My family of 4 spent $130 on dinner at Sci-Fi Dine-In in Disney World, and the affordable meal was definitely worth it

• My family of four ate dinner at Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater at Hollywood Studios for $130.
• The restaurant is the best kind of kitschy — you eat in fun cars while watching old sci-fi films.

As a travel planner at Marvelous Mouse Travels, clients often ask me to make recommendations for the best restaurants in each park at Disney World.

At Disney's Hollywood Studios, we always try to stop in at Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater.

Sci-Fi serves both lunch and dinner

Snagging a reservation at this coveted spot isn't always easy, but we were lucky enough to score a time for dinner.

We were quickly seated in our "car" at the "drive-in" upon arrival.

The restaurant is outfitted with tables shaped like classic cars adorned in chrome and bright colors. Each car faces the screen at the front that displays short clips from sci-fi classics and cute commercials.

The taillights on the cars are illuminated, but the room is otherwise dark, creating a really unique environment.

Our carhop (server) quickly took our order, and we settled in to watch some hilariously campy clips. My boys were enthralled with the ambiance and thought the clips were a hoot.

We ordered some fun drinks to kick off our dinner

My boys both opted for shakes to go with their meals (one Oreo and one chocolate), which they quickly spoiled their appetites with.

I ordered the magical-star cocktail, which was Parrot Bay coconut rum, X-Fusion liqueur, and pineapple juice served with a souvenir glow cube.

The restaurant serves classic American grub

We started our meal with fried dill pickles and onion rings.

The pickles were crispy and delicious with ranch dipping sauce on the side. My husband really liked the onion rings, which were paired with horseradish sauce.

For our main course, we all got burgers because Sci-Fi is well known for them.

My husband got the drive-in barbecue burger, which is served on a brioche bun and topped with smoked pork, bourbon-bacon jam, cheddar, lettuce, and barbecue sauce. It was messy and divine, cooked to medium perfection.

I got the classic American burger with American cheese, applewood-smoked bacon, shredded lettuce, and tomato on a brioche bun. It was also cooked perfectly and really filling.

The burgers were served with chunky, salty, crispy fries, which were the perfect accompaniment.

My boys both had the kids' cheeseburger meal and got to choose two sides from a list of green beans and carrots, corn on the cob, mashed potatoes, sliced apples, fruit salad, and fries. They loved the mashed potatoes and corn on the cob.

It also came with a regular drink (the milkshakes were extra), so at $12 a piece, the kids' meals were a great value.

We were way too stuffed for dessert, but the hot-fudge sundae looked awesome. We all agreed it was something to look forward to next time.

Sci-Fi Dine-In is our favorite restaurant at Hollywood Studios

Sci-Fi has become a clear favorite for my family.

The atmosphere and food are second to none. Plus, for those looking for a more budget-conscious meal, this is a great choice.

If you cut out the extras, a family of four can easily eat a great meal for under $100.