over rated- Ohana dinner

[bugarwitch]

DH and I spent 2 weeks at WDW Nov-Dec 2016. I was sooooo excited when I got a notice that I could finally book an ADR for Ohana, after attempting this for months! Had read such glowing reviews, families that have loved it for years... I was really looking forward to this experience!

I have to say, that this was the WORST meal we had in all of WDW. EVERYTHING from the bread and salad, appetizers, to the main entrees, (meats, shrimp, etc), to dessert, were so overloaded with sugar, it was all just inedible. Each and every item on the menu was dripping in sticky sweet sauce(s).The Hula lady on microphone was sooo loud, and yet not in our dining area, so had no idea what was happening.

We felt so rushed through the entire meal- they kept bringing out courses, before we had a chance to start eating the last course.

The price was so high, for such an uncomfortable, unappetizing and such a rushed meal. We will never go back.

We enjoyed many other meals at WDW, but honestly, this was a complete disappointment for us.

 

[Derek Demsher]

I literally had the same experience in december.
I did enjoy the potstickers and the shrimp, but the chicken was too sweet and the steak had a weird
kerosine flavor too it, yuck.
I also thought the service was horribly paced. We got our appetizers thrown at us right when we sat down, and were getting meat skewers
offered to us before we even got our drinks.

Then the server literally gave us our dessert and our check at the exact same time.
Felt super unwelcomed and thought the food was super overrated.
Nice to try once, but we were so uncomfortable the whole meal so we will never go back.

 

[bugarwitch]

Thank you for confirming and sharing, your similar experience! Like I said, had heard it was such a wonderful place, and was so looking forward to it.... but we didn't feel that wonderful welcome , or amazing dining experience, that others have shared about Ohana.
I may be a Debbie Downer here, but, it just seems that Disney pushes so much SUGAR, in everything they do. I get it- INDULGE. But, for us, sugar just isn't our thing, and sugar just seems to be the major theme, all over WDW.
We did enjoy other meals, and snacks, but, it was a real challenge to find things to eat, that were yummy, but not make us feel YUCKY, wherever we went in WDW.

 

[quandrea]

I agree with you. We haven't been to Ohana in years now. Been to WDW over sixty times now. Our favourites are the simple places--Beaches and Cream, The Plaza, Splitsville, Via Napoli. Today I had the most wonderful sandwich from Boardwalk Bakery.

 

[Anniefrances]

We tried 'Ohana for dinner in Dec and for us, it's a one and done. It wasn't the worst, but certainly was far from the best. I'm vegetarian, noted it on the ADR, mentioned it upon check-in and again with my server. She told me that veggies and noodles would be served on a family platter. They were but there was also meat on that platter. She acted a little miffed when I asked for a separate serving. She brought the veggies but no noodles. Again, I asked for noodles to be served separate from the meat. By the time I got my food my kids were already finished and bored. They didn't care for the meat other than the wings and potstickers. All in all, it was one of our most expensive meals that trip and the least enjoyable. I'm pretty sure we could have had a comparable meal (food-wise, not ambiance) at Kona Cafe.

 

[smcabee]

Doesnt surprise me at all. Def overrated.

 

[mom2my3kids]

This is our must ever time we go, only one time did we feel rushed but we went back and have never had that problem again..To be honest we usually are so starved we welcome all the food.. Already have my ADR for june, yes its expensive but its our splurge meal...

 

[momof2gr8kids]

We've enjoyed 'Ohana in the past, however ended up cancelling our ADR as my daughter is vegetarian and I couldn't justify the price. I couldn't leave without having some of that bread pudding, so dh and I went to Tambu Lounge while the kids stayed to ride more rides at MK. We had the pulled pork Nachos and wings and shared the bread pudding, and it was the nicest meal of our trip. So relaxing. Although end of the trip and no kids with us....could have eaten cardboard and would have been great! LOL

 

[jo-jo]

We had skipped the meal for a few yrs. We tried it again in Nov. We liked it. As far as the meat coming too fast, when that happened, we just told them we weren't ready for meats yet. And dropping off a check early, doesn't bother us. We stay as long as we want, asking for more coffee or dessert if desired.

Several years ago, we were at Bome at breakfast. We sat down with our first plate of food and the server dropped off the check. We were miffed at that. But still just took our time.

 

[porschegrl]

We tried 'Ohana for dinner in Dec and for us, it's a one and done. It wasn't the worst, but certainly was far from the best. I'm vegetarian, noted it on the ADR, mentioned it upon check-in and again with my server. She told me that veggies and noodles would be served on a family platter. They were but there was also meat on that platter. She acted a little miffed when I asked for a separate serving. She brought the veggies but no noodles. Again, I asked for noodles to be served separate from the meat. By the time I got my food my kids were already finished and bored. They didn't care for the meat other than the wings and potstickers. All in all, it was one of our most expensive meals that trip and the least enjoyable. I'm pretty sure we could have had a comparable meal (food-wise, not ambiance) at Kona Cafe.

