Long wait at ohana's

[kaytieeldr]

They didn't know what else to do.

That would be, twenty or thirty minutes after being told they'd be seated "shortly", approach the hostess station and see if perhaps they'd been overlooked or forgotten. And check again every fifteen minutes.

In the past 3 years we have never been seated within 20 minutes of our ADR times and we usually show up 10 minute early. I think they have some table assigning problems at Ohana b/c its booked up all the itme and they don't plan appropriately for length of the meals

I'm not sure it's table assigning problems nearly as much as it is guests taking full advantage of the all-you-care-to-eat style dining combined with guests holding tables longer than normal so they can see the fireworks from inside the restaurant.

And I am sorry but people should not be expected to have to walk from the TTC - not everybody is that mobile or able to make that journey.

Not everyone, true. But the vast majority of guests who walked several miles in a theme park that day are generally able to walk a few hundred more feet through a beautifully landscaped resort to get to a restaurant.

Really they need to fix this issue with the monorail. For the prices the people at those resorts are staying they should have reliable transportation.

And yet when they try to effect some repairs on the 40+ year old infrastructure and the 20+ year old cars that opetard a minimum of twelve hours a day seven days a week year round, by replacing the monorails with buses after MK/Epcot closed to the general public, the furor was amazing!

 

[ohboyx3]

They did.... It's not like they just sat there for two hours. They were just trying to be polite about it. After awhile they went and asked and they were told they would try and seat them by 9. They ended up getting seated at 9:30. All is good now. It's a new day.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

They were in MK and left there an hour before their reservation. I would say that's plenty of time.

Well if they gave themselves an hour to be there on time for check in (which is 15-20 minutes before your adr) and the trip took an hour, they would have been right on time. In any case, I'm happy to hear they were finally seated and enjoyed their meal.

 

[andyman8]

Reading all of this concerns me, as we're eating at 'Ohana on 6/2 for the first time. Thus far, we've never had any of these "nightmare experiences" w/ Disney Transport or ADRs in our 15 years of going to the parks; it's not that we've never had to wait for an ADR or bus but never more than 25 minutes let alone an hour!

It's unfortunate, but who do you propose should have been bumped to accommodate them showing up 30 minutes late? That's almost an entire seating at a lot of restaurants. It's crummy for them and may not be their fault but it's also not the fault of other people who showed up for their 7:30 reservations on time. The restaurant should definitely have told them the wait was going to be really long, though, so they could make other arrangements if they wanted.

While there's little they can do there and then, the long-term solution is simple: just don't offer as many ADRs. Yes, they're turning down money, but most people won't wait around for an hour for a reservation. At the end of the day, it may make ADRs at 'Ohana a tad bit more difficult but it'd be better than waiting an hour.

I'm not sure what kind of better plan WDW could have in place. From the Magic Kingdom to 'Ohana, guests have these options:

• Resort monorail MK to Polynesian
• Express monorail MK to TTC, walking path to Polynesian
• Ferry MK to TTC, walking path to Polynesian
• Launch from MK to Polynesian (with a stop at GF)
• Walk from MK to Contemporary, taxi to Polynesian

Granted, none of these would have worked if the sister-in-law were on a broken-down monorail. So again, what would your "better plan" be?

By building a bus loop for the other parks next to MK, Disney is, in essence, admitting that the system isn't reliable. It seems that anytime the monorails are both down (which seems to be happening more often recently), the line for the ferry skyrockets and can easily hit 20 to 30 minutes. Water taxis are really hit or miss, as last July, I stood there for half an hour waiting for one to show up and they never did! I've heard this from others, but at the same time, I've heard of people walking right on them, so it's extremely inconsistent. Then, there's the taxi scenario, which to me, is an utter waste of money. If Disney's system is down, you should not be paying. If the monorail was down during one of the more crowded times of the year, they would have been running busses from the TTC to MK bus loop.

 

[AJKMOM]

I have heard of so many people having trouble with that monorail, I'm not sure I would even get on the darn thing.

 

[BenKling]

Yikes, y'all have me worried now!

We have a 6/4 ADR at 9:15pm, as it was the only time available when I booked 100 days out. I'm hoping that we don't end up running into the same problems that others seem to be facing!

Wishes is at 10pm, so I don't think it's unreasonable for us to eat dinner and watch the show in 45 minutes. Do a lot of people stretch out their dinner for a long time to try and do this?

 

[Missyrose]

Reading all of this concerns me, as we're eating at 'Ohana on 6/2 for the first time. Thus far, we've never had any of these "nightmare experiences" w/ Disney Transport or ADRs in our 15 years of going to the parks; it's not that we've never had to wait for an ADR or bus but never more than 25 minutes let alone an hour!

