Day 8
Dinner at Victoria & Albert’s
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort Tour
September 11th, 2016

I take a lot of photos at Disney! I can never include them all!
All the photos from this day here | Florida 2016 photo collection on Flickr here
WDW-40, 2016: Trip Report Index | Pre-Trip Report


Following on from yesterday’s tour of our (DVC) Studio Room at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows, it’s time for me to show you what Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is like! Naturally, since it is our Home Resort, I am in love with the place – but have always liked the style and themeing at Poly. I always say it, but if there is one thing Disney does very well it is the attention to detail of their themes around the parks and resorts.

We still couldn’t activate our park tickets, so it was another day hanging out at the resort – doing mundane things too, like laundry! Yes, we have always done this chore on hols to Florida – it makes sense because less clothes taken with us that can just be washed out there, equals more room for bringing stuff back! Our room in the Moorea Longhouse was next to the laundry room, so we just threw everything into the machine and could hang out in our room till it was done. On this occasion it was during our lunch, which was just a snack really, as we would be having a 10 course meal that evening at Victoria & Albert’s! More on that later…

Back to the resort tour! I will confess, that I don’t have photos of the various amenities around the resort – mainly because I thought I took them, but on writing this report, realised I hadn’t, but also because we didn’t necessarily go to/see/use that part of the resort. I’ve been going through photos from previous years to see if I can make up the gaps, as I really don’t like not having photos to accompany things!

I’ll start off with the resort map – it’s a slightly older one, as for some reason it hasn’t got the Tokelau longhouse listed on it. For reference, it is the building between Moorea and Hawaii. The Disney Vacation Club rooms are located in Tokelau, Moorea, Pago Pago, and of course the Bora Bora Bungalows, which are crazy expensive. If you are a regular guest to the resort, you’ll have a room in one of the other longhouses.


Great Ceremonial House

The Great Ceremonial House is the main hub of the resort – the lobby, guest services, shops, restaurants and more.

It is set out over two floors, with the 2nd floor being “cut out” and a huge glass roof allowing lots of light in. The whole feel is retro tropical, and like something out of the 60s or 70s in design. I love it! Granted, it’s not as homely and cosy as the lobby at Wilderness Lodge, which I adore by the way, but it is a nice space to hangout in if you’re having some time away from the parks. I think I love the lights in the center of House the most – absolutely gorgeous!

In the center of the lobby is the statue of TikiGod Maui, and you can buy little statues of him at the resort too. Steve ended up buying one for me when I wasn’t feeling well in our second week – at over $50 they are not a cheap souvenir! Pic below!


Before the huge makeover of the Great Ceremonial House in 2014, there was a lush rock waterfall instead of the statue. It was stunning, and made me fall in love with Poly on first sight. I knew one day I wanted to stay at this resort, but never dreamed we would actually become Disney Vacation Club Members here! I’ve dug through my old photos from 2013 and included a photo of the waterfall below.


There are various types of seating in the Great Ceremonial House, I personally love the bucket type seats (in the picture below, don’t know how to describe them!) as you can really lounge back in those! I’m not a fan of the bench type seating though – not as comfy!


As I said, this is the main hub of the resort, so you’ll find the check-in desk, guest services, concierge services, bell services (just outside the entrance). Speaking of the entrance, it is lined with tropical flowers and plants, tiki torches, statues, and waterfalls. In a word, this resort is lush! The Monorail glides above the entrance – you catch it from the station on the 2nd floor.


Transportation

As well as catching the Monorail from the Great Ceremonial House, you can also catch it at the Transportation and Ticket Center. There is a walkway that is is very near to the Moorea and PagoPago longhouses, and we used it all the time to get to Magic Kingdom and Epcot.

We drove to the other parks, so we didn’t use the Buses at this resort. I don’t actually remember seeing the bus stand (I do seem to have a photo of the sign for it though!), but if you look on the map, it is to the east of the front entrance, kind of in line with the Rarotonga longhouse.

We only used the Ferryboat once during this trip – on a very, very rainy and stormy 1st October night when the monorail wasn’t operating because of the weather. But I’ll tell you more about that on that day of the trip report! But yes, you have the Ferryboat at TTC that you can catch to and from Magic Kingdom. The Resort Boat dock is at the back of the resort, to the west of the Bora Bora Bungalows. These boats do a loop around Seven Seas Lagoon, and also stop at Magic Kingdom.


