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.
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.
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.
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.
Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar Drummer Bowl - Second Edition - Teal Wipe Glaze
Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar Piranha Mug - Second Edition - Deep Orange Ombre/ Gray
Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar HippopotoMai-Tai Mug - Fourth Edition - Orange with Deep Orange Wash
Haunted Mansion Gargoyle Mug - Second Edition - Teal Green - by Tim Wollweber - for Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar
Trader Sam's Shrunken Zombie Head Mug - Fifth Edition
Monstro the Whale - First Edition - for Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar
Haunted Mansion Gargoyle Mug - First Edition - by Tim Wollweber - for Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar
Jungle Cruise Boat Mug - First Edition - Gloss Brown - for Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar
Jungle Cruise Boat Mug - Special Edition - Light Yellow - for Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar
Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar Jungle Cruise Christmas Nutcracker - First Edition
Hatbox Ghost Mug - Second Edition for Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar
Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar Piranha Mug - First Edition Variant - Gold
Trader Sam's Tangaroa Cooler - First Edition - Light Blue Wipe
Trader Sam's Sea Monster's Embrace Bowl First Edition
Trader Sam's Shrunken Zombie Head Mug - Fourth Edition
Trader Sam's Rum Barrel Matte Finish Wipe-Away Teal Blue
Trader Sam's Krakatoa! Mug Fourth Edition
Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar Hatbox Ghost Mug First Edition
Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar Piranha Mug - First Edition - Green
Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar HippopotoMai-Tai Mug - Third Edition - Black With Green Highlights
Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar Drummer Bowl First Edition
Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar Hitchhiking Ghosts Tiki Mug Green
Trader Sam's Rum Barrel Matte Finish Wipe-Away Green
Trader Sam's Shrunken Zombie Head Mug - Third Edition
Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar Hitchhiking Ghosts Tiki Mug Black
Trader Sam's Tangaroa Cooler Neon Green Plastic First Edition
Trader Sam's Tangaroa Cooler Clear Plastic First Edition
Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar HippopotoMai-Tai Mug - First Edition - Aqua Glass
Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar Christmas Elephant Mug First Edition
Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar HippopotoMai-Tai Mug - Second Edition - Light Brown
Trader Sam's Tahitian Terrace Diamond Luau Mug Light Blue
Trader Sam's Tahitian Terrace Diamond Luau Mug Mottled Dark Blue
Trader Sam's Jack Skellington Jack O' Lantern Mug Mahaloween Open Edition
Trader Sam's Jack Skellington Jack O' Lantern Mug Mahaloween Limited Edition
Trader Sam's Krakatoa! Mug Third Edition
Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar Uh Oa! Bowl Third Edition
Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar Uh Oa! Bowl Second Edition
Trader Sam's Shrunken Zombie Head Mug - Second Edition
Trader Sam's Krakatoa! Mug Second Edition
Trader Sam's Shrunken Zombie Head Mug - Mahaloween Edition
Trader Sam's Krakatoa! Mug First Edition
Trader Sam's Rum Barrel in Blue & Brown
Trader Sam's Shrunken Zombie Head Mug - First Edition
Trader Sam's Rum Barrel in White & Brown
Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar Uh Oa! Bowl First Edition