Ohana Dilemma

[vac'nlovr]

I got an ADR at Ohana for Fri, Oct 2nd at 8:15 pm, but was hoping for earlier as we are staying at the Bay Lake Tower (MK view 1 BR villa) and I was planning on returning to our room to watch MK fireworks from our balcony (HalloWishes that night).

Questions:
How long would dinner likely take at Ohana? Should I bother checking back frequently online to see if I can score an earlier reservation?

I understand you can see the fireworks from Ohana, also from the beach at the Poly. Where would be better to see the fireworks, at the Poly or back at our resort room?

BTW,we will be going to MNNSHP on Tues, Oct 6th, so will see the Fireworks in the park on that night.

Any advice/opinions much appreciated!

 

[CathieArms]

If you think you'd prefer an earlier time, DEFINITELY keep checking back. I've managed to modify 8 out of 10 reservations to the exact times (with 10 minutes) that I wanted.

 

[Texas Disney Fan]

I got an ADR at Ohana for Fri, Oct 2nd at 8:15 pm, but was hoping for earlier as we are staying at the Bay Lake Tower (MK view 1 BR villa) and I was planning on returning to our room to watch MK fireworks from our balcony (HalloWishes that night).

Questions:
How long would dinner likely take at Ohana? Should I bother checking back frequently online to see if I can score an earlier reservation?

I understand you can see the fireworks from Ohana, also from the beach at the Poly. Where would be better to see the fireworks, at the Poly or back at our resort room?

BTW,we will be going to MNNSHP on Tues, Oct 6th, so will see the Fireworks in the park on that night.

Any advice/opinions much appreciated!

Dinner will take at least an hour. We just bought into DVC at BLT and are looking forward to seeing the fireworks at least once from our balcony. I am not sure that I would give that up.

I think you can only see the fireworks from some of the tables at Ohana not all. I would keep checking for an earlier time or maybe try for a different day.

 

[bunkkinsmom]

We ate dinner at Ohanas last January specifically to see the fireworks. We ate and then went to the beach and watched Wishes. It was beautiful!

 

[cnjmom]

We loved the meal at 'Ohana, but the service was very slow when we went three weeks ago. Our ADR was for 8:05 and we were seated within 10 minutes of that time. We weren't leaving the restaurant until 10:05. Wishes (which started at 10 that night) was already in progress.

 

[webprinter]

Dinner was very slow the night we went to Ohana. We only waited 10-15 minutes to be seated, but the rest was very very slow. When wishes started, we basically didn't get any service.

 

[Lilmattie13]

I have a 9:50 ressie for Sept 27 and I am so upset about it. I got up right before six am on the 90 day mark and thats all that was available on the online reservation. I then called at 7 am and there was nothing I cant believe it as I tried right away when the reservations opened.

I am horrified to think I will be eating that late. I have tried over and over to get something earlier online but with absolutely no luck. NOTHING comes up available for that day at any time, I have tried.

I am still goign to try to change the ressie once we get there. I am really hoping someone will be able to help, especially where we are staying at the Poly. Boy I hope so. I cant even imagine trying to digest food at that hour.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

Another thing you can try is just to show up early. Just show up about 15 minutes before you'd like to eat and see if you can be seated early, chances are that they might... you may have to wait a little extra longer but it shouldn't be too bad. Plus, if for what ever reason you aren't seated, you can just wonder around the Poly- it wouldn't hurt to try imo.

We showed up early to a lot of ADRs last year. Not because we didn't like our ADR time but because we were just tired or hungry and were just ready to eat dinner, not once did we have to wait until our actual ADR time when we arrived early... and at a couple of places such as Le Cellier and Garden View Tea Room, they were very happy we got there earlier- before the rush.

 

[vac'nlovr]

After 2+ weeks of checking daily (usually only once or twice) I lucked out tonight with changing the time for the last reservation that I wanted to tweak to a better time. I now have all my ressies at the times I am happy with!

My advice, if you can do it online, just keep checking for the time you want.

 

[jcemom]

Keep checking for an earlier time. We have waited over 30 minutes just to check in. Once you're seated you should allow about an hour for dinner. I think the fireworks are more centered from the Poly than the CR, but still, if I were you, I'd want to watch from my room. You're going to be closer, and you paid for that view.

I hope you can get an earlier time. Is HalloWishes at 9:30? If so then I'd think you would want to be out of 'Ohana by 9:00 at the latest. I'd try for an ADR around 7:30 or a little earlier. That's only 45 minutes earlier than what you have. I think if you can't get something more suitable then showing up at 7:00-7:15 might be a good strategy. We've been both early and late to 'Ohana and had no problem being seated either way. Good luck.

 

[MLC2002]

As everyone has suggested, keep checking online... and/or by phone. Others are continuously changing their ADRs, too.

If you do not get an earlier time, do not count on seeing Hallowishes from your room. In fact, you will probably miss the beginning even if you watch it from the Poly beach.

It is nice to watch the fireworks from the Poly beach... great, relaxing place with a good view of the fireworks. However, considering the points/price you have paid for a MK view at BLT, you will certainly want to make sure you get to watch the fireworks from your balcony at least once... if not that night, on another.

We are staying at BLT, too... our stay overlaps with yours. We initially planned for a MK view, but when I realized Wishes was only one night during our stay I decided a Bay Lake view was better... we would rather watch wishes from MK than our room since it is only being shown once. HalloWishes will be shown 3 nights during our stay... we will only be in our room one night to watch it from our room... just wasn't worth it to me.

Enjoy your vacation... can't wait to stay at BLT!

 

[vac'nlovr]

I mangaged to solve my dilemma, by changing the day of my Ohana reservation. Got Sun, Oct 4th at Ohana for 6:55 pm, and instead booked the Cali Grill for 7:15pm for Fri. Oct 2nd. Now my plan is to watch the HalloWishes on Fri, Oct 2nd from either the viewing deck at the CR, or our room, and then on Sun, Oct 4th we can go to the Poly beach to see Wishes after our dinner. Anyone know what time the Electric Water Pageant goes by the Poly?

This leaves us with 2 other nights (Sat, Oct 3rd and Mon, Oct 5th that we could be viewing Wishes from our room balcony too. Very excited about our stay at BLT, and looking forward to reading some reviews about it after the first visitors have been there in August!

 

[MLC2002]

I mangaged to solve my dilemma, by changing the day of my Ohana reservation. Got Sun, Oct 4th at Ohana for 6:55 pm, and instead booked the Cali Grill for 7:15pm for Fri. Oct 2nd. Now my plan is to watch the HalloWishes on Fri, Oct 2nd from either the viewing deck at the CR, or our room, and then on Sun, Oct 4th we can go to the Poly beach to see Wishes after our dinner. Anyone know what time the Electric Water Pageant goes by the Poly?

This leaves us with 2 other nights (Sat, Oct 3rd and Mon, Oct 5th that we could be viewing Wishes from our room balcony too. Very excited about our stay at BLT, and looking forward to reading some reviews about it after the first visitors have been there in August!

Glad it all worked out for you. It sounds like you've planned for the best of ALL worlds... awesome! You were lucky to switch your ADR at Ohana so easily.

After reading your plans, I want to vacation with you! ;-)

I believe the Electrical Water Pageant usually starts about 9 at the Poly... sometimes it is slightly later, if Wishes starts at 9.

 

[jcemom]

Happy to hear you worked it out!

And yes, the EWP starts at the Poly at 9:00. I have also read that it will start later if Wishes is at 9:00, but that has not been our experience. Twice we have seen it run consecutively with Wishes, both at 9:00.