Archive for September 18th, 2009
Under the Stars
It’s the most amazingly-themed restaurant in all of Walt Disney World. It may be the most amazingly-themed restaurant on earth. Guests enter the building and walk around the corner and straight into a summer evening at the drive-in.
Taillights glow from rows of cars lined up under the stars. Vehicles sporting sleek fins and cool paint jobs in vintage colors like candy apple red, metal flake silver and Metropolitan turquoise, invite diners to slide in and enjoy film clips from old sci-fi movies. Window speakers hanging on posts, a “snack bar” at the back, and the famous on-screen intermission clock with dancing food, add to the authenticity. Smaller parties can expect to find “hitchhikers” seated with them in their cars.
Making advance dining reservations will help ensure your seating in one of the parked cars rather than tables at the back of the room
Review: It’s the most amazingly-themed restaurant in all of Walt Disney World. It may be the most amazingly-themed restaurant on earth. It boasts the worst table-service food in all of Walt Disney World. It may be the worst table-service food on earth. Having said this, I return to the Sci-Fi Dine-in at least once a year. Admittedly, this is a sentimental favorite of mine, but few would not be delighted by the ambiance of this one-of-a-kind restaurant.
I had the good fortune to visit for the first time during pre-internet days and was unprepared for the incredible sight of the twilit theater, but even those who know what to expect will be happily surprised.
Consider lunch or dessert here, rather than dinner, for two reasons. Firstly, the effect is more dramatic coming in from the sunny day to the nighttime atmosphere. Secondly, you will be kicking yourself if you pay too much for the meal; even a good burger doesn’t usually cost $12.00. Plan on taking advantage of the less-expensive lunch menu, or enjoying a hot-fudge sundae or one of their “out of this world” specialty drinks.
Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Lunch 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Dinner 4:00 p.m. to park closing
Assistive listening devices available
Park admission required
