Sci Fi or 50s Prime Time for kids?

[Family Fun Mom]

My kids will be 11, 9, and 5 on our next proposed trip to WDW. Which HS restaurant do you think they would like better? We aren't looking for knock your socks off fare, atmosphere is more inportant this time. I want someplace fun that they will really love. Both of these choices seem wonderful in very different ways. Which do your children prefer? If you are a child at heart (like me) which do you like better?

Thanks

 

[Dizneydaz]

We love PTC. Last Sept. we had our best server yet. Elaine. She was great with the kids. My DD8 didn't eat all her french fries so she proceeded to take a huge forkful of them and try to get her to eat them. Since she didn't (she was laughing too hard!) she then had to help clear plates. Elaine took her with her to the kitchen carrying a few plates. DD really enjoyed it. A few years ago, our DD wanted to tell our server a joke. She took her over to another table, introduced her to our "cousins" from Idaho, sat down and had her tell her knock knock joke. Very cute.

Also, I love the decor at PTC. Really cool. And the food is very good. My DM loves their pot roast! We've only eaten at SciFi once, didn't care for the food, and haven't gone back.

HTH.

 

[GrumpyPajamas]

I also vote for the PTC here. While I enjoyed the SciFi, the kitsch value of the movies will be mostly lost on the kids, and the cars may seem cramped to them.

Also, the servers at SciFi might as well be working at Chili's, judging by their enthusiasm. They are friendly enough, but the folks at PTC are a blast.

The food is much better at PTC, as well.

 

[Melora]

We love both but my kids ADORE the sci-fi.
They love the ridiculous movies and sitting in the cars which are nice and roomy.
A lot of people don't like the food but I have never had a problem with it.
I usually get a burger and its great.
Hubby loves the chili.
We've always had fun servers who give the kids the check if they are sitting in the front because they are "driving".
Its wonderfully themed and tons of fun!

 

[hogwartsdropout]

Sci Fi definitely!!

 

[jadedbeauty14304]

The "fun" factor for kids at Prime Time depends a lot on the server. Some are fun and hilarious and some are not quite so fun. At Sci-Fi, it is a novelty to eat in a car, and have it be dark and at a Drive In and stuff. My kids didn't hate the food, but didn't love it either. They did love the experience as a whole though.

 

[iheartdisney]

My vote is for Prime Time as well.
I LOVED the drive in as a teenager, but for kids, definately gotta do the primetime cafe!
The cons with the Drive in are:
1. its rather dark, and
2. Your family will be split up, so it doesn't really allow for any bonding time at the meal, as the seats don't face each other, so you will be talking to the back of someone's head the entire meal.

 

[sherabby]

Sci-Fi here! My son loved it! age 7

 

[joenan88]

My kids are similiar ages to yours..9, 7 and 6 and they just didn't get The Prime Time's antic's..the service was really bad...we had to wait an hour and a half for our overcooked food. I am going back in August and I have an ADR at The Sci-Fi..I think they will like the theme much better...

 

[Pirate at Heart]

Sci-Fi is really fun for kids. My DD's loved sitting in the car and the silly Sci-Fi clips are classic!

 

[skater]

I like Sci-Fi, but if your 5 yr old gets scared easily, it may bother him. It is really silly old movie clips - but they did scare my son one year. Just something to think about.

 

[TiggerFamily]

when my son was 4 year old he is afraid of everything he liked Sci-fi a lot.

 

[SuzieN]

Sorry - I can't vote for one or the other because my family loves them both!!! You can't go wrong with either one as far as the kids go!

 

[minniekissedme]

The milkshake at 50's PT is THE reason to go...just like it used to be in those days.

 

[WeLoveTheMouse]

SciFi at dinner has horrible food. The worst we have ever tasted. We only ate the ice cream for desert. We even tried different meals because our server noticed that we were not touching our food. My friends say the hamburger and milkshakes at lunch are good though.

 

[frdeb1999]

I'd vote for prime time. We have done both and prefer it. Sci-Fi is fun, but we deffinately were'nt impressed with the food. If you do choose to go...I'd opt for lunch over dinner time. Cheeseburger is about your best option. Our server was less then happy when we asked for subs on a couple of items ordered. Just was'nt a fabulous experience.

 

[SeaSpray]

Keeping in mind that you asked which would be better for kids, I'd have to choose Sci-Fi. Having said that, I have to add that when we went to Sci-Fi our DSs were 17 and 14 and they really got a kick out of the car booths and atmosphere there! (See the pic below in my signature). We took the advice of the DISers and went for lunch, and stuck with the "safe" options of burgers, fries, and shakes for all 4 of us. We really had a great time there!

If you were asking more about the food, I'd recommend 50's Prime Time. But DS16 can't stand the atmosphere and when the servers "kid around" and he hopes to never go there again (LOL); DS19 likes the food at 50'sPT and doesn't mind the atmosphere and kidding from the servers.

We're taking our DAunt(75) to 50's Prime Time in May. I'd like to take her to Sci-Fi but I think the seating would be awkward for us (DH, DAunt, and myself), so we're going to skip it.

I hope you have a great time, wherever you end up!

 

[danielle782001]

We love it here with our two kids.... They are never so quiet at a meal. We have been three times and the food was good each time... Not fancy... Very simple menu but the food that they do have is good. We liked our servers all three times. The atmosphere is cool and is a great experience at least once.

One thing that is weird is that no one really speaks to each other during the meal because they are busy watching the movies and you are not facing each other. It is set up just like a car. That was a bit strange....We did not think there was not enough room in the cars.