Ohana - Bad experience

[NYDisGuy]

Me and my DGF just got back from the World 8/29. We had excellent food everywhere but Ohana. I made reservations for 7:00 p.m. on 8/28. We arrived 15 minutes early and we were given a buzzer until our table was ready. We sat at the bar and waited till 7:45 until I went back up and asked Why we have waited an hour if we had reservations. We were told that because we are a couple they treat it like we are walk-ups. After staring at the hostess for a minute, I wanted to speak to a manager. Not sure who this was but he came up to me and said we have a table for you. So we sit down and we have the lucky table right by the walkway where the kids congregate for the cocunut race. Well I was lucky to get hit in the face and arm with the broom and the mother was laughing of all things. Another kid (instead of sweeping the cocunut) kicked it like a soccerball into my DGF's knee. While this is going on, the waiter continues to place all the courses on the table at once (we have a two person table so he is piling plates on top of other plates even if we were still eating). The food was terribly overcooked as well. I know alot of people rave but I will NEVER return here again.

 

[LarryJ]

Me and my DGF just got back from the World 8/29. We had excellent food everywhere but Ohana. I made reservations for 7:00 p.m. on 8/28. We arrived 15 minutes early and we were given a buzzer until our table was ready. We sat at the bar and waited till 7:45 until I went back up and asked Why we have waited an hour if we had reservations. We were told that because we are a couple they treat it like we are walk-ups. After staring at the hostess for a minute, I wanted to speak to a manager. Not sure who this was but he came up to me and said we have a table for you. So we sit down and we have the lucky table right by the walkway where the kids congregate for the cocunut race. Well I was lucky to get hit in the face and arm with the broom and the mother was laughing of all things. Another kid (instead of sweeping the cocunut) kicked it like a soccerball into my DGF's knee. While this is going on, the waiter continues to place all the courses on the table at once (we have a two person table so he is piling plates on top of other plates even if we were still eating). The food was terribly overcooked as well. I know alot of people rave but I will NEVER return here again.

We've eaten at Ohana's probably 4 or 5 times over the last 20 years, but I posted the following in another Ohana review thread so take it for what's it's worth ....

We've been eating at WDW restaurants since the mid 1980's and while the service and food was beyond our expectations things seemed to have changed since around 1995. They are pushing more to get more people into them with things like the package deals, DDP, DDE, free dining, etc. and still try and not increase the staff much. Thus not only is the kitchen overworked, but the staff and what happens is both the service and the food has suffered to the point that those that enjoyed the old way or expected more the $$$$ they charge expect. We now try and concentrate on some the less frequented restaurants especially for dinner and then the service and food is up to par to what it was during their hay-days.

Larry

 

[MickeyNicki]

I was afraid of this. DH wants to go because he loves the food on the menu. From recent reviews in the last year everyone seems to complain about rushed service and poor service, overcooked food and very loud and rowdy atmosphere.

I did a poll for Boma or Ohana for dinner on our first night...BOMA won.

 

[Pumbaa_]

If it has been awhile since you have been there, be prepared for a different experience.

I am glad so many people enjoy it, but it is not a place we will return either.

I cannot believe the hostess actually said they treat you like a walk up. then to put you at the lousiest table in the place.

I hope you shared your thoughts with the manager on the way out

 

[auntsister]

We had the opposite experience there. I wanted to be in the room with the races and interaction for my son but we were in the side room where we could hear the commotion but he missed the fun. Too bad they can't put people without children in the calmer area. The food was great, but they did the same to us, kept piling up the various dishes before we had even tried the first dish!

 

[ADP]

So we sit down and we have the lucky table right by the walkway where the kids congregate for the cocunut race.

I know this table...Me and DD7 sat there once when we took a trip together last January. I'll say right off the bat that I've never had a bad meal at Ohana and really love the atmosphere, format, and kids activities, but I know what you mean about this table being too small for the food that comes out. Our plates were on the edge of the table against our chests and stomachs. But, the food was terrific.

 

[5onadime]

we will NEVER eat there again. it was horrible all the way around. By the way, we are usually very impressed with how well disney does their food.

 

[rrkman]

Sounds like the same table that me, DW, and DS had in February....the only difference was that most of the time, the bumps and rudeness came from the parents leaning over our table to take pictures. Never again for me....especially when some of the best food we have had in WDW can be found right down the hall at Kona Cafe.

