50s Prime Time Cafe review

50s Prime Time Cafe

When my family booked our reservation for Disney World’s 50’s Prime Time Cafe in Hollywood Studios, I couldn’t wait. I had been told by so many people how fun of an experience it was and plenty of reminders to finish all of my food before signing the check.

The environment of the restaurant is like no other at Walt Disney World. You step into the building and enter a whole other generation of the 1950’s. This is a very popular place for families to try so I recommend reserving a table days beforehand, unless you plan on getting a drink at the quick service bar. Whether you are with your family or a group of adult friends, the 50’s Prime Time Cafe is the place to go in Hollywood Studios.

In this article, I’m going to provide you with an in-depth 50’s Prime Time Cafe review, so you can determine whether or not this restaurant is worth the money.

50s Prime Time Cafe Decor

The theme of the restaurant is amazing. You walk in and immediately feel like you went back in time to your grandmother’s house in the 1950’s. The walls and floors are covered with bold colors and designs. As you make your way around the restaurant, you see that the tables are in there own little house or living room, with old school televisions and all. My family and I were seated at a corner table, where an old-fashioned black and white TV was on opposite of us, giving us something to watch while we waited for our food.

The seats were comfortable and bright, just like any 50’s diner would look or feel like. My parents told me all about how the setting reminded them of their own grandparents house, how they had the same floor tiles or the same size television in the living room. Parents will definitely feel nostalgic after visiting this eatery.

Atmosphere

The restaurant smells like home-made dinner, because that’s exactly what’s cooking in the back kitchen. There are waitresses dressed in bright pink dresses running around and yelling to the back. With the noise of the tv and radio, it feels just like you are in your grandmother’s house for dinner in the 1950’s.

There is not a dull moment at this diner. Everyone there is looking around and talking with each other about their similar homes or their plans for the rest of the day. We constantly found things to talk about inside the restaurant, including the old tv shows we watched, the taste of the Peanut Butter & Jelly Milkshake, and the attractions nearby that the families around us were talking about. The tables are pretty close to each other, so it’s easy to meet new people and converse with them about experiences and vacation planning.

Below, check out a review of the 50s Prime Time Cafe that someone uploaded to YouTube!

Entertainment

The cast members are what makes this restaurant different from the others, the waitresses specifically. They don’t allow you to eat with your elbows on the table and they make sure that if you have any children at your table, that there plates are clear and they finished their meal. If not, they will “make the kids wash the dishes.” This is fun for some families, but only if the waiter/waitress uses the right tone. I have heard from friends that when their families went to the cafe, the kids were so upset about not eating their whole meal because they weren’t hungry or didn’t enjoy it, that they felt much worse when the waitress came and yelled at them for not eating every bite.

You definitely should be aware of these comments before choosing this restaurant, especially if you have children who are picky eaters or not always well-behaved. Again, it’s a small restaurant so if one child is being extra loud, it can make a pretty miserable experience for everyone in the building.

For adults, the Tune-In Lounge Bar is most entertaining. Keeping the retro vibe, each drink is special and 50’s themed. You can sit there after your meal or you can stop for just a drink at any time of day. The cast members there have a different attitude, suited for the adults. The bar is set away from the main dining rooms, tailored for a more peaceful setting and older audience.

Here is a list of entree items available for both lunch and dinner (prices are of course always subject to change):

Grandma’s Picnic Punch

  • $12.25
  • Grandma concocted a wonderful drink for the family picnic—Skyy Vodka, Peach Schnapps, Crème de Cassis, Light Lemonade, and Pineapple Juice

Magical Star Cocktail

  • $12.50
  • X-Fusion Organic Mango and Passion Fruit Liqueur, Parrot Bay Coconut Rum, Pineapple Juice, and a souvenir Multicolored Glow Cube

Patron Platinum Margarita

  • $11.75
  • Patrón Silver Tequila, Cointreau, Lime Juice, and Sweet-and-Sour

Pina CoLAVA

  • $10.75
  • Bacardi Raspberry Rum blended with Piña Colada Mix and Raspberry Purée

Fireball Cocktail

  • $10.75
  • Fireball Cinnamon Whisky and RumChata Cream Liqueur

Mowie Wowie

  • $12.25
  • Dad brought this drink back from the Pacific—Parrot Bay Coconut Rum, Melon Liqueur, Peach Schnapps, Orange Juice, and Pineapple Juice

Dad’s Electric Lemonade

  • $12.25
  • Dad whips up an electrifying blue drink with Bacardi Superior Rum, Skyy Vodka, Blue Curaçao, Sweet-and-Sour, and Sprite

Ultimate Long Island Iced Tea

  • $11.50
  • Bacardi Superior Rum, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Hendrick’s Cointreau, and Sweet-and-Sour with a splash of Coca-Cola

Godiva Chocolate Martini

  • $10.75
  • Godiva Chocolate Liqueur, Stoli Vanil Vodka, White Crème de Cacao, and Frangelico

Service Quality

The cast members are always in character as though they are your grandmother, however, some are more into character than others. When I went with my family, our waitress barely talked to us besides our order and small-talk about what our plans were for the rest of the day.

