Disney's Polynesian Resort | Off to Neverland Travel

Disney’s Polynesian Resort Returns to its Roots

One of the Walt Disney World® Resort’s most popular Deluxe hotels, Disney’s Polynesian Resort, is currently undergoing a complete refurbishment. As part of the reimagining, the resort has regain its original 1971 opening day name: Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort.

In addition to renovation of guests rooms, the feature pool, and the Great Ceremonial House, the resort added Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto – a themed tiki lounge similar to Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar at the Disneyland® Hotel in California – and new bungalow and deluxe studio accommodations.

Now in soft opening, Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto, founded by the “head” salesman of Adventureland®, serves a nice selection of small plates and specialty drinks available in collectible Tiki mugs. While some of the drinks have been brought over from Trader Sam’s original location at the Disneyland® Hotel, there are a couple new drinks for you to explore! Speciality drink offerings include:

Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto Exclusives:

Polynesian Pearl – RumChata Cream Liqueur, Grand Marnier, and Cinnamon with Tropical Juices served in a souvenir pearl.
Nautilus – Barbancourt Pango Rhum, Appleton Estate Reserve Rum, Combier Crème de Pêche de Ligne Liqueur, Tropical Juices and Falernum served in a souvenir Nautilus mug.
Castaway Crush – Leblon Cachaça, Cream of Coconut, Pineapple, Cinnamon, and fresh Lime Juice.
Tahitian Torch – ByeJoe Dragon Fire Spirit, Tropical Juices, Passion Fruit, and Fresh Lime.
Dark & Tropical Stormy – Gosling’s Black Seal Rum, fresh Lime Juice, Ginger Beer, and Falernum.

Imported from Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar:

Krakatoa Punch – Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum, Pyrat XO Reserve Rum, Orgeat (Almond), Sam’s Gorilla Grog, and Hibiscus Grenadine served in a souvenir Tiki mug.
Uh-Oa! – Myer’s Original Dark Rum, Bacardi Superior Rum, Orange, Passion Fruit, Guava, Pineapple, and Grapefruit Juices, Falernum, Cinnamon, and fresh Lime Juice served in souvenir Tiki Bowl. (serves 2+)
HippopotoMai-Tai– Coruba Dark Rum, Bacardi Superior Rum, Bols Orange Curaçao, Orgeat (Almond), Organic Agave Nectar, and fresh Lime juice served in a souvenir Tiki glass.
Shrunken Zombie Head – Gosling’s 151 Black Seal Rum, Appleton Estate Reserve Rum, Bacardi 8 yr Rum, Tropical Juices, Falernum, and Cinnamon served in souvenir Shrunken head.

Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto also has a selection of other specialty drinks, beer, wine, and no-booze brews for purchase. The location is able to accommodate 50 guests inside and up to 82 on their patio. Current operating hours are 4pm – midnight and is 21+ after 8pm. Because of the popularity of the location, a pager system is currently being used to admit guests into the inside lounge area as capacity allows. The Soft Opening is expected to last through the end of April when it will officially open.

‘Ohana at Disney’s Polynesian Resort

From Magic Maker® Kim Nocera

I was lucky enough to find myself at the Walt Disney World® Resort again with my family. One night we ate at ‘Ohana at Disney’s Polynesian Resort for dinner. We have been there plenty of times for the ‘Ohana Character Breakfast with Lilo & Stitch, but never for dinner. I love trying new restaurants! (My kids are the ones that aren’t good with change.)

We were on the Deluxe Disney Dining Plan, so our meal cost One Table Service Credit for each of us. But you don’t have to be on one of the Disney Dining Plans to enjoy this meal. The quality of the food is worth every penny.

The meal is brought out family style to your table. The grilled meats and shrimp are grilled over an expansive 18-foot oak fire pit and then brought out on huge skewers by the servers. If you would like that particular meat or shrimp, they will slide it right off the skewer right onto your plate.

All of us loved it! This restaurant now ranks up towards the top of our list. The food is plentiful, fresh, and very good. My little one has very limited menu. Our server told us it was possible to get him macaroni and cheese. So if any of your little ones are picky eaters, do not hesitate to ask your server for a kid’s meal for them.

About half way through our meal, a woman started interacting with everyone. She started playing a ukulele and singing island songs. The kids soon lined up, dancing and following her around the restaurant while she sang.

I highly recommend ‘Ohana for dinner. If you haven’t been there before, give it a try, I’m sure you will be pleasantly surprised! Contact your Magic Maker to add ‘Ohana to your Advanced Dining Reservations.

‘Ohana Dinner Menu
Starters
‘Ohana Welcome Bread
A pineapple coconut bread that is fresh and very good.

Mixed greens with a Honey-Lime Dressing
At first when I saw the salad, I thought to myself, “Couldn’t they put more in it than just greens?” But let me tell you, I was looking for more after I ate it. The Honey-Lime Dressing has to be one of the best salad dressings I’ve ever tasted. The salad definitely needed nothing else! I even searched online and found the recipe for it and now we can have a little of ‘Ohana at home!

Appetizers
Honey-Coriander Chicken Wings
Again, another all time favorite! These are now one of my favorite Chicken Wings. The key ingredient has to be the honey (honey in the salad dressing & in the wings’ sauce).

Pork Dumplings with Sweet and Sour Sauce
My family did care for these as much. The dumplings were a little hard and not anyhing to rave about. I tasted one and that was about it.

Grilled Meats
The meats are served with Peanut, Spicy Mustard, and Sweet ‘n’ Sour Sauces that were all very good. Each one had a unique flavor and a great compliment to any of the grilled meats or shrimp.

Asian Barbequed Pork Loin Skewers
Oak Grilled Turkey Skewers
Marinated Sirloin Steak Skewer
Marinated Shrimp (peel and eat)
Overall you can’t go wrong with any of the grilled items. You can try all of them or just a few and you can get as much as you like. The one that ranked number one with our family was definitely the Marinated Sirloin Steak. The Steak was cooked perfectly . . . slightly pink on the inside, flavorful, and not dry at all!

Lo mein Noodles, tossed in a Teriyaki sauce with fresh vegetables
These noodles were so fresh! Sometimes when you order Lo mein noodles out they taste like they were made hours ago. . . not these. They also have to be one of the best I’ve tasted.

Stir-fried Vegetables
These were ok. Nothing wowed us with them. They weren’t bad . . . they were just your standard side stir-fried vegetables.

Dessert
‘Ohana bread pudding served a la mode with Bananas and Caramel Sauce
They bring this also out family style. It was really good! However, my husband and I were the only ones that took a taste of it. I really wished we had saved room for this dessert because it ranked up there. But a taste was all we could pull off. So if you like desserts, don’t take that extra piece of grilled meat so you can eat a little more of this dessert.

Kid’s Options
Chicken Nuggets
Macaroni and Cheese
French Fries
Vanilla Ice Cream with Mickey Sprinkles

There is a full bar in ‘Ohana that offers select wines and tropical alcoholic drinks.
(Prices/Terms current as of 6/10/10)

Adults $29.99
Children (3-9) $14.99
or 1 Table Service Credit with any of the Disney Dining Plans

Prices, dining credits, and menu objects are subject to availability and may change at any time without notice. Prices and Dining Credits do not include alcoholic drinks, tax, or gratuity.