Dining

There are lots of dining options at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, with Quick-Service locations, Table-Service Restaurants, a Dinner Show, plus lounges and pool bars. You will not find yourself short of food and drink here! We haven’t visited all the dining locations, and I don’t think I’ve even got photos of them all! Descriptions of each dining establishment has been taken from the leaflet in our welcome pack!

Quick-Service

• Capt. Cook’s – explore your options each morning as you start the day with a Mickey Waffle or banana-stuffed Tonga Toast. For lunch or dinner, discover an adventurous assortment of sandwiches, salads, flatbreads, and more. (Great Ceremonial House, Floor 1)
• Kona Island – Say “aloha” to coffee, pastries in the morning and made-to-order sushi an sashimi beginning at noon. Does not accept Disney Dining Plans. (Great Ceremonial House, Floor 2)
• Pineapple Lanai – Dole Whip soft-serve ice cream and floats (Great Ceremonial House, Floor 1)

We had takeout from Capt. Cooks’s at least once, maybe twice during this trip, and most certainly got a few Dole Whips in during our stay! Didn’t manage to get to Kona Island though.


Table-Service / Dinner Show

You need to make an Advanced Dining Reservation (ADR) at Table-Service restaurants as they are more often than not, busy. The days of walking up and getting a table are long gone at many of the popular restaurants. You must also make ADRs for Dinner Shows.

• ‘Ohana – Hang loose with Stitch and friends at breakfast and enjoy games, storytelling, and a Hawaiian-style feat at dinner. (Great Ceremonial House, Floor 2)
• Kona Cafe – This relaxed cafe infuses a bit of Asian zest into traditional American meals. (Great Ceremonial House, Floor 2)

We have eaten at both of these restaurants – on this, and previous trips. In fact, we were in ‘Ohana last night! We’ve had dinner and breakfast at ‘Ohana, and breakfast at Kona Cafe in 2015, where I had the famous Tonga Toast – yum!

• Disney’s Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show – Enjoy Polynesian dining and dancing at this all-you-care-to-enjoy, family-style feast. Shows are Tuesday through Saturday. (Venue at Luau Cove; check in located at Great Ceremonial House, Floor 1)

We went to this dinner show in 2014 (link to 2014 trippie in sig!). The traditional dancing and fire knife dancer were our favourite parts – very entertaining!


Magical Dining

This is in-room dining Disney style, where you can order from the dining menu found in your in-room welcome pack. There is a selection of food and beverages for breakfast, lunch and dinner. There is also a pizza delivery service, which we have used on past trips. There is a $3 delivery charge, applicable sales tax, and 18% service charge added to orders, and is available daily from 7:00am to 12:00am. You can use a Disney Dining Plan for this service, and it costs 2 Table-Service credits per person from your plan.

Lounges and Pool Bars

• Barefoot Pool Bar (Near Lava Pool. Weather permitting)
• Oasis Bar and Grill – Take a break and enjoy some tasty favorites like fish tacos, kalua pork sliders and Polynesian-themed burgers, along with tropical cocktails, wine, Hawaiian beer and assorted beverages. (Near Oasis Pool. Weather permitting)
• Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto – Inside this exotic hideaway, colorful handcrafted Tiki drinks conjure mystical effects. On the scenic outdoor patio, enjoy Hawaiian-style harmonies while enjoying small bites and cocktails. (Great Ceremonial House, Floor 1)
• Traders Sam’s Tiki Terrace – enjoy a refreshing, handcrafted cocktail or a tasty bite to eat that is sure to satisfy your thirst for adventure. (Near Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto)
• Tambu Lounge (Great Ceremonial House, Floor 2)

We did’t even go into the Lava Pool, so I don’t have photos of that, nevermind the pool bar! We did grab a bite and enjoyed a couple of cocktails on a pool day at the Oasis Pool – but for some reason I don’t have any photos of the food we had. That’s not like me at all!

Our biggest regret from this trip was not getting the chance to visit Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto. I kept saying how we need to get in there (I wanted a cocktail or three, and to pick up some souvenir glasses!) but time just got away from us in the two weeks we were at Poly (plus I was poorly for about 3 days). Next time for sure! I don’t even have a photo of the door, let alone inside! It is tucked out of the way mind you, and you could miss it!

Essentially I have minimal photos of the lounges and pool bars, but these are some of what I do have!


