Spirit of Aloha questions

[pammydw]

i am planning a trip with my mom, my bestie and her mom and sister. Girls trips! Adults only!! We are coming in on March 5th, using the DDP, so it's nice breakfasts and 2credit dinner restaurants all week. I would love to have our last night a special night with a great dinner. Thought SOA would be a good choice! Looking at a 5:15 time so we can enjoy some MK before they close at 8pm (sure hope that changes) but will we get the full on effect of the show and fire and such at 5:15? Is the more nighttime show "better" for those elements of the show? Also, we are using the DDP, so we are sitting in category 2or 3. What's better, upper or lower, 2 or 3? Do we get to choose our sections, or does it go by first come first serve that day? Any info would be great and very appreciated. I make our ADR's on Wednesday, so I'm narrowing down what I want to book for us. Thanks so much!

 

[TheRustyScupper]

I would love to have our last night a special night with a great dinner.

1) The show might be special, but the food is not.
2) I have two alternatives for a Last Night.

a) Go to a Signature Restaurant (like Artist Point at Wilderness Lodge, then back to MK)
b) Go to Hoop-Dee-Do-Review at Fort Wilderness, then the Campfire at Fort Wilderness, then back to MK via boat ride.​

NOTE:
I would pick HDDR and the Campfire.
A fun/corny show and dinner followed by a good time at the campfire (roasting marshmallows, group sing-along, outdoor Disney movies).
Makes a great way to end a vacation.

 

[pammydw]

1) The show might be special, but the food is not.
2) I have two alternatives for a Last Night.

a) Go to a Signature Restaurant (like Artist Point at Wilderness Lodge, then back to MK)
b) Go to Hoop-Dee-Do-Review at Fort Wilderness, then the Campfire at Fort Wilderness, then back to MK via boat ride.​

NOTE:
I would pick HDDR and the Campfire.
A fun/corny show and dinner followed by a good time at the campfire (roasting marshmallows, group sing-along, outdoor Disney movies).
Makes a great way to end a vacation.

Thank you! I'm not sure our 70 something moms would enjoy HDDR as much as SOA. With that said, the next time my DH and DD go ( after our November trip that is), I plan to get us to HDDR! I've heard such great things and it sounds like so much fun.

My other thought is to do California Grill during fireworks if I don't get that adr earlier in our trip. But I mentioned the SOA to my mom and she loved the idea.

Thank you for the suggestion though! Any thoughts on my questions for SOA?

 

[CynBeth]

We did the 5:15 pm show a few years ago in Dec and it was fine. I know it will depend on the time of year as to when it gets dark. We don't do the DP so we paid OOP and did Cat 1 on the lower level. I believe when booking you choose the cat but not sure if the level is assigned but I know you find out the table when you are taken to it.

 

[kastoney]

I haven't done SoA in quite a few years, but the food was mediocre at best and the show not much better. Like @TheRustyScupper suggested I'd highly consider hoop dee doo. I wasn't quite sure what to think on our first trip, but the food is first rate as is the entertainment. We had my 70-something inlaws with us and they still rave about the show and it being one of their favorite parts of the trip.

If that doesn't' work, I'd hands down do California Grill over SOA any day of the week.

 

[Marc D]

We did SOA two weeks ago. I would not call the food mediocre. We truly enjoyed the meal. It was not extraordinary, but it was a good value with the included drinks and the show. The show itself was a lot of fun. It's a bit corny but the dancers are very good. It is quite long, running around two hours. We grabbed drinks at Trader's Sam's beforehand, on the terrace. All in all, we had a great evening.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

We went to the early show and the fire twirling was fine. It's in the second act so maybe look up when sunset is that evening to see what time it will get dark? You have no control over seating. It's pre-assigned and some of the sight lines aren't great. We were in Cat. 1, one table behind the first table and had trouble seeing anything that was happening on ground level below the stage.

I'll reiterate what others have said. It's not a great show. The first act is corny and all the traditional dances are in the second act.

 

[senadler]

I agree with others, absolutely do HDDR. While our family often does both when we are saying at the Poly, if picking one it would always be HDDR. I actually think your 70 something moms would love the show.

