ADR choices-to luau...or NOT to luau...

[Tootles]

Okay disers...a little background on me.

First trip, honeymoon, 95, a lifetime ago!

Second trip November 2007 with DH, and DS8, DS6. DDP, ate wonderfully! Value Resort-5 nights. Amazing trip!

Planning trip for next January! Polynesian! 8 nights! Yeah!!!

Now, for my question: thinking about these ADR's:

-O'hana breakfast (did this last trip-loved it-the boys have requested it again!)

-O'hana dinner

-Kona dinner

-Donald's Safari breakfast

-LeCellier dinner (did this last trip-DH and I LOVED)

-Coral Reef (none of us are seafood eaters-mainly for the atmosphere)

-Spirit of Aloha (2 credits)

As you can see, we have a lot of meals planned at the resort. My worry is the S.O.A show. I am concerned by all the bad reviews. I just can't imagine staying at the Polynesian, and not going to see a luau. Looking for anyone's input here on my choices.....thanks!

 

[Tootles]

Nobody has an opinion?

 

[jlima]

We saw the luau show when we stayed at the Poly back in 04. However, we were concierge guests; and that may be why we had GREAT seats; we were seated on the lower level and were just four people away from the stage. It was a REALLY hot day, but there were ceiling fans that cooled off everything. The food was good and my kids liked the show. They were 4 and 10 at the time. I would absolutely keep it in your plans.

Maybe try the California Grille at the Contemporary instead of Kona for dinner? You're already going there for lunch; and maybe you can time your ADR for fireworks? Plus you just have to ride the monorail there.

Here's a few photos of the luau. Have fun planning your trip!

 

[Tootles]

... I would absolutely keep it in your plans...

Maybe try the California Grille at the Contemporary instead of Kona for dinner? You're already going there for lunch;.....

...Have fun planning your trip!

Hi jlima! Thanks so much for being the first to reply! I absolutely love your pictures! You MUST have had great seats! We'd be in category 2 or 3 though, using our DDP, so hopefully that doesn't impact the viewing too much.

The reason I had Kona Cafe for dinner was because of the wonderful reviews, and actually, we'd only be dining there once, for dinner. I'd hate to give up Kona Cafe (even though I've never been!). If I'm staying at the Poly, it's likely a must-do, wouldn't you think?

Thanks! The fun is always in the planning!

 

[jlima]

Hi jlima! Thanks so much for being the first to reply! I absolutely love your pictures! You MUST have had great seats! We'd be in category 2 or 3 though, using our DDP, so hopefully that doesn't impact the viewing too much.

The reason I had Kona Cafe for dinner was because of the wonderful reviews, and actually, we'd only be dining there once, for dinner. I'd hate to give up Kona Cafe (even though I've never been!). If I'm staying at the Poly, it's likely a must-do, wouldn't you think?

Thanks! The fun is always in the planning!

We did Kona for lunch only and actually never made it to Ohana on that trip! On our last trip DH & I went to California Grille for drinks and I can't wait to take our kids there some day.

 

[DisCopper]

I've posted this elsewhere, but we HATED Spirit of Aloha.

In a nutshell:
1. Food = Average. Nothing special. Counter service quality.
2. Alcoholic drinks = Watered down.
3. Show = Not exciting. Really, really for kids. Been to multiple luaus in Hawaii, and they should be easy to reproduce... Disney didn't get this right though.
4. Crowd control = Horrible. This was as bad as being at Universal Studios. We arrived about a half hour early. There were already hundreds of people there. When they started seating, there was a huge rush to get in. No attempt at control by the cast members. "Where do we go to check in?" "What do we do now that we've checked in?" "Lady, stop shoving me, or I'm going to punch you in the head!" There was just no structure to it, and we started the whole show off irritated.

 

[Happyathome]

I disagree...we did SOA and LOVED it!! I thought the food was very good, and the luau was entertaining. I can't compare it to an authentic Hawaiian luau, but we all enjoyed it! We had cat. 2 seating, and used the DDP. I didn't get good still pics, but when the kids were invited down to hula lessons, I went too, and got some nice shots.

I do have to say, that it was expensive. For the 6 of us, 3 adults and 3 kids, it was $250. I'm not sure we'd had done it if not for the DDP, but I'm glad we did. Knowing that it was covered on the DDP, and we had that extra credit to spare helped, too. A nice show!!

 

[B-Ride]

We stay at the Poly and love our meals at Kona so I definitely wouldn't give that one up.

We have never been to SOA so I can't comment on it but one thing to be aware of is that it is weather dependant and can be cancelled.

 

[hgoff79]

We did it on our OCtober trip because it was the one thing my father-in-law requested. We were all bored out of our gourds. I can't comment on most of the food because I don't eat pork and am allergic to mangoes, but they did bring me a HUGE and beautifully grilled piece of mahi-mahi. Our server was nice and looked very much like Corbin Burnson (it was kinda weird, actually). We tipped him well because he was attentive and brought the kids hot dogs when they asked for them (a child at another table asked and they overheard, sigh).
The "entertainment" was tired and forced, and even my father-in-law was bummer because he loved it before they changed the format forever ago. The fire dancer was good, but since he's at the end, you can't really see much of what he's doing (and that was at the early show).

Overall, I'd say skip it and either see anther show or add another sit-down meal with that extra credit!

 

[757hokie]

We went to the world in Dec of 08. Ohana was one of your fav's!! It was kinda like a brazilian steakhouse feel. They started off with potstickers and different sauces. Then they had skewers of all types of different meat (steak, shrimp, chicken) vegs. It was incredible the food kept coming! They best part was the dessert which was a bread pudding (I never liked bread pudding previous to this) It was hawaiian banana bread pudding Served hot with ice cream. Incredible!! It was my second favorite place we ate Boma (at AKL) was #1and Ohana was #2. Good luck and God Bless!

 

[broberts]

We did it in November and thought the food was ok, but nothing special. With the exception of the fire guy, the show was a waste. One of the kids in our party fell asleep and the others were ready to go. If it was 1 credit, might do it again, but not for 2.

 

[Inkmahm]

We did it in November and thought the food was ok, but nothing special. With the exception of the fire guy, the show was a waste. One of the kids in our party fell asleep and the others were ready to go. If it was 1 credit, might do it again, but not for 2.

I went to the show right after it was reopened in the new format in Spring 2003. The food was not good and the show was boring. My nephew fell asleep before even eating and his sisters loved the glow ice cubes more than watching the show. We have not returned since then. I would definitely not waste 2 credits on this meal.

 

[Tootles]

Wow. So, I'm getting... MOST people really disliked Spirit of Aloha...huh? Bummer. I'm guessing then, most people feel it's my one ADR that they would change?

Thanking everyone who has replied already! Kudos!

 

[iloveokw]

I would ride the boat to Ft. Wilderness and do the Hoop De Do Review. Even the kids will love it. The food isn't fancy, but it is GOOD.

 

[mickeynut1]

We did the Luau in Sept '07 when we stayed at the Poly and we LOVED it . We thought the food was great and the show was cute . If it is something you've been wanting to try, I say go for it!!!!! Before our stay at the Poly I read ALOT of bad reviews about the resort and I got kind of nervous. Then I decided that we won't know whether or not we like it until we stay there and experience the resort for ourselves. Well.......I have to say that we ABSOLUTELY LOVED the Poly despite all the horrible reviews I read. The same went for the luau.....I read many not-so-good reviews but we enjoyed ourselves and had a great meal . We were on the DDP at the time but I can't comment on tier 2 or 3 seating as we opted to pay OOP for tier 1 and had great seats right in front of the stage . Good luck deciding and happy planning .

 

[KHubbs94]

We are thinking about Spirit of Aloha too; but sounds like we should go Hoop de Doo. As far as your ADRs-IMO opt for something at Epcot other than Coral Reef, it was not what I expected in May, 06. The kids did not like it at all, mahi mahi was the best choice from the kids menu (DS5 and DD2 at the time). We had reubens at at "seafood" restaruant. The atmosphere was much more "stuffy" than I had anticipated for a lunch break.

 

[patsfan101]

Ditch the luau and go to O'hana or Kona again! We went to the Luau on our honeymoon in 93 - loved it. Did it again with the kids 3 or 4 years ago - no where near as good as it was in 93. They only included beer and wine in the price whereas on our honeymoon we drank pina coladas. The food was not nearly as good (chicken and pork instead of shrimp and pork) and we sat in front of a pole so couldn't see the show very well. O'hana is better food and mor fun for the kids.

 

[757hokie]

We are thinking about Spirit of Aloha too; but sounds like we should go Hoop de Doo. As far as your ADRs-IMO opt for something at Epcot other than Coral Reef, it was not what I expected in May, 06. The kids did not like it at all, mahi mahi was the best choice from the kids menu (DS5 and DD2 at the time). We had reubens at at "seafood" restaruant. The atmosphere was much more "stuffy" than I had anticipated for a lunch break.

I've also heard that the Coral Reef is not so good, and has taken a turn for the worse lately. I couldn't get an ADR for there for our trip this past December, and now I'm kinda glad I couldn't!

Can I make a suggestion?...

Take the family over to the Animal Kingdom Lodge one night to view the animals, check out how neat the lodge itself is (see if you'd like to maybe stay there on a future trip), and eat at Boma! It's a buffet (an amazing one, I might add) and it's only 1 TS credit on the DP. Even if we don't stay there, we make sure we go back to Boma for dinner at least once every trip!

 

[Tootles]

I've also heard that the Coral Reef is not so good, and has taken a turn for the worse lately. I couldn't get an ADR for there for our trip this past December, and now I'm kinda glad I couldn't!

Can I make a suggestion?...

Take the family over to the Animal Kingdom Lodge one night to view the animals, check out how neat the lodge itself is (see if you'd like to maybe stay there on a future trip), and eat at Boma! It's a buffet (an amazing one, I might add) and it's only 1 TS credit on the DP. Even if we don't stay there, we make sure we go back to Boma for dinner at least once every trip!

I'm beginning to wonder about Coral Reef now myself. Reviews there seem to be very hit or miss as well. Hmmmm.....

LOL! It's funny you mention Animal Kingdom Lodge. My DH REALLY wants to stay there instead of the Polynesian! I have my heart set on the Poly though. I've ALWAYS wanted to stay there! I'm afraid if we went to AKL and I DID like it better...well...let's just say I'd NEVER hear the end of it! I don't want to compromise though, and I certainly don't intend to "split stay". He knows I'M the WDW fanatic though-and there's NO point in trying to change my mind...he's just not "dis"informed!

Thanks for the suggestions!