Dining Reviews - 3/28-4/5 (kinda long) Ohana's, LTT, Hoop, H & V, Boma's, etc.

[WDWorld2003]

Cast: DH 47, Myself, 46, DD 15, DD 12

First time on property and first time eating at Disney restaurants!
Rated 1-10, 1 poor, 5 average, 10 excellent

Dates: March 28-April 5th

1st night, Friday – Ohana’s at the Polynesian

We had reservations for dinner at 7:30 but arrived at the restaurant about 7:00 and we were seated within 5 minutes (they had many empty tables). We asked for a window view for the fireworks and they honored the request. We loved the view!!!!! It was an awesome first impression of WDW for our DD’s and us. We loved watching the castle change colors and those fireworks!!!! We were really in WDW!

My DH and I ordered some fancy frozen drinks to celebrate and the DD's had kiddie cocktails. (I always forget those frozen drinks give me ice cream headaches - OUCH! The appetizer plate came and we really enjoyed this but had very little time as they came with the meat within 5 minutes. The turkey and shrimp were very good but the pork was tough and the steak was way too rare. My one DD likes shrimp but is not good at peeling them so this took awhile – but she did eat quite a few Also, the pineapple at the end of the meal was not ripe enough so it was very woody – not good at all and I love fresh pineapple so this was a disappointment. The coconut races were on the other side of the restaurant so we really didn’t see any of this.

We felt hurried through this meal and there really wasn’t any magic from our server (but the view made up for it). We would return because of the ambiance, but not the food or service. I would give this meal a 6 ½ (I don’t like feeling hurried through a meal and felt the quality of some items was not very high) - however, my husband would probably give it an 8 as he loves meat!.


2nd night (Sat.) – dinner at Liberty Tree Tavern – MK

We had reservations at 4:00 so we could go to Spectro. We were seated within 10 minutes of our reservations. The food here was very good.

Our DD’s didn’t eat as much as we would have liked for the price we were paying. I thought my DD12 would love the honey butter – but nooooo – she doesn’t adjust to change well! Plain butter please! The character interaction was great. They all came to our table several times - I love Chip n'Dale! They even explained how you can tell them apart! (do you know?) The turkey was delicious as was the stuffing and I personally loved the butter for the rolls. Also, loved the salad and dressing. However, the ham was tasteless and not good at all. Our server was also very attentive and kept refilling our beverages and bringing more food. We also loved the Boston Cream Pie for dessert (came with the meal!). I would give this meal a 7 ½ but give the fun with the characters a 9.

There’s a sad tale with this though – we took many pics of us with the characters and the parade afterwards. I had the film developed and they are double exposed with pics of my daughters from 5 yrs. ago! I was so depressed!!!!!! Both films had such special memories on them – I can’t believe this happened or how it could happen! We have to go back to WDW ASAP!!!! However, I can’t go back 5 years so those pics are truly lost - BD’s and Christmas (I had wondered what happened to those). I don’t even know how the film got in our camera!!!!


3rd night (Sunday)

Prime Time – Lunch
We had 12:30 PS, however, we were not seated until 30+ minutes later. It was cold and rainy so everyone was trying to warm up somewhere so lobby area was crowded.

Our server was fun and called us honey, sweetie, etc.. She suggested DH and I split a sandwich since I wasn’t very hungry. We split the chicken sandwich and it was very good and quite large with great fries. Our DD’s stuck with the chicken nugget routine (you think the DD12 would be growing a beak!). The malts were very good and the atmosphere fun. However, we didn’t get any of the wash your hands routine. The servers seemed overwhelmed and did not promote much of the fun things I had heard so much about. Loved the viewmaster for the desserts! We would give this meal a 6 1/2. It was good but did not live up to our expectations.


Pizza from Port Orleans Food Court

After a long, cold rainy day at MGM we were too tired to go out. We ordered Pizza from the food court and it was very good. (Our DD’s ate this!) For a pizza I would give this a 8.

4th night (Monday) – Hoop Dee Doo

We went to the 7:00 p.m. show. The food here again was good. My husband loved the ribs and baked beans and we all liked the chicken. Personally, I think they should leave the corn plain instead of adding those peppers and more kids would eat it! They had the honey butter again so I asked for plain butter and the server brought a large slab and then my daughter liked it. The strawberry shortcake was also good. Our server was very attentive and overall we would give this meal a 7.

We did feel it was too high priced for what we got and the show was okay. There’s so much entertainment at WDW I don’t know if we would spend our money on this again (wish we had spent it on Cirque de Soleil). We have been to some real Western shows in Wyoming and Colorado and this just doesn’t compare for the price…. (sorry to all of those who love the Hoop – maybe we were too tired to thoroughly enjoy it. ) My 15 year old DD loved it though. The 12 DD was petrified they were going to pull her on stage (she’s very shy)! We do have that song “”Hoop Dee Doo” stuck in our heads! LOL)

5th day (Tuesday) – Breakfast at Boatwright’s

We slept in and decided to have breakfast at Boatwrights. This was very good. I had the French Toast and eggs, DH had an omelette, DD’s had fruit plate and Mickey pancakes. Our server was excellent and even let us use our mugs from the food court which was a great savings. Everyone had more than enough food and my DD had a lot of leftovers from the fruit plate which we took back to our room. We would give this meal an 8 1/2.

