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Tag: Kona Cafe

A Hot Spot for Great Coffee in Disney World: A Tip From the DFB Guide

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We continue to celebrate our new e-Book — The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining — with fun info from the book! To give you an idea of what you’ll be getting, here’s another helpful tip from the e-Book!

Kona Island Coffee Bar at Polynesian Resort

As many of you know, it can be difficult to find a great cup of joe in Walt Disney World. Oh, sure, there’s plenty of that Nescafe instant stuff to wake you up. Yet, for those guests that want more than a morning jolt from their mug of coffee, you’ll have to arm yourself with a treasure map (or a copy of our e-Book!).

For travelers staying at the Polynesian Resort, you have two locations for a great cup of coffee. Try the Kona Cafe and/or the Kona Island Coffee Bar next door! Guests visiting the Magic Kingdom can easily stop at the Polynesian to grab a cup to go. The coffee bar is located just inside the doors on the second floor — just steps from the monorail!

The Kona Blend used by these locations is grown in Hawaii and is served regular and decaf, and you can order a Regular or Grande size. (We recommend the Grande since it’ll be a while before your next good cup of coffee.)

Read more about the Kona Cafe plus 2 more pages full of information on great coffee hot spots in Walt Disney World!

Find it all here in the The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining!

What are your favorite hot spots for coffee in WDW? Let us know in the comments below!

Review: Kona Cafe

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Learn About:Kona Cafe
Polynesian Resort
Disney World Restaurants

We escaped to the Kona Cafe after a madhouse morning in the Magic Kingdom on a recent Disney World visit, and I immediately knew how I was going to frame Kona for this review — it is, indeed, an escape from the hectic theme parks. Located in the Polynesian Resort — a resort located on the Monorail loop — it’s very easy to get to from the Magic Kingdom and Epcot.

As a sister to the Polynesian’s more popular restaurant, ‘Ohana, many folks only try Kona Cafe as a last resort — which means those of us who know better get first crack at it!

This unassuming restaurant is actually a den of cult favorite menu items for many Disney World veterans. Home of Tonga Toast, the Big Kahuna, the Kona Kone, and some of the best steaks on property, Kona Cafe is a frequented and beloved staple for many Disney guests.

Kona Cafe

Atmosphere

Located in the Polynesian Resort‘s Great Ceremonial House, Kona Cafe is to the left of the entrance doors on the second floor of the lobby.

Kona Cafe Dining Room

Open to the lobby, the restaurant has the general feel of any ho-hum hotel restaurant, but you might find a few interesting shapes in the bright floral [Read more…]

2010 DFB Choice Award Winners

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Around here, we believe there’s no better restaurant recommendation than the one we get from another Disney fan. So, in our quest to provide the very best information about Disney restaurants, we’ve created the DFB Choice Awards!

Over 500 readers sent in their nominations, and thousands have voted for the top nominees to create this list of [Read more…]

What Disney Foods Do YOU Crave?

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Well, I’ve been home from Walt Disney World for two weeks now, and I’m already craving some dishes and snacks I know I’m going to have on my next trip (um…Karamell Kuche, anyone?).

So, a while back, I asked over on the Disney Food Blog Facebook Page: What Disney Dish Are You Craving Today? I got some fantastic answers! Let’s take a trip down a delicious road of favorite dishes and menu items in Walt Disney World… (Note: You’ll see some sad news about the Jiko Filet with Mac and Cheese about halfway down the page. I’m just warning you.)

A Few of the Classics…

With all the changes in Disney World’s menus lately, it’s nice to know these favorites have been around for a good long time:

Fried Chicken at 50’s Prime Time Cafe
This classic, simple dish has been on the menu at 50’s Prime Time Cafe in Disney’s Hollywood Studios for ages, and we’re glad it’s not going away!

Fried Chicken at 50's Prime Time Cafe

‘Ohana
Folks wrote about loving the wings appetizer and the dessert — that fabulous Bananas Foster Bread Pudding — at [Read more…]

Kona Cafe Menu Changes “Imminent”

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We’ll be reporting on lots of menu changes this week! These are brought to us by Disney Every Day‘s Amanda Tinney, who recently visited Disney’s Polynesian Resort’s Kona Cafe.

