Tag Archives: Polynesian Village Resort

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort – Pineapple Lanai

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It’s time for another installment of Saturdays With Nick!  This one’s for all you Dole Whip and Polynesian fans alike.  Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort – Pineapple Lanai

By Nick

Back when I was a kid, and by kid, I mean in my early 40’s, you could not only get a Dole Whip at the Magic Kingdom, you could also get one at Captain Cook’s at the Polynesian. Not only that, but it was self serve! So, of course, people would tower their pineapple treat as high as gravity would allow!

That is no longer the case, but you can still get Dole Whips and Dole Whip Floats at the Poly, at Pineapple Lanai.

PL, as I just now started calling it, is located right off the main lobby of The Great Ceremonial House.
It has a souvenir bowl and sipper, but that isn’t what makes this my new favorite spot to get a Dole Whip.

My favorite Dole Whip option is the Pineapple and Vanilla Swirl, and that is no longer offered at the Magic Kingdom, so this is the only spot to get that tasty snack!

Have you been to Pineapple Lanai?

 

To read all about Nick’s amazing Disney collectibles and his many Disney adventures, visit the Disney Musings Blog  (where this article first appeared).  You can follow Nick on Twitter, on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Pinterest.  You can also listen to Nick, our friend Dave, and me on The Disney Exchange Podcast where we talk about our love for all things Disney – new episodes every Sunday morning.

DVC Studio Review – Polynesian Villas

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Polynesian-Check-In-Raymond-and-LisaJust back from our most recent visit to Walt Disney World and what a great time we had!  Everything from the weather to the festive holiday atmosphere to the great dining and surprisingly nice accommodations we enjoyed – all of it was magical.  We used our DVC points for a stay in the newly renovated Villas at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort.  We booked later than we normally would and the only DVC room available on the monorail was at the Poly.  A studio was perfect since Raymond and I were taking a 5-night post-Christmas getaway alone.  Our home resorts are Bay Lake Tower and the Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian – this was our first stay at the new Polynesian villas and our first stay at the Poly in about nine years.

DVC Studio Review – Polynesian Villas

We arrived on December 26th around noon.  We hopped off the Magic Express and headed for the front desk (we’d tried online check-in, but hadn’t heard anything back).  Polynesian-LobbyWe were greeted by a cheerful Cast Member (their costumes at this resort are gorgeous!) and informed that our room was not yet ready, but this friendly young lady was determined to find a room that was ready now.  Polynesian-Village-Resort-MapThis is where we were pixie-dusted from a standard view original request to a lake-view studio in Moorea.  What a great surprise!  We followed the path from the Great Ceremonial House right to our building and up to the second floor (2023).Polynesian-Tiki-Light Polynesian-Villas-Art

Right away we loved the colors and the theming – those little Disney touches always make everything seem that much more special.  The room was spacious, warm and welcoming.  The slatted doors on the closets and bathrooms (yes, I meant to make that plural) add to the airy, tropical feel.  The dark wood and finishes make the rooms feel luxurious and well-appointed.Polynesian-Villa-Room-Decor Polynesian-Villa-StudioPolynesian-Villa-Living-Area

These studios sleep up to five with a queen bed, queen fold-out sofa, a bunk-sized bed that folds down from a cabinet under the TV.  The artwork inside that little bed is an adorable picture of Lelo and Stitch. Polynesian-Villa-Fold-Down-Bed-Art The small kitchenette offers a sink, fridge, microwave, coffee-maker and toaster.  We didn’t bring our own coffee since we easily found delicious ground coffee in a resort gift shop last time we were at Disney World – this was a huge mistake!  There was no ground coffee (only beans) to be found anywhere!  After we used up our resort-provided serving on the first morning, we were coffee-less each morning until we struck out for our daily adventures.  We will be sure to be better prepared in the future.Polynesian-Villa-Kitchenette

Now, back to the bathrooms.  Yes – there are two! This split-bath setup makes a huge difference when multiple people are trying to get ready at the same time – even the two of us.  One room has a toilet, traditional bathtub/shower and vanity.  Polynesian-Villa-Bathroom-Vanity Polynesian-Villa-BathThe other has a vanity and a large shower with two showerheads to choose from!  One is a traditional showerhead (detachable) and the other is straight overhead for a rain or waterfall effect -heavenly!  Polynesian-Vanity Polynesian-Villa-ShowerBoth bathrooms have motion-sensors that turn on the fan automatically when the room is occupied.

Our balcony overlooked the new DVC Bora Bora Bungalows and Seven Seas Lagoon.  In the distance we had a lovely view of Cinderella Castle and Space Mountain.Polynesian-Villa-Moorea-Lake-View Polynesian-Villa-Moorea-Lake-View2I’d heard that the boat horns were a huge problem for people staying in lake-view rooms and we did notice them on the first night – I think being in a new place had a lot to do with it.  After that, we were so exhausted by our full 15-hours of park touring each day, no sounds bothered us and we slept like babies in our super comfortable bed.  The pillows and linens were fabulous!

