How authentic is the SoA show?

mirthmaiden

<font color=blue>Toss her some tic tacs and take h
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We attended an authentic luau at the Royal Hawaiian hotel in Waikiki and it was fantastic! Everybody had such a good time. Since we're not going back to Hawaii anytime soon, I decided to get an ADR for the Spirit of Aloha show. But I've since read quite a few bad reviews (along with some good ones). I don't mind spending the 2 TS credits if this is a good show, but I wonder if anybody out there has done both and can compare. I'm not quite as concerned with the food. We're easy to please.

Anybody have input on the SoA vs. authentic Hawaiian luau?
 
this is just my opinion...but i wasn't impressed (i have been to hawaii and a real one, too) it didn't even really keep my attention, and was kinda corny to me. some people on here LOVE it, but i thought it was so-so, ESPECIALLY for two TS credits!
 
Wow, lucky you!! I hope to go to Hawaii some day. My family loved the SoA show. It was my favorite meal of the trip. Even so, I can't help thinking it probably doesn't compare to an authentic luau.

Here's how I might compare it: I've been to Mardi Gras, and my husband and I spent our first anniversary (and belated honeymoon) in New Orleans, so I decided that for our 10th anniversary and first-ever trip to Disney World, we would stay at POFQ. If I had expected it to be like the real French Quarter, I probably would have been pretty disappointed. But I just expected a Disney version -- something "close enough" to bring back the warm fuzzy feeling. And that's exactly what I got, and I was delighted.

I would not go to the luau expecting it to rival the real one you experienced. But if you just want to be reminded of it, and get a fun Disnified version, and maybe even laught and say "oh my gosh, this is SO not authentic!!" you'll probably enjoy it.
 
We did the Luau on the FD last year. It was alright, the food nothing super. The show had a couple of moments, like the fire dancer but not as good as I have seen elsewhere and if you do not get a good seat and with the new FD plan you will not it might be a bit hard to see.

My favorite part of that evening was walking down to the beach afterward (with a take out drink that I was smart enough to order before they stopped serving) and we sat on the beach chairs and had the most wonderful view of the Castle. Seeing the fireworks from there was awesome and we were almost the only ones on the beach. Afterward we hung around to see the Electric Water Pageant on the lagoon too.

If you ever find yourself on a tight budget and not wanting to spend a park ticket one day I highly reccommend this.

You can grab something unique to eat at Capt Cooks (they have Dole Whips too) and have a picnic on the beach.

SG
 

Okay, I have to vent a little bit here. How could you possibly expect it to be as good or better than an actual authentic luau that you actually saw IN Hawaii????

That's like asking if the Jungle Cruise is "like" a real cruise through a jungle.
Or if the Kilamanjaro Safari is "like" a real safari in Africa.

It's Walt Disney World for crying out loud! Everything is wonderful and fun and interesting and a blast! It's not Dennys food with your local junior high school students putting on a show.

It's a multimillion dollar show put on by well paid, hard working actors with good food to "entertain" you.

You're on vacation! So many people get crazy about "wasting" two table services on what may not be as good of a show as the one they saw in Hawaii!!!!

It sounds like you've already seen this...go see the Hoop De Doo instead then! Unless of course you're scared of that food being "lousy" too.

My family absolutely loved the SoA show and food. Our DD6 went up on stage and was taught how to dance along with all the other kids. She loved it and we loved watching her.

The look on her face when the drums reached a crescendo and the fire twirler was really moving was priceless.

The rest of the show was entertaining. Was it "corny?" Maybe. Isn't The Hall of Presidents a bit corny? Isn't just about everything at WDW a bit "corny" if you look at it that way?

Go. Relax. Don't compare it to the real thing. Sit back and think about how hard it is to put on the show a couple times a day, everyday, for years and years and years.

And enjoy the food too!
 
mm6mm6, I have never been to Hawaii. Probably never will. The OP just was asking for opinions and that was mine.

Thanks for yours too as it added another dimension. :)

Disney has something for everyone but not everyTHING is for everyONE.

I like it when I know something about the person posting their opinion as that gives an idea if that person and I are coming from the same place and might have similar tastes and such.

It is not a bad show, the food is not terrible (although getting seconds or even first was a bit difficult the night I went, might have been different on another night).

IMO, I would not pay the price for it BUT I often spend more for La Nouba and other things. BTW, MY opinion is not one bit better, nor worse than yours, just different.:confused3

It is all a matter of taste, said the old lady as she kissed the cow.:thumbsup2

Slightly Goofy
 
Okay, I have to vent a little bit here. How could you possibly expect it to be as good or better than an actual authentic luau that you actually saw IN Hawaii????

That's like asking if the Jungle Cruise is "like" a real cruise through a jungle.
Or if the Kilamanjaro Safari is "like" a real safari in Africa.

It's Walt Disney World for crying out loud! Everything is wonderful and fun and interesting and a blast! It's not Dennys food with your local junior high school students putting on a show.

It's a multimillion dollar show put on by well paid, hard working actors with good food to "entertain" you.

You're on vacation! So many people get crazy about "wasting" two table services on what may not be as good of a show as the one they saw in Hawaii!!!!

It sounds like you've already seen this...go see the Hoop De Doo instead then! Unless of course you're scared of that food being "lousy" too.

My family absolutely loved the SoA show and food. Our DD6 went up on stage and was taught how to dance along with all the other kids. She loved it and we loved watching her.

The look on her face when the drums reached a crescendo and the fire twirler was really moving was priceless.

The rest of the show was entertaining. Was it "corny?" Maybe. Isn't The Hall of Presidents a bit corny? Isn't just about everything at WDW a bit "corny" if you look at it that way?

