Sebastian’s Bistro & ‘Ohana Reopening!
Walt Disney World has announced the return of fan-favorite restaurant ‘Ohana at the Polynesian Village Resort and unheralded gem Sebastian’s Bistro at Caribbean Beach. In this post, we’ll offer opening dates, Advance Dining Reservation timeframes, plus what else we can expect from WDW dining for the next few months.
We love to eat at Walt Disney World, and the reduced restaurant lineup and scaled back menus have been among our biggest post-reopening disappointments. Physical distancing started out as the big culprit there, both in terms of seating for guests in the dining rooms and for Cast Members in kitchens and behind the scenes.
As park attendance and hotel occupancy rates have increased since the start of summer, Advance Dining Reservations have become increasingly difficult to score. While physical distancing is no longer as much of an impediment to improved dining capacity, staffing shortages have become a bigger issue. Thankfully, Walt Disney World is starting to resolve these problems and we’re seeing more and more restaurants return. Here are details about the return of Sebastian’s Bistro and ‘Ohana…
Let’s start with Sebastian’s Bistro at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort. This table service restaurant will open on June 24, with nightly walk-in availability through July 4, 2021. (Presumably that means via Walk-Up Waitlist in the My Disney Experience App.)
Advance Dining Reservations will be available for booking starting on June 10, 2021 for meals on and after July 5, 2021.
As a reminder, the Disney Skyliner gondolas stop at both Caribbean Beach and Riviera Resorts, and Sebastian’s Bistro is a short walk from either. (On a related note, see our Disney Skyliner Sip & Snack Strategy for a good time on your non-park day at Walt Disney World!)
If you’re unable to score ADRs in Epcot or Disney’s Hollywood Studios, are staying at Pop Century, Art of Animation, or just want to make the trek out to Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, it’s a fun flight.
When Sebastian’s Bistro reopens, it will continue serving delicious tastes of the Caribbean, but via a new family-style meal at dinner. To my knowledge, this is the first time during the reopening that an a la carte menu has transitioned to family style.
This menu will get you started with Sebastian Bistro’s signature buttery house-baked pull-apart rolls, which are a personal favorite of ours. That will be followed by the Taste of the Caribbean platter, which includes oven-roasted citrus chicken, slow-cooked mojo pork with mango sambal, and grilled flank steak with mojito relish. The Taste of the Caribbean platter comes with sides of cilantro rice and beans, vegetable curry, and grilled broccolini. Coconut shrimp can also be ordered as an add-on to your meal. For dessert, Sebastian’s Bistro will serve the popular coconut-pineapple bread pudding.
If you gave me 25 guesses as to which Walt Disney World restaurant would reopen next, I wouldn’t have gotten this one right. Maybe on guess number 26. Maybe. (Eh, probably actually would’ve gone with the Diamond Horseshoe debuting a new abomination of a menu.)
Despite it being a relatively new venue, Sebastian’s Bistro never really caught on, and just when it was starting to see more traffic thanks to the Skyliner and Riviera Resort, the closure happened. Part of me feared that might be the final nail in its coffin. (I still fear the same for Spyglass Grill, and I really hope to be wrong about that!)
In any case, this comes as a colossal relief, as we absolutely love Sebastian’s Bistro (click here for our full review). While I feel like other family-style menus have been a downgrade or lateral move at best, I’m cautiously optimistic that the change here will be a net positive for both the restaurant and guests.
This could be just the shot in the arm Sebastian’s Bistro needs, making the restaurant more appealing and accessible to families. Personally, I am very much on board with the idea of unlimited pull-part rolls. Normally, it’s foolish to waste valuable stomach space on bread at an all you can eat restaurant, but I’ll have to make an exception here!
While I wouldn’t have gotten the first one right with 25 guesses, I would’ve gotten this next restaurant right with only a single guess. ‘Ohana at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort will be reopening on July 9, 2021 with Advance Dining Reservations going live on June 10, 2021.
‘Ohana will again offer its all-you-care-to-enjoy breakfast and dinner offerings when the table service restaurant reopens. Although Disney characters will not be hosting breakfast, a strolling musician will entertain guests for dinner. (As someone who cares exclusively about dinner at ‘Ohana, that right there sounds like a win!)
For breakfast, start with pineapple-coconut breakfast bread, followed by Stitch and Mickey Mouse waffles, then skillets with ham, sausage, and breakfast potatoes.
The ‘Ohana dinner menu features all-you-care-to-enjoy platters of grilled beef steak, roasted chicken, sausage, and island shrimp casserole served with fried rice and roasted broccolini. ‘Ohana pot stickers, crispy soy chicken wings, and the signature ‘Ohana bread pudding served warm with caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream are back!
I’m excited for ‘Ohana…but not nearly as excited as I am for Sebastian’s Bistro. I know that’s almost certainly an unpopular opinion, and it’s likely in large part because the return of ‘Ohana in July or August was an inevitability, whereas Sebastian’s Bistro feels like it’s coming out of left field.
