Best dining choice at MGM?

[jaysue]

Myself, DW and the 2 DS's (6+ and 2 3/4 yrs old) - will be having dinner at MGM on one night

Recommendations please for sit down service

thanks
jaysue

[SueOKW]

I love Prime Time, but that might be lost on them... what's the one like a drive in theater - - Sci Fi?

[jaysue]

I love Prime Time, but that might be lost on them... what's the one like a drive in theater - - Sci Fi?

The drive in is Sci Fi

I wonder too about 50's PT being lost on especially the younger one

Cheers
jaysue

[Stimpy]

We took our 2 kids, ages 6 and 1 1/2 to Primetime in October and they hated it. Our server really wasn't "into" it either so it was a waste for us.

Both my kids LOVE the Sci-fi. The food isn't all that great, it's decent, but they love sitting in the car and watching the movie clips on the giant screen. We get some peace and quiet for a while since they are mesmorized! We usually go there whenever we got to MGM.

Actually, I was going to call later today to make ADR's for our May trip for Sci-fi.

[jnrrt]

Yeah, we went to the Sci-Fi last trip, and my daughters thought it was very cool, although the movies definitely made the 4 y.o. very nervous.

Personally, I thought the food was horrible, and the service was even worse, plus it's quite expensive for what you get (what a great combo!) so we'll be trying to avoid it. But then, children often have a different opinion of what make a good restaurant.

[jaysue]

Hmmm....not exactly a ringing endorsement of eating sit down at MGM

Anyone eat at H&V/Brown Derby/Mama Melrose's?

cheers
jaysue

[tjkraz]

I ate at Mama Melrose's about 1 1/2 years ago. I thought it was good, but I think DW wasn't thrilled with with the menu. We did the Fantasmic dinner package, which was a lot of food. The flatbread appetizer was very good. My entree was above average--I think I had a roasted sausage & pepper dish. We got Tiramisu for dessert as part of the package. I'm not a fan, so I couldn't really say whether it was good or bad.

Service was very good.

I liked it enough that we're going back to MM next month. Our kids are both pasta eaters and they have a decent kids' menu (they can choose their own pasta noodles and sauce.) At least it will be one meal this trip that is void of french fries. :yes:

We also at at H&V about 3 years ago. It wasn't particularly memorable.

[jnrrt]

We thought H&V was perfectly fine. How's that for a ringing endorsement?

The food was better than average, especially since it's buffet, but I didn't think there was anything particularly great about the atmosphere to make it interesting to kids.

We have heard good things about MM, so we'll probably try that next. And I do think that even though kids may not "get" the theme at Prime Time, the decor and interaction with the servers are interesting enough in their own right that kids would probably be entertained.

[Lisa]

We have done the BD and MM with the fantasmic dinner package. We liked MM better. We did BD the first time at Disney (DD's 2 & 7) and I don't know if it was the time of day (early because of the fdp) or how we were feeling or if the food just didn't suit us but it didn't really score any points for us. I was fairly happy with my meal but DH who is vegetarian didn't like his. It seems like the girls only liked the flashing ice cubes. On our second trip (DD's 3 & 8) we did MM and really enjoyed our dinner. Our girls like noodles and the flat bread was great. When you include the price difference, MM was the winner.

[gopherit]

We have done Sci Fi numerous times and Prime Time most recently. Frankly, my kids did NOT "get" Prime Time at all! As my DS9 said, "This place is so cheesy, Mom, they can't even afford color TV!" (Let's just say nostalgia is LOST on the under 12 crowd, 'kay?) The adult food was good - but the kids complained that the hot dog tasted like a school cafeteria hot dog (and that was NOT intended as a complement). Whatever.

In contrast, never had a problem at Sci Fi - HOWEVER - I also admit to sticking to the simpler fare offered there. I usually stick to burgers and fries and such. Last time, I ordered 2 appetizers instead of an entree (I think I got a salad and the crispy spring rolls). DH ordered the penne pasta - a LOT of food, I should add. Neither of us had any complaints. THe kids were the quietest they had been all week - something about that night sky in there just calms them down. That, and the thrill of eating "in the car". (Which is weird, coming from 3 kids who ride 15 hrs down and 15 hrs back in a car and don't seem to find the ambiance so great then - why is this any different?!?!)

Meanwhile... My sister swears by MM. She got tuned into it one day simply because she saw they gave a DVC discount. She's been going there ever since.

Frankly, we don't know WHAT to do about our August ressies while at MGM. I am tempted to simply leave the park for dinner. We will be on the dining plan and I just can't see us using a TS for burgers in Sci-Fi, and the kids voiced a strong objection to ever going back to PT. I suppose we could try MM and give my sister's fave restaurant a shot. Looking ath te menu for H&V, I just can't see that we would want to do that, if there is no "theming" per se. Same goes for Brown Derby.

[pouncingpluto]

I've had a lot of good experiences at MM, and I think it has the sort of atmosphere and menu that are good for both adults and kids. Sort of dark and quiet, but not fancy and stuffy. So maybe it'll have a calming effect on the kids. :) And the food is yummy, but it tends to be very common Italian stuff, so I don't think you'd have trouble with even picky eaters.

