Ohana Dining Time ?

[M_I_C_K_E_Y]

If we arrive at the airport at 4:00 pm and will be taking ME to POP, what time is the earliest I could make dinner reservations at Ohana's.

I figured it would take time to get to ME, board, transport, check into hotel, find room, maybe relax for a very short time and then head out for dinner.

I was thinking about doing Ohana's for dinner and then watching the fireworks from the Poly beach. Would 7:00 be pushing it with this schedule? Or would 7:30 be better? The fireworks are at 9 pm. Will this time frame work?

 

[PictureJumpr]

If you want to see the fireworks from inside Ohana with the music piped in, then the 730 may work better - you're more likely to still be there at 9 with a slightly later starting point.

If you want to be finished with dinner and out on the beach for Wishes, then the 7pm timeframe is probably better - you're more likely to be completely finished and paid/signed off with the earlier starting point.

Either case sounds do-able with a three hour lapse between airport and dinner. We usually allow two hours from touchdown to walking into our room, and it usually works out to be about right. We usually stay at CBR, which is right next to Pop, so transportation times should be approximately the same.

 

[M_I_C_K_E_Y]

If you want to see the fireworks from inside Ohana with the music piped in, then the 730 may work better - you're more likely to still be there at 9 with a slightly later starting point.

If you want to be finished with dinner and out on the beach for Wishes, then the 7pm timeframe is probably better - you're more likely to be completely finished and paid/signed off with the earlier starting point.

Either case sounds do-able with a three hour lapse between airport and dinner. We usually allow two hours from touchdown to walking into our room, and it usually works out to be about right. We usually stay at CBR, which is right next to Pop, so transportation times should be approximately the same.

We wanted to watch from the beach, so 7:00 pm is what I should ask for? So, if it takes 2 hrs to get to the hotel and check in - one hour is enough time to freshen up in our room and get over to Ohana's?

Sorry for my silly question but I have never been to WDW before and it all seems a little overwhelming.

Am I right in what I read that we can watch both the fireworks and the Electric Parade from the Poly beach one after the other?

 

[PictureJumpr]

As long as 'freshen up' means change shirts and/or wash faces, you should be fine. If the whole family needs to shower, change clothes, nap... maybe not.

Yes, you can see both the parade and the fireworks from the beach at the Poly. If I remember correctly, the parade passes the Poly beach about quarter to nine.

 

[lcasa]

Don't count on landing on time! The airlines seem to get worse and worse about being on time. I'd add a buffer. For one of my prior trips I allowed 3 hours from airport to California Grill, and was 30 min late - my 'brushing up' was in the lady's room at the hotel!

But this is a great thread - I'm going in June (5th trip ) but on the Dining Plan for the first time - and I didn't even know Ohana had the piped in fireworks music! Since I don't want to spend the 2 credits for California Grill - this will definitely be early on my ADR list.

 

[M_I_C_K_E_Y]

As long as 'freshen up' means change shirts and/or wash faces, you should be fine. If the whole family needs to shower, change clothes, nap... maybe not.

Yes, you can see both the parade and the fireworks from the beach at the Poly. If I remember correctly, the parade passes the Poly beach about quarter to nine.

Yes,
I just meant change, brush, etc... I thought I read Poly about 9 but if the fireworks were at 9, it would be immediately after the finale. Do you know anything about that?

Don't count on landing on time! The airlines seem to get worse and worse about being on time. I'd add a buffer. For one of my prior trips I allowed 3 hours from airport to California Grill, and was 30 min late - my 'brushing up' was in the lady's room at the hotel!

But this is a great thread - I'm going in June (5th trip ) but on the Dining Plan for the first time - and I didn't even know Ohana had the piped in fireworks music! Since I don't want to spend the 2 credits for California Grill - this will definitely be early on my ADR list.

Let's hope we don't land late since I am already sad about arriving so late in the day. But very good point! If we are late, will they still allow us to be seated late?

 

[noahdove]

Amy you little devil..your first trip to the Happiest Place on Earth and here I thought you have been many times...have a wonderful trip and a magical time....with all the joy you spread to us here, you deserve the Happiest time....enjoy every moment...I'll expect a little trip report....do you have all of your shirts done???

 

[TruBlu]

Our dinner there took over 3 hours, so you may not make it out in time to watch the fireworks from the beach. But, if you are planning to watch them from inside you should be fine. I don't know how willing they are to seat you near the windows, but I would definitely request that. We were seated at a table near the entrance and couldn't see outside at all.

 

[M_I_C_K_E_Y]

Amy you little devil..your first trip to the Happiest Place on Earth and here I thought you have been many times...have a wonderful trip and a magical time....with all the joy you spread to us here, you deserve the Happiest time....enjoy every moment...I'll expect a little trip report....do you have all of your shirts done???

Marilyn,
Thanks for your continued kindness! Oh No, no shirts yet, still in the planning stages!