Also, if I’m admitting to my unpopular opinions, I think ‘Ohana is a little bit overrated. Not bad by any stretch of the imagination, but not the end-all, be-all that some Walt Disney World fans have made it out to be. Some of the new menu choices (looking at you, shrimp casserole!) strike me as a tad questionable, while some of the omissions (noodles?!) are also dubious.
With all of that said, you better believe we’ll be making Advance Dining Reservations ASAP for ‘Ohana! I am very eager to revisit it and (hopefully) be proven wrong in calling it overrated. There’s literally nothing I love more than eating delicious food that also forces me to eat crow, figuratively.
Speaking of which, expect Advance Dining Reservations to book up quickly for ‘Ohana (probably less so for Sebastian’s Bistro). Due to physical distancing and the reduced capacity that entails, staffing shortages, and the immense popularity of ‘Ohana, you’ll definitely want to be online right when ADRs drop on Thursday.
On the topic of physical distancing and staffing shortages, earlier this week we covered how Walt Disney World tweaked its physical distancing verbiage to allow for the relaxation of table spacing in restaurants. In that, we noted how another party was seated at a table directly adjacent to us, no more than a couple of feet away at Geyser Point.
We subsequently dined at Whispering Canyon Cafe, and it was a very different story there. Above is a photo of the main dining room during our breakfast; as you can probably see, most tables are marked with the “not available” signs. We believe this is a result of staffing shortages rather one Wilderness Lodge restaurant not getting the memo.
Presumably, more tables will be brought online as soon as staffing allows for it. This goes not just for Whispering Canyon Cafe, but for restaurants all around Walt Disney World. (We’ve observed many tables still being marked as unavailable at numerous locations around the parks & resorts since this weekend; the only one at which we’ve dined is Whispering Canyon Cafe.)
Until the restaurants have sufficient Cast Members to seat more guests, the optics of having signs on the tables indicating they’ve been taken out of commission in the name of your health and safety is better than nothing at all. Removing the signage and telling walk-up guests the restaurant is “fully booked” when it’s plainly visible that over half the tables are empty might be a bad look.
In this same release about the triumphant return of Sebastian’s Bistro and ‘Ohana, Walt Disney World announced that BoardWalk Ice Cream Shop…exists, I guess.
Normally, I would just skip over that part, but I just walked between Disney’s Hollywood Studios and EPCOT in 92º heat for no particular purpose and just so happened to take a photo of BoardWalk Ice Cream Shop along the way. Now I have an excuse to share that photo, and feel slightly vindicated in my dumb decision to walk while Sarah took the Skyliner. Okay, not really–but it’s “important” for us to occasionally race to see which mode of transportation performs better. 😉
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YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you think of this news of restaurants reopening at Disney’s Polynesian Village and Caribbean Beach Resorts? Excited for the return of Sebastian’s Bistro and ‘Ohana? Thoughts on the new menu options at either or both? Disappointed that more isn’t returning for earlier in Summer 2021? Hoping for more ‘restored normalcy’ announcements in the near future? Planning on going to Walt Disney World this summer, or holding off until the start of the 50th Anniversary celebration? Does this have you optimistic or pessimistic for more dining to reopen at Walt Disney World? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
Maybe Sebastian’s was picked to re-open so there is a table service restaurant available for Caribbean Beach guests. A hotel complex that big with no table service?
A few years back Ohana replaced their chicken skewers with pork, as i recall that didn’t las, and if you wanted chicken they would bring it on a plate. Maybe the comments directly to Disney will have the same result, noodles back B4 long………I’m just thinking/hopin.
It makes complete sense for Caribbean Beach to have a table service restaurant open from a size perspective, and also since it’s easily accessible to so many other resorts.
However, Sebastian’s Bistro had that going for it pre-closure and was seldom busy. (If I recall correctly, it was a location that perpetually had 40% off Cast Member discounts.) Here’s hoping the new family-style approach will resonate more!
Let me guess: Sara won the race because you stopped to take a million photos on the way. Am I right? 🙂
Who won is not important. We race for the love of the sport.
Excited Ohana is opening soon, but so disappointed they took away the noodles and the grilled shrimp. Those were our family favorites for Ohana dinner. I will probably still go for the potstickers and the bread pudding, but I really hope they realize they need to bring back the noodles with that delicious signature peanut sauce. Shrimp casserole sounds okay, but I really enjoyed the grilled shrimp. I’m so glad we got to go as many times as we did before these changes. Why did they have to “fix” something if it wasn’t “broken” to begin with?!?
“Why did they have to ‘fix’ something if it wasn’t ‘broken’ to begin with?!?”
That’s a good question, and I’m hoping there’s a reason for the changes–and that they’re temporary until the full/real menu can return.
