is poly luau show worth the money

[princess lovers mom]

We are staying at the Poly for first time in spring and was looking to book the luau show..the food sounds yucky!...chicken legs =dark meat whicH i do not like, neither do I like much fish...doesn't sound like anything my kids would eat either...

two questions...are there other options for kids and is the show worth it if you do not like the food?

 

[Harambe]

We enjoyed it! DD was vegatarian at the time, so we ordered her a meatless meal which was lots of marinated, sauteed veggies with tons of white rice. Maybe you could ask for that. We asked for a kid's meal for DS, and they brought him a box that had a mini hamburger, a mini hot dog, a couple of chicken nuggets, fries, and some mac and cheese! Just a little of each, but he loved it. DH and I enjoyed the food (the pineapple bread is awesome, but they serve it at the 'Ohana character breakfast - so you can get it there). We asked for seconds on the chicken whcih was very moist. Our dessert was a delicious chocolate mousse with raspberry sauce. And plenty of beer and wine!

Is it worth it? Well, for food alone - no! But the dancers are terrific - the story is a little lame, but once they get into the traditional dancers and fire dancers, it is really fun. I think it is worth it on the whole.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

Hey, I've heard you get free mai tai's there. Pre-show, I think. Is that true?

 

[wilderness01]

No, it is not worth it. Yes the fire thrower was good and some of the dancers good as well, but the story line was lame and the food terrible. Maybe we just had a bad waitress (went the end of January and it was slowwwwwwwww) but she was never around to refill drinks, not even the cokes. All 7 kids hated their meals and the adults only liked the pineapple, bread and salad. That is alot to pay for just that. Do HDDR. The acts are cute and the food good.

 

[Cass]

It's a boring show, dreadfully long with a weak story line... Nevahhhh again!

 

[travlnman1]

Been there....done that....not doing it again.

 

[glencoe]

Augh...I just booked it today for our family. I had heard it was great....we are staying at the poly and thought it would be a good thing. Does anyone else have a positive opinion? I am planning on a Feb. trip and that was supposed to be a "highlight"!!

 

[lovethattink]

I enjoyed the food! DS and dh are very picky eaters and did not like any of the food. We're glad we did it once, to see what it was like. We won't do it again for a long time.

 

[princess lovers mom]

thanks for all of the info...I think we will skip it in favor of dinner at O'Hana instead

 

[glencoe]

thanks for all of the info...I think we will skip it in favor of dinner at O'Hana instead

I think I might be doing the same!! I had to give a cc and pay up front for it. $151. for two adult and two kids including tax and gratuities. I am glad I am seeing this. I will wait till I get to the hotel and check it out myself. I am sure I can get us in if I change my mind while we are there. I am also cancelling my chef mickey res. too. Not one good thing on these boards about it!! I heard O'Hana is great and kona cafe too. enjoy your stay

 

[padams]

Been there, done it, wouldn't do it again but glad we did it once. If you are only going to WDW once in a lifetime, don't waste an evening at the luau. If you take multiple WDW trips, it's worth trying once.

 

[wilderness01]

Glencoe,

Chef Mickey's is good for breakfast. I think most of the complaints come in at dinner.

 

[carbur]

I think it is worth it. I think that the O'Hana is not worth it. Me and my family thought the last time that the food was awful. We also did the luau. The food was great, and my children though the kids menu had good choices. The show was great. we really liked the guy with the fire. Also right before the show ducks show up and they walk around doing funny things. Like going up to you and opening their mouths wanting you to feed them.

 

[Cass]

Augh...I just booked it today for our family. I had heard it was great....we are staying at the poly and thought it would be a good thing. Does anyone else have a positive opinion? I am planning on a Feb. trip and that was supposed to be a "highlight"!!

The food was good.... (except dessert)

our girls were bored and frankly so was I, the story line is very weak about a girl returning to the island after living on the mainland... rediscovering her roots - so to speak.

The kids get to go on stage and dance at one point (if they like)

I wish I could rave about it, we were so disappointed... I was expecting it to be more humerous & entertaining... the male dancers were amazing (and handsome!) but the show was just really long and boring other than the fire dancer part.

Of course this is just my opinion, I am sure people like the Luau and hate Hoop Dee Doo (which I love) take it with a grain of salt.

 

[jenjersnap]

DH and I hated it, the food was terrible and the show lame (yeah, the fire dancer was amazing - he was the only thing worthwhile). The chicken was okay, the ribs fatty and tough, the sauteed veggies and rice were blah. I didn't see the big deal with the pineapple bread - tasted like that King's Hawaiian bread you can get at the supermarket to me. The salad dressing was excellent. Dessert was dry chocolate mousse. You get free beer or wine, no mai tais or other free specialty drinks. I had the merlot and it was swill, never tasted anything so horrible - our waiter, who was cheerful but nowhere to be found for most of the show, laughed when I pointed at the glass and shuddered. Yeah, that's the usual reaction, he said!

That said, my two small kids were pretty entertained. They thought the leis were the coolest thing ever. Ha, made me think I'd like to experience the real Hawaii sometime.

I am a Hoop de Doo fan - it was a much better value for us in every way.

 

[debbiedoo]

I would go for ohana's for dinner.

Chef mickey's for breakfast.

Have been pleased with both. I will agree with the majority here not worth the extra $$$ for the luau.

 

[cobbler]

I like the Luau, yeah the story was lame at first but once it got going it was good.

I really liked the veggies and the bread and salad. The dessert was ok.

As for the free drinks, they used to offer a really good fruity drink but no more

 

[Colorado Belle]

I have not been to the luau in a long time...but I got engaged there (too many Mai Tais?) in l979 so it holds a dear memory for me.

Back then, both the food and show and drinks (Mai Tais and Blue Hawaaiians) were good. I lived in Hawaii for about 7 years and still thought the show was really good comparing with shows in Maui.

BUT it sounds as if there have changes in both menu and show.
I am sure that you can still cancel if you want....I also loved the Hoop De Doo show but thought the food horrid. I guess we all have different tastes, no?

As someone already posted, if this is a first time, maybe try something other than the luau...You could watch the show (from the beachside, you can peak in a little) or listen to the music while sitting on the beach looking at the castle, bring your own bottle and have a bit of it all for free!!!.

Anyway, if you really are concerned, just call your res agent and cancel...and maybe tell the CM that you have heard that the luau and food just aren't up to par these days.

Good luck! Have fun on your vaca!
Colorado Belle