sounds like he will be fine. I can appreciate the responses of the kids who less than loved it, too. It reminds me that you can never be sure what will make a child uneasy-but at least the clips sound reasonable for his age.