Some ohana questions

[pixiewytch]

I am thinking of booking reservations for the Ohana dinner. I know that DH and I would love it. However, I'm still trying to decide whether or not to take our 4 yr old. First off, it is quite pricey for food he will probably just pick at and not eat. Secondly, he isn't real keen on loud, overstimulated environments.

So I'm wondering a few things. First off, how long does the dinner usually last? We can get child care for $10 an hour and I'm wondering if it might be cheaper just to do that instead of taking him. Secondly, what is the noise factor like? Is the music really loud and crazy?

I would love to hear from others how their young kids liked the experience as well.

 

[kjs1976]

You can order anything off of the kids menu for him; mac and cheese, chicken nuggets, etc. If you book an early ADR and arrive to the restaraunt to check in early, you should be OK for the noise factor. However, it does get noisy quick, and there is a lady who does entertainment throughout the restaraunt with a mic so it can get loud. It might be worth it to you and DH to treat yourselves to this WONDERUL dinner and experience and let DS have a fun night at the child care club! I would plan at least 2 hours for this...to check in, get seated, and eat, and maybe have time to walk around the Poly outside if you're not staying there.

 

[holcomb-mania]

My kids loved the Neverland Club at the Poly.

 

[Goofy4]

I thought I remembered asking a similar question a couple years ago: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=669755&page=1&pp=15

The response there was that it may be a bit too much for a 3yo. Since then my parents have taken my 6yo nephew and he had a great time. I'm interested in seeing other responses as we could be heading back next year (with more nephews and nieces).

 

[Armandocme]

We had dinner there on 6/29/2006 with my wife and DD3 and DD5. Our ADR was for 5:15. We got seated pretty quickly. Dinner took about an hour. I don't think it was too loud. There was a lady with a mic roaming around singing and getting kids involved in little games like rolling coconuts on the floor with a broom, etc. If you are concerned about the noise,there is a section of tables off to the side from the main dining area that seemed quieter that you can request to be seated at.

The appetizers there are the best!

 

[Wendi2000]

We took my then 3-year-old last year, he participated in the first half of the coconut races, but didn't want to do any of the other activities. He has Sensory Processing Disorder, so he has issues with noise and being patient (he lacks coping skills). He did just fine at 'Ohana. In fact, we didn't love the food all that much, but are going back this year in hopes that he will enjoy the activities more this time around.

 

[Allison]

I am thinking of booking reservations for the Ohana dinner. I know that DH and I would love it. However, I'm still trying to decide whether or not to take our 4 yr old. First off, it is quite pricey for food he will probably just pick at and not eat. Secondly, he isn't real keen on loud, overstimulated environments.

So I'm wondering a few things. First off, how long does the dinner usually last? We can get child care for $10 an hour and I'm wondering if it might be cheaper just to do that instead of taking him. Secondly, what is the noise factor like? Is the music really loud and crazy?

I would love to hear from others how their young kids liked the experience as well.

The kids menu is $11.99 so it probably wouldn't be cheaper to get childcare unless you will be in/out very quickly.

 

[lindakmonty]

We had such a great time at our Ohana dinner. It wasn't too noisy, ds5 is kind of shy and loved it. he had a blast. he usually watches and doesn't jump in but here he did. He did the coconut race and loved it. the food was great and so much fun. it was about an hour and was a wonderful view of Wishes! would be great either way w/or w/o ds. good luck and enjoy. My dh didn't say anything until we were walking in the parking lot to the car and he said I was thinking that this was the one blonde moment you had on planning this trip, having dinner at 9pm...but I was wrong.. that was a great time and I'm glad we did it. !!!! It was so sweet for him to admit it !!!

 

[pixiewytch]

The kids menu is $11.99 so it probably wouldn't be cheaper to get childcare unless you will be in/out very quickly.

Well, that makes sense. I'm just a little confused because the tickets say $30-$50 on the Polynesian site. I was assuming $30 for kids. I don't see anything for $11.95 though. I thought it was a one ticket price buffet, not al a carte.

 

[GoodFairies]

Well, that makes sense. I'm just a little confused because the tickets say $30-$50 on the Polynesian site. I was assuming $30 for kids. I don't see anything for $11.95 though. I thought it was a one ticket price buffet, not al a carte.

Sounds like you are confusing the 'Ohana restaurant with the Spirit of Aloha Luau Dinner show.

 

[Mommy Poppins]

Sounds like you are confusing the 'Ohana restaurant with the Spirit of Aloha Luau Dinner show.

I agree sounds like a little confusion on which dinner. I think your child would be fine at O'Hana's for dinner. Keep in mind for childcare at the kids' clubs that while it is only $10 per hour, there is a 3 or 4 hour minimum. With that in mind, my kids LOVE the Neverland Club and it is hard to get them out of there when we go to pick them up!!! My 7 year old DS would rather go to the Neverland Club or Disney Quest than any park!

 

[Allison]

Well, that makes sense. I'm just a little confused because the tickets say $30-$50 on the Polynesian site. I was assuming $30 for kids. I don't see anything for $11.95 though. I thought it was a one ticket price buffet, not al a carte.

As others have said I think you are confusing the 'Ohana restaurant with the luau show. They are 2 different things.

Which one is it you are interested in? The luau is about $50 for adults and $25 for kids.

 

[bigbabyblues]

My kids were 4 (almost 5) and 2 on our last trip and they really liked 'Ohana. The server said we could order from the kids menu at Kona (I think) but we didn't.

 

[DBarber600]

My kids loved Ohana's. They are 3 and 5 and my son doesn't like loud environments either. They both had a great time doing the hula, rolling the coconuts and both loved the dinner as well!

 

[pixiewytch]

Yikes, sorry everybody, I was definitely confused and talking about the luau show. If the child care is a three hour minimum it seems like it would be cheaper to take him along. Thanks for all the responses so far.