No more Ohana's for us - 3rd time NOT a charm.

[HayGan]

We ate at 'Ohana during our December 2005 trip and loved it! The food was very good but there was alot of it. I knew my kids wouldn't eat anything so I ordered them chicken strips and fries. Our server wasn't overly friendly but he wans't bad either. It was a busy night and we had no complaints about our service. We will definately be eating there again the next trip!

 

[profdsny]

When they changed to O'Hana some years ago it was the best dinner at WDW, with wonderful entertainment, food AND service. It was that way up until about 3 years ago, then went downhill fast. (remember the live entertainer there who was like the bathhouse singer in The Ritz?) We've been back once in the last 3 years, can't remember which trip, but lived up, or down, to our poor expectations. Will not go there until I read of major changes back to how it used to be, and strongly recommend against it now.

 

[2giddy4wdw]

But, that is just our experience, many have had good experiences. Just like, a lot of people do not like Tony's on main street, yet that is one of our favorites.

I totally agree with this, since Tony's is also one of my favorites.

We ate Ohana's for the first time on our Nov 05 trip. I had read both bad and good reviews from this site. Well we got there well ahead of opening. They gave us a beeper thing and we wait about 15 minutes. We never asked for a window seat, but that's were they sat us. Our waitress was a little slow, but they were just seating everyone. Everything was wonderful. The only thing I didn't like was the sausage. (But I also didn't like the sausage at CRT breakfast either) I didn't really eat the stir fry because there was so much food, tasted it though and it wasn't bad. DD and her best friend didn't eat much because they weren't that hungry and they didn't like the bread pudding. I wasn't much of a bread pudding person until I ate that. OMG it was delicious!!!!! This is a place that we will be back to eat at.

After reading posts on hear, if it is a restaurant that we really want to try, we will still go but will not expect too much. That way you can't get let down!

 

[walkermm]

Hey there Ohana experts...
I am feeling a little worried about my upcoming ADR there in March. However, I would like to know a little more about the entertainment....we have and 11 year old (goofy) son and a 13 ("going on 18") year old girl....will the entertainment be at all suitable for them, or is it just for the little ones? We also have an ADR at whispering canyon which I think my son will like. We are staying at the POLY, so if I want to see the fireworks I can go down to the beach anytime. Would be eating here more for the food, atmosphere and entertainment. I also have a reservation at Kona.
thanks

 

[2giddy4wdw]

DD was 12 and her best friend was 14 went we just went. They both had a really good time there. Although they didn't participate in anything, they liked watching the younger kids do it. It's really not much of a show.

 

[Main St USA]

We have been there on our last 2 trips (Sept 05 and just 3 weeks ago). The food is great. I do agree it can be a little rushed, but we take our time and the waiter always will come around a little later. Our kids (4 and 5) loved the games, however the food wasn't to the best for them, however they didn't leave hungry. We love it so much we are going again with our friends in October (no kids). When you make a reservation, try to book it about 2 hours before Wishes, you can then go to the beach and watch the fireworks. They pump the music into the restaurant and out at the beach!

 

[wdwfan1]

Worst Disney dining experience ever. Waited forever, but we were seated at a large table near a window. That was the best part of the evening

Our waiter was extremely rushed, but he finally brought the salad. Problem was--no silverware. When we finally got his attention, he said they ran out. THEY RAN OUT!!!! Hard to eat salad with your fingers.

The food seemed to be thrown on the table and it wasnt very good. Why would a polynesian type meal get rid of fried rice and serve au gratin potatoes? We did not get vegetables either.

Never again!

 

[floridafam]

wdwfan1,

My thoughts exactly! What are au gratin potatoes doing at Ohana?

 

[ptrbryant]

I'm cancelling! I've got an ADR at 'Ohana for May, but neither DH nor DS would probably eat anything there except the steak...not very adventurous diners! When I saw that the wontons had been changed to just fried wonton skins, I thought that seemed oddly cheap and much less appealing. Then, I couldn't figure out why on earth a restaurant with an Asian cuisine theme would substitue potatoes au gratin for rice! Along with that, the grilled shrimp (which I would have loved) is gone in favor of the sauced in-shell shrimp. Now, hearing these stories about rushed service, that seals it.
My dilemma: What other new restaurant to try? My short list includes Biergarten, Tony's Town Square, Alfredo's or _______________?

