This review reflects our experience from May 2015.
Imagine ordering a drink and the whole bar gets dark and a volcano erupts in the window. That’s what happens when you order a Uh-Oa! from Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto. Trader Sam’s is located in Disney’s Polynesian Resort tucked away on the first floor. You could easily walk past the door and have no idea there is a hidden bar in there.
Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto is themed similar to the Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar in Disneyland. This bar opens at 4pm and is a great place to enjoy a drink and some very unique theming.
Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto is a tiki bar so it is very dark inside and the drinks are heavy with rum. If you want to experience Trader Sam’s with kids you are welcome to before 8pm and they offer a selection of fun non-alcoholic beverages like the Skipper Slipper or Polynesian Punch.
All of the specialty alcoholic drinks come with the option of a souvenir glass. Depending on what gets ordered things will happen in the Grotto like a volcano erupting, the Polynesian God’s chanting and the Nautilus sinking under water. The bar itself is very similar to the Enchanted Tiki Room in the Magic Kingdom.
Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto does offer a bar food style menu that isn’t very vegan friendly. We have read that other vegans were able to order a vegetable sushi roll, but everything else on the menu is very pork heavy.
This is a really fun place to take a break in your afternoon or evening. The theming itself makes this well worth the trip. There is often a wait to get into the bar because it only seats about 50 people. We highly recommend spending some time in Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto. Keep an eye out for fun subtle things happening around you while you’re in there!
Would we go back?
Yes! The atmosphere was excellent and the drinks were delicious.
Price?
$$
Corey & Melissa
We love Trader Sam’s! My husband and I were disappointed that there was nothing vegan or even vegetarian right off the menu, but the server immediately offered us vegetarian sushi rolls which were great. We also purchased a packet of macadamia nuts at the Polynesian’s gift shop right outside and had those along with our drinks. Disney should really put the veg. sushi or some other veg*n item on the menu – from a marketing stance too I’m much more likely to purchase an extra drink or two if I’m able to have some food in my tummy to help metabolize it!
Won’t it be wonderful when all restaurants take Veganism seriously and provide real entrees for a rapidly growing segment of the population.