Ohana-big ole disappointment

[WriteDisney]

After much debate I decided to give Ohana a shot. It was our first day at Disney and I thought it would be a good dinner. I know the reviews are mixed, but I took a chance. What a mistake. I don't travel to Disney all the time so I didn't know to request a table in the main room. I didn't realize this until they started with the games, and we were missing out on them. I got up with my DS (age 6), and brought him over there. My husband stayed with DD (age 2), so he didn't get to see DS. All that aside the food was not very good. The noodles and dumplings were ok, nothing I couldn't get at Trader Joe's. I did like the salad, but it would have been nice to finish one course before the next came out. I felt like every time I took a breath more food was comming out. I get that it is a popular place, but I felt way too rushed. The meat was so dry, except for the fatty beef. And the shrimp was just gross, not cleaned, and mushy. I was so disappointed in the whole experience. I complained to the manager, he sent over a "special desert", fried bananas, they were good, but not really a big deal.

There are better places at Disney. Save your money and look elseware!!!

I agree with a lot of what you said. I too felt rushed and I thought there was just too much coming at once. I wouldn't go again. DBF liked it and would go again I thought the entertainer was terrible, no kids with us either, but I just didn't think she was up to Disney standards.

I also never felt right after this meal (came down with something the next day) I blame it on this meal even though I have no proof its why I felt sick. I wouldn't go back again.

That said, everyone likes different things. Just my two cents.

 

[mickeysbestfriend]

but our last three times there were very disappointing and it WAS one of our favorite places to dine at WDW.

Our last trip in January was my wifes B-day and even though it said on our ressies that we were celebrating a special occasion (50th) absolutely no acknowledgement was given. To add to the insult, the service was very slow, the meat dry, the shrimp a sticky mess and the famous bread pudding that we have enjoyed in the past was below par.

I am not sure why the service has taken a nose dive the past few years but it has. I read many more negative comments now than ever before on the service which used to be a pleasure.

Before that we held our pre-nuptial dinner there last November and it was ever worse. We were hoping it would improve by January based on the feedback we gave Disney guest communications but that didn't seem to make any difference.

We may try it again if we start reading positive reviews and I hope they get it back on track. I think the free dining has given them a "don't care" attitude when it comes to guest service in the restaurants.

our two pennies

 

[cnjmom]

I find it interesting that you all say you were rushed. Our experience was the opposite. We had an 8:05 ADR. We were seated at 8:15 and didn't exit until 10:05! Our server sort of disappeared for the last hour of our meal.

I talked with a friend who is a regular visitor to Disney and she thinks that those with earlier (around 5 PM) ADRs are rushed and if you have a later ADR, that isn't as likely to happen. I actually would have preferred an earlier ADR with three young kids but couldn't get one.

 

[ToyStory]

We have ate there numerous times. First and second time we loved it. The third time the food was okay, but we had such a great time being able to watch Wishes from our table and my son loved the games. Our fourth time, the food wasn't great and we just didn't feel the magic there anymore. Therefore this trip we aren't eating there.

My sons had a great time at Whispering Canyon so we are eating there again this trip and going to Boma instead of 'Ohana's.

 

[Epcot luvr]

Sorry to hear of your bad experience. We ate there for the first time in April of this year and had a wonderul time. Our server Roy was excellent and the food was very good. We thought it was a steal for the price, we are a little jaded though we live in a large city and the prices to dine out can be very high. We will be going again in December just for the bread pudding, it was that yummy.

 

[livie1205]

Ohana is a MUST every trip for us!! We love it...the service is not very good but we work with that...we go in a tell the server right away to bring the salad,veggies and stuff out WITH the meat so we can sit and enjoy our meal.if we need more we just let them know.We like it better this way,I cant just sit and eat a plate of meat with nothing else.We love the food and it has always been cooked the way we like it.I like the bread pudding more then the other dessert they use to have.We eat out dinner in our own time them go out and watch the fireworks from the beach.
I would NEVER dream of not going to ohana on our wdw vacation,we had one bad dinner there in 6 yrs (someone threw up near our table and they took a long time to clean it) but the mang> sent us a letter in the mail good for 5 adult dinners for our next trip! It covered tip AND drinks.

 

[valeriemouse]

I ate at Ohana on 8/20, and it was my favorite meal of the trip food wise!! I was also there during Wishes and we were seated near a window and I thought it was amazing!!! The dumplings and wings were some of my favorite foods i've ever eaten, and I'm a picky one.

BUT I do get what you mean about it being a different experience by not being where all of the commotion is happening. We weren't near the games and we were a little confused as to what was going on. We just heard this lady's voice coming from somewhere and singing and we didn't realize it was a real person until she was walking around, haha.

 

[CanadaMomto5]

We had a bad experience there as well. Ate something (probably shrimp) that made me ill as can be. I missed half the next day at Epcot, including the Princess Breakfast. What I did see at Epcot I did not really appreciate as I was still not feeling very well.

