It’s a beautiful day in Hollywood Studios, where you and your family have already stepped into your Hollywood dreams of surviving the Twilight Zone, rockin’ out with Aerosmith and some sweet backstage passes, not to mention blasting into a galaxy far, far away.

So, now it’s time for a meal, and you want your dining experience to match to fun and excitement of the rest of your Hollywood Studios day.

Here comes the difficult choice of which restaurant to choose! Let’s dive into the story, style, and (of course) the FOOD of two of Hollywood Studio’s most popular restaurants to help you decide which one is best for YOU.

We’re pitting two of the most fun restaurants in Hollywood Studios against each other: the shiny, new Roundup Rodeo BBQ, and the classic 50’s Prime Time Cafe. Is newer better? Or will the nostalgic classic get your vote? These spots are gonna go head-to-head in five rounds in the restaurant showdown gauntlet:

• Theme
• Food
• Dining Style
• Location
• Audience

Let’s dig in!

Theme

50’s Prime Time Cafe

Let’s go back in time to the 1950s when TV was the latest technology and food was simple and delicious. Over at 50s Prime Time Cafe, get ready for a fun, interactive meal in Mom’s kitchen. That’s right — the whole place is decorated like a kitchen straight out of the 1950s, including accessories, decorations, calendars, and even those old black-and-white TVs!

Keep your eyes open in the dining room as there’s so much to take in! 50s Prime Time Cafe is a favorite restaurant in Disney World for this reason — the theming is absolutely outstanding. Just imagine how many thrift shops and garage sales were turned upside-down in the hunt for many of these classic items.

The vintage TVs around the restaurant also show some classics straight from that era. Dick Van Dyke, Donna Reed, Topper, Car 54 Where Are You?, Dennis the Menace, The Mickey Mouse Club, I Married Joan…sigh. There are even little “public service announcements” for the teenagers — giving them great tips on 1950s dating!

And as you’re dining in “Mom’s kitchen” it only makes sense that the wait staff would be family, so your server is your “cousin” or “aunt” or “uncle” during your whole meal, making sure you keep your elbows off the table and eat all of your vegetables, just like Mom instructed.

It’s a fun, time-traveling experience that is even immersive beyond the decorations when the Cast Members get into the show!

Roundup Rodeo BBQ

As you walk up to the restaurant, you’re welcomed by all the classic Toy Story characters on the decor. How charming! The restaurant was handmade by Andy, so it definitely has that “arts and crafts project” charm!

Inside, you’ll find a rodeo arena created by Andy himself! Andy used his imagination and lots of resources available to a kid, like blocks, lights, cardboard cut-outs, and more full of Toy Story-inspired details. Every surface has been touched — the floors, the ceilings, and even the table and chairs you sit on are made from toys or pieces of board games.

If you look around, you’ll spot some of Andy’s crayon drawings on the walls and ceilings as well.

Guests will easily spot representations of Disney•Pixar characters as toys and game pieces set the playful scene in what is sure to be a lively and memorable dining experience (though it is not a Toy Story character meal).

Through the meal, you’ll hear announcements from the toys and little interactive experiences. You’ll even hear if Andy is coming, where all of the toys (yep, that’s you, too!) have to freeze until he moves on past the toy chest.

It’s another super immersive experience that really transports guests into the digitally animated world of Toy Story.

Results

Both restaurants offer unique, entertaining, and immersive environments. Though ’50s Prime Time Cafe may cater a little more toward the older crowd who might have nostalgic memories of watching some of those shows or even having those tchotchkes at their homes growing up, it’s a fun experience for everyone.

And Roundup Rodeo will be a blast for the younger crew. Though Toy Story has been around since 1995 (it’s almost 30 years old now!), if you have a Toy Story fan in your group, this might be the best place to book a reservation.

Roundup Rodeo BBQ vs. Sci-Fi Dine-In in Disney World

Food

’50’s Prime Time Cafe

The menu here is short and simple. Mom and Dad’s favorites are here — meatloaf, fried chicken, pot roast, and chicken pot pie are the staples — along with a few extras to spice it up.

These are just your down home classic eats. Our go-tos here are the Fried Herb and Garlic Cheese, and you can’t go wrong with the Tomato Soup on a cool day (if you can find a cool day in Orlando). We also love the hearty classics like Aunt Liz’s Golden Fried Chicken, Grandpa Jean’s Chicken Pot Pie, Cousin Megan’s Traditional Meatloaf, or you can go with a bit a of everything with A Sampling of Mom’s Favorite Recipes.

Everything here is… good. Better than what you’d get at a local Cracker Barrel, but maybe not quite as good as your own mom can make (cuz moms know just how to make it).

Bottom line, if you like these homestyle classics, you’ll be happy with this choice.

REVIEW: 50’s Prime Time Cafe Has a REVAMPED Menu and We’re Giving it a Try

Roundup Rodeo BBQ

Woody is hosting a backyard barbecue, and you’re invited. And in true barbecue fashion, you’ll get options of a variety of grilled and smoked, meats as well as some fresh or cheesy side dishes.

You don’t want to pass on the  The Prospector’s Homemade Cheddar Biscuits with Sweet Pepper Jelly. They are large, soft, stuffed with cheese, and pair wonderfully with that zesty sweet pepper jelly.