 

[AuroraBelleCindy]

We enjoyed our dinner at Ohana but I have to tell you about something our waitress said. She told us she had become vegetarian awhile back but the steak was looking really good to her that night. As she was taking the meats of the skewer and putting it on our plates she said that she went vegetarian because beef is hard on her digestive system and chicken has way too many hormones. Say wwwhhhhhaaat??? My sister and I looked at each other because it was soooo not the thing to hear when you are eating. I would never have complained about her because we had no problem with her otherwise and the meal was good in spite of the unappetizing comments.

 

[familyS]

Sorry to hear about your experience. We considered Ohana, but the antics just aren't for us.
FWIW, if I get a bad feeling about a place because we have to wait too long to be seated or because the host/hostess or wait person is rude, we leave. I used to waitress and I understand things can get crazy, but I follow my instincts. Once we stayed at a nearby restaurant anyway and had the worst meal of our lives (they microwaved the kids hot dogs so long they blew up and got hard- and they served them to us anyway!).

 

[kelleigh1]

I had considered Ohana for hubby and I and your post is exactly why it didn't make the cut. Those are the things that I was afraid of. Glad we decided against it.

 

[pilferk]

I was afraid of this. DH wants to go because he loves the food on the menu. From recent reviews in the last year everyone seems to complain about rushed service and poor service, overcooked food and very loud and rowdy atmosphere.

I did a poll for Boma or Ohana for dinner on our first night...BOMA won.

According to a few different guides, Boma is one of the best reviewed WDW restaurants going. So it' doesn't surprise me Boma's "beat" Ohana's in a head to head.

I, too, am somewhat concerned over the reviews over the past 6 months or so. We ate there in Jan of '06 and it was GREAT. But it seems like sometime around mid to late '06, the typical stellar reviews started to become peppered with reviews much like the one from the OP. The grilled food started to become hit and miss (the sides still seem to get very good reviews), and the service has started to get spotty reviews, too...with many reports of feeling rushed.

 

[Luv2Roam]

Reviews like this are becoming more the norm for Ohana's.
I don't think the manager even handled this well. Seems the experience was bad from the start.
This is another time where knowing me, I would be typing an e-mail or letter to the powers that be.
You contacted the manager once. He should have made it right there. Even a lousy table should have given a free meal after the wait time too.
You did what you were suppose to.

As another poster wrote, Kona's is right there and MUCH better anyway. I don't know how many times we have dined at Kona's when they are not busy and people are standing everywhere waiting for their Ohana seating. And Kona is much better anyway. Sometimes all you care to eat is not the best deal.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I ate at Ohana two years ago and loved it. I have an ADR for Ohana next month, and am now getting nervous.

 

[Rustysmom]

I'm sorry you had a bad experience.

We at at 'Ohana last week and I wasn't impressed either. This was the only place where we had a long wait for a table and they put us in the back where we couldn't see the races or anything. My DS was dying for another drink after he accidently spilled his lemonade and the waitress was nowhere to be seen. At least they didn't take our food away before we were finished eating like they did to someone else a while ago.

 

[ptrbryant]

Frankly, due to all the poor reviews it was getting--even Kevin's awful experience there via podcast--I was ready to cancel 'Ohanas on our trip last May. I then decided to keep it after all---we'd never tried it before.

We were seated at a quiet table with a great view of the Magic Kingdom. The "emcee" was fairly subdued. We could hear him if we "tuned in", but could easily have a dinner conversation without raising our voices. Children were playing games in the center of the restaurant, but it was far enough away not to bother us.

Our food was not rushed. In fact, we had the best waiter of all WDW servers in the 9 days we were there on the DP. The chicken wings weren't hot, but the sirloin was fantastic---plump, tender and cooked perfectly. The other dishes were good and the dessert tasted wonderful.

It ended up being one the the three restaurants we want to make sure we return to on our next trip. I wonder if the key(s) to a better dining experience there are: request/wait for a window table and 2. inform the server that you're there for a relaxing dining experience.

Karla B.

 

[Blue Skies]

We at at O'hana's about a week ago and we were very disappointed. This was the first time we have ate here and we will not go back.

The service was rushed, the food was . Ugh, we could barely eat the food it tasted so bad.

I'm glad so many people love the place - but we will try Kona next time.

 

[DizGeek]

Ohanas was our first ADR this past trip (free dining), we didnt really like it. As others have said, the food was rushed and way overcooked....the sausages we got could barely be cut. The salad was pretty good though. We probably wont go back as there are still many places we havent eaten at yet.

 

[dawgfan]

Wow. Such poor service. I like this place alot but have to admit that the wait and res counter are not good at all.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Twice in the past we've asked our servers at Ohana to not bring new dishes until we've asked, and to bring us the rarer skewers.. Seems to do the trick.