Second thoughs on Ohana

[i3utterfli82]

We have Ohana booked for the first night of our trip this year, and all these negative reviews have me wondering if I should *try* to book something else.

Last year I heard the same negative reviews about WCC, but we ended up enjoying ourselves.

I wonder if we will not be so lucky the second time around....

 

[LarryJ]

We have Ohana booked for the first night of our trip this year, and all these negative reviews have me wondering if I should *try* to book something else.

Last year I heard the same negative reviews about WCC, but we ended up enjoying ourselves.

I wonder if we will not be so lucky the second time around....

Personally, I would keep it and unless you're there on a really busy, busy time it should be O.K. The service now is sort of a crap shoot, but the food really hasn't changed that much. They are trying to pack more and more people into some of these restaurants and get them out faster to make more $$$ and that IMHO is where the problem starts. We've always enjoyed Ohana, but this year we're doing the Luau since it's a fixed number of people and a fixed time so you can't get more in to serve in a fixed time frame. The same goes to places like the Diamond Horseshoe Review and Hoop-Dee-Do. I wish they hadn't gotten rid of the dinner show at the CR done in the 1980's at the CR since that was another great option. About the only other "non-rushed" options are V&A's mega $$$ and Bistro (but that will probably change when folks become more familiar with it over the crowded, noisy Chef's de France.

Larry

 

[thunderbird1]

Actually, I'd stick with any restaurant that sounded good to me, regardless of reviews. If you read enough reviews, you'll find positives and negatives about every restaurant. One of our favorites is the San Angel Inn, which most DISers feel isn't anything special, and the one place we'll never go back to again is Spoodles, which is a big DIS favorite.

Here's my $.02: we loved 'Ohana, and are looking forward to doing it again. Go with your gut--not the second guesser sitting on your shoulder!

 

[yxe dad]

Most bad dining reviews come during peak dining times/seasons. Often the servers and the kitchens are playing catch up instead of giving a "wow WDW" dining experience during these periods.
There are too many possible things that can go bad at any restaurant at any time!!! Don't let reviews change your mind if you want to try it.
My experiences at Ohana are mixed but for different reasons.
The first time was great, good food with good service.
Second time not so good, good food with pretty much no service. A large walk in of 75 cheerleaders and parents took over the place and the servers were scrambling. We had just been served drinks and were waiting for our food. Our server and two others "took" the large party and I think we were kind of forgotten for awhile while she dealt with her part of the party. That being said when we did get the food it was good but it was like she brought it all out at once and that's what we got! No coming by to see if we wanted anything else.
I still like it and will go back, just not this trip I got an ADR for LeCellier.

 

[molly213]

We've only been there once but we weren't impressed. Food was OK but we felt so rushed we didn't enjoy our time. My son wants to try it again so we are going to give it one more try but I'm going to ask the server to slow it down if I start to feel rushed again.

 

[skater]

I agree with the others. The whole restaurant experience varies with so many factors and despite possible service issues, I think the food will be good. Its also a fun atmosphere. good luck!

 

[mickeymousemom]

Stick with Ohana. This is the one place(besides Boma) that is a must do for dinner. It's become a tradition for us to do it on our first night in. We love it. The food is always good, and last year our server was awesome. If I feel as though I'm getting rushed, I plan on saying something. I won't put up with being rushed through a meal in 30-45 minutes here. Ridiculous. But. I've read alot of the neg. reviews lately and I just don't let it bother me. We love Ohana and have never had a bad time there!

 

[LarryJ]

Actually, I'd stick with any restaurant that sounded good to me, regardless of reviews. If you read enough reviews, you'll find positives and negatives about every restaurant. One of our favorites is the San Angel Inn, which most DISers feel isn't anything special, and the one place we'll never go back to again is Spoodles, which is a big DIS favorite.

Here's my $.02: we loved 'Ohana, and are looking forward to doing it again. Go with your gut--not the second guesser sitting on your shoulder!

Boy you nailed it from Ohana to San Angel Inn which we like both and hated Spoodles mainly from the service.