The Classic Kona Cone Isn't Going Anywhere

Hiya Disney Foodie Fans! Sometimes chatting up your server at a Walt Disney World Restaurant will elicit golden nuggets of information that you can share with your fellow Disneyphile Friends. This week, my daughter and I were having dinner at Kona Cafe in the Polynesian Resort. Sushi, of course…followed up with some dessert. My daughter ordered the “most requested” dessert at the Kona Cafe, the Kona Kone! I opted for the “healthier” choice and ordered the Chocolate Fondue.

My Chocolate Fondue with macaroons, lace cookies, pineapple, strawberries and kiwi

I noticed that our server had a “10 Years of Service” Pin on her name badge and started chatting with her. It was around 5:30 pm when we were first seated and the restaurant was only about half full, so our server had time to talk. I told her that I had tried to make an ADR for the evening and was told by Disney Dining that the Cafe was completely booked until 9:00 pm. From the looks of it…some people had failed to show up for their ADR. Our server told us that it is normal for 45 to 50% of ADR’s to be “no-shows” on any given day!!! Proof that sometimes a “walk-up” is the only way to go.

Our server went on to tell us that there were going to be some changes coming soon to the Kona Cafe Dinner Menu. One change that has already been made involves [Read more…]

Five Great Underrated Steaks in Disney World

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A couple of weeks ago, I highlighted my top steaks in Disney World. And today it’s time to spotlight my favorite lesser-known slabs of beef!

When you think about great steaks in Disney World, your mind goes to the big three: Le Cellier Steakhouse, Yachtsman Steakhouse, and Shula’s Steak House. If you’re a bit more studied in steak, you might also think of the great offering over at Flying Fish, or even the incredible Mac-and-Cheese festooned beef at Jiko.

But, with steak being one of my favorite meals in Disney World, I’ve been lucky enough to find a few more delicious options in my travels…

Teppan Edo

Teppan Edo

, the Teppanyaki restaurant in Epcot’s Japan pavilion, has steak on the menu and believe me when I say it is some of the best steak I’ve ever had in Disney World. Maybe it’s the flavors of the other items being cooked on the hibachi grill, maybe it’s the buttery goodness of the cooking ingredients, maybe it’s the fact that I’m eating with chopsticks. I have no idea why, but it’s delectable.

Teppan Edo Steak and Noodles with Vegetables

Kouzzina

That’s right! Disney’s newest (and only) Greek restaurant has a mouth-watering steak on the menu! Kouzzina‘s Wood-grilled Flank Steak with Kouzzina Potatoes is [Read more…]

“The Best Thing I Ever Ate in Disney!” Entrees

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Here’s the next post in our series based on the Food Network’s (very cool) show, The Best Thing I Ever Ate. As many of you know, due to some keen suggestions from readers we’re splitting our series up into different sections: breakfast, appetizers & side dishes, snacks & drinks, entrees (lunch & dinner), and desserts.

Today, we’re taking a look at entrees! I’ve done my favorite brand of informal polling (i.e. posted questions on twitter and facebook 😉 ) to find out others’ experiences of the “Best Thing They Ever Ate” in Disney parks and resorts.

The following are the answers received from our readers about their favorite main courses and entrees! If your favorites aren’t here, please add them in the comments section below!

Steaks

It’s no secret that Disney World does steak well. You’ve seen my votes for Five Best Steaks in Disney World, and a lot of these made the list in our poll as well! Here are the top contenders according to our facebook and twitter readers:

Mushroom Filet Mignon with White Truffle Butter Sauce and Micro Chevril.

Le Cellier:

  • BBQ Filet Mignon: This steak, recently pulled from the menu, was the restaurant’s signature filet served with cream cheese mashed potatoes and doused in barbecue sauce.
  • Filet Mignon with Mushroom Risotto: The current incarnation of the filet is this version. Situated on a bed of delicious mushroom risotto and covered in a white truffle-herb [Read more…]

The Most Popular Disney World Restaurants (And Alternatives When They’re Full)

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Chef Donald

You guys remember when we covered the Top Ten Disney Dining Tips, right? Overwhelmingly, the tip that was mentioned the most by Disney Food Blog readers was making Advanced Dining Reservations for high priority meals at Disney parks and resorts.