Shopping

There are two shops at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort:

• BouTiki – Polynesian-themed Men’s and Women’s fashion apparel, Resort logo souvenirs, luggage, jewelry, MagicBand accessories, and Disney Character home decor. (Great Ceremonial House, Floor 1)
• Moana Mercantile – Children’s Disney Character apparel, toys, pins, souvenirs, autograph books and pens, snacks and beverages. (Great Ceremonial House, Floor 2)

We all know I love a bit of Disney shopping, and I really love BouTiki – there are always so many things I want to buy when I visit this shop! One thing you can do is buy a coconut and send it as a postcard! Unfortunately, not back to the UK though.


I’ve covered the important things inside the Great Ceremonial House, so I think it’s time we stepped outside! There are tropical plants, flowers, and trees, with tiki statues nestled into the landscaping all over the resort. There are torches lining the pathways, and larger braziers that are lit in the evenings. Soft music plays to add to the ambience, and it’s a lovely resort to just wander around for an hour or so.

You can walk to Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, from Poly, and also past the Wedding Pavilion. We did this walk a couple of times, mainly because I am lusting after having a Disney wedding vow renewal!


There is a grass area just outside the back of the House, past the Pineapple Lanai, where they hold the Movies Under the Stars every night (weather permitting). It is also here that they perform the Torch Lighting Ceremony, where they say Aloha-Oe to the day, and Aloha to the night.

We happened to be passing by just as it was starting – it was just so typical that I hadn’t brought out my camera on this one occasion! I did have my phone and did a quick Snapchat video, which I also put up on Instagram (embedded below) – hence why it is so short. I think Steve may have had the video camera… I’m not sure – I’ve not even gone through video footage from this trip properly (I have enough to keep me busy with photos and writing this trip report! ) The fire knife dancer was the same guy we saw at Spirit of Aloha in 2014!

I can't embed an Instagram vid here, so you watch it here: instagram/p/BKmDEIthK68/ if you like!

Longhouses

The resort’s guestrooms are located in 8 Longhouses, and the DVC rooms are in 3 additional Longhouses. Lots more lush landscaping and torches lighting the way. You can see my DVC Studio Room tour in yesterday’s report.


There is a barbecue grill area in the DVC area (Polynesian Villas & Bungalows) with two gas grills, tables, and seating. Grill utensils are available for DVC Members at the front desk (or so the sign tells me!)


Since we are in the PVB section, here are some photos of the Bora Bora Bungalows, which look amazing, but are just so damn expensive! There are 20 of them and they jut out from the beach into Seven Seas Lagoon.


Let’s talk about the beach – swathes of white sand, palm trees, and lots of sun loungers and a few bench swings too.

Disney have now added the rocks and fencing that you can see along the shoreline. You may remember the tragic incident at Grand Floridian, where a little boy was pulled from the beach there by an alligator. I won’t say anything further, as you will no doubt know what happened, but this is the reason why the fencing is now there.

Of course, the circumstances why it had to be done are so, so sad, but I personally think this is a smart move. To think people actually complained about the fence is ridiculous in my opinion, I think it goes well with the all around theme of the resort (and it is continued around at Grand Floridian beach, by the way). The lagoon was never meant for swimming, bathing, or even paddling in, so having the fence there just enforces this rule.


You can watch the Magic Kingdom fireworks from the beach, as well as the Electric Water Pageant which visits each of the resorts on Seven Seas Lagoon. I can never remember the times though. I am so glad that I crossed “Watch Wishes from Poly Beach” from my Disney Bucket List, as it is now leaving MK and being replaced in 2017. I’m so sad! When we saw Wishes, the music wasn’t piped in, as I was lead to believe. Maybe because on this night it would clash with the music from the water pageant? I really don’t know. I still do not have any good photos of the Electric Water Pageant though! I had a longer open shutter for trying to capture half decent fireworks shots, and I couldn’t do both at the same time. One day… (unless they pull that too… the rate Disney are going with changing things up lately!)


There is also a fire pit here which is lit up in the evenings, and where you can toast marshmallows. Single marshmallows are free, but you can buy s’mores packs for a few dollars too.

Another thing we can finally cross off our list of things to do (we still want to do it at Fort Wilderness though!) The photo below is of Steve, my brother, and his fiancee – we did this before heading back to Magic Kingdom for the Main Street Electrical Parade on my 40th birthday!


