Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

BREAKING: New Security Measures at Walt Disney World Hotels, “Do Not Disturb” Room Signs Being Removed

WDWNT on May 28, 2017

Beginning with the three monorail resorts near the Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World Resort Hotels will no longer provide guests with “Do Not Disturb” signs to put on their doors. The signs will be replaced with “Room Occupied” signs that will notify cast members that guests are in the rooms. However, these guests will be “disturbed” at some point, as it will now be required that a Disney employee enter their hotel room at least once a day to ensure guest safety.

If you choose to forgo housekeeping on a given day, the Disney terms of service state that “the hotel and its staff reserve the right to enter your room for any purposes including, but not limited to, performing maintenance and repairs or checking on the safety and security of guests and property.” Disney states that cast members will give reasonable notice prior to entering by knocking and announcing that they will enter.

The popular theory is that this is a response to the incident that happened in Vegas earlier this year. The monorail resorts are quite tall and offer similar vantage points of crowded guest areas, as well as Walt Disney World transportation such as monorails, buses, and watercraft. Disney is not publicly stating why they are making the change though.

Guests at the Grand Floridian, Polynesian, and Contemporary Resorts should find a paper in their rooms today noting the change. These changes are expected to roll out to other Walt Disney World Resort Hotels in the coming weeks.

RUMOR: Magic Kingdom Security to be Restructured, Screening for Most Moving to TTC and Resort Hotels

WDWNT on March 27, 2017

It seems as though Disney may be trying to create a better guest flow at the entrance of the Magic Kingdom by moving the security perimeter of the park further out.

If all goes according to rumored plans, guests parking at the Transportation and Ticket Center will go through security bag check and metal detectors after they exit the parking lot trams, but before the board any monorails or a ferryboat to the park. These guests will then be able to walk directly to the Magic Kingdom turnstiles (or touch points as the kids call them these days) once disembarking at the park’s monorail station or ferryboat dock.

Supposedly, this would lead to security screening areas being added at the various monorail platforms at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. Guests taking a bus or resort launch to the Magic Kingdom would still be screened just outside of the park at new checkpoints. Guests walking over from Disney’s Contemporary Resort on the small walkway between the hotel and the Magic Kingdom will also have their own checkpoint (which is already being done at select times of the day).

Disney has not yet made any comment about the changes, so they are simply in the realm of rumor for now. However, recent construction work being conducted at the Transportation and Ticket Center and at the Magic Kingdom park entrance are pointing towards the change. It is unknown when the changes would take place, if they ever do materialize.

What do you think? Would this be a positive change in your opinion?

Disney Introducing Monorail Resort Restaurant-Hopping Experience, “Highway in the Sky Dine Around”

WDWNT on November 29, 2016

Walt Disney World has just announced a new dinner experience that will involve monorail hotel hopping and much more around the “Monorail Resorts” near the Magic Kingdom:

Join us for a progressive dinner unlike any other—with sumptuous offerings at 3 Disney Resort hotels.

Your Dine Around adventure begins at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, where you’ll check in at The Wave… of American Flavors restaurant. Relax and mingle with your fellow diners, enjoying a welcoming appetizer and specialty cocktail before setting off on your epicurean odyssey. Bon voyage and bon appétit!

First stop: Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort—where you’ll feel as if you’ve arrived in a far-flung tropical paradise. Celebrate the spirit of the South Pacific and luxuriate in the charm of this exotic retreat, with an enticing variety of island-inspired libations and appetizers.

Then it’s time for a change of scene and cuisine—as the monorail transports you a world away: to the opulent Victorian-style Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. Step inside and step back into a bygone era of elegance and gracious hospitality. You’ll be escorted to the award-winning Cítricos restaurant where we invite you to settle in amid the refined ambience as you’re treated to a special Chef’s main course selection. Afterward, gather in the splendidly appointed lobby to sip champagne and savor a selection of artisanal cheeses.

Board the monorail once more to return to Disney’s Contemporary Resort for the culmination of your evening. Here, you and your Dine Around companions will retire to a private patio to enjoy an indulgent assortment of desserts, cordials and coffee. From this exclusive location, watch in wonder as the Wishes nighttime spectacular fireworks light up the night over Cinderella Castle—a musical, magical grand finale to your one-of-a-kind dining adventure.

