Review: Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show at Walt Disney World
One of the longest running shows at Walt Disney World is the Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show, a Hawaiian-style luau that happens twice nightly at the Polynesian Village Resort.
After all these years, the show suffers from what might generously be called mixed reviews. So is it still worth a visit on your next Disney World trip?
If you don’t go in expecting five-star food and Broadway-level entertainment, you can appreciate the show for what it is: A sweetly retro visit to the days of Blue Hawaii (sans Elvis), served up with a respectable dinner and scrumptious dessert.
Dinner …
The family-style meal comes fast and furious, starting with the resort’s famous pineapple coconut bread (the same bread you’ll find at Ohana). Appetizers arrive almost as soon as you’re seated — a selection of fresh pineapple, soba noodle salad and green salad with ginger-lime dressing.
The main course follows quickly, with aloha pulled pork, barbecue pork ribs and roasted chicken, along with a generous side of vegetables. Kids’ selections also are available.
Vegetarians will have no trouble, as appetizers are vegan, and a stir-fry (with or without tofu) is available to order. You won’t have to call ahead to arrange this option.
Dessert is a pineapple-coconut guava cake with chocolate crunch.
The food is … fine. It’s probably the best you can expect when a couple of hundred people all need to be served at the same time. There are a couple of standout items on the menu — I liked the soba noodle salad, Kahlua pulled pork and the dessert.
You won’t go hungry — it’s all-you-care-to-eat — but dinner does feel quite rushed as you try to eat quickly between portions of the show. Service is efficient and unobtrusive.
… and the show
Of course, the main attraction is the show. There’s a thin storyline performed by a very charming cast — especially “Auntie Wini,” who presides over a going-away party for one of the local girls. (Or is it a homecoming? It’s a little hard to tell.)
The show builds to an exhibition of dances from around the Pacific Islands, including Tahiti, Samoa, Tonga, New Zealand and Hawaii. It reaches a crescendo with a fire dancing finale.
This cultural tour of Polynesia is the highlight of the show, and I wish the story lingered longer here. It’s also the thing that most closely resembles a luau you might attend in Hawaii. The dancers are excellent — and they are outstanding quick-change artists as they move from one culture’s costume to the next.
If you’re debating between this and the Hoop-De-Do Review at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort, we think it depends on who’s in your party. While the luau is definitely family-friendly, there’s more for adults to enjoy here than at the hoe-down across the lagoon — and I’m not just talking about the gorgeous, scantily clad dancers, although I admit that’s part of the appeal.
Need to know
Where: Luau Cove at the Polynesian Village Resort, a short walk from the lobby. You could also walk from the Grand Floridian if you’re feeling energetic.
When: Tuesday-Saturday, two shows nightly, at 5:15 and 8:00 p.m. You should plan to arrive at least 30 minutes early to check in at the resort lobby. Seats are assigned at check-in, so earlier is better — you can always grab at drink at Trader Sam’s while you wait.
Cost: Depending on seat location, the cost ranges from $39-$46 for kids ages 3-9, and $66-$78 for adults. If you’re on the dining plan, you can use two meals per person for category 2 or 3 seats (but not category 1, which are the front and center seats). Reservations are strongly suggested. Because it’s on the Dining Plan, the early show fills up much more quickly than the late show.
Weather: Tables are under cover, but the stage is exposed to the elements, so the show may be canceled for inclement weather.
What about fireworks? The beach at Luau Cove has a fabulous view of the fireworks over Magic Kingdom, but the timing isn’t very good. During winter, fireworks start at 8, so you may be able to catch some of the show before being seated. Otherwise, fireworks are likely to be at 9:15, right in the middle of the show.
