Ohana w/out ADR's???

[brajfamily]

We are headed to WDW over Thanksgiving and decided (a bit too late) that we want to go to Ohana for dinner. I keep calling and there is nothing. What do you think the chance is we could get in if we went right when they open for dinner w/out an ADR? Kicking myself for not thinking about Ohana sooner.....it's our favorite!!!! Thanks!

 

[Mississippianna]

If you're flexible and don't mind waiting, I would try. I definitely think your best bet is to get there when they open for dinner. If they turn you away, try Kona. Or, be willing to shrug it off and move on to Counter Service for dinner.

 

[tinkerbellybutton]

We've seen lots of people walk up at opening at many places in WDW and get seated. However, we've been twice during Thanksgiving week and I saw people turned away when trying to walk up more often than other times I've visited. Add to that how popluar Ohana's is and I'm not sure it'll work out for you. Not saying its impossible, definitely worth a try, I just wouldn't count on it if it were me. Good luck.

 

[brajfamily]

thanks! Has anyone had success trying this???

Also, does anyone know what time Ohana opens for dinner? Thanks

 

[Mastiff]

I guess anything is worth a try, right!

We have not been during Thanksgiving time so I really can't speak for how busy it is.

I know the last 2 times we have been to WDW it was in May, no free dining and we saw many people turned away from restaurants that did not have reservations or the wait times were like 2 hours for them. I am not willing to wait 2 hours for dinner.
Is free dining running during Thanksgiving time? I might try and make a reservation somewhere else and then see if you could get into Ohana. If not go to your other reservation.

 

[TisBit]

thanks! Has anyone had success trying this???

Also, does anyone know what time Ohana opens for dinner? Thanks

We did do this and it was like 2 hours to wait. We were on an adults only trip and decided to explore Poly and hang out, so we waited. We had an isolated incident during our wait that kind of ruined our trip (someone put us on hold when our name came up). When we asked about getting seated they realized the mistake, 15 minutes later still not seated, asked again, they said we were next, sent several tables in front of us still....it was almost 3 hours before we were seated. It was the only night Wishes was playing during our weekend trip because of MNSSHP and we were not able to make it. (the manager was a pain and the waitress was less than great as well, so it really put a damper on the weekend trip).

If you are patient I would try it, if you arrive at opening it might not be as much of a wait and I doubt you will hit the serious of events that got us. (and for what its worth, we went to MK and ended up seeing the castle's kiss goodnight and we were literally the last people out of MK that night, a great story and pictures!)

 

[maraki527]

In July we went to Ohana's right when the rst.opened and were turned away. We ended up going with our original ADR at Kona. Be patient and wait if you are offered a time.

 

[Brian Noble]

What do you think the chance is we could get in if we went right when they open for dinner w/out an ADR?

I'd rather peel off my fingernails, one by one.

If you are staying at the Poly, I suppose there's no harm in swinging by. But, 'Ohana seems to be one of those "hot places" at WDW that everyone wants to hit. I would expect your chances to be between slim and none, and that with a stiff wait. If you can pass the time with a Lapu Lapu, and have no other plans for the evening? Okay. I wouldn't bring my kids along though.

 

[mollygirl13]

On our last WDW trip, we had 5 pm ressies at 'OHana. Since we are always early, we arrived around 4:00 so we just walked around.

We noticed around 4:30 or so people started lining up at the empty podium. So I quickly got in line because it was already starting to get mobbed.
I was probably 6th in line & there was already probably 50 people behind me in line! By 5:00 the line passed Kona Cafe and was almost out the door to the Monorail!! (seriously not joking)

At 5:00 the CM made an announcement: line up on the LEFT for reservations, on the RIGHT for walk-up. It was a mob scene. Alot of people didn't have reservations and they were being told ridiculous wait times-2-3 hours (and that was for the first few people in line!!) Others were being turned away. People were not happy.

I had reservations and I didn't get to the podium until 5:20! I can't even imaging how long it took the others to check-in.

My reservation was for 5:00 but the CM was alternating between the lines and it was utter chaos.

We finally got seated around 5:30. Personally, I would not risk it by just showing up w/out a reservation. It is way too busy of a place.

 

[danceintherain]

I would not go out of my way to do this. I've seen people turned away from restaurants during slow season. I've also waited a long time to be seated at restaurants where I had an ADR, also during slow season.

Keep trying for an ADR. Something might open up.

 

[marivaid]

The one time we tried without a reservation we were turned away, and that was for a party of 2, at 9pm, with a virtually empty waiting area (which was why we dared to try in the first place).

We were also turned away once while we had a reservation but were about 20mns late - of course, we wouldn't have been that late if it hadn't been for all the people without reservations who were ahead of us in the queue.

Keep checking, people tend to cancel when it gets closer to their trip dates.

 

[jess20k]

I would just keep on trying to call or go online to see if there is an opening due to a cancellation. But, over that time of year, it is very busy, so I highly doubt you will get a walk up, but you never know, you could always try. I would still just keep on calling or looking online.

 

[ILoveDisney&Cruising]

The one time we tried without a reservation we were turned away

Same here.

 

[ReneeA]

They were turning walk ups away at the podium the week prior to Labor Day (super slow, slow time of year). I can't imagine you'd have luck around Thanksgiving (NOT a slow time of year).

 

[everythingALICE]

While I suppose it is possible, I wouldn't waste the time. Ohana is the one restaurant that I've always had to wait for, even with ADRs, regardless of how "slow" the season is. I'm not sure if they consistently overbook ADRs or what, but the waits have always been longer than those I've experienced at other popular restaurants like Le Cellier, etc.

 

[Got Muchness]

I wanted the same thing for this trip. I called and checked online DAILY. Then BAM five days before I leave I not only get my 'Ohana I also get a Chef Mickey's. People start canceling closer to the actual date.

 

[sumsmommy03]

There were some openings in November (I got one for the 18th) yesterday when I checked.
I wouldn't show up without reservations but definitely check everyday if something has opened up. There was a 5:20 and a 9:20 available on Nov 18yesterday.

 

[Coach81]

If you're flexible and don't mind waiting, I would try. I definitely think your best bet is to get there when they open for dinner. If they turn you away, try Kona. Or, be willing to shrug it off and move on to Counter Service for dinner.

 

[Ted in Halifax]

I just booked Ohana online for Nov 4th 6:15pm