Disney's Spirit of Aloha Show - Can you tell me about it? do you recommend it?

[MrsJobba1]

Hi
Im looking for 'something different' to do for our August trip.

We've never done a dinner show before - We have eaten at Ohana's and Kona Cafe and really enjoyed them.
Could you explain what happens - what is show like ,food ,times?

Do you all arrive for one seating? or is it a continous show that you join?
Looking for any advice.

How does different price brackets work - is it close to activity or different food?

Many thanks in advance. It is appreciated

 

[hstrickland]

This is a link to one of the post in my TR...there are pictures and a review of the Luau. Perhaps this will help...you will probably get many different opinions on this dinner show.

Luau Review May 2010

Happy Planning!

 

[DisneyFamily123]

Went to Spirit of Aloha Oct. 2009. You arrive and checkin (outside), they take a picture... (the ones sold separately)...check it out, it's put away but I think the whole SOA cast is on one side, your photo on the other...

You get seated. Seating is in 3 categories.. the dining plan is only good for category 1 or 2. We paid out of pocket for category 1 and I recommend that. 2 might be OK. I would not do category 3. The seating is far back or all the way on the side and hard to get a good view of the show. Your seating assignment is pre-determined by two things -- within each category, the earlier you made your ADR, the better your seats, limited by the number in your party. Can't seat 5 at a table for 2, etc.. Verified with a SOA cast member. This link has a diagram showing the seating.

The show was fun. Your show is continuous but you enter at the start and leave at the end... then they get ready for the next seating and show.

Some people say the story line is corny or it's not an authentic luau... but.... the costumes are good, there's live music, the dancing is pretty good... and there's some "eye candy" for both genders. My DS4 and other children I saw liked the show, and at one point were all invited on stage to hula dance.

The fire juggler at the end was the best part... and I was surprised to see people leaving before then... Even if you don't like the show, stick around.

The food was not really Polynesian but they are catering to a mass crowd. But... the food was very good (ribs, chicken, salad, etc..) and the wine and beer is included. Service was great... I couldn't finish a beer before 2 more were put down in front of me.... and he stocked me up when we got close to the end of food service. I must have looked thirsty or something!

In comparison, the food was MUCH better than Ohana's. Been to Ohana's twice and the check in / wait time to be seated was long and the food only so-so. I will not go back there again. The ribs at SOA were some of the best I've ever had.

 

[skater]

I wouldn't say it was the best food or the best show, but being at Disney I still enjoyed it if that makes sense . I would probably only do it once every 4-5 years though. The giant pineapple drink I bought at the Poly bar was fun though .

 

[POP!ns]

This is funny u should say this b/c we did the show last year & next year we want to try Ohana. My husband & I loved the show it was fun & a nice place to relax after the park. THe food was x10 better than people described it on the boards. If u have done lots of other stuff @ WDW I think it's a must do. The hoop-dee-doo is a favorite as well & extrmely entertaining if u have not seen that yet. The food is really good there 2.

 

[DisneyFamily123]

... The hoop-dee-doo is a favorite as well & extrmely entertaining if u have not seen that yet. The food is really good there 2.

Last year, I almost didn't book Hoop Dee Doo, but glad I did. DS4 laughed non-stop. I was surprised the food was so good, really nothing special - just chicken and ribs and salad, etc... but it was much better than I expected.... and our waitress was comical. Think of the old TV show Hee-Haw, and Hoop Dee Doo is kind of like that.

I hope to go back to both shows next trip!

 

[dbprimeaux]

Our family has done this dinner show twice. We really like it! The food is pretty good, and the entertainment is nice. The kids (DS 7 and DD 5) LOVED it!!!

 

[PoohsFan1]

I have booked this show for our May trip and cannot wait. I remember going to the luau back when I was a kid (back when there was just the Poly and the CR as your resort choices) and thinking how cool it was. I know my kids are going to have a great time with this show and my DH will like the fact that the beer is included in the price (on DxDP). Glad to hear the rave reviews since there are so many that seem to not like this dinner show.