6th Day (Weds.) – Fantasmic Hollywood & Vine Package

We were skeptical of this meal because of some reviews but it suited our family well and was the DD's favorite meal. The DD’s found many items (at least there were a lot of chicken nuggets- no beak on my DD yet!) and we thought the quality of the food was quite good for a buffet. Everyone found something they liked. The turkey was very tender and I Loved the corn bread. The DD’s loved the make your own sundae. Our server kept our beverages full. We also loved being able to walk right into Fantasmic and would do this again. A great evening! We would give this meal an 8.5.

7th Day (Thurs) – Boma

This was probably our favorite meal of the trip. Again, something for everyone (more chicken nuggets!). Our hostess seated us right away and told us about the different foods. Our server was also helpful and made sure we were happy. We tasted so many different things – my husband loved the seafood chowder. The desserts were out of this world – the Zebra domes are great! We walked out of there full & happy. (We ate so much however, that we did not try to go to the late Cirque show as planned (luckily we didn't have tickets – went home and to bed early!) We would give this meal a 9.5.

8th day (Friday) – Epcot – LAST DAY!

We planned on making PS’s for dinner but never got around to it. Instead we each just snacked on things we liked. Bratwurst & Pretzels from Germany, custard ice cream and croissants in France, etc. All very good and fun to try. However, next time we will try a sit down dinner here. We were trying to fit everything in our last day.


We also ate many breakfasts and snacks at the Port Orleans food court. This worked out well for us – eggs in the morning were good (not great but good) and got us off to a good start. We loved having a food court whenever we needed it with many selections – tables were generally clean…. A couple of days the hot chocolate machine was empty but the DD’s survived. Also, had lunch at Animal Kingdom. The package with the meal, ice cream and drink is a good deal at $11.99 (more chicken nuggets- cluck, cluck!) - go early or late for lunch though - lines are long!!!!!!!!

We had a great time at all of these restaurants and can’t wait to go back and revisit some and try others. It was expensive – my husband was having a hard time with the $$$, but in the end we felt it was worth it….. great memories!

 

[Misti]

Thanks for the detailed review! I really enjoyed it.

 

[Beth E. (NJ)]

Thanks for sharing your reviews! You have some good information there. I have a 4 1/2 year old who should be growing a beak so it is nice to know that there are chicken nuggets everywhere.

 

[hockey mom]

Thanks for posting your review of O'hanas. We went last year and also felt very rushed but we were going to give it another try thinking we must of hit a bad time, but you had the same experience so I think we will skip it.

 

[gumdrop]

Thanks so much for taking the time to write such informative reviews! I enjoyed reading them and they were very enjoyable to read! Thanks again

 

[pigby]

Great reviews - we too had been considering O'Hanas but not so sure now - don't like to be rushed. We had this problem with the H&V Fantasmic package but you seemed to do OK.

We thought the Liberty Tree excellent also -especially the service - maybe we had the same server - he made a big fuss of my DD(7)

 

[WDWorld2003]

pigby & hockey mom

Just so you know, we would return to Ohanas because of the atmosphere and beautiful views....... we will give them another chance if we get to go to WDW again (send pixie dust!) and just be more assertive and tell them we're not ready when they bring the main course We loved watching the water parade from the beach afterward - it was such a great start to our vacation!

 

[mslangen]

Hi,

I read your review about Ohana. It seemes that you feel that they pushing you to hurry up and finish your meal. Is that right?
I thought that Ohana was a restaurant where you can eat at your own pace and that you can eat as much as you like. Had read reviews of people that say that you can ask for more as much as you like.

Personaly I don't like that they push you to hurry up with your meal. I once eat at the Rainforest Cafe at Animal Kingdom. Before we were finished with our starters they brought the main course meal. If that is what actually happans at Ohana then I maybe I will cancel it.

But isn't it true that the appetizers at Ohana are just sides along with the meets? I really like meets and shrimp, but I like to eat it along with vegatables and rice or a kind of patato. If you have to finish the appetizer items and after that you have to eat only meet and shrimp, then I will cancel it. If you can combine the food and ask for more food (both the appetizers and the meets) it will be a great meal though.

Marcel.

 

[WDWorld2003]

The appetizers were on a lazy susan in the center of the table and we could eat them when we wanted - they were not taken away when the meat was served. It just seemed the server was pushing us to finish our meal - not letting us rest between. It would have been nice to been served our drink, a few minutes later the appetizers and then 10+ minutes later the meat. It just seemed everything came at once.

You can ask for as much meat as you like but as soon as we said we did not want any more they took the plates away - didn't leave them for us to nibble at the rest of the meat or appetizers. The dessert came immediately. I never did finish my drink. Also, sometimes you like to take a break. The shrimp are peel and eat so it takes some time to get to each one. I'm sure we could have stayed if we wanted but would have felt uncomfortable. However now that I know the system, next time I will take the bull by the horns and ask that the meat not come until we ask for it..... I think that's they way it should always be.

If you are going during fireworks don't cancel your reservation - it's a beautiful setting. Just make sure to tell them you don't want the meat until you ask for it and you should be fine Have a great time!!!!

 

[princessmomma]

We felt the exact same way at O'hana. We felt rushed with no magic.

Yes, you can eat as much as you want. The server was always there with a skewer of meat, "Would you like more, Would you like more, would you like more..." There didn't seem to be any down time where you could just sit back, relax and converse.

We won't be back. I would rate the food a 6, but my husband too enjoys meat and would rate it an 8.