Swimming

• Lava Pool – Featuring a zero-depth entry, 142-foot tubular waterslide, in-pool seating and infinity hot tub. Aquatic Play Area for guests 48 inches and under (near Seven Seas Marina)
• Oasis Pool – Nestled amid a lush garden, this all-ages leisure pool promises a more tranquil swim for those looking to relax and unwind. (near Tokelau)

We didn’t venture into the Lava Pool at all during our 2 week stay at Poly, but used the Oasis Pool a number of times as it was so close to us. I do have some photos of the Lava Pool from the outside looking in, including the huge mountain which I’m guessing you climb up for the waterslide. I will aim to take more photos here on our next visit.

I’ve also included some photos of Seven Seas Marina, where you can rent watercraft including Sea Raycers, Boston Whaler Montauks, SunTracker Pontoon Boats, as well as speciality fireworks cruises and guided fishing excursions.


Oh, and I nearly forgot to mention about Lilo's Playhouse, which is the kid's activity center - it isn't free, and costs $55 for children 3-12 years old. From the Disney website: Children ages 3 to 12 can explore imaginative worlds with activities that educate, entertain and enchant! Plus, kids will love meeting some of their favorite Disney friends. As little ones begin their magical journey, parents can head out for some grown-up fun of their own!


And that, I think is that for the tour of Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort! I think I’ve covered all the major things that you need to know about, but if there is something I have missed out, or anything you’d like to know, just ask!


It was soon time for us to dress up in our glad rags for my [early] 40th birthday meal at Victoria & Albert’s! We took the Monorail around to the Grand Floridian – having the walkway to TTC so close to our Longhouse was awesome! It was the first time I had used my ECV on the Monorail, and it wasn’t too much grief getting it on and off. I took it because we planned on walking (well, me scooting) back to Poly after dinner.


Victoria & Albert’s has been on my Disney Bucket List for a long while, and for my 40th birthday, Steve treated me to this dining experience. We have one word to describe the evening – amazing.

The ultimate in fine dining at Walt Disney World® Resort and one of the finest restaurants in the Southeast, Victoria & Albert’s features Modern American cuisine with exquisite products sourced from around the world – truffles from Italy, the finest caviar, fresh herbs from Ohio, beef from Japan, poulet rouge from North Carolina, oysters from North Florida. Chef Scott Hunnel’s approach is imaginative and his food is an art form, featuring vivid colors and textures, with exquisite wine pairings offered with each course. Recipient of AAA’s highest achievement, the Five Diamond Award, “Forbes Travel Guide” Four Star rating and glowing reviews from Zagat and others, the restaurant in Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa evokes another era when dining was an elegant ritual, with a knowledgeable maître d’hôtel and chefs in classic white toques. – Victoria & Albert’s website


There is a strict dress code at V&A’s – men must wear a dinner jacket, with smart shirt, trousers, and shoes. Ties are optional. You can borrow a jacket from the restaurant, we emailed in advance to request one. This saved us stressing about Steve bringing out a full suit to Florida. He didn’t wear a tie, but most of the men in the restaurant did. He said he felt a bit underdressed without it. For women, a cocktail dress, “nice” dress, pant suit, or skirt and blouse must be worn. I wore a brightly coloured maxi dress, as you’ll see in the pictures of me.

Jeans, shorts, capri pants, sandals, flip-flops or tennis shoes are not permitted.

For the price you are paying at this restaurant I’m not even sure why you would even want to get around the dress code! It felt gorgeous to dress up so fancy for dinner!

There are three separate rooms for dinner:

• Dining Room, with one sitting, and fourteen tables. You can dine from either Chef Scott Hunnel’s seven-course menu or the ten-course Chef’s Tasting Menu.
• Queen Victoria Room, seats just eight guests for a ten-course dinner with French gueridon service and wine pairings exclusive to the private room.
• Chef’s Table, In the kitchen, guests gather around the coveted Chef’s Table for a front-row seat of the action. Chef Hunnel starts the evening with a Champagne toast as he and the Victoria & Albert’s team begin to craft your dinner with up to 13 courses.

We had chosen the Dining Room – as it was the least expensive of the three – I won’t say cheapest, because it is anything but!

I didn’t want to spoil the ambience by taking lots of photos of the decor – I knew there would plenty on line for you to see. But I did want to at least document the food experience for you. The lighting in the Dining Room was very dim, and I still didn’t know my new camera very well. The photos I got of the food are a bit rubbish, lighting is all over the place, I missed the focused, but it’s all I have! I hope you’ll forgive the quality!

