I’ve written before about the Prime-Time Café in Hollywood Studios and how it’s a wonderful themed restaurant and a great change of pace from the rest of the park.
But, there’s another place in Hollywood Studios that has a great theme and is as much of an attraction as the rides and shows.
The Sci-Fi Dine-in Theater provides a nostalgic trip for anyone who has ever gone to a drive-in theater. It takes a walk down memory lane – or maybe it’s a drive down memory lane.
When you arrive, you are escorted to your car. I mean table. No, I mean car.
The dining room of the restaurant is shaped like a drive-in theater. All of the tables, I mean cars, are parked around the room and are facing a big movie screen which is playing clips from old, cheesy B-rated science-fiction and monster movies in a continuous loop.
Each car is reminiscent of a 1950s convertible car. Most cars feature three tables. Two people can sit in the front seat, two people can sit in the middle seat and two people can sit in the back seat.
A little tip: it’s a bit of a squeeze, but you can fit a small person in-between two adults at one of these tables. This is good to know because the restaurant is dark and some small people may not like the “night” feeling.
Everyone sits in their cars facing the movie screen under a sea of stars. You have the drivers in the front seat, the passengers in the middle and the hitchhikers in the back. A “car hop” comes to your window to take your order. With the exception of a few menu items, the majority of the menu features foods that you would probably see at a food stand at a drive-in theater. Foods like nachos, burgers, hot dogs, onion rings, sandwiches.
One of the best items on the menu is their milkshakes. If you try one, I recommend the Oreo ice cream milkshake!
Once you’ve had your fill and watched numerous movie clips, the “car hop” will issue you a parking ticket, aka the bill. That’s what I love about Disney is that they carry a theme through from beginning to end and that they are so meticulous with details.
From the stars to the car hops to the bill, everything adds to the feeling that you're at the drive in movies!