I LOVE the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant at Hollywood Studios. It has a uniquely creative atmosphere. The inspiration for this table service restaurant, is more than a “drive-in”. In truth, it pays homage to all of the cheesy, unsuccessful but captivating B-rated sci-fi movies of the 50s and 60s. And boy, are there some doozies! Can anyone say, “The Fly”- a fly with the head of a man, and a man with the head of a fly. WOW…movie making at its finest. I can picture the special effects now 🤣
Concept art depicts the classic drive-in theater experience. To read more about concept art click here
Imagineers designed the restaurant to sit on a soundstage, cultivating the theme of “old Hollywood”. The nighttime ambiance, amongst the stars, nighttime and movie, make for a one-of-a-kind dining experience.
The dark ambiance presented with some unique challenges. At one point management noticed that there was an increase in “undercooked” chicken being returned to the kitchen. The chefs insisted that the chicken was cooked through. Turns out the dark light fixtures in the dining area made the chicken look pink. The problem was easily solved with white light fixtures added to each table. Imagineers were able to properly light up the chicken while maintaining the show effect!
Googie Architecture
Originating in Southern California, Googie Architecture was all the rage in the 50s and 60s. The futuristic space-age style, with bold graphics and upswept roofline, was used in tourism to attract the attention of passing motorist.
Including this style into the restaurant’s theming was important to Imagineers and representation can be seen in the Sci-Fi Dine-In’s sign and in set design inside.
A team of Imagineers help to design the restaurant, Encounter (a name fitting for the Sci-Fi Dine-In!), found outside the Los Angeles International Airport.
The building and restaurant inside are recognized as a Googie landmark!
The license plate on each vintage car tells a story. All the plates are either from Arizona, California. or New Mexico. These three states have the most reported UFO sightings. The three letters on the plate is a tribute to the Imagineer that worked on the restaurant.
Food
Since it’s Foodie Friday and this post is about a restaurant, we should probably bring mention the food! The Sci-Fi Theater Restaurant is a fun and immersive dining experience. The food is classic American with milkshakes that cannot be missed!
To top it off, you get to eat your tasty meal in a cool vintage car while enjoying cheesy sci-fi movie trailers. The experience is unique and a must do!
Whenever we go to Disney, anywhere really, where we eat is important to my family. As Ultimate Foodies, we are always looking for a great overall experience.
Do you consider yourself an ultimate foodie? Take our quiz to find out! Conveniently, it is set in Hollywood Studios!
