See "Cat-Women of the Moon" while enjoying a milkshake at the Sci-Fi.
Written: Nov 16 '08 (Updated Nov 16 '08)
|
Product Rating:
|
|
| Food and Presentation: |
 |
|
| Ambiance and Decor: |
 |
|
| Quality of Service: |
 |
|
|
Pros: We had great service and LOVED the movie clips.
Cons: This isn't gourmet food, for sure.
The Bottom Line: We had fun! Maybe you will too.
|
|
|
| chelledun's Full Review: Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater |
Yes, that is a real movie title. Despite having read more than a few terrible, horrible, no good, very bad reviews about the Sci-Fi Dine-in Theatre at Disney's Hollywood Studios, mr_chelledun and I were determined to give this place a try. In the end, this unique themed restaurant ended up being one of the best dining experiences of our Disney vacation.
Atmosphere and Service
The check-in area at Sci-Fi Dine-in Theatre is rather uninspiring. Guests can see the back of a wooden structure and a few movie posters, but on the whole the space looks rather industrial. The excitement picks up dramatically, however, once a "car" becomes available for your party. We were called to be seated approximately ten minutes after our reservation time of 11:45 an lead into a darkened "outdoor theatre." Sci-Fi does accurately recreate the feeling of being outside at night, with diners seated in brightly colored cars facing a giant movie screen. Most cars seat six passengers, meaning that our party of two hitchhiked with a family of four who, fortunately, were fairly low-key throughout the meal. There are also about six tables in the back, but I recommend holding out for a car to maximize the themed experience. Best of all, the restaurant is quiet, as everyone is busy shutting up and watching the movie clips.
The best part of dining at Sci-Fi, and the reason to do so in the first place, is the fabulous science-fiction movie clip reel. Reviewers who complain that the clips are "cheesy" miss the point, because of course they are. We laughed out loud at ridiculous promos from "Attack of the 50 Foot Woman" and "The Amazing Colossal Man" and infomercials about the "Frying Saucer" and "Kitchen of the Future." There are also space-themed cartoons and a commercial or two for the drive-in refreshment stand. Seriously, the reel is laugh-out-loud funny. We were in the restaurant for about 45 minutes and did not see any repeats. I have heard from other sources that this is exactly how long the reel is, so it was a great length of time for a meal.
We had some of the better service of our trip at Sci-Fi. Our waiter was very outgoing, cracking jokes and speaking some of the clip reel's cheesier lines in unison with the actors. He brought our food quickly and made sure we had refills on drinks throughout our meal.
The Food
We expected totally terrible food, but in fact received food that was a notch above our local Applebee's in quality and price. (I hate Applebee's, so this isn't particularly high praise, but still - it is a theme park.) I enjoyed the varied selection of beverages and downed more than one cherry-flavored soda during our visit. Milkshakes are also a hot ticket.
For an appetizer, we opted for the spinach and artichoke dip and found it surprisingly yummy. We could have also had onion rings, salad, or BLT soups. Most appetizers run right around $7.00. As far as meals go, practically everyone who comes to this restaurant orders cheeseburgers as a meal, and we did the same. $13.00 gets you a burger with cheese, bacon, mushrooms, and/or onions as well as choice of fries or cucumber-melon salad. The expensive burgers certainly aren't gourmet, but ours were served hot and with plenty of cheddar cheese. Other entree options include chicken and turkey sandwiches, shrimp pasta, ribs, and a steak salad.
We skipped dessert, but were pleasantly surprised when our server brought mr_chelledun a sundae and Happy Birthday certificate signed by various cast members. That was a nice touch.
Overall . . .
I am surprised how much I enjoyed my time at the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theatre. Based on the lousy reviews here and elsewhere, it's possible this was an aberration. Still, I've gotta call 'em like I see 'em, and we had a fun meal.
While the prices are admittedly a bit high for the food quality, I didn't mind paying this premium given the fabulous atmosphere and fast service. This is one of the few in-park restaurants that I would readily return to. My advice? Go in with low expectations and stick to the Sci-Fi's most basic menu items. You may just be pleasantly surprised like we were!
*Be sure to come on over and join carstairs38's Mickey's Birthday Write-Off!
*Planning a trip to disney? The following reviews may be helpful:
Contemporary Resort - October 2008 (4 Stars)
Port Orleans French Quarter - February 2008 (4 Stars)
Polynesian - October 2006 (5 Stars)
Caribbean Beach - October 2005 (5 Stars)
Grand Floridian - February 2005 (4 Stars)
Beach Club Resort - July 2004 (5 Stars)
Coronado Springs - May 2003 (2 Stars)
Top Ten Things You Must See on a First Visit
Top Ten Restaurants at WDW
Park Reviews
Magic Kingdom for Adults
Epcot Center's Hidden Treasures
Animal Kingdom - One Day Touring Plan
Disney-MGM Studios
Blizzard Beach
Pleasure Island
Downtown Disney Marketplace
Recommended:
Yes
Kid Friendliness: Yes
Vegetarian Friendly: No
Notes, Tips or Menu Recommendations Spinach dip, flavored sodas
|
|
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.