I used to work at one of DFB’s favorite restaurants!

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

That’s right! I used to work over at ‘Ohana at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort! I still dream about taking home the delicious pineapple and coconut bread after a shift. This restaurant is super popular and oftentimes is a must-do during people’s vacations. Since ‘Ohana is so popular, some people will try to do whatever it takes to dine here, and I am here to debunk a go-to dining “advantage.”

There are so many perks to staying at a Disney World hotel! From extra time in the parks to free transportation and soon-to-be-free water park tickets, staying on property can add value to your vacation! 

The Polynesian Village Resort

If you stay at a hotel with a popular restaurant, like the Polynesian Village, then you may think you get priority to dine without a reservation. 

Welcome to ‘Ohana

I am here to, unfortunately, break the news to you that this is NOT true. Anyone who wants to dine at a restaurant as popular as ‘Ohana will need to make a reservation. 

‘Ohana Dining Room

There were multiple times that my “cousins” (this is what we refer to fellow Polynesian Cast Members as), and I would have to break the news to people that just because they were staying at the hotel did not mean that they could dine at ‘Ohana whenever they pleased. We would refer them down to the front desk to try to make arrangements, which were never guaranteed, and we never knew the outcomes of the conversations that they had.

‘Ohana

Don’t fear! If you find yourself in this situation, there are always other routes you can take! These are three tips that we would give people who we had to turn away.

Views from ‘Ohana

Join the Walk-Up List in Person

You could try to join the walk-up list and snag a chance to dine. A word of warning, at a restaurant like ‘Ohana, we would have people line up before we opened to snag walk-up spots. There would be times where I would work the front podium and our walk-up spots would be taken in a matter of minutes. 

Head to the host stand to join the wait-list!

Join the Walk-Up List on the My Disney Experience App

You can also try to join the Mobile Dine Walk-Up List by using the My Disney Experience App. If you have a bigger party, you are more likely going to be able to join the Mobile Dine Walk-Up List, at least this is the case at ‘Ohana because of the table configurations. This is not always guaranteed. Make sure to put your correct party size. For example, if you are a party of three, but on the app say you are a party of eight, you will be turned away.

©Disney || You can also join the walk-up list in the app!

Refreshing My Disney Experience

Refreshing the My Disney Experience app is the biggest tip for scoring a last-minute reservation at a restaurant like Ohana. Dining reservations can be canceled up to two hours prior, so you never know when a reservation might pop up on the app!

Refresh the app!

Regardless of where you choose to stay on your next Disney World vacation, try to make your dining reservations in advance! You can book up to 60 days before your trip.

Eight Unfortunate Things That Happen When We Dine at ‘Ohana

Have you ever dined at ‘Ohana? Let us know in the comments!