Eating at Ohana on DP with 2 year old

[BridetobeDisney]

We are eating at Ohana for dinner and we are on the dining plan. We have a two year old so since this is served family style he eats free because he's under three, right? I think I read that on buffets and family style TS restaurants, babies and toddlers eat free under 3 years old. We don't have points for him because he's 2. Also, he hasn't been diagnosed with anything but when it comes to food and sounds, he has sensory issues. It's not extreme but he is sensitive and tends to stick to what he knows he likes (but with encouragement has branched out) and has problems with toys that make noise. The rides are fine though. This will be his fourth trip but our first on the dining plan where he is actually eating.

The problem is I do not think he will eat anything off our plates at Ohana. At least not enough for a meal. I'm not changing ADRs because of him because we finally snagged an ADR for this trip. He may eat the noodles and bread but I don't think he'll eat the turkey, steak, potstickers, or sticky wings. I have a seafood allergy so I have not introduced shrimp to him yet. Will the restaurant serve him off the kids menu for free or do we have to pay for it? It's a gray area when they are almost 3 but not quite there. He can't be on the dining plan but yet needs a full kids meal. He'll eat PB&J, nuggets, fries, fruit, bread, applesauce, etc.

I do advocate trying new things but I mean he's 2. How much reasoning can you do with a 2 year old? He can't eat chicken wings. Steak is too tough. He chokes on it. He chokes on salad (he has a bad gag reflex). I am going to make him try potstickers, the noodles, turkey, and bread.

I do plan on bringing gold fish crackers, an applesauce cup, and maybe another fruit cup with us. I even thought about packing a PB&J uncrustable.

What do all of you think?

[rcraw45425]

We have been dining at 'Ohana since our girls were 1 & 3. These servers will bend over backward for kids, I think they would probably accomodate any request you put at them. That first trip, the big hit for us was lo mein (everything that's old is new again). They brought plate after plate of the the stuff because our girls were loving it so much. This upcoming trip we will be dining there again, it's one of the few demands that younger DD makes for every trip. The IPO couldn't get a reservation for us but after checking daily I was able to find one myself. I have seen the servers bring children chicken tenders/nuggets, I think they come from the Kona Cafe or Captain Cooks. I might speak with the host/hostess about maybe gtting a table by a window, possibly away from the hubub of th ehula hoop contest and coconut races if noise is an issue with him. (heck, it's sometimes an issue with me!). Also, if you're dining early it might not be quite as noisy. If you're going soon, the window tables sometimes have a view of the Castle with the "Ice" lighting, it's gorgeous and might help hold his interest. Enjoy your trip and enjoy seeing Disney through his eyes!

[TDC Nala]

If the child has issues with noise, you may want to be aware that Ohana is an extremely loud and bustling restaurant. The maraca and noisemaker parade they do around the restaurant for the kids is especially noisy. If he reacts badly to loud noises you may want to be prepared to take him outside.

[BridetobeDisney]

Originally Posted by rcraw45425

We have been dining at 'Ohana since our girls were 1 & 3. These servers will bend over backward for kids, I think they would probably accomodate any request you put at them. That first trip, the big hit for us was lo mein (everything that's old is new again). They brought plate after plate of the the stuff because our girls were loving it so much. This upcoming trip we will be dining there again, it's one of the few demands that younger DD makes for every trip. The IPO couldn't get a reservation for us but after checking daily I was able to find one myself. I have seen the servers bring children chicken tenders/nuggets, I think they come from the Kona Cafe or Captain Cooks. I might speak with the host/hostess about maybe gtting a table by a window, possibly away from the hubub of th ehula hoop contest and coconut races if noise is an issue with him. (heck, it's sometimes an issue with me!). Also, if you're dining early it might not be quite as noisy. If you're going soon, the window tables sometimes have a view of the Castle with the "Ice" lighting, it's gorgeous and might help hold his interest. Enjoy your trip and enjoy seeing Disney through his eyes!

Thanks so much Robin! I'm hoping something will be a big hit with him too. It sounds like your daughters love the restaurant. We've only been at breakfast and liked that but I have heard such good things about Ohana for dinner. Our ADR is in early Dec. around 7:20 pm. We are going to view the castle lighting and then go to dinner. We go often to WDW but it's my parents and brother's first trip staying onsite and visiting any resorts. The only park they've ever visited was MK when I was a preteen. I booked it hoping it would be a big hit with everyone. Then I realized, DS won't each much from the adult offerings.

I've been surprised in the past with paying for kids meals when I didn't even order it. We ate at GG once and were not on the dining plan. DS was 14 months and I told the CM that he would just eat off of our meal and that we had brought some little snacks for him also. When she brought our food she also brought chicken nuggets and french fries and said she brought them anyway for DS. I honestly thought she was doing it out of kindness which had happened before. I say no he's fine and the CM brings something anyway without charge. (I was completely surprised) So I thought this was the same thing. I said no he didn't need anything and she brought it anyway. To my surprise, 13.99 was added to our meal at the end of dinner even though I had not ordered the food. She brought it anyway and "acted" like it was just out of kindness. I didn't say anything because since DS didn't eat it my DH did. It was eaten so we paid. But I was ticked!!!!!! I will not be surprised like that again. That's why I'm asking the quesiton. If he won't eat our meal and he's under 3 and I order chicken nuggets, am I charged a kids meal or is it included with my meal?

