Has anyone gone to Spirit of Aloha?

[VistaLeigh'smommy]

I went on my last trip in August and we went with an open mind. We had heard terrible things about it, but I wanted to try it because I LOVE Ohana's and I figured it would have the same type of food PLUS a show!

Well we should have listened to everyone! It wasn't terrible, but it was very disapointing. The tables were aweful! I had to sit across from my boyfriend and we couldn't really talk because there were people on either side of us... we thought it was funny that I was siting closer to strangers then I was to him! (the table is pretty wide and there was food between us) We could have at least kept each other company through the bad parts if we were side by side!

The food was very disapointing!! The best part of the show was the fire dancer at the end, and trust me, he was awesome... but we laughed because the next night we saw firedancing at the Lion King show FOR FREE!!!

To keep it romantic I would go to Ohana's... that place is amazing! Or if you really want to do a dinner show, do the Hoop de Doo... its a MUCH better show!!! (You could always go to Ohana's and then see the Festival of the Lion King right after!)

 

[FLAsomeday]

I compare the luau to a bad ABC after school special. cheesey plot & acting. the old luau was great. the new one is a waste of time & money.

 

[disnutt]

You mention you are going on your honeymoon. The seating at the luau is in big groups, there are no tables for two, you will be sitting with other people at your table.

I just went in January with a friend. We had our own table. It wasn't a 'table for two' but no one else sat with us. There were other twosomes at their own table, too. The food was pretty good. The bread and salad were very good. They brought out 3 entrees (ribs, chicken and something else that I can't remember) along with rice and veggies. It was a lot.

The show had a kind of silly little story line but the performers all appeared to be 'authentic'. They did dances from various Polynesian countries and there was a bit of audience participation. Kids seemed to like it.

I never saw the original show so I don't feel a sense of loss when seeing the new one. I would say keep the PS and enjoy it for what it is.

 

[BadgerBruce]

We also had a table for just the two of us, although the table could have seated four. We reserved about a year in advance & were seated front row, center.

 

[smjj]

We went to the original Luau twice and like it. The re-worked show is not very good. Both my wife and I were disappointed in the new show. The food, we thought was good. I would give it a try. If we did not have the old Luau to compare it to we may have enjoyed it more..smjj

 

[wilderness01]

Jodi,

We personally did not like it and thought it was a waste of money. The fire thrower was good, the salad, pineapple and bread were good. Our waitress was never around to refill drinks and we received refills only twice during the whole experience there. We will never go there again!

 

[skiwee1]

i had gone to the old polynesian luau show many a time & loved it! however when me & my fiance went to the new luau in november 2003, i was sadly disappointed, they changed the show alot, in my opinion to the worse, because it no longer had a authentic polynesian act, but a hokey cast of teenage antics like the cast rapping, and hand slapping. we asked for our money back 20 minutes in, although we were told the last skit had hula dancing, we got a partial refund because we couldnt take another hour & a half. i wish they would bring the old show back.

sorry to pop any bubbles, everyone is entitled to his & hers, i've heard of others who love the new show.

have a great wdw trip either way!

ITA! I had never been to the old luau but went to the new version. You described the new show to a T. I was almost embarrassed to watch it. The food was also pretty bad. I guess I thought it would be at least as good as Ohana but it didn't come close. I didn't ask for our money back but definitely scratched it off our list forever.

 

[skiwee1]

Those who didn't stay missed a wonderful show -- great hula dancing, Tahitian dancing and fire dancing.

I stayed through the whole show and the only good thing was the fire dancer. It was a shame that he wasn't there longer as it was the only good thing about it. Certainly not worth the price we paid. I wish I would have listened to all the bad reviews on it and not gone.

 

[cobbler]

I have been to the old luau and then read reviews of the new one and was a bit nervous to try it again. When the show got started I was beginning to think, oh my gosh the reviews are right. But then it got going and it was a good show, after it gets going. The traditional dances are still displayed like the old luau and the fire guy was great.

The appitizers were wonderful. I loved the bread and the salad dressing on the salad YUM!!

Go and try it, you never know until you do. As you see some of us like it and some of us don't. Its all about preference.

 

[cranbiz]

I never went to the old one, so I had nothing to compare it with.

Just like anything else at Disney, you get good and bad reviews.

We went in December and had a great time. there were 5 of us, we had our own table C10 which is on the main floor in the back center. The food was good, cooked perfectly. The bread and salad was excellent. Our waiter was very good, always checking to see if he could refill our drinks (love bottomless beer) and brought us several trays of food.

He even got our DS(23) an extra of the drink in the coconut (i'm not sure what it's called, but when he brought it, he spilled a little bit. He then apologised profusley and returned with another drink - let her keep both)

The show was a little slow going to start but did get progressivly better.

Again, we had a good time, it's what you make of it. Would I go again? I think so, but will try the other shows before returning. Did I regret going? Absolutly not.

YMMV

Whatever you do, go with an open mind. If you have already decided the show will suck, then it will.

 

[mirlow]

Go and try it, you never know until you do. As you see some of us like it and some of us don't. Its all about preference.

Some people like myself love the Polynesian and others think it's old and outdated. Everybody has their own opinions about everything at WDW. It doesn't mean that those of us who did like it somehow have bad taste. Just as cobbler said "it's all about preference".
The night we went we were celebrating our 10th anniversary with our three young children. We almost didn't get to the show because concierge mixed up our dates and both shows for the night were sold out. We did get a last mintue table. The service was great. The food was much better than on our visit to 'Ohanas later on in the week (which is always a must do on every trip). We even shared our anniversary cake with the people sitting next to us.
Here is a pictoral review. Maybe this will give you a better idea of what to expect. Spirit of Aloha
If you end up going and you weren't happy then let them know and ask for a refund. You'll just never know until you try.

 

[sotoalf]

My suggestion is to try it - but be cautious. If most of the reports suggest that the show is hardly authentic, I'd ask myself, "Why go if it's not representative of an authentic Polynesian luau? I can get cheesy rapping and `Lilo & Stitch' singalongs watching the Disney Channel in my hotel room?"

If you're paying big bucks, it better more than some watered-down dinner theater with a tropical motif, know what I'm saying?

 

[skiwee1]

My suggestion is to try it - but be cautious. If most of the reports suggest that the show is hardly authentic, I'd ask myself, "Why go if it's not representative of an authentic Polynesian luau? I can get cheesy rapping and `Lilo & Stitch' singalongs watching the Disney Channel in my hotel room?"

If you're paying big bucks, it better more than some watered-down dinner theater with a tropical motif, know what I'm saying?

I agree. The show was far from authentic. Two of the hula girls were not of polynesian persuasion. Didn't know how to put that! Anyway they did not look like hula girls at all and they could not move like them either. The whole show was a total waste of time. I've been to a real luau in Kaui and this was really laughable.

 

[poochie]

I just made our reservations for June, we are goiing for our 25th wedding anniversary. We made them for the 8:00 show thought the fire danacer would be more spectacular at night.

 

[Stitchfans]

We went to the luau last Spring break and I booked it again for in March. The food was fantastic, and the entertainment was very good. No one in my family has any complaints about it. My advice is GO! Don't cancel it.

 

[FELLINI!]

All Disney did here as combine as corny little adorable storyline with a traditional Luau. Its what they do best. Some people really long for a storyline to follow and this gives them what they want.

Those people that compare the story to Hoop Dee Do, beware! its the same formula and its the same author. I rather enjoy the show for what it is. A disney version of a traditional Luau. Sit back and ENjoy.


BTW: Food is like bad chinese food. That could be improved. If you want great food go to O'Hana!