Is an Ohana 8:35pm ADR too late

DisneyFirstTimer10

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for little ones- I have a 4.5 yr old and a 1.5 yr old-

the 4 yr old has been up till 10:30pm a few times so I am not as worried about him....

If the 1.5 yr old is sleeping, can she stay in her stroller?

Are there other kids around the restaurant this late?

Are there activities still going on for them?

I am assuming that most kids stay up later being in Disney and all.

I will continue to try for an earlier ADR, but if I can't get one, would you recommend keeping the late ADR or canceling?
 
also- I should mention this would be on our first night in Disney (on our first trip)-

we would arrive at MK around 2pm- try to ride aladdin, pirates, haunted mansion, explore Main Street, then take the monorail to Ohana

Two days later we are returning to MK for a full day (and parade/fireworks)
 
I'm believe Ohana's is usually open until 10:00 PM so at 8:30 everything is still happening.

Whether or not that is too late for your kids is really up to you. We usually eat dinner pretty early 5:00 or 5:30 at home. On vacation I push that to 7:00 but my kids wouldn't be able to wait for dinner until 8:30. I would end up having to feed them CS at 6:00 or so and then they wouldn't want to eat at 8:30 -- but that is my kids.
 
If we keep the late ADR I was thinking of feeding my 1.5 yr old dinner around 6pm (since she probably wouldnt eat a lot at Ohana anyways) and my 4yo old would have a late snack to hold him over.

Do you think Ohana is a fun thing to experience on your first night in Disney?
 

In my opinion it probably will be too late for the following reasons:
First, you probably will not be seated at exactly 8:35. Usually, depending on the night & season, you will wait for you table. It seems Ohana, being all you can eat and having activities for kids i.e. coconut races, gets backed up and you wait a little for your reservation.

Also, dinner will take you about an hour. The coconut races and singer will still be going on & other children will be there.

However, if you wait only 15 minutes then you are going to be seated around 9 and won't probably get your main courses until after 915 or so, it probably will be too late for your 4 1/2 year old.

Also, I'm not sure about the stroller. I guess it will depend on the table you are assigned, the size of your stroller, and the staff working that night. I know in some restaurants they absolutely don't allow it.
 
If you don't manage to get an earlier reservation time, would your kids be okay if you gave them a substantial snack around 4.30 pm or so? Even if it was just half a bagel and a fruit bowl. I would be more concerned about them getting irritable from being hungry and you seem to feel your 4 year old is okay with a later evening. How are you travelling and are you from a different time zone? Are they likely to get a nap while travelling?

I wouldn't worry about kids falling asleep and being out late in a restaurant. It is common for the very young (and not so young) children to flake out before dinner time and I doubt you will have a problem. I just don't think you can take your stroller into Ohana, so you would need to check that.
 
my 4yr old will be ok- its the baby I am worried about lol- I will for sure feed them both something earlier to keep them going.

hmmmm not sure what we would do about no strollers being allowed in- I dont know if she could sleep through all the action and noise anyways.

I guess I am just wondering if Ohana is worth the bit of trouble with a later ADR-

or if we should just stick with our plan of eating at The Plaza at 7pm

hmmmmmmmm
 
Ok- I was JUST able to get a 5:05pm for Ohana on our first night! AWESOME.

Like I said, we can be in MK at 2pm- would you walk around MK for 2.5 hrs and then go to Ohana then back to MK for parade/fireworks- or would you not bother going to MK until after Ohana
 
Hey DisneyFirstTimer!
You don't mention how you will be traveling (how far, means, etc.) so I will assume you will have some travel on that first day.
My advice would be to get to resort and take it easy until dinner and then go to MK for parade and Wishes. Don't want to tucker everyone out on the first day:thumbsup2
 
do your kids normally nap or rest in the afternoon? And when are you going (as in what will the afternoon temps be at MK that day?)

If it was me, I would not want to start the MK adventure at 2 in the afternoon -- even in May when we go, it's hot by then, and usually very crowded.

If your kids don't usually nap in the afternoon, how about a very low-key pool day to get into the vacation mode? Leave a little early for your reservation & explore the Poly. Then head to MK after dinner for a more relaxing & cooler intro. You'll be able to do a few things, even on a busy day (like the train, It's a Small World and maybe some of the Fantasyland rides...but even if all the rides have long lines, go to the Pooh playground back there.)
 
