One of the most immersive and unique dining experiences at the Walt Disney World Resort is a table service location found in the heart of Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The 50’s Prime Time Café can be found in the Echo Lake area of the Disney Park and invites Guests to step back in time to enjoy American classics in an environment that is a blast from the past.
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The 50’s Prime Time Café is open daily for lunch and dinner, and Guests will immediately be charmed by the bright and cheerful exterior featuring deco architecture and a vibrant coral, teal, and yellow sign that features an abstract clock and television from the 1950s. Once inside, Guests are immediately transported back to the wholesome decade with décor and styling that creates a family home.
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Just inside the main entrance of the 50’s Prime Time Café is a living room set up where Guests can check-in for their meals and enjoy vintage furniture, a modular coffee table, traditional bookshelves filled with trinkets, and retro patterned wallpaper. It’s a cozy and charming area that immediately sets the stage for the meal to come, making sure Guests realize that they are in a family home and about to be served up some family favorites.
Also found in the waiting area of the 50’s Prime Time Café is the Tune-In Lounge, a full-service bar with comfortable seating where Guests can enjoy nostalgic and fun specialty cocktails in addition to beer and wine. The Tune-In Lounge is a great spot to enjoy while waiting to be seated, or Guests can pop in and enjoy some of the ambiance of the restaurant without a reservation.
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Once seated, Guests find themselves in Mom’s kitchen, which features all the traditional décor and touches that were popular in the 1950s. From their Formica tables, Guests can check out black and white checkered wallpaper, vintage small appliances and serve ware on display, vibrant curtains and window treatments, knick-knacks, and classic colors from the era including pastel pink and baby blue.
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Part of what makes a meal at the 50’s Prime Time Café so special are the many televisions found throughout the entire restaurant that have been left on by mom so that Guests can enjoy a treat with their meals. The retro television sets play clips from classic black and white shows from the 1950s, including Leave it to Beaver, Topper, The Dick Van Dyke Show, and The Mickey Mouse Club. The little snippets of popular television shows from the era truly help to make the entire meal feel like a blast from the past.
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In addition to the theming and television shows, the 50’s Prime Time Café is unique in that the Cast Members who work there are all honorary family members who aren’t afraid to enforce mom’s rules and remind Guests to watch their manners. It’s not uncommon for Guests to be reminded to keep their elbows off the tables, put their phones away, and finish their vegetables, and those who don’t might just find themselves being punished in fun and humorous ways!
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The menu at 50’s Prime Time Café features some of the most popular American recipes from the 1950s, all collected from family members like Aunt Liz and Cousin Amy, and Guests can begin any meal with an assortment of beverages including soft drinks, coffee, tea, wine, and beer. Guests who are looking to enjoy a specialty cocktail can order “From Dad’s Liquor Cabinet” and enjoy unique sips like Dad’s Electric Lemonade, Mowie Wowie, Grandma’s Picnic Punch, Godiva Chocolate Martini, and Ultimate Long Island Iced Tea.
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An indulgent way to begin any meal at the 50’s Prime Time Café is by ordering up a classic milkshake, which was one of the most popular treats from the 1950s. Guests can enjoy traditional chocolate, vanilla, or strawberry milkshakes as well as the unique Peanut Butter & Jelly Milk Shake which turns the lunch box classic into a delicious, cold treat!
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The appetizers at the 50’s Prime Time Café feature an array of hearty and light options and Guests can order up Chicken Noodle Soup with egg noodles, Fried Herb and Garlic Cheese with a side of raspberry sauce and fresh fruit, or the plant-based Cousin Amy’s Iceberg Lettuce Wedge featuring plant-based ranch dressing, rice paper bacon, chives, cherry tomatoes, and red onions. A totally indulgent appetizer option that Guests love are the Beer-battered Onion Rings, which are thick slices that are perfectly fried and served with a side of horseradish sauce for dipping.
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Moving on to entrées, the 50’s Prime Time Café features a selection of family favorites including Aunt Liz’s Golden Fried Chicken which is perfectly juicy and crispy and served with a side of roasted garlic mashed potatoes, chicken gravy, and seasonal vegetables. Another retro favorite is Cousin Megan’s Traditional Meatloaf which features a blend of pork and beef with a tomato glaze accompanied by roasted garlic mashed potatoes and green beans.
Mom’s Old Fashioned Pot Roast is a popular entrée item for Guests as it is slow-cooked until literally melting off the bone and served with roasted garlic mashed potatoes, brown gravy, carrots, celery, and onions. Guests who are looking for lighter options to enjoy can order the Caesar Salad served with classic romaine lettuce, Caesar dressing, grated Parmesan, and garlic croutons, and the option of either chicken or salmon as the protein.
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Since there are so many amazing entrée options available for Guests to choose from at the 50’s Prime Time Café, they might have a hard time narrowing down their decision to just one meal. Thankfully, this issue can be avoided by ordering A Sampling of Mom’s Favorite Recipes which is a massive helping of the golden-fried chicken, fork-tender pot roast, and traditional meatloaf served with all the sides.
Guests who are looking to enjoy a plant-based meal at the 50’s Prime Time Café also have one entrée option that is fresh, flavorful, and changes seasonally to serve up whatever ingredients are freshest at the moment. Cousin Harold’s Vegetable Garden typically includes a colorful array of seasonal vegetables with accompaniments, and Guests are sure to enjoy every bite.
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Mom takes dessert just as seriously as her main course meals, so the dessert menu at 50’s Prime Time Café is packed with indulgent and flavorful options to enjoy including a traditional Ice Cream Sundae and Traditional Warm Apple Crisp which can be ordered alone as a plant-based option or À la mode. Guests also love digging into Mom’s Brownie served with vanilla ice cream, chocolate sauce, and whipped cream as well as Dad’s Favorite Chocolate-Peanut Butter Layered Cake which is stacked with many alternating layers of delicious flavor and can also be ordered À la mode.
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The 50’s Prime Time Café is one of the most charming and immersive table service restaurants at the Walt Disney World Resort thanks to its intricate theming that brings Guests directly into a family home from the 1950s and the menu of traditional favorites. Guests who spend time in Disney’s Hollywood Studios should plan on enjoying lunch or dinner at the 50’s Prime Time Café and enjoy the unique experience and wonderful food!