Welcome Dinner at Ohana?

[emilymad]

We are considering have our welcome dinner at Ohana. Does anyone have any experiences to share? Good or bad? It has been along time since I have eaten there.

Do I need to call group dining to make a reservation? I think so.... I am guessing that we will have around 25 people. Where is the restaurant do they normally put you?

Thanks!!

 

[MegKate]

In my opinion from my rehearsal dinner of 18 people - AVOID OHANA LIKE THE PLAQUE!!!

It's not that the food's bad - it's actually very good. Let me tell you about my rehearsal dinner. We were at the GF for rehearsal, and DH and I drove the car over to the Poly right after. We got there at about 4:50 and our reservation was for 5:30. We were the only ones out of our group to be there, but DH's brother and niece showed up soon afterwards. DH asked what time he should check in, and the CM said right now. DH was surprised and told the CM that we only had 4 out of the 18 people that would be there. CM said it wasn't a problem, so DH checked in.

5:10 - they call for our group to go in! We had the same 4 people, so we figured we would send the three in (DH, DH's Brother, and DH's niece) and then bring in the others as they came. A female CM was going to escort us to the table, and she said we couldn't go in with the few we had. I was confused why and asked for clarification. She said (and I quote) "The table wouldn't look right." I said, that's fine then - we'll wait until our reservation time (5:30). She said, I'll have to give your table away and you'll have to wait on stand-by. WHA?!

BRIDEZILLA MOMENT!!

I was really p'o'ed, and I said why does it matter what it looks like? We're paying for dinner - we're not here to look good for others! She gave me a huge attitude and said I had 5 minutes to get them together or she was giving away our reservation. I literally ran all over the resort as DH called people to get them to the dinner 20 minutes early. At the rehearsal we had said to take time and walk around the Poly and get some pictures and people were doing that. So I'm running to find them! I managed to get a group of 12 out of the 18 together, and that was good enough for the CM to let us in. I continued to wait until 5:30 for the 2 families that I couldn't find. Once I found them we went inside and sat. Salad and bread had already been served and taken away and the waiter wouldn't bring more for me or the people who just came in with me. I was NOT happy.

I wouldn't recommend Ohana's for large groups. Maybe others have had a more positive experience, but this just happened October 11th, 2009 - so I can only hope they've shaped up in that short of a time!

 

[Boardwalk_bride]

I was making ADR's the other day, and I tried to book Ohana for 15 people. I was told we probably couldn't all sit together, and there is a chance we wouldn't even be closer together. I decided not to take the risk, and booked somewhere else.

 

[emilymad]

Meg, I am so sorry to hear about your problems! That is awful how they treated you. Thanks for sharing the story. I am going to have to seriously rethink my choice.

 

[aduck126]

i have had nothing but great expiriances with ohana. we talked to a manager in person there about their large party standards and we were very impressed. They also at the time had a couple of large parties currently eating there that looked like they were having fun. I booked ohana for 30 people for my reception dinner with no problems whatsoever. i didnt hear anything about not sitting together but i know other people have been told that and have ended up sitting together just fine.

 

[Nitsa]

MegKate, I am so sorry you experienced that! I'm hoping that my experience working in a WDW restaurant can help you all gain some insight and hopefully not deter you from booking this great restaurant. I personally had two large dinners there, and both were amazing. One of which was my farewell to working at Disney

MegKate's situation is one that should not have happened, and from the way I understand it, it is down to the Cast Member either not having understood how the Disney Guest Service Standards work or not having been explained it properly. The objective in a Disney restaurant is to ensure each guest has an enjoyable and efficient service; from what I understood, it was decided that in order to achieve this your server is to greet your table quickly so as to avoid you waiting for drinks (it's hot, you'll be thirsty, you may want to get back in the parks asap, you want to spend your time socializing with your party not to keep being interrupted by your server). This objective cannot be achieved when one of their groups comes in five separate spurts...it is both for your benefit and for the other tables in the servers section, who would lose out on their service as well. While everyone getting sat at once is annoying, it actually makes for a better dining experience in most instances.

I hope I have been at least a little helpful in my explanation. If any of you experience what MegKate did, make sure you ask to speak to a manager asap...that shouldn't happen and it goes completely against Disney's aim in creating a standard that ensures every aspect of your holiday runs smoothly and is fun.

As for being told you may be sat separately, from what I understand Disney reservations have to tell you this when you make a reservation. While there is always the potential your group may be separated, the people assigning the seating will try their hardest to seat you together...they just want to warn you it may happen so you aren't disappointed when you get there.

Hope wherever you eat at WDW you have a magical time

 

[MegKate]

Thank you Nitsa for your explanation, but I think the problem was in where they wanted to bring us in early or just cancel our ressie. I had wanted everyone to go into Ohana's at once, but the problem was created when the CM came up with the "the table wouldn't look right" excuse. I should have talked to a manager but I was too busy running around trying to get people together.

I still stand by my recommendation against it. We really were treated rudely and it's too bad because the food was very good. But I can appreciate where you're coming from. I wish I had had someone like you as a CM there that night and it probably wouldn't have happened!! Thanks for taking the time to respond.

 

[soulmates]

We were there in Aug and there was a bridal party, about 15 or so, and they all sat together. It was mid week though, may have something to do with it, not sure. :

 

[Nitsa]

You are very sweet...if you can find me a way to work in the US I'd be your CM anytime!

I just wish you could have had a better experience! I hope every other aspect of your wedding trip went perfectly!

 

[camara381]

We had our rehearsal dinner at Ohana's and while we were told they could not sit us all together when we made the reservation they made sure the day of everyone was at that same table and they even added an extra table for the add ons. they also set out personalized menus and favors I had prepared for the guests and held the grooms cake for me that was not made by Disney. A few details so you know: we had 24 adults and 3 kids, the reservation was for friday @ 7 pm. We had no issues at all. Everyone had an amazing time.

 

[DISNEY*lover]

I wouldn't reccomend Ohanas for a large group, maybe for 2. I had my rehearsal breakfast there on September 6th at 10AM and it was nothing but problems. I checked in with a slight mix-up about a head count. After waiting awhile I ask how much longer they said it could be about another hour and I proceeded to ask them why another hour when I made a reservation for 10AM for a REHEARSAL BREAKFAST and it's now being pushed back another hour. The guy at the stand made me burst into tears the day before my wedding. I wouldn't reccomend them at all. Go somewhere else.

 

[emilymad]

Thank you for all your insights! It is very helpful and I have a lot to consider.

 

[CNPHILLY]

Had rehearsal dinner there. 35 people, 6:30pm, not a single problem. Had a great time. Dinner was arranged by our Disney wedding planner, so that probably had something to do with it...not sure how it would work otherwise.