Captain Cook’s Review at Disney’s Polynesian
Aloha! If you plan to visit Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, you might want to get familiar with the resort’s primary counter-service restaurant, Capt. Cook’s. This popular restaurant is open daily from 7:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m. They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This review discusses the menu, what to expect, and a few items we’ve tried during our stays.
Captain Cook’s sits off the lower level of the Great Ceremonial House, the resort’s main building, home to a two-story lobby. It’s right around the corner from Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto. Captain Cook’s has two dining rooms, a refillable beverage area, and a selection of grab-and-go items. Tables are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Additional seating is available outside on the terrace.
Captain Cook’s has tropical vintage decor. Posters line the restaurant’s walls, representing the Polynesian islands.
We prefer to dine outside when the weather is pleasant.
Captain Cook’s accepts mobile orders via the My Disney Experience app. We have a separate review that shares some of the things we’ve mobile-ordered from this location.
These days, we almost always mobile order when we dine here. Captain Cook’s is a popular quick-service restaurant and almost always has a long line. So when mobile ordering, you might browse one of the nearby gift shops or get a table while you wait for your food instead of standing in line.
Captain Cook’s has a separate breakfast menu. However, the lunch and dinner menus remain the same. Tonga Toast is one of the Polynesian’s signature breakfast items. It’s also available upstairs at Kona Cafe. Per the menu, it’s a banana-stuffed sourdough bread, battered, deep-fried, and dusted with cinnamon sugar. You can preview the entire menu with prices on Disney’s site.
For lunch and dinner, we see the following American entrees:
- 1/3 lb Angus Bacon Cheeseburger
- Chicken Strips
- Roasted Red Pepper and Arugula Burger (Plant-Based)
- Aloha Pork Sandwich
Polynesian Favorites include:
- Thai Coconut Meatballs
- Pulled Pork Nachos
- Pan-Asian Noodles and Vegetables
Salads and More:
- Superfoods Salad
Kids’ Meals include:
- Cheeseburger
- Chicken Strips
- Turkey Sandwich
- PB&J Uncrustables
- Macaroni and Cheese
I tried the plant-based roasted red pepper and arugula burger a while back. The menu describes this item as a plant-based burger topped with roasted red peppers, arugula, and tomato jam served on a brioche bun.
This vegan burger came with a side of French fries. But if Poly chips are available, I would go that route. They are house-made chips mixed with wontons. All of Disney’s house-made chips are delicious. As for the burger, I thought it was an excellent offering and enjoyed the toppings.
I’ve also had the Thai coconut meatballs. They are described as house-made all-beef chili-garlic meatballs cooked in coconut cream served over white rice. To my surprise, I enjoyed this dish. I had tried them over a decade ago and didn’t care for them. Yes, they are a staple menu item and have been on the menu for a long time. I would order these again in the future.
On a club-level stay at the Polynesian, I stopped in at Captain Cook’s and picked up the superfoods salad. It’s described as kale and cabbage tossed with quinoa, edamame, walnuts, grapes, blueberries, and Mandarin oranges served with apple cider vinaigrette. I was impressed with this salad and will order it again. It was fresh and filling, which is sometimes the exact kind of meal you need after a long morning in the parks.
Unfortunately, I haven’t tried the pulled pork nachos, but they tend to get rave reviews. Like the meatballs, these items have been on Captain Cook’s menu for quite some time.
In addition to made-to-order menu items, Captain Cook’s has a significant number of grab-and-go items. Here is a list of the types of beverages you can usually find in the refrigerated section:
- Juice (Many Kinds)
- Sports Drinks
- Energy Drinks
- Bottled Water (Dasani, Smart Water)
- Milk
- Juice Boxes*
*Juice boxes are options for kids’ meals, but can be purchased separately.
Another cooler has pre-made salads, veggie trays, fruit trays, yogurt, and other items. Nearby, you’ll find a pastry case filled with bagels, cookies, muffins, cupcakes, danishes, donuts, and brownies. Other items include bags of chips, oatmeal, candy, cereal, breakfast bars, and other items. Lastly, a freezer case with novelty treats sits near the register. Here are a few photos.
Other grab-and-go items are available at Moana Mercantile, the resort’s sundry shop on the second floor of the Great Ceremonial House. Additionally, Captain Cook’s is the location to purchase a resort refillable mug. They are good at any resort’s self-service beverage location for the length of your stay. You can use them to refill soda, coffee, and tea. If you need to rinse your mug, you’ll find a sink next to one of the beverage refill stations. We have a separate overview of drink options and beverage stations locations for refillable mugs at Disney’s Polynesian.
Lastly, I wanted to mention that a microwave is available in one of the dining rooms at Capt. Cook’s, should you need one during your vacation.
How to Get to Capt. Cook’s
If you’re visiting Walt Disney World but not staying at the Polynesian, there are several ways to get to Capt. Cook’s. Most will want to take transportation to the Magic Kingdom. You can take the resort monorail or boat service from Magic Kingdom to the Polynesian. Those coming from another resort area might do best to take a bus to the Magic Kingdom and then a monorail or boat to the Polynesian. If you’re leaving one of the three other parks or Disney Springs, take a bus or monorail from that destination to the Polynesian.
Final Thoughts
Overall, we hope this review of Capt. Cook’s was beneficial to your vacation planning. This restaurant is a fun stop for day guests visiting the resorts and a necessity for anyone staying here. For more on dining at this resort, see our Polynesian Restaurant Guide. For more reviews, I file them all under our list of Disney World Restaurant Reviews.
In the Comments
Have you visited Capt. Cook’s before? Do you have a favorite item on its long-standing menu? What items do you think you would enjoy? Share your thoughts below in the comments. We would love to hear from you!
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