In the Disney universe, there are a wealth of dining options. Some locations are good, some great, and some not worth your time or money. Particularly at Walt Disney World, where it is a pain to have to book reservations in advance, scheduling every bit of your trip.
Over a couple of decades of eating in the resorts and the parks, we've enjoyed fantastic meals and experiences even in locations not recommended by other people, websites, discussion boards, and planning guides. Was it good planning, good timing, or something more? Hard to say. Our experiences have varied greatly! We've been as couples, as a family, and as families traveling together with multiple generations.
My plan for posts like these is to give you a snapshot of what's in store for you and your family if you choose a particular dining location. As you know, there's much more to selecting a place than the quality of food. The Disney Imagineers are experts at creating locations with unique atmosphere. They've perfected the art of turning a meal into a must-do experience. As they say at the Disney Food Blog: "Food IS a theme park". It certainly can be if dining is a big part of your Disney vacation.
Suffice it to say, our insights on different opportunities all over the world could be quite valuable to you or just a fun read. But at the very least, do try to learn from our mistakes.
From our first visit in 1989 to our latest one just last year, Sci-Fi Dine-In has remained a go to for us. As you'll see, it doesn't mean the visits have been perfect, but they've sure been interesting. Then as now, the Disney-MGM Studios was short on places to eat. With a young family, it was clearly a choice between Sci-Fi and 50's Prime Time Cafe. We ended up doing both over the course of our 1989 trip, but the hands down winner was the drive in theater restaurant.
What's not to love about sitting in vintage style convertibles while gazing at the starlit sky and a giant movie screen? With the continuing disappearance of this distinctively American cultural phenomena, a visit to the Studios to eat here is even more special. Between the snippets of classic flicks and short interviews with Walt Disney, the atmosphere is top notch. An instant home run with any kid!
Hey ya Walt!
Of all our visits, only the 1999 trip yielded very average food. Our most recent reservations delivered a lunchtime meal every bit as good as any location on the property. Our steaks were perfectly done, the sides terrific, and the drinks refreshing with just enough of an adult "bite" to take relaxation to a whole new level. The kids' meals were just as tasty, I'm told. As evidenced by the empty plates, I think the truth was spoken. That young elementary aged kids could sit still and stay focused for 1.5 hours when there were Star Wars rides waiting for them says quite a bit!
There are down sides to Sci-Fi. Not the service (which was great) and not the price (higher but doable on the Disney Dining Plan). Advance reservations are hard to get and sell out quickly. We couldn't get reservations in 2018, but we did in 2019 due to the timing of the hurricane scheduled during our visit. With so few seats and then so few restaurants in Disney's Hollywood Studios, you have to act fast. Other than Oga's Cantina, this may be the most difficult seating to secure. Dining options is one area in which this park reveals its shortcomings, but that's a whole different story for a different article.
Success in 2019!
Two Tips: First, choose a late lunch time. Get inside out of the sun and heat. Save your evening meal for something outdoors at a quick service location and enjoy the beautiful Florida evenings. Once inside (don't let the standard warehouse exterior through you off), the "evening sky" will feel refreshing and get you ready for another round of attractions in a park that's high on concrete and low on shade and vegetation.
Secondly, if you are a party larger than six, you'll be seated in two cars or one with a standard table. Certainly not as much fun. Three smaller kids can fit in the front seat, so a party of seven is possible.
Secondly, if you are a party larger than six, you'll be seated in two cars or one with a standard table. Certainly not as much fun. Three smaller kids can fit in the front seat, so a party of seven is possible.
Dine or Ditch for Sci-Fi Dine-In? Dine! A true "E Ticket"!
(Photographs copyright Mark Taft.)
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