Ohanna maybe we had an off night but..............

[adisneynut]

We found that the meat was tough, chewy, and cold whenever we were served. Now I have to say that the wait staff and the entertainment was 100% and the salad , rice, chicken wings, and the wontons were really the best part of the meal to us. We also enjoyed the view for the fireworks. However I don't think that we will try it again. Oh, the Lapu Lapu(SP?) was great too. This is just our opinion like I said we may have had an off night. However the food at Whispering Canyon was great. Our porkchops were thick, tender and very good. We will eat there again.

 

[Allie322]

We had just the opposite experience last month! The food--when it arrived--was terrific but the service was awful. The shrimp and pork skewers took FOREVER to reach our table and when my daughter wanted more shrimp, the server seemed like we were imposing! The same for our request for more salad and veggies. And yes, it took quite a while for them to finally arrive. All of the tables around us were being attended to but it was like we were invisible. I suppose we should have complained but we just chalked it up as a bad night. We would probably try it again though.

 

[webray]

We had the same experience as you disneynut...tough chewy meat...not impressive at all.

We were just talking the other day whether or not to give it another chance with all the great reviews it gets from here.

 

[mckryan]

I have to agree with the tough and chewy (and overdone) comments about Ohana. We had the same experience last month, and while everything else was good, we probably will not go back.

 

[Threehearts]

We've yet to have a good meal but we keep going because we always seem to get a great table near the fireworks windows and the kid's activities. I know that many people rave about the food but I think we've made our last trip there considering the price of the meal. Threehearts

 

[POLYMOM]

I agree with you!!! We had a bad experience at dinner with undercooked turkey and bad service. However, we had breakfast reservations and found the character breakfast to be quite enjoyable.

For dinner, we always eat at the Kona Cafe, great meals, service and prices.

 

[Tina]

We would have welcomed chewy meat, since ours was burned to a crisp in May. It was the most unappetizing thing I've ever been served.

 

[Local_Girl]

I was hoping to try 'Ohana on our next visit...but now I'm a little worried. We're on a pretty tight budget so this would be a splurge for us and I'd hate it to be a bad experience. We tried Chef Mickey last year (which is a "must do" for many, but gets mixed reviews as well) and we weren't really impressed. What if we get tough, dry meat AND poor service??

I was hoping to do it for the atmosphere and the kids' games...but maybe we should go elsewhere.

 

[linda_pizzuro]

So sorry to hear about your experience at 'Ohana's. This is our favorite place to eat. We are planning on going there our first night we get to Disney (not until October). You mentioned the fireworks. I seem to remember the last time we ate there you could see the fireworks from the MK. Do they dim the lights and pipe in the music? I hope so, this is part of the reason we are going there (getting a little taste of the Magic before entering the park). We are also planning on watching the Water Pagent from the beach later that evening.

To anyone who has eaten there lately, please let me know about the fireworks and where is the best place to sit to see them.

Thanks,
Linda

 

[mckryan]

Tina - Well, ours was way overdone, and hence the chewy. I could see how burnt to a crisp would be more crunchy than chewy.

Local_Girl - I really would look elsewhere to get a better deal for your $$. Sure, you can get all-you-can-eat, but who wants to eat a lot when it's overcooked (or undercooked) food? Maybe Whispering Canyon Cafe at WL would be good since the servers have a good time over there?

 

[adisneynut]

local girl- I really can't tell you what to do. I don't beleive in doing that. However they do offer chidlren activities at whispering canyon at the wilderness loge. some of it is fun and can be a little silly. it reall depends on how corny your servers are. I can only tell you that we enjoed our food more at whipsering cayon and they serve large enough portions that DH and I shared and that helps on a budget. We really don't eat enough food to justify Ohanna's price tag. We did enjoy the service and the entertainment but I can't really give the food anything but a D rating.

linda- We were there for a special occasion and they concierge at WL must have told them because they seated us just 1 table away from the window and dead center of the castle. Everyone around us (5 table) were celebrating. They still dim the lghts and pipe inthe musice and it is very magical. It help make the occasion a little more magical. I just don't think we care to repeat it again.

 

[AKASnowWhite]

I agree with adisneynut!

O'hana just wasn't worth the price, IMO. My family as a whole enjoyed both the food and the atmosphere of Whispering Canyon a whole lot more!

 

[Local_Girl]

Did the "cousin" thing turn anyone off? I've heard about it and wondered if it was annoying to anybody??

TIA!

 

[ZerasPride]

I was surprised that I did not enjoy this meal as much as I thought. We ate at 'Ohana for our ninth anniversary this past November. We had fabulous service. The waitstaff was great! We had a wonderful view of the castle and the fireworks even though we were not right up to the windows. I actually prefered it because it gave us sort of a panoramic view.

