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Hi everyone!\u00a0 I’m officially back from a glorious almost two week vacation that included stops at Walt Disney World, as well as the Disney Dream and boy, do I have a LOT to talk about!<\/p>\n
One of my all time favorite places to visit at Walt Disney World is the Polynesian.\u00a0 The resort is so popular among many Disney fanatics and I can’t put my finger on why.\u00a0 It’s probably a mix of a lot of factors, to be honest. The theme is great, the restaurants are fantastic, and the nostalgia is quite present.<\/p>\n
There are four different places you can dine in at this resort.\u00a0 You have ‘Ohana, the family style meal; Kona Cafe, the more “upscale” meal; the Luau, called the Spirit of Aloha dinner show, which can be a fun experience, and Captain Cook’s, the counter service location.<\/p>\n
For me, when heading over to this resort, if it’s anywhere around meal time,\u00a0 I typically want to make a stop somewhere.\u00a0 Often, it’s at the last option I mentioned, Captain Cook’s.<\/p>\n
I actually found it by accident one day.\u00a0 My husband and I had just had a massage at the Grand Floridian Spa (I know…tough life…) and we were starving.\u00a0 Feeling a little delirious, we just happened to be walking down the path, when we walked up on the Polynesian.\u00a0 Not knowing what deliciousness was inside, my husband suggested we go in here.\u00a0 On that day, I was converted.\u00a0 I wondered what kind of amazingness is this and why does no one in the Disney community talk about it?\u00a0 So, me with my big mouth…I started to.\u00a0 And I think word is catching on, as more and more people are talking about this hidden gem.<\/p>\n
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The restaurant itself is found on the bottom floor of the Poly.\u00a0 It is themed with the same tropical feel and has colors of browns, greens, and yellows to accent.\u00a0 This counter service location is a bit different than some other ones.\u00a0 Here, you go up to a touch screen and place your order on that.\u00a0 It allows you to customize your order a bit, but maybe not as much as you’d like to.\u00a0 You may still have to talk to the Cast Members about any special options with your food.<\/p>\n
From there, you pick out any extras you’d like with your dish, like drinks, desserts, or ala carte options.\u00a0 You then head up to the register where you pay for your items and then they give you a pager.\u00a0 Then, you can go sit down, either inside or in one of the outside options until your pager goes off, where you then head back to the counter to pick up your food.<\/p>\n
The restaurant serves up a little bit of everything, with influence from it’s Hawaiian flare infused into many of the dishes served.\u00a0 Items include stir fry, sandwiches, salads, and flatbreads.<\/p>\n
Alright, so let’s talk food.<\/p>\n
On my recent trip, I actually ended up making a few stops here.\u00a0 (I told you I love the place.)\u00a0 This time, I decided to be a little different and try some menu items I’ve never had before.<\/p>\n
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The first day we made our stop, I decided to try the pork nachos.\u00a0 I love the housemade chips that they serve up here (a mixture of both homemade potato chips and wonton chips) and I thought, made into nachos, this will be good.\u00a0 Boy, did it not disappoint!\u00a0 These were delicious!!!\u00a0 The flavor of the pork was fantastic and it was great when paired with the cheese, as well as the tomatoes and pineapple.\u00a0 (Yes, pineapple.)\u00a0 It’s hard to believe this came from a counter service location!\u00a0 These are a very large portion, and by the end, it hardly looked like I made much of a dent, so I would totally recommend sharing these bad boys!\u00a0 Unless you are VERY VERY hungry!<\/p>\n
A friend of mine, whom I was traveling with tried the specialty tuna sandwich.\u00a0 She is a clean eater (I like to tell her she eats grass, because she prefers things like quinoa and chia seeds…how we are friends…I don’t know…) and she thought this sandwich was fantastic.\u00a0 She actually went back for it a few times during this trip.\u00a0 The sandwich could be found in the refrigerated section and included two strawberries with it.\u00a0 She was certainly happy that she made that choice and she strongly suggests it!<\/p>\n
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The second time I headed over to Captain Cook’s this trip, I decided to try something off the kids menu.\u00a0 I always approve of when Disney includes things on the kids menus that aren’t just chicken nuggets and hot dogs, and found the seasonal grilled fish with a vegetable medley and mandarin oranges listed.\u00a0 The restaurant had a lot of healthy options, having the Mickey check mark on it to indicate that it meets Disney Nutrition Guidelines for Complete Meals when served without substitutions.\u00a0 I applaud Disney in their efforts to make unique options for the kiddos and think it is long overdue.\u00a0 The option looked really good too via the picture on the touch screen. Once I got my meal, however, that’s where that ended.<\/p>\n
I am sort of a picky eater, so I know how kids think…and if I were a kid, this is one meal I would have not wanted.\u00a0 The fish was tough…it wasn’t flaky and the only way it had any flavor to it was when I ate a piece of the pineapple “salsa” that had been placed on top.\u00a0 The mandarin oranges (which at the time I thought were peaches, because I never read anywhere that said they were oranges) didn’t even come on my plate.\u00a0 I never received them.\u00a0 Finally, the veggies that it was served with were not good.\u00a0 The picture showed broccoli, which I love, however, that is not what ended up on my plate.\u00a0 What was served didn’t even appeal to me, as an adult, so I know a child would take one look at it and leave it on their plate.\u00a0 The medley included snap peas, carrots, onions, red peppers, and celery.\u00a0 This was the only meal that I simply did not want to eat the rest of, during my entire trip.\u00a0 So, while I’m certainly glad they offer different and healthy options for kids, I would strongly suggest getting one of the other Mickey Check options, as I think they would have been more enjoyable to everyone, of all ages.\u00a0 (I really want to try the Chicken and Pineapple Skewer the next time.)<\/p>\n
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Of course, I realize this meal, which is only served at dinner, is just a small blip.\u00a0 Everything else I’ve ever gotten from this restaurant has been delicious.\u00a0 Which brings me to one of my favorites, that I did not partake in this trip, but get almost every other time.\u00a0 It is the sandwich that I extoll to everyone when I talk about how good Captain Cook’s is…and that is the Grown Up Grilled Cheese sandwich.\u00a0 Now…I know what you’re thinking…it’s grilled cheese…how can that be incredible?\u00a0 It’s because Disney makes it with cheddar, swiss and the ultimate kicker, boursin cheese, served with a slice of lettuce and tomato.\u00a0 Add the Polynesian chips with it and you have a real winner!\u00a0 It is one of the best hidden secrets in all of Walt Disney World.<\/p>\n
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Of course, the other not so hidden secret is that Captain Cooks is the only other location on Disney property, besides the Magic Kingdom, where you can purchase yourself a Dole Whip.\u00a0 And here…it’s not just them putting it in a cup…no, no.\u00a0 You are given a cup and you can fill that sucker up with as much delectable pineapple heaven as your heart desires.\u00a0 (And the cup can hold.)\u00a0 I’ve seen people walk out of here with monstrous mounds of Dole Whips.\u00a0 This alone is what draws many to Captain Cooks.<\/p>\n