Thumbs Up for Sci-Fi Dine-In’s Pastrami Burger

 by Ray Keating

Review

DisneyBizJournal.com

January 24, 2024

 

Recently, I visited Hollywood Studios on my own and managed to grab a last-minute reservation at the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant.

I’ve long been a sucker for this place. I love the entire vibe of the convertible-car tables located in a 1950s drive in, with amusing movie and news clips from the period running on the big screen.

 

Over the years, however, the food has been uneven – sometimes boffo and other times disappointing.

 

I asked what the Feature Film Burger was that night, and the waitress’s pitch on a pastrami-topped burger won me over. And I’m glad ordered it.

The burger, which came on a brioche bun, was topped with pepper jack cheese, a mustard sauce and thinly sliced pastrami. This Feature Film Burger was excellent. The bun was soft and the sauce rather tasty. But the key was the balance between the pastrami and the burger. Neither was lost or overpowering. They simply complemented each other neatly, with my tastebuds enjoying the mix in each bite.

 

It was a pleasant evening – enjoying my favorite Walt Disney World park at one of my most-liked restaurants thanks, in part, to a darn good burger.

 

In fact, I’m getting a little hungry writing about this burger right now. I wonder if I can grab a convertible at Sci-Fi right now…?

 

__________

 

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com; and author of the Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers and mysteries, the Alliance of Saint Michael novels, and assorted nonfiction books. Have Ray Keating speak your group, business, school, church, or organization. Email him at raykeating@keatingreports.com.

 

The views expressed here are his own – after all, no one else should be held responsible for this stuff, right?

 

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Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Turns 30!

 by Ray Keating

News/Review

DisneyBizJournal.com

April 20, 2021

 

One of my favorite restaurants and experiences in Walt Disney World turns 30 years old today. The Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant opened on April 20, 1991.

In September 2019, I penned a DisneyBizJournal piece titled “7 Reasons Hollywood Studios Ranks Best Among Walt Disney World Parks.” One of those reasons was the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant. And what I wrote then definitely still holds: “It’s hard to think of many better ways to celebrate Hollywood than coming in from the Florida heat and humidity, sitting down in a replica convertible at a car hop, watching old sci-fi movies on a huge screen under an evening sky, and enjoying some solid food, including excellent burgers and shakes. I always love going to the Sci-Fi Dine-In, but for some reason I failed to stop in on my latest visit. What the heck was I thinking?”

 

Indeed, what was I thinking? Not only is the experience – in terms of theming, atmosphere, cast members, and entertainment – what I would expect from visiting a Disney park, but the food also fits and is quite tasty … usually. Over the years, the menu has varied, as I vaguely recall a time when it seemed to veer off course a bit. But it was right back on track during recent visits. (See the menu here.)

 

And for me, it’s always about a burger at Sci-Fi, namely, the Drive-in BBQ Burger featuring house-made BBQ sauce, bacon, and cheddar cheese, along with an onion ring and fried banana pepper, on a brioche bun. And I’ll take a vanilla or chocolate shake.

 

And all the time, you get to watch clips and trailers from 1950s sci-fi B-movies on a massive drive-in screen. And yes, I try to spot clips from some movies that I admit to having actually watched in my home.

 

Happy birthday, Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant, an experience that I enjoy each time I park in one of those convertibles.

 

__________

 

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of the  Pastor Stephen Grant novels and assorted nonfiction books. Have Ray Keating speak your group, business, school, church, or organization. Email him at raykeating@keatingreports.com.

 

The views expressed here are his own – after all, no one else should be held responsible for this stuff, right?

 

Keating has two new books out. Vatican Shadows: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel is the 13th thriller/mystery in the Pastor Stephen Grant series. Get the paperback or Kindle edition at Amazon, or signed books at www.raykeatingonline.com. Past Lives: A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Story is the 14th book in the series. Get the paperback or Kindle edition at Amazon, or signed book at www.raykeatingonline.com. And pre-order the 15th book in the series What’s Lost? A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Story.

 

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7 Reasons Hollywood Studios Ranks Best Among Walt Disney World Parks

by Ray Keating

Commentary

DisneyBizJournal.com

September 24, 2019

Disney’s Hollywood Studios ranks as the best of the four theme parks in Walt Disney World. In fact, it leaves Magic Kingdom, Epcot and Animal Kingdom in the dust.

Right now, Magic Kingdom, Epcot and Animal Kingdom aficionados are outraged, and ready for a debate. Well, a Disney debate is always fun. So, here are my 7 reasons for making this bold claim.

#1. The Vibe. I’m a movie buff – especially loving classic films. Since it opened in 1989 (as Disney-MGM Studios), Hollywood Studios has served up a great Hollywood vibe. In fact, the two streets – Hollywood and Sunset Blvds – offer a great old-time movies feel. Indeed, as far as streets go in Disney World, these two boulevards only rank behind Main Street, U.S.A., in the Magic Kingdom in terms of being iconic.

#2. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. While I’ve been a top fan of Hollywood Studios since it opened, the immersive Galaxy’s Edge is unparalleled as a theme park land, and Smugglers Run rates as one of the best rides around – especially for a Star Wars fan. Check out my take on Galaxy’s Edge – “9 Reasons to Love Galaxy’s Edge at Walt Disney World.”

#3. Star Tours – The Adventures Continue. Disney imagineers did a very nice job in upgrading the Star Tours attraction, which first opened in 1989. The new Star Tours – The Adventures Continue opened in May 2011, with new sequences added in November 2015 and November 2017. Even given what’s happening in Galaxy’s Edge, this remains a great attraction.

#4. The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. A welcome from Rod Serling, The Twilight Zone, an old, scary Hollywood hotel, and a thrill ride with great views and drops – nothing more need be said.

#5. Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant. It's hard to think of better ways to celebrate Hollywood than coming in from the Florida heat and humidity, sitting down in a replica convertible, watching old sci-fi movies on a huge screen under an evening sky, and enjoying some solid food, including excellent burgers and shakes. I always love going to the Sci-Fi Dine-In, but for some reason I failed to stop in on my latest visit. What the heck was I thinking?

#6. 50’s Prime Time Café. How can you not enjoy taking a trip back to the 1950s, sitting at the formica kitchen table (no elbows on the table, please!), a black-and-white television offering some TV classics, and solid comfort food served up family style. (Make sure you know what color the soap is if you use the restrooms... you might get asked to make sure you washed!)

#7. Indiana Jones. As I wrote in a recent article – Dear Bob: Disney Needs to Step It Up on Indiana Jones – Disney needs more Indiana Jones in the parks, including Indy merchandise. But what Disney does offer, of course, is to be discovered in Hollywood Studios, namely, the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, and the Indiana Jones Adventure Outpost. Hollywood Studios gets an automatic thumbs-up for being the home of Indiana Jones.

So, I could go on, but there are seven solid reasons why Disney’s Hollywood Studios ranks as the best theme park in Disney World.

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of the Pastor Stephen Grant novels. He can be contacted at  raykeating@keatingreports.com.

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