While there's little they can do there and then, the long-term solution is simple: just don't offer as many ADRs. Yes, they're turning down money, but most people won't wait around for an hour for a reservation. At the end of the day, it may make ADRs at 'Ohana a tad bit more difficult but it'd be better than waiting an hour.

By building a bus loop for the other parks next to MK, Disney is, in essence, admitting that the system isn't reliable. It seems that anytime the monorails are both down (which seems to be happening more often recently), the line for the ferry skyrockets and can easily hit 20 to 30 minutes. Water taxis are really hit or miss, as last July, I stood there for half an hour waiting for one to show up and they never did! I've heard this from others, but at the same time, I've heard of people walking right on them, so it's extremely inconsistent. Then, there's the taxi scenario, which to me, is an utter waste of money. If Disney's system is down, you should not be paying. If the monorail was down during one of the more crowded times of the year, they would have been running busses from the TTC to MK bus loop.

We've eaten at 'Ohana a lot, and with a mix of early and late ADRs. The early ADRs almost always have involved a 15-20 minute wait past our reservation time (and that's WITH checking in about 20 minutes early). We've had much better luck with the later ADRs. Post-fireworks ADRs are great because everyone has cleared out of the restaurant, you're seated almost immediately and the pace of the meal is much more relaxed than earlier ADRs. We prefer later ADRs when they fit into our schedule, but we know to build in extra time for when we have an early ADR. It's all about going in with the right expectations.

 

[kandb]

IMO, making an almost 7pm reservation with a 2 year old, is asking for trouble. By 7, Ohana's sometimes get backed up and making a young child wait that long to eat is never good. I would never had waited as long as she did, especially with hungry children.

 

[kandb]

It's also very possible, with the monorail down there was alot of people that came in late for their adr's. Perhaps the restaurant got backed up because there was alot of no-show's for their adr's but then came in later.

Also, if they left MK an hour before their adr and they arrived 1/2 hour late, that means it took them 1 1/2 hours to get from MK to the Poly? How many people could of been on line for the resort boat line? Unless, I am missing something here.

 

[Tigger1221]

I'm not sure what kind of better plan WDW could have in place. From the Magic Kingdom to 'Ohana, guests have these options:

• 
  1
• Resort monorail MK to Polynesian
  2
• Express monorail MK to TTC, walking path to Polynesian
  3
• Ferry MK to TTC, walking path to Polynesian
  4
• Launch from MK to Polynesian (with a stop at GF)
  5
• Walk from MK to Contemporary, taxi to Polynesian

Granted, none of these would have worked if the sister-in-law were on a broken-down monorail. So again, what would your "better plan" be?

1. Monorail was down
2.Monrail was down
3.Ferry line was just as long only 2 ferries leaving and a HUGE line. I know they hold a bunch of people as this is my favorite way to travel to/from the MK.
4. Thats what we did but there were 2 maybe 3 SMALL boats. We were told this would be the quickest.
5. A taxi would of been a pain with an infant and an extra cost.

Disney should have been running more boats (may not of been possible due to staffing) or even busses would of helped. I'm saying they need a better plan for if the monorail is down. We had over and hour to get to Ohana from the MK. It really shouldn't take that long. This is the only time that has happened and we eat at Ohana's each trip.

 

[ohboyx3]

IMO, making an almost 7pm reservation with a 2 year old, is asking for trouble. By 7, Ohana's sometimes get backed up and making a young child wait that long to eat is never good. I would never had waited as long as she did, especially with hungry children.

They wouldn't know this. Nor anticipate it. It was their first trip. They had snacks in the diaper bag for the two year old.

 

[ohboyx3]

It's also very possible, with the monorail down there was alot of people that came in late for their adr's. Perhaps the restaurant got backed up because there was alot of no-show's for their adr's but then came in later.

Also, if they left MK an hour before their adr and they arrived 1/2 hour late, that means it took them 1 1/2 hours to get from MK to the Poly? How many people could of been on line for the resort boat line? Unless, I am missing something here.

From what I understand the ferry was very backed up. I'm not with them just relaying info. Plus like I've said multiple times they are still figuring out how everything works. It was their first day in the parks ever.

 

[kaytieeldr]

1. Monorail was down
2.Monrail was down
3.Ferry line was just as long only 2 ferries leaving and a HUGE line. I know they hold a bunch of people as this is my favorite way to travel to/from the MK.
4. Thats what we did but there were 2 maybe 3 SMALL boats. We were told this would be the quickest.
5. A taxi would of been a pain with an infant and an extra cost.
6. Disney should have been running more boats (may not of been possible due to staffing)
7. or even busses would of helped.
I'm saying they need a better plan for if the monorail is down. We had over and hour to get to Ohana from the MK. It really shouldn't take that long. This is the only time that has happened and we eat at Ohana's each trip.

