Goodbye 'Ohana

[Nancyg56]

For all of those that felt rushed by the servers and weren’t happy. Did you all leave an 15-20% gratuity?

If more started doing less to none, when I don’t get a refill on a drink or being offered dessert 10 minutes after my food. On the tip line, write an actual tip or feedback. Felt rushed, no drink refill, not attentive.

You are assuming that the servers drive the pace, however they really are answerable to their management. As far as attentiveness you have a point but pacing? If they are told to push, they push.

 

[Rich M]

I've always wanted to go to Ohana, it's a shame that multiple people have felt so rushed. I will have to reconsider my dining options for my January trip. Thank you everyone for your opinions.

Honestly I would try it for yourself. I go there every trip and love it. I have never felt rushed. On our last trip we had two extra dining credits and we saw a young couple having there. We asked them if they were on the dining plan or paying out of pocket. They were paying out of pocket so we offered to pay for there meal with our leftover credits and asked them just to leave a tip. They were beyond grateful. I highly recommend going around the time the fireworks are going off at MK. They pipe the music in. We have slowed our meal down to make sure we could watch and never felt rushed.

 

[Nina Y.]

Honestly I would try it for yourself. I go there every trip and love it. I have never felt rushed. On our last trip we had two extra dining credits and we saw a young couple having there. We asked them if they were on the dining plan or paying out of pocket. They were paying out of pocket so we offered to pay for there meal with our leftover credits and asked them just to leave a tip. They were beyond grateful. I highly recommend going around the time the fireworks are going off at MK. They pipe the music in. We have slowed our meal down to make sure we could watch and never felt rushed.

That is beyond sweet of you! And I didn't know about the fireworks music being piped in. Goodness that makes it a hard decision then!

 

[CraigInPA]

However like @Nancyg56, the last two times we had dinner there, our drinks were horrible. The first time, I thought it was a fluke. The next time, I don’t know what to think. I used to love the Lapu Lapu.

The last time there, in February, my wife sent her Lapu Lapu back. Not only was it not prepared correctly, it was leaking all of the table. When the server picked it up, he had to run and get a towel (yes, an actual towel, not a napkin) to clean up the mess it made. She switched to iced tea, which was fine.

 

[maxiesmom]

If they don’t serve me, if service is bad. Why tip?

A tip is for above and beyond. Not just because they or you think they deserve it. Has to be earned.

I would only consider doing what you do if I tried to get the problem fixed at the time, and they ignored me. If I felt rushed, told them to slow down, and they continued to throw food down. But even then I would probably ask for a manager.

 

[freshmanjs]

A tip is for above and beyond.

This is completely incorrect. A tip is for standard service. For better or worse, the system we have here is one where the tip IS the server's wage. It is absolutely not only for above and beyond.

 

[aristocatz]

We tried for Ohana dinner reservations for 2 years before we finally got "lucky"....it was at its peak of popularity at the time, so I think we may have set our expectations too high. It was very crowded that night and it took a long time to be seated. Our server was a very nice man who was very sweet to my daughter. We didn't feel rushed, but the server seemed like he was given way too many tables and it was hard to flag him down for more food or drink. Not his fault, but it leaves a bad taste to go to a restaurant that offers "all you care to eat" but they make it difficult to access the food. I'm not a huge eater, but its just poor customer service. I've read other reviews complain about this as well. Aside from the dessert, the food was good but not mind blowing the way we read about. We never went went back.

 

[MikeNamez]

If they don’t serve me, if service is bad. Why tip?

A tip is for above and beyond. Not just because they or you think they deserve it. Has to be earned.

Because the person is there working to support their life/family and that waiter/waitress doesnt decide if the food is supposed to be pushed faster or slower. The only person your hurting is them not the restuarant who makes that choice. This will be my last post regarding it because I truly cannot say what I want.

 

[YesterDark]

Incoming tip thread. Never a good sign.

 

[JW9DVC]

This is completely incorrect. A tip is for standard service. For better or worse, the system we have here is one where the tip IS the server's wage. It is absolutely not only for above and beyond.

If you don’t refill my beverage or do a good job. Well. Leave a comment.

 

[hereforthechurros]

Eating at ‘Ohana for the first time in about 68 hours. We aren’t high maintenance people but we have a large group going (11) and 8 of them have never been to WDW. I don’t worry about being rushed as it’s a family style meal, you can just eat at whatever pace, but I do hope the server comes round to refill drinks as we plan on having a few adult beverages to kick off vacation. Would be a bummer to be sitting there without service.

