O'Hana and Wishes

[CheriePenguin]

We're planning to try for dinner at O'Hana in time to watch Wishes.

*** What time is it best to make the ADR? Wishes is (currently) scheduled for 8:00 the night we'll be there.

* Do they still pipe in the music to the restaurant?


* Do they have the music of Wishes out on the Poly beach, if we miss the time while dining and catch the fireworks from the beach?

* We're planning to watch the Electrical Water Pageant (and Wishes if not from O'Hana) from the Poly beach. Anyone can do that right - though only Poly guests are supposed to use the hammocks, etc., correct?

* We shouldn't have any trouble parking at the Poly for our O'Hana ADR and staying to ride the monorail and watch the EWP, should we? Last time we were there we got a parking pass with a time on it. We'll be there a while, but we're not going to a park or anything.


Thanks for any input/advice! Our 180 day mark for ADR's is this week!

 

[Jfstorm]

Been to Ohana a couple of times to do this, including while not onsite, so no parking will NOT be a problem. They still pipe in the music....BUT... unless you get a window seat facing MK, you don't have all that great of a view. I would recommend booking for AFTER the fireworks and watching from the beach. I was staying offsite and had NO problems sitting on a chair watching it. Music is not as loud, but the view is absolutely georgeous!!!
I did discover on the last trip with the DDP, the best option (other than California grill) is Narcoosee's at Grand Floridian! By far better food, my 10 year old felt like a king eating a $300 dinner for "free" and you can go outside on the veranda and watch the fireworks from outside w/ the music or see it from the inside. Definately worth 2 table services. we had an extra because a MK day really is all about counter service anyway. So happy we did this one instead of the others that were available.

 

[SiClone]

We sat on the beach chairs on the beach and watched Wishes the other night. We are staying offsite and had just eaten at Ohanas. The young couples were using the hammocks. There's no way anyone would ask or check to make sure you were a guest at the Poly, so you shouldn't worry about it.

 

[barbmouse]

I recommend eating earlier at Ohana and walking down to the beach area to watch Wishes! Great view and such fun!

 

[fall08CP]

There's no problem watching the fireworks and EWP if you're not a guest there. We watched the EWP @ WL one night after eating @ WCC and the CMs there said it is completely open to anyone- even encouraged. If you want to watch from Ohana, I'd do a 7:15 ressie.

 

[ms*mountaineer]

I would do an ADR at Wishes for around 7pm or 7:15pm - get there a little early and ask for a table near the windows. They do still pipe in the music.

 

[CheriePenguin]

Thanks for the replies so far.

We had such a good experience our first night going to O'Hana on our last trip. I was getting a little worried seeing some of the posts/reviews about things going downhill with both food and service.

I considered watching Wishes from the beach, but as we plan to watch the Electrical Water Pageant from the beach, I wasn't sure if that was pushing it a little long for the beach with the kids - though I suppose a couple of shovels and cups and they'll be fine!
* I DO want to be able to hear the music if possible though, and wasn't sure we can do that from the beach.

I'm still not quite sure I understand how it goes with regard to the fireworks from inside O'Hana - do people go to look out the windows or just stay at their tables? If we finish eating before the fireworks start, I would go out to the beach to watch, but if they start while we're eating I would watch from inside.

 

[AnnetteF]

O'hana is a big restaurant and not all tables have views of MK (and some that did are now blocked by the big volcano pool) or are even near a window, for that matter. People generally stay seated, although I have seen some children who are seated away from the window will sometimes get up and move closer, but it really is not something that everyone in the restaurant can get up and do. If they did, it would be very intrusive to those who are seated next to the windows. You can request a MK view, but no guarantees.

 

[mermaid&cinderella]

I have a 8:30 adr and hoping I will be close enough to the window to enjoy it