Ohana Let Down!

[suzannews]

I just came across this thread and I can’t say much as I work there but....please fill out the survey that I’m told most receive after check out and be specific. That’s how things are changed. I’ve had a 50/50 response to the new salad at my tables.

 

[B-Ride]

We ate at 'Ohana regularly on the DP mainly for the dessert although the atmosphere was nice and the rest of the food decent. Never had a problem with the pace because we always turned away food we weren't ready for. On our recent trip we were paying OOP and there is no way any place is worth the cost they are now charging.

 

[chainkid]

We used to love having a meal here but last two times I hated it and won't be going back . We felt the quality of meat had gone down and we were rushed thru our meal.

 

[thewilderness3]

We dined at O’hana on 12/22, and decided that we’d never go back. This was the must-eat spot among my family for every trip, but with the price and the crummy food, it’s not worth it.
Which makes me sad.

 

[steph12]

We dined at O’hana on 12/22, and decided that we’d never go back. This was the must-eat spot among my family for every trip, but with the price and the crummy food, it’s not worth it.
Which makes me sad.

This is exactly how I feel. I think that part of the Disney experience for us is the food and the fun time we have while dining at Disney. We have always loved eating at Ohana, but we left feeling so disappointed and sad. I also feel bad for those that have read all the wonderful reviews from the past and go and experience it now and have such a disappointing meal.

What's funny is that our favorite meals last week were Hollywood & Vine and Sci Fi. These were the 2 restaurants that I was dreading eating at, and turned out to be so so good!!

 

[tink2]

We ate there for the first time 2 years ago for breakfast and well- we just weren't that impressed. I was glad we did it once for the atmosphere of the Polynesian~ but my family agreed that it was not one we want to return to. The food had limited offerings~ and it was just subpar. We felt very rushed~ we love character meals and while I know rushing can vary with the timing of a meal and sometimes it just happens~ but we could barely snap a picture before they were gone.
It was ok~ and again~ I'm glad we went once~ but it is not on our list to return to.

 

[jdisnut]

Just a data point: We we’re here tonight. The restaurant was surprisingly uncrowded when we arrived at 7 p.m. The food was actually far better than on previous visits. The service had an early hiccup; we were offered entrees before receiving the appetizers. But that was corrected.

 

[Nancyg56]

Just a data point: We we’re here tonight. The restaurant was surprisingly uncrowded when we arrived at 7 p.m. The food was actually far better than on previous visits. The service had an early hiccup; we were offered entrees before receiving the appetizers. But that was corrected.

I wonder if there will be a different "must do" restaurant to take the place of 'Ohana any time soon. I know the stories here are just a minor segment of the Disney visitors, but they represent a segment of the 'Ohana population. Lately I see a lot more posts from people who are not going back, and while that may not be the reason youare experiencing a less crowded meal, I believe there may be something there. This is the busiest week in WDW, and 7 PM is a very popular dining time, yet 'Ohana was not a cluster?

 

[Lisa F]

I wonder if there will be a different "must do" restaurant to take the place of 'Ohana any time soon. I know the stories here are just a minor segment of the Disney visitors, but they represent a segment of the 'Ohana population. Lately I see a lot more posts from people who are not going back, and while that may not be the reason youare experiencing a less crowded meal, I believe there may be something there. This is the busiest week in WDW, and 7 PM is a very popular dining time, yet 'Ohana was not a cluster?

I'm sure it was a lull, not actually open tables... There were no ADRs I'd bet! I've observed that Ohana seats in waves so they are either nearly full or nearly empty. I think they do this because the skewers also come in waves but I have always felt this wave seating contributed to the servers being perpetually in the weeds..

 

[jdisnut]

I'm sure it was a lull, not actually open tables... There were no ADRs I'd bet! I've observed that Ohana seats in waves so they are either nearly full or nearly empty. I think they do this because the skewers also come in waves but I have always felt this wave seating contributed to the servers being perpetually in the weeds..

Perhaps. But it was strange to see Tambu Lounge virtually empty at a prime hour, when in our experience it’s usually teeming with people waiting for their ‘Ohana tables. At much less crowded times of the year we’ve had to wait 30 minutes or more past our reservation time to be seated. Last night, we were escorted to our table immediately upon checking in.

 

[Deb & Bill]

We just got back from Disney on Friday and ate at Ohana twice for dinner last week. This is a restaurant that we have always loved and my family requests each trip. Both times we ate there last week, it was just bad. They now have a new salad that is spinach and dark greens, craisins, and chow mein noodles. It was gross. I have always loved Ohana salad, and I know they have changed it several times over the years and we have always enjoyed it and asked for more. My son actually spit it out b/c the greens were so bitter. My family enjoyed the shrimp, but I don't eat it, so I waited patiently for the beef. I asked for medium or medium rare, whichever he had, and it was cooked perfectly, but was such a bad cut that I literally could not chew it. Then they brought out the bread pudding...honestly the real reason I go to Ohana! It was so hard that I could not even put the spoon in it to divide it. The sauce and ice cream didn't help it at all. It tasted like it had sat on the counter for a week. We chalked it all up to just being an off night, and went back again a few days later to eat the Ohana deliciousness that we always enjoyed...and the second meal was actually worse! The food was cold, and it was very hard to get our waiter to bring refills on drinks or any meat skewers. When the meat was finally served it was just as bad as the first night, chewy beef, dry chicken, and the shrimp was overcooked this time.

