Jeff and Jon's 1st trip to da World...Jan. 18-25 2009 Trip Report with pics!

[Goofyluver]

Me entertaining guests at the pool at the poly....I didn't get a call back. Maybe if I had Don Ho with me, it would have been better....

I woulda called ya' back.

Here are the drinks.....

Jon and his drink...

Bestill my heart.

And I hate to be negative about this review at O'Hauna's....we hated it. The food was awful. The only thing I liked was the chicken wings and desert.

Now...why would ya' say this? Curious minds want to know. We're doing Ohana's for the first time this comin' up trip. And I've been hearing this. And now I'm wondering if it wouldn't be better to pick a different place.

We came back "home" and we packed up a little so we would not have to worry with in the morning! A sad time.....

Next up....a final note and pics of Disney's HHI Resort...

The end??? But...it feels like it just began.

 

[Jeff90]

I woulda called ya' back.
Bestill my heart.
Now...why would ya' say this? Curious minds want to know. We're doing Ohana's for the first time this comin' up trip. And I've been hearing this. And now I'm wondering if it wouldn't be better to pick a different place.
The end??? But...it feels like it just began.

Well....I thought it was going to be something we both like. It was different, the menu looked great when I was planning.....most of the reviews were great...I don't know....it was just not a good experience.......I guess it was all that protein!

 

[OrlandoMike]

And yes, the "entertainment" at Ohana can get a little......ummm......over the top! Ask for a table behind the fire pit if you are childless.

 

[Jeff90]

If you like the concept of Ohana, and want better food, and have a car, you may want to try Texas de Brazil. It's on the far end of International Drive. They have a website, and if you join their Internet club, you will get lots of coupons! The place blows Ohana out of the water!

I am making that note....your are awesome,,,,thanks for the tip!

And yes, the "entertainment" at Ohana can get a little......ummm......over the top! Ask for a table behind the fire pit if you are childless.

Well...the lady was sweet as pie, but it got old after awhile. I was just waiting for the Professor to come and kid nap Jon and I and take us to the burial grounds.....the Poly looks like a great place to stay, but I hated we wasted dining credits there to eat.....

 

[Goofyluver]

Well....I thought it was going to be something we both like. It was different, the menu looked great when I was planning.....most of the reviews were great...I don't know....it was just not a good experience.......I guess it was all that protein!

Thanks, hon. I have a bit to make my decision.

Personally...it looked like a neat experience. But...if the chicken wings are the best they got...I'm in trouble.

Meat on the bone...

And yes, the "entertainment" at Ohana can get a little......ummm......over the top! Ask for a table behind the fire pit if you are childless.

I'll be traveling with kidlet. I'm planning on shoving him out there and making him hula.

 

[OrlandoMike]

If you happen to be at a window table during Wishes, the view is incredible!

There! I said something nice about Ohana!

 

[Jeff90]

If you happen to be at a window table during Wishes, the view is incredible!

There! I said something nice about Ohana!

Yay! And we did see Wishies from anther area there at the poly........

 

[dan and scott]

Love the BW-Dan and I have been members there going on 11 yrs.
The BW is more of an "adult resort" minus the screaming kids which makes it great. Not snooty like the YC/BC can be. Casual relaxing elegance best describes the BW. Stayed on the Inn side once and the rooms over on that side of the resort are also nice. The BW is also beautiful during the holidays also as they change out the light bulbs on the actual BW to red and green.
We usual visit WDW in Sept-early Jan. but we just purchased a DVC add on at Bay Lake Tower so we will be staying there in Sept and at the Tree House Villas before our annual Disney Magic cruise.
Been to Gay Days a couple of times which is also fun.


Scott

 

[Uncle Remus]

Jeff, you really have written a great trip report here for us and you've made it look so easy too, makes me wanna do one for my trip in May.
AND has anyone mentioned Epcot's Food & Wine Celebration to ya?
Starts in late Sep.

 

[Travito]

That was an amazing trip report! And I must say, you two are such a cute couple...almost as cute as me and my man Heheh

But seriously, it was amazing! I hope our first Dis trip together in May is as much fun as your alls (I'm sure it will be)! It will be my third WDW experience, his first! So I'm REALLY pumped!

So in short -- Loved the pics/report!

