Please Vote: Just how bad is the food at the Spirit of Aloha dinner show????

[SeaSpray]

My family and I have never done the luau, and our aunt who hasn't been to WDW in over 20 years hasn't done the luau in decades... We'll be staying at the Polynesian next May and she has expressed in interest in the luau, but I've really read some awful reviews of the food there. Our aunt has done real luaus in Hawaii, and while she absolutely realizes that this is Disney World and not Hawaii, I still wouldn't want to take her to a bad meal, especially when there are so many great Disney restaurants to dine at.

So tell me... Just how bad is it??? LOL

 

[AKLRULZ]

Abysmal is giving it too much credit. Sorry, not a fan.

 

[pumba]

we have been going to the luau about 6 visits. Whenever we bring new people to the house of the mouse we always go to the Luau and everyone enjoys the show and the food is very plentiful and good.....go and have fun

 

[BadgerBruce]

We haven't been to the show for a couple of years, but thought the food was very good--one of the most pleasant surprises of that trip! We especially liked the salad, bread, chicken, grilled veggies & pineapple. The ribs & dessert were okay. The storyline for the show was kind of lame, but the costumes & dancing very entertaining. We thought the food much better than the previous show, but did miss the fruity drinks they used to serve.

 

[Lyon_King]

The food is so-so, nothing special.... if you've been to a luau in Hawaii or elsewhere, I'd pass on this.
If you've never been to one anywhere, then go for it... you're going for the show not for the food.

 

[tinkerrn]

I was also wondering the same question. Hubby wanted to go to the luau in Nov.. Do they still include alcoholic drinks? I am a vegetarian, will I find something to eat? Neither of us have been to a luau, so we have nothing to compare it to.

 

[karliebug]

the food is just okay. The show is hokey and not at all great. The fire dancer is very good but other than that I would pass. Now the Hoop de doo is the place to go for fun for the whole family.

 

[SeaSpray]

Can someone please explain what the show consists of? We're a party of 5; 2 adults in their mid 40's who have not had an interest in going to the luau in all of our previous trips but who are considering it now; an adult in her mid-70's who has been to authentic Hawaiian luaus before; and 2 "kids" who will be 20 yrs old and 17 yrs old at the time, and who will probably be AS interested in the food as they are in the show.

I'm not sure that "going for the show" is good enough for us, if that makes any sense I'm just afraid that we'll have spent $350 for lousy food, and a show that isn't that great.

Is the show geared towards younger kids? I thought I read somewhere that they give the kids hula lessons, or that they've incorporated Lilo and Stitch into it? If anyone can give me a good description of the show, that would really help me to make a better, informed decision for my group. Thanks

P.S. Regarding Hoop De Doo... I just don't know. That's a possibility. But we want to consider the luau because we'll be staying at the Polynesian, and since we'd never done it before, I wanted to check it out with all of the DISers. Also, our aunt did do the luau at the Polynesian 20 years ago and enjoyed it, but obviously it's not the same food or the same show, as back then. Thanks again!

P.P.S. Can someone give me a description of the Hoop Dee Doo show?? Thanks!

 

[marlower]

Did the Luau on 8/21 and loved it. The food was good, my girls liked the rice especially, the chicken was moist and the bread is delicis! The show itself is a bit corny at first but boy does it get better as it progresses. We did a luau in Maui and found this one to be a much better performance. The fire dancer is spectacular and we were stuffed by the end of the night!

 

[CamColt]

I have never been to SOA, however I went to the Luau way back when (1998, 1995, and way back in the 80s).

I had heard many not so great reviews lately, however my neighbors went last year and came home raving about it....food and show.

 

[Ozymoe]

Can someone please explain what the show consists of? We're a party of 5; 2 adults in their mid 40's who have not had an interest in going to the luau in all of our previous trips but who are considering it now; an adult in her mid-70's who has been to authentic Hawaiian luaus before; and 2 "kids" who will be 20 yrs old and 17 yrs old at the time, and who will probably be AS interested in the food as they are in the show.

I'm not sure that "going for the show" is good enough for us, if that makes any sense I'm just afraid that we'll have spent $350 for lousy food, and a show that isn't that great.

Is the show geared towards younger kids? I thought I read somewhere that they give the kids hula lessons, or that they've incorporated Lilo and Stitch into it? If anyone can give me a good description of the show, that would really help me to make a better, informed decision for my group. Thanks

P.S. Regarding Hoop De Doo... I just don't know. That's a possibility. But we want to consider the luau because we'll be staying at the Polynesian, and since we'd never done it before, I wanted to check it out with all of the DISers. Also, our aunt did do the luau at the Polynesian 20 years ago and enjoyed it, but obviously it's not the same food or the same show, as back then. Thanks again!

P.P.S. Can someone give me a description of the Hoop Dee Doo show?? Thanks!

Hoop-De-Doo is a rootin' tootin' dance hall show with cowboys and dance hall girls. The food is served family style at your table, all the barbequed ribs and chicken you care to eat as well as baked beans, sodas, beer, wine...wait a minute, here's a link: http://allearsnet.com/din/hddcom.htm

 

[Scott2tune]

It's not just a Lau it's a "Disney" themed show. In that it is warm, endearing, funny, and a great show. I brought my DD12 in 2003 and we both loved it- and (one of our favorite restaurants in Newport Beach is Roy's so we love great food) the food was "Disney" good. Not great but delivered in a fun- spirited- way. A bit too much food maybe but really we had a great time. Yes Hoop Dee Doo was fun too so do both. I went back solo (yes solo) in 2005 and I might be doing it again in January (when I'm there on business again). Really don't miss it.

 

[MAGICinMYHEART]

Was just there Aug 15th, if I hadn't been there with friends I would have left. There are to many other places with great food for the money. The entertainment for the first part of the show was like HSM.

 

[SeaSpray]

Was just there Aug 15th, if I hadn't been there with friends I would have left. There are to many other places with great food for the money. The entertainment for the first part of the show was like HSM.

Thanks for the comment Can you please let me know exactly what you didn't like? I'm trying to get more detailed info, so I can decide whether my family and I would enjoy this or not.

Thanks!


Thanks everyone else too, for all of the comments!

 

[disneymath]

Our group of 8 (aged 12, 14, 27, 28, 29, 53, 56, and 66) went at the end of August 2006 and really enjoyed it. Everyone in our group liked the food ... it was definitely tasty and plentiful. (Our only complaint was the blush wine ... yuck!! Then again, we're not wine drinkers - we tend to stick to swwet and bubbly "soda-popish" wine! )

As for the show, it was somewhat corny, but enjoyable nonetheless. If you're looking for "high class", SoA is probably not the best choice for your group. If you're looking for a fun dining experience, then I would recommend trying SoA.