Victoria & Albert’s is very much an adult affair, however Guests over the age of 10 are permitted to dine. But honestly, unless your child is really into fine dining, this is definitely just one for the grown ups.

When we arrived, we were greeted warmly. Everything felt so fancy, and as far from Disney as you can get, at Disney World! We were shown to our table and I clocked the seat with arms (fat people problems), and must have looked pained. Without hesitation, the seat was switched for me to one without arms – that to me is fabulous service. There was also a little stool for our thing – like handbag, purse, etc. i told you – fancy!


Here is the write up about the Dining Room from the restaurant’s website:

With just one seating each evening, this oasis of opulence captivates with the setting, the knowledgeable staff, the fresh flowers, the fine tableware, the extraordinary food. With Chef Scott Hunnel’s imaginative approach, tradition melds with innovation for an avant-garde culinary journey on both the seven-course menu and the ten-course Chef’s Tasting Menu. Tableside touches include specialty cocktails, a Champagne trolley, butter carving, and a cheese gueridon. The warmly lit Dining Room’s classic rotunda features a hand-painted dome and just fourteen tables elegantly dressed in Italian linens, handsome Wedgwood china, and Sambonet silverware. With soft music from a harpist, the Dining Room embodies the spirit of luxury and romance.


We had two servers – Danny and Sharon. My understanding was that Sharon was a higher level than Danny – it was explained to us, but honestly, I’ve forgotten now. Sharon went through the menus with us – we decided to splash out and have the Chef’s 10 Course Tasting Menu – it was [nearly] my 40th birthday after all! The menu is personalised, and they place it in an envelope for you to take home.

We were offered wine pairings (extra cost), but as we are not big wine drinkers, we declined.

Danny did most of the service, and explaining of dishes, and I wish we were able to record him telling us about each course. His knowledge of the menu and ingredients was outstanding, and he even told us stories behind some of the ingredients too. Dining at V&A’s is described as an experience, and we would wholeheartedly agree with that. I wish I could remember everything, but I really can’t.

We were poured a glass each of water, and was offered a Water Service with waters from around the world. Uhm, what?! That’s $9 for a 750ml bottle of England’s finest water! We also passed on this! I know I enjoy drinking water, I’m a bit sad that it’s my soft drink of choice, but I don’t love it enough to spend that kind of money!


For drinks, Steve had a bottle of Budweiser ($6.50). When it was poured out for him, the bottle was swiftly taken away. We both looked at each other, as the bottle hadn’t been completely poured, but we later learned that they keep the bottle on ice for top ups! I had a Citropolitan – Absolut Mandarin Vodka with Lemoncello, and Cranberry Juice ($10)


During the evening we had a bread service, which was included. Unfortunately, I don’t have full details about the breads and butters we were served, but there was a story behind each and every one! The little pink pot you can see in the photos below was filled with salt, so that we could salt our butter. Too precious!

I think I’ve covered pretty much everything about Victoria & Albert’s, so onto the food itself! Because we chose the 10 Course Tasting Menu, we could, if we wanted, switch some items from the Prix Fixe 7 Course Menu… I’ll go into more detail as we go through each course.

Victoria & Albert’s »

First Course

Amuse-Bouche…

Cauliflower Panna Cotta with American Caviar

An amuse-bouche is a small pre-starter – just a few bites in size. The French words literally translate to amuse the mouth – or in foodie terms to excite the palate for what is to come. Now this is where I wished I’d recorded what we were told about everything on the plate. I am sure that sitting in the Cauliflower Panna Cotta were three tiny salted potato chips, and there was a herb resting on the caviar – maybe a chive?!

We were presented with spoons made from mother of pearl to eat the caviar with, as a metal spoon is said to impair the flavour. I’m a fountain of food knowledge, and was telling Steve about this before the amuse-bouche was brought to the table.

I was not a fan of the American Caviar, but Steve seemed to enjoy it. The Cauliflower Panna Cotta was nice though.

There was the option here to upgrade the caviar – Galilee Osetra Caviar with Traditional Garnishes – $105 for ½oz, $210 for 1oz. That was a no from us!


Second Course

Steve and I had different dishes for the first course. I am not a fan of one of the ingredients in the dish he had, so I switched to the dish from the 7 course menu.

King Salmon with Cucumber and Dill

Dill is a herb that I really can’t get along with, so this dish was not for me. The King Salmon is that orange-y cube you can see at the front of the dish. Again, I wish I could tell you what everything else on the plate was, but alas, I can’t.


