Ultimate Review of Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant
A look to the horizon meets your eye with a rich orange hue emitted by the almost-spent sun. A look to the backseat greets you with smiles from your son and daughter; him in his cardigan and All Stars with a side-slicked do, her in a pleated poodle skirt and white blouse, her wild hair is barley contained in a pony tail. Your husband is whistling “Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah”, subconsciously thinking of the newspaper article he read in Sunday’s edition. Congrats! You’re at the Sci-Fi Dine-In Restaurant!
When she hears the tune he’s singing, the conversation switches in tone when your daughter asks her father if the family will have the chance to visit this new park Mr. Disney is building in California. He just smiles and points to the sign “Drive in: next right”. You find a spot for the car and hop out to reach for the speaker. Before the movie plays on the screen, you take your son and daughter by the hand and escort them to the snack bar. The perfect memory of a perfect evening at the drive in.
At least, that’s what I imagine families in the 1950’s did when they visited the drive-in- my only reference is that scene from Grease…wait…how old do you think I am?! Age aside, drive in movies are definitely an American tradition of the past, and the Sci-Fi Dine In Restaurant in Disney’s Hollywood Studios gives you the chance to step back in time and create a scene for you and your family that’s reminiscent of the one above, minus the poodle skirt.
The Drive-In
When you first enter the drive-in- I mean, restaurant- you’re greeted with a movie set-ready room flooded with parked cars from the 1950’s all facing a big movie screen. On closer inspection, you’ll find that the ‘cars’ aren’t cars at all, but actually cleverly built tables complete with booth seating and tables. On my visit, my family and I sat in a car that was in the dead center of the room, giving us prime views of the screen.
Speaking of the screen…trailers for the newest Marvel film and previews of the next Disney/Pixar movie are nowhere in this restaurants’ film reel! In true Disney fashion, theming is seen through to its end as only films from the 50’s are shown. Aliens from Mars, scenes from Attack of the 50-ft Woman, and ads for the drive ins’ snack bar are what you’ll be treated to while you dine in your car.
My family and I had a great time watching scenes play out from films that were made before any of us were even born, and a look around at the other parked ‘cars’ really put the theming over the top! As far as restaurant theming goes, this one is still at the top of the list after years and years of operation, and getting a reservation 180 days in advance is necessary if you’re hoping to roll up to the Sci Fi. I would have been content to simply sit in my car and watch the show, but the Sci Fi is, after all, a restaurant…
The Food
So swept up in the surroundings, my family and I placed orders for classics: burgers and fries. My dad ordered a regular burger with fries, and my mom and I placed orders for the veggie burger option and sweet potato fries. I couldn’t not order a shake at a 1950’s drive in, so I made mine chocolate!
The wait for the shake wasn’t long, and I didn’t hesitate to start sipping while it was cold. The shake was good and tasted exactly like what you’d expect to get in any diner. Since I was entertained by the hilarious old-timey ads playing on the big screen, I (almost) didn’t notice how long I had been waiting for my food until my stomach started to tell me how hungry I was.
After what was a little longer than I should have waited, the food arrived. My dad started right in on his burger, and his full mouth told me that he was enjoying it! My mom and I started in on ours too…but with a bit less enthusiasm than what my dad was showing.
The flavor of the veggie burger was good, but the texture wasn’t as close to that of a regular burger as I would have liked. The spice blend was definitely flavorful and paired well with the bun and crisp peppery flavor of the arugula. I love everything about the Sci Fi, and this next bit is tough for me to write…the food was cold. All of it.
The burger was barely warm, but the real travesty here were the sweet potato fries. Not only were they not hot, they weren’t even warm. The sogginess didn’t help, and I can’t even review them based on flavor because I barely ate half of one! I immediately informed the waitress and she brought us a plate of new fries. The fries were better, but not great. I snuck a few regular fries from my dad’s plate to find his to be crisp and salty- just like a fry should be!
The Verdict?
Overall, this experience at the Sci Fi was what I expected. Let’s be honest folks, no one is coming to this place for the food. It’s diner-level food that can be purchased at any quick serve restaurant…experience is why you should visit! My family and I had a great time laughing at all of the old movies’ special effects and crazy themes, and while the food wasn’t spectacular, I enjoyed just sipping my shake in a cool retro car, pretending I was a kid in the 50’s.
I would recommend the restaurant based on atmosphere alone, and you should give it a try if you’re looking for a really unique dining experience you really can’t find anywhere else! My little cousins want to dine here each time they visit Walt Disney World, so unless you’re after a 5-star quality meal for each dining period, I’d say, give it a try!
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Hands down my favorite Disney dining experience. Must have done this a half-dozen times with my kids.