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Does O'hana ever settle down? We've been to the poly and I seen very long lines for check-in before the restaurant even opens. We would like to avoid that line if possible. For those of you who have been, what's the best time to make a reservation for. We like to eat early, but I've read here that the meat gets a little dry and tough later in the night. Is that true?
That mob of people you see up by the check-in stand may actually be two separate things happening:
1) One group of people have standing reservations and are checking-in so the next availalble table appropriate to the size of their party can be theirs.
2) Another group of people are standing on line to get in. These people DO NOT have reservations.
Now, that being said, the group with reservations is still large. Here's what you do: Get the earliest reservation you can. Seat your party down in the adjoining lounge area (Tambu Lounge) by the large windows. Order a drink (virgins for the kids) and send Dad or Mom...drink in hand...to check in...while you wait over in the lounge. He/She will bring back the little buzzer thing, and you will continue to have some time off your feet and have a cold one. It's Disney, you're there with your family...use the time to converse, catchup with the kids...ask them what was their favorite thing so far...what they are excited about...things like that. Why stand when you've been on your feet all day long.
In fact, once you get your buzzer, you could go have a seat downstairs on those big chairs. :lei:
For the past few years, we've made 5pm ADRs and are at 'Ohana by 4:30pm. The rest of the group hangs out in the lounge area while I wait in the check in line. We are usually seated by 5:15 or so.
I agree that having a cold beverage :marg: helps the wait pass a little quicker.
We have done a 5 pm reservation in the past and loved it. We never waited more than 5 minutes. It was nice and quiet at that time, service was fast. It was wonderful.
We have had ADRs opening early, late and in between and have never ever been seated on time. That said we like the opening seating as it gives us time to go back to the MK and walk off the seconds we always say we are not going to get.:blush:
Try to set your ADR time 15 mins before wishes is scheduled in the MK. Then you will have time to be seated and drinks/food ordered before the lights go down and the music starts. It is one of the highlights of our trip.:thumbsup:
I would say the earlier seatings would be best, the drinks are good though in the lounge
I have not found this to be true. We had a late reservation on our last trip and had no problem with the meat. They are constantly grilling. Also, if you are ever unhappy with what they bring (if it is not cooked to your liking or whatever), just let your server know - they will bring a different skewer out. We received this advice from our server there.Quote:
Originally Posted by epceddie
Love 'Ohana!
I actually like the later seating better because of the fireworks and the being able to relax and enjoy knowing there probably won't be many people waiting behind you.
But that was before I had small children. I am going to Ohana's this weekend actually, and the only available ressie was at 9:30. I am pretty sure that my 18 month old and my 4 year old will be tired and cranky. But I am going to try to get in a little earlier. I figure I have to wait anyway usually even with ressies, so why not check in a little early and see if we get in a little early.
The best time for an 'Ohana dinner reservation is:
The only time that's available when you go to book the ADR. :D
Seriously, you might not have much choice in the matter.
This is so funny to me. Very true. I tried booking at 180 days and the earliest they had was 6:30Quote:
Originally Posted by BrerGnat
While I agree it's great to be seated in time for Wishes, I would never have my ADR scheduled just 15 minutes prior if I wanted to be seated in time for Wishes. At that time of the evening it's rare that you'll be seated on time, and that close to Wishes many tables are "sitting it out" waiting for Wishes, even if they are done eating.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tigerinvestigator
If I wanted to see Wishes while I ate, I would time my ADR to be at least an hour before Wishes. Even then, there is no way to know if you'll get a window table with a view of Wishes.
What my family prefers is to book an early ADR then watch Wishes from the beach at the Poly after dinner.
Thank you for all the great replies. I think we'll be happy to get a reservation whenever we can, because we've never been and my wife loves the Poly.
We are a 5:00pm reservation fan too.
We have found that the meat gets drier as the night goes on. At 5:00, the meat is juicy. We have also found that the later your ADR, the longer the wait past your scheduled time. ADRs after 7:30pm can find you waiting 30+ minutes past your seating time.
I hear people say this over and over, but it's just not possible. They use rather small skewers of meat, and they put new ones on the fire ALL NIGHT LONG. One skewer will serve about 1-2 tables, maximum. It's not like they have an entire cow or pig on a spit and they leave it over the fire all night long and it keeps cooking. The meat being dry or juicy is a factor of two things: the quality of that particular meat on that particular skewer AND the cook at the fire's ability to judge when meat is done.Quote:
Originally Posted by A Big Kid
If you get a skewer that is too dry or too rare for your taste, ask for it cooked differently. They will accommodate your preferences. We always want our pork well done (the drier the better) and our beef medium rare. Never a problem.
The Tiki gods must be smiling on me. I was able to book O'Hana yesterday for August 10 at 8:25 for 4 of us. I didn't know beforehand that it was hard to get ADR's. :blush:The DD's are 18 and 21, so the time is great for us, Wishes is at 10 that night. After reading this, I must have just had am amazing stroke of good fortune! IF (BIG IF) we are seated at 8:25, about how long will it take us to dine? We are average speed eaters. We don't particularly dawdle. If we are not seated by a window, will we be able to exit or move over to a window to see some of Wishes at 10? Thanks!:lei:
This is our plan this year :)Quote:
Originally Posted by buzznwoodysmom
How is it not possible?Quote:
Originally Posted by BrerGnat
The first seating at 1700 hours is when it is easiest to keep track of the meat. As the dinning session progesses, more and more meat is put on the fire. Not only is it harder to track the meat, the fire has to be made bigger to cook more meat. When the fire gets bigger/hotter, the "window" for cooking it gets smaller.
We've dined at Ohanna at least 10 times. The last two at 5:00 pm sitting and the only ones in which our meat was not dried out.
We have eaten early and late for dinner and have never had a bad meal...I have never tried to get in without a reservation and have never been seated right away with a reservation...
It just kills me all the work that is involved in making a reservation at somewhere like this. not only do you have to make your res 180 days out but you have to do scientific research on what time you want to aim for. We've already been a handful of times and I am still clueless about so much stuff! everytime one of our friends says they're going to WDW with their kids I demand they consult me first! haha :mickey:
[QUOTE=BrerGnat;2266883]I hear people say this over and over, but it's just not possible. If you get a skewer that is too dry or too rare for your taste, ask for it cooked differently. They will accommodate your preferences. [QUOTE]
I agree with all of this. I hear people say the later you eat the drier the meat will be and I just don't get it. The meat is not cooked at opening and sitting out all night!
In our 15 trips to Ohana's we've eaten at all different times, first seating, 6ish, 7pm, 8pm, even as late as 9:30 pm, and we've never noticed a decline in food at the later seatings. Sure there have been times the meat wasn't cooked to our liking, and we asked for it cooked a different way, but that's just personal preference, had nothing to do with the time of our ADR.
You ARE fortunate indeed! The Tiki Gods DO smile upon you!Quote:
Originally Posted by ParrotheadMinni
No...seriously...you were incredibly lucky. :tikki:
Obviously beginner's luck:) Very happy:cloud9: Wish my family realized what an accomplishment this was! ;)
Between 5-6
I couldn't imagine eating all that food after 7 and being able to function the rest of the evening:)
We are eating at 825, then going to MK for 10pm-1 am EMH, so we hope to walk it all off, and THEN collapse!:D