The meal is so-so, a little pricey for what you get, but my opinion is that you don't go for the food, you go for the experience. The meals are family favorites, like meatloaf, chicken-fried chicken, and spaghetti. Plus, if you don't finish your green beans and vegetables, no dessert (no joke). Cousin Craig actually fed me green beans so I could eat my sundae. Overall, it was a lot of fun.

There was a time when people could eat dinner where words like carbs, calories, and fat didn’t enter into the mesh. If you hearken for those days, when dinner was just pure and simple, make sure you check out the Prime Time Café located in MGM Studios.

Everything here is a throw back to the days of Father Knows Best and Donna Reid. The tables are industrial ‘50s chrome, and the chairs are a harmonious mix of naguhide and steel. The TV’s located all over the place play such classics as I Love Lucy. Your waitress (known as Mom during your visit) is dressed in the preverbal shirt dress and pearls, a la June Cleaver from Father Knows Best.

Dining options here are along the comfort food lines. Well-known favorites, such as Dad’s homemade chili, Granny’s pot roast, chicken soup, and mac and cheese, make the list here. For those watching their waistlines, they also carry salads and sandwiches.

I decided to go with Granny’s Pot Roast. The oh-so-yummy roast includes baby potatoes, onions, celery, carrots, and peas in a wonderful gravy. Have it on top of some of the best mashed potatoes you have ever had and add some corn. What more could you ask for? John decided to go with Magnificent Meatloaf. This delectable entry is a wonderful meatloaf with mushroom gravy, mashed potatoes, and corn. John said that it is also just as good as his grandma could make.

If you happen to clean your plate (and Mom the waitress will fuss at you if you don’t), then you can have some dessert. Perennial kid favorites here include banana splits, sundaes, and their well-known s’mores. We decided to go with the ultimate in comfort deserts – Mom’s apple pie. This pie was to die for, thick with the flakiest crust. What a fest for the taste buds. And we topped it off with a scoop of vanilla ice cream (is there really any other way to eat it?).

Granted, this stuff ain't short on the calories. But you need your strength to get through the lines and park. Also, you’re on vacation - fuggetaboutit! After all, this is a magical place, so just think of those calories magically disappearing. They serve lunch, and dinner hours vary by season. They do offer a full-service bar. They accept credit cards and Disney Dollars. There is priority seating, so call 407/WDW-DINE up to 90 days in advance for reservations.

The highlight of the meal was the wait staff. The waitress acts as your "mother," who makes you eat your string beans and look at the family photo albums before you eat dessert. The busboy is your "brother;" ours was Leroy.

The food was just like your mother made it, for better of for worse, meaning it’s plain and unoriginal. An average meal there is usually roast beef or meatloaf with string beans. I say try to stay away from the cafeteria food and try to find something on the else menu, such as a Caesar salad. But, overall, I recommend the restaurant simply for the experience.

Remember the days when you were playing in the backyard and your mother would stand in the doorway and scream, "Kids, come wash your hands for supper"? Now you can relive those precious moments at Disney’s MGM STUDIOS in Mama’s kitchen at the 50's Prime Time Café .

From the moment you walk through the door, you are blasted into the 1950s. Everything has changed, from the classic sitcoms on the black-and-white television at your table to the style and decor that is fitting to the era. The wait staff identifies themselves as your relatives, as they refer to "mom" being back in the kitchen cooking. You can expect to be scolded if your elbows are on the table, or don’t be surprised if you’re told there is no dessert if you don’t eat all your vegetables. What is Mom cooking? She has appetizers like onion rings and french fries, offering toppings like gravy, cheese, or chili and cheese. The sizes of the portions are quite generous, and I recommend sharing unless you are incredibly hungry. Mom offers up homemade-style dinner entrées like chicken potpie, sautéed shrimp pasta, fried chicken, and meatloaf. If you can clean your plate and still have room for more, the dessert plate includes dad's super sundae, cherry cobbler with ice cream, and cheesecake. At this point, you’re asking where is dad while mom does all this work? He is in the bar, of course, mixing up some of your favorite cocktails in collectable glasses in the Tune In Lounge. This is a popular restaurant in MGM Studios, and I recommend that you either call ahead for a reservation (407/WDW-DINE) or plan on stopping by the restaurant early and putting your name on the reservation list.

If you are looking for an entertaining, humorous sit-down meal at a reasonable price, then the 50’s Prime Time Café is the place for you. We spent $70 for an early dinner for two adults and a 2-year-old. Dad made us some tasty concoctions from the bar, and we each got a collector’s cup with some really cool ice cubes that light up. But, shhhhh, don’t tell mom that I really didn’t wash my hands before I sat down.

Please review our other Dining Guide - Inside Disney World journals:

CRYSTAL PALACE – MAGIC KINGDOM

LES CHEFS DE FRANCE – EPCOT WORLD SHOWCASE