 

[mykidsintow]

I was just waiting for the Professor to come and kid nap Jon and I and take us to the burial grounds.....the Poly looks like a great place to stay, but I hated we wasted dining credits there to eat.....

I am sorry you had a bad experience! This is my favorite place to eat! Oh and Kona! I just love them! My only complaint ever was I got a piece of dry turkey last trip, but the next round it was better.

We sat back in a quieter section the first time. Our 2nd trip we were by the window and it was fireworks! They dimmed the lights and played the wishes music. It was nice.

*sigh*.... I wish I were there in your place.... Although I have heard mixed reviews lately, we have always had great experience!

As for World Showcase CS meals.... Try Morocco! Mexico... ugh. Its worse than taco bell and I really don't like taco bell!

Can't wait to see HHI!

 

[MonorailMan]

When we went to 'Ohana, it was probably close to 8:30 or 9. We arrived as the woman you showed a picture of was wrapping up her show, which all the kids seemed to love.....but we were glad she was finishing up. If I remember right, they piped in the music from the Halloween fireworks show at the Magic Kingdom into the restaurant, which was pretty cool. I tend to be a very picky "foodie", and was surprised at how good the food was at 'Ohana. Maybe we were there on a good night. I wouldn't put it in my top-5 restaurants of WDW, but I still enjoyed it. If I go back, I'll be sure to not eat lunch that day because the term "all-you-can-eat" didn't fall upon def ears the last time.

Please note that by the time we were seated I had had about 2 or 3 scotch and sodas in my system, which may have persuaded me to think differently.

 

[Jeff90]

Love the BW-Dan and I have been members there going on 11 yrs.
The BW is more of an "adult resort" minus the screaming kids which makes it great. Not snooty like the YC/BC can be. Casual relaxing elegance best describes the BW. Stayed on the Inn side once and the rooms over on that side of the resort are also nice. The BW is also beautiful during the holidays also as they change out the light bulbs on the actual BW to red and green.
We usual visit WDW in Sept-early Jan. but we just purchased a DVC add on at Bay Lake Tower so we will be staying there in Sept and at the Tree House Villas before our annual Disney Magic cruise.
Been to Gay Days a couple of times which is also fun.
Scott

Hey Scott...thanks for your comments about BW. Jon and I have been discussing the DVC and like you, everyone has great things about BWV, so I am hopping we will take the plunge. Jon has a few clients in DVC and they always mention the BW and comment just as you.....an "adult resort." Sounds like you all have some wonderful trips already planned! Overall we were really impressed with everything there, minus a few food places, but we are still learning and I appreciate everyone's comments.....it really helps.

Jeff, you really have written a great trip report here for us and you've made it look so easy too, makes me wanna do one for my trip in May.
AND has anyone mentioned Epcot's Food & Wine Celebration to ya?
Starts in late Sep.

Thank you UR...Im not a great writer and my grammer sucks....but I am glad to share our 1st time at WDW. We are hooked and can't wait to try other times of the year.....can't wait for Oct! I have read about the Food and Wine event.....sounds like another great time to go...so...we are still trying to decide our dates....last of Spetember or early October...

That was an amazing trip report! And I must say, you two are such a cute couple...almost as cute as me and my man Heheh
But seriously, it was amazing! I hope our first Dis trip together in May is as much fun as your alls (I'm sure it will be)! It will be my third WDW experience, his first! So I'm REALLY pumped!
So in short -- Loved the pics/report!

Thank you! And thank you for the comment! And your 1st trip there will be amazing...it was for us and we had a great time! Hope to see your TR on here soon!!!!!

I am sorry you had a bad experience! This is my favorite place to eat! Oh and Kona! I just love them! My only complaint ever was I got a piece of dry turkey last trip, but the next round it was better.
We sat back in a quieter section the first time. Our 2nd trip we were by the window and it was fireworks! They dimmed the lights and played the wishes music. It was nice.
*sigh*.... I wish I were there in your place.... Although I have heard mixed reviews lately, we have always had great experience!
As for World Showcase CS meals.... Try Morocco! Mexico... ugh. Its worse than taco bell and I really don't like taco bell!
Can't wait to see HHI!

