The Disney Restaurant Better Than Beloved ‘Ohana

Disney dining is one of the best things about a Walt Disney World Resort vacation.

Across Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme parks, Walt Disney World Guests have an array of choice when it comes to dining locations. From quick service options like Backlot Express and Pinocchio’s Village Haus to table-service treats like Be Our Guest and Cinderella’s Royal Table, there are cuisines, pricing, and theming to fit every Guests’ taste.

Disney’s Resort Hotels also feature some popular restaurants, including Chef Mickey’s, Victoria and Albert’s, and, of course, ‘Ohana. We know this may be controversial, but we now think ‘Ohana has competition for best Disney Resort family-style restaurant!

Back in July 2021, Disney Guests were thrilled to see the popular full-service dining location ‘Ohana reopen at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. Found on the second level of the Great Ceremonial House at the Disney Deluxe Resort, the table service restaurant invites Guests to dine on a family-style feast for dinner each night with menu items that have been infused with tropical, bold flavors.

Disney Tips has definitely been enjoying the family-style menu’s return, with its classic potstickers, bread pudding, POG juice, and amazing yakisoba noodles all returning to our lives. Initially, the iconic noodles were missing from the reopening menu before being brought back due to public outcry.

But recently, we snagged dining reservations at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort’s Sebastian’s Bistro, and we may never be the same. Dining at this hidden gem of a restaurant opened our eyes to what is out there beyond the world of ‘Ohana!

The restaurant is a treat for fans of Sebastian, Flounder, and Ariel from The Little Mermaid (1989). The decor echoes a tropical beachfront home with coral patterns that celebrate the Caribbean. Sebastian the crab pops up in subtle ways inside the dining area, and voice actor Samuel E. Wright can even be heard singing calypso covers of popular songs while eating.

When Sebastian’s Bistro reopened on June 24 last year, it started serving its tastes of the Caribbean in a new family-style meal at dinner, transporting Guests’ “taste buds to island time with delightful family-style dishes infused with rich Latin and Caribbean flavors”.

Transitioning from its previous a la carte menu to family style has certainly added a more accessible and affordable alternative to Disney’s beloved ‘Ohana restaurant, with dinner at Sebastian’s Bistro only costing $29 per adult and $17 per child, plus tax and gratuity. This is a crazy price compared to pricing for ‘Ohana at $55.00 per adult and $33.00 per child, plus tax and gratuity.

And for $26 less per person, the menu at Sebastian’s Bistro is similar – if not better – than that of ‘Ohana at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort.

Our meal began with Sebastian Bistro’s signature house-baked pull-apart rolls, served with the most amazing guava butter and caramelized onion jam. We’re talking melt-in-your-mouth whipped guava goodness and an onion jam that you’ll definitely be ordering more of!

This was accompanied with the spice necklace salad, a beautifully presented mix of greens, kale, toasted pumpkin seeds, pineapple, candied walnuts, and watermelon radish with key lime dressing. The edible flowers were a delightful tropical touch.

Our appetizers were followed by the Taste of the Caribbean platter, which included 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. Guests can also order coconut shrimp as an add-on to the meal. We ordered more of the pulled pork and did not regret any of the extra calories.

And, now, let’s talk about dessert! Forget ‘Ohana, Sebastian’s Bistro serves an amazing coconut-pineapple bread pudding that was actually created by a former chef from ‘Ohana!

On the left in these images is ‘Ohana’s bread pudding, served with homemade caramel sauce. A massive portion served warm with sliced bananas and a large scoop of vanilla ice cream, it’s no wonder why it is one of the most popular desserts at the Walt Disney World Resort.

But, now, spot the difference! Sebastian’s pineapple-coconut bread pudding is on the right, and also features a caramel sauce poured over the dessert. Served at the Banana Cabana at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort as well, this bread pudding tasted more dense and was packed full of chunks of pineapple. Many Disney World Guests will claim that nothing beats ‘Ohana’s bread pudding, but honestly, Sebastian’s might take this one!

And yes, Sebastian’s is missing those classic noodles served at ‘Ohana at the Polynesian Resort, but with a cheaper price and a smaller dining room, it is a nice change to have a Disney family-style meal in a different setting.

For dinner at ‘Ohana, Guests can enjoy a very similar tropical style of menu to Sebastian’s Bistro. There’s also the signature bread, but with honey butter instead of guava butter, and a mixed greens salad with citrus vinaigrette.

Guests are then served honey-coriander chicken wings and pork dumplings tossed in garlic-chilli sauce, followed by the ‘Ohana Dinner Skillet. This main course consists of grilled teriyaki beef, spicy shrimp, grilled chicken with Polynesian-inspired chimichurri sauce, roasted broccolini, and, of course, the famous ‘Ohana Noodles.

‘Ohana also offers breakfast, which Sebastian’s does not. Before the pandemic, however, ‘Ohana breakfast featured characters such as Lilo, Stich, and Mickey Mouse, but since the reopening of the restaurant, these characters have not yet returned to the location.

And we know – ‘Ohana has a beautiful view of Magic Kingdom, Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Disney’s Contemporary Resort, and Bay Lake, with those eating at 9 p.m. treated to a special glimpse of Disney Enchantment fireworks.

But hear us out. At Sebastian’s Bistro at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, Guests get a gorgeous view of Disney’s Riviera Resort, Barefoot Bay, and EPCOT theme park. And at 9 p.m., we had a magical view of Disney’s Harmonious over Spaceship Earth as we ate our delicious bread and guava butter.

So, essentially picking between ‘Ohana and Sebastian’s Bistro comes down to a few things:

• Price: $55 at ‘Ohana versus $29 at Sebastian’s.
• Noodles: ‘Ohana has those classic noodles, whereas Sebastian’s main platter is served with curry and rice.
• View: ‘Ohana has the Magic Kingdom Park, Sebastian’s Bistro has EPCOT.
• Theme: Though both are tropically inspired, ‘Ohana is for those wanting a darker ambiance with Polynesian influence, while Sebastian’s Bistro has a lighter atmosphere and The Little Mermaid touches.
• Hours: Sebastian’s Bistro at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort is open for dinner from 4:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., while ‘Ohana is open for breakfast from 7:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and for dinner from 3:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
• Transportation: ‘Ohana can be accessed along the Magic Kingdom Monorail Loop and via ferry, while Sebastian’s Bistro Guests can enjoy a fun ride on the nearby aerial gondolas of the Disney Skyliner from EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and other Disney Resort Hotels.

It goes overlooked by many Guests searching for Walt Disney World dining reservations, but hidden gem Sebastian’s Bistro, located adjacent to Old Port Royale, offers a light and airy dining room with a water view that serves up an array of Caribbean-infused favorites, including that indulgent bread pudding dessert.

If you’ve never been, try Sebastian’s Bistro on your next Disney vacation and see for yourself why we think it has become our new favorite Disney World Resort dining destination!