Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar

Anaheim, California, United States

Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar finally answers the question we've all been asking ourselves: what would it be like if the Enchanted Tiki Room actually served alcohol?

Trader Sam's is named for the "head" salesman from the Jungle Cruise ride at Disneyland, and the decor is a mix of influence from that ride and the Enchanted Tiki Room, with a little of Walt Disney World's Adventurer's Club thrown in for good measure. Top-notch Disney designers Kevin Kidney and Jody Daily were able to work on some of the decor. The bar is utterly packed with entertaining bric-a-brac and artifacts from "Sam's" archives. The music is a pitch-perfect mix of Exotica, hapa haole and traditional Hawaiian tunes.

The servers have been given the same training as the skippers on the Jungle Cruise, and keep the atmosphere lively, silly, and very friendly. The bar has lots of surprises and interactive elements, some triggered by ordering particular drinks.

The quality of drink ingredients is higher than one might expect, with fresh-squeezed citrus and syrups from Portland's B. G. Reynolds in use. The alcohol content of the drinks tends to be a little light -- keep in mind, they want their guests to continue to enjoy their vacation the next day. Let your server know you're looking for something more in the vein of classic tiki, and they'll steer you in the right direction. If you like the punny performance given by the Jungle Cruise skippers, you'll love the drink names: "HippopotoMaiTai", "Schweitzer Falls" and "Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Rum" are some of the cleverly-named cocktails.

Kids are welcome at Trader Sam's, as long as they don't sit at the actual bar; there are several tables around the room where kids can sit. There is also an outdoor patio, where Hawaiian musicians perform nightly.

There is a small menu of pupus available. The bar is near a casual dining tropical restaurant that opened at the same time, called Tangaroa Terrace.

In 2015, a sister location opened at Walt Disney World in Orlando: Trader Sam's Grog Grotto.

Type: Bar
Phone: +1 714-781-3463
Website: disneyland.disney.go.com

facebook.com
Address: Anaheim, California, United States
Permanently Closed?: No

Visits

Trader Tom - 17 Sep 2021

On this visit I acquired the First Edition Haunted Mansion Gargoyle Mug. I've been to Trader Sam's many times over the years. Usually when the family (my son) wants to go to Disneyland. For the last few years we let our pass expire, but the family is feeling the pull once more, so I may have to re-up and head back once again.
swizzle - Unknown
Arriano - Unknown
TikiTrevor - Unknown
Sukielau - Unknown
BrokenBoatAnchor - Unknown

Worth a lunch visit. Food was good, drinks were about par (which was disappointing), they always have mugs. If you can get indoor seating it'll be a better experience. But outdoors wasn't bad.
DeltaTikiphile - Unknown

Great Tiki Bar! Yes, it's Disneyfied, but Disney has done a lot to keep the "Tiki torch burning" over these many years. Some might find the atmosphere a little boisterous, with the bartenders' schtick and all, but it's fun - and I don't think anyone is coming in here too regularly, since it's a resort. All of that aside, the drinks are good, the mugs are absolutely the BEST, the food is good - and the decor and music are incredible. Disney rarely does anything halfway, and Trader Sam's is no exception. Get there early (or late) and HAVE FUN.
TikiDiego - Unknown
DrThundr - Unknown
Samantha - Unknown