Sci-fi Diner, Your Input Please

[vanillarum]

We (DW, DS 14, DD 9, and myself) are trying to decide where to eat the day/night that we will be in MGM. When we were there last(05), we waited in line for quite a while to see Fantasmic. We thought that this time we might try the dinner package at MM (where we have eaten before and enjoyed it ). I'm thinking my kids might like the Sci-Fi for the atmosphere ? We have eaten there once before (2000), but had to sit at the counter since there were no openings. This time we will make ADRs in Feb. (trip is Aug). Most of our other dining plans have been agreed upon, and while nothing is set in stone, doing both is not an option, as we would have to cancel 1 of our other choices. Any experiences would be appreciated. Thanx !

 

[SoonerGirl]

I have mixed feelings on Sci-Fi. We ate there on our trip in Aug '05 and all really enjoyed it, so we booked it again for our October '06 trip and were very disappointed. DS6 ordered the pizza off the new kids menu and hated it, so he ended up eating my french fries for his meal. The rest of us just thought our food was 'okay', and our service was not nearly as good as it was the first time. I don't think we'll go back anytime soon.

 

[jeni1072]

We did not like it at all. Thought it was a waste of a TS credit. The volumn on the speakers was so loud we could not hear ourselves think, much less have a conversation. Service was horrible, we were there an hour and a half and finally asked for our dessert to go.

 

[TinkOhio]

We loved it 10 years ago and didn't dine there again untill last April. We did have ressies and didn't have to to be seated. The food and service were horrible! The sound was way too loud and our car was dirty. We couldn't wait to leave!

We have always had a good experience at Hollywood and Vine for the Fantasmic package. We'll be going there again this April.

Enjoy your trip!!

 

[Melisa1]

I LOVE Sci-Fi!!!
Its a must do for us everytime! I like sitting in the cars watching the silly movie clips and I think the food is good, granted I get the same thing every time (burgers & fries).

 

[disney4us2002]

For the basics, burgers and shakes, we always enjoy it. I asked the kids if we could skip it this year and they all said NO WAY! Looks like we'll be going again.

 

[disneyquilter]

My family & I (DH, DD9. DD7 & myself) really liked Sci-Fi. The atmosphere was fun, the food was good and we had a great server.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

We just ate there last Monday and loved it. We ordered burgers and fries. My son had the kid's menu pizza (cheese only, no chicken) and he liked it. We had hot fudge sundaes for dessert. I thought it was one of the quietest restaurants we went to. The speakers weren't loud enough to bother us, and there wasn't much conversation going on because everyone was watching the movies. We put the kids in the front seat and my husband and I in the back seat and they were quiet and happy. I would definitely go there again.

 

[disneyfreakjackie]

The Sci-Fi is GREAT!!! We love it and visit EVERY trip!! I don't think it's part of the Fantasmic Dinner package though, but double check I could be wrong!!

 

[boomhauer]

Great atmosphere.

Mediocre, overpriced food.

 

[FlyingBelle]

I would say that it's counter-service quality food at table-service price.

We found Sci-Fi to be a nice break in the day. The conversations are pretty low since everyone's watching the film clips.

DH just wished they'd show the whole movies (or at least longer clips)

 

[erikthewise]

As far as I know Sci-Fi is not an option for the Fantasmic Dinner Package.

We have eaten there several times for lunch but never for dinner. Our experience has been consistent: good to very good food, timely and unobtrusive service, and a fun atmosphere. We usually get burgers and kids food but DW had the Caesar Salad with Chicken this year and said it was pretty good. There is no doubt somewhere in WDW with better burgers but I don't know where it is. Our boys always ask for Sci-Fi when I ask where they want to eat. The food is overpriced but not dramatically so; if we avoid ordering side dishes and desserts our family of four can eat here for around $50.

Most of the complaints I've read on this board are about dinner. I agree it would not be a good value on the Dining Plan.

 

[WAHMto5]

We have always eaten there for lunch and has always been very good. This in one place that the kids always request first to

 

[SuBeat]

We had lunch here 12/21 for the first time, and all enjoyed our meals. DH and DS had the burger, I had the ceasar salad, and DD went with the kid's mac & cheese. I do think I'd stick with lunch vs. dinner and agree with those who have said it may not be a good value for the dining plan. But for an OOP lunch, we'd definitely do it again.

 

[Karnak]

Any experiences would be appreciated.

I do not recommend the Sci-Fi. We have had more than one poor experience at this establishment. The last time we ate there two of our six member party didn't get their food until after the others had finished their meals. (And they had only ordered burgers and fries.) The burgers were hard, as though they had sat under a heat lamp for a while, and the fries were cold, greasy and limp ... almost uneatable. The waiter was very slow, and seemed not to like where he was working. It took about 20 minutes to get the check when we finally finished our "meal."

In short: the Sci-Fi has had poor food and poor service every time we have eaten there. We kept hoping it would improve, but it never did. We will not be eating there in the future. The old movie clips are interesting for a few minutes, but soon loose their entertainment value when one can't get a decent meal in a reasonable length of time.

I think y'all need to find somewhere else to dine.

 

[Sk8Leigh]

I agree, I went there for dinner in May and I didn't like the food. Maybe lunch is better? Although dessert was great, some sort of chocolate thing, mousse maybe? But it's hard to go wrong with chocolate.

 

[MaeDaisy]

The atmosphere was a lot of fun, food was really good, and service was fine. Our waitress even took a picture of my husband and I "necking" in the backseat with the kids up front. Whether it's a "value" or not depends. We were on the dining plan and had to pay OOP for one of our dinners because we used 2 for the Spirit of Aloha dinner show. I considered paying for this one because I expected it to be one of the cheaper ones, but our bill for the 4 of us (kids are 9 & 7) was just over $100.00 so we put it on the plan! That was with appetizers and desserts though.

I recommend it. At least try it once.

 

[DLBDS]

The Sci-fi is definitely not part of the Fantasmic dinner package program. I believe it's only MM, H&V and HBD. As far as the Sci-fi goes.....I loved the bacon burger and fries but didn't like the atmosphere at all. The place was pretty dead to me. No life here. When we waited for our table to become available, I watched a young girl on roller skates seat some folks. She had a great personality and talked as if in character. I thought I was in for a treat. Not so. The other women seating folks where just plain boring (and no roller skates). Might as well have been at McD's. The restaurant itself was quiet other than the movies which I didn't find too loud. The place needed a good scrubdown and the service was only so-so. I would give it another try though 'cause the burger was really good.

 

[unbroken chain]

We just ate there last week, for dinner. I don't think it's on the Fantasmic dinner package, but maybe that's changed. Anyway, I thought the food was fine. It's not fine dining, but hey, you're sitting in a car. The kids can get milkshakes that count for their drinks on the DDP, in addition to their dessert (in case they haven't had enough sugar by dinner!)

Service was a bit slow, but not too bad. Our server was fairly attentive and funny. And when he saw that my daughter barely touched her chicken caesar salad, he asked her what else he could get her, and brought her another different entree free! It wasn't at my request - I figure if you order it, you eat it. But he seemed very concerned that she was going to be hungry and said as long as she hadn't eaten the first one he could take it back. There was absolutely nothing wrong with it, she just ordered it and then didn't really want it when she saw it.

I would definitely go back. Just know what you're getting - a fun, kitchy atmosphere, not a fine dining experience.

 

[MJMcBride]

I like the Sci-Fi although I find the food average. The atmosphere is great as are the milkshakes. I would definately go simple like a burger but I think your kids will love it. I would recommend it as an experience but not necessarily a gourmet one.

It is not on the fantasmic dinner plan.