Sci-Fi /is it worth it?

[THESCHULTZFIVE]

Help me please. Right now I have an ADR for Sci-Fi for dinner the night we will go to Studios. I would really like to change that to Mama Melrose's for the fantasmic package. For some reason I just can't let go of Sci-Fi. We have never been there b/c something always comes up and we end up eating somewhere else(just like now). What I need is for someone to tell me, honestly, if Sci-Fi is worth having to stand in the 1 1/2 hr long line to wait for Fantasmic or should we switch to mama Melrose's and do away with that wait. TIA

 

[cworld]

NO, it's your choice. However the Sci-Fi isn't going anywhere. It'll still be there the next time you go to DW. I'd suggest you plan a lunch at Sci-Fi. It's really more of a lunch type place.

 

[slp87]

I can't tell you if it's good enough to skip the Fantasmic dinner package because we always go in March and to MGM on a night that there are 2 Fantasmic showing, so we're able to walk in about 15 minutes before show time and get good seats. Sci-Fi is a blast though. The food is nothing spectacular, but the atmosphere is fabulous. The cheesy movies are so fun and sitting in the cars is so neat. We like to go at lunch when the prices are cheaper.

 

[dizzneebabe]

We LOVE Sci-Fi! Although the food is arguably pricey for what it is--the atmosphere is well worth it for us. The kids and DH love the cheesy movies playing as well as sitting in the cars.

As far as Fantasmic is concerned...we always waited the 90 or more for the show to get center seats, down in front. Last trip we opted not to sit that long and see how it went. We were pleasantly surprised with how good of seats we were able to find with 45 min to showtime. We were one section to the inside from the dinner package crowds. We could see perfectly!

To be honest, and I'm sure some might correct me--but I don't think I would want to be on the far ends of the theater, which is where your seats would be if you booked the dinner package. Although there are good seats all around, I prefer to be towards the center. JMO!!!!

Another idea...why not do a late lunch at Sci-Fi? We booked a 3:55 seating, just to get the lunch menu. Prices seem to be the same, according to allearsnet.com, but there are sandwiches and things that are more appealing to our DS's and myself. It might not help with Fantasmic, but your meal might be better.

 

[5DisneyNuts]

I feel the same way. Maybe my story will help you decide. When we were there last fall our friends didn't want to do the Fantasmic pkg (at the time it wasn't going to be included in the dining plan). We booked SciFi for dinner, but everyone was starving about 2hrs before our ADR. We cancelled and grabbed CS at Pizza Planet.

Fantasmic was so crowded when we got there (about 30-40 minutes before the show) we had to stand in the back. It was awful!

I was disappointed that we missed SciFi and will never do Fantasmic without the pkg again (just my opinion). For our upcoming trip, I have SciFi booked for 11:30AM lunch (figured we can share a few things) and Mama Melrose FDP booked for 5:15PM.

Sorry for rambling! Hope it helps.

 

[Shell0616]

I think Sci-Fi is fantastic. We thought the food was fine. Nothing mindblowing but just fine. However, the theme is amazing. My son was blown away and wants to eat there again in September. Theme wise we think it's the best restaurant at WDW.

We did the Fantasmic plan at the Brown Derby and I wasn't that happy with the show seats that we got. They are in a large section off to the right side and it's still first come first serve on the seating. They wern't bad seats just not what I was expecting. Although, I have to admit that we had been to Fantasmic at Disneyland before and did the dessert seating thing. I love Fantasmic at Disneyland and was a little shocked at how huge the show area was at DisneyWorld.

My suggestion is to do an early lunch at Sci-Fi and then dinner for the fantasmic show. That way you can do both.

 

[THESCHULTZFIVE]

Thanks all for the responses. The only reason why we're not doing Sci-Fi for lunch is b/c we're doing the Playhouse Disney brekfast and I know we probably won't even have lunch that day.

 

[kcashner]

We go to Fantasmic about 30 minutes before the show and always get good seats.

Sci Fi is good, not great. It is fun.