-Price: $150 per person plus tax; gratuity included.
-The Highway in the Sky Dine Around is offered select Tuesday, Friday and Saturday evenings.
-Reservations must be canceled at least 24 hours in advance to avoid forfeiting the full price of the experience.
-Check-in takes place at The Wave… of American Flavors at Disney’s Contemporary Resort at the time of your reservation. Please arrive 15 minutes ahead of check-in time.
-Guests must be 21 years of age or older to consume alcoholic beverages. A valid form of government identification will be required to verify your age.
-Please alert the host at check-in regarding food allergies. Wherever possible, alternative dining selections will be offered.
-Disney dining plan entitlements may not be redeemed for this event.
-Discounts and promotions are not valid for this event.

Dining experience is subject to change; fireworks experience is subject to change or cancellation without notice.

The event is bering offered starting December 2nd, 2016 and is being offered on Fridays, Saturdays, and Tuesdays starting at 6:45pm through March. It can be booked online here. The event will close the 4th floor patio at the Contemporary to other guests on those evenings.

Polynesian Village Resort Now Offering Paid “Pool Cabana” Rentals

WDWNT on November 18, 2016

Guests staying at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort can now reserve the Oasis Pool patio shade structures (kind of like a cabana) for a half or full day starting November 13th.

Oasis Pool shade structures at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

They will be able to be reserved for $25 for a half day or $40 for a full day. Reservations can be made by calling the reservations center, DVC member services, or through a la carte at the resort concierge.

The rental simply includes the rental of the space with no additional amenities included. The shade structures were previously open for all guest use on a first come, first serve basis.

PHOTO REPORT: Magic Kingdom 10/29/16 (Haunted Mansion, Tomorrowland Entrance Done, ETC.)

WDWNT on October 31, 2016

Our latest photo report brings us to the Magic Kingdom, as Halloween fades into Christmas… even though it isn’t even Halloween yet.

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

The lamp from the rooms at the Polynesian is for sale again, JUST $300!!! (He says as he already owns one…)

Moana Mercantile has fittingly been taken over by Moana merchandise.

The Reyn Spooner Moana shirt retails for $118.00, but it’s pretty snazzy.

Welcome to the Magic Kingdom

Christmas and Halloween are fighting for the last few days of October.

Signage for Celebrate the Magic on Main Street will need to be changed as the show is departing on November 3rd.

Tomorrowland Rocks

The painting of the rocks at the entrance to Tomorrowland is finally complete.

Stitch’s Great Escape is closed seasonally through later this month, so for now it is stroller parking…

This and That

A new Dumbo MagicBand can be found in shops around the parks.

Moana phone cases are now available through D-Tech on Demand at the Tomorrowland Light and Power Company.

You can still make a Main Street Electrical Parade MagicBand, even though it is gone now.

The banners taken down for Hurricane Matthew in Storybook Circus are coming back very slowly. Part of that is Disney is also installing new ones currently since the old set was faded from the sun.

There are still Halloween Parties left, but Disney is selling the merchandise any old time now. Kind of frustrating for those who attended, they should at least wait until all of the Parties have happened.

I did find some new ladies shirts inside Big Top Souvenirs as well.

Columbia Harbor House now has a shrimp macaroni and cheese dish.

Yum?

TheÂ HauntedÂ Mansion

Most of the tarps are finally down at the Haunted Mansion.

The attraction exit is missing an awning right now.

The interactive queue is missing a covering as well.

Mousecellaneous

The pot roast and the Pilgrims’ Feast are gone from Liberty Tree Tavern, check out our lunch review for all of the info.

New “it’s a small world” pin, and the clock face actually moves on it which is pretty cool.

Halloween Party exclusive pins readily available on a non-party day.

The refurbishment of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad rolls on…

It was particularly busy on Wednesday, this was the FastPass line for Pirates of the Caribbean.

After seeing this line, Evinrude the dragonfly flew as far away as he could.

The Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse is back from its lengthy refurbishment and it is looking fantastic.

The only thing that seemed new to me was the no-slip flooring on the upper levels. I could be wrong, this sin’t an attraction I do very often.

OK, I think it is time to abolish the bays at Cosmic Rays when most of them are the same.

The BB-8 Souvenir Cup can now be found here as well.

The grilled chicken club is new to the menu.

The Electrical Parade shirts are still around (in select sizes).

There is an awful amount of construction happening down by the Magic Kingdom Ferry Dock.

Looks like a new queue area is being made.

