Is Ohana a must-do for a first timer?

[AR81]

I was able to get Chef Mickey breakfast, Le Cellier lunch, T-Rex early dinner, WCC dinner(we like that kind of food and think we will really enjoy it despite some of the so-so reviews). Now we have one more tableservice-- I have booked now Sci-Fi for our Hollywood Studios day. Mostly because of convenience and it's indoors, a nice break from the heat. But it also doesn't get great reviews. The one restuarant that I wasn't able to fit in to our schedule was Ohana. I just checked online and I can get it the same day as Sci-Fi/Hollywood Studios. So I would have to cancel Sci-Fi and just eat counterservice in Hollywood Studios and have a late dinner at the Poly 7:30-8:00ish. My original plan was to do Hollywood Studios for rope drop, lunch at Sci-fi, do most of the rides we are interested in and leave around 3. And just relax that evening at POP--swimming and eating counter service maybe pizza or something. If I do take advantage of Ohana I am sure it would be really nice to visit the resort and eat there even if just for the experience. However, that takes away the only evening we had available for swimming and just relaxing at POP. Would you cancel Sci-fi just so that you can eat at Ohana? Is Ohana a must-do? So many decisions... lol..

 

[Goofy4]

You already have a very nice lineup of ADRs, so I would not say that Ohana is a must do. I would save it for another trip and relax that evening. Now, if you keep thinking about it...

 

[monami7]

I would definitely do Ohana. We Love it. By we I mean My Grandparent, Parents, Sisters family DH and I and our children. It is the only restaurant we all agree on time and time again. We even went for Thanksgiving dinner last year!

You could do rope drop and finish all of DHS by 1 or 2 and then head to the pool for a few hours. We do this almost everyday. After that you can go to the Poly at 6is and have dinner and then watch the fireworks at the Poly Beach.

 

[Tea4Alice]

Too bad you can't get the bread pudding to go,because that's the only thing I like to eat there, if I could just call in and place that Order! I guess I might have to make an ADR this August, just to eat thatl

 

[Jacks2583]

Yes! Ohana is our favorite. Yummmmmm

 

[Granfan]

My opinion is to save it for another trip. Unless you are staying at Poly, it can be a real hassle to get there and then back to your resort. The wait to check in and be seated was very long also.

 

[bcrook]

I agree with Granfan. Save it for another trip. Your lineup is good already. Sci-fi is fun! You can always look forward to 'Ohana next time.

We have gone every year since 2004, and I still haven't done everything I want to do. It is nice to know that there are still exciting things to look forward to...

 

[TinkerbellinLouisian]

I agree with last 2 PP's....

Everyone will tell you there is a "Must Do" it's all personal opinion...

I would not give up your only swim date for a meal.... With the theme-ing.... the pools at WDW are just as fun as Dining! (But "Free"... or ...er... somewhat 'free')

I LOVE "Ohana's... and we're doing Sci Fi for the first time in May... But if you get the Disney "Bug" like most of us on here....

This won't be your last visit. If it were your last visit... I'd say the only "MUST DO" dining would be CRT "The Castle" ... but then that is only my own opinion....

Have a magical visit... you have a great line up going....

(HUGS)
Mary

 

[AR81]

Thank you all so much for your advice. The part of me that wants to see and do everything says to book it. But the rational part of me that also has to consider what my family would prefer, says to just keep it convenient. Sci-Fi is in the park we are going to visit that day and I know my husband will appreciate one night of not rushing around and relaxing by the pool. I think we will need that anyways. Besides we will have had a long day to begin with, rope drop for HS and we have a quite a list of what we want to accomplish at HS that the break will be much needed. Well I think I talked myself into just keeping it the way it is and maybe catch Ohana next time around. Can you believe that I was able to get Chef Mickey, Le Cellier, and Ohana if I wanted to for around the exact times I preferred? The only restaurant that was hard to book was T-Rex. What is up with that? I had to settle for a 4:00pm dinner reservation. There is not a later dinner reservation for all 5 nights that we are there. So now on that day we are going to AK for rope drop and I guess stay there and take a cab to downtown disney around 3. No room for going back to pop for a break. But we will probably do disney quest and shopping afterwards....

 

[Fernandak]

Like the pp said, it's a personal opinion.
For us, Ohana is a must do. We prefer to do a QS in the park and enjoy more time all the attractions, then go to dinner quietly.

 

[North of Mouse]

Sci-Fi is definitely not a replacement for 'Ohana - would leave that one and go for 'Ohana which is one of our must - do's.

 

[bcrook]

Thank you all so much for your advice. The part of me that wants to see and do everything says to book it. But the rational part of me that also has to consider what my family would prefer, says to just keep it convenient. Sci-Fi is in the park we are going to visit that day and I know my husband will appreciate one night of not rushing around and relaxing by the pool. I think we will need that anyways. Besides we will have had a long day to begin with, rope drop for HS and we have a quite a list of what we want to accomplish at HS that the break will be much needed. Well I think I talked myself into just keeping it the way it is and maybe catch Ohana next time around. Can you believe that I was able to get Chef Mickey, Le Cellier, and Ohana if I wanted to for around the exact times I preferred? The only restaurant that was hard to book was T-Rex. What is up with that? I had to settle for a 4:00pm dinner reservation. There is not a later dinner reservation for all 5 nights that we are there. So now on that day we are going to AK for rope drop and I guess stay there and take a cab to downtown disney around 3. No room for going back to pop for a break. But we will probably do disney quest and shopping afterwards....

