Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is home to not only one of the best resorts in all of Walt Disney World, but it also boasts some of the best restaurants. The Southern Pacific Islands theme is consistent throughout the resort and extends into the dining options.
Beautiful decor, fun atmosphere and impeccable Disney service makes The Polynesian Resort a wonderful place to dine. Even if you are not staying on the property you can enjoy easy access to this deluxe Resort from one of Disney’s transportation services, including the monorail.
It is especially convenient if you are visiting the Magic Kingdom to take a short monorail ride over to the restaurants for lunch or dinner!
Polynesian Resort Restaurant List
- Barefoot Pool Bar
- Oasis Bar and Grill
- Pineapple Lanai
- Capt. Cook’s
- Kona Cafe
- Kona Island
- Tambu Lounge
- Trader Sam’s Tiki Terrace
- Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto
- ‘Ohana
We have listed all the places to get food and drinks at Disney’s Polynesian Resort. You will find the location, what the specialties, and what the best food at the Polynesian is!
We have also noted if the restaurant has been a part of the Disney Dining Plan. Disney has not resumed the dining plan option yet, but they have indicated that it will be back at some point in the future.
1. Barefoot Pool Bar
Location
Barefoot pool bar is located in the Lava Pool pool area at Disney’s Polynesian Resort. The Lava Pool is the feature pool at the Polynesian.
Menu Items And Specialties
If you love Dole Whips (who doesn’t) you will want to try some of the adult Dole whips at the Barefoot Pool Bar! You will find a Frozen Margarita with Dole Whip Lime, Frosty Pineapple, and the delicious The Voyager, which consists of Parrot Bay Coconut Rum blended with cream of coconut and pineapple juice, layered with Dole Whip Pineapple and blue curacao.
Until recently, you could only get a delicious tropical drink at the bar but now guests can enjoy the food menu from the Oasis Bar & Grill. The kid’s menu has the classic chicken nuggets and cheeseburger while adults can grab grilled chicken strips, fish tacos, wraps and other appetizer style fare.
2. Oasis Bar & Grill
Location
By the Oasis pool which is a quieter swimming area. The Oasis Bar and Grill’s location is one of the biggest draws. It is off the main pool area in more of a relaxed part of the property.
Menu Items And Specialties
The Oasis Bar and Grill has almost completely identical menu and drink offerings to the Barefoot Pool bar.
3. Pineapple Lanai
Location
Pineapple Lanai is located just outside the great Ceremonial House. It is accessible from the resort pools as well as the lobby.
Menu Items And Specialties
They serve one thing and they serve it very well. The famous Dole Whip! One of the favorites is the Pineapple Float. You can also get a regular Dole Whip or a Dole Whip with rum.
*Find other spots to get a Dole Whip here!
4. Capt. Cook’s (Captain Cook’s)
Location
You will find Captain Cook’s on the lower level of the great Ceremonial House. Seating can be inside or on the outside patio with views of the Lava Pool and the Seven Seas Lagoon.
Capt. Cook’s is the main quick service restaurant at the Polynesian.
Menu Items And Specialties
Capt. Cook’s (sometimes called “Capt. Cook”) is a quick-service location that serves all three meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner. It has a wonderful “grab and go” appeal. The cuisine is a mix of Polynesian and American foods including, Mickey Waffles, Pan Asian Noodles and Vegetables, Pulled Pork Nachos and Coconut Meatballs.
It’s a great place for you to grab Tonga Toast for breakfast and get to the theme parks or grab a quick lunch and get back to the pool.
The most famous menu item would have to be the banana-stuffed, deep-fried Tonga Toast! For lunch try the Aloha Pork Sandwich.
Capt. Cook’s has the option of ordering ahead using the Disney app which can save you time. You can purchase a refillable resort mug here.
Photo Credit Alexis Larcy
5. Kona Cafe
Location
Kona Cafe is a table service restaurant located on the second floor of Great Ceremonial House.
Menu Items And Specialties
Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, Kona Café is a popular table service dining restaurant at Disney’s Polynesian Resort! Polynesian/Asian cuisine and American fare are served.
- Breakfast – 7:30 AM to 11:00 AM
- Lunch – 11:30 AM to 2:00 PM
- Dinner – 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM
The Tonga Toast is a breakfast favorite! Another popular menu item is the Macadamia Nut Pancakes.
Lunch and dinner menu items include wonderful sushi and poke bowls if this is something you are after. You can also get burgers and salads as well as ribs and steak!
6. Kona Island
Location
Kona Island is a quick service kiosk. It is located on the second floor of Great Ceremonial House, adjacent to the Kona Cafe.
Menu Items And Specialties
Not really a restaurant but more of a quick “grab and go” foods and specialty coffee. Kona Island offers pastries, sweets, sushi, and even chocolate dipped bacon. If you are a coffee fan, stop here!
7. Tambu Lounge
Location
Tambu Lounge is a bar located next to ‘Ohana restaurant on the second floor of the Great Ceremonial House.
Menu Items And Specialties
This is a wonderful place to get a drink while waiting for your dinner reservation at ‘Ohana or Kona Cafe. They have some wonderful drinks, great bartenders and other fun items including a real back scratcher when you order a Backscratcher drink!
