Sci-fi diner with little ones?
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wdwlovingmomma · 03-30-2012, 11:13 AM

I made our ADRs for our September trip and now I am wondering if the Sci-fi diner would be right for our family. We will have a 3 year old and a 10 month old. Any one been with little ones before?

cdnmickeyfan · 03-30-2012, 11:45 AM

I haven't been with little ones like that in years but I think most Disney restaurants go out of their way to accomodate families of all sizes and ages. I don't think you would have a problem. Have a great time!!!!

GingerJ · 03-30-2012, 11:46 AM

We haven't eaten there with a baby, but I'm thinking high chairs would be awkward with the way the cars are set up. Here's a yucky picture from 2004, with my sons aged 4 & 9 at the time. You can see there's not a huge amount of room inside the cars or between the cars:

However, this being Disney, it's likely they have some kind of plan for dealing with small children.

Be sure to check out the very limited menu to make sure there's something they'll eat. The kids' menu probably has all the standard fare, so they'll probably find something they like if you can figure out how to fit them in.

Have fun!

Ginger

crzydzy2468 · 03-30-2012, 12:15 PM

They have regular tables that still look like cars (sorta) and they can pull a high chair up to it. I remember we sat at one of those tables when we went there without a reservation one day. (we didn't have any babies with us, but I remember seeing other tables with high chairs) It was still a lot of fun!

JoanneS · 03-30-2012, 12:34 PM

I would be concerned that if the 3 year old sees the cars, (s)he will want to sit in one, but with a 10 month old you will probably need a highchair, so you'll be seated in the back at a table. The cars are tight, so I don't think you would be comfortable with the baby on your lap. It's also sort of dark in there and they show old horror movie clips. If your 3 year old is a timid sort, that may bother him/her. Given the choice, I'd hold off on this restaurant until the kids are a little older so they can enjoy it more.

**mechurchlady** · 03-30-2012, 01:18 PM

Sci-Fi Dine In Kids Menu - Disney's Hollywood Studios
They have lots of little kids there and they will definitely be able to find a place for the baby. All disney sit down restaurants have kid friendly meals which can be found online but check the date to make sure it is current. Allears and WDW Magic tend to be up to date. If your kid is having a finicky day just talk to the waiter and it will arrange with the chef for the kid to have something to its liking.

Ceara's mawmaw · 03-30-2012, 01:23 PM

It was too dark and some of the clips weren't my Dgd 3 liking when I took her that trip. If I had it to do over again probably would not have taken her then

**OhToodles!** · 03-30-2012, 01:45 PM

We've taken our boys (4 & 1) there - it's a must do every trip. The first time was when they were 1.
And you will still be able to sit in a car and have a high chair. They just put it to the side, but it's one of the high chairs that has it's own tray so you don't have to worry about the tray/table in the car. I believe they also have booster seats that can be used in the car as well. This is the palce we usually get the special cup with the light-up Buzz/Lightning McQueen or Tink clip on - kind of fun for the dark space that they get to keep too.
Hope you try it out and love it!

hockey mom 5 · 03-30-2012, 07:40 PM

The 'movies' aren't really scary - it's cheesy 60's science fiction, and none of them are very long. It's almost like flipping through channels and watching 5 minutes of each show. But you know your kid best. We have taken my neice a few times, first when she was just turning 3. She's a little skittish (afraid of Halloween) and never noticed the clips. It's a fun atmosphere - I think the kids just love sitting in the cars.

WDWJAMBA · 03-30-2012, 08:39 PM

We've made many trips to Sci-Fi over the years. I think that the tables are more set up to accommodate young ones still in high chairs. The aisles seem a bit narrow between cars which would in my mind impede the servers as they move around. (That being said, I can't recall ever seeing a high chair nestled up to one of the cars, but that doesn't mean they don't do it.)

We often duck into Sci Fi for a welcome relief from the heat outside. The AC and the dark interior are a great place to recharge.

Pax · 03-30-2012, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GingerJ

We haven't eaten there with a baby, but I'm thinking high chairs would be awkward with the way the cars are set up. Here's a yucky picture from 2004, with my sons aged 4 & 9 at the time. You can see there's not a huge amount of room inside the cars or between the cars:

The Sci-Fi Drive-in does offer traditional tables, towards the back. Also, there are the cars towards the edge of the eating area; a highchair could be put next to those with no problems.

Luv2plan · 03-31-2012, 05:33 PM

It's been a must-do for us even when our older DD was 2, 3, & 5. She was pretty timid about movies & tv in general, but loved the old sci fi clips and her booster seat & grilled cheeses. Younger DD was 2 the last time we were there, also a timid girl, and she liked it as well.

mfirst · 04-01-2012, 08:08 PM

My boys loved it - when we went, they were 5, 2 and 11 months. We were given the option of waiting for the car booth or taking a table (it had a car front and back, but regular chairs) - we took the table because I was able to have the highchair next to me, with the 2 year old on the other side. The movie clips kept the boys entertained, as well as the general atmoshpere. Service can be a bit slow...it was a long meal (though we also had to special order because of food allergies so this may have lenghtened things).