 

[freshmanjs]

If you don’t refill my beverage or do a good job. Well. Leave a comment.

Not following. I'm not a server. Why would I refill your beverage?

If you're saying that refilling beverages or doing a good job is "above and beyond," then you really just have no idea what you're talking about.

 

[Kaelorian]

I agree that tips are a part of their wage and always tip accordingly.

Maybe the OP is from one of the states where tips are truly extra. Washington state is one of the few states that does not allow employers to take a tip credit. All employers must pay all employees at least state minimum wage, regardless of how much the employee makes in tips. We also have one of the highest (and rising to 13.50 in 2020, then adjusted to cost-living every year after) minimum wages.
Maybe they assume this is the case for all states.
I was appalled at how low the base wages were in other states as I traveled. We always tip minimum, then more for above and beyond.

 

[Viking7641]

Because the person is there working to support their life/family and that waiter/waitress doesnt decide if the food is supposed to be pushed faster or slower. The only person your hurting is them not the restuarant who makes that choice. This will be my last post regarding it because I truly cannot say what I want.

People should be forced to do 3 years of national service in their 20s/before marriage.

Year 1 : Retail rotation. Consisting of front of house customer service at checkout, stocking and accepting deliveries. Also included would be body fluid cleanup,"clopening", getting the hairdryer from a drunk Karen, and of course black friday. Schedule will include every saturday and sunday, all days off for the year are non sequential.

Year 2: Child care rotation. Day care on up to substituting in a high school.

Year 3: Food service, fast food, and six months waiting tables

I guess it's just because I spent a lot of time living in a country where service employees are considered professionals and are paid a decent living wage, it's just bizarre this American fascination to punch down at people that wait on us.

It is truly beautiful to watch when a waiter in Scandinavia doesn't live up to expectations by acting like a footman/valet though to tourists.

On topic : the waiters have nothing to do with what is going on at this place. It's high demand, probably overbooked to an extent, and a huge money maker, so from on high the order is faster faster faster, push push push.

 

[lovin'fl]

This thread is 11 months old. We have had good experiences the last 3 times...March 2019 and March 2018 and May 2017. I do agree that chicken is inedible. Maybe they should swap it back out with the pork.

 

[Viking7641]

This thread is 11 months old. We have had good experiences the last 3 times...March 2019 and March 2018 and May 2017. I do agree that chicken is inedible. Maybe they should swap it back out with the pork.

I'd be for it, but I can see why they don't as chicken is pretty "neutral" for most people, and it gives people an option if they don't eat shellfish or beef

 

[DISNEY1975]

It was very crowded that night and it took a long time to be seated.

This seems to be the case every night. If you dont have a reservation before 5, expect at least 30 minute wait. By 6:30, its an hour.

As a resort guest, this drives me crazy. The lobby and waiting area are always crowded (loud) with waiting diners. This was the #1 reason we didnt stay there last trip. I just needed some quiet and really got it at the YC! It was almost too quiet for me!

We are staying at the Poly again next month mostly because its a big birthday for me and I do love the theme and monorail. Also, my youngest child is almost 16. I dont see many more Disney vacations in our future so I kind of think now or never.

 

[MomOTwins]

Going to weigh in though in my experience, the no-tippers never change their mind. But if your food did not taste as good as you wanted it, would you stiff the restaurant on the bill? No. Tipping is a cost of eating out. You can tip extra for good service, but tipping nothing is no different whatsoever than refusing to pay for your food.

 

[atkinstogram]

Going to weigh in though in my experience, the no-tippers never change their mind. But if your food did not taste as good as you wanted it, would you stiff the restaurant on the bill? No. Tipping is a cost of eating out. You can tip extra for good service, but tipping nothing is no different whatsoever than refusing to pay for your food.

If my server is crappy, I’ll still leave a tip, but I’ll leave feedback. Either with them, written, or with their manager. If you don’t leave a tip, and don’t tell them why, the assumption will be that you’re not a tipper.

If service is crappy, and it’s not their fault, I’m not going to stiff them on a tip. But I’d still feedback my concerns..

 

[jarestel]

Though Ohana food isn't anything we find to be especially noteworthy (though it's by no means bad) we will usually dine there whenever we stay at the Polynesian. (Though I'd never make a special trip there just for that) Our latest experience - 2 months ago - again had some courses arriving before we were finished with the previous course. It seems like you need to spend the bulk of your time at Ohana eating and not waste time by socializing with your dining companions, in order to make things work properly.