PHOTOS: Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant Reopens with Closed Cars and a Limited Menu at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Shannen Ace

sci-fi dine-in

PHOTOS: Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant Reopens with Closed Cars and a Limited Menu at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

A restaurant with some of the heaviest theming at Walt Disney World is the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. This special restaurant lets guests eat in stationary cars while watching some classic ’50s drive-in commercials, cartoons, and sci-fi B-movies on a big screen. Pull up and park with us as we eat dinner in the theater during the Cast Member preview day.

sci fi dine in 61
sci fi dine in 60

Labels on the front doors indicate if they are exit or enter only. Although given it is only one set of doors, this probably won’t make much difference if multiple guests are entering and exiting at the same time.

sci fi diner 2

Hand sanitizer is on either side of the doors. Don’t forget, the speed limit is 5 mph. Typically, a table with ice water would be available for diners to hydrate before being seated, but this has since been removed.

sci fi diner 1

A Plexiglass window protects the Cast Members at the check-in counter.

sci fi diner 4
sci fi diner 3

We didn’t have to wait long before we were seated.

sci fi diner 5

Some cars were entirely closed off to keep a distance between parties—no more hitchhikers here!

sci fi diner 6

We saw a Cast Member cleaning up after some guests left.

sci fi diner 11

Sometimes Sci-Fi Dine-In will seat multiple small parties in one car, but this will probably not be the case for a while.

sci fi diner 13
sci fi diner 14

The restaurant was not very busy when we visited.

sci fi diner 15
sci fi diner 7
sci fi diner 9

We were seated in the front-seat of our own front-row car.

sci fi diner 10
sci fi diner 12
sci fi diner 16

Like most restaurants, there was a flier with a QR code to access an online menu. We were also given a disposable paper menu.

sci fi diner 18
sci fi diner 21

While usually not the most extravagant of menus, we did find some items missing, such as the popular appetizer sampler. There was no specialty milkshake flavor, either, which is usually a “secret menu” option if you ask your server.

sci fi diner 22 1
sci fi diner 23 1

These two cars were full next to each other, but they might have been with the same party.

sci fi diner 24
sci fi diner 25

We felt safe surrounded by empty cars.

sci fi diner 30
Crispy Chicken Strips – Served with Celery Sticks and Blue Cheese Dressing ($12)
sci fi diner 29
Drive-In BBQ Burger ($21)
sci fi diner 31
sci fi diner 32 1
sci fi diner 33

Our dinner arrived while we were watching this old clip of Walt himself. Condiments are served in pre-portioned cups.

sci fi diner 34
sci fi diner 35

We noticed hand sanitizer for Cast Members in the fenced off area in front of our car.

sci fi diner 36
sci fi diner 37

We received another paper menu with dessert selections.

sci fi diner 38 1
sci fi diner 39

By the time we were ordering dessert, there were no other guests in the theater restaurant.

sci fi diner 40
sci fi diner 41 1
sci fi diner 42
sci fi diner 44
sci fi diner 45

Then we received our yummy glazed doughnut, topped with ice cream.

sci fi diner 46
sci fi diner 47 1
sci fi diner 48

We’ve never seen the Sci-Fi Dine-in so empty, so we took plenty of pictures.

sci fi diner 49
sci fi diner 50
sci fi diner 51
sci fi diner 52

We were the last guests of the day. As a tip, if you’re looking to book a Sci-Fi Dine-In reservation online, they begin at parties or 4 or more. So if you’re a smaller party, your best bet may be either inviting some friends along or trying for walk-up seating.

sci fi diner 53 1
sci fi diner 54
sci fi diner 55
sci fi diner 56
sci fi diner 59
sci fi diner 58

We hope you’re enjoying the adventure…thrills…and action of our return to Walt Disney World this week. Keep watching WDWNT for more updates about social distancing and safety guidelines.

4 thoughts on “PHOTOS: Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant Reopens with Closed Cars and a Limited Menu at Disney’s Hollywood Studios”

  1. I can’t get a reservation here and I have tried every day since my window opened up.

Comments are closed.