1 & 2. My responses were suggestions for the original poster's sister-in-law's situation.
3. Yup, the ferry holds about 350 people, and each one way trip takes about ten minutes.
4 & 5. So, sometimes we have to use our own judgment, make our own decisions and sometimes those are at a cost or less convenient - but frequency the cost offsets the aggravation, no?
6. There's not an endless supply of boats. There's are two ferries in use most of the time, three total. It takes time to get the third one into service on a day it's not scheduled to be used.
7. Ditto. Buses need to be deployed, or at the very least, detoured. It may be annoying to have to sit in a non-moving monorail car for 30-45 minutes, but it wouldn't be at all surprising if it takes longer than that to get the buses out there.

 

[LockShockBarrel]

I guess I don't understand why parents with kids that age wouldn't say "This isn't working" after the first hour of waiting. If they were struggling to keep the kids entertained, it would only make sense to figure out a plan b rather than keep struggling for a meal that really isn't worth it. I don't know anyone locally or at Disney who would wait that long for a meal if something else (like the fireworks mentioned) was that much of a priority.

 

[kandb]

I agree that it does take some time to learn how to tour disney correctly. I am sure your SIL had a rough night/next day with tired children after that night. Hopefully they took it slow the next day.

 

[ohboyx3]

I guess I don't understand why parents with kids that age wouldn't say "This isn't working" after the first hour of waiting. If they were struggling to keep the kids entertained, it would only make sense to figure out a plan b rather than keep struggling for a meal that really isn't worth it. I don't know anyone locally or at Disney who would wait that long for a meal if something else (like the fireworks mentioned) was that much of a priority.

Actually surprisingly the kids were being good. I'm sure if they were awful they would have left. Being on the dining plan and having left their cc number to reserve, they weren't sure if they would have been charged for canceling. Also, with places being booked they weren't sure if they would be able to "replace" that TS credit with another throughout the course if the trip. From what I understand they inquired often about when they would be seated and kept being told "shortly." They actually loved the meal. Honestly your post came across very rude and judgmental.

 

[ohboyx3]

I agree that it does take some time to learn how to tour disney correctly. I am sure your SIL had a rough night/next day with tired children after that night. Hopefully they took it slow the next day.

Thank you. They are having a great time so far.

 

[momtotwoteens]

Everyone seems to be forgetting this is their FIRST trip. I didn't have a clue on our first trip. We didn't use one single FP or even know what they WERE on our first trip. It doesn't sound like they were asking for someone to be bumped to accommodate them, they probably just knew they had TS credits to use, so they waited. I guess if I had gone to all the trouble to get to there I would have waited, too.

OP, I hope the rest of their trip is magical and that they can't wait to make plans for a second trip!

 

[LisaTC]

Wow...sounds like a first trip snafu for sure. Glad they seem to be good-natured humans. You'd have thought that at the boats area they'd have suggested busses to anybody wanting to head to GF or Poly. The Monorail has never been down when we've been there...sheer luck. We had a last minute ADR to 'Ohana that we got for 5:15 at 4pm one day. I know nobody wants to hear that! Really no wait. It was practically a walk up. We had a 6:15 ADR the next time, probably a 15 minute wait, but that was after arriving early like they tell you to do. Best advice, no need to arrive any earlier for 'Ohana than 15 minutes because you'll not get in earlier, that's for sure! I'll allege many of those there that night were late for their ADR's and they took a bunch of walk-ups thinking those people were no shows and that created a big pushback. Hope they don't let this experience cloud their visit.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Actually surprisingly the kids were being good. I'm sure if they were awful they would have left. Being on the dining plan and having left their cc number to reserve, they weren't sure if they would have been charged for canceling. Also, with places being booked they weren't sure if they would be able to "replace" that TS credit with another throughout the course if the trip. From what I understand they inquired often about when they would be seated and kept being told "shortly." They actually loved the meal. Honestly your post came across very rude and judgmental.

Respectfully, they could have asked. Anywhere. "Circumstances beyond our control*) made us late for our reservation. Can you waive the cancellation fee, since we've been waiting x minutes and you're still unable to seat us?"

There's never nowhere to eat using Dining Plan Table Service credits. Guests may not be able to get into the most popular restaurants at the Disney-last-minute (ranging from walking up for a meal, to same day, to an entire vacation) but there's always somewhere to eat that accepts DDP credits.

*the monorail here, but it could have been weather or traffic in the real world'