I'm really sorry that was your experience. I am vegetarian, too, and 'Ohana was the surprise hit of our trip. None of the vegetarian items were served on the same platter as the meat. What's more, I received an alternate veg appetizer and my own bowl of veggies, with tofu. I've read other similar accounts, too.

Sorry, I don't mean to rub it in! But it sounds like you got a bum deal, and I would hope your experience would be better if you were to give 'Ohana another try (although it's certainly understandable if you wouldn't, especially since your kids didn't particularly care for it, either).

 

[sibesx2]

We had skipped the meal for a few yrs. We tried it again in Nov. We liked it. As far as the meat coming too fast, when that happened, we just told them we weren't ready for meats yet. And dropping off a check early, doesn't bother us. We stay as long as we want, asking for more coffee or dessert if desired.

Several years ago, we were at Bome at breakfast. We sat down with our first plate of food and the server dropped off the check. We were miffed at that. But still just took our time.

I always ask that the check be brought as soon as possible so that we can go when we are done eating. Been stuck waiting too long for it too many times!

 

[Beer Me]

We plan on trying ohana for the first time this summer. I'll set my expectations accordingly but I'm looking forward to just visiting the resort and hopefully watching fireworks after dinner. How bad could it be?

 

[mombrontrent]

I'm really sorry that was your experience. I am vegetarian, too, and 'Ohana was the surprise hit of our trip. None of the vegetarian items were served on the same platter as the meat. What's more, I received an alternate veg appetizer and my own bowl of veggies, with tofu. I've read other similar accounts, too.

Sorry, I don't mean to rub it in! But it sounds like you got a bum deal, and I would hope your experience would be better if you were to give 'Ohana another try (although it's certainly understandable if you wouldn't, especially since your kids didn't particularly care for it, either).

We just ate here last Thursday and our family thought it was the best meal of the trip (most expensive though too). My Dd10 is vegetarian and I'm vegan, they brought us each out our own appetizer with flatbread, won ton chips and various dips/hummus and a separate platter of noodles and veggies. We also each got our own huge bowl of veggies and tofu even though one bowl would have been more then plenty for us to split. Dd14 asked for mac and cheese and got brought out a bowl and for dessert they brought out cupcakes, bread pudding and I got my own vegan dessert. It was a great experience, I've never dined anywhere else besides HDDR where I've been given such great vegan options!

 

[porschegrl]

We just ate here last Thursday and our family thought it was the best meal of the trip (most expensive though too). My Dd10 is vegetarian and I'm vegan, they brought us each out our own appetizer with flatbread, won ton chips and various dips/hummus and a separate platter of noodles and veggies. We also each got our own huge bowl of veggies and tofu even though one bowl would have been more then plenty for us to split. Dd14 asked for mac and cheese and got brought out a bowl and for dessert they brought out cupcakes, bread pudding and I got my own vegan dessert. It was a great experience, I've never dined anywhere else besides HDDR where I've been given such great vegan options!

Out of curiosity, what was the vegan dessert? I knew I had no room for dessert, so even though a vegan option was offered, I told our waitress to just bring out the bread pudding for my tablemate.

 

[mombrontrent]

Out of curiosity, what was the vegan dessert? I knew I had no room for dessert, so even though a vegan option was offered, I told our waitress to just bring out the bread pudding for my tablemate.

Here is a picture of it, berries, brownie and ice cream with chocolate sauce, it was really good when you got of each bite on your spoon. I ended up eating it all except for a few berries that my daughters snagged.

 

[porschegrl]

Thank you for the info (and the pic!). That does look good.

 

[Lisa F]

am I the only one who doesn't see it as courses so much but one big family style meal? They did bring out the meat quickly but I liked eating it with the noodles and the potstickers and the veggies all together... it would have been weird to just eat all of the noodles and veggies and potstickers by themselves and then nothing but meat. I remember being glad the meat came out when it did because I would have been picking at stuff waiting for it.

 

[Vikss]

I tried Ohana for the first time in November and was disappointed. We waited 30 minutes past our ADR time for a table then were rushed. We were offered only chicken - no prawns or steak before our table was cleared ready for dessert, we objected and fresh platters were brought back to the table.
However, the food itself was good so we are giving it another chance this year and hoping an earlier ADR time will have less of a delay.

 

[Lisa F]

I tried Ohana for the first time in November and was disappointed. We waited 30 minutes past our ADR time for a table then were rushed. We were offered only chicken - no prawns or steak before our table was cleared ready for dessert, we objected and fresh platters were brought back to the table.
However, the food itself was good so we are giving it another chance this year and hoping an earlier ADR time will have less of a delay.

I went at 3:30 right when they open and our meal was perfect. We were not rushed, got a great window table overlooking the castle without even asking, the food was hot and fresh and prompt. I highly recommend making this one an early dinner.

 

[mombrontrent]

When we were there last week we had a 5:40 ADR. We waited about 10 minutes to be seated and also got a castle view right by the window without asking.