 

[Colleen27]

i am planning a trip with my mom, my bestie and her mom and sister. Girls trips! Adults only!! We are coming in on March 5th, using the DDP, so it's nice breakfasts and 2credit dinner restaurants all week. I would love to have our last night a special night with a great dinner. Thought SOA would be a good choice! Looking at a 5:15 time so we can enjoy some MK before they close at 8pm (sure hope that changes) but will we get the full on effect of the show and fire and such at 5:15? Is the more nighttime show "better" for those elements of the show? Also, we are using the DDP, so we are sitting in category 2or 3. What's better, upper or lower, 2 or 3? Do we get to choose our sections, or does it go by first come first serve that day? Any info would be great and very appreciated. I make our ADR's on Wednesday, so I'm narrowing down what I want to book for us. Thanks so much!

You won't get back to the MK for any real park time after the 5:15 show. It runs over 2 hours, start to finish, so by the time you leave Luau Cove and boat or monorail back to MK, it'll be very close to 8pm. You'd be better off, if you aren't concerned with the evening fireworks, to book the later show and stay at MK until it is time to head over to check in. I don't think the early show would detract from the effects much, but we did book the later show on our last trip so that it wouldn't cut into our park time as much.

The seats are pre-assigned. I'm not positive, but I think it is by order of booking? We had decent seats using the dining plan, on the lower level in category 2 but towards the back. I wouldn't have wanted to be further back but that might be my terrible vision talking. If you get too far back, I think you'd miss some of the details of the dancing that make it so very impressive.

SoA doesn't get much love here on the boards, and honestly I can see why. The food wasn't spectacular nor was it particularly authentic. But it was good, and the show was a lot of fun to see once. We went because my 70yo mother wanted to - she loves Hawaii but because of age/mobility probably won't ever go back to the islands - and she loved it. Her only complaint was no poi; she was expecting a more authentic luau menu. But she liked the show, none of us left hungry, and even the kids were impressed by some of the dancing. And drinks on the Trader Sam's terrace afterwards, when the kids went back to the room (I'm not above using my teens as built-in babysitters!), was a lovely end to our stay at the Poly. Is it something I'd do every trip? No. But it was worth doing once.

 

[pammydw]

We did the 5:15 pm show a few years ago in Dec and it was fine. I know it will depend on the time of year as to when it gets dark. We don't do the DP so we paid OOP and did Cat 1 on the lower level. I believe when booking you choose the cat but not sure if the level is assigned but I know you find out the table when you are taken to it.

Thank you! We're going in early March so longer hours of daylight.

 

[pammydw]

We did SOA two weeks ago. I would not call the food mediocre. We truly enjoyed the meal. It was not extraordinary, but it was a good value with the included drinks and the show. The show itself was a lot of fun. It's a bit corny but the dancers are very good. It is quite long, running around two hours. We grabbed drinks at Trader's Sam's beforehand, on the terrace. All in all, we had a great evening.

Drinks before hand is a good idea. Our moms want downtime, so this is not a hit it hard trip. The ladies that are going on this trip will enjoy corny as non of them lack in the sense of humor department. Thanks for your input! You've given me great great insight!

 

[pammydw]

We went to the early show and the fire twirling was fine. It's in the second act so maybe look up when sunset is that evening to see what time it will get dark? You have no control over seating. It's pre-assigned and some of the sight lines aren't great. We were in Cat. 1, one table behind the first table and had trouble seeing anything that was happening on ground level below the stage.

I'll reiterate what others have said. It's not a great show. The first act is corny and all the traditional dances are in the second act.

Thank you for the info! Corny will be okay with this group. We like to laugh at simple things!

 

[pammydw]

I agree with others, absolutely do HDDR. While our family often does both when we are saying at the Poly, if picking one it would always be HDDR. I actually think your 70 something moms would love the show.

Thank you! Maybe I'll book both and then ask the others what they prefer!

 

[pammydw]

You won't get back to the MK for any real park time after the 5:15 show. It runs over 2 hours, start to finish, so by the time you leave Luau Cove and boat or monorail back to MK, it'll be very close to 8pm. You'd be better off, if you aren't concerned with the evening fireworks, to book the later show and stay at MK until it is time to head over to check in. I don't think the early show would detract from the effects much, but we did book the later show on our last trip so that it wouldn't cut into our park time as much.

Thank you for that information! Exactly what I was wanting to know!


The seats are pre-assigned. I'm not positive, but I think it is by order of booking? We had decent seats using the dining plan, on the lower level in category 2 but towards the back. I wouldn't have wanted to be further back but that might be my terrible vision talking. If you get too far back, I think you'd miss some of the details of the dancing that make it so very impressive.

Again, thank you! This is what I wanted to know!!

