Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is home to not only one of the best resorts in all of Disney World but it also hosts 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 it a wonderful experience to dine here. Even if you are not staying on the property you can enjoy easy access to this 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.
We have listed all the places to get food and drinks at Disney’s Polynesian Resort. You will find the location, what the specialties are, and any additional comments we have.
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 pool area at Disney’s Polynesian Resort
Food/Drink 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.
Fun Fact – the precursor to Dole Whips was the Citrus Swirl by the FCC and Orange Bird! Orange Bird is making a comeback, and you’ll want to know about him!
Comments
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 a grilled chicken strips, fish tacos, wraps and other appetizer style fare.
Photo by Lisa Reese of Pixie and Pirate Destinations
2. Oasis Bar & Grill
Location
By the Oasis pool which is a quieter area.
Food/Drink Specialties:
Please see the Barefoot Pool Bar. The Oasis Bar and Grill has almost completely identical menu and drink offerings.
Comments
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.
3. Pineapple Lanai
Location
Pineapple Lanai is located just outside the great Ceremonial House
Food/Drink Specialties
Pineapple Float served in a souvenir Tiki Sipper.
Comments
They serve one thing and they serve it very well. The famous Dole Whip!
4. 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.
Food/Drink Specialties
The most famous would have to be the banana-stuffed, deep-fried Tonga Toast!
Comments
Capt. Cook’s is a quick-service location that serves all three meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner. It has a wonderful “grab and go” appeal.
It’s a great place for you to grab Tonga Toast for breakfast and get to the parks or grab a quick lunch and get back to the pool. The cuisine is a mix of Polynesian and American foods including, Mickey Waffles, Pan Asian Noodles and Vegetables, Pulled Pork Nachos and Coconut Meatballs.
Photo Credit Alexis Larcy
5. Kona Cafe
Location
Kona Cafe is located on the second floor of Great Ceremonial House.
Food/Drink Specialties
Tonga Toast is also served at the Kona Cafe for breakfast and the Kona-braised short rib is an amazing dinner entree!
Comments
Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, Kona Café is a popular table service dining restaurant at Disney’s Polynesian Resort! The Tonga Toast is a breakfast favorite and it also serves wonderful sushi if this is something you are after. The Polynesian/Asian cuisine and American fare is served.
6. Kona Island
Location
Second floor of Great Ceremonial House, adjacent to the Kona Cafe
Food/Drink Specialties
Fun and delicious desserts and sushi
Comments
Not really a restaurant but more of a quick “grab and go” foods or a casual delicious Kona coffee and pastry enjoyment time at the coffee bar.
7. Tambu Lounge
Location
Tambu Loung is located next to ‘Ohana on the second floor of the Great Ceremonial House
Food/Drink Specialties
Lapu Lapu which is a rum concoction served in a pineapple!
Comments
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.
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.
Polynesian Mai Tai which has Rum, Bols Orange Curacao, lime juice, Orgeat and pure cane sugar.
These drinks are called “1971 drinks” because the Polynesian opened in 1971 when Disney opened!
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
Food/Drink Specialties
Spikey Pineapple, Kalua Pork Tacos and HippopotoMai-Tai, Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Rum
Comments
Another popular place for drinks, appetizer or full meal. 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. Great fresh South Pacific fare with sushi bar and menu items that tend to lean more toward an adult appetite but you may find food for the kids as well depending on how picky they are.
9. Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto
Location
Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto is located steps off the main lobby for the Polynesian Resort
Food/Drink Specialties
Spikey Pineapple, Kalua Pork Tacos and HippopotoMai-Tai, Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Rum
Comments: 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.
This is a very hard place to get into so make sure you inquire about best times to visit but if you make the effort, it is a perfect place in many respects. Children and families are welcome but starting at 8pm it is adults only. This would be a great place to check out if you are on a kid-free Disney vacation!
10. ‘Ohana
Location:
The second floor of the Great Ceremonial House
Food/Drink Specialties:
Hawaiian specialty sides, Ohana Bread Pudding with vanilla ice cream, the ‘Ohana Dinner Skillet featuring Wood-fire Grilled Teriyaki beef, spicy peel-n-eat shrimp and grilled chicken with Polynesian inspired “Chimichurri” Sauce.
Comments
This is the flagship restaurant at the Polynesian Resort. It serves Breakfast and dinner, is highly popular and has an “all you care to enjoy (AYCE)” dinner. This is a difficult restaurant to get into and you should get reservations.
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)
The dining experience for dinner is amazing. You sit at a large communal table and the servers bring food to the table in courses and everyone eats the same dishes. 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.
Photo by Lisa Reese of Pixie and Pirate Destinations
If you are looking for a fun Character breakfast this is a great one! Lily and Stitch (and others!) will join you for photos and autographs. The breakfast is served family style like the dinner and it is filling and very delicious. If you like bread, you will be overjoyed with the Pineapple-Coconut Breakfast Bread you will be served.
This with a wonderful cup of coffee will start your breakfast off right! 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 hardy breakfast that will sustain you well as you make your way through the parks during the rest of your day!
Photo by Lisa Reese of Pixie and Pirate Destinations
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!
For more information about the Polynesian Resort you can go here to find out about all the Deluxe Disney 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!
If you are staying at the Polynesian, you may want to consider choosing the club level. There are many perks, including an air conditioned room to watch the fireworks!