Sit-down dinner w/ toddlers at MGM?

[Jenny]

Brown Derby might be a little too expensive for us. we've already eaten at Mama's & would like to try something new. I guess that leaves Sci-Fi & 50s PT....we will be a party of 10, 6 adults & 4 girls (2 girls age 4 & 2 girls age 2).

is either Sci-Fi or 50s PT a good choice for toddlers? i really only want to go to one of these restaurants if the kids will enjoy themselves. any advice?

 

[beachblanket]

I'd vote for the Sci-Fi. They'll likely enjoy the movie element there (many of the old previews they show are ones kids find hilarious) more than the cast interaction and theming at the 50s PT (which directly targeted at older baby boomers; the "Eisenhower nostalgia" atmosphere there isn't resonant with kids).

 

[hockeybabe]

Sci-fi might be a good choice, but keep in mind, they are old trailers of "scary" sci-fi movies...not by todays standards, but they can be a little disturbing for some. My daughter is not into scary, so she didn't like it at 9. SOme clips were ok, but some she would look away from the screen and was obviously uncomfortable with. The cars are neat, but I was sitting behind her, so I couldn't reach over and comfort her. She was braving it, but I don't think she'd want to go there again. Mind you, she is very sensitive to violence. Disney villans make her uncomfortable. Most kids younger than her are as uncomfortable with stuff like that. But there is alot of screaming in the clips, albeit to a "60 foot woman", or a "giant lizard" , made us laugh, but not dd.

 

[Jenny]

good to know about the "scary" movies shown at Sci-Fi as i wasn't sure what they showed on the screens....i don't think that my 4 y.o. will find them entertaining....she only watches public television & Noggin shows....she has seen some Disney movies to prepare for trips & is not crazy about the villains....she won't go on the Snow White ride anymore, barely entered the Mermaid theater in fear of Ursula, & was upset that there were some villains in the MGM parade. i think that the kids would enjoy the cars but think that the movies might not be appropriate for them.

50s is a tough call b/c i know that my parents will love it, esp my father, but i'm sure that the sarcasm will be lost on the kids.

i guess i'll lean towards 50s b/c i'm too nervous about the movies due to my impressionable 4 y.o. DD. but i'm still not sold on it.......it's tough to be the one in charge of all the planning. thanks for any input.

 

[YourMajesty]

We've taken our kids to both restaurants. I was concerned with SCI-Fi because my youngest at the time (5) still doesn't do the dark scary stuff. We were pleasantly surprised that the movies were turned down very low and he loved eating in a car. I think they would enjoy going back. Most of the cars seat 6 so they would probably devide you up into two cars. There are three rows of seating per car(about two per row) so it's not like a "group" dining experinece. We also had a good experience at 50s PT. Enjoy!

 

[Alice28]

We went to both on our last trip- my kids were 4 and 7 and they really liked both! I think I give the edge to Sci Fi as far as the kids really getting a kick out of the atmosphere. But they loved their food at both! They (the boys) didn't think the movies were too scary- the volume is turned down very low, so although yes, it's dark and some kooky images on the screen, it's not overwhelming.

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

Have you thought about Hollywood and Vine?

 

[Jenny]

re: H&V: we'll be doing counter-service & the F&W fest on the other days so this is our 1 sit-down meal....i thought it would be nice to have the wait staff plus both my mom & i were REALLY sick after our dinner at H&V in jan 05. we missed most of the Fantasmic show as a result. i would think it was a fluke but i'm not willing to try it again any time soon.

question re: Sci-Fi....do all the seats face the screen? would they put high chairs on the end of the row...so 2 per row w/ a high chair on the end? i showed some pics to my DH & was thinking that the kids may like just sitting in the cars. if the volume is turned down, then i think the girls would be OK. i just have this image in my head of monsters & people screaming on the screen throughout the meal - that won't fly w/ my DD.

question re: 50s PT....do the employees tease the kids about finishing their meals or do they interact mostly w/ the adults?

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

re: H&V: we'll be doing counter-service & the F&W fest on the other days so this is our 1 sit-down meal....i thought it would be nice to have the wait staff plus both my mom & i were REALLY sick after our dinner at H&V in jan 05. we missed most of the Fantasmic show as a result. i would think it was a fluke but i'm not willing to try it again any time soon.

question re: Sci-Fi....do all the seats face the screen? would they put high chairs on the end of the row...so 2 per row w/ a high chair on the end? i showed some pics to my DH & was thinking that the kids may like just sitting in the cars. if the volume is turned down, then i think the girls would be OK. i just have this image in my head of monsters & people screaming on the screen throughout the meal - that won't fly w/ my DD.

question re: 50s PT....do the employees tease the kids about finishing their meals or do they interact mostly w/ the adults?

H&V- just wanted to make sure you knew about all of your options!

Sci Fi- all cars have seats that face the screens but there are "picnic tables" with seats that don't. I think they like to put high chairs at those tables from what I've seen. Just be advised- it is dark, and it is noisy- I don't know if there are speakers in the cars or all over, but with a noise sensitive kid, it might be too much.

50's- CM's do sometimes tease kids, but they docus more on adults. You could also get a CM who doesn't do the whole teasing thing at all. If you have preference, let them know beforehand. (Either tell the seater that you prefer a low key waiter or waitress, or that you prefer they don't tease the kids. I would also let the waiter or waitress know as soon as you're seated."

Of the two, I would choose 50's for the kids.

 

[hockeybabe]

When are you going? I think I was reading some rumors of a new character meal at MGM, I'm not sure when it starts, but I think it was going to be at H&V...I think it was going to have toy story characters...maybe do a search on this board about it.

 

[Alice28]

question re: Sci-Fi....do all the seats face the screen? would they put high chairs on the end of the row...so 2 per row w/ a high chair on the end? i showed some pics to my DH & was thinking that the kids may like just sitting in the cars. if the volume is turned down, then i think the girls would be OK. i just have this image in my head of monsters & people screaming on the screen throughout the meal - that won't fly w/ my DD.

question re: 50s PT....do the employees tease the kids about finishing their meals or do they interact mostly w/ the adults?

We were a party of 6 on our last trip- we sat in a car with my daughter in a highchair to the side of me. You're exactly right- 2 per row with a high chair at the end.

Our server at Prime Time did not tease the kids about finishing their meals. He joked with us a bit, but really didn't tease any of us. I think they can gauge how your kids would react to joking, etc.