7 Things We Love About the Sci-Fi Dine-In at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Disney ensures that you have many, many choices when making a dining decision at Walt Disney World. You can have delicious foods from other cultures in Epcot’s World Showcase or in restaurants in Asia and Africa in Animal Kingdom, but some of the best themed restaurants exist at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Between Pizza Planet, Mama Melrose’s, 50’s Prime Time Café, and the Sci-Fi Dine-In, you have some pretty hard choices. Here are the seven reasons why we love the Sci-Fi Dine-In!

7 – Theming – this may be one of the best themed restaurants in all of Disney World. Built to make you feel like you are sitting outside at a drive-in movie, Sci-Fi exceeds expectations by having guests walk past some fencing and into the parking lot where your car is waiting for you. Even though you are protected from all of the elements, it truly feels like you are outside. Take a moment and absorb some of the details that are painted into the walls surrounding the theatre!

6 – Seating – rather than traditional booths and tables, Sci-Fi elevates the experience by having guests seat in replicas of classic cars. Most of the seating seats two people next to one another, with three couples being able to “share” the same car. It may be awkward if you have a larger group, but they do have seating inside of cars in a more traditional fashion.

5 – Wait Staff – similar to the wait staff at 50’s Prime Time, the wait staff at Sci-Fi treat you with an extra sense of familiarity (on my last trip to Sci-Fi, the waitress reminded my fianceé and I that no funny business would be tolerated and we need to be watching the movie and not each other). Additionally, for having to operate in near darkness, they do a fabulous job of serving you and making sure you have what you need.

4 – Entertainment – at the front of the restaurant, a movie screen shows a rotating loop of trailers from 50’s and 60’s B-science fiction movies. Interspersed with these trailers are classic vignettes for the concession stand starring the dancing hot dog and popcorn bucket. As someone who has never been to a drive-in movie, it is certainly fun to imagine what it would be like to go to one.

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3 – Drinks – Sci-Fi has a great selection of craft beers, wines, and specialty cocktails that are wonderfully themed to the restaurant itself. One of my favorites as a dessert is the Orbiting Oreos (a delicious concoction of ice cream, Oreos, and Godiva liqueur)! Be sure to try at least one of the drinks when you stop by!

2 – The Food – I thought that Sci-Fi offered a wonderful assortment of food. I am partial to the Picnic Burger, a cheeseburger topped with a grilled hot dog – SO DELICIOUS! But, if that isn’t up your alley, they do offer sandwiches and more traditional entrées to please anyone in your family! Also, don’t neglect the appetizer menu – my fiancée and I love getting the fried pickle chips to split while we are waiting for our main courses!

1 – Something for Everyone – Sci-Fi has a theming and menu that will appeal to everyone. Kids will enjoy the cool factor of being able to eat in a car and being able to watch a movie at the same time. Parents will enjoy the varied menu and the throwback to nostalgia of their youth. Be sure to make an advanced dining reservation for this restaurant as it is popular and can fill up quickly!

Sci-Fi offers a great experience while you are at Disney’s third gate if you are looking for some quality and classic American fare. Have you eaten at Sci-Fi Dine-In? What is your favorite thing about it?

BONUS TIP: Consider planning and booking your next Disney trip with an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner you can trust like Mickey Travels. They’ll help you get the best Walt Disney World deal, share expert advice and their services are totally FREE! It’s genius!