Karla B.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

Ptrbryant, don't cancel. Go see for yourself if it is any good.

We went for the very first time in December and loved it. No complaints at all. If I had listened to all the bad reviews on the DIS and cancelled, I would have missed out on a great experience.

 

[ElizabethB]

Ptrbryant -- Good idea to cancel. We went last August 05 with high expectations based on all the raves on this board. (This was before the menu change.) We were shocked. Poor quality food, bad entertainment, indifferent service. We had kids with us who enjoyed the hula hoop stuff, but we'd never go again anyway.

The skewered meats were so tough we couldn't eat them. We stuck with the shrimp -- which were only fair and not deveined. It was the most disappointing dinner at WDW in too many trips to count. We were so disenchanted, we immediately cancelled Biergarten for a couple of nights later fearing more of the same -- all you can eat food that is too poor of quality to bother with. (Don't know if that's true for Biergarten or not as we didn't want to risk it.) Other places we ate and loved: Tony's, Alfredo's, Chefs de France.

IMO, the quality of food is far more important than the quantity. And the quality simply wasn't there at Ohana. Yet, the meal still cost something like $85 for two adults and two kids. To think we could have gone to Jiko for not much more!!

 

[dopeyfordisneyworld]

We have reservations at O'Hanas and I still plan on going next week.

 

[MickeyMonstersMom]

When we first visited Ohana's in May of 2000 we knew we would want to come back on our next trip. We had great service, great food - basically all around great.

November 2004 - We were expecting a great experience for our 2nd time at Ohana's. The food was still very good but the service was extremely slow and sub-par. I leave most of the fault in our server for that as we were only a party of two and he seemed to only care about his 6 or more tables.

It sounds like we had the same server! I've had the guy twice - once for a solo trip and once with my family - and both times he gave us absolutely minimal service, and fawned over nearby large groups. That was my first hint that 'Ohana was changing.

February 2006 - We decided to give it one more go at Ohana's as we had such good luck several years before. We chalked up the 2004 experience as bad luck on the server. Although I knew the menu had changed since our last experience that didn't really shy me away from the place. So I will go through the details of our very bad experience at Ohana's...

[Snipped details]

...Bottom line - we will NOT be going there again.

Since my first WDW trip with the Dkids, we have always started our vacations with dinner at 'Ohana, going back even when service seemed to be faltering. When WDW announced they were changing 'Ohana's menu, my entire family flipped out (seriously - I read the anouncement, freaked and read it aloud to the Dkids, and then we all started yelling!). We decided right then that it wasn't worth returning, as our favorite (and appropriately themed!) dishes were gone. Even so, I kept finding myself thinking that we should give it just one more try - hold on to the tradition, I suppose.

I've made several glowing posts about 'Ohana here on the DIS, but like the CM at AKL, I think I'm ashamed of the way the restaurant seems to have degenerated. As painful as it is to give up the tradition (I feel like I'm in mourning, for crying out loud!), I'll spend my money on a better experience in the future.

 

[2diamonds&a~gem]

The feeling of being rushed seems to be the biggest complaint lately,,, that is easily fixed... tell your server we are feeling very rushed,,, we need a little more time. That would probably make your meal enjoyable again. You are a paying customer .... remember that! My husband and I would have no problem stating that to our server!

