Can we talk coffee?

[ReneeA]

I thought the cappuccino at CSR was palatable enough...not great but better than the sludge around the rest of the world. I meant to try coffee from Poly, but didn't make a special trip there in the am.

Next time, I'm buying a bag of Dunkin Donuts coffee and my own filters and brewing in the room.

 

[amberandolly]

Perhaps you serious coffee drinkers will understand how much we Brits need our tea!
The coffee makers don't heat the water up nearly enough - it has to be actually boiling to make decent tea, then the teabags: gross is the only way to describe them in all the hotels.
If we want decent tea, we have to bring teabags from England (either PG, Yorkshire or Tetley).
I've got some quite good Mexican coffee from our trip last year to Playa del carmen, four sachets I think - I'll probably bring them to wdw.

 

[Harborchick]

All of these suggestions are amazing. I am taking notes!

 

[WVParkfan]

Nescafe... yuck. I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one who despises the coffee at WDW. Now, I am by no means a coffee snob (I drink Maxwell House at home), but that Nescafe is terrible.

We bring our own coffee maker and coffee from home because we drive. The two trips we made where we flew to Orlando, we were stuck with drinking the bad Nescafe at the food court for the first day. We stayed at the All-Star sports for one of those trips, and I soon realized that I could walk to the McDonalds near there each morning. McDonalds coffee isn't great, but it isn't Nescafe either.

As a previous poster said, if you know going in that you won't be able to find a decent cup of coffee anywhere on Disney property, then you can get past that and enjoy all the other wonderful things that they have to offer.

 

[IMDORY]

Last trip I went prepared-I wasn't about to drink one more cup of that horrid Nescafe stuff in my "happy place"

Last trip to WL I packed coffee filters, coffee scoop & container, and large disposable coffee travel cups w/lids in my luggage. I knew I would be at the Poly to meet up with family staying there right after we arrived and bought a bag of Kona blend there. I used it for the entire trip and had some to enjoy at home when I returned. I bought some 1/2 and 1/2 at the WL gift shop to put in our fridge. Perfect vacation!

 

[Lorelai]

Perhaps you serious coffee drinkers will understand how much we Brits need our tea!
The coffee makers don't heat the water up nearly enough - it has to be actually boiling to make decent tea, then the teabags: gross is the only way to describe them in all the hotels.
If we want decent tea, we have to bring teabags from England (either PG, Yorkshire or Tetley).
I've got some quite good Mexican coffee from our trip last year to Playa del carmen, four sachets I think - I'll probably bring them to wdw.

You can by Twinings in Epcot's World Showcase (obviously you know which pavilion) in the Tea Shop. We always get a few various blends there.

 

[Lorelai]

I realize this may be a strange topic for the theme park strategy forum. My husband and inlaws are major coffee addicts. I have visions of their coffee needs getting in the way of our day getting started on time. My crystal ball is showing me crowds of people passing us by at rope drop as we hunt down palatable coffee.

So, here are my questions. We're going to need a coffee fix to keep everyone happy. Do you all buy in the park? If so, where and are there long lines? Or is it better to make it in the room? I don't see them liking that (we're from Seattle and love AWESOME coffee) but we're going to need a coffee strategy to keep our theme park game plan on track. Any ideas appreciated!

I would absolutely make a stop (via monorail) at The Polynesian Resort. The Kona Island Cafe Coffee Bar is to the left on the upper floor (right inside when you exit the monorail). There you will find The Kona Island Coffee Bar (Next to the Kona Cafe) and they have some wonderful Hawaiian blends (grown in Kona, Hawaii, roasted in Orlando). You can get it straight, or in a latte, mocha, etc. Excellent coffee. The only true coffee lovers coffee in Disney.

 

[MichelleVW]

The coffee in the food courts is instant nescafe coffee. It is in a dispenser that is mixed with hot water. I don't even call it coffee.

I was at Pop Century last week and that was the worst coffee I have ever had in my life!!! I mixed it with hot chocolate and I could drink it...but eww eww ewww that stuff was NASTY!!

 

[Harborchick]

How long are the lines at the Kona Island cafe? I'll plan a little extra time into our schedule on the days we're going to MK because it sounds like awesome coffee. If we're going to a non-monorail park, perhaps we'll brew in the room. I don't want our java addiction to get in the way of getting to the parks--you know how even fifteen or thirty lost minutes can really turn a plan upside down!

