Nervous about Ohana dinner, is it worth it?

[mavslab]

We were disappointed with Luau food (although the show was neat), and have seen mixed reviews of Ohana. We are not on dining plan so paying oop about $200 for 5. We have never been to Ohana and I'm nervous that I will be disappointed since it seems to have gone downhill recently. What is your experience?

 

[Lisa F]

Ohana has been "going downhill recently" since I first started reading the disboards 16 years ago. I don't think it is "going downhill" as much as gets very mixed reviews and always has. Your experience is very dependent on your server - some people have attentive servers and are well taken care of and some people have servers who do the bare minimum. This is the case at any restaurant really but especially at AYCTE places, if your server is "one and done" people don't feel like they got their money's worth. Also I have occasionally read of people getting a not so great batch of meat. overcooked and/or nervy or something. Because it is AYCTE you can always push it aside and ask for more/fresh but if your server is MIA this would lead to a pretty frustrating experience.

That said, having done the Luau (although years and years ago) I think the food just plain sucks and no matter how good the service is, the food is sucky and most people don't even feel the show makes up for it (when I saw it it was alright but I have never had the desire to go back).

I think your chances of having a great meal are much higher at Ohana because the food is just so much better to begin with. But because of how popular and coveted it is, I think it just gets a lot more reviews overall, and a bad server really blows a hole in your evening. Every time I think maybe I just wont' chance it I see a slew of fantastic reviews on it and I think overall it is more good than bad... but a bad server can REALLY make it bad. All restaurants get bad reviews from time to time - even the best.

I also half wonder if people read the stellar reviews and go in with very high expectations and then the let down is so huge when they get a crappy server because it really does impact the entire experience.

 

[JerseyJanice]

We go to Ohana frequently. Been to Spirit of Aloha once.

The only comparison is the location. The food and entertainment are vastly different IMO. We are going to Ohana again next trip, but I seriously doubt I'll ever bother with the luau again. Not that the luau was terrible, it wasn't. It was a one and done type thing.

We have never had bad food at Ohana. Sketchy service, yes. Some visits were better than others. But we enjoyed it well enough to go back and pay OOP.

The food at the luau tasted IMO like what a corporate cafeteria would serve for a Hawaiian themed meal. Not bad, but not memorable. Just kind of pedestrian. Nothing that knocked our socks off like the bread pudding dessert served at Ohana.

 

[MichiganScott]

It's good and fun, but if you expect a fantastic out-of-your-mind restaurant experience, you'll be disappointed. It's Disney, so $200 is the going rate. If, however, I spent $200 at a restaurant at home and got Ohana, I'd probably not go again.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

We've never had a bad experience at O'hana and have always enjoyed it (though, IMHO, they give you too much food and I feel it's incredibly wasteful). I thought the food at the luau was fine. I think the food at O'hana is fine. Neither are signature quality. If you like O'hana's style of food, perhaps you will like it. You will always get mixed reviews on this board. If you are nervous about it and simply like a better, quality meal, you may want to look into one of the signature restaurants instead. Or head over to The Wave at CR. You won't have a Polynesian atmosphere, entertainment or games, but the food is definitely better! Or even try Trail's End at Ft. Wilderness and enjoy the atmosphere and offerings at Ft. W for the evening (playground, stables, campfire, etc.)

 

[Walker24]

I felt that the food wasn't that good. The best part of my meal was the salad and noodle dish. Other than that all the shrimp, chicken, and steak tasted the same. There was too much sauce and our chicken and steak was really fatty. We went on the dining plan and felt that it was one and done. I would spend the $200 elswhere.

 

[vettegirl]

We had a fantastic meal there a few weeks ago!

 

[Jadyreen1282]

There's always Kona!

 

[mavslab]

There's always Kona!

LOVE Kona breakfast! Never been there for dinner

 

[_auroraborealis_]

'Ohana gets hyped and is expensive. So people expect angels to sing and divine sprinkles to twinkle their taste buds. It is very easy to be disappointed when that's the case.

The fact that you're citing how much it would cost suggests a low disappointment threshold. So that's something to consider. $200 for 5 is going rate for AYCTE dinner at Disney.

 

[tomatecerise]

Do you like dumplings?
And chicken wings?
And salad with fruits dressing?
And noodles?
And chicken, beef and shrimps on skewers?
And decadent bread pudding?

All is all you care to eat?

Go for it!

The coconut race with children is very fun!

And the singer is out of this world with the voice of an angel fall on the earth.

 

[jimmytammy]

Ohana food is way better than Luau food. We too liked the show. Ohana used to be a must do for us every trip and we were always disappointed when we couldnt get an ADR. As time went on, we began branching out, enjoying new places, so Ohana got put on the back burner. But IMO its still a good meal, good show, and a good time. Go, just be sure you are hungry!