Our dinner there took over 3 hours, so you may not make it out in time to watch the fireworks from the beach. But, if you are planning to watch them from inside you should be fine. I don't know how willing they are to seat you near the windows, but I would definitely request that. We were seated at a table near the entrance and couldn't see outside at all.

3 hours - really? I was thinking maybe an hour or hour and a half. What am I not getting? I know it is a buffet - right? and that the characters wander around? anything else? I certainly do not want to feel rushed but would love to see them from the beach (I heard the view is amazing) HELP!!!!!

 

[PictureJumpr]

Ohana is neither a character meal nor a buffet for dinner.

It is served family-style (large platters/bowls of things instead of individual plates), and there are no characters. There are coconut races and such for the kids. The meats are brought around on skewers and carved at the table.

We've usually been there about an hour and a half to complete dinner and take care of the check, but I know that we've done it in about an hour when trying to make fireworks too.

The characters are only at Ohana for breakfast.

 

[LisaNJ25]

Marilyn,
Thanks for your continued kindness! Oh No, no shirts yet, still in the planning stages!




3 hours - really? I was thinking maybe an hour or hour and a half. What am I not getting? I know it is a buffet - right? and that the characters wander around? anything else? I certainly do not want to feel rushed but would love to see them from the beach (I heard the view is amazing) HELP!!!!!

Characters are only at Breakfast.. not dinner. Its also Family style, not a buffet. I have eaten there 2 times and was there was an 1 1/2 hours at most.

 

[M_I_C_K_E_Y]

Ohana is neither a character meal nor a buffet for dinner.
It is served family-style (large platters/bowls of things instead of individual plates), and there are no characters. There are coconut races and such for the kids. The meats are brought around on skewers and carved at the table.
We've usually been there about an hour and a half to complete dinner and take care of the check, but I know that we've done it in about an hour when trying to make fireworks too.
The characters are only at Ohana for breakfast.

Characters are only at Breakfast.. not dinner. Its also Family style, not a buffet. I have eaten there 2 times and was there was an 1 1/2 hours at most.

Thanks for the remind! I did know that at one time (when I decided we wanted to eat there) but now my brain is swimming with so much information and restaurants that my brain feels a little mushy!

It is great to know that we can do dinner in an hour or hour and a half. You are all so helpful! Any other tips?

 

[LisaNJ25]

Thanks for the remind! I did know that at one time (when I decided we wanted to eat there) but now my brain is swimming with so much information and restaurants that my brain feels a little mushy!

It is great to know that we can do dinner in an hour or hour and a half. You are all so helpful! Any other tips?

lol.. when are you going amy?? Do you have a bunch of your custom shirts to wear? I will have to pop over to your thread now that I have a trip booked this year.

 

[M_I_C_K_E_Y]

lol.. when are you going amy?? Do you have a bunch of your custom shirts to wear? I will have to pop over to your thread now that I have a trip booked this year.

Still in the early planning stages so I am unsure about shirts. I am just trying to understand/learn about all things WDW!

I would love for you to Pop over to my thread. Beware, if it's been while since you have visited me, that I am only doing non-Disney designs. But we have lots of very hard working designers in our little corner so you will find more than you can ever use for your trip!

 

[TruBlu]

I think our 3 hour dinner was a result of a bad CM. We had to wait FOREVER between each serving. We didn't even get any refils on the meats. I just wanted to warn you that a long meal is a possibility. But, I bet if you get a good CM and you tell them that you want to make it out to the beach for the fireworks, they will surely make sure you are finished in time.

The fireworks from the beach at the Poly are amazing! That was one of our favorite memories from our trip. We watched the 10pm Wishes while the kids built a drip sandcastle in the edge of the water.

 

[M_I_C_K_E_Y]

I think our 3 hour dinner was a result of a bad CM. We had to wait FOREVER between each serving. We didn't even get any refils on the meats. I just wanted to warn you that a long meal is a possibility. But, I bet if you get a good CM and you tell them that you want to make it out to the beach for the fireworks, they will surely make sure you are finished in time.

The fireworks from the beach at the Poly are amazing! That was one of our favorite memories from our trip. We watched the 10pm Wishes while the kids built a drip sandcastle in the edge of the water.

Thank you very much for your advice. I only hope that watching from the beach is equally as memorable and special for us!

 

[lcasa]

Yes,
I just meant change, brush, etc... I thought I read Poly about 9 but if the fireworks were at 9, it would be immediately after the finale. Do you know anything about that?



Let's hope we don't land late since I am already sad about arriving so late in the day. But very good point! If we are late, will they still allow us to be seated late?

They did seat us - we had to wait a little, but they were very understanding...must happen a lot.

 

[Terri2007]

As long as 'freshen up' means change shirts and/or wash faces, you should be fine. If the whole family needs to shower, change clothes, nap... maybe not.

Yes, you can see both the parade and the fireworks from the beach at the Poly. If I remember correctly, the parade passes the Poly beach about quarter to nine.

Sorry, off topic, but what parade passes the Poly beach?