REVIEW! Capt. Cook’s Brings It — Pandemic Style — At Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort!
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort has no shortage of great places to eat! And with Tambu Lounge officially reopened, guests now have even more options when choosing where to eat at the Poly.
Capt. Cook’s
But this trip, we’re scoping out Capt. Cook’s — the resort’s resident quick-service option. This spot offers up standard burgers, breakfast fare (we see you, Tonga Toast!), flatbreads, late-night snacks, and more — as well as more unique island-inspired dishes! We already swung (ok, more like RAN) by when we noticed that Pulled Pork Nachos were back on their menu! We wondered what other surprises would be in store for us this time… .
Capt. Cook’s has been a reliable quick-service location for years. While we still miss the days of ALL YOU CAN FIT IN THE CUP Dole Whips at this location (we were known for some SERIOUSLY tall swirls in our day!), some classic favorites have stood the test of time. Best of all?
Snack offerings and kitchen
Before the closure, this was one of the few 24-hour locations on property (currently their hours are 7AM-10PM), and we expect those long hours to return someday! This meant guests could swing by any time day or night to refill their refillable resort mugs, order a quick bite, or eat enough of that Dole Whip to send them into a pineapple-induced dream-state right before bedtime!
Atmosphere
Much like the rest of the resort, Capt. Cook’s offers an island-themed escape from daily life. Just peek outside the windows and you’ll have a great view of the Polynesian’s Volcano Pool, especially the tiki-themed kids’ splash zone located just outside of Capt. Cook’s doors.
Pool Area at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
There is ample seating inside and outside at this location. This is especially important, given that many of the tables are now unavailable to facilitate social distancing.
Outdoor Seating
Here’s a shot of inside of Capt. Cook’s before the closures. Imagine this, just a bit more spaced out. 
Capt. Cook’s Interior PRE-closure
We, however, opted to bring our meal back to our room (a great perk for those staying at the Poly) to chow down!
Ordering
We used Mobile Order to choose our dishes and make our purchase before arriving. This contactless method of ordering food certainly makes dining easier in these days of #socialdistancing.
Capt. Cook’s Mobile Order Sign
This is the widely preferred method of ordering at quick-service locations around property, so be sure to have that phone ready to order before you arrive. You can pick your foods, place your order, pay, and, once you arrive, you’ll grab your food in no time!
Eats
Capt. Cook’s offers a varied menu! They have dishes that take inspiration from Polynesian flavors, but they also serve up loads of American staples. This makes it a great stop for broad and picky eaters, alike! (It’s a favorite for us after a long day at the parks. Chowing flatbread or Pulled Pork Nachos in your bed late at night is where it’s AT.) But keep in mind…this location has a VERY limited menu compared to what we’re used to seeing, so if you don’t spot a favorite, don’t panic — it may return with time!
Capt. Cook Menu
For today’s meal we stuck to the “Polynesian Favorites” and “Sides” portions of the menu.
Side Dishes Menu
First up for us was the Thai Coconut Meatballs for $9.49. These house-made, all-beef Chili-Garlic Meatballs are cooked in a Coconut Cream and served with White Rice. These have been on the menu for a while and are a reliably hearty and filling option.
Thai Coconut Meatballs
The meatballs were delicious. We especially enjoyed the creamy coconut flavor! If you’re heat averse, don’t let the idea of Thai meatballs scare you into thinking they could be spicy — these are incredibly mild. We received a heaping portion of steamed rice and three meatballs, but we would have preferred a LOT more of the sauce to go with it. The real reason to get these meatballs is that crazy good sauce, so we won’t judge if you lick the to-go box clean like we may or may not have done. 
Close up of Thai Coconut Meatballs
For our side dish, we opted for the ol’ classic… Macaroni & Cheese!
Macaroni & Cheese
Don’t let the humble cup o’ mac deter you…this dish took us totally by surprise! It was SO tasty and quite creamy! And when we added a little hot sauce to it?? *Chef’s Kiss* We also found this to be a generous portion. If you’re not super hungry, this could serve as a small meal on its own. We totally recommend this side dish at $4.99! We’re always up for some Disney World mac and we’re happy to say this did NOT disappoint.
Hankering for something sweet after your meal? While Dole Whip isn’t an option INSIDE Capt. Cook’s any longer, you can definitely get some of that Disney World staple at Pineapple Lanai just outside and around the corner.
Pineapple Lanai Dole Whip
And don’t forget that Capt. Cook’s often has yummy, themed cupcakes in its refrigerated section! Look for a Moana version that’s been around for quite some time now, or one of the Welcome Home Aloha cupcakes!
Aloha Cupcake
Nosh or Not
Reasons to say “Aloha” (as in, “hello”) to Capt. Cook’s
- Are you staying at the Poly? If so, this place is a treat. VERY convenient. If not, it’s a great spot for breakfast on the way to Magic Kingdom.
- Do you have a mix of picky and adventuresome eaters? There’s a little something on this menu for (just about) everybody!
- Are you in a hurry? This a great option for quality food if you don’t have a ton of time or are eating a bit later in the evening.
Reasons to say “Aloha” (as in, “goodbye”) to Capt. Cook’s
- Oh, you’re not staying at the Poly? Then this place is likely quite out of your way! Save yourself some time and eat somewhere more convenient.
- Got your heart set on a sit-down meal? Make sure you’re thinking about what you actually want out of your sit-down meal. If you’re looking to sit down, relax, and have a server bring you your food, this is not what you’re looking for.
- You don’t want to leave the parks? There are plenty of quick service and table service locations available in all four theme parks. If you’re trying to get in as many rides as possible, don’t leave the parks just to get a bite to eat.
Overall
We truly enjoyed our return to Capt. Cook’s. Our food was delicious and we were especially taken with our simple cup of Macaroni & Cheese (it’s a classic for a reason)! This is a nice little spot for guests staying at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. It is charmingly themed and offers unique dishes that fit right in with what we’ve come to expect from the Poly (seriously, the Pulled Pork Nachos are LIFE!). But despite the pared down menu, we were far from disappointed with this outing! We’re still anxiously awaiting word of when neighboring Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto will reopen so we have another excuse for some late-night bites at Capt. Cook’s. As if we needed an excuse!
Have you eaten at Captain Cook’s before? Tell us about it in the comment section.
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