For a second choice(and just as good as Ohana) try Kona. All 3 meals are really good, breakfast and lunch tend to be the times we lean towards. Hey, a good idea, eat dinner at Ohana, breakfast at Kona!! Just not on the same day, or you will be stuffed

 

[MissionMouse]

Disney is a business as people often forget as they are navigating all of the planning to make their Disney vacation perfect. Why are people so focused on the perfect aspect? The simple truth is Disney is very expensive. It is also very popular. Crowds can start to destroy ones experiences, so can prices or even menu changes or a server. For us we see Ohana as an attraction. One for the Polynesian setting; Two its location close to the MK; Three to watch the MK Fireworks from afar. People often dine here as it is very popular making it appear like a tourist trap dining location. The list goes on an on. Menu changes is the business aspect of things people are usually commenting on too. People have their favorite items and don't want to see them eliminated and since the rise of the DDP more things change now than in the past when TS Restaurants where in their prime (1990's). The aspect of the business is Disney staff. This has evolved a ways back, but today it means it a another variable in ones experiences. The constant good experience gives way to a unknown service. You hope for the best but you do not always get it. Overall, you should expect quality food and service. It you don't, contact the manager at the time of the event. Your expectations as you plan can start to enter unrealistic expectations too. Relax and focus on the family or group having fun and you should be successful as you are part of the dining experience equation. Go there looking for failure and you will find it. Go there to have fun and you should have fun. We have had good experiences and bad at Ohana, so there is the service and table location aspect that provides the food in a timely and professional manner and the table location that fully embraces the Polynesian theme (not all locations do).

 

[LovesTimone]

This was on our "list" for a few years....................... Then it fell by the wayside. For us its has become a very limited menu, and not all that well done. It's one thing when a limited menu is over the top and well done, and completely another when its just so so.. 200.00 for so so food...

So here's some of our thoughts.. on the break down of the menu offerings, service etc....

Starters (2)-The Mixed green salad with Lililkoi dressing, seems to be way over dressed, to the point the greens are limp from all the dressing, the lilikoi dressing is pretty tasty but when there is that much on a salad its not pleasant very off putting. As far as the bread, can't comment as with a allergy to some ingredient's, DH did try and was not impressed, his thought just okay. ( this is the only bread option, in would be nice to have more of a assortment of rolls)

Appetizers(2) - Pork Dumplings - We love dumplings ...we have found then hit and miss, the last we had dinner there they were so over cooked, they really were not editable, we did ask for more, and our server never brought them, we asked a couple of times. The Honey chicken wings are very good, just the right amount of spice and well cooked, every time we have visited.

Accompaniments (2)- The stir fried veggies and Lo-mein style noodles have been consistently good.

Skewers (3)- Spicy grilled peel & eat shrimp - last time they were so spicy that DD and I could not eat them, and they were really messy even after washing my hand several times I could still smell the marinade... and for a 200.00 dollar meal, I don't want to have to peel my own shrimp at that price.( I love nothing better than sitting at a raw bar at the beach with some oysters and peel and eat shrimp, so it's not like that )The sirloin steak was okay but has been very tough and stringy at times, and hit or miss on the seasoning. The chicken for us was the best out of all the skewers consistently.

Dessert (1) - Bread Pudding - Frist I don't like bread pudding ( But DH and DD enjoy it) plus I have a allergy and no-one could tell me what was in it... so I can't comment for myself, but DD and DH did not think that it was all that. This is only this offering for dessert, except the children's dessert which I really have no idea what was offered.

Service - Spotty is the only word that I really think fit... But we have found if you are ordering adult beverages, you seem to get a bit more attention.

Tables turning - For some reason it seem that tables don't turn as fast, a lot of sitting going on, like 45 min's to hour behind your ADR time. While not consistently that long all the time, do be prepared to wait, not unless you are in the opening dinner ADR's

Character -- Wonderful interaction..

Again this is just what we have experienced

Each time is a different experience..

 

[OLIVIA'S DADDY]

We went for the first time in about 9 years in February and it was one of the best meals I've had in a long time. Lots of food, and the bread pudding which I had never tried before was just amazing. I could have lived without the chaos of the coconut races but overall it was very good.

 

[edbo77]

We just went in April - I left feeling so fat and happy from all the great food.....it was glorious. Again, people have their favorites and this one has always been one of mine but I would go back again no problem. We were on the DDP so price wasn't a concern per se, not sure where the bashing comes from.

 

[SuzieN]

I have been to 'Ohana twice. The first time I didn't really understand the hype, as I thought it was just ok. Tried it again this past February and again, it was just ok. Actually, the thought of it now kinda grosses me out. Not the best quality meats..... I don't think it will get a third try from me.

 

[crabbygal902]

We've been many times and have had good or great experiences each and every time. There's nothing really like it in our "real" life and we look forward to it every Disney trip.

 

[pumba]

we were there the first week of May and loved all of it...this is our third visit to the place and it never has disappointed us...the meat was fork tender and just the way I like it...and the shrimp was delicious too...love the potstickers and wings...we had a great server and then came the dessert...oy oy oy..delicious

 

[wdw4rfam]

We've gone for dinner every year since 2008, and it is a must do for us. We do not think it's gone downhill at all. We love it so much we turned down a last minute trip a couple of years ago because I couldn't get an ADR. my parent just told me this year that I can book any ADRS I want, as long as it included Ohana. It was their only request.