Ohana Check-In Problems -- How would you improve it?

[TDC Nala]

I was at the Tambu lounge last week before 'Ohana even opened and the check-in line was across the lobby at least a half hour before they began seating people. So showing up AT opening won't mean you don't have to wait in a long line.

 

[DisneyFamily123]

I was at the Tambu lounge last week before 'Ohana even opened and the check-in line was across the lobby at least a half hour before they began seating people. So showing up AT opening won't mean you don't have to wait in a long line.

I kind of remember hearing that Ohana was some other restaurant before. I wonder if it is just too big for its britches. The lines to get in really take away from peacefulness of the music and water in the Polynesian's lobby. If I were the "King of Disney"..... I'd try to put Ohana somewhere else (another building) at the Polynesian, move Kona Cafe into where Ohana is now and still use it for the character breakfast.... and use the Kona Cafe space for a bigger lounge area with more yummy tropical drinks and light food/sushi.

 

[TDC Nala]

It was actually very entertaining having a drink and watching the guests come in and observe the line.

 

[DisneyFamily123]

It was actually very entertaining having a drink and watching the guests come in and observe the line.

That's what we should have done! Could have gotten something from Capt. Cooks for DS and we could have just had a liquid dinner!!!

 

[apcs]

The lack of effort to fix what is obviously a problem is the most disturbing part. I think two lines, one for ADR check in and one for walk-ups, is the right thing to do.

So I have an ADR for next week at 4:50 pm - Ohana opens at 4:30. Are you telling me I should be there at 3:50 or earlier? Holy smokes. Might not be worth going. Do they give you a pager to call you up when your table is ready as a regular practice?

 

[chloelovesdisney]

It should never take more than 10 minutes to check in at any restaurant, they need to speed up the process somehow - better computer system, more people hired to check people in, but something needs to be fixed. I also waited 45 minutes on line to check in at the Sci-Fi, it was ridiculous.

 

[cymbaldiva]

The only improvement is making sure you are on time for you next reservation.As you stated you had 5:10 reservations and you arrived at 5:10 which in turn makes you late under Disneys reservation rules.So If you arrived on time which is twenty minutes before your reservation time then I would say you have a point but there is nothing to improve here but your own time management. Sorry to be so blunt nothing against you just this issue is not Disney's fault and you are trying to make it one.

Ok, I have a problem with this post - the OP is on time but they're late....really? - so I did a quick search on adr policy just to make sure. Current policy online per http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/faq/dining/#subCategory3 reads:

Yes, reservations are available-and highly recommended-at many Walt Disney World Resort restaurants. You may make reservations by calling (407) WDW-DINE or (407) 939-3463. Guests under age 18 must have parent or guardian permission to call. It is recommended that you arrive at restaurants 5 minutes prior to your seating time. You will be seated at the next available table that can accommodate your party.

In reading that I don't see how the OP was "late" ~ I'm not trying to throw blame one way or another, but I really don't see how this situation was the OP's fault

What happened to the OP is apparently not uncommon; check in at Ohanas is a nightmare at best - Disney really does need to be made aware of the problems with check-in and seating at their restaurants so appropriate changes can be made.

Just my .02

 

[Tiger926]

This discussion brings up other WDW restaurants that also have major check-in problems: Boma, Chef Mickeys, Crystal Palace, Tusker House, etc. I can keep going, but I don't think I need to. Tusker House for example, has a major check-in problem right at park opening, as the park managers close the park to everyone due to safety issues. Despite knowing this, they refuse to come up with any other solution besides holding up guests - they continue to take ADRs at this time, etc. Doesn't make any sense...they have the power to work out a better solution, just like they do at 'Ohana, yet they don't care to.

There are many on here who recognize that 'Ohana is a nightmare, and that is true, but there are other restaurants on Disney property that are horrible for check-in as well. We have eaten pretty much everywhere, and it is very common for many TS restaurants to have check-in issues and make guests wait.

We are a family who shows up early for our ADRs - we don't expect to be seated early, but we show up early to get that check-in process started, because at certain restaurants it is a nightmare. Some of this can be attributed to:

1. guests at character meals who take an insanely long time to eat (hogging characters)

2. guests who lose ADRS or pretend they have lost them, never having made them in the first place

3. guests who insist on walking up, despite being told there are going to be long waits

4. guests who are very late for ADRs

5. restaurant check-in issues

We have experienced all of these, and then some when checking into TS restaurants over all of our trips. 'Ohana is bar far one of the worst, as their management team is horrible, as is the kitchen and most of the service staff. When you have a lounge area with couches set up with a performer outside of the restaurant, you are in for a massively long wait.

We eat at Kona all of the time, as it's our fav TS, and we never experience any of the same issues. It's a smaller place, no characters or buffets, etc., but they are more efficient. I see many walk ups go over to Kona from 'Ohana hoping to get tables, yet the front staff is able to handle questions and concerns in a much more efficient fashion than at 'Ohana.

It makes for an interesting discussion of what can be done about it? I tend to think it's a combination of inefficient restaurants, problem ADRs and guests who take way too long to dine there.

Can anything be done? Sure it can. Will it? Probably not...Waiting is the name of the game at WDW, and so I think since guests are used to waiting, WDW isn't concerned.

Tiger

 

[NMW]

It was actually very entertaining having a drink and watching the guests come in and observe the line.

That is exactly what we do! We get there at least 30-45 mins before our ADR time, sometimes even more, and have drinks at the lounge. I find it entertaining to watch people start freaking out at the podium. It's sad, I know.

