Pineapple Lanai: Its Just There.....

So Captain Cooks removed the Dole Whip from their restaurant. I am crying as I type this. Disney decides to instead open up a small little ice cream parlor that not only negates the 24-hour access that we used to have, but also limits it to the hours of noon until post-Wishes time. More tears. The Pineapple Lanai is located on the outside end of the resort across from the—








--never mind.



Either way, this place was built to take advantage of the nice view of the firewo----











----never mind.






Not even sure why this was built. Not even sure why it was unveiled this year as the rest of the place remained under construction. I guess Disney wants a few extra bucks. And then the next question would be why such a small menu? Why not even offer a different type of juice? Why not even sell the pineapple juice? Why only sell bottled water as a drink? I feel like there are many missed opportunities here. There is definitely space to expand this menu, there is space to make this place something really outstanding. In a Disney World that features a small ice cream parlor that happens to pack some of the best ice cream in Central Florida as well as the top burger on property, it feels rather cop-outish of them to just have the Dole Whip, the float, and the souvenir cup.



Of course, the Dole Whip float is still a work of art, as the mix of fresh pineapple juice and Dole Whip ice cream is enough to make anybody sing no matter how bad the day goes. Don’t get me wrong, the smiling cast members and great dessert is enough to justify its price. But it still feels a bit off to take away one of Disney’s greatest gifts to the world (24 HOUR DOLE WHIP SUCKA!) and condense it to a small ice cream parlor that offers two flavors and stays open barely half a day.




Bottom Line: I mean, the classic is still here….it just could have been much more. There’s not much more to say simply because this place doesn’t have much to offer to begin with. Hopefully down the road the place will offer a more diverse menu. Until this, it’s a lot of coulda’ shoulda’ woulda’.

Final Verdict: Slightly Recommend (Moreso In 2015 when the Polynesian Resort open again)



Pineapple Lanai
Disney’s Polynesian Resort
Lake Buena Vista, Fl

New Captain Cooks: Still a Gem, Even if its Missing Some Pieces

So the Polynesian Resort is undergoing major, major changes to continue being one of the top resort destinations in Disney property. Sadly this resulted in the closing of my favorite quick-service location and one of the better Disney cuisine secrets. I reviewed this place years ago and to this day remains one of the best places to eat in Tourist Country. I missed the massive salads, the laid-back ambiance, not-so-hellish prices, and of course the self-service Dole Whip ice cream machine. After an extended closing, Disney shuts off the main pool of the Polynesian but in exchange re-opens the restaurant.

Now of course I have to re-visit and see just how much it has (and has not changed). The place looks very similar, they didn’t really add or subtract any tables. There are a couple new posters in one of the rooms to continue the South Pacific theming of the beloved hotel. Gone are the WaWas-like computers that allows you to place your order without telling a cast member. This time there is a cast member in the corner waiting for you to decide what you want to eat. I guess there were too many mix-ups. But Captain Cooks is indeed back in business, still looks great, and I am sure will look even better when its not surrounded by fake walls.

The menu has definitely expanded. You have most of the favorites plus some new ones like lobster rolls and chicken and waffles (…still without gravy…Disney…why do you keep doing this?). It looks like the guests wanted a menu with a few more….American options. The prices have remainded consistent, there’s just a lot more food to choose from and unlike in the past you can actually alter the food items themselves. Nonetheless, I went with the aloha pork sandwich and the turkey sandwich---with the incredibly addicting Polynesian chips that I love.

The aloha pork sandwich is pulled pork with Asian slaw, cheese, and a few other goodies. Although the chips were as good as ever, the sandwich isn’t wasn’t exactly a work of art. I miss some of their other sandwiches of the past—there was a very good one before with multi-grain bread and turkey and bacon. However Captain Cooks still owns the greatest quick-service sandwich on property, with their insanely delicious and filling turkey sandwich with arugula, goat cheese and walnut pesto. This sandwich is thick, is hearty, fresh, and hits all the right spots with the slight saltiness of the turkey with the creamy and cool mix of cheese and pesto.

The one tragedy that has befallen Captain Cooks is the lack of the Dole Whip machine. I am not sure how long it will take before I am officially over this, but 3 a.m. dole whip runs are a thing of the past. For whatever reason, the Polynesian Resort decided to open up a new spot to sell the ice cream, but I will reserve that for another review. Terrible decision aside, Captain Cooks isn’t exactly altered heavily, which isn’t a bad thing, for its still among the best quick-service eateries in all of Disney World if not the best (Sunshine Seasons of Epcot is good competition).

Bottom Line: Captain Cooks is still a gem, still a great secret for locals and cast members, and still a good eatery for those avoiding the theme park lines and hassle. The menu got bigger, the ambiance remains laid-back and tropical, and the service is as a Disney quality as you can get. This is the perfect place to go for when you can’t make it to the amazing Ohanas upstairs. As long as you live within the Tourist Country borders, this place deserves at least a good visit----and moreso when the Polynesian Resort finally finishes its heavy construction.


Final Verdict: Recommend




Captain Cooks
Disney’s Polynesian Resort
Lake Buena Vista, Fl