When Disney officially closed the Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show in 2022, it marked more than the end of a long-running luau—it closed the curtain on an entire era at the Polynesian Village Resort. While most guests today know it as a relaxing, family-friendly resort with Dole Whips and Moana-themed rooms, there was a time—especially in the 1970s—when the Poly was something else entirely.
Something… well… a little more grown-up.
🍹 A Little Bit Disney, a Little Bit Club Med
When the Polynesian Resort opened in 1971, it was one of only two on-property hotels at Walt Disney World. And while the parks closed early and families turned in for the night, things at the Poly were just getting started.
Back then, the resort wasn’t just a tropical escape—it was a tiki-scented paradise where adults came to drink, dance, flirt, and soak in that post-Eisner/pre-IP magic.
🎶 The Spirit of the Lounge
Walk into the Great Ceremonial House in the 1970s, and you’d hear:
- Live steel drum bands or lounge singers crooning tropical jazz standards
- Soft bossa nova or exotic synthy lounge music echoing off the wood-paneled walls
- The clink of tiki mugs and cocktail shakers behind the original Polynesian bar, which later became the famous Tambu Lounge
This wasn’t Mickey Mouse’s dance party—it was more like a Hawaii-meets-Florida bachelor paradise, especially once the sun went down.
🍸 Drinks, Flirtation, and the Monorail Back to Your Room
The second-floor bar area in the lobby (where Tambu Lounge still lives today) was the place to be. Bartenders were pouring:
- Mai Tais, Scorpion Bowls, Rum Punch
- Anything served in a coconut or tiki totem mug
- Garnishes galore: umbrellas, cherries, pineapple wedges, you name it
According to a few old-school Cast Member stories and forum threads, the vibe wasn’t exactly kid-centric. There were honeymooners, business travelers, singles, and those who came to connect. The Poly became known in some circles as the place where “you rode the monorail with someone you met that night.” 😏
Even the Spirit of Aloha Show—originally the Polynesian Luau—had an after-dark edge in its earliest years. With hula dancers, fire twirlers, open bar service, and the warm Florida night, it felt a lot more like Club Med with mouse ears than a family attraction.
🕶️ Why It Mattered
There was something magical—and uniquely 1970s—about a Disney resort that leaned into romance, cocktails, and atmosphere without apology.
No Genie+, no mobile ordering, no IP-themed rooms. Just:
- Wooden tiki carvings
- Lush greenery
- The glow of torches lighting the walkways
- And a feeling that you were in a grown-up version of Neverland
🌺 Gone, But Not Forgotten
While Spirit of Aloha is no longer with us, and the Polynesian is much more Moana than Mai Tai these days, the vibes of that era still echo in the details:
- Grab a drink at Tambu Lounge and sit near the windows at dusk
- Take a stroll along the shoreline with the torches lit
- Let the background music take you back to when Disney was still figuring itself out—and having a little fun along the way
Because Disney isn’t just about kids. Sometimes, it’s about magic after dark.