We have had off nights at Ohana before, but this was 2 nights in a week that were terrible. I sure hope they get some better cuts of beef and change out the salad. For now, we have no intentions of returning on our next trip.

They may have changed the salad because of the romaine/e coli issues.

 

[over50visits]

For so many years we had it on our must do list; then three times with an hour wait and we gave up. Now hearing about the food quality over the past few years just adds to the reason we don't go there anymore. I hear about short waits these days, but every time we walk through the lobby at dinnertime it seems packed with families waiting. So many nice dining options at Disney that we love to go to. I wonder why they let it go down like this? You can only rest on your reputation so long while your product deteriorates. Then it is really hard to get back. But, like a lot of Disney, they can sell just about 100% of the seats, so they don't have any incentive to maintain the quality they used to. I'm sorry. It was such a fun family time years ago.

 

[missbrooke06]

Every time there's an Ohana thread, lots of people talk about their disappointment and how they'll never go back. Would you all please start more threads and spread the message because it's the only place my husband wants to go and I haven't been able to get a reservation in three trips.

 

[Deb & Bill]

For so many years we had it on our must do list; then three times with an hour wait and we gave up. Now hearing about the food quality over the past few years just adds to the reason we don't go there anymore. I hear about short waits these days, but every time we walk through the lobby at dinnertime it seems packed with families waiting. So many nice dining options at Disney that we love to go to. I wonder why they let it go down like this? You can only rest on your reputation so long while your product deteriorates. Then it is really hard to get back. But, like a lot of Disney, they can sell just about 100% of the seats, so they don't have any incentive to maintain the quality they used to. I'm sorry. It was such a fun family time years ago.

I think most of the long waits are caused by guests not leaving the restaurant because they want to watch the MK fireworks from the restaurant. I've noticed a mass exodus right about the time the fireworks are over several times. So if your reservation starts when or near to fireworks time, you may not be seated until they are over.

 

[Nancyg56]

They may have changed the salad because of the romaine/e coli issues.

I thought the same thing. The romaine thing is problematic lately

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Ohana is a must do for my family but it is a hit and miss sometimes... Ive gone and everything was just perfect and delicious, other times the meat has been dry and sides were cold, or service was bad.. But its still a must do for our family..

I’m sorry but for that much money it should not be dining roulette . Until it’s consistently good I wouldn’t waste my cash anymore. You are just rewarding them for providing you with poor service and poor food by returning over and over again.

 

[Mariearistocat]

I’m sorry but for that much money it should not be dining roulette . Until it’s consistently good I wouldn’t waste my cash anymore. You are just rewarding them for providing you with poor service and poor food by returning over and over again.

^This! It's difficult to even get in there, even with their spotty reviews. As long as this is the case, they can keep with the shoddy service and taking things away. I can't believe it was 16 years ago when you could just be a walk in there and be dazzled too. It was really a great experience. We live in FL and the excellent dining at WDW was one of the things that kept us coming back, but I would prefer to get a villa and cook our meals rather than dine out at most places, which is pathetic (and why we haven't been back in almost a year and have no intentions). My theory is the free dining they pushed like crazy the past decade has killed their unique and fabulous restaurants, like 'Ohana and Le Cellier. It's so crazy crowded everywhere and it's impossible to maintain the boutique level of excellence they used to provide.

 

[TwinkleKS]

We ate breakfast there yesterday and had a wonderful meal as always. Character interaction was great, as was the staff. I did make sure and request bacon, as we prefer that to the ham offering

 

[jrbenji]

I have eaten there 3 times and the last 2 were not very good the chicken was very dry and the beef was not very good

My son who is a machine when it comes to steak/ beef had a difficult time getting 1 piece go down .
We even waited and tried a fresh scewer, same thing very tuff and chewy

The sides were fine this trip last trip they were the issue and the dessert was the only thing on the 3 visits that was very good

The saving grace trip 3 was that we were lucky to have a table by the window and during dessert the fireworks started and that sort made things a little better

I know it’s Disney and high prices are expected but. I expect to be able to eat the food I payed for

I won’t say I will never be back there but since that experience along with the huge price tag

I don’t go crazy looking for a reservation time like I did in the past

 

[WIll C]

My wife could not stand how breakfast was done. Food was OK, typical breakfast spread but the way it was served really got to her. She much preferred the normal buffets (Cape May was her favorite). The place was crowded when we came, the characters took forever to get around and we only saw one I think before we exited. The big open area just makes it seem so much more packed in. I don't expect we'll go back anytime soon. Of course, this is the experience of 2 adults, no kids so YMMV. We were on the Dining Plan so the price was not an issue for us but it was expensive. Our server was great and attentive to our needs.