Tiki Central / Locating Tiki / Disney's Polynesian Resort, Orlando, FL (hotel)
Post #599593 by Hurricane Hayward on Thu, Jul 28, 2011 1:29 AM
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Hurricane Hayward
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Thu, Jul 28, 2011 1:29 AM
Some additional advice for Iolani (if it's not too late) and any future visitors. My wife and I make three or four Disney trips per year and we never miss spending time at The Polynesian. The location is so convenient. You can walk from the Ticket and Transportation Center (just look for the path above). The Magic Kingdom is just a short monorail ride away. Or take the boat from the Polynesian dock for a peaceful, scenic trip. At the end of the night, there's no better place to watch the Magic Kingdom fireworks than a secluded spot on the beach at The Polynesian. They even have speakers that pipe in the soundtrack. And be sure to stick around for the Electrical Water Pageant, a kitchy retro show that has run every night on Seven Seas Lagoon since the early '70s. The Polynesian offers a great view of this as well. The best tropical drinks on the Tambu Lounge menu are the Back Scratcher and Lapu Lapu (see photo below). Disney infamously "standardized" most of the resort and bar menus recently but most still offer a few that are unique to that location. These are those.
Good advice on this thread on seeking out the right bartender. It's usually the only way to get a cocktail made the old-school way. The younger bartenders tend to go by the book and aren't aware of the classic recipes. At one time, the Tambu offered a Zombie, a Scorpion and other vintage drinks but there's no guarantee you'll be able to get these made for you correctly. They do make a very good Pina Colada, however, and the new menu is not as bad as it sounds. In addition, if you're looking for a late-night or off-hours snack, the Tambu has a very good food menu. The Polynesian also has lots of other great food options that don't break the bank.
The Kona Cafe sushi bar is one of the best-kept secrets at Disney World. Fantastic sushi. The crab cake roll (above) is unbelievable. It's the same crab cake that they serve in the Polynesian restaurants, reconfigured into a sushi roll. I always have a hard time deciding between that and the shrimp tempura roll. And the Kona beer from Hawaii always goes down great with the sushi. Plus the desert offerings are also off the hook. The creme brulee and chocolate fondeu are both fantastic. And the best part: No reservations needed. Just show up after the dinner rush and you'll be fine. The other must-do dining experience for us is breakfast at Kona Cafe. Advance reservations are usually necessary but it's also worth the wait if you don't. The Tonga Toast (deep-fried banana-stuffed sourdough bread, rolled in cinnamon sugar and served with Strawberry Compote) is legendary and the Macadamia Pineapple Pancakes are also highly recommended. Another breakfast option is yet another of the best-kept Disney secrets: The counter-service eatery Captain Cook's Snack Company. It also offers Tonga Toast and many other breakfast options. The other great features of Captain Cook's: It's open 24 hours and it has a self-serve Dole Whip machine. After a long, hot day in the parks, there's nothing like a refreshing Dole Whip. The only other place you can get one is the stand in the Magic Kingdom's Adventureland. After breakfast and before heading to the parks, be sure to rent a boat and cruise around the lagoon. It's exhilarating and the views are fantastic. And by all means take the time to walk around all the grounds. Vintage Tikis, signs and architecture loom around every corner. Needless to say, my wife and I love the resort and we haven't even had the pleasure of staying the night or enjoying the signature restaurants, 'Ohana and The Spirit of Aloha dinner show. We find that it's not necessary to break the bank to enjoy the great aloha but if you have the funds, by all means go all the way. Here are a few links to more information: Polynesian Resort restaurants on the Disney Food Blog Tambu Lounge review (and recipes) on Party Through the Parks And the granddaddy of them all ... To everyone who enjoys the vintage 40-year-old Polynesian or anyone who still hasn't had the pleasure of visiting this slice of history, heed Tikiman's warning: "Do I think at some point Disney will totally redesign the Polynesian to be more modern and more like the new resort in Hawaii, I believe that will happen at some point. The feeling around the resort is that something big is being planned but nothing is for sure. At this point I think you need to enjoy what is there and remember that nothing lasts forever." [ Edited by: Hurricane Hayward 2011-07-28 10:16 ] |
