{"id":184804,"date":"2026-03-09T22:23:10","date_gmt":"2026-03-09T22:23:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/184804\/"},"modified":"2026-03-09T22:23:10","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T22:23:10","slug":"review-wantilan-luau-at-universal-orlando","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/184804\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: Wantilan\u00a0Luau at Universal Orlando"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Wantilan Luau at Universal Orlando Resort is the perfect end to a Royal Pacific day. The show and dinner have everything you would want from a Polynesian luau, but here are a few things that will make your visit the best.<\/p>\n

\"Wantilan\u00a0Luau\"Photos by Matt Roseboom<\/p>\n

The Wantilan dinner show luau is currently held every Saturday evening at Loews Royal Pacific Resort at Universal Orlando. If you\u2019re not staying at the hotel or even on Universal Orlando Resort property, you can still attend and get your parking validated; it\u2019s open to locals and visitors alike.<\/p>\n

Wantilan\u00a0Luau Overview<\/p>\n

5:30-6 p.m. Check-in and Pre-show<\/p>\n

6 p.m. Seating opens, then buffet starts<\/p>\n

Table service available until 7 p.m. Buffet open until 7:30 p.m. Bar service available until 7:45 p.m.<\/p>\n

7-8 p.m. Showtime<\/p>\n

Checking in<\/p>\n

The evening starts with checking in at the outdoor hut on the resort\u2019s ground floor. Although the main show is under cover, you will be exposed to the elements when checking in, so keep it in mind in case of rain and heat. Loews invited us to see the show on a perfect February evening. While rain won\u2019t affect the show itself because it\u2019s under a cover, a very hot evening may, so keep that in mind when booking.<\/p>\n

\"Wantilan\u00a0Luau\"<\/p>\n

We arrived right at 5:30, so we had to wait to check in. They did let us know that only one of us needs to check in, so the rest of your party can enjoy the pre-show activities, which consisted of a couple of performers teaching guests how to do hula dances, swing poi balls, and juggle flower sticks. If you don\u2019t care about watching or participating, I suggest arriving a little later so you don\u2019t have to wait in line.<\/p>\n

Of course, each guest gets a lei put around their neck as they arrive.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Seating<\/p>\n

Once the seating area opens, guests are welcome to find their table and get a drink while they wait for the buffet to start. A band plays some appropriate luau music on stage.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Wantilan\u00a0Luau\"<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll be seated at one of the long tables with other guests (unless you have a large party and can take up the whole table). The saying goes, \u201cthere\u2019s no bad seat\u201d, and that applies here too, as everyone should have a good view of the stage. But the closer you are, the more engaging the show will be for you, so I suggest sitting as close as you can. The closest seats are priced at a premium, but they also include a souvenir tiki mug.<\/p>\n

The Food<\/p>\n

The food is served buffet-style, all-you-can-eat, at the back of the theater. We enjoyed all the food we tried, which included a number of Polynesian-inspired dishes and desserts. There\u2019s also a kids\u2019 table with chicken nuggets, pizza, and more, which adults are welcome to eat as well.<\/p>\n

\"Wantilan\u00a0Luau\"<\/p>\n

Drinks can be ordered from your server or from the bartender near the buffet. Adults 21 and older can enjoy unlimited mai tais, beer, and wine. Kids and non-drinkers can have fruit punch or lemonade. Tea, coffee, and non-alcoholic mai tais are also listed on their official website as being available, but we didn\u2019t see them being offered.<\/p>\n

The buffet starts about an hour before the show, and is available until about a half-hour into the show. Keep in mind there are only two one-person restrooms available at the luau, so the lines can get long. You could go into the hotel to use the bathrooms, but it\u2019s a bit of a walk.<\/p>\n

The Show<\/p>\n

The show opened with an \u201cAloha\u201d welcome and quick shout-outs for birthdays and anniversaries. The host explained that \u201cAloha\u201d means hello, goodbye, and love, inviting everyone to embrace the moment together.<\/p>\n

The show\u2019s story placed us in the romantic \u201cgolden age of travel,\u201d following the travels of Captain Jake, a seaboat pilot who carried travelers across the South Seas. We \u201cjourneyed through Polynesia\u201d with him, \u201cstopping at different islands\u201d to experience their traditions and dance throughout the show.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Wantilan\u00a0Luau\"<\/p>\n

\"Wantilan\u00a0Luau\"<\/p>\n

\"Wantilan\u00a0Luau\"<\/p>\n

I like how they tied the Royal Pacific Resort\u2019s backstory into the luau\u2019s story. Captain Jake is the Royal Pacific Airways pilot of the seaplane that resort guests see when taking boat transportation to the theme parks and CityWalk. There\u2019s also a bar and restaurant named after him at the hotel. We aren\u2019t sure if it\u2019s the same Jake, but if you remember the old Jaws ride, guests were riding on Captain Jake\u2019s Amity Boat Tours.<\/p>\n

The show lasts about an hour.<\/p>\n

Wantilan\u00a0Luau Highlights <\/p>\n

Hawaii: An audience hula lesson to \u201cHukilau,\u201d teaching the basic kaholo step and \u201chula hands.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tahiti: The energetic \u2018ote\u2019a with fast hip movements and drums.<\/p>\n

Aotearoa New Zealand: A storm forces an \u201cemergency landing,\u201d during which a Maori warrior demonstrates the taiaha and welcomes us with a koha offering to show peaceful intent.<\/p>\n

Samoa: Crowd interaction with Chief Launi, a quick rhythm lesson, a kava moment symbolizing unity, and of course, a Siva Afi fire-knife dance.<\/p>\n

\"Wantilan\u00a0Luau\"<\/p>\n

The finale tied the journey together with a mahalo, celebrating \u201cthe exhilarating songs of Samoa \u2026 the glorious culture of Tahiti \u2026 the heart-pounding drums of Tonga \u2026 the amazing warriors of Aotearoa, New Zealand \u2026 and of course, the elegance and grace of Hawaii.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Wantilan\u00a0Luau\"<\/p>\n

Yes, there is some audience participation during the show, but they didn\u2019t pick anyone who didn\u2019t want to get onstage. After the show, the main cast comes out to the nearby fire pit to pose with you for photos on your camera.<\/p>\n

\"Wantilan\u00a0Luau\"<\/p>\n

We really enjoyed the Wantilan\u00a0Luau. It has everything you would want and expect out of a luau. I definitely recommend it as part of the Royal Pacific Resort\u2019s vibe if you\u2019re staying there, or if you want a night out. Tickets for the luau are $99 per adult and $45 per child. Premium seats are $20 more. Gratuities are all included, and parking can be validated. More information and tickets can be found here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Follow us:<\/p>\n

No matter where you want to go, our trusted partner MEI-Travel will handle the planning so you can focus on the memories. They offer free vacation-planning services and have nearly 20 years of experience creating memorable vacations. Visit MEI-Travel<\/a> for a fee-free, no-obligation quote today.<\/p>\n

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