VIDEO: Disney Springs Opens to Guests During Hurricane; Polynesian Guests Go Swimming

WDWNT on October 14, 2016

With Disney Springs opening in limited capacity at 5pm, I decided it might be kind of cool to drive on down to Disney World and see exactly what was going on during the final gusts and rain drops of Hurricane Matthew here in Orlando.

We began our evening at Disney Springs, where despite inclement weather, many guests began to show up as establishments opened at 5pm.

Meanwhile at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, guests make due by going swimming and peering across the lagoon at a shuttered Magic Kingdom:

REVIEW: Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto Introduces Some Much Needed New Menu Items

WDWNT on October 5, 2016

While many of us love Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, but it would be hard to deny that the food menu at the Florida location has just never quite lived up to the delicious meals offered at the California counterpart. Well, the “east coast family tree” has introduced 3 new items this week which may change your mind about dining with your drinks at the Grog Grotto or exterior Tiki Terrace bar and lounge.

Thai Chicken Flatbread ($12.00)

This is a thai chicken flatbread with a peanut sauce and bacon and tomato. This is particularly unique and as delicious as it is a strange offering. You wouldn’t necessarily think that a peanut sauce on a flatbread with cheese is a good idea, but this dish really pulls it off. This might be my new favorite dish at Trader Sam’s.

Sticky Wings ($10.00)

The world’s most ubiquitous bar food, wings have finally arrived at Grog Grotto and Tiki Terrace. These wings are the very same that you will find around the resort’s other eateries, and that’s not a bad thing. This is what the Polynesian is known for, so you should be able to get them throughout the resort.

Sticky Wings ($10.00)

Wonton Chips with Duck Sauce ($3.48)

For $3.50, this is a pretty good deal. The fried wonton chips (known by some as “Poly Chips”) go well with the accompanying duck sauce and are a good size bar snack, something not really offered on the prior Trader Sam’s menu.

Overall

I love these additions to Trader Sam’s. I love the drink menu here so much, but the food menu was always missing a better variety of items that aren’t sushi or a rather dry taco. These new items in addition to what is already offered make an evening at Trader Sam’s, for both food and drink, a more viable option.

REVIEW: New Dishes at Captain Cook’s at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

WDWNT on August 18, 2016

Captain Cook’s at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort recently underwent some menu changes, so we decided to head on over last night and check it out for ourselves.

New Menu at Captain Cook’s

Sandwiches and Grill Menu From Captain Cooks

Polynesian Favorites Menu from Captain Cook’s

New, but not in this review is the seared chicken breast.

Flatbread, Salad and Soup Menu

Fish Tacos ($9.29)

Before you even say anything, yes, we should have got the chips as a side but someone forgot to ask… anyway, these were surprisingly good. The two tacos are of a good size and heavily doused in the chipotle lime cream, which is a good thing. Everything about these was fresh and delicious, well, except for the awful Disney counter service fries which we should have not ordered.

Fish Tacos ($9.29)

Pork Fried Rice ($8.99)

A good price for a lot of food. The pork was very well prepared and very tender, the rice however was a little overdone but still tasted fine. This is a really good option, but I saw another reviewer call this their favorite quick service item at Walt Disney World, which to me seems like a bit much. It’s solid overall, not great though.

Pork Fried Rice ($8.99)

Pan Asian Noodles and Vegetables with Shrimp ($10.99)

If you enjoy the delicious noodles upstairs at Ohana, this may be a good substitute for when you can’t go there. You can chose to add shrimp or chicken for an added charge, we chose shrimp. Overall it was a very good and a nice sized portion.

Curried Seafood Stew ($13.99)

This was a weird dish, but I ended up eating all of it so I think I enjoyed it. There is a fair amount of seafood in here for a counter service dish, and the rice gets thoroughly soaked in the curry sauce which has a really good flavor to it which is not very spicy. While I would have enjoyed more spice, the dish was good as is and likely something I would order again.

Overall, these are great additions to the menu which are all solid options and fit the theme of the hotel nicely. Unique offerings are always a plus and these are very unique options for an already stellar counter service restaurant.

OVERALL SCORE FOR CAPTAIN COOK’S – 6.5 OUT OF 7

Tom Corless’ 6/16/15 WDW Photo Report (Disney Springs, New Polynesian Merchandise, ETC.)