On nights with evening EMH, there is a second later Fantasmic showing--no crowds at all then!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

When we went to Sci Fi DH & I just had dessert. DS decided to have a cheeseburger & fries. We went late in the afternoon, but it was January so the place was empty and Fantasmic wasn't so much of an issue as far as seating. We ended up getting chicken strips at the Pop food court when we got back from Fantasmic because by then we were starving!

Maybe you could plan an afternoon ice cream break at Sci Fi? Or your girls could share a burger & fries if they are hungry for more than dessert. It is a fun place and a good way to cool off for a bit.

 

[crisi]

We go to Fantasmic about 30 minutes before the show and always get good seats.

Sci Fi is good, not great. It is fun.

On nights with evening EMH, there is a second later Fantasmic showing--no crowds at all then!

That is our experience as well. Last two trips we were dining at the Boardwalk at 5:30, and can still stroll into Fantasmic and get decent seats for a 7:00 show (we have been known to take the world's shortest cab ride to do it). We travel in October.

 

[LuvDuke]

Help me please. Right now I have an ADR for Sci-Fi for dinner the night we will go to Studios. I would really like to change that to Mama Melrose's for the fantasmic package. For some reason I just can't let go of Sci-Fi. We have never been there b/c something always comes up and we end up eating somewhere else(just like now). What I need is for someone to tell me, honestly, if Sci-Fi is worth having to stand in the 1 1/2 hr long line to wait for Fantasmic or should we switch to mama Melrose's and do away with that wait. TIA

If you're going for the atmosphere, the Sci-Fi is worth it. If you're going for the food, don't bother.

And, if you're going to go to the 10:30 Fantasmic, you really don't need the package and the wait isn't that long. So, you can do Sci-Fi and Fantasmic with a minimum of waiting.

 

[Kaycee]

We love Sci Fi and we make sure to fit it into our schedule every trip. But we always go for lunch. We went to dinner there one time, and the food was not as good as lunch. Now we find a way to squeeze in a Sci Fi lunch (it's just so fun eating there) but if we couldn't do lunch, we'd skip it until the next trip.

We have only been to Fantasmic one time, and that was with the FDP. We've tried on all of our other trips but the lines were just way too long. It's just not worth it to us to wait in line for hours. If you're going at a busy time, I'd suggest getting the FDP if you want to see the show without wasting a lot of time in line.

Oh, and the FDP seats are off-center, but we thought they were just fine. We could see everything very well.

 

[MrToad]

IMHO, if you are doing Fantasmic you should go all out and do The Hollywood Brown Derby. We eat at Sci-Fi on occasion and it is decent if you get the burgers, milkshakes, fries sort of thing. It's a fun experience, but for a nice evening out you can't go wrong with the HBD.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

We went to Sci Fi and my kids thought it was cool for about the first ten minutes...then they got annoyed that it took forever to get our food and the corny movies started looping thru a second time. Honestly, the food was mediocre and the novelty wears off pretty fast. I'd definitely go with Mama Melrose's!

 

[Hanover]

We ate lunch at Sci- Fi this past May with our ds9 and ds5. They enjoyed the atmosphere, but ds5 was not thrilled with the movie clips, saying they were scary to him. He wanted to leave after seeing some of them. I had him look down at his food and not watch the screen while he ate and took him out afterwards, leaving DH and ds9 to finish. I thought there would be more cartoons but understand what they show are relevant to the whole Sci-Fi theme.

A good friend of mine went last month with her dd6 and ds10 and said they were also bothered by the clips.

I'm glad to have experienced it, but probably wont return until ds5 is a bit older and wants to go back. It would also be a nice place to go on a hot mid afternoon to get milkshakes and cool down. The food was decent, but not great (it's exactly what we expected).

We have also done MM FDP and will be going back there on our next trip. Out of Hollywood & Vine and 50's Prime Time, MM has been our favorite.

 

[sharon the magic]

I am going to MGM on Oct. 9 and I read that this is an extra evening hours day but when I made booked my fantasmic package with dinner at MM, I was not given an option of a later fantasmic show and we ended up with a reservation at 4:30. I know that we will not be hungary by then. Should I see if I can get a later ADR and go to the later show?