Another Disney Monorail Resort Restaurant Closed With Future Uncertain

The popular Walt Disney World Resort Monorail hotel, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, has been the center of much change recently. And now, the latest in the closure news is the table-service restaurant, Kona Cafe.

It wasn’t too long ago that the beloved Disney’s Polynesian Resort, just a short Monorail ride away from Magic Kingdom Park, underwent remodeling on its Great Ceremonial House (the Resort Lobby). We’ve also seen several Resort Guest rooms transformed into a Moana-inspired theme.

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And while some refurbishments are necessary, the news of Disney’s iconic Polynesian dinner show called “Spirit of Aloha” being permanently closed hit Disney fans hard. The space has since been demolished to make way for a massive Polynesian Hotel tower for Disney Vacation Club that fans still aren’t sure will fit in with the once quiet, Polynesian feel.

While the popular Ohana restaurant is open with a character dining meal returning on September 27, 2022, Ohana’s neighboring restaurant, Kona Cafe, is now closed.

According to the Kona Cafe landing page on the Walt Disney World website, “Kona Cafe at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is currently unavailable due to refurbishment. We expect to return in fall 2022 with an enhanced table-service experience. In the meantime, we invite you to use Mobile Order service through the My Disney Experience app to order select breakfast, lunch and dinner offerings from Kona Cafe To Go, which can be picked up next to Kona Island.”

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Thankfully, Guests can still enjoy some of the Kona Cafe favorites with Mobile Ordering. We are, however, uncertain what “an enhanced table-service experience” will bring to the space.

Another Disney Resort restaurant, Narcoossee’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, is also closed with the same “enhanced table-service experience” verbiage. It wasn’t long ago that another Resort restaurant, Cítricos, reopened at Disney’s Grand Floridian with a new Mary Poppins Returns-inspired interior which was a nice upgrade from its former appearance.

Disney also closed “The Wave… of American Flavors” at Disney’s Contemporary Resort and gave it an “enhanced table-service experience” with the new name of Steakhouse 71 and an interior featuring all things 1970s when Walt Disney World Resort first opened.

As of right now, Disney still keeps the current description of Kona Cafe as:

Family-Friendly Fare: Savor American favorites for breakfast, lunch and dinner—prepared with hints of the South Seas. Open to the tropical ambiance of the Great Ceremonial House, this casual café serves such breakfast delights as cinnamon and banana-stuffed Tonga Toast, a variety of savory egg dishes and macadamia-pineapple pancakes.

Satisfy big lunchtime appetites with a delish Dashi noodle bowl or crispy baked cheddar cheeseburger. For dinner, feast on a divine selection of delicacies that includes sushi rolls, poke bowls and chef-recommended dishes like the Kona-braised short rib—all served amid the relaxed atmosphere of this Polynesian restaurant.

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While Disney has yet to reveal what the future looks like for Kona Cafe, we are keeping our fingers crossed it will be a great experience with delicious food and an enticing atmosphere when it reopens for all Disney fans!