PHOTOS - Trader Sam's Grog Grotto and Tiki Terrace opening night at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort

Mar 30, 2015 in "Trader Sam's Grog Grotto"

Posted: Monday March 30, 2015 9:39am EDT by WDWMAGIC Staff

Trader Sam's Grog Grotto and Tiki Terrace opened on Saturday bringing the hugely popular concept from Disneyland to Walt Disney World.


Trader Sam's brings two new lounge areas to Disney's Polynesian Village Resort - inside is Trader Sam's Grog Grotto, and then outside is Trader Sam's Tiki Terrace. The two share the same menu, but both have separate entrances and are essentially separate experiences.


Inside at Trader Sam's Grogg Grotto, you'll find seating for just 51 guests, but lots of detailed theming and an environment worthy of a theme-park attraction. The menu offers a range of speciality cocktails, ranging in price from around $20 to $50 - served in a specialty take-home souvenir glass. Also on offer is a selection of appetizers, including Sushi Rolls and sliders.



View the full menu here.

Outside at Trader Sam's Tiki Terrace there is seating for 80 guests, with live music, a walk-up bar, and table service offering the same menu as inside at Trader Sam's Grog Grotto.

Both are open from 4pm to midnight, with Trader Sam's Grog Grotto only admitting guests aged 21+ and over after 8pm. Outside on the Tiki Terrace there is no age restriction.

If you want to visit Trader Sam's Grog Grotto you'll need to go to some effort. Firstly, there is no parking available at the Polynesian Resort for anyone other than resort hotel guests, or those with a confirmed dining reservation. Guests visiting by car for Trader Sam's will be denied entrance at the security checkpoint and sent to the TTC for parking, which means another 30 minutes or so to get back to the resort by foot or the monorail.

Assuming you manage to overcome the transportation difficulties, you will then need to somehow get past the high demand for the 51 seats. On opening night, pagers were given out to those guests waiting after the initial 51 seats were taken, but demand for the pagers was so high that their distribution was halted at 4:45pm, leaving guests with no way to get onto any kind of wait list, leaving it to a first come first served, luck of the draw situation. As you can imagine, given the difficulties getting in, many guests once inside stay for a couple of hours at least. Much of the initial high demand will no doubt decrease over the next couple of weeks, and getting in to Trader Sam's should be come easier.

Outside at the Tiki Terrace, the 80 seats give you a better chance to get in, but for many it will be the secondary choice after all the elaborate theming inside at the Grog Grotto. There is live music outside however, and there will soon be a waterfall to enhance the area. The terrace is not covered, so during the summer months weather may become an issue.

There are no discounts available at either Trader Sam's, nor are reservations accepted. Trader Sam's is currently in soft opening, with an official opening set for later in April 2015 as part of a series of enhancements to Disney's Polynesian Village Resort, including a new lobby, main pool area and addition of the DVC Bungalows and Deluxe Studios.

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KordovaJDMay 13, 2015

There was a line 50 people long to go in at 4:00 last Friday. I didn't go during my stay, but seems popular. I didn't have any problems with the lobby, but I hadn't been there for 15 years, so I don't really remember it.

asianwayApr 29, 2015

I know the ladies was called polynesian princess - can't remember the men's or jeweler

COProgressFanApr 29, 2015

Nice reference. Ah, memories.

kkockaApr 29, 2015

Would be too large. Service is managable now, although I feel the inside bar is still shorthanded a bit and that's including the fact that one is almost exclusively making drinks for the rest of the room. Even though Enchanted Tiki Bar is a success in CA, how this bar will play out in FL is still sorta experimental. There's definitely a big tiki culture in SoCal and around Disneyland. That bar could be open at 10am and it would still have a flood of people at opening. I've read a lot on how many lookyloos there are, those that sip on water or a single drink then just socialize, and people not tipping. Come on! If you're not willing to tip on a $52 drink you shouldn't have any business soaking up space.

Sage of TimeApr 29, 2015

Oh no. What happened?!

PhotoDave219Apr 29, 2015

Correct. I have the button. They had all the glasswear for sale. Then I went to the airport. Zombie heads are meant to be in checked luggage....

asianwayApr 29, 2015

More like the old men's wear store

Sage of TimeApr 29, 2015

I still think they should have knocked down the wall to Captain Cook's and just made it into one big facility... and moved the quick service to some other location, like Tangaroa Terrace.

Rose&CrownerApr 27, 2015

Inside capacity is 51, with no standing room, only seats. Though I stood the whole time.

englanddgApr 27, 2015

Ahhh, I know exactly where it is then. Thanks!

TuvaluApr 27, 2015

It is in the space formerly occupied by the game room. And it is TINY.

englanddgApr 27, 2015

I thought it was off to the right, around where the old South Seas room was... Derp!

englanddgApr 27, 2015

That makes sense. I was basing it on these:

TuvaluApr 27, 2015

It is on the left if you enter from the front doors. Just past the Trader Sam's entrance is another door to the outside, but you aren't on the terrace, you are just outside and need to turn right to get to the terrace.