There are few restaurants at Walt Disney World that have more of their reputation built on nostalgia than ‘Ohana. It makes total sense to try something different at Sebastian’s Bistro. Decidedly less so at ‘Ohana.
Pasta is relatively a cheap grocery item. I’m shocked that shrimp casserole takes the place of the noodles here if shortages and budget cut has anything to do with this menu change. Hopefully they will realize quickly Ohana noodles are just as important as the bread pudding!
I don’t think that’s a 1:1 trade. A lot about this menu is different, and I’m guessing the shrimp casserole consolidates a couple of menu items into one dish.
With that said, I wouldn’t be surprised if noodles end up on the final menu. As you point out, they’re cheap–and there’s been a fairly strong response to this. Given both of those things, I could easily see them making a return.
Staying at CBR mid-July. Thanks for the heads up, you have me convinced, will try Sebastian’s and looking forward to it! As to being baffled by its reopening, I’m no expert but it kind of makes sense to me following all things Disney for my once in a blue moon trip. I think with the lack of moderate resorts available still and the increasing demand, and CBR being so huge, Disney just wanted to do right by their guests. Take care!
Sebastian’s going family style sounds like an adaption for low staffing. Without needing to produce a full ala carte menu, it surely keeps down the kitchen staff. And serving every table the same meal probably slightly reduces the serving staff as well. (Far less time taking and correcting orders. Whole restaurant becomes assembly line).
It’s nice to see quick restaurant reopening. Gives me hope we will see more in July then already announced. But I’d really like to see more full menus return.
It very well might be a change born of necessity, but I think it could be a net positive for the restaurant and CBR guests.
Sebastian’s Bistro has never been popular–they cut lunch within a month or so of opening and scaled back the menu shortly thereafter. This ‘temporary’ fix could be just what’s needed to make the location a success.
Hi Tom, I’m a bit confused. We’ve eaten at Ohana a number of times for dinner over the years and the “main course” has always been these skewers of cooked beef, chicken, and shrimp that are brought to your table. Doesn’t sound like what you describe above. Did things change or am I having a senior moment? Last we were there was in December 2019. Also to follow up on a question someone asked above. Any guess on Hoop-de-Doo? One of my favorites. Keep up the good work!
You’re not having a senior moment; this is a fairly significant menu change. Whether it’s a temporary adjustment or permanent is the question.
“it’s ‘important’ for us to occasionally race to see which mode of transportation performs better.”
You can’t leave us hanging, Tom…. who won, and by how much???
Never been to Ohana – always wanted the noodles so I kept telling myself, next trip, next trip! – and now NO NOODLES? WHY ARE THEY DOING THIS TO ME?
Sigh.
I think we’ll try Sebastian’s this time around!
What? No noodles?
Any word on Takumi Tei or Victoria and Albert’s?
Those would’ve been guesses 28 or 29. So in other words…expect an announcement on both next week! 😉
I know it said characters would not be at breakfast but do we know if theyll be making appearances? Stitch is my daughters favorite and if hes not there then its not worth it.
We r Hoping to Try OHANA in September. Something we have Never tried before. Dining plan comes back
i’ll be online at 6am again it seems. Last week was tusker house, this week ohana. Even without characters, we love a bigger breakfast to start the day. Especially with kids, who its hard to get to calm down and eat once at the parks. honestly, im surprized with all the closures we have a full slate for our 11 day trip that i may have to drop one to fit ohana in. But we have 2 days as off days with no breakfast scheduled, so I’m really hoping to get it on one of those two days. But we’ll see.
Is the lack of characters at this point, driven more by staffing? or is it something else? With Disney starting to drop distancing and such, its getting harder for them to use that excuse for things. Ei. night shows. We were all told that was the main reason they were put on hold, but pictures of queues and streets, the distancing seems to be less enforced. I’m still holding out hope that maybe one night show returns. Would love characters, but really want a night show.
Yay!!! We love Sebastians too! The wait staff was great whenever we have gone and we love the dipping sauces/sides. And so fun to stroll along the Caribbean Beach water, with the lights all lit up at and the skyliner going by at night. Almost feel like I’m in the Caribbean or maybe just Miami! And we like to get a drink at Bar Rive at Riviera before and the bar near the Caribbean pool afterwards. Thanks for making my day about the news, Tom!!
Love the blog, been here this week and dining has been the biggest challenge–waiting 30 minutes for mobile order pickup post arrival, multiple EPCOT pavilions closed by 7pm–it’s been hard to plan and get foods at times. Is this all sue to labor shortages? Any idea when it might normalize? It’s really diminishing the experience on property…
This noodle news has me shook.
Just want to know when you think Hoop Dee Doo review will open again !
I am happy to see more restaurants reopen but I am really sad the noodles are off the description of O’hana. I have zero desire to eat a shrimp casserole, but the noodles were a family favorite!
Do we know what time ADRs become available ? Is it at midnight or in the morning?