Tiki Life! Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

Like the rest of the Disney community, we were so excited for Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto when it was first announced for Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. Then when we heard it was going to be a small, intimate tiki bar, seating only 51 people, we were very, very nervous. Would the waits for the bar last for hours? Were we going to have to hang out on the outside patio all the time? Was that really so bad a fate? We were on pins and needles waiting to find out.

Blue Sunset at the Tiki Terrace
Blue Sunset at the Tiki Terrace
Answers to the above: yes, no, and no.

We’ve been to Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto twice — once during the first week it was open, and just for the Tiki Terrace outside patio, and once during the second week, enjoying both the terrace and the inside tiki bar. Trader Sam’s outside terrace is a delight, and its inside bar is well worth the wait.

Tiki Terrace Pros:

-The wonderful ukelele music! A live musician performs on the terrace in the evening, and he’s lovely. He throws in standards like “Rainbow Connection” along with Hawaiian tunes. On the first night we were there, folks were kind of ignoring them. Last night, his mike was louder and people applauded after every song.

-The views! The Tiki Terrace is nestled between the marina and the patio of Captain Cooks, and while the new and improved volcano at the feature pool blocks the view of Cinderella Castle, you can still gaze out over the western end of Seven Seas Lagoon, with the resort launches plying the waters and just a glimpse of the highest peak of Big Thunder Mountain_® Railroad.

Trader Sam’s Drinks at the Tiki Terrace
The Polynesian Pearl ($16.95, take home the cup), the Shrunken Zombie Head (about $19.95 with the souvenir glass), and the Schweitzer Falls ($6, non-alcoholic).
-The relaxing vibe! Trader Sam’s is a noisy place, whether you’re on the west coast or the east coast. It’s the nature of the beast when you’re in a tiny bar with folks ordering drinks that require shouting and special effects every few moments. Sometimes, I’m in a Trader Sam’s shouty mood. And sometimes, I want to sit quietly and watch the clouds roll by. The Tiki Terrace gives you that option.

Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto Pros:

-The special effects! We have some good ones at our east coast incarnation, with an angry Tiki Goddess who awakens in the midst of a howling rainstorm when you order the Uh Oa, and the tried-and-true Krakatoa volcano eruption. The bar is so small that when the skippers get going with their acting (like swimming as we dive to 20,000 leagues under the sea when someone orders a Nautilus), everyone feels comfortable jumping in and playing along with the action.

A peaceful Krakatoa between eruptions at Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto
A peaceful Krakatoa between eruptions at Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto
-The decor! There is so much to see inside, we’ve barely scratched the surface with only one trip inside the tiki bar. There are photos from the archives, like Walt holding up a dangling tentacle from the monstrous octopus from 20,000 Leagues, kitchsy Polynesian-themed art, and of course wonderful, wonderful tikis everywhere. Oh, and some shrunken heads. This is Trader Sam’s place, after all.

Uh oa - order this punch for two and awaken the Tiki goddess!
Uh oa – order this punch for two and awaken the Tiki goddess!
-The total immersion! The only windows at Trader Sam’s look out upon a peaceful volcanic island in a shimmering blue sea (well, it’s peaceful most of the time). While we were inside, we missed a fairly epic thunderstorm complete with tornado warnings. We had no idea it was even raining until we came out into the corridor and saw the quantity of water that had been tracked inside by fleeing guests.

Pros of both:

At both the Tiki Terrace and inside Trader Sam’s, you are getting delicious, imaginative tiki drinks served by hilarious skippers who are very devoted to their characters. Be ready to be teased. Be ready to play along. Be ready to laugh. Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto is all about having fun with old friends and new. You might be surprised at how long you stay!

What do you need to know?

-Arrive early and get a pager. You can enjoy The Great Ceremonial House’s downstairs, including shopping at Bou-Tiki, snacks at Captain Cook’s, or just lounging in the lobby, and still be in range of your pager. You can also get a drink or appetizers at the Tiki Terrace, where seating is first-come, first-served, but turnover is decent and you are encouraged to make friends!

-Wait times increase with bad weather. We got a pager at about 7:15 PM and were given a 90-minute wait estimate. Then a massive storm system blew in with thunder, lightning, and wind, sending crowds back to the resort from the theme parks. When we finally got in at about 9 PM, the skipper at the door was telling guests there was a three-hour wait, and the Tiki Terrace had been closed due to rain since about 8 PM. Since the bar closes at midnight, this effectively shut the bar down opportunity down for anyone who didn’t already have a pager before the rain.

-It’s 21 and up after 8 PM. From 4 to 8 PM, you can bring in children, and there are a couple of non-alcoholic drinks for them. Just be aware that the effects (and the cast, and the crowd) can be very loud and maybe a little scary?

-There is an appetizer menu with small bites, but if you’re looking for something more substantial, Captain Cook’s is a good bet for a pre-Trader Sam’s supper.

Have fun at Trader Sam’s! We’re thrilled with this addition to Walt Disney World, and might like it a teeny-bit-better than the original Disneyland location (but please don’t tell Trader Sam. We like our heads.)