 

[DisneyMommy77]

We went to the show in 2006 on out honeymoon, and thought the food was good, but the show was ok. I guess since we have been to a "real" luau in Maui that our opinion is probably biased. It was a fun evening, but it is not something I would probably do again. I think the best part about the whole thing was spending the evening at the Polynesian Resort. It was really pretty and neat to walk around and look at the beautiful landscaping and buildings. I have not been to any other Disney Shows, so I cannot compare my experience to anything else. I am sure if you have kids they would enjoy it. Have fun on your trip!

 

[OhThePain]

I personally can't recommend that someone spends the money and takes the time out of their Disney vacation to go to this show. The show is pretty boring (we noticed a lot of kids getting restless and moody). The food wasn't the worst food, but it was far from the best. Just an all around subpar experience for all of us.

We are much bigger fans of Hoop-Dee-Doo Review. We find the show to be much more entertaining and the food to be much better. If you really want to give a dinner show a try, I would suggest HDDR over SoA.

 

[Madhatter266]

We enjoyed the food, but after about 15 minutes the show was pretty much the same. Our daughter almost fell asleep twice. I don't think that I have ever seen anyone asleep at the Hoop De Doo!

 

[MrsJobba1]

I personally can't recommend that someone spends the money and takes the time out of their Disney vacation to go to this show. The show is pretty boring (we noticed a lot of kids getting restless and moody). The food wasn't the worst food, but it was far from the best. Just an all around subpar experience for all of us.

We are much bigger fans of Hoop-Dee-Doo Review. We find the show to be much more entertaining and the food to be much better. If you really want to give a dinner show a try, I would suggest HDDR over SoA.

We enjoyed the food, but after about 15 minutes the show was pretty much the same. Our daughter almost fell asleep twice. I don't think that I have ever seen anyone asleep at the Hoop De Doo!

Hmmm

Dh did not like the interaction at wcc- is the HDDR similar?
We dont have children- its just the two of us . I thought the SoA might be more romantic?

 

[crcurton]

This is a link to one of the post in my TR...there are pictures and a review of the Luau. Perhaps this will help...you will probably get many different opinions on this dinner show.

Luau Review May 2010

Happy Planning!

Very Good TR/ review of the Luau! Thanks for the link. We are going to the luau in June, it will be a first time. We've already booked with the DP so I requested category 2, I hope we will get good seats, there are 7 of us. Can't wait!

 

[amberg@eastlink.ca]

we went in april last year, something i had really wanted to try in october of 09 but figured the kids wouldn't like it. was i wrong! now that being said i did stop in the gift shop and buy them each a toy to keep them occupied for the durration of the show.

i would reccomend the later seating if possible, as i figure the fire part would be much better in the dark. we ate at the first one due to the kids. i personally really enjoyed it, and so did hubby. we were going to book it for next month, but figured it'd be a little cold so we didn't. : ( the food was good, altho when i read up on it it included kids menu, that our server never brought out????!?!?! which was weird and i never thought to ask at the time.

the only thing i didn't like about it was after getting there early like it suggested, we got our pic done and then everyone was herded into a waiting area....very few seats and very hot, and that was only april. we were in there for about half and hour which wasn't fun with a 4 and 3 yr. then everyone was moved down a ramp to the show area. gotta admit that even tho it was chaos...the cm's had it very organized in how to keep it moving and get everyone seated. enjoy!

 

[OhThePain]

Hmmm

Dh did not like the interaction at wcc- is the HDDR similar?
We dont have children- its just the two of us . I thought the SoA might be more romantic?

We haven't been to WCC, so I cannot compair the interactions. However, without giving too much away, HDDR does some singing and dancing amongst the crowd and may randomly ask a question to a random person like "Where are you from?". There is a little something towards the end for volunteers, but besides there there isn't too much interaction with the crowd itself. It is basically a scripted show that usually doesn't stray too too far.