I can say that breakfast does not have nearly the insanity that dinner does. We eat breakfast at 'Ohana a lot and have never had any issues. We check in, get our family photo, and get seated 1-2-3. The servers also do not rush you out of there the way they do at dinner.

I honestly think 'Ohana does not live up to the hype it gets. The food is okay, but not amazing. However, like I wrote in an earlier post, DH and I have decided to take it off our list for good based on our last 3 dinners there. We will continue to eat breakfast there however. We also plan to stop by the lounge for tropical drinks before our dinner at Norcoosees on our next trip.

 

[tgropp]

The only improvement is making sure you are on time for you next reservation.As you stated you had 5:10 reservations and you arrived at 5:10 which in turn makes you late under Disneys reservation rules.So If you arrived on time which is twenty minutes before your reservation time then I would say you have a point but there is nothing to improve here but your own time management. Sorry to be so blunt nothing against you just this issue is not Disney's fault and you are trying to make it one.

I dont understand on how you figure that this is okay for OHanas to treat a customer this way. If there are so many people waiting in a chaotic line that is not progressing due to poor management or maybe even an issue like a computer problem which is out of managements control, it is still wrong to blame a customer. I am sure that the way this evening was going, that some diners were there 20 minutes ahead of time and still did not reach the podium on time. The restaurants try to push as many people through their establishment every evening and occurnces like this happen on a regular basis. I would not be happy with this expeirence and I am sure the majority of diners would be either.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

We like to check in way early and drink, too Particularly nice at Yachtsman and Jiko.

 

[SweetMissy]

This is horrible to hear because we have breakfast reservations there. I hope we don't have this problem! I'm sorry you had a bad experience with them.

 

[NMW]

We like to check in way early and drink, too Particularly nice at Yachtsman and Jiko.

The Crews Cup Lounge is one of our favorite places to drink, before dinner at Yachtsman, or just anytime. One night we were there waiting for dinner and people were there for a convention and they were having an Indiana Jones themed costume party. It was so much fin to watch them come in the bar in costume. The bar tenders are awesome there as well. We have had so much fun there over the years

 

[DisneyFamily123]

This is horrible to hear because we have breakfast reservations there. I hope we don't have this problem! I'm sorry you had a bad experience with them.

In 2009, we didn't have the problem with breakfast. We had 2 breakfasts there at about 8:30am and the restaurant was not full at all but that was a slower time of year -- end of October. Stitch, Lilo, Mickey, and Pluto were great there.

 

[Coconuts]

This is horrible to hear because we have breakfast reservations there. I hope we don't have this problem! I'm sorry you had a bad experience with them.

We've been to both breakfast and dinner there, and the check-in fiasco is far worse at dinner.

 

[OurDogCisco]

Omgosh... the last time I ate here was Dec 2006 and we waited 60 minutes after our ADR to be seated. They even told us that we were late check-in for our ADR but the line was sooooo long. We were there 15 minutes before too. So, basically we waited 1 hour and 15 minutes for our table. They tried to blame it on our large party of 7 people and they couldn't get a table together. Anyways, never again. We haven't gone back and never will. I'm just appalled that it is still an issue. They really need to get their act together.

 

[Tiger926]

We've been to both breakfast and dinner there, and the check-in fiasco is far worse at dinner.

I can't imagine how much worse. We've been to breakfast 2x, and both times were total chaos.

Tiger

 

[C&B Young]

When we were seated, there were many empty tables in the restaurant. So, what's going on? Do they seat in waves or something?

We ate at 'Ohana Dec. 1 and experienced much of the same frustrations as you. Our ADR was for 8:10pm, when checking in there was a huge line-up (as always) and the CM's at the podium said they were having computer problems. We eventually got our pager and had a seat. We were getting a bit nervous (knowing the "system upgrades" that were going on) & checked back with the podium at 8:30 to make sure we were still in queue for a table. They said that we were, and would get the next table for 2 (one CM said that the computer had been assigning some people with ADR's as walk-ups instead!).

We eventually were seated around 8:45, and were surprised to find ourselves at the rear of the restaurant (by the windows) in a SEA of empty tables. Didn't make sense at all given that the lobby was jam-packed with people waiting for tables. Service was pretty slow, and by the time we eventually ate & got out of there it was around 10:30 pm. We had to cab it back to our resort because the buses & monorails from the MK had stopped running. We love 'Ohana, but it's not going on our ADR list for next time unless they get their act together.

 

[mollygirl13]

I totally agree that there is a huge check-in problem at 'Ohana

If you don't get there 30-45 min before your ADR, you may be considered late. Our ADR was for 5pm and folks started lining up at the podium before 4:30!

It is a zoo on the 2nd floor around 5 pm, with the line going well past Kona. On our last trip, by 5 PM, the line was almost out the door to the Monorail! I commented to DH that thank goodness we are ALWAYS very early otherwise we would have truly missed our ADR through no fault of our own.

I'm not sure what the solution is. But I do think that they need to have a CM there well before the first ADR to at least get the ball rolling. Then, as soon as the crowds start rolling in, they need to have MULTIPLE CM's checking people in.

I agree w/ the PP. DH and I will not be back unless they get their act together. It was way too crazy!

 

[NMW]

I can't imagine how much worse. We've been to breakfast 2x, and both times were total chaos.

Tiger

We have never had an issue with breakfast. However, we do breakfast around 7:30 AM. It may get crazier as the morning goes on.