Popcorn Crusted Diver Scallop, Panisse and Blood Orange

I love scallops, and this dish tasted very good. What is a panisse you ask? Well, it’s a fried, chickpea flour cake from the South of France. There, we both learned something today!


Third Course

Alaskan Sablefish with baby Bok Choy

We have never heard of this fish before, but it was very nice indeed – tender and buttery. From the photo I can see it was served with mushrooms and edamame beans too.

In the background of the photo below, you can see a little wooden board. I’ve provided a larger picture too. It is called a Oroshigane – a sharkskin grater which is the best thing to grate wasabi on. This is proper wasabi, and not the green horseradish that pretends to be wasabi that we get with sushi!

There was an option here to have a different (upgraded) fish dish – Wild Turbot with Toasted Capers and Preserved Lemon – $35.


Fourth Course

New Zealand Langoustine with Nage Crema

This course was one of my personal favourites. In my diary I’ve written “Delicious, delicious, langoustine. So soft and flavourful – amazing!” You know when you just don’t want the mouthful of food to end because it tastes so good? That was this dish!

What is Nage Crema? I’m glad you asked… Nage is the term used in the USA for a flavored liquid used for poaching delicate foods, typically seafood. A traditional nage is a broth flavored with white wine, vegetables, and herbs, in which seafood is poached. The liquid is then reduced and thickened with cream and/or butter. (Thanks Wiki!)


Fifth Course

Smoked Rohan Duck with Peaches and Celery Root

I am not a fan of celery – it’s my top, most hated food ever. But I love duck, and so, I asked if the celery could be left off, and it was. This was a real theatrical dish, brought to the table covered with a smoke filled cloche, which when lifted, wafted out the aromatics from the dish. Wonderful!


Sixth Course

Marcho Farms Veal “En Croute”

This dish was another winner. The veal was served two ways – I know one was wrapped in pastry – the en croute part, and the other towards the front of the plate just grilled with truffle shavings. I couldn’t tell you what is in the middle, or what the meat is sitting on (and no smart “on a plate” replies here please). It could be puréed potato, or cauliflower… whatever it was, in my diary I described this plate of food simply as divine.


Seventh Course

Australian Kobe-Style Beef with Roasted Garlic Potatoes

This dish was available with an add on of 宮崎牛 Miyazaki Japanese Beef – $55, which I, as the birthday girl, opted for; Steve didn’t. This beef is 100% purebred Japanese Wagyu from the Miyachiku co-op. The name of the breed of cow that is used by Miyachiku is Kuroge Washu, also known as “Japanese Black”.

For reference on the plate, it is five slices to the right of the steak. This was not some pretend Wagyu beef that you buy as a burger in Iceland, this was the real deal. At just over ten bucks a slice it was some of the yummiest meat I have ever eaten. I did offer my wonderful husband a slice, but the rest was all mine!

The potatoes were lovely, and beautifully presented too – piped on the plate, with tiny vegetables nestled between the folds. The gravy, which was in the little pot on the plate, was very good too – probably made over days from all the meat bones and reduced right down.

This whole plate of food was scrummy! It was the sort of plate you want to pick up and lick clean – but you can’t because you are in a posh restaurant!


Eighth Course


Selection of Cheese from the Market

The cheese selection was wheeled over on a trolley, and served up at the table. Now, I don’t know what the cheeses were, but the Disney website tells me the following: Gouda Reypenaer, Point Reyes Toma, Wyngaard Chèvre Affiné, and Colston Bassett Stilton. They may change their cheese selection seasonally, I do not know, but I know for sure there was a blue cheese on there, because I don’t like blue cheese and requested that it be left off my plate. I was given extra of one of the others instead.

The cheese came with some accoutrements, which is posh for “the things you eat with the cheese” – crackers, pickles etc. I learned that word from our Signature Dining at Walt Disney World over the years.


Ninth + Tenth Course

You receive not just one, but two desserts on the 10 Course Tasting Menu! We were starting to feel full, but not uncomfortably so. Service was nicely paced, and the portion were small. Because we could also choose from the Prix Fix 7 Course Menu, we picked four different desserts – I hope I can remember which four!

Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta with Wild Strawberries

This was one of the desserts on the 10 Course Tasting Menu. Look how pretty it is – and with a touch of gold leaf too – fancy!