 

[JPN4265]

How long are the lines at the Kona Island cafe? I'll plan a little extra time into our schedule on the days we're going to MK because it sounds like awesome coffee. If we're going to a non-monorail park, perhaps we'll brew in the room. I don't want our java addiction to get in the way of getting to the parks--you know how even fifteen or thirty lost minutes can really turn a plan upside down!

How about just starting a little bit earlier?

 

[All7OfUs]

I started a thread about this coffee "thang" about a month and a half ago. We concluded then that we'll be bringing our own and brewing it at our FW campsite. Yes, we northwesterners do NEED our good coffee, and will do most anything to get it, won't we?

Good hunting all!

P.S. Good to see you on this thread rosiep!! You certainly know what I'm talking about!

 

[bcdavid]

Don't forget to use spring water or filtered water. Disney water alone is very flavorful.

 

[bsbrady]

Disney has the absolutely worst coffee ever.

 

[rosiep]

I started a thread about this coffee "thang" about a month and a half ago. We concluded then that we'll be bringing our own and brewing it at our FW campsite. Yes, we northwesterners do NEED our good coffee, and will do most anything to get it, won't we?

Good hunting all!

P.S. Good to see you on this thread rosiep!! You certainly know what I'm talking about!

How do you get your coffee when you're away??
It's one of my biggest travel concerns. My DD21 has just moved to L.A, she doesn't drink coffee so in preparation for my last visit she went to Starbucks and got two huge coffees for me to reheat in the am's. I love her.....

 

[Lorelai]

How long are the lines at the Kona Island cafe? I'll plan a little extra time into our schedule on the days we're going to MK because it sounds like awesome coffee. If we're going to a non-monorail park, perhaps we'll brew in the room. I don't want our java addiction to get in the way of getting to the parks--you know how even fifteen or thirty lost minutes can really turn a plan upside down!

Oddly enough, not that long. They open at 6:30 am (I think) and it seems to be a moving operation.

I tried to grab a Starbucks one morning at one of the Epcot resorts (I think it was the Dolphin) and the line was insane. Maybe it was just because it was Easter week, I don't know. But I think that perhaps not too many folks realize there is a coffee bar at The Polynesian.

The Hawaiian coffee beans are primo. I am sure you'll love a good Kona double espresso. If you have the time you should try the Kona Cafe for breakfast one morning. The Tonga Toast is fantastic!

 

[123SA]

I bring my own pot, coffee, disposable coffee cups with lids. The frozen cappucino in MK is not bad, but it is not really a coffee fix IMO.

I stayed at the Poly for 12 nights and not once could I get coffee at the cafe. It was closed in the evening and absolutely mobbed when we left for the parks in the morning (815am usually). I don't know if it was open in the afternoon.

 

[Harborchick]

I bring my own pot, coffee, disposable coffee cups with lids. The frozen cappucino in MK is not bad, but it is not really a coffee fix IMO.

I stayed at the Poly for 12 nights and not once could I get coffee at the cafe. It was closed in the evening and absolutely mobbed when we left for the parks in the morning (815am usually). I don't know if it was open in the afternoon.

Oh no! Mob scene at coffee cafe equals lost time and impatient kids. Thanks for the insight on the times you visited. Wish there was an Kona Island coffee cam where I could gauge the lines

 

[MagicalEars]

I bring my own pot, coffee, disposable coffee cups with lids. The frozen cappucino in MK is not bad, but it is not really a coffee fix IMO.

I stayed at the Poly for 12 nights and not once could I get coffee at the cafe. It was closed in the evening and absolutely mobbed when we left for the parks in the morning (815am usually). I don't know if it was open in the afternoon.

Were you trying to get coffee at the actual Kona Cafe or the coffee bar? The coffee bar is like an express line for those of us who need coffee NOW or we'll hurt somebody.

We're driving down....God help us....and I'll take my coffee maker and probably the industrial size bag of DD's coffee, you the one you can get at BJ's that's the size of a suitcase.

 

[happybratpack]

This won't help, but I really like the pressed coffee at Boma. I agree that coffee is my only huge constant complaint about WDW. I wish they would ditch Nescafe.

Last time we ended up taking Folgers singles to the food court with us, not great but better than Nescafe.

 

[CPer'sMom]

--Just 2 tips...according to All Ears, they said that the Kona Island is open all day!!

Thanks for posting this! I always wondered why they were only open for a few hours in the morning so this is great news

For anyone staying at SOG - there's a little SBs stand around the corner from the lobby desk too.

Harborchick ~ is that 'harbor' as in Gig Harbor?