OHana dinner fireworks ?

[chimo2u]

Hello
I am hoping someone who's done this can help me pick a good ADR timing for our dinner. I want to watch the fireworks either at the window, during dinner, or take a walk to the beach after dinner. If anyone has done this, which would you recommend? Staying in the restaurant and watching during our meal, or finishing earlier and taking a walk outside to the beach?
What time should I make a dinner ressie for if I want to do this?
TIA for your help!

 

[stashbin]

Find out what time Wishes starts and book your table for at least 1 1/2 hour before because most people do the same thing. FYI: the back left round table is the best one. Good Luck!

 

[FOURCRUZAN]

In 2006 we had dinner at O'Hana and then we watched the fireworks from the beach! It was fantastic! In my opinion, you are better off going to the beach to watch the fireworks, because the O'Hana is so busy with different activities for the kids, the fire from cooking, etc. I think it would be hard to focus on both. My children loved the O'Hana. The also loved the fireworks. They were two separate experiences.

 

[texaslady22]

Can all (most?) of the tables in the room see the fireworks (at least partially) or are there only a few tables that have a view? I know everyone can hear the music they pipe in.

 

[Tiggerlovinggrandma]

When we were there (Ohana's) this past January. We were seated one table behind the ones lined along the windows. At firework time, a lot of the guests from the bar area and other tables around the resteraunt came up and crowded between the windows and the tables that had window views so the people there had a difficult time seeing the fireworks.

Since we did not have a window table we didn't expect to see the fireworks anyway however I did feel badly for the guests who did have window tables. They had to deal with other guests squeezing themselves and thier children in-between. Can you imagine having a nice table by the window then people come squeezing in front of you to get a view? Guests at the window tables were very upset. The scene was ugly and the actions of some were very rude.

We have been to Ohan's many times and sometimes during the fireworks and never have seen it like this before. I pray it was just a bad night and will not turn out to be the norm. Although in the world today it seems more and more morals, respect and values have fallen by the wayside for many.

IMO I think a good choice would be to find out what time the fireworks will go off, arrange for your dinner 1 1/2 -2 hours before, eat and then go down to the beach and view the fireworks from there. Hope you have a wonderful time!

 

[disneylove69]

We sat in the back row tables and had perfect views. They even pipe in the music. If you get a not so good table you could stand up behind the tables and see. The noise was loud still with people talking. Most people were talking and not paying attention.

 

[GoonieBride]

i would have to agree. make the dinner ressies for an hour to 1.5 hours before the fireworks. try to see if they can seat you near a window away from the bar area. it should work out to where you can see them, hear the music, and be away from other gueats trying to get a peak.

good luck and have fun!!

 

[redheadedsydney]

When we were there (Ohana's) this past January. We were seated one table behind the ones lined along the windows. At firework time, a lot of the guests from the bar area and other tables around the resteraunt came up and crowded between the windows and the tables that had window views so the people there had a difficult time seeing the fireworks.

Since we did not have a window table we didn't expect to see the fireworks anyway however I did feel badly for the guests who did have window tables. They had to deal with other guests squeezing themselves and thier children in-between. Can you imagine having a nice table by the window then people come squeezing in front of you to get a view? Guests at the window tables were very upset. The scene was ugly and the actions of some were very rude.

We have been to Ohan's many times and sometimes during the fireworks and never have seen it like this before. I pray it was just a bad night and will not turn out to be the norm. Although in the world today it seems more and more morals, respect and values have fallen by the wayside for many.

IMO I think a good choice would be to find out what time the fireworks will go off, arrange for your dinner 1 1/2 -2 hours before, eat and then go down to the beach and view the fireworks from there. Hope you have a wonderful time!

Your comment reminded me of a similar experience in 2002 at California Grill. We were there for an anniversary dinner and had been given a wonderful table by the window -- one of the tables near the lounge area and "protected" by a railing. When the fireworks were about to start, two women and their children came around the railing and literally stood cheek to jowl beside our table. It was incredible. Even when I asked them to please step back, they wouldn't, and of course, the server was not around during the show to intervene on our behalf (which would have been nice, believe me). I was absolutely stunned by their behavior and the obvious lack of regard for anyone but themselves. I've never experienced anything so rude before. We did express our displeasure to the server when she came back after the show, and she was very sympathetic and apologetic, saying that it happens quite often. She comped our dessert, which I appreciated, but as you can tell, the memory of the event has stuck with me.

 

[Gina35]

i would have to agree. make the dinner ressies for an hour to 1.5 hours before the fireworks. try to see if they can seat you near a window away from the bar area. it should work out to where you can see them, hear the music, and be away from other gueats trying to get a peak.

good luck and have fun!!

I agree. We always watch from inside. We go about 1-1.5 hrs before fireworks, b/c it often takes awhile to get seated even with ADRs. We also ask for a window seat, so that may be why we end up waiting every time. As far as the games, etc., they are stopped during the fireworks. Sometimes people continue to talk, other times the restaurant quiets down quickly. It all depends on who's there that night! I only hope that when we go back in August, there aren't any of those rude people standing in front of our table!

 

[aubriee]

I agree. We always watch from inside. We go about 1-1.5 hrs before fireworks, b/c it often takes awhile to get seated even with ADRs. We also ask for a window seat, so that may be why we end up waiting every time. As far as the games, etc., they are stopped during the fireworks. Sometimes people continue to talk, other times the restaurant quiets down quickly. It all depends on who's there that night! I only hope that when we go back in August, there aren't any of those rude people standing in front of our table!

I dined there several years ago with some fellow DISers. We had a nice table, it wasn't a window seat, but still close. We thought we were going to have a great view, however, just as the fireworks started, a man at the window table suddenly moved most of their dishes off onto the floor and stood a kid around 3 y/o right up in the middle of the table. This was not a baby, but a good sized kid standing up there. Everyone around us was in shock. What person stands their kid up on a table? I know the servers clean the tables after each party leaves, but sorry I don't want to eat off a table some kid has been standing on wearing dirty shoes. Besides the kid totally blocked our view and we know the man knew it, because we saw him look back at us, before he stood the kid up there. There was absolutely no reason for him to have done it either as the kid would have still had a good view of Wishes, just sitting at his seat or maybe just on his knees in his seat.

 

[JerseyJanice]

Your experience depends on the mood of the crowd. If you get a good table and a happy mood in the crowd, it's a great experience.

We had window seats during our last two meals at Ohana. Both times, we felt lucky to be where we were and welcomed other people who gathered around our table to watch the fireworks. It was like a brotherhood of man type of moment. I was surrounded by children gazing in awe at the fireworks and was very happy about it.