It was a beautiful, cool, cloudless Florida morning when my family and I set out in one of Disney's boat launches from the Magic Kingdom heading towards our final destination, the Polynesian Resort. A short 20 minute trip across the Seven Seas Lagoon got us to the white-sand beaches with it's inviting hammocks. After trying out the hammocks, we headed into the Polynesian Resort's foyer thick with coconut palms, orchids and volcanic rock waterfalls, home of the Kona Café.

As almost all sit-down restaurants at Walt Disney World are becoming, reservations for Kona Café are highly recommended. We were quickly seated after checking in and our attentive server had our drinks of orange juice to our table just as quickly. For me, the choice of a breakfast meal was easy. I have been hearing about the famous Tonga Toast for years. I wanted to find out if all the raves were justified. Others had Macadamia Pineapple Pancakes, Two Eggs Your Way (which was sunny side up) and the Big Kahuna (pictured below with the Big Kahuna of our group).

All I can say is all the hype surrounding Tonga Toast is well deserved. I was surprised at how thick it was, a good 2 to almost 3 inches. I poured syrup over mine and dug in. The bananas cooked into the center are a delight as is the cinnamon coating on the outside. Every mouthful was a thrill. As filling as it was, I wished I could have eaten more. So, I'll be back for more on future trips. It is served with a choice of either ham or sausage. The other's enjoyed their breakfasts and all agreed this is a fabulous place to start a Disney day.

Kona Café adds a Pan-Pacific spin to its Midday Menu, with pot stickers, Thai peanut shrimp salad, and giant steaming bowls of soup with Asian vegetables in miso broth with noodles and meat or fish. But the restaurant also offers basic lunchtime fare: hearty salads, Barbecued Pork Lettuce Wraps and the Big Kahuna Burger, for instance. One lunchtime favorite is the Island Chicken Sandwich grilled chicken breast with apple smoked bacon, Swiss cheese, curry mango mayonnaise, fried onions on a Kaiser.

At dinner, the stage is set for boldly flavored evening specialties, with Pacific Rim spices jazzing up American classics like prime rib and pork chops. Coconut Almond Chicken which is sauteed chicken breast served with Asian greens tossed with honey-lime dressing, golden pineapple, strawberries, and toasted almonds. Other favorites included beef teriyaki, filet migon and shrimp and scallops.

Desserts range from caramel-banana crème brûlée to a seductive Kilauea Torte, named after the active volcano on Hawaii's Big Island, filled with warm hazelnut and chocolate that spills out like lava when broken with a fork. Popular Ko Ko Puffs are filled with chocolate pastry cream and topped with icing and a dollop of whipped cream. A favorite of all ages is the Kona Cone, an oversized waffle cone dipped in chocolate and standing upright with a spun-sugar base. The cone is filled with chocolate and vanilla ice cream, with a flourish of lacy sugar fans on top.

To find out when you can plan your Advance Reservation for Kona Café, go to the PS Report.