Kona Cafe questions

[**pixiedust**]

I'm trying to plan out our May 06 trip. We'll be there from the 13 - 20th. We are going to MK on the Wednesday we are there and I am trying to figure out a place for dinner that will give us a little break from the activity of the park (we have DS 6 and DD 3). However, I don't want anything too fancy. Would Kona Cafe be a good choice? We are going to try and stay the whole day at MK and I just thought it might be a good idea to get out of the park for dinner at a hotel. The menu looks so good at Kona and we've never been there. Is it laid back? I guess I'm looking for something laid back and casual. Nothing with too much action, or too fancy.

Thanks everyone!

 

[tjmouse]

I think you will find the food excellent and the atmosphere friendly, but not really too relaxed as it is kind of open to the walkway and there will be a lot of people mulling around waiting to get in to 'Ohana, but overall I really like it there. It is pretty casual.

 

[wdwthanksgiving]

we always enjoy eating at kona - because it is an "open" restaurant, the atmosphere tends to be more casual and a little loud. the food is good and there are always children there (i believe they even give out crayons) if you have to wait for a table, they give you a buzzer and you can walk around the poly until they buzz you

the launch if fun to take from the magic kingdom to the poly or GF or you can take the monorail (where are you staying on this trip?)

another choice would be the grand floridian cafe- the food is more "american" -

have a wonderful time!

 

[wdwthanksgiving]

we always enjoy eating at kona - because it is an "open" restaurant, the atmosphere tends to be more casual and a little loud. the food is good and there are always children there (i believe they even give out crayons) if you have to wait for a table, they give you a buzzer and you can walk around the poly until they buzz you

the launch if fun to take from the magic kingdom to the poly or GF or you can take the monorail (where are you staying on this trip?)

another choice would be the grand floridian cafe- the food is more "american" -

have a wonderful time!

 

[**pixiedust**]

We are either staying at POFQ or AKL (depends on DH's year end bonus for 2005, and I am stressing out that we haven't booked it yet, but that's another story). The boatride is another reason I thought it would be a nice break to go to the Poly for dinner. Thank you for your opinions!

 

[goofy4tink]

I love Kona. I try to eat there at least once each trip. And you're right...that launch over from MK is a fun and relaxing way to get to lunch. I have never found the atmosphere at Kona to be too hurried or frenetic. Sure, it can get a bit loud because it is open but I still find it to be pleasant.

 

[pooch]

I was also looking at Kona's for dinner on our MK day which will also be DH's birthday. Just one more ? though. I think this will be an EMH night at MK, at what time would you suggest making ADR's? I'd like to get our bracelets, leave for dinner and get back close to the beginning of EMH without having to battle the crowds leaving the park. Suggestions?

 

[jaysue]

Kona Cafe is a great choice for your strategy - we too have taken our 2 kids (6 and 2) out of MK for a break at Kona Cafe for Lunch or Dinner

Another choice we do sometimes is the Concourse Steakhouse over at the Contemporary - the kids get a blast out of seeing the monorail and they like the open feeling of the concourse

cheers
jaysue

 

[jaysue]

I was also looking at Kona's for dinner on our MK day which will also be DH's birthday. Just one more ? though. I think this will be an EMH night at MK, at what time would you suggest making ADR's? I'd like to get our bracelets, leave for dinner and get back close to the beginning of EMH without having to battle the crowds leaving the park. Suggestions?

Do you know what time EMH starts that day?

thanks
jaysue

 

[pooch]

it'll be Aug 30, so of course hours aren't out yet. But based on previous years I'm guessing 6 or 7 PM at the latest. Park hours are usually short this time of year.

Too many days left!!

Pooch

 

[ducklite]

I think it's an excellent choice!

You might also want to consider the Concourse Steakhouse, although I much prefer the Kona. It's casual and kid friendly, and has EXCELLENT food.

Anne

 

[Kaycee]

We love Kona Cafe. The food is delicious and the atmosphere is definitely casual. Make sure you save room for dessert - the desserts are fantastic there!

 

[4theloveofdisney]

Hi!

Kona is a great place to go to when escaping from the parks! It is wide open to the upstairs atrium in the poly which lends to a more casual feel however it is a very nice place to eat. There is a nice seating/viewing are to wait in as well and a waitress comes around to take drink orders here. As far as the food, I can honestly say that our meal was one of the best that we have experienced on property. DH has the mahi-mahi and I had the teriyaki dish. Both were excellent. I can't remember what our kids ate but there were zero complaints from them as well. We ate here one night and then decided to stay and watch the fireworks at MK from the beach at the poly. We also stayed for the electrical parade. It was a fun, new thing to do and we plan on doing this more often!

HTH!

 

[jaysue]

it'll be Aug 30, so of course hours aren't out yet. But based on previous years I'm guessing 6 or 7 PM at the latest. Park hours are usually short this time of year.

Too many days left!!

Pooch

Projected hours are showing an MK 9pm close

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/hour...EndDate=08/30/2006&submit2=Check+Disney+Hours

I think 9pm is a safe/reasonable bet because sunset is not until 7:49 pm on that day and I guess they need to be open until at least 8:30pm to do wishes?

http://www.weather.com/activities/other/other/weather/climo-dly.html?locid=USFL0372&climoMonth=8

Having said that if you are going from Poly back to MK, I am thinking the only monorail exit people you are running into are the ones going to the GF and I do not think the exit crowd in front of MK will be really bad to go upstream through

So assume 8:30pm close and you want to avoid outbound traffic - need to leave Poly by 7:55pm IMO - of course with this approach you will likely end up on Main Street waiting for Wishes and then have to wait whilst people leave

If you do not want to wait on Main Street I would recommend adjusting backwards from 7:55pm leave from Poly

A decent dinner at KC would take about 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 hours so figure an ADR time of about 6:30pm assuming you are not touring the Poly after dinner

Cheers
jaysue

 

[jaysue]

They have a yummy Rum drink in a Pineapple too





http://www.allearsnet.com/menu/menu_kcd.htm

http://www.allearsnet.com/menu/menu_kck.htm

cheers
jaysue

 

[**pixiedust**]

Oh WOW - I never even thought about watching Wishes from the Poly beach. If I'm not staying at the Poly (I will be at AKL or POFQ - not sure which one yet), will they allow us to do that?

 

[jaysue]

I did not mention that since you are not in theory supposed to be watching from there unless you are staying there but you can get away with it if you want to

I think there are signs or something stating beach is for use of Poly guests only

cheers
jaysue

 

[byoung]

Kona's is outstanding.

 

[pooch]

whether non-Poly guests are supposed to use the beach aside (we're at WL), if the MK close time is indeed 9PM, then EMH will be from 9-12ish, correct? Maybe we should time dinner to watch Wishes from the Poly and go back to MK after it's over? Then ADR's should be for about 7PM?

Thanks so much

Pooch