When would you do re: Ohana?

[Cando86]

We've never been to Ohana and are very excited for this ADR!

I'm having a bit of dilemma regarding what night to make this reservation. I have two choices:
1. Magic Kingdom closes at 8pm (we'd stay for 8pm Wishes) one night. One option is to head to Poly after Wishes and have dinner at Ohana then. Here I'm only concerned because the reservation would likely have to be for after 9pm taking into consideration Wishes plus time to leave the park, get on the monorail and make it to the Poly.

2. Hollywood Studios closes at 7pm one night. We'd stay for Fantasmic at 7pm and head to Poly/Ohana after. This would likely be a later reservation as well but closer to 8:30 as opposed to after 9.

Any advice? What would you do?

 

[GillianP1301]

I see no big difference between eating at 8:30 or at 9:00. I'm assuming a late dinner is not an issue for you and your party since both options are late. Because I really see the timing as a wash, I would go with your first option when you're already close to the Poly from being in the MK. The more distance you have to travel, the more risk of it taking longer than you plan.

 

[Meriweather]

I'd also go when you are already near the Poly.

 

[diznyfan4life]

I would also choose the first option. Just watch your timing because the MK is a mad house once wishes is over. Everybody heads to the exits and if you don't stand close to the exit to watch the fireworks, it might take you quite some time to get to the Poly.

 

[lam0037]

I also would choose first option, when you are closer.

If you do go with option 2, make a later reservation, closer to 9. You are in a similar situation to that with MK and Wishes. Fantasmic is at 7. it's 30 min and at least a 15 min walk out of the amphitheater to outside of the park. And then you will have to wait for a bus. Depending on where you are in line for the bus, you could be waiting a while since the park is closed and everyone is leaving after Fantasmic, instead of trying to do one more ride. Plus travel time to Poly and then walking to the restaurant from the bus stop. If you do this night, I would do no earlier than 8:45. This allows an hour of travel time once you get out of the park, and you can always check in early if you get there sooner!

 

[JimmyV]

I'm not sure that it is realistic to get to 'Ohana by 9:00 if you stay for 8:00 Wishes unless you park yourself near the exit and hop on a boat to the Poly. If you stay for the whole show, then have to walk down Main Street, then walk to the Monorail Station, then wait for a monorail with room, then take the monorail to the Poly, getting to the Host Station at 'Ohana by 9:00 would be tough.

Of course, the same can be said of your day at DHS. F! is a longer show than Wishes, and depending on where you sit, you may not be out of the theater before 7:45. Then you have to walk to the bus stop and hope that you will catch the first or second bus headed toward the Poly. Again, you could be looking at 9:00 as your arrival time. (Edit to add: I now see that lam0037 has pretty much plotted out the same timeline.)

One option to consider would be to go on the day that you see F!. Sit toward the back of the theater so that you can exit quickly. Then walk to the park exit and hop in a cab. That plan should have you at the Poly by 8:15 or so.

 

[Pumbaa_]

agree - transportation after the nightly show is a madhouse. I would not recommend wither one - Sorry!

 

[shana398]

What about trying to get an early reservation for 'Ohana on your MK day, say, 5:30, and then doing Wishes afterwards?

 

[DummbGiRL]

What about trying to get an early reservation for 'Ohana on your MK day, say, 5:30, and then doing Wishes afterwards?

I find the Ohana 5:30 reservations are already booked by the time anyone gets to their 180 day mark. Post 9pm reservations are the only ones ever readily available. That being said, I don't know if OP is within their 180 days or not.

I would still choose option 1 and risk being late to your ADR. You may have to wait a little if you show up late, but if you show up, they generally will honor your ADR. Still, I'd watch Wishes from the entrance of Main Street just to shorten the distance from one place to another. I've never been seated on time at Ohana (post 9pm reservations even), so this is why it wouldn't bother me so much if I were late.

 

[MiraDawl]

Get a reservation (IF YOU CAN!) and then worry. IMHO it's food or fireworks these days.

 

[OasterP]

If you do want to do an earlier Ohana time, I would say depending on the time you have - just keep trying. I've been trying for about a month and a half and the other day I got a 5:15 reservation for 4. And it's during free dining, so it's not been easy. You never know!

Good luck!