Can't get any ADRs!! Will we get to eat?!

mxkris

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May 9, 2011
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I'm looking at my trip planned for Sept and we're going to have the Dining Plan. I'm looking into reservations at the restaurants I had picked out and I'm not having any luck. I know we really want to eat at O'hana either our first or last night there. DBF and I love anything Polynesian themed and since we can't afford to stay at the Poly, we really want to eat at O'hana. If I can't get an ADR and we just show up there at like 6pm, will we get to eat? Will we wait like 2 hours?! Anyone had experience walking into a place when ADRs were all booked up??
 
While I would never do a walk-up, you would want to be there at opening time, which I believe it 5pm. You are late making your ADR's for Sept, but I am sure you could find many great choices if you open your list to include other restaurants.

As for the Poly, Kona Cafe is wonderful for all meals, actually excellent for breakfast and a really good for dinner. We prefer it to Ohana and you still get the Poly experience.

Just put in your date and time in the online system. I am sure you will be happy.
 
I don't have any advice on walk-ups, but I did want to post and tell you that they do have a special line for people without reservations. We always have reservations for Ohana, so I don't know the success rate if you don't. Word of advice for future trips: Make your reservations 6 months out.
 
I don't have any advice on walk-ups, but I did want to post and tell you that they do have a special line for people without reservations. We always have reservations for Ohana, so I don't know the success rate if you don't. Word of advice for future trips: Make your reservations 6 months out.

Well yeah making ADRs 6 months ago would have been nice but I didn't have the luxury of knowing we could afford Disney again this year until about a month ago. I just graduated college and we were not yet sure how our finances were going to work. Thankfully we're going to get to go. :cool1: I guess I'll have to try other restaurants :sad1: and maybe try that hotline. Thanks for the advice. :)
 

I understand your pain! September is free-dining period, so everyone taking advantage of this deal has been making ADRs for some time already, and all of the popular places are filled up.

I recommend making an early ADR at Kona Cafe. Then show up to the podium at 'Ohana by 4:30 (there might already be a line). You MIGHT be able to get in that way. If not, you will still have your option at Kona (which is delicious, by the way).

One more recommendation...keep trying. Lots of people have booked ADRs in hopes that they will be able to take a trip...but plans change. In particular, try about 45 days out. This is when final payment is due on packages. Many people may opt out at that time, and availability in the more popular spots might open up. If that doesn't work, try and try again as you get closer to your trip.

Good luck! I have my fingers crossed for you. We love 'Ohana, and Kona too!
 
Well yeah making ADRs 6 months ago would have been nice but I didn't have the luxury of knowing we could afford Disney again this year until about a month ago. I just graduated college and we were not yet sure how our finances were going to work. Thankfully we're going to get to go. :cool1: I guess I'll have to try other restaurants :sad1: and maybe try that hotline. Thanks for the advice. :)

I agree with a previous post that you should get there before they open at 5:00. Our reservation was for 5:00 and there was already a lot of people in the no reservation line. I also agree that Kona gives you the Poly experience. We ate there in February, and it was good. We do probably prefer Ohana, but if you can't get it, Kona would be a good second. Good luck!!!
 
If you can't get in to 'Ohana or even in at Kona, you can still eat, never fear. Just walk up and sit at the Sushi Bar. Many people don't know that they will serve you the full Kona menu, (including Lapu Lapu's), at the Sushi Bar with no reservations of any kind. We ate there last month doing this and it was perfect! :thumbsup2 Try the Kona Crab Cake Roll, it's amazing. And the sushi chefs are awesome we had a great conversation even though they were way busy.
 
parts of sept. are crowded, depends if it is when your there. Really no way for anyone to answer that question based on that. Also depends on party size. I would say avg., most likely no chance if it's crowded, though.
 
Here's what I'd do...I'd book Kona (assuming there are openings- there usually are) and keep trying for 'Ohana.

I would not do walk up at 'Ohana. People used to have decent luck walking up as soon as they opened, but they've changed their policy/structure recently so that people without ADRs don't get buzzers and check in at a different area/podium. I've heard that waits can be hours and you may still not get in if you don't have an actual ADR. :scared1:

If you are really persistent and stalk the website whenver you can, you may get 'Ohana. 'Ohana was an afterthought for us back when we went in Dec. It didn't hit me until a few weeks before we left that I wanted to go. I searched the website constantly, but I got us in for an early dinner after about a week of trying...and then a week before our actual trip, I got us a spot for the exact time I wanted. :woohoo: Good luck!!!
 
Don't give up yet. You have plenty of time to watch the website. I've been able to get even the most popular places a few weeks about just by randomly trying through out the day.
 
I'm looking at my trip planned for Sept and we're going to have the Dining Plan. I'm looking into reservations at the restaurants I had picked out and I'm not having any luck. I know we really want to eat at O'hana either our first or last night there. DBF and I love anything Polynesian themed and since we can't afford to stay at the Poly, we really want to eat at O'hana. If I can't get an ADR and we just show up there at like 6pm, will we get to eat? Will we wait like 2 hours?! Anyone had experience walking into a place when ADRs were all booked up??

No. The chance of walking up to 'OHana at 6 PM in September without an ADR, during free dining and expecting to eat before 10 that night are slim to none.
If that had room you would be able to make an ADR.
Your best bet is to keep trying on the official web site. You may get lucky and grab a cancellation.
Good Luck
 
Get ADRs for the places you can get into now and keep checking for the ones you want. A bunch of reservations will open up at the 45 day out mark, so make sure to mark that day on your calendar so you can be online checking. =p

And just generally keep checking periodically - reservations do open up.

In general, for places like Ohana and Le Cellier, if they're booked, you won't get in. We managed to walk in to Le Cellier ONCE and that is because it had been pouring down rain ALL DAY and I think a lot of people just gave up and ordered room service. I think another factor with Ohana is the slow service that I read about A LOT on here. There's a much better chance of a walk in at a place that knows how to turn tables, which I don't think Ohana does.
 
Get ADRs for the places you can get into now and keep checking for the ones you want. A bunch of reservations will open up at the 45 day out mark, so make sure to mark that day on your calendar so you can be online checking. =p

And just generally keep checking periodically - reservations do open up.

In general, for places like Ohana and Le Cellier, if they're booked, you won't get in. We managed to walk in to Le Cellier ONCE and that is because it had been pouring down rain ALL DAY and I think a lot of people just gave up and ordered room service. I think another factor with Ohana is the slow service that I read about A LOT on here. There's a much better chance of a walk in at a place that knows how to turn tables, which I don't think Ohana does.


I agree- book what you can where you can. It's disappointing that you may not get to eat at restaurant of your choice the first night there, but no point in cutting off your nose to spite your face because you're not getting what you want. Last year at Boma there was a couple that showed up at the podium when we were being seated and were told it was a 2.5 hour wait. IMO, I'd rather eat elsewhere with a guaranteed ADR than wasting time like that.
 
I would definitely recommend an ADR for Kona which is much easier to get than 'Ohana.

The restaurant isn't themed as much as 'Ohana but the meals are excellent and some of the entree's have a Polynesian flavour to them. On top of that you will be eating at the Polynesian resort which definitely is themed the way you want.
 
Keep trying! Like pp said, start checking again 45 days out. Ressies will start opening up as people who made ressies in hope of a trip start deciding they're not going after all.

Also, check O'Hanas for other days that you're there. If you really want to go, you might just have to shift your schedule a little.

I booked September ADRs about two weeks ago and found everything I wanted. I did have to shift our park schedule just a little, but nothing too drastic. Don't give up -- good luck!
 
We had 5 meals at Kona Cafe last summer and all were excellent. We definitely preferred it over Ohana. For dinner, we loved the Ohana appetizers and dessert, but the main course was nothing special for any of us. Ohana does have a little more ambience than Kona Cafe, but either one will give you the full ambience of the Polynesian Resort.

So book at Kona Cafe! And if you're lucky enough to find a freed up spot at Ohana (and I would check every single day), then don't cancel your Kona ressie - cancel a different one instead.
 
I'm going in September and have been able to get everything I was hoping for except for Le Cellier (which I didn't really expect to be able to get). I just booked last week.
 
Thanks everyone!!! :thumbsup2 I think I'll do what everyone recommended and take the Kona ressie, and check out Ohana when we get there to see how long the wait is! I thought the stlye of Ohana would be something DBF would like so I'm going to keep checking for an ADR for there! Thanks again for the advice! I'm going to do my first trip report EVER, and maybe even a pre-trip report so everyone will know how it goes!! :lmao:

:earsboy: Kristin
 
Definitely keep trying for those cancellations. But I wouldn't assume walk-ups will work for you. WDW restaurants don't hold tables for walk-ups; if they're fully booked for the rest of the day (which happens often), they won't even let you wait for a table, they'll just politely turn you away.

At this point, you'll have to be very flexible about your choice of restaurants and your dining times. Check out out of the way places like Olivia's at OKW, or Turf Club at SSR.
 
If you can't get in to 'Ohana or even in at Kona, you can still eat, never fear. Just walk up and sit at the Sushi Bar. Many people don't know that they will serve you the full Kona menu, (including Lapu Lapu's), at the Sushi Bar with no reservations of any kind. We ate there last month doing this and it was perfect! :thumbsup2 Try the Kona Crab Cake Roll, it's amazing. And the sushi chefs are awesome we had a great conversation even though they were way busy.
Don't forget if all the seats at the Sushi Bar and the counter that face the Monorail station are taken then you need to wait for some to open up, since the Sushi Bar doesn't accept ADR's. However when waiting the best thing to do is standing around the area over there and sitting down once some chairs become available.
 






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