[SueOKW]

We enjoyed MM ok - - but I remember feeling VERY COLD in there! Probably too much in one day and just tired.

I still love Prime Time even if the CMs aren't "on"... and they've been more off than on lately....

[idratherbeinwdw]

I've eaten at all of the places mentioned here and my favorite is Brown Derby far and away. The service, the food, atmosphere, all excellent. It's a bit $$ but if that doesnt bother you I'd highly recommend the place, but it is a little more adult oriented so if your kids are very active this might not be a good choice.

Hollywood and Vine is fine, good buffet you'll all find something you like, although the atmosphere is nothing special and it is on the noisy side. The food is good so I'd consider this my second choice.

Sci Fi seems to be inconsistent, I've had good meals and service there and I've had bad. The shakes are superb, worth stopping by just for that.

Mama Melrose, while not bad, is not authentic Italian food, at least not to this New Yorker. I found it very bland, (but I know a lot of folks rave about it).

Good luck choosing!

[withdisneyspirit]

DH and I went to MM last July and had a very good meal. I would probably pick MM or BD for tastiest food. Sci fi really does have great burgers and shakes in my opinion though and with small kids, it may be the most fun place to go!

[onecdn]

We went for a fabulous dinner March 2004 at Brown Derby. This was before we were DVC members and before our DS number 2 arrived. It was our first trip ever to WDW and we went on the Silver Plan (I don't think this is available any more). Anyhow we used our 'wishes' to their fullest potential to pay for our meal (gratuity was covered also). Our server was wonderful - very friendly to our son who was only 4 at the time. We sat in one of the round booths and definitely had one of the best meals we have had there. With the wishes we could order anything - our server suggested adding lobster tails to our entrees. How could we say no?!?!
Realistically even if you were paying $ for the meal, I think Brown Derby is really nice, with white tablecloths, great service and cool ambience. It is calm and subdued inside, but I would not say it was boring. With a great server like we had, your children will also enjoy it.
We have also eaten at the Hollywood & Vine buffet. It is much more casual, but the food was very good. The atmosphere was fun. My DS got a fancy drink with a glowing ice cube (that I thought was too expensive at the time) that he STILL uses once in a while almost 2 years later!

[dianeschlicht]

Our favorite MGM sit down is by far, Brown Derby. I thought Prime time would be a good choice for those ages.

[jaysue]

Thanks for all the input everyone - much appreciated - now I have to go and ponder my options

cheers
jaysue

:idea:

[PoohsPal]

I would not do BD with kids. Veryy $$$$$ Very gourmet type food. My service was way bad last week. I'm typically pretty calm, but I was about to find a manager. We don't do sit down often enough for me to try there again.

[jaysue]

I would not do BD with kids. Veryy $$$$$ Very gourmet type food. My service was way bad last week. I'm typically pretty calm, but I was about to find a manager. We don't do sit down often enough for me to try there again.

Thanks Pal of Pooh! Winnie the Pooh is my fav ride at MK

Cheers
jaysue

:shhh:

[JimC]

Our Disney Studios favorites ranked:

Brown Derby
Sci-Fi Dine-In
Mama Melrose's
'50s Prime Time

We have done them all either lunch or dinner. If we do the Fantasia dinner package we do Brown Derby.

[AmyBeth68]

I was pleasantly surprised at how good Mama Melrose was. I'd go for that one, although we like 50's Primetime and HBD. I don't think you can really go wrong...but my vote is for MM :).

[jdvm]

The Brown Derby is our choice hands down. Sometimes we go to MGM just to go there. The Cobb Salad is awesome.

[dvcconvert]

The Brown Derby is our choice hands down. Sometimes we go to MGM just to go there. The Cobb Salad is awesome.

I agree completely. H&V is good too, but I'm not big on buffets.

[matysgranma]

Well, we're not one's for buffet, though we did try H&V. We weren't too impressed. The last two times we ate at Prime Time, we really had waiters that were really duds (and that's the only reason we normally go to this place--so needless to say, it's off our list for a while). Sfi-Fi is okay, the food not so good, the service even worse. Our number one pick would be Brown Derby, but it normally takes quite a while to eat in that restaurant, and you're travellling with small children, so I would suggest, hands down, Mama Melrose. Great food, great atmosphere, and we've always had great service. Order the kids spaghetti or their fabulous flat bread, and they'll be happy!

[jaysue]

Thanks for the continuing info and opinions

Cheers
jaysue

:computerg

[Colorado Belle]

A few of us were talking about the lack of decent food in MGM...except for the Brown Derby, which isn't something I think the kids would enjoy.
Unless you are doing this as part of the Fantasmic Dinner Package, there are so many other good sit down restaurants elsewhere, that it seems a waste of time and money to do a sit down at MGM.

Are you paying cash or is it on the dining plan? If cash, and if you are set on MGM, then you mght all have fun at the Sci Fi Drive-In. The kids would probably enjoy the cars and you might enjoy the waiters on skates, the dark black sky, the silly movies. The food is pretty much Denny's...tho in the old days they made a great Crab Louis salad. I think it is mostly sandwich's with fries now....but probably the best choice if 'theming' is what you are after.

I love MGM...but other than a cobb salad at the BD, I don't tend to eat anything there.