I will be going to Walt Disney World next month to meet up with some fellow photographers as I did back in 2009. Before returning to Walt Disney World, I like to review my past trip photos. Over the next four weeks, I am going to share with you locations in each park starting with my favorite, Disney’s Hollywood Studios (DHS).

Like the real Hollywood, Disney uses large sound stages to create unique and fantastical experiences for their guests at DHS. Drive-In Theaters are rare in today’s America but back in the 1950’s and 1960’s they were extremely popular with families and teenagers to watch such classics like The Blob or The Attack of the 50 Foot Woman. To capture such a fun era, the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater restaurant was created. No matter the time of day or year, people found themselves dining under the stars in front of a large movie screen showing trailers from some of the “best” (I use the word loosely) science fiction movies made when drive-ins where popular. Sprinkled in between the movie trailers are animated shorts and Walt Disney even introduces one of his favorites.

Guests enjoying a meal at the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater.
Nikon D700/Tokina 11-16mm, 1/8s, f/2.8, ISO 8000, EV +1.0, 16mm focal length.

Did you notice what people are sitting in? The “tables” are made up of cars which sit four to six adults. Towards the back of the restaurant they have bigger cars for groups and even tables near the concession stand (the kitchen) like the old drive-ins used to have.

Guests sitting in their cars at the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater.
Nikon D700/Tokina 11-16mm, 1/25s, f/2.8, ISO 8000, EV +1.0, 16mm focal length.

The Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater restaurant is a favorite of my family and has the best milk shake in the park (notice I did not say resort). If you have not tried it, better make your reservations as soon as you can as it is very busy and popular as the old drive-ins were on Saturday nights.