The house-smoked items include Evil Dr. Smoked Ribs, Buttercup’s Beef Brisket, There’s A Sausage In My Boot – Fire Grilled Pork Sausage, and BBQ Chicken with Style! And from these options, the standouts for us were the brisket and the fall-off-the-bone tender ribs. And the trio of Sweet, Spicy, and Classic sauces lets you tailor your own special barbecue flavors.

Is this barbecue winning any blue ribbons? Well, maybe not, but it’s solid.

We Ate a LOT of Food at Roundup Rodeo BBQ in Disney World & Here Are Our Honest Thoughts

Results

You won’t go hungry no matter where you eat. Both of these spots pack in some classic flavors for even the pickiest of palates. ’50s Prime Time focuses on that homestyle comfort food. Roundup Rodeo BBQ is exactly what you’re looking for in a backyard-style barbecue — plenty of smoked meats, zesty sides, and of course, those biscuits.

Which one is for you? That choice might be obvious based on your preferred nosh, but if you love them both, you can always choose one for lunch and the other for dinner!

Dining Style

’50’s Prime Time Cafe

We’ll just cut to the chase: Everything you get here is a la carte. You have options from Appetizers, Entrees, and Desserts, and can purchase additional sides and cocktails from Dad’s Bar.

Entrees will run between $20 and $30, so you can find a cheaper meal, sure. But it’s not at the top of the Disney dining price threshold, either.

Roundup Rodeo BBQ

Roundup Rodeo BBQ is served family-style. So. you’ll have the option to eat a little of everything. There is a vegan platter option available for those who don’t walk the carnivore route. When you start your meal, you’ll get to select four side dishes, but once you finish those, you can ask your server for more of any of those options or request to try a new side dish.

This all-you-care-to-enjoy option starts at $45 per person, which might be more than you planned to pay.

Results

Roundup Rodeo tilts the price point on the steeper side of the spectrum. But if you’re planning to have more than just an entree at ’50’s Prime Time Cafe, you might be in the same budgetary ball park. ’50’s Prime Time nosh will stick to your ribs, but over at Roundup Rodeo, getting all-you-care-to-eat ribs might tip the scale on that value return.

Location

’50’s Prime Time Cafe

’50’s Prime Time Cafe is right at the front of Hollywood Studios, in Echo Lake, next to Hollywood and Vine, with a stunning view of Gertie the dinosaur.

Roundup Rodeo BBQ

Roundup Rodeo BBQ is right at the front of Toy Story Land. As the only table service restaurant in Toy Story Land, it’s a great spot to get out of the sun, but stay in the immersive Toy Story theme.

Audience

’50’s Prime Time Cafe

Who’s gonna like ’50’s Prime Time Cafe and who might wanna skip it? As we mentioned above, older crowds might really enjoy all of the details and nuances of this ’50s time capsule. Folks who enjoy homestyle cooking or might have a pickier palate will also enjoy this kitschy spot.

Who might not enjoy this place? Though the TV can be captivating for some of the younger tykes, if you’re not lucky enough to get a TV-side table, your tyke might not take to the theming so well. And if you don’t want some antics or guff from your server, you might not enjoy the feistiness dished up here.

Roundup Rodeo BBQ

Who’s gonna like Roundup Rodeo BBQ, and who might wanna skip it? This spot is gonna be BIG for the Toy Story fans in your group. Any big eaters in your group are gonna really enjoy the practically endless bounty at their fingertips. And Pixar*Disney nerds will love searching through all of the details of the theming.

Who might not enjoy this place? Someone looking for a Character Meal, because even though this meal has character — it does not have CHARACTERS. It is also a loud venue, so anyone with audio sensitivity might want to steer clear or at least come prepared with some headphones or other devices to help tone down the volume. And if you’re looking for an intimate, romantic spot, well, this ain’t it.

Results

Both spots have great themes and can get rowdy and fun. So, anyone looking for a quiet, subdued meal won’t find it at either of these spots. But both restaurants provide good food, good fun, and an approachable price point.

Final Thoughts

Look for an immersive and fun dining experience? Both ’50s Prime Time Cafe and Roundup Rodeo BBQ will provide you with that experience! Roundup Rodeo BBQ is the newest, shiniest restaurant so that means that advanced dining reservations will be super popular, in high demand, and difficult to secure. ’50’s Prime Time has been around and is a fan-favorite among the Disney Park regulars.

You’ll have a great time at either restaurant. Roundup Rodeo BBQ has the fun theme, the all-you-care-to-enjoy menu, and it is new, so all of those notches get ticked in the “pro” category. ’50’s Prime Time Cafe is also fun, classic, and you get to choose exactly what you want, even if it’s just the fried cheese and the PB&J shake, so that menu flexibility and time-travel vibes are “pros” for ’50’s Prime Time.

Looking for other spots to eat in Hollywood Studios? Click here to check out our listing of every Hollywood Studios restaurant, or click here to see our ultimate guide to eating in Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

You can also check out our video below where we RANK every single restaurant in the park! And, as always, stay tuned for more Disney news and reviews!

We’ve Eaten at Every Restaurant in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. These Are the BEST.

Have you eaten at either of these restaurants? Which is the winner for you? Let us know in the comments!