I do find it interesting too. I am in the middle of planning a two week trip at the end of May, and I have noticed there are plenty of reservations for those popular restaurants. It probably has to do with the credit card requirement. I have booked about 20 ADRS for my trip, and I have only booked 1 with a credit card. I am just not going to play that game. I have noticed that it is more difficult to get places like Kona now (no credit card required). I couldn't get a breakfast at Kona for any day during my trip???? How is that possible???

 

[AR81]

I do find it interesting too. I am in the middle of planning a two week trip at the end of May, and I have noticed there are plenty of reservations for those popular restaurants. It probably has to do with the credit card requirement. I have booked about 20 ADRS for my trip, and I have only booked 1 with a credit card. I am just not going to play that game. I have noticed that it is more difficult to get places like Kona now (no credit card required). I couldn't get a breakfast at Kona for any day during my trip???? How is that possible???

About the credit card thing, if something was to happen all I have to do is cancel at least 24 hours in advance--correct? I was also nervous about giving my credit card for Chef mickeys and Le Cellier but figured that if I knew plans might change all I have to do is call.

 

[AR81]

Sci-Fi is definitely not a replacement for 'Ohana - would leave that one and go for 'Ohana which is one of our must - do's.

I agree that Sci-Fi is no way a replacement for Ohana. I guess the main drawback for me is not staying near Poly where it is convenient to get there. So it is more of the getting there and back and the amount of time that it involves because we will not have a rental car. We are staying at POP. I know, I am torn because I would really like to eat there and also just visit the Poly resort period.

 

[vwlizard]

I was really disappointed in Ohana's. Didn't think the food was very good, and my kids weren't into the entertainment. We did love it for breakfast, though. I think my kids would have preferred Sci-Fi and swimming.

 

[bcrook]

About the credit card thing, if something was to happen all I have to do is cancel at least 24 hours in advance--correct? I was also nervous about giving my credit card for Chef mickeys and Le Cellier but figured that if I knew plans might change all I have to do is call.

Yes, if you cancel the day before, you will be fine. But there are lots of reports of glitches and people being charged even though they showed up on time. I don't want the hassle. But, mainly I will be traveling with 8 people, and things happen. I want more flexibility than a day in advance.

 

[jedi jen]

I agree with others that the hastle of getting there and back is not worth it. My first trip, I had ambitious ADRs. Now I book our favorites, but convenience is a huge consideration. We have favorites almost everywhere, so I plan where we are going to be, and book ADRs near where we are going to be. I think you will prefer having the more relaxed time than going to Poly for dinner. Poly is neat to see, but not worth the hastle.

 

[c&m]

When we took our DDs to WDW for the first time in 2005 (they were 9 and 6), on the first night we took them to 'Ohana's. The first stroke of luck we had was we got a table by the window with a great view of the castle (we hadn't requested it). Second stroke of luck, we just happened to have a reservation for 8pm and got to see Wishes - how magical! Third stroke of luck, we got an amazing server who even gave our girls flowers to put in their hair. There was no other experience like it as first-timers, and our girls were in heaven.

However, our last experience at 'Ohana's in 2009 was nowhere near the first time. It was "meh" in service and our table location was out in the boonies. No magic at all. But nevermind...we all still remember the first time, and we have high hopes for our next dining experience at 'Ohana's in March.

Everyone who says it's a matter of personal opinion is absolutely correct. I totally think you should try 'Ohana's.

 

[cjsm&d]

I was able to get Chef Mickey breakfast, Le Cellier lunch, T-Rex early dinner, WCC dinner(we like that kind of food and think we will really enjoy it despite some of the so-so reviews). Now we have one more tableservice-- I have booked now Sci-Fi for our Hollywood Studios day. Mostly because of convenience and it's indoors, a nice break from the heat. But it also doesn't get great reviews. The one restuarant that I wasn't able to fit in to our schedule was Ohana. I just checked online and I can get it the same day as Sci-Fi/Hollywood Studios. So I would have to cancel Sci-Fi and just eat counterservice in Hollywood Studios and have a late dinner at the Poly 7:30-8:00ish. My original plan was to do Hollywood Studios for rope drop, lunch at Sci-fi, do most of the rides we are interested in and leave around 3. And just relax that evening at POP--swimming and eating counter service maybe pizza or something. If I do take advantage of Ohana I am sure it would be really nice to visit the resort and eat there even if just for the experience. However, that takes away the only evening we had available for swimming and just relaxing at POP. Would you cancel Sci-fi just so that you can eat at Ohana? Is Ohana a must-do? So many decisions... lol..

I would cancel Sci-fi for pretty much anything else. I think 50's Prime Time is a much better option and the food is alot better (IMO of course).

I don't think Ohana is a "must do" but if you have time it is a good option. If it is convenient to what you are doing it is a good choice, but I wouldn't change a whole days planning just to go there.

 

[disneybliss2]

Having eaten at both O'hana and Sci Fi, I can say I definitely without question prefer O'hana. Hands down, they're not even comparable. With that said, if your only night to swim is this one evening, I wouldn't trade my reservation for O'hana. As much as I love O'hana, I know how much my girls love to swim and just have fun at the resort of an evening after a long day at the park. On our first trip we didn't build in enough pool time thinking there's always a pool at home, right? Well, for a kid that's so much of the experience. I agree with another poster, I would switch to 50's Prime Time. Keep your reservation at Hollywood Studios so you can have pool/relax time, but I'd switch to 50's, I think you'll like the food and restaurant better. Have fun on your first trip!