I won't say the food was awful but I don't ever have to eat there again. Been there, done that and don't want to go back! I did enjoy the shrimp but had to work to peel it which detracted from the experience for me. I didn't care for the turkey and the beef was just alright. I didn't like the dipping sauces and thought the wings were pretty fatty.

I will say again how surprised I was that the food did not live up to my expectations. I wasn't expecting gourmet but the food was just bad. We're doing Chef Mickey's on our first night in about 10 days and I know it gets mixed reviews but hopefully on a big buffet we'll find plenty to eat.

Btw, my family (husband, son and brother) enjoyed the food. Believe me we got our money's worth. I asked my husband would he go back again and he said he would and that says a lot. I guess food really is subjective. If I had a ps and wanted to try it, I would and form my own opinion. You never know, it could end up being your family's new favorite!

 

[MickeyMonstersMom]

We began our vacation last August at 'Ohana, and want to make that a tradition for every visit. My mouth is watering even now as I think of the great dinner we had! We were tucked into a little back corner and it took a while for the server to get to us initially, but afterward everyone was very attentive. Another server overheard us discussing DD's birthday the next day and brought her a cupcake - and a group of them regaled her with a song.

Our next big dinner was at the Whispering Canyon, and it was one of the poorest dining experiences of my life. The hostess at the front desk was snotty and treated us like second-class citizens when I checked in for the PS. Our server appeared to be ignorant of all the hijinks and when we tried some of the triggers (chewing gum, asking to go to the restroom, asking about Warner Bros. characters, etc) she acted like WE had a problem. As a last resort we asked for ketchup, to which she simply said "OK" and went into the kitchen. Another server - who was doing a fantastic job at the table next to us - started the ketchup prank. When our own server returned about 10 minutes later with a bottle of it, she remarked, "Well, I see you managed to find your own ketchup" and took it back to the kitchen. The food was dry and tasteless as well.

My kids want to try WC again in the hope that we just had the misfortune of being there on an off-night, but I'd rather not take the chance. OTOH, I'd happily eat at 'Ohana several times in any given vacation.

 

[TigH]

I think it's hit or miss. We've had great meals (tasty everything cooked to perfection) with great service, we've had horribly dry shrimp, we've had endless appetizers from friendly servers and servers who's faces could have been printed on the side of a milk carton as missing persons. Fortunately we've eaten there enough times to give it a break for a few years and try some other great Disney restaurants. I miss the spring rolls they used to serve, before they switched to the chicken wings. Now those were AWESOME!

 

[vicb]

It has been several years since our 'Ohanna experience but we weren't impressed and I doubt I could get DH to give it another try. Even though the resturant was half empty they seated us in the area adjacent to the bar, totally away from all the activity. We asked to be moved and were given a table in the back corner! Our server had little personality and did nothing to help include our kids in the hula-hoop or coconut races (we saw other waiters bring props to the kids at their tables). Our food was fair, nothing awful but nothing great either. I am always hesitant to share our unhappy experience there because most reviewers rave about this place. Anyway, just my .02 !

 

[LKS]

From the look of this thread, they must have a lot of "off nights." We certainly don't plan to go back. We found all the meats dry and we didn't like the sweet dipping sauces. The one shining moment was when our server realized that our 4 year old (almost 5) didn't eat much of anything and didn't charge us for him. Really, all 5 of us put together didn't eat more than one adult-sized serving. They brought us the starters, which were fine, and then gave us our first serving of the meats and we just never got any more. No one came by and offered and we didn't like it enough to go seeking out any more. It was probably THE biggest disappointment and waste of money of our 9 night trip.

 

[CindyAnn]

Wow! We ate here in January and had a fantastic meal. The steak was very tender, the appetizers were delicious, and the service was great. The children (6 & 9 at the time) liked it so much that we're planning to return for our NYE meal. My children both opted for items from the regular children's menu rather than the skewered meats and even picky DS enjoyed his meal. I'm so sorry to hear that others had such a negative experience.

 

[pixiechick]

Put us in the group that had great food and terrible service.
The host was absolutely nasty. We had just ordered drinks when our table became available. We had to pay the bartender and collect glasses (and of course, my pineapple! ) while managing to chase the host across the restaurant to our table. DH was trying to direct DS, who completely lost view of the "galloping" host. Finally, he stopped to allow us to catch up and made some comment to DH about us holding him up. Dh answered with a general comment about needing to collect our things, etc. and that he moved too fast. The host replied, in a really sarcastic tone, "Well I hope your night gets better because you seem miserable." Dh said, "I wasn't until I met you" Thus started our dining experience!
Our server was pleasant but frequently MIA and seemed generally clueless. Another server took mercy on us and would check on us. We really enjoyed the food.
DS loved the games, and often requests that we return. Dh isn't sold on the idea!