SoA doesn't get much love here on the boards, and honestly I can see why. The food wasn't spectacular nor was it particularly authentic. But it was good, and the show was a lot of fun to see once. We went because my 70yo mother wanted to - she loves Hawaii but because of age/mobility probably won't ever go back to the islands - and she loved it. Her only complaint was no poi; she was expecting a more authentic luau menu. But she liked the show, none of us left hungry, and even the kids were impressed by some of the dancing. And drinks on the Trader Sam's terrace afterwards, when the kids went back to the room (I'm not above using my teens as built-in babysitters!), was a lovely end to our stay at the Poly. Is it something I'd do every trip? No. But it was worth doing once.

Yes! My 77( at the time we travel) has a friend in Hawaii, and has been to see her, and she's seen an authentic luau, but I don't think that will stop her or the rest of us from enjoying disneys take on a luau! And honestly, as long as the food is decent, were not going to complain. Not our bag! It's the fun entertainment that I'm looking for for these woman! Knowing my mom, this will be more her bag, if you know what i mean. I think this will be a fun and memorable way to end our trip.

Thank you so much!

 

[Lisa F]

I went ages ago (in 1998) and it wasn't awful but for me it was a one and done. That said if that is what you are looking for I think you would have a good time. SoA has for many years gotten kind of meh reviews but I think the reviews of people who have actually been in the last couple of years are much better than they used to be. The food seems much improved as well... it is basic and brought family style to your table and it is not very authentic as others have said but most recent reviews rate it decent to good (there was a period when it was downright bad). The food at HDDR is also decent to good, you are not going to get AMAZING food in that kind of a setting when it is prepared en masse and brought to your table. I think it's more that people have a preference for the menu at HDDR than that the food is sooo much higher quality.

I would not count on MK staying open past 8pm on march 5th, it didn't stay open past 8 monday - thursday in early march last year. Sunset is at 6:28. I would pick the second show and stay at the MK later as others have suggested.

 

[prgal0715]

I went to SoA last week and had a great time! FWIW, I recommend the later, 8:15pm show over the earlier one, especially since you're an all-adult party. The food has improved quite a bit and was honestly pretty enjoyable. As for the seating, I'd choose category 2 over 3 because even if you're on the upper level, you're in the center so you'll have a better view. Not that any of the seats are really bad - the theater area is quite small.

As others have mentioned, the first half of the show is pretty cheese-tastic, but you're eating during that time so it doesn't really matter. The second half of the show features all the traditional island dances and is very entertaining.

Good luck with your ADR's!!

 

[pammydw]

I went ages ago (in 1998) and it wasn't awful but for me it was a one and done. That said if that is what you are looking for I think you would have a good time. SoA has for many years gotten kind of meh reviews but I think the reviews of people who have actually been in the last couple of years are much better than they used to be. The food seems much improved as well... it is basic and brought family style to your table and it is not very authentic as others have said but most recent reviews rate it decent to good (there was a period when it was downright bad). The food at HDDR is also decent to good, you are not going to get AMAZING food in that kind of a setting when it is prepared en masse and brought to your table. I think it's more that people have a preference for the menu at HDDR than that the food is sooo much higher quality.

I would not count on MK staying open past 8pm on march 5th, it didn't stay open past 8 monday - thursday in early march last year. Sunset is at 6:28. I would pick the second show and stay at the MK later as others have suggested.

Thank you so much for your response! I am thinking we will take the last show. It will be a fun night out, maybe starting with some drinks before!! Fun way to close out our trip!

 

[pammydw]

I went to SoA last week and had a great time! FWIW, I recommend the later, 8:15pm show over the earlier one, especially since you're an all-adult party. The food has improved quite a bit and was honestly pretty enjoyable. As for the seating, I'd choose category 2 over 3 because even if you're on the upper level, you're in the center so you'll have a better view. Not that any of the seats are really bad - the theater area is quite small.

As others have mentioned, the first half of the show is pretty cheese-tastic, but you're eating during that time so it doesn't really matter. The second half of the show features all the traditional island dances and is very entertaining.

Good luck with your ADR's!!

Thank you for all the positive feedback! Can't wait to take this group for SOA! And thank you for the positive vibes on ADR's! Going to be an early morning!

 

[prgal0715]

Thank you for all the positive feedback! Can't wait to take this group for SOA! And thank you for the positive vibes on ADR's! Going to be an early morning!

But that's such a FUN early morning!!

 

[pammydw]

But that's such a FUN early morning!!

It's the best early morning!!

This was our set up in early June for our November/December adr date: