Ohana: Harsh review on WDWinfo

[BigDogHU75]

Like others have said, I would never let a bad/harsh review of a restaurant stop me from trying it. My family and I enjoyed our experience at 'Ohana when we ate there in February '09. The ambience was great. The food was terrific. And, our sever, cousin Joe, was good. There were offerings that everyone enjoyed and there were some that some did not like. But, overall it was one of our best meals at a DW restaurant that week. We would go again and have recommended 'Ohana's to our friends who are going this summer.

 

[JerseyJanice]

Not only is that blurb negative, it's very inaccurate. You absolutely DO need an ADR to get in there. At least you did the last two times we dined there--they were turning people away without them.

It was all I could do to get a decent ADR time during my last two trips. It's obviously very popular, and there's a reason--a lot of people really enjoy the place. It was our best dinner in 8/08, and we had mostly excellent meals that trip.

The kids got a kick out of the Hawaiian lady. She didn't play non-stop, so we didn't find her annoying. We were facing the volcano pool with the Castle in the background and had a spectacular view of Wishes. The dessert is one of the most delicious things I have ever eaten.

Anyway, everyone has their own opinion, and most restaurants have bad nights or just don't appeal to some people.

 

[Mississippian]

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/diningdetail.cfm?Restaurant.ID=25

Wow, I couldn't believe the description on the Ohana menu page
I always thought WDWinfo just listed unbiased descriptions on there, not opinion.

I've never eaten here, but it seems to get great reviews on here.

I was wondering: is it "all you care to eat" for dinner?

I don't like several of the dishes offered (I don't like wings, noodles, shrimp, and pork), but there are some other things that do look good to me (the salad, pork dumplings, veggies, and grilled turkey). I wondered if I could get seconds on salad & pork dumplings if I get hungry? My SO will likely enjoy all of it.

Thanks!

I've eaten there twice, and I found it to be dreadful. The service was not particularly good, and the meat is cooked and cooked and cooked some more.

They do have some fun games for the children, figure a target age of 5-8.

 

[bluejasmine]

I LOVED Ohana it was a must do for the first night of every trip and then on my honeymoon it was just BLAH! DH was so dissapointed b/c I had built up to be so amazing! Wings were bland, noodles cold, all the meats were over cooked and very dry. Even the bread pudding was over done, the dumplings, veggies and service were great but Im trying a new place for our next trips first night!

 

[smiths02]

The food, the service, and the entertainment were all disappointments. Meat was dry and over-salted, service was lacking, at best, and the entertainment was annoying. It's definitely not worth waiting until 9:45 p.m. to eat, especially with kids. Do you want to dine near MK or doesn't it matter? How old are your kids? A place we love is Raglan Road in DTD. The food is good and the entertainment is terrific.

See EVERY piece of meat I have eaten at MILs house is like that...they like their meat dry and overcooked Seriously...so it may be okay after all (We are going to WDW with the ILs)

and the ukele cannot be more annoying then my 2 year old singing "baa baa black sheep" 300 times LOUDLY while I am trying to stuff my face so we can leave

 

[kaytieeldr]

Not only is that blurb negative, it's very inaccurate. You absolutely DO need an ADR to get in there. At least you did the last two times we dined there--they were turning people away without them.

That's not what that line means. It simply means you don't HAVE to make a reservation to eat there. It doesn't mean you will be able to eat there if you don't have a reservation.

Menu pages for other restaurants (quick check only) display alternatives such as "not accepted", "not required", "suggested", and "required". It's merely information.

 

[DaisyD]

We love 'Ohana! I make sure to book dinner there twice per trip. We go on the first night at WDW and again on the last night. I would book it in the middle too but I want to mix it up a bit.

 

[amsafko]

Well unfortunately we have to agree with some of his review. We went there with 3 little ones so noise/activity wasn't going to bother us but the service did. We were given one serving of each thing and not once did they offer seconds. We aren't huge eaters but I loved the broccoli and would have loved more. The food wasn't bad, it was just that we were left without service for about 1/2 hour and when we asked for help, no one got our server or offered us assistance. When we finally got dessert (which was delicious) we had to rush because the kids had had enough waiting. Our server just said she got busy with a problem at the register. We are staying at the Poly again this summer but will not have it on our list this time.

 

[JerseyJanice]

That's not what that line means. It simply means you don't HAVE to make a reservation to eat there. It doesn't mean you will be able to eat there if you don't have a reservation.

Menu pages for other restaurants (quick check only) display alternatives such as "not accepted", "not required", "suggested", and "required". It's merely information.

I didn't read through the page either, but if there is a "suggested" option instead, that's what it ought to say. It is far from being the easiest WDW restaurant to get into without an ADR and getting a decent ADR time for it is very difficult--or at least it was in both my 2008 experiences.

 

[Barbara558]

My family loves O'hana. We eat there every trip.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I didn't read through the page either, but if there is a "suggested" option instead, that's what it ought to say.

I don't disagree... although in my life, 'Ohana reservations really ARE not required.

HOWEVER - nothing's perfect. If you check the menu page for Big River Grille, the reservations line says suggested... but the last line in the description is "ADRs are not accepted at this Boardwalk restaurant."

 

[Jazzylolo]

The DH and I ate at 'Ohana last August during our first trip to WDW. My good friend highly recommended it to us. The night we went was at the end of a very long MK day. We both started the meal out with headaches. This is NOT recommended! I didn't even want to eat at that point my head hurt so much. You can only imagine what the constant singing and rowdiness did to our heads. Headaches aside, we loved the bread, appetizers and desert but the meats were just ok. Again, this could have been because we weren't feeling well so we did not make any solid judgements on 'Ohana from that experience. We are going to WDW again in June and it was on our list of must dos. Even if the food is spectacular, the Polynesian is such a beautiful resort. We are eating at both 'Ohana and Kona Cafe just so we can go to the resort more Someday, years from now when we have saved a lot of money, we will stay there. Love it!!

 

[PrincessBelle39]

We booked Ohana after hearing Kevins review on the podcast. He often says that his review is his opinion based on his experience and that that doesn't mean you will have the same opinion. We loved it. The kids had a fantastic time and really loved the food and also learning the hula.

 

[AlohaPolynesian]

FWIW, Ohana is my favorite restaurant in all of WDW.

 

[kimbo0569]

I just posted this on another thread this morning, but it seems applicable here as well.

I definitely agree with taking reviews with a grain of salt. I have pretty strong opinions about lots of Disney restaurants, and give a bad review of one of the Dis's favorites. People have eaten there since my bad experience and still love it. Go and cultivate your own opinion, don't let one bad review sway you regardless of who is giving that review.

I agree wholeheartedly! Reviews are merely just opinions...take it for what it is. My dh and I love Ohana and it is a "must do" everytime we go. I have gone to other restaurants at Disney (and other places) that I wouldn't do again, but it's my personal feeling. Others may have different experiences..nothing is ever guaranteed to be 100% all the time.

 

[mommycrawford]

If the act seems "dated" well, the whole idea of "Polynesian" is very 70s but was part of Walt's original vision. Is it campy: yes!...Think Vegas Lounge act.

I always try to start my vacation here!...First night, before hitting any of the parks....It puts me in a "we're not in Kansas anymore" mode. You need to have a sense of humor. Romantic meal it's not!

I find the salad, shrimp, and wings to be yummy, and am not thrilled by the meat...but meat's not my thing. There is plenty to eat, they are friendly,
and there are activities that you do not have to participate in.

There were many posts mourning the disappearance of their potatos which had chese onions and a lot of sat. fat.

And what about dessert?...There have been many raves for their Bananas Foster

Anyway, I'm a New Yorker, and this place doesn't phase me. Are there better meals?...sure....Better entertainment?...yes....But we are all drawn to a giant mouse empire, so I don't find this place out of sync.

...And as far as loud and annoying....it's no where near as such as Chef Mickey's IMHO!

 

[tripplanner]

O'hana's is a favorite of my family. We do enjoy the entertainment. When my kids were younger and participated, it made for a very enjoyable evening for them. I'm not a big meat eater, so I basically eat the noodles, vegetables, salad, and the dessert. I'm stuffed when I leave there. I do ask for 2nd helpings of those things that I know we all like and have never had any problem getting them. I have tried the meats and agree that they are dry. I also preferred the original potatoes that they used to serve to the noodles that they have now. It is a great place. I'm not sure I would go at 9:45 though. Especially if you have kids and the entertainment is over at that time. It's a really heavy meal for that late at night.

 

[MinnieMouses1969]

See EVERY piece of meat I have eaten at MILs house is like that...they like their meat dry and overcooked Seriously...so it may be okay after all (We are going to WDW with the ILs)

and the ukele cannot be more annoying then my 2 year old singing "baa baa black sheep" 300 times LOUDLY while I am trying to stuff my face so we can leave

At least you don't have to pay for the food at your MIL's

 

[msce2]

If it's such a terrible place to eat, why can't I get a ressie 70 days out??? If anyone wants to give up their ADR based on that review, I'm looking for something during the week of May 17th-22nd.

 

[Mississippian]

If it's such a terrible place to eat, why can't I get a ressie 70 days out??? If anyone wants to give up their ADR based on that review, I'm looking for something during the week of May 17th-22nd.

You make a good point. I hated Ohana's, but my wife liked it purely for the entertainment for the children. Also, about a third of the American population, generally those who eat Thousand Island on their salads and don't tip, like overcooked meat. So the thing many of us find objectionable would actually be a selling point.