'Ohana vs. Spirit of Aloha

[neitzelt]

Like I said before, we have never done 'Ohana and we weren't overly impressed with the food at SOA, but you might want to follow some of the threads that are specifically about 'Ohana because there seem to be a lot of complaints recently about how bad the food has gotten and how inconsistent the service has become. I am in no way an 'Ohana-hater, just passing on what I've seen elsewhere on the boards.

And I'll add that in no way do I think going to SOA is "the same" as going to Hawaii...it provides a taste of the Polynesian culture (or at least the popularly commercialized culture that has been exported to the mainland) that you are not likely to find in many other venues outside of the islands themselves.

I have read a lot too about 'Ohana's bad service and poor food timing. That is why I inquired all of you experienced people - thanks so much for your input!

 

[neitzelt]

We've done both with DS (who is now 8) and he enjoyed them both. I think he was more enthralled with SOA, however! He absolutely loved the food and the dancing. The fire twirling was a huge hit. O'hana has good food (IMHO), but the entertainment is shorter and much more understated than SOA. If you want more of an "event" do SOA. If you'd rather just have a Polynesian meal, do O'Hana. Or, as we did, do both!!!

I am getting to the point where I want to do both now...thank you!

 

[neitzelt]

While we do not do SOA every trip, we do try and schedule it when we stay at the Polynesian. We also really enjoy Ohana, and plan that most trips, always for breakfast, and usually for dinner as well. I think since you are staying at the Poly, SOA is more of an event for the evening than just dinner. My son, now 11, has enjoyed it for many years, especially the fire dancer. On our past trips to the Poly we have done both, but in your situation, if you need to pick, I would probably go with SOA.

Thank you!

 

[CMAG38]

I am getting to the point where I want to do both now...thank you!

This is my first trip and I'm leaning that way too. I'm getting a Disney planning headache.

 

[supercrossfox21]

We have done both many times. For my once 8-year-old boy I would do 'Ohana instead of SoA, HDDR on a different night (my son's favorite no-to-be-missed event), and make sure you catch the torch-lighting ceremony at the Poly, where you can see the fire twirler, the best part of SoA, for free.

What time typically is the torch lighting ceremony? We will be there the end on November and have reservations for spirit of aloha at 8:15

 

[Colleen27]

We have done both many times. For my once 8-year-old boy I would do 'Ohana instead of SoA, HDDR on a different night (my son's favorite no-to-be-missed event), and make sure you catch the torch-lighting ceremony at the Poly, where you can see the fire twirler, the best part of SoA, for free.

This would be my suggestion as well. SoA was nice, but long and the food wasn't exactly anything to write home about. The kids enjoyed it but have never talked about going back to do it again. Ohana, on the other hand, gets brought up every time I start planning a trip.

What time typically is the torch lighting ceremony? We will be there the end on November and have reservations for spirit of aloha at 8:15

IIRC it was at 6pm on our mid-December trip, so it should be around the same when you're there.

 

[notrub98]

I think SOA is an embarrassingly poor quality show and food. I have tried it twice assuming I had bad luck and nope... It's just terrible. I realize others disagree and that's what makes this land so great . Ohana is great!

 

[Snowy_pvb]

Thank you! I haven't done HDDR yet, but seeing we are staying at the Poly, I figured I would take advantage of our "home" location.

we just bought PVB also! going home in sept 2018. In the interm we traded into RCI from Bluegreen for a week in December at SSR. so we will be able to go visit our home at poly but not stay there yet

We have done both 'Ohana and SOA... if I had to choose 1, it would be 'ohana no question. however, if you can swing both, do both!!!

 

[Disneypapa]

I have been to both and enjoyed both of them. The luau show (twice) has not changed enough to notice any differences. The show is pretty ordinary unless you have never been to a luau and then you will be more entertained if the first exposure. The food is excellent and plentiful.

O'Hana is very enjoyable too. Many meat choices and tasty. The entertainment is geared more toward the children with some goofy stuff.

I would recommend both, if you can manage the time and expense.