Disney World has hundreds of different restaurants spread out over the entire resort, which can feel a little overwhelming when you’re trying to plan your trip, but that’s why we’re here!

‘Ohana

Here at DFB, it’s our job to try all of Disney World’s restaurants to tell you what’s worth your hard-earned money, and what you may want to stay away from to avoid disappointment. We don’t just go to every restaurant once though — we visit regularly to keep you updated! Disney World is always changing, and that means restaurants are, too. ‘Ohana has long been a favorite of ours, but recently we’ve been less impressed with our meals there, and so have our readers. Before you book your upcoming dinner reservation here, these are four things you really need to know.

The Lounge is Always an Option

Dinner at ‘Ohana certainly isn’t cheap — it’ll cost you $65 for adults (plux tax and gratuity) and $42 for kids aged 3-9. While dinner is an all-you-can-eat buffet meal with Hawaiian favorites, it’s also possible that you or people in your group won’t be a fan of some of the offerings and you’ll feel like you don’t get your money’s worth.

Lines for ‘Ohana

That’s where the lounge comes in! Right next to ‘Ohana you’ll find Tambu Lounge. This lounge serves up some of the fan-favorite offerings from ‘Ohana, but without the fixed price. This way, you’re not paying for a full meal you may not eat much of, and you can pick and choose the entrees and drinks you know you’ll enjoy.

Tambu Lounge

While getting a spot in a Disney World lounge can sometimes mean a wait for a table, you won’t have to worry about paying any sort of cancelation fee like you would if you didn’t make your ‘Ohana reservation. Since plans can change on a dime in the parks, we think this is certainly the way to go if you’re on the fence about sitting down and dining somewhere.

There Are No Characters

Believe it or not, dinner at ‘Ohana is more expensive than breakfast, but it ISN’T a character meal! Breakfast at ‘Ohana is also an all-you-care-to-enjoy meal, plus you get the fun addition of getting to meet Lilo, Stitch, Mickey, and Pluto.

Lilo is so much fun!

Breakfast reservations at ‘Ohana typically fill up faster than dinner, because most people want to experience a character dining experience when they’re paying $53 per adult to dine. We personally have found that both meals here are pretty good, but we do have a preference toward breakfast. 

Breakfast Skillets at ‘Ohana

If you go into your reservation expecting to visit with some beloved characters after paying $60+ per adult only to find that no one’s there? Yeah, that’s pretty frustrating.

The Most Iconic Dish Isn’t Always Available

When you think of ‘Ohana, you likely think of the iconic ‘Ohana Noodles that are served here. However, these noodles are only served during dinner, which is a large reason why lots of people may choose dinner over breakfast, despite missing characters and the big price difference.

‘Ohana noodles are a favorite!

However, we’ve got to be completely honest with you — sometimes the ‘Ohana Noodles aren’t available! Just like other Disney World restaurants, there are times when the restaurant experiences shortages and issues and certain menu items aren’t available. This is a relatively rare case, as the ‘Ohana Noodles are as popular as they are, but we don’t recommend going in for a dinner reservation ONLY for these. There are tons of other delicious offerings on your plate, so be open to trying new things, too! And you can also order just the noodles in Tambu Lounge if that’s what you’re really after!

Recent Reviews Have Taken a Turn

Being completely honest, we’ve seen some reviews from our readers recently that lead us to believe that ‘Ohana may be unfortunately going downhill in the world of Disney World restaurant quality.

‘Ohana Bread Pudding

This breaks our hearts because we LOVE this place, but we’ve had readers share with us that they felt rushed during their meal, their service wasn’t up to Disney standards, or that the food was subpar. We’re planning on returning to this restaurant soon to try it out for ourselves and see what’s going on, but we recommend really looking closely at the menu to ensure there are options you’ll enjoy before booking a reservation.

Peel-and-eat shrimp at Ohana

If you’re intent on grabbing a reservation at this spot on your next vacation, you’ll want to set your alarm for 7 AM 60 days before your trip begins, because getting a reservation here is one of the most challenging parts about a Disney World vacation! However, you can always join the restaurant’s walk-up waitlist if it’s open on the day of your visit, and again, don’t forget about the lounge!

Pork Dumpling

Ultimately, it’s up to you and your group to decide whether or not ‘Ohana dinner is a good fit for your vacation. We’re always here to bring you the latest Disney World dining news, tips, and tricks, so stay tuned to DFB!

Check out our full guide to table service dining in Disney World here!

Are you a fan of ‘Ohana? Tell us in the comments!