Ohana's or Whispering Canyon?

[messick4]

Which would you suggest for dinner for a party of 6: Ohana's or Whispering Canyon. Our family is me, DH, DD (11), DS (7), and my in-laws. I think my DD would like the hula hoop contest at Ohana's, but DS would enjoy the stick races at WC. Menu is better for us at WC, but we're nervous about the cast "interaction". Suggestions please?

 

[rcraw45425]

Depends on if you like polynesian food or not. Ohana definitely has a polynesian flair. I'd advise you to not pick a restaurant strictly for the audience participation factor, choose it for the food. If there are people in your family that dislike grilled meats and shellfish, don't pick Ohana. That's your basic meal, along with salad, green beans, fried rice, honey chicken wings and wontons. They don't give you a menu to choose from, they just start bringing the food to your table. WCC has an actual menu to chose from, but it is quite loud and boisterous. Here is a link to see the menus:

http://allearsnet.com/menu/menus.htm

 

[valeriekc]

Well they have coconut races and hula hoop at Ohana with lots of skewers of shrimp, pork and beef. (but kid food available if desired, mac&cheese, chicken nugget etc..) The kids also get gummy worms after the events which they all seem to like? And at the end good pineapple with dippping caramel included. Neat looking place, Hawaiian music. All in all pretty fun

At Whispering Canyon there are more food choices for all, steak, chicken, pulled pork, meatloaf etc.. and more kids choices but the cast interaction has the "potential" to be more fun in my opinion. I think those things are what makes dining around WDW unique. I certainly wouldn't be nervous but if needed you can pull the server aside and remind them who is "in charge".
I would inform your group of the menu offerings and potential entertainment and take a vote. Either way you should have fun!
Good luck

 

[swilphil]

The coconut races at 'Ohana would probably be as much, if not more, fun for your son than the stick horse races. I like 'Ohana a little bit more than Whispering Canyon overall, but the menu at WC does offer more variety.

 

[SeattleMark]

We absolutely love 'Ohanas and would recommend that, although we're doing WC as well this trip.

From the reviews I've read though, about Whispering Canyon, the amount of interaction you get with your actual server may vary, from none to fantastic. The place will be boisterous if busy, but your server may not be, in other words.

I think you could count on 'Ohanas to have pretty much the same fun experience with the games, great food, etc, every time.

 

[Christine]

Never been to Whispering Canyon but we always go to 'Ohana. My kids always loved it, but it seems that the really small kids are doing the hula stuff and coconut races. I know my DD did it when she was 4 and 7. There is no way she would have done the hula at age 11 and there didn't seem to be many kids that age doing it, but that could have just been on the nigh we visited. Just keep that in mind in your decision making.

 

[phyllis1966]

We've done both twice and enjoyed them both very much, but WCC is on our "must do" list, both for the food (especially the all-you-can-eat skillet) and the fun atmosphere.While the coconut races are fun, there is more fun at WCC. Besides the pony races, there's the ketchup "thing" which cracks DD up (she's almost 6 now). Also, the servers tell lots of silly jokes and tease each other and everyone else. My MIL made the mistake of ordering Pepsi, and our server BJ made everyone stop eating and pledge not to say the "P" word while in WDW. She also told BJ that FIL would look great in a napkin hat, so he made one for him and one for her since she started the trouble...

As I said, we enjoy both, but WCC is a must for us!

 

[messick4]

Thanks for all your input. Especially thanks, Christine, for the age info on the hula hoop contest. You're right, there's no way my DD would do it if she was the only one her age doing it. Hmm... have to think on this some more. Any more input out there? Any other restaurants you'd especially recommend for DD (11) who doesn't especially care about princesses and such? Thanks in advance

Sandy

 

[Christine]

Thanks for all your input. Especially thanks, Christine, for the age info on the hula hoop contest. You're right, there's no way my DD would do it if she was the only one her age doing it. Hmm... have to think on this some more. Any more input out there? Any other restaurants you'd especially recommend for DD (11) who doesn't especially care about princesses and such? Thanks in advance

Sandy

Sandy,
I hope someone responds to you. As you can see by my signature, I haven't been since 2001 and my kids were about 9 and 6 then. Now, I'm going with DD (13), her friend (14), and my DS (10). Everything I've done at Disney was always geared toward young kids. I'm kind of scratching my head trying to think what is more appropriate for the older set.

 

[MickeyMonstersMom]

DD 10 much prefers 'Ohana, even though she does not participate in the hula hoop races any more. We all prefer the food at 'Ohana as well; we can get barbeque anywhere, but there is nothing remotely close to Polynesian around here.

 

[Densgirl]

These are two must do's for us each trip. We ate at both in November and enjoyed both restaurants. My DS is developmentally delayed and can get pretty nervous when he is the center of attention. The first time we dined at Whispering Canyon, I just informed them at the podium when we checked in and they mentioned it to the server. I wouldn't let this reason alone keep you from enjoying this restaurant. It is still incredibly fun even if you don't get directly involved. DS has since gotten used to the place and the attention and now participates fully. I really love WCC.

Ohana is also great if you can manage to eat near the time of Wishes in the MK. We have been lucky enough to score window-side seats and then also have been seated away from the window but the views are gorgeous and the windows pretty sizable so you can see out them from a good portion of the restaurant. The castle looks so pretty from this place. The one thing I will say about Ohana is you really have to be a meat lover. There are other things served but the skewers of meat brought round to the tables really are the star here. My family is all guys so this restaurant suits them well.

 

[MickeyMonstersMom]

I've seen the "meat lover" reference to 'Ohana several times, and find it interesting, as that never had occurred to me before I read it here. My daughter loves the rice and applesauce, I love the salad and green beans - all of which are all-you-can-eat just as the meats are. We have asked for seconds on some of those things, but I guess because the meat is so visible and offered regularly (as opposed to having to ask for more), it seems as though there's more of that than anything else.

(Oh - I have to mention the bread and the pineapple too... mmm...)