I think it was just a bad night. I knew, as I was getting this report together, that I was going have to say the bad things about Ohauna's. It could have just been a bad night or maybe the chefs were not on task...who knows? The service was wonderful....we never complained really, we had been eating nonstop all week, and maybe this was just a bad call.... Thanks for the tips at WS, Jon was scared to try Morocco...he saw lamb, and freaked out.....HHI will be coming up sometime today! That was a fun stop!

When we went to 'Ohana, it was probably close to 8:30 or 9. We arrived as the woman you showed a picture of was wrapping up her show, which all the kids seemed to love.....but we were glad she was finishing up. If I remember right, they piped in the music from the Halloween fireworks show at the Magic Kingdom into the restaurant, which was pretty cool. I tend to be a very picky "foodie", and was surprised at how good the food was at 'Ohana. Maybe we were there on a good night. I wouldn't put it in my top-5 restaurants of WDW, but I still enjoyed it. If I go back, I'll be sure to not eat lunch that day because the term "all-you-can-eat" didn't fall upon def ears the last time.
Please note that by the time we were seated I had had about 2 or 3 scotch and sodas in my system, which may have persuaded me to think differently.

The lady was very nice and welcoming, but I can tell she was worn out. Everyone there was having a birthday so she went to each of the tables to do her "thing." I think she was being aggravated b/c everytime she would mingle in with crowd and visit tables, a hord of children would follow her. She would keep saying, "okay, kids, I will be with ya in a second and we will limbo!" Jon said that he would love to return to the Poly to visit, either to have a drink or shop or maybe stay, but not to eat. I personally would love to give it a try one more time or either try Kona......

 

[MonorailMan]

The lady was very nice and welcoming, but I can tell she was worn out. Everyone there was having a birthday so she went to each of the tables to do her "thing." I think she was being aggravated b/c everytime she would mingle in with crowd and visit tables, a hord of children would follow her. She would keep saying, "okay, kids, I will be with ya in a second and we will limbo!" Jon said that he would love to return to the Poly to visit, either to have a drink or shop or maybe stay, but not to eat. I personally would love to give it a try one more time or either try Kona......

If you ever do try 'Ohana again, I'd suggest going for a late dinner around 9 or 9:30. By that time the show has ended and a lot of the kids have gone.

I love staying at the Poly, which is why I hate to say this: The restaurants at the Poly are all fine, but you're paying for the atmosphere more than anything else.

I've never eaten at the Kona Cafe for anything other than breakfast, which I always enjoy. If you've never had Tonga Toast, try it once just so you can say you've had it. (It's a sourdough french toast stuffed with bananas, and dusted with cinnamon and sugar and fresh berries on top.) Even though I'm not a huge fan of sweet foods, this is actually very tasty....and not quite as sweet you'd think by looking at it.

The Poly is my favorite WDW resort, but when I want to have an absolutely amazing meal, I'd go to one of the other resorts.

 

[I<3EvilQueen]

Okay...onto O'Hana's....and I will try to be nice. Early in the evening, I checked in at 8pm for our 830pm ADR.....It took almost an hour to be seated. The place was a huge zoo. We had a great time browsing through the shops and roaming the grounds, but we waited a long time to get seated.

Yeah, I have tried Ohana's for both Breakfast and Dinner and haven't been to impressed each time. I love the decor and theme of the Poly but the food was just ok. I didn't mind the "show" during dinner, but we coudln't even hear the lady on the mic.... and I kept hearing when Kevin (from the DIS Podcast) said she looked like a Drag Queen, because he was right. And not a glamorous one

Our server each time was slow and didn't come around that much.

 

[I<3EvilQueen]

I love staying at the Poly, :

I'll stay there with ya. *wink*

 

[Tony-NJ]

About Ohana - it's one of the few places we will never eat at again LOL. the service and the food were really bad - we tried it twice too. We do love the Kona cafe though.

 

[mikelan6]

Sorry you didn't like Ohana. It's not for everyone. Next time, do try the Whispering Canyon Cafe at the Wilderness Lodge. I think you had ADRs there, but canceled them. That is one of my favorites.

 

[OrlandoMike]

I still cant figure out why they call it the "Wispering Canyon Cafe!"

Every time I eat there I leave with a headache!

 

[Tony-NJ]

I still cant figure out why they call it the "Wispering Canyon Cafe!"

Every time I eat there I leave with a headache!

This is another place that's on my do noot list,