Pros of the Polynesian DVC studios:  Roomy with great theming, split bathroom with deluxe shower, easy walk to every building from the Great Ceremonial House, and gorgeous, lush surroundings.  Moorea is a very short walk away from the Ticket and Transportation Center (TTC).

Cons:  Boat noise bothers some people, current resort renovations are underway which means quite a few construction walls mar the beauty of the landscaping and walkways.  There are not as many restaurant choices as at the other monorail/Magic Kingdom resorts.

Are you a fan of the Polynesian?  What would you recommend about it?

 

Walt Disney World Dining – Resort Loop Table Service (Part 2)

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RM-Polynesian-Lobby2Hop on the monorail with me for part two of our tour of resort loop table service dining options.  Today we’re headed to the Polynesian Village Resort and the two sit-down dining options there.  While choices seem somewhat limited, both restaurants are well-priced, and offer delicious fare in a casual atmosphere.

Walt Disney World Dining – Resort Loop Table Service (Part 2)

Polynesian Table Service

‘Ohana (1 TS credit) – Looking for great atmosphere and all you can eat?  This is the place for you…unless you failed to book an ADR (Advance Dining Reservation) then getting in is probably impossible.  This place is wildly popular!  For dinner, gather ’round and enjoy the family style dining and parade of grilled meats from the open fire pit. There’s something for everyone at this family friendly location.  'OhanaStarters include some mighty awesome wings, pork dumplings, and salad.  The pineapple-coconut bread is outstanding!  Chicken, shrimp and steak are brought to your table throughout dinner Brazilian Barbecue-style.  Sides include noodles and stir-fried vegetables. Sadly, my favorite Maui Potatoes, once the best (to me) part of an ‘Ohana dinner, are long gone from the menu.  Dessert is bread pudding and you’ll want to save room for it!

RM-Kona-SignKona Café (1 TS credit) – Home of the world-famous Tonga Toast!  On our upcoming trip, Raymond and I are staying at the Polynesian and may finally get to see what all the hubbub’s about over this breakfast specialty.  I can say, Dinner’s great, if a bit crowded table-wise, and the menu is full of excellent choices that make the eating part of this place feel more like a Signature (2-table-credit) place to me. RM-Kona-EntranceIn spite of the bad service we had here on our first visit, we already have a dinner reservation booked for Princess Half Marathon weekend.  As an alternative to ‘Ohana, Kona Café is a great choice.  The Pan-Asian menu includes delicious appetizers like pot-stickers, sticky wings, and Samoan corn fritters, a variety of sushi options and reasonably priced entrees ranging from lamb, beef, and pork to chicken and duck, to shrimp, scallops, and other seafood options.RM-Kona-Wings

Again, the Poly may not offer as many table-service options as the other stops on the Resort Loop (and no signature dining), but the two options there are, plus excellent quick service choices and the dinner show available (Spirit of Aloha) mean this iconic, original resort has something delicious for even the hungriest guests!

What’s your favorite place to eat at the Polynesian? 

Disney Date Night – Resortloop Pub Crawl

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Yellow Monorail / Walt Disney WorldRaymond and I are big fans of the Resortloop Pub Crawl!  A great grown-up activity that gives us the opportunity to see what’s going on at our favorite resorts along the monorail loop while enjoying an adult beverage here and there.  We can visit one lounge or more, as a pre-dinner way to relax or a dinner substitute altogether.  The pub crawl is a great way to take in the unique settings of each pub within the very differently themed resorts – we love this!

Disney Date Night – Resortloop Pub CrawlRM-The-Wave

We like the Wave at the Contemporary, but have also spend quite a few happy early evenings at the tiny and casual Outer Rim (right next to Chef Mickey’s).  The Wave’s bar is pretty traditional with a great wine selection and tasty menu.  Choose a dish to share and save room for the next stop on the loop!RM-Mizner's-Lounge

We think the atmosphere and ambiance at Mizner’s in the gorgeous Grand Floridian makes it a great place to relax and soak up the fantastic sounds of The Lobby Society Orchestra.  If you know us, you know we’re going after the artisanal cheese platter!  Wine and cheese and fantastic live tunes.  This place has all our favorite things!  If you decided to wait on this stop, there’s also a nifty dessert menu.RM-Tambu-Lounge

And we’re off to the Polynesian Village Resort.  I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto – new-ish, small, heavily themed, and impossible to get into!  We’ll give it our best shot in late December and if we succeed, I’ll give you the full scoop.  Let’s talk instead about the Tambu Lounge – home of the popular Lapu Lapu and Backscratcher cocktails.  If you’re waiting to get into ‘Ohana, this is the place to be!  RM-Tambu-MenuThis pub is open, lively, noisy and fun!  If you’re NOT headed to ‘Ohana for dinner, belly up to the bar and order some of those fantastic honey-coriander chicken wings then top those off with a serving of the ‘Ohana bread pudding.  YUM!RM-Tambu-Wine

Three stops, three amazing lounges!  That’s what makes the Resortloop Pub Crawl so unique and special – each stop along the way is completely different from the others.

Have you tried any of the Resortloop pubs?  What’s your favorite stop?