'Ohana and HEA viewing

[nonzerosum]

I have two ADRs for 'Ohana for an upcoming trip and I'm only looking to keep one of them. One ADR is for 6:55pm on a night when HEA is scheduled for 9:00pm and the other is for 8:00pm on a night when HEA is scheduled for 9:00pm. Which ADR do you think I should keep in order to maximize the chance that we will be in the restaurant during HEA? I should add that we have been to 'Ohana many times and are aware of the long waits to be seated (we have waited up to 45 minutes) and we are also aware that the chances of being seated near a window are very slim, however I just want to try my luck again. Many years ago on our first trip and when I didn't know any better we were seated front and centre for Wishes.....dessert was just arriving as the lights were being dimmed and the fireworks began. My kids were very young at the time and thought it was beyond magical. It was dumb luck on my part. Now that I try to time it we are always out of luck.

I'm thinking that if we keep the 6:55 pm ADR we won't likely be seated until at least 7:30 and then will have 90 minutes to eat before HEA begins. I'm leaning toward keeping the 6:55 pm ADR and cancelling the 8:00pm ADR, my only hesitation is that I always feel so rushed when eating at 'Ohana....they really want to move guests through very fast....and I'm worried that the meal will be over before it's HEA time.

I'm a bit concerned that an 8:00 pm ADR might not see us getting seated until after 9:00pm due to the stragglers not wanting to give up their seats until after HEA has ended.

Thoughts? And since I'm asking for advice, how do you slow down the speed of the meal at 'Ohana? I've never had a relaxing time there and feel like I'm being feed and breakneck pace. IMHO there are many negatives to eating at 'Ohana but my family loves it so we keep going back.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

I have two ADRs for 'Ohana for an upcoming trip and I'm only looking to keep one of them. One ADR is for 6:55pm on a night when HEA is scheduled for 9:00pm and the other is for 8:00pm on a night when HEA is scheduled for 9:00pm. Which ADR do you think I should keep in order to maximize the chance that we will be in the restaurant during HEA? I should add that we have been to 'Ohana many times and are aware of the long waits to be seated (we have waited up to 45 minutes) and we are also aware that the chances of being seated near a window are very slim, however I just want to try my luck again. Many years ago on our first trip and when I didn't know any better we were seated front and centre for Wishes.....dessert was just arriving as the lights were being dimmed and the fireworks began. My kids were very young at the time and thought it was beyond magical. It was dumb luck on my part. Now that I try to time it we are always out of luck.

I'm thinking that if we keep the 6:55 pm ADR we won't likely be seated until at least 7:30 and then will have 90 minutes to eat before HEA begins. I'm leaning toward keeping the 6:55 pm ADR and cancelling the 8:00pm ADR, my only hesitation is that I always feel so rushed when eating at 'Ohana....they really want to move guests through very fast....and I'm worried that the meal will be over before it's HEA time.

I'm a bit concerned that an 8:00 pm ADR might not see us getting seated until after 9:00pm due to the stragglers not wanting to give up their seats until after HEA has ended.

Thoughts? And since I'm asking for advice, how do you slow down the speed of the meal at 'Ohana? I've never had a relaxing time there and feel like I'm being feed and breakneck pace. IMHO there are many negatives to eating at 'Ohana but my family loves it so we keep going back.

90 minutes at Ohana (even more if you’re seated on time) seems like an eternity to me. Don’t think I could possibly slow down a meal long enough to make that work for our family.

I’d do the 8PM ADR. Being sat an hour after your ADR - while possible - would be on the extreme side. Show up well early if you’re concerned about that.

Just my two cents.

 

[Disnsyncey]

Well, I want to add that there aren't many seats in the restaurant with a CLEAR view of MK, I would take the earlier one and then go to the beach to watch it....I think the architecture and the pool is in the way of many of the tables....

 

[DaisyDuck001]

Thanks for asking about this, as I'd been wondering the same thing.

It was dumb luck on my part. Now that I try to time it we are always out of luck.

There seem to be many aspects of life that are this way. One can't schedule serendipity. In spite of the extreme levels of planning most of us on this site engage in, sometimes the best things are unplanned.

Well, I want to add that there aren't many seats in the restaurant with a CLEAR view of MK, I would take the earlier one and then go to the beach to watch it....I think the architecture and the pool is in the way of many of the tables....

Does anyone know, do they still let guests who are not staying at the Poly, view the fireworks from the beach?

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Guests are allowed to the beach save on big holidays.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

I want to add that there aren't many seats in the restaurant with a CLEAR view of MK

1) There are six tables with somewhat of a view.
2) But, kids frequently queeze between the table and the window, blocking the guests who are sitting at the table.
3) And, the CM's do not make the kids move out of the way.
4) The worst part is when a kid or two leans against the table (dirty shorts and sweaty buns against your table - yuck!)

NOTE: On busy days, only guests who are staying at The Poly are allowed on the beach to see fireworks. (How would you feel if you paid big bucks for a Poly room, then couldn't get a good beach seat because non-Poly-guests crowded you out?) And, yes, the CM's do check to see if you are a Poly guest.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I just don't think there is any way you can game this. With the 6:55 pm reservation, IF you are seated between 45 minutes - 1 hour late, great! But the chances of this happening are slim. I just, personally, don't think it's fair to try to stretch out the meal for 2 hours to be in the restaurant at 9 pm. It's not fair to the servers or to other guests waiting for their ADR's. 8 pm is probably your better bet as it's highly unlikely it will take them a full hour to seat you (unless the people with 6:55 pm ADR's won't leave their tables . . . )

If you want to try to see it in O'hana, keep the 8:00 pm or try for something slightly earlier. If you really just want to see HEA, keep the 6:55 pm and plan on seeing HEA from the Poly beach. If the Poly beach is only open to Poly guests that night, you can stand by the railing at the marina or go over to luau cove beach to see it.

 

[Disnsyncey]

A few years ago, I went to see Hallowishes from the Poly beach before/after Trader Sam's.....there were probably 50-75 people out there, we ALL had a decent view, no problems with having to make non poly guests leave, but if there was a restriction, all the talk is about the "Poly beach" but can't you see it from the dock as well as the marina area of the GF?

 

[DizMomAndWife]

We went in June with a 7:50 ADR. We were seated at 7:45 (Wowzers) and slowly made our way through the meal so we could see HEA. We were served dessert right as the music started. We had a great view (see photo). Our original plan was to kinda hurry through and then watch it from the beach, but with the view we had from our table we altered. I think you can go either way. Keep the early res, then catch it on the beach, or keep the late one and hope for a good view.

 

[crazytoshop]

Keep the 8:00 and check in a little early! Your timing should be great! When we were there a couple of weeks ago, our server initially started out making us feel a little rushed. We let him know that we wanted to enjoy our wings and noodles before the skewers arrived. He slowed things down (not too much) and it was perfect.

 

[FSU Girl]

I would keep the 6:55. I was so unbelievably full when I ate there that I could not imagine eating all that food so late at night. I had a 3:45 reservation and we didn't leave until after 5 and were seated right away. It's a lot of food and I'm a slow eater so I don't think it would be possible for me to get through things quicker. That's the only time I've been though so I'm not sure if the servers try to rush you during the dinner rush time. Since they get backed up I think you wouldn't get seated right away anyway.

 

[Texans_loyal]

I would do the later reservation!