The difference with the GG ordeal is that I didn't even order it. After I said no she brought it anyway then charged us. You live you learn!

[BridetobeDisney]

Originally Posted by TDC Nala

If the child has issues with noise, you may want to be aware that Ohana is an extremely loud and bustling restaurant. The maraca and noisemaker parade they do around the restaurant for the kids is especially noisy. If he reacts badly to loud noises you may want to be prepared to take him outside.

Thanks, we've been at breakfast and they do the same thing then. He was fine and danced to the music. He only reacts to loud noises from toys. Go figure?

[DannysMom]

Since he needs a "special" meal (he won't eat what the adults are eating) I would count on having to pay OOP for a kids' meal price, as you would at a TS restaraunt where you order off a menu. If the server or manager decides to give you his meal for free because he's only 2, then it's a nice bonus, but I would not count on it.

Alternatively, if you get to the Poly early, you could stop in at Capt'n Cook's (CS restaraunt downstairs from Ohana) get whatever you want for him to eat, chicken nuggets, burger, PB&J, etc and feed him first, before your ressie. If you go that route, make sure you bring some toys or coloring or sticker books or somethiing to occupy his attention while you eat.

[ibela]

You could always confirm with the server that he's under 3. Since this is all you care to eat, any adult can order the kids meal for themselves and your ds could share so I don't see why you'd get charged. That said, we just came back from a trip just last week and ate at a character buffet every night and were never charged for ds1, I even had a server tell me I could order him his own entree from the kids menu at no charge.

[BridetobeDisney]

Originally Posted by DannysMom

Since he needs a "special" meal (he won't eat what the adults are eating) I would count on having to pay OOP for a kids' meal price, as you would at a TS restaraunt where you order off a menu. If the server or manager decides to give you his meal for free because he's only 2, then it's a nice bonus, but I would not count on it.

Alternatively, if you get to the Poly early, you could stop in at Capt'n Cook's (CS restaraunt downstairs from Ohana) get whatever you want for him to eat, chicken nuggets, burger, PB&J, etc and feed him first, before your ressie. If you go that route, make sure you bring some toys or coloring or sticker books or somethiing to occupy his attention while you eat.

Thanks for the advice. I'm thinking the same thing you are. I will probably pay OOP. I just wanted to see what the consensus was here. I thought about Captn Cooks but if he is not eating when we eat at Ohana there will be nothing to keep his attention very long. Not even the wiggles on my Ipod nano! LOL If he is not eating he wants to leave so I have to feed him when we eat. Thanks again.

[BridetobeDisney]

Originally Posted by ibela

You could always confirm with the server that he's under 3. Since this is all you care to eat, any adult can order the kids meal for themselves and your ds could share so I don't see why you'd get charged. That said, we just came back from a trip just last week and ate at a character buffet every night and were never charged for ds1, I even had a server tell me I could order him his own entree from the kids menu at no charge.

Thanks ibela! I'm thinking now that maybe it also depends on your server too. Thanks for letting me know!

[lillykat]

We took DD#1 there on her 1st trip when she was 15 months - she wasn't a HUGE eater back then. At home she ate mostly plain grilled chicken cut up very small and steamed (not pureed) veggies (carrots, broccoli etc) Otherwise she ate a lot of fruits, and yogurt. She would eat some pizza and grilled cheese but didn't like chicken fingers or pasta unless it had veggies.

I was concerned b.c she didn't steak or nuts of any kind yet etc. The chef came out to our table after I asked if the bread was made with any nuts (our ped doesn't start peanuts etc until 2) and he made her a special grilled cheese and french fries, she also got her own milk and her own dessert. The server told us a list of other things that they would have been willing to get/make for her. As I understand it there is a side kids menu in case a child doesn't eat the family meal. We weren't charged at all for her food.

[henry72]

We went with DS at 19 months and he was a picky eater (still is). They didn't provide him with anything special. He did try some of the food but I think he ate bread. Since kids under 3 are free IF they eat off your plate, then if you order him a meal, I would expect to pay for it. The only place that charged us for DS's drink was the Coral Reef. The rest of them gave it to us for free. I think at the Garden Grill they provided him with a kids lunch for free. (That one is a family style meal too.)

[bertegirl]

Brandi I miss you so much! We ate at Ohana and of course Jenny was on the meal plan and Austin was not. BUT they brought them both PB&Jelly sandwiches and we never got credits taken away for either of them. Jason enjoyed eating all the extras at our table (ha,ha) Have fun on your trip. Still trying to get hubby to go back, but that means a 24 hour car ride. No planes again!!!

[livie1205]

They will bring you a kids meal from kona at no extra charge...ohana is the only place that I know of that does this and most people do not even know it.We just came back and they brought out a meal for my dd without any charge.
oh and they will also bring you some of that yummy butter from kona if you ask for it!

[MusiqChic99]

I think I would see what he will eat first before ever asking for something for him. He is free here so you might as well try what they give you first. I think the noodles will be great for your son. You might be able to take the chicken off the bone and give him small bites of that. And of course they serve bread with the meal as well.

We took my son in Oct. and he slept through the whole meal...even through all the noise and parade. I felt it was more noisy but nothing bad. Of course we are a family who enjoys entertainment.

Again I would try to see what he will eat first before asking for anything.

I just noticed you said he likes applesauce. I brought applesauce with me into the parks and into the resturants. It's something my son loves and I could always count on him eating that. I would bring that with you when you go.