Catne- really good point. We do have another whole day planed at MK.

we are flying in from Ohio (2 hour flight) in the morning. arrive at Orlando at 10:30ish- we were going to check in to POR, lunch at food court, then go over to MK.

and YES! We are going in May :)

now I have a 5:05pm and a 8:30pm to decide between, or stick with the original plan of plaza at 7pm lol- this disney planning is driving DH crazy
 
I'll be honest, it seems to me as if your gut is telling you it's too late, but you really want to eat at 'Ohana, so your trying to convince yourself otherwise. I know, I do it all the time myself.

It's your first night, the kids (and you) are going to be tired from travelling. The parks alone are over-stimulating enough, and then on top of it, your going to keep them up late for a dinner that they probably will really not enjoy that much because they are so tired or actually sleeping. If they don't allow the stroller (which, I don't think they do), then one of you will have to hold the sleeping baby while trying to eat. And, to top it off, you have to travel back to your room and your going to want to give the kids baths, brush teeth, pjs, etc. I don't know, seems like a really big hastle to eat a particular restaurant if you ask me. If I estimate, I would think that you won't have them in bed until at least 11:00? Might not be a good idea to start the little ones out sleep deprived from the first night.

I made this mistake the first time I took my then 4 and 3 year-olds. Had an early flight, headed right for the parks, had them up too late. It took most of the week to get them back into some kind of a schedule, and by that point, it was time to go home.

I think you need to look at it from their perspective. It doesn't sound like they are going to get anything out of it. I'd opt for the Plaza and try for 'Ohana another night. Or, keep the reservation and just keep trying for an earlier time.
 
agreed! maybe just rest when we arrive, then do the 5pm Ohana and go to MK for the parade/fireworks or rest, go to the parks for a bit, and play it all by ear- if the kids seem able to handle staying for the fireworks than so be it and if not- no biggie

Thanks everyone! All of your advice is so helpful
 
You poor thing! The stress and anxiety is resonating from your fingers, through cyberspace and onto my screen! Don't forget to relax! You're going to Disney World, and you're going to have a magical time, I promise. Your dinner plans on day No. 1 won't change that.

You are traveling with two small children, and you don't want to tucker them out, especially after a plane trip. Relax a bit! I can sense you are apprehensive about the late reservation. No need to force the issue. Take the earlier dinner at 'Ohana. It is a wonderful restaurant, and your kids will adore the entertainment. Afterward, reassess the situation. Don't forget: The best part of planning is breaking the plan!

Good luck, and have fun!
 
I vote to go to the early dinner time at 'Ohana. It will be a great kick off for your trip, and if your children are tired, you can just go back to your resort for an early night. Really, its not worth staying up late the first night- you don't want to start the trip overly tired. Better to rest up and be ready to go the next day! :cool1:
 
We had a late ressie at the Poly.... and what I was really concerned about was making sure we made it back on the monorail to get back to MK to catch our bus back to our resort. Depends on what season you're going in... the parks close early, and we happened to be there on a night the park wasn't opened too late, and the busses only run so late after the parks close... so if you don't have you're own car with you, and rely on the Disney bus. ( I know if we missed the monorail to MK, we could have taken a bus to DTD, and got a bus to Port Orleans but a first timer may not know.) Plus we wanted to stick around the POLY to see if we'd like to stay there in the future, and see what the grounds looked like etc. but we ran out of time.
 
for little ones- I have a 4.5 yr old and a 1.5 yr old-

the 4 yr old has been up till 10:30pm a few times so I am not as worried about him....

If the 1.5 yr old is sleeping, can she stay in her stroller?

Are there other kids around the restaurant this late?

Are there activities still going on for them?

I am assuming that most kids stay up later being in Disney and all.

I will continue to try for an earlier ADR, but if I can't get one, would you recommend keeping the late ADR or canceling?

Actually our family has tried a late Ohana twice and BOTH times the service was lacking, rushed and nothing was going on, Even the food was SLOW...to be brought.....very frustrating...and to add small, tired kids, personally, I'd keep on trying to go earlier...Just my families experience!
Any other time, 5-6pm we always have a great time.
By the way, Kona has a "fun" ice cream dessert for he kids...in same building at POLY and yummy food, one of our favorites actually...but no "showy" thing going on......if you do go to Poly try and catch the ceremonial lighting out front....
Good Luck!!!
 





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