Luckily, we were sitting by the old television, so we got to watch old black-and-white shows like Leave it to Beaver and old footage of Disney World. In my opinion, the cast members are what make the attraction or restaurant so entertaining. So to see that our waitress was there to take our order and give us our food was a dull start to the day.

However, I have heard of countless stories of the best waiters coming from the 50’s Prime Time Cafe.

Food

The food at the 50’s Prime Time Cafe might remind you of your Cousin Harold’s Vegetable Lasagna. Because that’s the name of the lasagna. Many of the entrees and desserts are named after a family member, mostly Mom or Dad. I loved the menu. I’m a picky eater who only eats plain foods, nothing exotic, so this place was one of my favorite stops for lunch.

After we got to our table, we had enough time to look around at the place before getting our drinks ordered. The rest of the ordering process just as quick. Our food was hot and it was served just as it said in the menu. I got the Pot Roast. It tasted exactly like my dad made it, so I was extremely satisfied. The entree meals are comfort foods, from Dad’s Stuffed Pork Chop to Grandma’s Chicken Pot Pie.

Here’s a list of my top 8 favorite food and drink items on this Walt Disney World menu (please remember, food items and prices are always subject to change):

Mom’s Old-fashioned Pot Roast

  • $21.00
  • Slow-cooked ‘til fork tender served with Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Brown Gravy, and garnished with Julienne Carrots,and Celery

Aunt Liz’s Golden Fried Chicken

  • $22.00
  • served with Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Chicken Gravy, and Seasonal Vegetables

A Sampling of Mom’s Favorite Recipes

  • $24.00
  • Golden-fried Chicken, Fork Tender Pot Roast, and Traditional Meatloaf with all the fixings

Cousin Harold’s Vegetable Lasagna

  • $19.00
  • Layers of Zucchini, Roasted Mushroom, Soy Proteins, Ricotta and Mozzarella Cheese, and served with Marinara Sauce

Dad’s Favorite Chocolate-Peanut Butter Layered Cake

  • $8.00
  • À la mode

Peanut Butter & Jelly Milk Shake

  • $7.00

Dad’s Electric Lemonade

  • $12.50
  • Dad whips up an electrifying blue drink with Bacardi Superior Rum, Skyy Vodka, Blue Curaçao, Sweet-and-Sour, and Sprite

Mowie Wowie

  • $12.25
  • Dad brought this drink back from the Pacific—Parrot Bay Coconut Rum, Melon Liqueur, Peach Schnapps, Orange Juice, and Pineapple Juice

Is This the Best Disney World Restaurant?

That’s tough to say, as one could argue that the Sci-Fi Dine In Theater just ten minutes away is just as good, if not better.

But some advantages to the Prime Time Cafe has is its fun theme and decor on the inside. Next door is the Hollywood & Vine restaurant, where they have daily character dining, so it’s cool to see that in the window before you get inside the Cafe.

Another advantage is that the whole service is very quick. It’s a nice break from the slow walking tourists and long lines in the park. The restaurant is ALWAYS busy. Meaning it’s always crowded with families. You should expect that though, since this is Disney World we’re talking about.

If you are looking for the best themed restaurants, I would skip this one. If anything, skip Hollywood Studios all together for themed dining. The Sci-Fi Dine In Theater is awesome, but that’s about it. Hollywood Studios is more for thrill rides like Tower of Terror and Rock n’ Roller Coaster. I recommend spending your day at this park doing the rides and watching the shows, getting quick service food and snacks throughout the day, then eating at a themed resort restaurant for dinner on the way back to your hotel.

If you’re looking to better know where to eat at Disney World, there’s a chance that you’re really going to love the 50s Prime Time Cafe if you’re love old school decor and charm.  Just don’t get mad when the waitress makes you eat your vegetables before you order dessert. 

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Michael has been visiting Disney World since he was a kid. He's also been to Disneyland and sailed on the Disney Dream. Michael is the owner and editor of Countdown to Magic.

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