Backlot Express -- Dinner -- Quick Service -- Hollywood Studios

*This dining experience took place in May 2018.

Dinner at Backlot Express

Backlot Express is probably the quick service restaurant in Hollywood Studios that we eat most at. With both burgers and allergy-friendly chicken tenders available, we like the easy options and price point when we're in the park. Plus, it has ample seating that includes indoor seating -- perfect for rainy days or hot summer days too. On this particular occasion, we stopped by Backlot Express for dinner during a random trip to Hollywood Studios one evening.

Atmosphere

At first glance, Backlot Express doesn't seem all that well themed. But, if you take a look around, you'll find that it really represents the "backlot" feel of a working studio shop.We usually find seats near the far right (if you're looking at the entrance view) nearest Star Tours. We have found the seating in this area to be a bit tucked away and a bit quieter than other areas of the restaurant.If you have some time, definitely check out the signs and decor in the restaurant seating area. It really does look like a backlot office area -- complete with safety notes too.My favorite view is this little office area. So many cool touches and nods to all that goes into creating movie and TV sets.

The Food

Backlot Express does carry an allergy-friendly lunch and dinner menu. Typically, we order the allergy-friendly chicken tenders when we eat at Backlot Express. On this occasion, we encountered something new about ordering the chicken tenders. The cast member at the register asked if we wanted 5 or 10 piece chicken tenders, noting that this really meant we'd be getting 3 or 5 chicken tenders versus 5 or 10 chicken nuggets.This was the first time we've ever encountered this at any quick service restaurant ordering allergy-friendly chicken tenders and did double-check to make sure she was marking our chicken tenders as gluten free. She said that they had recently adjusted their ordering system for special diets (typically labeled SDM on the cash register computers) and that this was how the new system worked. We both asked for the larger portion, hoping that this wasn't going to be too much food.When the manager arrived with our orders of Allergy-Friendly Chicken Tenders and French Fries, which are gluten free, dairy free, egg free, peanut/tree nut free, and fish/shellfish free, we both were glad we ordered the "larger" portion. Both of us were still a bit confused by the whole experience of ordering but glad that the chicken tenders were the ones normally served and that nothing else was out of the ordinary.

Overall

Backlot Express is a solid quick service option for those who prefer classic theme park foods like chicken tenders and burgers. Add in ample seating, and you have an ideal quick service option in Hollywood Studios. Though we both like other options like ABC Commissary, Backlot Express is always a good bet.Have you been to Backlot Express? What do you order when you dine there?