Peruvian Chocolate Crunch

This ended up being my birthday dessert – the plate was brought out with the greeting piped on in chocolate. More gold leaf! This was the second dessert on the 10 Course – so small in size. The other two desserts below are from the 7 Course, and since you only have one dessert on that menu, they are bigger portions.


Caramelized Banana Gâteau

Steve yummed this one up! Looks like some macadamia nuts tucked in there, and a random blackberry. We were most impressed with the spun sugar decoration resting on top.


Hawaiian Kona Chocolate Soufflé

What’s not to love about an ooey gooey chocolate dessert?! I think that was a scoop of ice cream on the side.


We are not finished yet! We’ve got Sulawesi Island Coffee by Joffrey’s, and Friandises to go.

The coffee was brewed in a reverse percolator – which makes the coffee in a vacuum. It was another theatrical piece, and fascinating to learn about.


We are learning lots of French in today’s trip report aren’t we?! Friandises is the French word for sweets. A huge chocolate box was wheeled over, and we could pick as many as we liked, so we went for one of each. The chocolates are made by a Master Chocolatier, and were very good. We decided we would take these home with us, but I did take a quick photo before Danny boxed them up for us.


After our dining experience, Danny and Sharon emailed us to thank us for dining with them. I replied, giving them utmost praise, and also asked if we could know what the different chocolates were. Danny was kind enough to reply with the following.

From left to right in the box –

• Almond flour Marzipan with Grand Marnier
• Chocolate Hazelnut Praline with Frangelico
• White Chocolate Raspberry with Valrhona White Chocolate and Chambord
• Dark Chocolate Banana Fosters
• Orange Rind dipped in Dark Chocolate
• Cherry Brandy (Rainier Cherry soaked in Kirsch for over a year, then dipped in Dark Chocolate)
• Chocolate squares with Caramel Infused with Myers Dark Rum
• Chocolate Mimosa (Champagne and Orange)

Our wonderful night at Victoria & Albert’s was coming to an end. All in all, we’d been there for 4 hours, but it really didn’t seem that long. It is lovely that there is just one sitting, which means you are not rushed through, and can enjoy everything at leisure. I was presented with a single red rose, and we were given a little bag with our boxed chocolates, our menu, and also a little mini cake to wish me happy birthday, which I thought was very sweet of them. We also had our picture taken as a memento of our evening.


Next it was bill paying time… hold your breath, because this one will be a shocker!


Was it worth the money? For us, absolutely! Given the surroundings, the service, the knowledge, the food, the extra touches, it breaks down to about $34 per person, per course. We had some top notch food, with impeccable ingredients, and we would not hesitate to recommend Victoria & Albert’s at Walt Disney World. I’m am so glad that we got to dine here for my 40th birthday – it made it one to remember, and reliving it by writing everything up has made me excited to visit again one day.

As we stepped out of the restaurant, we could hear the firework bangs from Wishes, and decided on walking back to Poly instead of taking the Monorail – it was a lovely end to an out of this world dining experience.



Read about the day after:
Day 9: Two Parks, One Day »
Animal Kingdom / Lunch at Tiffins / Magic Kingdom / Main Street Electrical Parade

Read about the day before:
Day 7: Going Home »
Check In – Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows / DVC Studio Room Tour / Dinner at ‘Ohana

Read ALL the days!

Wow Michelle!

That really is an experience at V&A, certainly not something we would be able to do for a while until the kids are up but it really does look amazing!

Your post is so informative as well, The Poly looks like a stunning resort

It was truly amazing - it's not something we'll be able to afford again in a hurry I don't think! Although, it's Steve's 45th on our next trip - he might request it from me (best get saving! )

It was a long old report today - glad to know it was informative!

What an extraordinary way to celebrate your birthday! Amazing photos again too, thank you for sharing 😊

Fab report and lovely photos. Thank you for sharing.

OMG I am sitting here reading about your meal and I am almost licking the computer screen. Wow!

Beautiful pics of the Poly, what a fabulous resort

And you deserved it for your birthday! Fab photos, lovely one of you both all dressed up for dinner. Everything looked amazing, an experience of a lifetime dining here I am sure. Loved the tour of the resort and attention to detail.
Thanks for sharing

I still think it's a shame the Poly waterfall is no longer. Beautiful resort though.

Thank you for the Victoria & Albert's review. Fascinating reading. I was considering booking it for my husband's 40th this year but I think it still may be a stretch financially. What an amazing experience though!

PS I'm with you on the celery. Ick!