[mamakay]

Hi! I'm going to WDW for the first time and I wanted to get some opions on which restaurant at MGM is better for kids, SCI-FI Drive-In or 50's Prime Time Cafe. I've heard mixed reviews on Sci-Fi & alot of favorable reviews for 50's cafe, but which is better for kids??:dazed . Also while I'm asking, I was thinking of making PS for Rose & Crown at Epcot to get good viewing for Illuminations. Is this worth the price of meal, if so how long before Illuminations starts should I make a PS. If not, where is a good viewing area (somewhere where people won't stand in front of my kids :devil ). Thanks a bunch for any tips!! :love:

[mickey]

Sorry to confuse you in your other post about Sci-Fi and 50's Prime Time. I was tyring to get out the door and type at the same time.

Personally, I love 50's Prime Time, as do my kids. I really didn't like Sci-Fi, I found it loud, boring and I didn't like the food. 50's PT is a must do each of our trips, and my favorite MGM restaurant.

As for Rose and Crown, the food is ok, nothing spectacular. If you can get a PS around 7:30, arrive a couple of minutes early, and ask for a seat right by the water. You may have to wait a while, but as long as you are seated by 8:30, you will be fine. As far as somewhere else, you can get a good place anywhere for Illuminations in the World Showcase as long as you are willing to wait a little while. If it isn't too busy, people don't start lining up to see the show until about 10 mintues before. I would just keep your eye out all day for a good spot, and head back there 20 minutes before showtime. You shouldn't have any problems. Just make sure you can see the middle of the lake from your spot. They will have set up the firework areas well before the show, so that should give you an idea if you will be able to see or not. There are some bad places near France and Morocco that are behind some trees on the islands, but anywhere else is ok.

[LRTJS]

Can you go into the Sci Fi or 50's Diner and just get a milkshake or something? Or do you have to eat a whole meal?

[mickey]

You can go in and just get a milkshake, that is no problem. I would suggest you do it in the early afternoon, around 3, and then they won't get upset for sure. You can usually just walk in during that time rather than waiting in line.

[BDavis932]

I wouldn't miss out on either. They are both so great!

I personally love the atmosphere at the Sci-Fi. But I have not been able to go for the last 2 years because my son got sick during the middle of the night after we ate supper there one evening. Although we know it was just an isolated incident, we are still aprehensive about going back. I think it's a great idea of getting a milkshake there in the middle of the day. That way you can enjoy the scenery, and not paying for the overpriced burgers!
The scenery is a must see!

I love everything about the 50's prime time, the food and atmosphere is A+. Be sure to have your waiter or waitress sign your kids autograph books...they come up with some great one-liners!


I have never been to the Rose and Crown. Post an update on it when you get home. What a neat way to see Illuminations!

Have fun planning!

[markypooh]

Of the two, the 50s Primetime is by far our favorite! You should take the time to at least take a peek into the sci fi drive in as its theming is really cool! I wouldnt eat a meal here though, just a dessert maybe. Have fun! Ask about the Fantasmic dinner package when entering the park-it gives you preferred seating at the fantasmic show in the evening. When we were there recently the package did not include either of these restaraunts, but it has in the past and its always subject to change.:) :)

[Goofette]

Are the movies at Sci-Fi Drive in good movies. Are they scary or gory at all? I worried about that. The brochure looked interesting though.

[mickey]

You dont get to see a movie, per say, but more of a montage of clips. It was really 50 minutes of movie trailers from bad 50's movies. I didn't find it interesting or entertaining at all. Personally, I think it would be much better if they were to show real movies. They could use either campy sci-fi movies, or even change the theme a little and go with Disney movies.

[BDavis932]

The "movies" are more like black & white commercials that let you preview "scary" movies from the 1950's (??I think??)

They are kind of "cheezy" and they repeat every 20-30 minutes, so having a milkshake mid-day gives you enough time to see the whole show and take in the "drive in".

[mmouse67l]

I've never been to the Sci-Fi but my wife and I had a great time at 50's Prime Time. I remember our waitress made me take my hat off and I guess I had some pretty bad hat hair because she told me to put it back on. My wife and a few of the nearby tables got a good laugh at this.:o So I would highly recommend this restaurant to all ages, I know we plan to visit it with my 4 year old son... and no hat this time.:laugh

[Cinderellafifi]

I say - go to both, if you can. Personally, I prefer Sci-Fi. It is just so much more fun! The clips on the screen are so fake scary that they are funny, plus they show a couple of oldie cartoons and 1950's visions of the "future". The atmosphere is just great and the food is good - but not gourmet.

I also like Prime Time but I found the food was not as good and the atmosphere, while fun, not as good as Sci-Fi. The waitresses do treat you like they are "moms" and that is fine to an extent. But, I didn't like how our waitress seemed to being just hanging out with us watching what we did. And another time, the bus boy was way over the top - rude and annoying - washing hands, inspecting, wiping faces. Just didn't care for it.

However, like anything else, there are good days and bad days. Try them both! :)

[signer]

Ijust got back from WDW and I loved the 50's cafe. The last time I went (5 years ago) to the Sci-Fi place. It was ok. I really liked the food at the 50's cafe better. It is really fun. If you like ice cream get the "Dad's Sundae" 2 or 3 people can share it. Have fun!

[lopo]

I am smiling as I write this . . . it seems so odd that some folks have completely opposite opinions about the two restaurants. I would go to PrimeTime Cafe over SciFi. I have been to both restaurants in the past although it's been a longer time since I've dined at PT than SF. Five of us (aged 12-75) ate at the SF and I do not think that any of us enjoyed the food. The atmosphere (50's drive-in theater) was kind of cute, but it was pretty dark (just like going to the drive-in movies) and I kind of remember being squished in the car (the seating is inside 'cars') even though I am not a particularly large person. I definitely would not go back to SciFi. I remember that PT was pretty noisy and lots of fun. Again, the food wasn't particularly wonderful, but it was much better than SF. Actually, I can't recollect a whole lot about the food because the big excitement while we were there was that Dan Marino was also dining at a nearby table. (And, I am not even a football fan!):laugh

[Crow323]

SciFi had decent atmosphere but food wasnt that great; I wouldnt go back. havent tried 50's yet.
Fish & Chips outside Rose & Crown was good.

[tonyspad]

I have never been to 50's PT, but I LOVED Sci-FI and so did my 6 & 4 year old boys. All the food was great!, A little expensive but the movie clips were funny and enjoyable to watch. You won't go wrong with this eatery!