Sci-Fi vs Prime Time Cafe for lunch

[mom2kazkids]

Here I am 90 days out from the day that we are eating lunch at Disney Studios. We are doing the dining plan, so we are planning on using one of our table services for lunch and I am not sure where we should go. We are first timers to WDW and dining will be myself, DH, DD4 and DS5. What do you suggest between Sci-fi or Primetime? I have read good and not so good about both, and have a slight fear that the servers at Prime time might be too much for us. Please help me decide.

Barb

 

[daannzzz]

I enjoy both places about the same.I liked the food at both as well. Both are fun and interesting but they are very different.
The Sci - Fi had a sort of quiet feeling because most everyone is sitting in the the little cars, facing the same direction and watching the movie screen where as at the Prime Time not only is everyone sitting at regular tables and talking you also have the interaction with the "family waitstaff" which can get pretty noisy. We have had mostly medium interaction. It was never intrusive, but was fun and enjoyable. One time we had minimal interaction...she essentially just took or order and served our meal.

 

[Dallas_Lady]

I have had lunch at the SciFi twice, I've never eaten at Prime Time though. I enjoy the Sci Fi because it's so cool to be eating in a drive in. The food is ok, not great, but good enough for lunch. Pricey (of course, this is WDW). The shakes were really good. It's a lot of fun. I didn't do the Primetime cafe because I'd heard the waiters are "interactiove" and I wasn't sure I wanted to play along.

 

[WiscMomof2]

We've eaten at both and enjoyed Prime Time a bit more. The atmosphere is cool at Sci Fi but in my opinion the food was just so-so. We really enjoyed our food at Prime Time. (Both meals were for lunch) I wouldn't worry too much about the servers. Ours wasn't over the top at all, just a lot of fun.

 

[Sox18Fan]

I've eaten at both the Sci-Fi Diner and Prime Time. I went to the Sci-Fi for lunch. It was a really cool atmosphere but I remember waiting a long time for our food. Also, if you are there for such and such a long time, the movie screen gets pretty boring becuase it's so repeatative. The food seemed to be the same as any counter service food.
Ive eaten at the Prime Time twice, both for dinner. The first time our waiter paid a decent amount of attention to us (interaction!) but the second time our waitress was around the same age as us and it seemed silly for her to be "yelling" at us. lol There were a few large tables full of teenagers so unfortunatly they got most of the attention.
As for the food, while the food at both are good I think I perfer the Sci-Fi better. I'm more of a burger person and not so much pot roast and fried chicken and stuff.
Hope that helps!
K

 

[old lost boy]

While there is interaction between the staff and patrons at Prime Time it isn't nearly as annoying as at Whispering Canyons. It seems to me they play with the adults more than the kids so I wouldn't be too worried. We enjoy both but I prefer the menu at Prime Time.

 

[Kaycee]

I prefer Sci Fi.

I had never been to Prime Time until this past December because Sci Fi is a family favorite so that's where we always have lunch on MGM days. I took advantage of traveling with a friend in December and gave Prime Time a try. While it was a lot of fun, I still prefer Sci Fi. I like the food a lot better at Sci Fi. Stick with the burgers, fries and shakes at lunch and you'll have a great meal. Even as a vegetarian, I prefer the veggie burger at Sci Fi to the veggie meal I had at Prime Time. Plus, while Prime Time was fun, Sci Fi is just too cool, especially if you're a sci fi fan.

 

[java]

With the ages you mentioned I would think Sci Fi would be more fun. They will be entertained by the movies and the whole car atmosphere. The prime time is fun but is more for older easily embarrassed children. I like the food at the prime time better but the shakes at Sci Fi are YUMMY!

 

[Ron from Michigan]

We ate at both in December and really enjoyed them both. With the ages of your children I would recommend Sci Fi for lunch, it is a really cool place and the food was very good also.

 

[jacksmom]

We enjoy both, and I have a ps for each on our next trip! We like the food better at 50's PT, but love having a burger and shake watching the film clips at Sci Fi! The first time we went to 50's, I was a little nervous about getting picked on! But it was my dh that got "fed" green beans! My ds loved it! I thinkl you will enjoy either one!

 

[minijeanie]

definitely would go with prime time...food is better, kids will be more enthralled. Sck-Fi is quite dark and think food is more expensive.

at prime time they have mac & cheese, p&J, plus yummy desserts.
if you go, get the smores dessert.......mmmmmmmmmmmm.can taste it now

 

[mareed]

This won't really help you, but on our trips, we plan 1 1/2 days at MGM so we can do lunch at both! There seems to be just enough for us to do over 1 1/2 days at MGM and we love both of these places, so we do them on separate days and leave right after lunch on the 2nd day (usually to Epcot). So I say both!

 

[marcyinPA]

My dh and I have done both, but we took our boys, 5 and 9 to the Sci Fi in May and they loved it. They sat in front of us, and dh and I sat in the back (it was like being on a date!!). We went for lunch, the food was fine, and the milkshakes were really good. My ds's got "driver's licenses" for being in the front seat, and since it was my 9 y/o's birthday (and Mother's Day), he got a gooey sundae on the house and a phone call from Goofy.

We'd like to take them to the Prime Time next trip, and being that they are older, they will "get" the harrassment given to mom and dad by the server. My 9 y/o will especially enjoy watching mom and dad be force fed! LOL

I think the quality of the food was very comparable at both.

Have fun!!

 

[Sox18Fan]

BTW Marcy,
If you DO end up going to the Prime Time..have the peanut butter and jelly milkshake!! It's not actually written down on the menu but ask for it.
It's one of my favorite treats to have while in Dis!

 

[232271]

since you have a small group sci-fi is great and fun.
BUT with larger groups of more than 6, you cannot get a booth/car
together and it is a bummer.

I enjoy both places, but tend to agree the food is better at PT and less expensive for what you get.

enjoy!

 

[Luv4Disney]

My boyfriend and I love both, but we prefer the Sci-Fi for lunch. The menu is "lunchy" and the Prime-Time is more "homey." I prefer "homey" for dinner.

 

[heffalump9]

50's Prime time is always on our must-do list!

 

[jwsteelman]

We have eaten at both and Prime Time is by far better. The food is alot better and we always eat there every trip.

 

[wendy1974]

I would say my vote hands down is for 50's Prime Time Cafe' The interaction will not be too much for you unless you are EXTREMELY uptight and freak out when people you don't know speak to you. It is alot of good natured ribbing and believe me the servers have been there long enough to know if you are not really interested in playing along. But I would recommend that you do play along because that is what makes it such a fun experience. The food at Prime Time is also 100 times better than Sci-Fi. You will get more for your money and the food quality is sooo much better at Prime Time.

 

[Stitch Inside]

My boyfriend and I love both, but we prefer the Sci-Fi for lunch. The menu is "lunchy" and the Prime-Time is more "homey." I prefer "homey" for dinner.

Agree 100%. Love your adjectives. They sum up what I was just thinking of trying to post. Best Burgers, fries, and shakes. If that's not "Lunchy"...