Any restaurant can and be good or bad on any given night, Disney is no different now. It didn't used to be that way, but now it is.

Larry

 

[Lisa Anne Colling]

We were there for the first time last week with a group of 21. We really enjoyed it. Food was great, a little different from the usual. Kids loved hula lessons and conconut races. Our waiter was okay, just don't mistake the meat for chicken, he got a little testy about that. Glad we went and would go again. Try it for yourselve and see!

 

[Rustysmom]

We just ate there last week and it was ok. The food was pretty good and they didn't try to rush us out, but the waitress didn't come around often either. Plus they stuck us in the back and I forgot to tell DH to tell them that we wanted to be in the main part, and you're pretty ignored back there. We couldn't see the races or the hula lessons. It was also the only restaurant where we had to wait for a table.

I don't know if I'd go back, but at least I got to go there once.

 

[MickeyNicki]

DH wanted to eat here on our first night, either that or Boma...I did a poll and as of right now Boma is in the lead so we are going there. (I always wanted to try it!)

I am not a fan of turkey or peel and eat shrimp but was willing to try the rest of the food.

All the reviews I have read for the past year or more have reported very rushed service, dry meats and loud atmosphere.

 

[debit34]

We LOVE Ohana's - keep your ressie! It's a great place to eat!

 

[livndisney]

Personally, I don't plan to ever eat at Ohana's. I had an ADR there last week (first night of trip) and was treated so badly by the chefs, I won't go there again. YMMV.

 

[ADP]

Ohana is our favorite restaurant on Disney property. I've never had a bad meal there. Some meals where quicker than others, but I personally like getting in and out. The Magic Kingdom is right across the lagoon and I can't wait to get there.

Everyone's palletts are different. Some people love family style dining and other don't. It really depends on you whether you will enjoy it or not. One thing is for sure, you won't know if you like it or not unless you try it once.

I would definately give it a try.

 

[jojo14]

We were there last week and it was ok. Dd (7) loved the activities, but said she didn't want to eat there again. The salad, wings, chips and dips and potatoes were awesome, as was the bread pudding. Our meats were all dry, but I had eaten enough of the appies to be fine. It's super fun the first time, and would recommend it, but am in no rush to return. Now Raglan Road had awesome food!!

 

[winniethepoohsmom]

We just ate there on Friday we had a 5:30 ressie and never felt rushed or ignored we had a seat by the window which we liked a nice view of the poly our server took his time to tell us about some of the foods and check back if we wanted more and our waitress refilled our drinks when needed, and this was during free dining on a holiday weekend, we enjoyed the meal and only waited a couple of minutes to be seated. I prefer early ressies, less of a wait time and the servers are'nt exhausted. I cancelled our ressie at WCC because of the bad things I was hearing on the boards but some people love it there and Spoodles was not one of our favorites on our last trip so we did'nt go this time. I like the atmosphere of San Angel Inn but have not eaten there maybe would should try it. I would keep the ressie at Ohana's. Linda

 

[AUTimmy]

We had bad experience at Ohana. The app is good but the meats are not taste good due to the smoke flavor. Our waitress rarely showup, sometime disappear for 20 minutes. We tried to ask for more app and meat but waitress never serve us more. When we asked she just forgot and disappear for another 10 or so minutes. If you like Ohana, you should eat there. But we will not go back there again. We had reservation at 5.15 PM, so I doubt that my waitress already fatigue this early in evening.

 

[jimmytammy]

It is like other restaurants at WDW, it can be really great one night, not so great the next. It is the place we start every trip with now.

 

[M1CKEYFAN]

Ohana was one of the best places that our family ate at. Kids loved it

 

[marivaid]

Even though we had a bad experience at 'Ohana, I'd say keep it.
We loved the food there, and the atmosphere was fun as well. The only problem we had was getting rushed, so my advice would be to go, and if you ever feel slightly rushed make it clear immediately to your server that you will take your time.

I'm actually thinking of booking it again for our next trip since we'll be landing earlier than expected.