WDWNT on December 7, 2015

I visited Disney Springs/Downtown Disney, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios this week and took a ton of newsworthy photos to share, so let’s take a look:

Work continues on the Town Center in Disney Springs

The new pedestrian bridge is nearing completion

Some new concept art can be found as you arrive from the parking garage

Time is running out for the old globe

Artwork of what the new Planet Hollywood will look like

Portions of Paradiso 37 are being remodeled

Jock Lindsay’s Hangar Bar is coming along nicely

Vivoli Il Gelato is now open in Disney Springs

Inside Out Tsum Tsums are now available at Once Upon a Toy

There’s also plenty of other Inside Out items

Not sure how new these are, they are called “Snuggle Snappers”

There are now Once Upon a Time phone cases available at D-Tech on Demand

Also, new Star Wars designs

The Sign Shoppe in Marketplace Co-Op also has some interesting new items

The Wonderground Gallery has some really fantastic items

The expansion of the World of Disney Store is moving full steam ahead

New ceramic mugs have been released at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

There’s also a new window display between Captain Cook’s and BouTiki

If you wanted your MagicBand to be a watch, your wish has been granted in MagicSlider form

The launch screen at Rock’N’Roller Coaster starring Aerosmith was replaced

There are some new graphics guests will see before they launch into the ride

Dirk Wallen’s 3/20/15 WDW Photo Report (Polynesian Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Disney Springs, ETC.)

WDWNT on April 13, 2015

WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen was all over the Walt Disney World Resort this week and has a ton of newsworthy photos to share with us, so let’s take a look at what’s new and exciting:

Starting at the Polynesian, the right side of the entrance is out from behind walls and looking good

The pool area is nearing completion also

Moving to the Magic Kingdom, work on the center of the hub is picking up speed

New planters await railings

The old Rose Garden is now being demolished as part of the hub expansion

The final remnants of the Plaza Swan Boats are being erased

Moving over to the Studios, walls are up around the former site of the Sorcerer’s Hat, at least through late-April

Strange to see this sight again, but if Echo Lake is demolished, it won’t be a sight for long

Over at Epcot, work continues on the mysterious “colorful” new Innoventions exhibit

Meanwhile, there is no visible progress on the Frozen attraction

Moving to Disney Springs, the Marketplace Co-Op has these Adventurer’s Club signs back in stock

These photos were taken just before the first pedestrian bridge was installed yesterday

The Town Center will rise upon this site over the next 12-14 months

One large structure is already rising

The small park area in front of Planet Hollywood and the Orange Garage entrance is nearing completion

New planters being installed outside Harley Davidson

No visible progress on STK Orlando, the supposed replacement for the BET Soundstage

The Hangar restaurant is now completely sealed, but still no announcement from Disney

The new Margarita Bar and pier in the Marketplace is coming along nicely

The BOATHOUSE, as seen from the Village Causeway

Still to early to tell, but this looks like one fo the facades that will hide the second parking garage from view

A lot of work still to be done on Morimoto Asia

Meanwhile, flags have gone up outside of the BOATHOUSE, leading us to believe it is nearing completion

Work on the dock is wrapping up

Another look at the Hangar Restaurant, whatever it might be…

Tag: Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

BREAKING: New Security Measures at Walt Disney World Hotels, “Do Not Disturb” Room Signs Being Removed

RUMOR: Magic Kingdom Security to be Restructured, Screening for Most Moving to TTC and Resort Hotels

Disney Introducing Monorail Resort Restaurant-Hopping Experience, “Highway in the Sky Dine Around”

Polynesian Village Resort Now Offering Paid “Pool Cabana” Rentals

PHOTO REPORT: Magic Kingdom 10/29/16 (Haunted Mansion, Tomorrowland Entrance Done, ETC.)

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

Welcome to the Magic Kingdom

Tomorrowland Rocks

This and That

TheÂ HauntedÂ Mansion

Mousecellaneous

VIDEO: Disney Springs Opens to Guests During Hurricane; Polynesian Guests Go Swimming

REVIEW: Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto Introduces Some Much Needed New Menu Items

Thai Chicken Flatbread ($12.00)

Sticky Wings ($10.00)

Wonton Chips with Duck Sauce ($3.48)

Overall

REVIEW: New Dishes at Captain Cook’s at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

New Menu at Captain Cook’s

Fish Tacos ($9.29)

Pork Fried Rice ($8.99)

Pan Asian Noodles and Vegetables with Shrimp ($10.99)

Curried Seafood Stew ($13.99)

Tom Corless’ 6/16/15 WDW Photo Report (Disney Springs, New Polynesian Merchandise, ETC.)

Dirk Wallen’s 3/20/15 WDW Photo Report (Polynesian Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Disney Springs, ETC.)

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