Sci Fi, hard to get in a ploy?

[George69]

Just a thought, I heard the food here is average at best. Perhaps Disney is using the ploy that if you have a hard time getting in, ppl will WANT to come to see WHY it is hard to get in? I remember when I was younger LONG lines to get into clubs...it would make you think the club is great, so you would wait in line too, to get in, only to find out, once you are in, that it is half empty and not a fun place to be and it leaves you wondering why you waited in line in the first place. Just a thought?

 

[Lynne M]

How does Disney make it hard to get in? Sci-fi is no tougher a reservation to get, on average, than any other theme park restaurant.

 

[mmtska]

How does Disney make it hard to get in? Sci-fi is no tougher a reservation to get, on average, than any other theme park restaurant.

Well apparently there have been a lot of people that have tried to get a ressie and haven't been able to get one. They've gotten into VERY popular restaurants, but Sci-Fi is a hard one I guess......

 

[sherabby]

The week that they are going is Star Wars week at DHS and that may explain why it is booked. Those that used the +10 days on their ADR's may have already taken that restaurant. I'm just hoping to try prime time this trip around so hopefully it won't be too crowded.

 

[carmiedog]

I don't think it's an intentional ploy, although I do enjoy a good conspiracy theory. I'm also not 100% convinced it's just because of SWW - I don't remember this being a problem last year.

 

[Tricia1972]

I agree with the thought on Star Wars Weekend affecting the reservation availability. Eventually Hollywood and Vine will be tough to get that weekend.

 

[chocovrdmicears]

Now I am just guessing. ..but I think that folks at Disney would have much more important things to do than try and create some sort of "imaginary" shortage of seats at one sit down rest. in DHS.

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

I had the same problem with Chefs de France!

I know its getting some buzz with Remy appearing, but when I called for a dinner ADR for June 2nd (a Tuesday) I was told there was NOTHING.

I called back a few hours later and got an 8:50, but it is my friends first time to WDW and our only night at Epcot so missing Illuminations was not possible!

I called back later that evening and got a 9:10.

The first CM seemed to believe that the new system had not loaded the proper number of tables. She said that has been a common issue. She said that it sometimes loads only the time slots (5, 5:05, 5:10 etc..) but doesn't have an appropriate number of TABLES available for each time slot. In other words...5pm has 1 table for 2, 1 table for 4, 1 table for 6 - as opposed to like 20 tables for 2, 60 tables for 4 etc...

 

[snykymom]

Just a thought, I heard the food here is average at best.

Yes, and you will hear that about almost every Disney restaurant from some people or others. We actually really like the burgers & onion rings at Sci-Fi, and my d loves the ambience. Many people like to go there, if not for the food, then because it's a unique environment.

No conspiracy needed.

 

[skier_pete]

Not sure how Disney pulls off this "ploy"...by refusing reservations?

My experience is the restaurant is full most of the time...there's not a ton of seating, and not many sit-down restaurants in DHS. Food is so-so, but not REAL expensive, and experience is unique. I think it has always been fairly popular.

SkierPete

 

[PrincessMama605]

I had the same problem with Chefs de France!

I know its getting some buzz with Remy appearing, but when I called for a dinner ADR for June 2nd (a Tuesday) I was told there was NOTHING.

I called back a few hours later and got an 8:50, but it is my friends first time to WDW and our only night at Epcot so missing Illuminations was not possible!

I called back later that evening and got a 9:10.

The first CM seemed to believe that the new system had not loaded the proper number of tables. She said that has been a common issue. She said that it sometimes loads only the time slots (5, 5:05, 5:10 etc..) but doesn't have an appropriate number of TABLES available for each time slot. In other words...5pm has 1 table for 2, 1 table for 4, 1 table for 6 - as opposed to like 20 tables for 2, 60 tables for 4 etc...

I heard something similar from a CM about the new system, she said that it doesn't always show all the availability.

I called for a BBB ressie on my 90 day window, 3/13 and there was nothing available all day. I called back on 3/16 and was able to get almost the exact time I wanted.

If you can't get what you want the first time, keep calling back. Also if you can wait to call (I called at 10am the 2nd time) the hold times are MUCH shorter!

 

[TinkinTN]

I don't know about the new reservation system, but we went to Disney this past October and I had difficulty then getting a ressie to Sci-Fi.
I usually take what is available if I can't get what exactly what I want and then I keep calling back to check for a better opening, I usually what I want or close too....
We loved Sci-Fi for the atmosphere, food good, not exceptional and it was packed inside....

 

[George69]

How does Disney make it hard to get in? Sci-fi is no tougher a reservation to get, on average, than any other theme park restaurant.

I got into LeCellier and Cinderella's brkfst.....Sci Fi was booked completely....also, after reading dozens of others complaining about the same thing, it dos not make sense.

 

[George69]

Now I am just guessing. ..but I think that folks at Disney would have much more important things to do than try and create some sort of "imaginary" shortage of seats at one sit down rest. in DHS.

I would think getting the res. system would be on that list of more impt. things, but it doesn't seem to be, so nothing would surprise me.

 

[disnut8]

The popularity of Disney restaurants on this board comes and goes. All it takes is for one negative review and people started questioning their choice to eat there and cancel. Conversely, all it takes is one fantastic review and people want to see what the fuss is all about. A few years ago, Le Cellier was considered average and now that's popular.

This is why I make my own decisions about Disney dining and don't read any reviews.

 

[Allison]

A ploy?? No.

 

[TDC Nala]

It's often harder to get into Sci Fi during the summer months. While the food is not a major draw, the atmosphere is, especially for kids. Sci Fi's atmosphere is unique - I can't think of anywhere else like it. Starting in summer, there are more kids at WDW as schools let out.

I attend a Star Wars Weekend yearly and yes there is a major influx at Sci Fi among visitors. Sci Fi is close to the Star Wars event locations, and its theme just fits into the entire thing.

 

[ScrapperBelle]

We were at WDW in early May last year and the only ressie I could get for the day I wanted was at 2pm. The place was packed and there were lots of people (even after 3pm when we left) being turned away at the podium.

It has always been this way whenever I've been there. In several years, we've only managed one walk up at Sci-Fi and that was after 2pm.

If you really take a look around when you're in there, the place actually doesn't seat all that many people and I think the turnover rate is kinda slow because you have people watching the movie screen and possibly eating more slowly than they would a burger at a CS place. We've also had very slow service (not bad, just slow) there in the past.