While this might be obvious to many, not everyone knows which Disney restaurants fill up the fastest when it comes to reservations. Having a little frame of reference on this might be extremely helpful as you’re planning your Disney dining and trying to determine what meals are high priority for you. So, I’ve prepared a little primer on which Disney restaurants are the toughest to book, along with great alternatives if you don’t happen to get your favorites!:

1. Le Cellier

Le Cellier Steakhouse

has been, for years, one of the toughest tickets in Disney World for both lunch and dinner. Seriously, I have heard Le Cellier cast members mention more than once that they’re continuously booked up for lunch and dinner 6 months in advance, with walk-up reservations rarely an option. In my opinion, this is due to three things: [Read more…]

Disney Food Post Round-Up: June 13, 2010

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Wow! Lots of Disney food news popping up this week! Here are few of our favorite stories:

Also, I want to remind you to check out two new Disney Food Blog additions:

  • Our Disney Food Blog newsletter is ready to go — sign up here to have fun Disney Food news, info, tips, and photos to be delivered to your inbox straight from DBF headquarters!
  • The Disney Food Blog Photo Extravaganza flickr group is up and running! If you’re a flickr member, come join us and add your pics to the pool!

And now — on to the round-up!

Laura and Jeanine’s Salute to All things Disney but Mostly Disneyland has a great look at some of the World of Color picnic options.

Touring Plans Blog has an awesome post about dining in Disney with special diet needs.

The Disney Chick makes sweet bread from Kona Cafe in Disney’s Polynesian Resort!

The “World” According to Jack takes us to Tokyo Disneyland’s Club 33!!! It KILLS me that there are no food pics in this post, Jack. 😉

Zannaland has her interview of Raglan Road’s Chef Kevin Dundon up this week!

Disney Every Day reviews Disney World’s House of Blues! Yum!

Main St Gazette heads to the Studio Catering Company in Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

DF ’82 shares the menu from Hakuna Matata counter-service restaurant in Disneyland Paris. Frites Hakuna, anyone?

Chip and Co features their favorite Quick Service locations in Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Disney Parks Blog showcases the opening of Disney California Adventure’s Wine Country Trattoria.

Also, check out a couple of guest blog posts I did this week (about Disney Food, of course!). Thanks to Anna and Grey for their hospitality:

Cookie Madness allowed me to showcase my amateur baking skills on this Artist Point Berry Cobbler!

Solo Friendly let me create an itinerary for my dream day traveling solo to the Epcot Food and Wine Festival!

Finally, I know it’s NOT Disney, but…it’s cool…

Scott Joseph Orlando reviews The Three Broomsticks in Universal Orlando’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Disney Food Post Round-Up: February 14, 2010

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Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Wow! What a week! Two days at Disney World can be exhausting! Here are a few links to some news and info reports from the World this week:

Stay tuned for more stories this week from my trip to Disney World! Now, on to the round-up!

Disney Geek reports that corn dogs are on the menu at Disneyland’s Stage Door Cafe while the Corn Dog Castle is closed for refurb through 2011.

@Marcomboy, via twitter, shared some Valentine’s Day Desserts at Disneyland’s Storytellers Cafe. In the photo: Red Velvet Mini cupcake, Snickers cheesecake, and flourless chocolate cake. Also available are a heart-shaped chocolate raspberry tart and a heart shaped strawberry mousse.

cheshireDisney Family.com has some great Alice in Wonderland ideas! Check out these edible teacups, this smiling Cheshire Cat cupcake, and this cool make-it-yourself Alice cupcake topper!

The Red Carpet takes us along with her as she dines at Disneyland’s Club 33!

Main Street Gazette shares a memory of an extinct restaurant, the Polynesian’s Papeete Bay Verandah, along with one of its lost recipes: Chicken Toa Nue.

DisneyShawn shows us the detail of Pinocchio’s Village Haus.

A World View shares a review of Cat Cora’s Kouzzina.

Disney Parks Blog shares their top WDW Romantic Restaurants. (You can also check out the DisneyFoodBlog top three romantic restaurants in Disney World, based on our reader survey!)

Chip and Co shows us how to do a DIY breakfast from the Kona Cafe!

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