ohana game plan

[disneymagicgirl]

If we arrive a little early for a 5:30 dinner ressie, might we be seated early? I think they open at 5pm, so maybe it wouldn't be too packed yet.
Also the same for breakfast...we have an 8:15 adr. Any chance of getting seated earlier so we can get to Epcot earlier?

 

[disneymagicgirl]

One more question...how long does dinner take?
How about breakfast?
Are they pretty quick so they can turn the tables?

ok...that was 3 more questions

 

[bleeps]

It never hurts to check in early, but you really can't count on being seated early. Even though you are going close to opening times, they are pretty scientific about how they control the flow for the servers and for the kitchen; in fact, especially at opening times, you have to account for the fact that the kitchen cannot handle having the entire place basically seated at once and ordering at once -- they must stagger it.

We allow about 60 to 90 minutes for these meals -- it really depends on how much you care to eat, how important it is to you to see all the characters (at breakfast), how busy your CM is. Having the family-style delivery of food speeds it up a bit, but TS meals do generally take a little longer at WDW than they do elsewhere.

 

[Disney DieHard]

Hello DisneyMagicGirl!

We have gone to the OHana dinner MANY times, it is my favorite Disney meal! The breakfast we have only done once ... we weren't thrilled with it and decided to not return.

Getting there early never seems to work for us. We have showed up for our dinner reservation up to 30mins early ... and over the years every other interval in between and we've never got seated early. Now, we just show up like five or so minutes prior to our reservation because we see no point in it. I'm not saying that you couldn't be seated earlier but I just want to let you know my experiences.

Bleeps above me said all the right things!!! Regardless of what meal your eating, dinner can be as long as you'd like! But if you want to know how quickly you could be out of there ... honestly, I'd say you need to dedicate, AT THE BARE MINIMUM, 60mins to any given meal! If you just have so much packed into your schedule where you cannot set a little time aside for a meal then I'd say save the money and just go to a fast-food type joint.

If you're trying to figure out the maximum time you could be at a restaurant it basically seems to come down to two factors ... for us anyway. That is your eating pace and your server! That goes for any dining experience not just Ohana. I think your eating pace is self explanatory ... do you inhale your food or savor the flavor? The biggest time factor and really a factor that could influence your decision on whether you go back or not is the server!

Strictly speaking from my experiences JUST at Ohana. There are some winners and some losers. One time we went there the two servers were on top of us ... it was great! Constantly coming around with the food and checking in with us ... an example was one night we went and as I was slurping the last of my soda down a hand comes from behind me and puts a new one on the table! Those two were OUTSTANDING and their tip certainly reflected it! On the other hand we've gone and it felt like we were fighting for everything we got. Flagging them down for a soda or another piece of meat ... it was awful! For whatever reason they were catering to a particular table and we were left out in the proverbial cold ... so I hope that table tipped REALLY well because they were lucky they got anything from us!

You maybe wondering why I didn't mention anything about the character rotation in my little sermon ... the reason for that is simple. In 22 years of Disney travel with dozens and dozens of character meals only two or three times have we actually outpaced the characters and that was mostly due to anal retentive parents thinking that they were professional photographers ... getting the kids to stand right, smile, making sure the lighting was right, and the hair was perfect, and the pose was spot-on ... OH MY GOD!!! JUST PUSH THE BUTTON AND TAKE THE FREAKIN' PICTURE!!!

Anyway, I hope this answers your questions ... if you have anything further PLEASE do NOT hesitate to ask!!! I am at your disposal!

Be Happy, Stay Safe, and ... HAVE A MAGICAL DAY!!!

Frank
Disney DieHard

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*** ALSO, LET IT BE KNOWN THAT THIS MARKS MY 100TH POST TO DIS BOARDS ***​

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[TDC Nala]

You might be seated earlier, but I really wouldn't stake your plans on it.

'Ohana isn't meant to be a rapid in/out kind of restaurant. If you want to be served, eat and get out quickly you need to make this clear to your servers.

 

[Nermel9]

You might be seated earlier, but I really wouldn't stake your plans on it.

'Ohana isn't meant to be a rapid in/out kind of restaurant. If you want to be served, eat and get out quickly you need to make this clear to your servers.

I have an ADR at exactly 5 for dinner the night I'm going to MVMCP...is it possible that we will be finished eating by 6? I was kinda hoping to be in MK by 6:30...

 

[TDC Nala]

All you can do is let your server know that you'd like to finish up within an hour and would prefer not to have long gaps between bringing out the appetizers and the meats and the dessert.

 

[TXHauntedMansionFan]

We ate at Ohana's last Friday night before the MNSSHP. We had 5 PM reservations and there was already a line to check in when we got there at 4:45. We were seated right around our 5 PM time though and our party (3 adults) was done eating and over at the MK by 6:15 or so.

TX

 

[2Tiggies]

It depends on how long it takes for a table for your party to come available - or if there happens to be one opening up as you arrive. We ate breakfast at Ohana 2 weeks ago and got there 35 minutes before our reservation. We checked in, got our buzzer and were paged immediately. We were just having our pictures taken.

We had an attentive server and we were out in approximately one hour. If you are waiting for characters to come around it is really hit and miss as to how long you may wait and this is another factor to keep in mind.

 

[DISNEY1975]

I wouldnt count on it. They fill the restaurant at 5:00pm and have to wait until those guests leave for anyone else to get seated. I had a 6:00pm ressie and it was almot 7 by the time we got seated on 10/23 (Sat). We were there 2 1/2 hours! Mostly because my daughter wanted to do the coconut races and limbo, which occur every hour or so. A coconut race just finished as we entered, so we waited for the next one an hour later. Then there was a parade about 1/2 hour after that, then the limbo about 45 minutes after that. We then waited for the bill for about 20 minutes, then for the waiter to come back with our KTTW another 20 minutes.

Biggest advice...bring a sweater! It was freezing by the windows. AC was blasting. I actually returned to my room to get mine so I could enjoy the meal without shivering.