Be advised that this location does fill up quickly when dinner time is approaching.
The Lapu Lapu, Backscratcher, and Polynesian Mai Tai were on the menu in 1971 when the Polynesian opened and have never left. Three signature 1971 drinks are:
- Backscratcher which has Rum, Passion Fruit Juice topped with Jack Daniel’s Whiskey and a Bamboo Backscratcher.
- Lapu Lapu which has Rum and Tropical fruit juices served in a Pineapple topped with Goslings 151 Rum. This is the most popular drink!
- Polynesian Mai Tai which has Rum, Bols Orange Curacao, lime juice, Orgeat and pure cane sugar.
8. Trader Sam’s Tiki Terrace
Location
Trader Sam’s Tiki Terrace is located on the main floor terrace of the Great Ceremonial House, looking out to the Lava Pool.
Menu Items And Specialties
Trader Sam’s Tiki Terrace is a popular place for drinks or appetizers. Very often you can hear live music being performed or watch fireworks and the Electric Water Pageant if they are available at the time you are there.
Food items include sushi, tacos, flatbread, lettuce cups, and dumplings. You will find a few mocktails – Skipper Sipper, Polynesian Punch and Schweitzer Falls.
There is an extensive alcoholic drink list here! Some favorites are the Spikey Pineapple, Kalua Pork Tacos and HippopotoMai-Tai, Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Rum.
9. Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto
Location
Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto is located steps off the main lobby for the Polynesian Resort.
You must be 21 years or older to enter Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto. after 8:00 p.m. This is a very hard place to get into due to its popularity so make sure you inquire at the front desk about best times to visit. This would be a great place to check out if you are on a kid-free Disney vacation!
Menu Items And Specialties
This is not a restaurant but a lounge that serves alcoholic beverages as well as non alcoholic drinks. It is a wonderfully decorated room with ancient artifacts and exotic treasures from Trader Sam. In case you are wondering, Trader Sam is the character from the Jungle Cruise attraction at Magic Kingdom.
Trader Sam’s and Tikki Terrace share the same menu. Some of the favorite drinks here are the same – Spikey Pineapple, Kalua Pork Tacos and HippopotoMai-Tai, Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Rum.
10. ‘Ohana
Location:
‘Ohana is a table service restaurant located on the second floor of the Great Ceremonial House. It is next door to the Tambu Lounge.
This is the flagship restaurant at the Polynesian Resort.
Menu Items And Specialties
‘Ohana serves breakfast and dinner. This is a difficult restaurant to get into and you should get reservations.
- Breakfast – 7:30 AM to 12:00 PM
- Dinner – 3:30 PM to 10:00 PM
ʻOhana offers 2 distinct dining experiences:
- Best Friends Breakfast featuring Lilo & Stitch
- An all-you-care-to-enjoy dinner featuring Hawaiian-flavored specialties, including the legendary ʻOhana Noodles (Characters do not appear at dinner)
Breakfast at ‘Ohana
If you are looking for a fun Character breakfast this is a great one! Lilo and Stitch (and others!) will join you for photos and autographs. The breakfast is served family style. It is filling and very delicious. If you like bread, you will be overjoyed with the Pineapple-Coconut Breakfast Bread you will be served.
The main course is a Breakfast Skillet that comes with the Mickey Waffle along with hot biscuits, scrabbled eggs, Hawaiian ham and sausage and fried potatoes.
It is a hearty breakfast that will sustain you well as you make your way through the parks during the rest of your day!
Dinner at ‘Ohana
The dining experience for dinner is amazing. You sit at a large communal table and the servers bring food to your table family style. Menu items include:
- Mixed Greens Salad
- Honey Coriander Chicken Wings
- Signature ‘Ohana Bread
- ‘Ohana Dinner Skillet (Grilled Teriyaki beef, spicy peel-n-eat shrimp and grilled chicken with Polynesian inspired “Chimichurri” Sauce)
- Pork Dumplings
- ‘Ohana Bread Pudding
The fact that it’s all you care to eat means if you want more of some food, they will bring it to you and if you decide not to eat something, no problem.
We love the different dining and drinking locations at the Polynesian Resort! The wonderful fact that it is so close to the Magic Kingdom and right on the monorail line, makes it super easy to start or finish your Magic Kingdom day with a meal or drink at one of these fine restaurants.
Remember to make your reservations for the higher end restaurants as soon as you have your itinerary completed so you don’t miss out on a great dining experience!
Polynesian Resort FAQ
You do not need to be a Polynesian resort guest to eat at ‘Ohana! Anyone can get reservations to have a meal at this restaurant.
You do not need any sort of Disney park ticket to eat at ‘Ohana!
Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto does not take reservations. We suggest arriving 30 minutes before they open.
You will receive complimentary breakfast items if you are staying in a club level room at the Polynesian.
If you want to learn more about the Polynesian we recommend checking out our post about Disney’s Deluxe Resorts. We have them ranked from our favorite to least favorite!
We also have our favorite Disney candles here, and one of them is the smell of the lobby of the Polynesian!
Author
-
by
-