Even without the illness, we were not impressed. We received no bread. Did not even know about it until I got home and read about it here. Salad was good. Meats cold and tough.

Breakfast was fabulous and we would go back for that.

 

[lucyem]

We ate there in 2004. Even then the reviews were all mixed. It seems to be love or hate. My husband loved it so much he wants to go back. I am on the fence about it. I remember it being crowded and crazy noisy. But I do remember enjoying my food.

 

[bangzoom6877]

On our July 2008 trip we originally had an ADR for the Ohana dinner. Back then you could make ADRs 180 days out, so I made them in January 2008, after reading tons of excellent reviews. Then I started reading some negative reviews a couple of months later. DH and I sat down and discussed it and we decided that we would change the ADR. I still wanted something kid-friendly, and I have boys but I've always wanted to eat with Cinderella. We cancelled Ohana and booked 1900 Park Fare.

What really made us change our minds was when we thought about the type of food they serve there...grilled meat off of skewers. We have some excellent Brazilian BBQ restaurants near where we live, where there is a cold and hot buffet, and you let them know when you are ready for them to bring you meat. They carve the meat right off the skewers and you get as much as you want, all different things (beef tenderloin, pork loin, chicken, duck, rabbit, fish and shellfish, you name it and they have it!). We decided we would most likely be disappointed with Ohana.

We're not planning to go to Ohana on our July 2010 trip either, at least not for dinner. I do hear very good things about the breakfast, Mickey dines there, and they bring the food to you rather than it being buffet, which is more relaxing for a character meal. The one thing that holds me back is that my kids are not into Lilo & Stitch, and I worry they may be afraid of Stitch (they're not familiar with him and they will only be 3 and 5 when we go).

 

[Kricketnp]

Ate there on 8/20 with valeriemouse and had a great time as always. I will agree with the posters that mentioned the shrimp though...it was kind of gross. The server brought over a nearly empty skewer and seemed to just want to get rid of the food left on it, resulting in us getting cold, rubbery shrimp. We definitely didn't ask for seconds of that, but the pork and steak were fantastic. The dessert also made the meal completely worth it...so good!

Personally, I always enjoy Ohana. However, if you're looking for a quiet, conventional meal, this definitely isn't the place for you!

Also, our server was HORRENDOUS. She didn't take our drink orders until we were halfway through our appetizers and rarely came back.

 

[menye]

we also had a mediocre at best dinner there. it is off our list for next time!

 

[valeriemouse]

Also, our server was HORRENDOUS. She didn't take our drink orders until we were halfway through our appetizers and rarely came back.

I second that! Horrendous. I won't flame her by writing her name here or anything, but the fact that we still remember her name surely means something!!

 

[iloveeeyore]

Where is there a room that is not the main dining room? I can only visualize a great big room with the oven in the center?

 

[pepe of ohio]

And that was enough. The price is steep, and food mediocre at best. We felt like it was a glorified Golden Corral. The semi raw beef, questionable pork, and do it yourself shrimp were just not to our liking for the amount of money we paid. My statement always is: how much can you eat? I just rather order what I prefer, have it delivered to my table, eat and be gone. Years ago when it was our first time and this was a semi new eatery dining experience, we decided to give it a try, wasn't impressed from the first, then decided to give it another go a couple trips later and it was worse. We were basically ignored, drinks, food, dessert, we had to grab and server running by and ask, how about some service. We got up and left, manager came up to us and asked the problem, we explain, he apologized and comped our meals, which we didn't want but said we would not return and gave us slips for a few future meal, which we still have and that was 5 trips ago. We don't even consider the dinner meal there anymore. I'll take a Kona meal any day of the week, but O'hauna's is out. Sorry.

 

[Pooh's-Honey-Pot]

I'm sorry you had a bad experience. We ate there in May for the first time and loved the food and will definitely be going back! I know what you mean about it being rushed though - I didn't enjoy that aspect at all!! My DH and I can eat, but even we like time to take a breath now and again!!!!

 

[zima-cheryl]

subbing....

We are at the Poly for our upcoming trip & considering 'Ohanna for one night.

 

[zima-cheryl]

DH & I just got back & I did a little review of our meal @ 'Ohanna.
Posting it here in case it may be useful to someone.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=33701811#post33701811

 

[KeeperOfTheCastle]

I have an ADR for Ohana on the my last night of my vacation. I was also on the fence whether I should keep this ressie. I have made up my mind to CANCEL. This is not the kind of atmosphere or food I want for my last night at Disney.Thanks everyone for the info on this restaurant.

 

[IckyMickey]

This is a bit embarassing, but are turkey and pork suppose to be pink in the middle? I always thought it was suppose to be white, but reading some reviews it looks like pink's ok.

When we were there last November it was pink and I was afraid to eat it and by the time I finished taking pictures of my DH doing the birthday dance and my son doing the hula it was cold, so I didn't eat it anyways. We're heading back this November for another try and I dont want to worry if it's pink again.

Thanks!