This is so true & goes both ways...
We were @ Ohana for dinner on Feb 7th with my grandparents who have never been to Disney & we had a great meal and time. We have a DD 2.5 and we were very please by the "movement" I wouldnt say we were rushed by any means, but we never sat waiting. I prefer it this way, as DD will quickly get tired of sitting and be ready to move on...
When we ate at LeCellier on the 6th, I asked the server to keep things moving for that reason & we were in and out within 1 hour, during the 6 o'clock dining hour, again we prefered this for the same reason. Our dinner at WCC on the 8th however was tons of fun but the service was much slower, this was stressful for me as DD did grow tired of the sitting and waiting and the activity. I think many servers at WDW see a smaller child and try to keep things moving for this reason, I think they are thinking that they are helping, KWIM? (lots of thinking here)
I must say I would not hesitiate to say we feel rushed, we are here to relax & unwind, can we please have more time. After all I am paying for this meal and I would like to enjoy it, just as I have asked to keep things moving.
Our experience at Ohana was awesome! DD is a very picky eater, however our server brought her heaping bowls of pineapple and red peppers ( and she ate them all!) after I asked and we were not charged for either. We had second helpings of several dishes including the salad, the potatoes, the shrimp and refills on the wontons. Now about the meats... the steak was weird, but I tend to not like any steak other than filet- just a texture thing for me- the pork & turkey was moist & flavorful & very tender & yumm-o! (I do not eat sausage, so I cant comment on it, again texture issues ) But I think that with any place I have ever eaten, if something isnt up to par I have either sent it back or asked for a replacement. If it is something I just dont like, then that is on me, what I am talking about is the meat over or under cooked, mushy veggies, greasy anything and so on. I never have understood why folks would just "accept" it and pay for food they didnt eat due to these kinds of things. All food service has off nights due to many factors, but if I am paying for food- then I want it to be food I can eat. We will eat here again and look forward to it on our Sept 06 trip.

 

[zulaya]

Since my first WDW trip with the Dkids, we have always started our vacations with dinner at 'Ohana, going back even when service seemed to be faltering. When WDW announced they were changing 'Ohana's menu, my entire family flipped out (seriously - I read the anouncement, freaked and read it aloud to the Dkids, and then we all started yelling!). We decided right then that it wasn't worth returning, as our favorite (and appropriately themed!) dishes were gone. Even so, I kept finding myself thinking that we should give it just one more try - hold on to the tradition, I suppose.

I've made several glowing posts about 'Ohana here on the DIS, but like the CM at AKL, I think I'm ashamed of the way the restaurant seems to have degenerated. As painful as it is to give up the tradition (I feel like I'm in mourning, for crying out loud!), I'll spend my money on a better experience in the future.

We also made 'Ohana the first meal in the World when we arrive. My kids and I had the same reaction your family did. Only DH wants to go back...he doesn't think the changes can be "that bad".

So last trip we skipped 'Ohana and tried WCC at the WL. It was okay. It wasn't 'Ohana.

For us, we love the fried rice! My kids (believe it or not) are not big potato eaters. They do like fries, but won't eat au gratin that's for sure.

We all liked Boma and seeing the animals at AKL so that might have to be the new tradition. However, DH is still campaigning for 'Ohana. We'll see.

 

[orljustin]

We ate there last Wednesday, the 15th. The wonton chips and sauces are a big disappointment. I don't know if they are trying to do chips and salsa, or what, but I didn't find the sauces particularly complimented the chips at all. And the point of the sauces before was that you could use them throughout the meal, with the appetizers and on the meats. I had no desire to use the oregano pesto or the red pepper sauce on anything, and the peanut sauce was ok, but not as good as the old.

Salad was great as usual. Wings were good. Shrimp were pretty plain after peeling.

Steak and turkey were fabulous. Love that turkey. The sausage was sausage, and the pork was tough and dry.

Bread pudding with the sauce was good, but the ice cream melted by the time it got to our table. Kids were unable to eat what we managed to scoop on their plate.

It's not the 'Ohana it used to be, imo. (note: " 'Ohana" for the millionth time.)

 

[MickeyMonstersMom]

Quoting right backatcha!

We also made 'Ohana the first meal in the World when we arrive. My kids and I had the same reaction your family did...

We all liked Boma and seeing the animals at AKL so that might have to be the new tradition. However, DH is still campaigning for 'Ohana. We'll see.

My kids are definitely campaigning for Boma.

 

[Blue Eeyore]

I haven't read all the posts in this thread so if I'm saying something that's been said before, forgive me. BUT... I was at Ohana last Monday. The food and service was FABULOUS! I love the new menu. What I really want to say though is that I LOVE the way the food comes out! By the time I get to Ohana after a day at the parks I'm STARVED and can't wait to dig in! It really stinks that you missed out on the veggies and potatoes though. The potatoes were YUMMY!