Ohana breakfast worth AK late arrival?

[tfoster]

Is Ohana's breakfast good enough to arrive late at AK? The ADR is for 9:10 AM, so I'm thinking we wouldn't get to AK until 11 AM or so. Are the food and character interaction good enough to give up some morning time at the park? (It's on a Friday with crowd calendar index of 4.) TIA.

 

[B-Ride]

I would normally say no as we are early tourers finding that the best way to avoid crowds. But with a crowd calendar index of 4 it doesn't sound like too much of an issue. And arriving late at AK is no big deal as it is a half day park anyways.

 

[MSSANDRA]

Maybe consider doing the donald breakfast at AK instead. Get an 8:00 time and be done when the park opens. This is our favorite CM breakfast anyway!!

 

[TillyMarigold]

What time of year? AK gets really, really hot so it's best to be out by noon or 1 pm if you're going in the hot season.

I don't understand people who say AK is a half-day park. On our last trip we spent 2½ days there and could easily have spent at least another half-day.

 

[lilunsure]

Ohana's is my DD favorite character breakfast, but I would not do it on a day we were going to be going to the Animal Kingdom.

 

[tfoster]

Thanks all. We're going in December so hot weather shouldn't be an issue. It's kind-of a long story, but I HAD a Donald's ADR originally but then changed our days around when Disney added new F! shows (so we wouldn't be in DH on an "avoid" day). I've been trying to get a new one for our new AK day but haven't been able to do so. The other day, when I was checking (again) for Donald's, Ohana popped up as an alternative.

We were luckily able to get a Cape May breakfast for our Epcot day, which we're now very excited about. We're still missing a meal with Mickey, though, so I'm wondering if seeing him at Ohana is worth a late arrival at AK. Hence, the motivation for this thread.

 

[Brian Noble]

It's really up to you---which would you rather not miss?

I'd rather not miss the morning in AK, but that's me.

 

[tfoster]

It's really up to you---which would you rather not miss?

I'd rather not miss the morning in AK, but that's me.

That's the dilemma - I don't know which I'd rather not miss because I've never been to Ohana and I've never been to AK first thing in the morning. We've never arrived at a park before mid-morning but I'm working on my family's turning over a new leaf on this trip. We're committed to Epcot and MK for early morning, planning a late morning arrival for DH, and currently up in the air for AK.

 

[PearlySwan]

That's the dilemma - I don't know which I'd rather not miss because I've never been to Ohana and I've never been to AK first thing in the morning. We've never arrived at a park before mid-morning but I'm working on my family's turning over a new leaf on this trip. We're committed to Epcot and MK for early morning, planning a late morning arrival for DH, and currently up in the air for AK.

^^^ It can be done. We had 7:55AM Ohana's ressie on our AK day. True, you will be arriving much later to AK because your ressie is for 9:10AM. However, we were working against three variables: 1. we had light rain that morning (thank goodness we had the ADR at Ohana's until the rain died out), 2. hot weather in late June, and 3. large park crowds at AK. In spite of all that, we did AK after our Ohana breakfast, which was a blast! If I were you I wouldn't give up that Ohana reservation as they are difficult to get. The other option would be for you to keep checking for an earlier ADR at Ohana's the same morning, OR switch things around a bit so you can go to Tusker House on your AK morning. Some of our better ADRs came up last minute. Remember people have to cancel reservations all the time. If you can do both, I would recommend trying both Tusker House and Ohana's . We did both restaurants on our AK days. We had park hoppers so we were able to do AK two separate mornings during our trip. Hope it all works out for you!

 

[tfoster]

^^^ It can be done. We had 7:55AM Ohana's ressie on our AK day. True, you will be arriving much later to AK because your ressie is for 9:10AM. However, we were working against three variables: 1. we had light rain that morning (thank goodness we had the ADR at Ohana's until the rain died out), 2. hot weather in late June, and 3. large park crowds at AK. In spite of all that, we did AK after our Ohana breakfast, which was a blast! If I were you I wouldn't give up that Ohana reservation as they are difficult to get. The other option would be for you to keep checking for an earlier ADR at Ohana's the same morning, OR switch things around a bit so you can go to Tusker House on your AK morning. Some of our better ADRs came up last minute. Remember people have to cancel reservations all the time. If you can do both, I would recommend trying both Tusker House and Ohana's . We did both restaurants on our AK days. We had park hoppers so we were able to do AK two separate mornings during our trip. Hope it all works out for you!

Thanks for sharing your experience. You know what's kind-of funny is that I would never have even considered Ohana's breakfast had it not popped up as an alternative because we're not into Lilo and Stitch. I didn't have a clue until I looked more closely that Mickey and Pluto were there too!

I think we'll plan on going to the breakfast and then to AK late. In the meantime, I'll do as you suggest - keep checking for an earlier Ohana ADR or for a Donald's ADR on that day.

 

[TinkerbellinLouisian]

The "Ohana Breakfast is NOT to be missed! It is fabulous! You'll be very happy you went...

I truly believe you will see everything in Animal Kingdom that you want to see...even with an early "Ohana Breakfast...

You are doing some Great Planning....Believe in it!

Have a Magical Visit,

Mary

(Cape May doesn't even APPROACH the fun you'll have at "Ohana!)

 

[MJAJmom]

From a pure food perspective, Ohana is my least favorite character meal for breakfast. I much prefer a buffet with a wide choice of hot/cold food selections, especially for my little boys. Ohana's menu is limited. The place can get very busy, so the later you arrive in the morning, the longer you might wait in line to check in and get seated.

I would recommend it if your family really liked Lilo and Stitch, because that's the only character meal that features them. I also think it's very attractive to have breakfast there before going to MK, because it's right on the monorail line, so that you're not spending too much time travelling. It's certainly worth trying it once, but make sure it fits into your schedule.

Have a wonderful trip!!!

 

[CapnJacksGirl]

'Ohana is now our can't miss character breakfast! We went in September for the first time and had so much fun! Mickey in his Hawaiian shirt is so adorable, and even if you aren't into Lilo and Stitch, they are a lot of fun. Stitch is such a goofball - way more interaction with him than any other characters we've been around!

As for the food, it was one of our favorite MEALS as well. Yes, it's limited, but it's nice to not have to go up to the buffet all the time. The food is on your table almost instantly after you sit down and it is delicious. I could've eaten my weight in their welcome bread!

I'd say go for it! Enjoy 'Ohana, then hustle on over to AK. I disagree with all the people who say AK is a half-day park, but you should be able to do most of what you want to do there. Just have a plan.

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the previous poster who said you're doing wonderful planning - trust it! I wish we could all trust our planning and not be so stressed out! You'll have a great time!

 

[JennSaint]

Personally I would keep checking for a reservation to open up at Donalds. If you don't get one I guess I'd keep Ohana's. Though no characters Boma's at AKL has a terrific breakfast buffet.

 

[TinkerbellinLouisian]

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the previous poster who said you're doing wonderful planning - trust it! I wish we could all trust our planning and not be so stressed out! You'll have a great time!

Thank You CapnJacksGirl !!!

"'Ohana Means Family....and Family means No one ever Gets Left Behind"

I understand PP mentioning buffets to please picky kids...I've done that before....but it was to EAT not to Experience.....

We love the food at "Ohana Breakfast...but we "Do 'Ohana" PRIMARILY for the EXPERIENCE! The characters are wonderful...they parade the kids around with mariachi's....(I've seen Toddlers...and Pre-Teens parade around having the GRANDEST old time...)

Got too many pics of Good Times at 'Ohana to think any differently...

Have a magical visit!

Mary