'Ohana vs Liberty Tree Tavern?

[apcs]

I'd welcome your opinions. We are a first-timer family of four (DS 4, DD 8) going to MK in the early morning, then back to AKL for a midday rest (leave MK at noon-ish), then two possibilities for dinner - 'Ohana at 4:50 pm or Liberty Tree Tavern at 5:50 pm. We want to be at MK for more fun/rides in the evening and then stay for Wishes.

Which would be a better restaurant choice for quality of food and experience?

How easy is it to get from AKL to Poly for 'Ohana (how much time should I leave - I do have a car if needed)? And then from Poly to MK? Is this too much to try to do if I'm also trying for some evening ride fun before Wishes at 10 pm?

Thanks.

 

[CapnZach]

Ohana is FAR superior in almost every respect, especially the food quality IMHO. If you're traveling from AKL to Poly, budget an hour if you are taking Disney transportation, 10 minutes if you drive. You would need to catch a bus to the Magic Kingdom (or another park) and then take either a bus, boat, or monorail to the Poly depending on where you are coming from. Quickest route would be bus to MK, boat or monorail to Poly.

Getting from Poly to MK is a snap, just hop on a monorail or boat, should never take more than 10 or 15 minutes even if you just missed the last launch. So as long as you budget enough time to get to Poly, you'll have no problem getting some rides in before the fireworks, as dinner will probably take about an hour. Ohana is one of my favorite places to dine. Liberty Tree is great architecturally, a unique place, but not worth wasting a dinner at IMO. Better than most of the quick service stuff at the MK, but not by much.

 

[habg1]

I 2nd O'Hana. You must try it once. The atmosphere is better than Liberty Tree Tavern. Food is very good.

And just to walk around the Polynesian is thrilling!

 

[jlk806]

I am all about Ohana as well! Its my fav restaurant at WDW. Everyone should try it at least once!

 

[Lynn5700]

Definitely Ohana! The dinner at LTT is Stauffers food. You can have that anywhere. Ohana, in my opinion, is unique. I have yet to find a place like it where I live. BTW, the dessert is amazing there! The whole meal is very good. Enjoy!

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

Haha, I have to agree with the previous posters! As soon as I saw the title, I was like ! Not even a question! Not that LTT is terrible but if you had the choice, 'Ohana all the way!

 

[everythingALICE]

I agree with the previous posters. I like Ohana very much and I think that it is a place that families should try at least once. However, I will say that you should allot more time for dinner there than the average meal. It is the one restaurant where I have consistently had to wait to be seated while having an ADR (sometimes nearly an hour wait, even during the slower times of year).

 

[apcs]

Thank you all. Sounds like it's unanimous in favor of 'Ohana! I will check out the Poly while I am there and try a monorail ride too.

 

[soontobehoyt]

I agree with the previous posters. I like Ohana very much and I think that it is a place that families should try at least once. However, I will say that you should allot more time for dinner there than the average meal. It is the one restaurant where I have consistently had to wait to be seated while having an ADR (sometimes nearly an hour wait, even during the slower times of year).

Agreed. Once you are seated service is very efficient, but even with an ADR there is usually a delay. However, that for me is just an excuse for a Lapu Lapu

 

[kendzee94]

Remember if your children do not like what is on the "menu", they can order off the )non-posted) children's menu. My DS 13 still orders chicken nuggets and fries, because he doesn't eat the regular food there. Disney definitely makes out because we still get charged the adult price for him, but with a pickyeater it is worth not having to argue.

 

[apcs]

Remember if your children do not like what is on the "menu", they can order off the )non-posted) children's menu. My DS 13 still orders chicken nuggets and fries, because he doesn't eat the regular food there. Disney definitely makes out because we still get charged the adult price for him, but with a pickyeater it is worth not having to argue.

There's a non-posted children's menu? At 'Ohana or all the restaurants? This is helpful info.

 

[cymbaldiva]

Best restaurant for food? Ohana

Best way to optimize park time? Liberty Tree Tavern

Your call

 

[kendzee94]

There's a non-posted children's menu? At 'Ohana or all the restaurants? This is helpful info.

Not really sure what else there is, I learned about the chicken nuggets and fries from these boards; and have been ordering the nuggets and fries from there for the past 3-4 years. Once we were told that the children had to try the other food first. Now we just ask for it as we order our drinks and explain that we have been here before....They may also have mac and cheese, but not sure. At Garden grill, we were also able to order chicken nuggets and fries instead of the drum stick and sweet potato fries. At Le Cellier, we were able to get a plain chicken breast with fries.

 

[Jerry@dvcstore]

Ohana's - Hands down, not even close.

 

[Coconuts]

Like all other pp, I prefer Ohana hands down. But then again, so do most people so it may be hard getting an ADR.

If you absolutely want every possible minute in MK for rides, then eating at LTT will definetly save you time. The food is good; it's Thanksgiving dinner. It's tasty but not so good that I would go there again since the characters have left. IMHO, that's what made that place bookable.

I would sacrifice the extra park/ride time for the better quality meal. Like a pp said, the meal is unique and now one of our must-do's when we go to WDW. DH had few requests for our upcoming trip and this was one of them. We tried it for the first time on our last trip and wished we would have tried it sooner.

Hope this helps and I hope you get an ADR.

 

[Sleeping Becca]

Ohana can be a zoo, so if park time is important then you may want to go with LTT.

The food is better at Ohana, the food at LTT dinner is not horrible, it is basically Thanksgiving Food.

 

[Nahanni]

Since LTT no longer has character dining I'd choose Ohana for the experience - children generally enjoy the festivities. As others have noted you will miss a lot of park time if you are returning from AKL (transportation & waiting to be seated tends to be long).

 

[apcs]

Since LTT no longer has character dining I'd choose Ohana for the experience - children generally enjoy the festivities. As others have noted you will miss a lot of park time if you are returning from AKL (transportation & waiting to be seated tends to be long).

Thanks, it sounds like it could be worth it to just take a taxi from AKL to Poly, then monorail over to MK when done with dinner. I snagged an ADR for Ohana, it would just mean slightly shorter nap time for the kids.

 

[MSLRAC]

Definitely Ohana! The dinner at LTT is Stauffers food. You can have that anywhere. Ohana, in my opinion, is unique. I have yet to find a place like it where I live. BTW, the dessert is amazing there! The whole meal is very good. Enjoy!

So DH was right, LTT was a glorified TV dinner. lol I would also pick O'hana, we loved every aspect of it. The food was delicious, the service was great and we had a beautiful view of Wishes from our table. It quickly became a must do for us.

 

[Mickey Crew]

We like both but Ohana dinner is our favorite!