Choosing where to dine at any theme park can be a bit overwhelming.  In this post, we will consider some of the options available to guests at Hollywood Studios theme park.

TABLE SERVICE OPTIONS:

Two of the more interesting TABLE SERVICE dining options are 50’s Prime Time Cafe and Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater. Both of these restaurants have a unique theme and fun atmosphere.

If you want really good food “like your momma used to make,” then the 50’s Prime Time Cafe would be a great choice for you.  The menu offers classic comfort foods like fried chicken, meat loaf, and pot roast just to name a few. Several years ago, we visited this location with our party of 13.  We had been warned that the wait staff is a little stern when they catch guests not using proper table manners.  The children in our party were divided in their reactions to the “corrections” that we received:  some thought the waitress was rude, but others thought it was hilarious that their siblings and cousins (and some of the grown ups) were getting “in trouble.”

Each table has a small 50’s era television set playing some of the best episodes of Leave it to Beaver and similar shows from that time period. In fact, your waitress will probably look very similar to June Cleaver as she “mothers” everyone at the table.  What’s a little funny is that you are encouraged to use table manners but also allowed to watch television at the table.  Aren’t those two things a little contradictory?  Oh well… it’s vacation!  Enjoy!

I have not personally dined at the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater, but it is definitely one of the more popular restaurants in all of Walt Disney World.  Reservations for this location go quickly!  The dining area looks like guests are seated in their parties’ own individual convertibles from the ’50s and ’60s.  WARNING:  Fans of the movie Grease may find themselves wanting to break out into song and dance while waiting for their meal to be delivered! Not only are you sitting in the replica cars, but cheesy sci-fi movies from the 50s and 60s are projected on a screen so that guests can enjoy dinner and a movie.  As far as the menu, the restaurant serves traditional American cuisine:  popcorn is brought to the table and then guests can order burgers and milkshakes or even shrimp pasta or fajita chicken salad.  With such a variety of options, even the pickiest of eaters should be satisfied here.

So, what about guests wanting a character dining experience in this park?  You only have one choice:  Hollywood & Vine.  If you will be travelling with younger preschool-aged children, the breakfast buffet is sure to be a hit.  You will get to meet friends from Doc McStuffins, Sofia the First, Jake and the Neverland Pirates, and Handy Manny.  You will get plenty of breakfast favorites such as Mickey waffles, omelets, pastries, and more.  If you would prefer to meet “classic” Disney characters, you can meet Minnie, Mickey, Daisy, Donald, and Goofy during lunch and dinner reservations. (The characters are ALMOST identical to those found at Chef Mickey’s; Daisy just takes Pluto’s place at this location.) An added bonus for Hollywood & Vine is that it is one of the restaurants that offers the Fantasmic! dinner package.  Making a reservation here can ensure that you get some of the best seats in the house for the Fantasmic! evening show.

Speaking of the Fantasmic! dinner package… a low-key, quieter option (if you have already had your fill of character breakfasts and dinners) would be to make a reservation at Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano.  I ate here with my sister and her two children and our parents last January, and it proved to be a nice, relaxing Italian dinner after a long day running around the park.  We did NOT do the Fantasmic! package, but in hindsight, I wish we would have.  That would have been a perfect ending to our day in Hollywood Studios.

QUICK SERVICE OPTIONS:

Guests wanting a quick bite at Hollywood have a few different options, but the best two featuring the most variety in their menus are ABC Commissary (next door to the Sci-Fi Dine-In) and Backlot Express (next to Star Tours).

ABC Commissary features movie memorabilia in its decor, and the menu offers something for everyone:  burgers, sandwiches, salads, even a shrimp, fish, and chicken platter.  During dinner, they also offer “dinner only” entrees such as lemon pepper salmon and Chimichurri steak.  With such a variety, all palates will be happy.

Backlot Express is the “can’t miss” stop for the Star Wars fans in your party.  Featured items on the menu include the Royal Guard Burger, the Galactic Chicken Salad, and even Dark Side Chicken and Waffles!  Unlike ABC Commissary, all items on the menu are offered all day; there is no difference between the lunch and dinner menus.

Both the ABC Commissary and the Backlot Express are located in the same general vicinity of the park; so what do you do if you are hungry but you are nowhere close to Commissary Lane?  Sunset Boulevard offers guests a few different snack stations, but for a full “meal,” you could stop Rosie’s All-American Cafe. While the menu is significantly more limited, if all you need is a burger or some chicken nuggets, then this location definitely beats trying to hustle to the other side of the park just to get some food!  If you would prefer pizza over a burger, then head to Catalina Eddie’s also on Sunset Boulevard.  Or, a third option in the Sunset Boulevard section of the park is Fairfax Fare whose menu features Latino-inspired specialties such as emapanadas and fajitas.

For complete menus of these and the other restaurants in the park, visit https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/hollywood-studios/.