Well, I guess that’s it, then. Nothing can stand up to endless skewers of meat, can it? Ohana just keeps adding accolades to its trophy case.
In late 2012, we crowned this ultra-popular restaurant as the All in WDW Readers’ Favorite Buffet/Family Style Restaurant. In that contest, Ohana defeated Boma by four slim votes.
Last year, the Poly’s marquee restaurant won again to become the All in WDW Readers’ Favorite Monorail Loop Restaurant. It absolutely “demolished” a yet-to-be finished “new” California Grill.
Well, we’ve retired those two voting “categories” for 2014, but, now, Ohana has utterly destroyed both the Animal Kingdom Lodge’s buffet, as well as the Contemporary’s newly-refurbished Signature dining spot, again.
Ohana is the All in WDW Readers’ Favorite Resorts Table Service! But, I have to ask … why? Why? What are you talkin’ about, Bob?!
Well, I need to know. Is it the quantity and quality of the food? Does the ambiance and theming make this such an intensely popular choice? Or, is it all a sheer product of the “Polynesian Effect”?
I’d LOVE to hear your opinions. Please leave a comment on this post, on Twitter, or on Facebook. Why DO we love the Poly? Why DO we crave an ADR at Ohana?
For our part, California Grill, Sanaa, Boma, and Flying Fish are much more solid choices for our ADRs. Don’t get me wrong. We’ve had our share of enjoyable meals at the Poly.
Both Ohana and Kona are great restaurants, but when we think “favorite” … when we think ADR, we think of those four aforementioned alternatives first.
Have a great day, my friends! Thanks, again, for all your support and votes this week. Cheers!
I agree, Bob. I really don’t understand the love for ‘Ohana. The food is pretty mediocre. The waits are horrendous. It’s loud and crowded. I guess for some it’s just a quintessential Disney dining experience. The Poly, the view of MK, the family activities and unlimited food all contribute. If I was going to eat at the Poly, I would choose Kona over ‘Ohana. And I agree with that any of your choices listed would beat out ‘Ohana for us as well.
Thanks, Becky. Well said! I know we’re in the minority, but I agree with all of that.
Over our past two trips, ‘Ohana is 1 and 1! We visited there twice and both times the food was perfect! However, the level of service made the difference in our experience. Our first visit in Feb 2012, we had an awesome Cast Member who made us feel welcomed and paid just the right amount of attention to our table. Our recent visit, Dec 2013, not so much! The grill had to be restocked before we could get served, which is fine if that is communicated. But, our server did not say a word for about 15 minutes.
In my opinion, I would give ‘Ohana another shot! But, the level of service would have to be stellar to get a positive review from me! Thanks for the hard work, Bob!
You’re welcome! Thank YOU for all your support and the great comments about Ohana! We, too, have had mixed experiences. It can be quite inconsistent.
I agree as well. Most guests i talk to love Ohanas but my family and myself are not head over heels about it. We actually love Kona Kafe at the polynesian. We usually only go for breakfast though to get some Tonga Toast.
Thanks for the comments! We would usually choose Kona before Ohana as well.
It’s a combo of things: ‘Ohana is good and more people have eaten there than the other places. That’s why it will always win. No doubt in my mind that FF is the best when it comes to food quality, but people vote for what they know. I love ‘Ohana, so I’m cool with it, but I’m not shocked it always ends this way.
On Kona, I think it has perhaps the worst “ambience” of any restaurant at Disney, sitting right in a crowded noisy lobby of people waiting to get into ‘Ohana. And I find that food much more mediocre than ‘Ohana. But that’s why Disney is great….there is some place for everyone. 🙂
We do like O’hana – but agree that it can be hit or miss. I think to some degree based on where you sit (which seems to be a direct correlation to the quality of server by the way). In the out of the way spots we have had poor service, been unaware of the floor show/games and generally unimpressed. When we have been in the larger/main section of the dining room we have had great service and great fun. When we have an ADR there we will wait if it is an option to sit in that part of the dining room.
And we far prefer Kona over O’hana and will miss it greatly if the rumors of its retirement are true!
We always wait for the main section too. I hadn’t heard the Kona rumor. Hope that’s not true.