SciFi vs. 50's Prime Time

[thebs19]

Planning on doing a later lunch on our DHS day before heading over to Epcot to eat around the world for dinner during F&G.

Our party includes our 2 kids- son,8 and daughter, 2. Want to get a decent meal in them because I'm sure most of their eats in Epcot will be closer to the "snack" variety!

With that said, I'm a little worried the movies will freak the kids out a bit at SciFi even though the food may look a little more their speed. Our son does love the "schtick" at WCC so was thinking 50's might be similar? I've eaten at both but not in ~20 years as a teen so my frames of references are definitely outdated.

Recommendations? Thanks!

 

[piglet1979]

We have not gone to Sci-Fi yet. We will be going on our next trip. We went to 50's prime time in September and it was ok. My kids did like it and loved that they were able to get a milk shake. Our waitress was very nice but was not one that really got into the whole theming of the restaurant.

 

[scrappingbuckeye]

The movies are really tame, my kids have gone since they were little and they never bugged them. At least one of the movie shorts is a cartoon. They love the theming and sitting in the cars.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I think with a small child, the seating setup at Sci-Fi is challenging. With your older kid, not a problem, but with the 2-year old, I think the car booth will be problematic. You'll have an adult with the older kid, and an adult with the younger kid, and you won't be facing each other.

 

[nkereina]

I don't have kids, but even as an adult, I find the atmosphere and theme of Sci Fi to be more fun and unique and think kids would get more of a kick out of it. 50s Prime Time is cool but I could see how the schtick there would be lost on younger kids. The food at both places is very good, IMO.

 

[Lisa F]

Sci Fi was my son's favorite from our last trip. There was a mixup with the seating as I requested we be in a car booth and they actually sat us in one of the tables at the back, but he got past it and LOVED it. The movie clips are retro cheezy, not scary, realistic and graphic like today's movies are. I love the food at 50's prime time and would love to take my little guy there so I can have some fried chicken but honestly the atmosphere of sci fi wins HANDS DOWN and I can have fried chicken elsewhere honestly!

I hope we get the car table this time, I think I will just keep my mouth shut about requests (I think they misheard). I don't think this is really a problem as long as you have equal kids and adults. It's some "alone" time with one parent or the other. As a kid these were some of my favorite moments!

 

[larryz]

We liked the food at 50's Prime Time. The roast beef is the best I've ever had! (Sorry, Mom...)

 

[TravelingTotMom]

Haven't been to 50's, but we went to Sci-Fi with our almost 2 year old last weekend. The movies definitely didn't freak him out, and they are pretty cheesy (plus he liked the cartoons). There was one clip for something like "Attack of the Gila Monster," and he got all excited and kept saying "it's a crocodile!"

Get a booster seat (if you need one) instead of a high chair.

Overall, DS really enjoyed it (and DH and I loved the burgers). We also got our food really quickly (granted it was a rainy day and the restaurant wasn't full - but it was a weekend too).

 

[P&L@WDW]

I enjoyed both restaurants - the theming at both is fun. Personally, the 50's Prime Time is my absolute favourite restaurant, but I also really enjoy the Sci Fi. You can't lose with either one of those, really.

 

[DrivenByDisney]

We enjoy both restaurants and frequent them often when we visit the Studios. Though we do not have children, here is my observations on both restaurants.

50's Prime Time Cafe - One of, of not the best themed restaurants on property. The food (to me) is better than Sci Fi Dine In. The pot roast is always very god. We typically each get a starter and share the sampler plate that has; pot roast, fried chicken and meat loaf along with green beans and mashed potatoes.

Sci Fi Dine In - Again, one of the best themed restaurant on property. The movies are very, very tame even for smaller children I would think. It is a little cramped in the cars you seat in. Also, it is pretty dark in there as well. Overall, the food is pretty good. They had recently redone their menu though they still have some good ribs and burgers there.

I don't think you can go wrong eating at either restaurant. I think your decision is just what you are in the mood for as far as food options.

 

[Mr & Mrs DD]

SciFi - I don't think the movies will upset anyone, but you know your kids best. The atmosphere is GREAT, but the food is just "OK". Everyone should eat here at least once for the atmosphere.
50's Prime Time - Like the food here much better. We eat here every trip.

 

[KimBean]

Been to both many times and hands down 50's Prime Time. The food is significantly better. Milk shakes are better. Sci Fi is really dark so much you can't see what you are eating. I've never had good service there. You can't talk or even see the people you are eating with because of the layout. It is cool, but unless your kids are really into cars I would even do it once. The food is not good. I rather have a burger anywhere else. The fried chicken at PT, drool.

Like to add very small eating area. I am not comfortable and I'm not a large person. No room to set food normally. If you ask for mayo for your burger it is like okay, now where do i put this?

 

[addiln]

I have gone to both and would not go back to Sci Fi. I thought the food was just ok at best and not worth the time to wait there. I loved 50's every time I have gone there. Never walked away hungry from the meal there and always had great service. The only issue I would have here is that I have always had to wait 30 or so minutes past my reservation time.

 

[brinkley07]

We took our 2yo there in Dec and he loved it. DH and I like it there too, but given the choice I would go with 50 PT. The food there is better IMO. Have a good time.

 

[loves to dive]

I'm the opposite from everyone, I don't like the food at 50s and am not really crazy about the playing with the customers. I love the look of the place but the food is very heavy comfort food. I don't eat fried chicken (I'm from Georgia and I think it's against the law here to say that but I also don't drink sweet tea), I hate meat loaf and roast beef is just roast beef. My son likes it there so sometimes we go and I really have a challenge finding something that isn't going to sit like a brick on my stomach. We tried Sci-Fi for the first time last May, I'm not sure why we haven't tried it before, I'm guessing because if we are going to eat at the Studios is Brown Derby for us. Anyway, my son and DIL, really liked their hamburgers, I got a veggie burger and enjoyed it. It was a lot of food and I don't think even they finished theirs. We sat back in the back at a table since we did a lunch walk up, which was good for us since with 3 it would have meant one of us would have been alone in the cars. I enjoyed the movies.

 

[GillianP1301]

I prefer Sci-Fi, it's a must do for us every trip. I like the menu better and I really love the atmosphere of the car and the drive-in feel. Added bonus is that it is one of the coolest and quietest places in all of WDW and that alone is well worth it, especially in the middle of a hot day. 50PTC is also good, but the menu doesn't appeal to me quite as much.

 

[beachfan]

I have done both and I think the quality of the food is about the same. I do think that Sci-Fi has more on their menu that appeals to kids; at least that is what I have found. beachfan

 

[jwfla422]

Sci-Fi movies shouldn't be an issue as far as the movies go. When my dd was little she was ultra sensitive to everything and would barely go on any attractions or rides, etc but she didn't have a problem with the Sci-Fi movies.

We were just there last month and we're a bit disappointed with the food and it also took about a 1/2 hr to sit at 9:00 (we did have ADRs)-there were a lot of empty tables so maybe understaffed? Not sure on that one. Food was mediocre at best-I had a very dry veggie burger and dd had the chicken tenders or nuggets and thought they were also very dry.

I think next time we'll head back to Prime Time plus it's a fun place and even a little more comfy. It was a little tight in our car bench seat @ Sci-Fi with our jackets & backpacks (was a chilly night - Prime Time is probably a little more roomy as well. IMHO I think the food is better there

 

[Pooh2]

For a family, we preferred the seating at 50s.
And of course, I could just have the peanut butter and jelly milkshake for my lunch!

 

[DSLRuser]

the movies at sci fi are so low key and nothing scary...very campy. my 6 and 12 year old girls laughed at them.

I would choose based on the quality of food. For that, prime time wins hands down. sci fi was just gross last time we tried to eat there.