Go. Relax. Don't compare it to the real thing. Sit back and think about how hard it is to put on the show a couple times a day, everyday, for years and years and years.

And enjoy the food too!

wow....you don't have to get hostile...the OP asked if anyone had done both and to compare....so it was done...just b/c you liked something and someone else wasn't crazy about it doens't mean you have to get defensive and get your feelings hurt. there are probably things I like in Dinsey you you do not, but thats fine with me.
BUT....COMPARITIVELY speaking...the real thing and SOA are not similar really...which is an answer to the OP's question......:)
 
Sorry if anyone took my post as "hostile." That was not my intention. I was actually quite careful to make my point without going over the top and getting hostile.

My family and I love everything about WDW!

I just find it amazing that people want to compare "an attraction or ride" to the real thing.

Is Splash Mountain like going over the real Niagra Falls in a boat? Because I did that once and I just want to compare.

Is Star Tours really like being in outer space? Because I was on the Space Shuttle once and I don't want to stand in line if it's not going to be the same.

Is staying at the Caribbean Beach Resort really like staying in St. Thomas in the Caribbean? Because I stayed there on vacation and I'm afraid it won't be the same at WDW.

Please take this with the humorous angle I'm trying to put forth here.:lmao:

-Steve
 
I just find it amazing that people want to compare "an attraction or ride" to the real thing.

-Steve

I don't compare attractions or rides to the real thing, but I also don't think it is unrealistic to want or expect a realistic dining experience at WDW. I have never been to Japan, but I would like to think the sit down rest. at Epcot would come pretty close to an authentic dinner as possible. I know the Mexican rest. served food that was authentic--from what I remember of my travels to Mexico.
 
mm6mm6. I am sure that you did not mean for your post to come across quite as rough as it seemed to us. I sprinkle my posts with smilies cause many of my replies are totally 'tongue in cheek' myself.

For so many of us planning our trips is almost as much fun as actually being there and we tend to get carried away with our planning sometimes.

What suits one does not always suit another.

Opinions are like 'noses' we all have one. All POV welcome. Sometimes I learn something I did not know. :thumbsup2

Slightly Goofy
 
Keeping on track with OP's original question, I too was wondering about this venue. Think we may pass as it sucks up 2 dining vouchers and I would rather be able to eat at 2 great places rather than just 1 OK one!
 
My experience last year, granted it was a 3 week long trip, was that we were not hungry for some meals and ended up with extra points. We gave many away but since this year we cannot I plan to upgrade to a couple of 2 pt places IF we find that we will be having extras toward the end of our trip. Just an idea.

SG
 
Keeping on track with OP's original question, I too was wondering about this venue. Think we may pass as it sucks up 2 dining vouchers and I would rather be able to eat at 2 great places rather than just 1 OK one!

thats how i feel. we like to go to the more expensive 1 TS places so we spend like...100 something dollars for two people on that one meal and really get our money's worth. if you want to try it out, have extra TS or just want to pay OOP and do it, have fun!
 
Okay, I have to vent a little bit here. How could you possibly expect it to be as good or better than an actual authentic luau that you actually saw IN Hawaii???? Please relax. No, I don't expect it to be "as good or better than an actual authentic luau." I was asking if it is a good show, and will I be disappointed. Different questions.

That's like asking if the Jungle Cruise is "like" a real cruise through a jungle.
Or if the Kilamanjaro Safari is "like" a real safari in Africa. Right. I understand. Not trying to make that comparison at all.

It's Walt Disney World for crying out loud! Everything is wonderful and fun and interesting and a blast! Well, I wouldn't say everything, but yes most things are fun and interesting and a blast. That's why I keep going back. It's not Dennys food with your local junior high school students putting on a show. That's good to know. I would hope it would be better than that.

It's a multimillion dollar show put on by well paid, hard working actors with good food to "entertain" you.

You're on vacation! Yes, and since I am not wealthy I want to make sure I am using my money in the most appropriate way for me. So many people get crazy about "wasting" two table services on what may not be as good of a show as the one they saw in Hawaii!!!! Unless the show was horrible, I probably wouldn't feel like I had "wasted" 2 TS credits. Just wanted to have some sort of comparison. For example, is it a hokey, comical type show, or is it a serious "authentic" type show. I think this is a legitimate question.

It sounds like you've already seen this... No, I haven't. That's why I'm asking.

go see the Hoop De Doo instead then! Unless of course you're scared of that food being "lousy" too. Actually, we're going to HDDR in August. I'm not scared. Thanks for your concern.

My family absolutely loved the SoA show and food. Our DD6 went up on stage and was taught how to dance along with all the other kids. She loved it and we loved watching her.

The look on her face when the drums reached a crescendo and the fire twirler was really moving was priceless. Good! That's the kind of feedback I was looking for. Sounds like it was worth every penny for you.

The rest of the show was entertaining. Was it "corny?" Maybe. Isn't The Hall of Presidents a bit corny? Isn't just about everything at WDW a bit "corny" if you look at it that way?

Go. Relax. Don't compare it to the real thing. Sit back and think about how hard it is to put on the show a couple times a day, everyday, for years and years and years.

And enjoy the food too!

We have decided not to do this show, but not because of the comparison to authentic luau. After discussion with DH, I found that he really wasn't all that interested in it (not because of any bad reviews - he has no information good or bad, just didn't want to do another luau.) And I was borderline to begin with. Thanks for your input.
 
I was borderline to begin with.

AND that is what we like about you. That and your upbeat, happy outlook on life. :thumbsup2

Slightly Goofy
 


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