I wanted to give you more construction pics for today, but DH said you’d prefer some food porn, so here we go! We’re headed to Disney’s Hollywood Studios and the Sci-Fi Dine-In! 
Sci-Fi Dine-in in Disney’s Hollywood Studios is a quintessential Disney experience. It’s imagineering and restauranteur-ing at its collaborative best: drive-in movies and good eats mixed together on a big ol’ sound stage in the middle of a theme park! The next time you bring someone new to Disney World and want to knock their socks off with something they’ve never seen before, book a reservation here. Atmosphere You’ll enter through what looks like a movie theater entrance, but find yourself here, in a soundstage-esque reservation area. The floors are concrete and you’re surrounded by [Read more…]
Sneak Peek at a Dinner in the Great Movie Ride
After seeing last week’s post about the Tables in Wonderland dinner at Disney World’s Great Movie Ride, @janettwokay shared with me some photos from her recent Disney Fairy Tale Weddings vow renewal celebration held in the same venue! Here’s a great way to get a good idea of what dining inside the ride might be like!
This is also a good way for those of you contemplating using the GMR as a venue for your private celebrations to see what could await you…
Gangster Scene: Appetizers
Guests began the evening in the Gangster Scene, where cocktails were served and appetizers were passed. Tables were set up simply: black and red linens and rope adorning the chairs. In the background, you can see a pianist tickling the ivories — he played throughout the cocktail service.
Tables in the Gangster Set
A bartender was set up over to the side. There’s a great photo of a still set up behind him! Even the service was themed: beer cans were served in paper bags, wine was served in coffee mugs, and mixed drinks were served in mason jars.
Bartender in Gangster Scene
The cocktail hour included various appetizers, including: [Read more…]
Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano
Tucked into the back of Disney’s Hollywood Studios is Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano, an Italian restaurant with a very special theme.
Atmosphere
What is the theme, you ask? “Where Italy meets California in the heart of the Backlot,” of course. What does that mean? Well… most of us don’t really know or understand what it means… but here’s the general backstory: Mama Melrose moved from Italy to Hollywood to pursue acting, but was persuaded by friends to open a restaurant instead. (At least, this is one of the stories I’ve heard.)
So the kitschy “Italian home-cooking” restaurant — which would be at home in New York City’s Little Italy with its checked tablecloths, mis-matched furniture, and pizza oven — is (strangely) augmented by scads of Hollywood memorabilia from Mama’s collection. [Read more…]
Corporals and Condiments at the Sunset Ranch Market
In honor of Veteran’s Day this week, I wanted to share a few photos of what I think is a very special part of Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
If you’ve seen my write-up on Rosie’s Victory Garden, you won’t be surprised to see the World War II imagery and themeing carry on throughout the Sunset Ranch Market. One area that I walked by dozens of times before really looking is the condiment center next to Rosie’s All American Cafe, past the “V for Victory” and “Keep ’em Flying” signs.
Rosie's All American Cafe
Condiment Center at Sunset Ranch Market
If you look from far away, it just looks like any old condiment center, but look closely and you’ll see more. Dozens of soldiers — some wounded, some guarding, some in action — forever preparing their weapons, battleships, and fighter jets for war.
Soldier Standing Guard
A Doctor Tends to a Wounded Soldier
Look even more closely and you’ll see a collection of letters, postcards, paperwork, and historical documents themed to — or actually from — wartime.
Sailors Guard a Letter
Soldiers Watch Over Postcards
When I first found this display I looked at it for a full half-hour. I can’t imagine what other guests thought as I slowly walked around and stared at the condiment bar at Sunset Ranch Market, but this is the kind of themeing that I always hope to see: a seemingly fringe effort that adds so much to the “show staging” for those who actually take the time to notice.
Happy Veteran’s Day, Week, and Month.
Have You Ever Been to the Sunset Room?
You’ve probably walked past the grand old Sunset Room restaurant many times, but you’ve never stayed for dinner. Too bad, as they have a delicious-looking menu… from October 31, 1939.
You see, the Sunset Room is a chic restaurant in the Hollywood Tower Hotel — a place to see and be seen.
Hollywood Tower of Terror's Sunset Room Restaurant
At least…it was a chic restaurant. Today, there’s not much left but dust, locked doors, and that menu, still posted with the specials of the day, which you can read yourself on the way to the hotel’s gift shop. I wonder whatever happened to that old place…
Sunset Room Menu
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