Hollywood Studios Sci Fi Dine In Theater at Disney

Like any good restaurant, I fell in love at first bite. The Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater, located not far from Muppet Vision 3D, in Hollywood Studios, is a unique restaurant serving up American style faire where you’re transported back in time to when it was all the rage to drive up (in your snazzy convertible, of course) and watch movies, cartoons, and even commercials while you dine with your friends, family, or a cute date. The 50s Prime Time Café (also located in Hollywood Studios) might be distinctly 50s, but if you don’t want to be scolded anytime you put your elbows on the table, maybe this is the better place for you.

My first experience at the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater at Disney was pure luck – my husband and I had gone to Walt Disney World as a last minute vacation and had no reservations, so we just walked up, completely oblivious to what the place was like, asked if there were any tables available, and lucky for us, there would be in about a half hour. Sweet! This isn’t so uncommon for groups of 2, though I would always recommend asking your travel agent to get an Advanced Dining Reservation for you, because the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater has some of the most distinctive “tables” I’ve ever seen – they’re cars! Not real cars, but they are clearly inspired by the kind of convertibles you might see in the 1950s, with 2 to a row and 3 rows in a car. Each row gets a bar top with just enough space to be cozy with, but the waitresses will remind you – no smooching! The waiters and waitresses are dressed for the time period, too. Some waitresses are even on roller blades, which is a really nice touch. If you have a party larger than 6, they do have more “open” cars where you sit along an extended table within a car, and they also have UFO tables scattered across the back if you’d rather sit at a normal dining setting. You can’t beat the atmosphere of the place – the lights are at a minimal, the theatre projects some pretty amusing clips from movies of that era, and you can even see a few clips of Uncle Walt telling us about his plans for the future. It really just makes it that much more special.

But onto the food – the food has been perfect every time we’ve gone. They serve up some of the most unique food you’ll find in the parks, from the “All American Picnic Burger” which is topped with a grilled hot dog, sauerkraut, onions, and the works on it, to a Smoked Turkey Sandwich, or even some BLT soup. Sound good? Trust me, it is. The last time I went there, my husband had ribs, complete with tons of finger wipes after, and I had the butcher steak. When I think “Disney food,” I definitely don’t think “some of the best steak I’ve had,” but that was just what happened. The appetizers are big enough to share between 2 or 3, and although you’ll be waddling out of the theater, you can’t pass up their desserts either. That, and the soda made with fresh syrup, or handmade milkshakes, all add up to a very pleasant dining experience I’d highly recommend. We go back every time, and you’ll see why we do, too.

Christina Ravnholt
MickeyTravels Blog Contributor
www.mickeytravels.com
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