March 26, 2025

Greetings! I am back from break week with a quick post about a wonderful experience I had recently. I was fortunate to spend a few days at Walt Disney World not too long ago. It was a lovely trip with my girlfriend, and one of the things we were able to do is go to Disney’s Polynesian Resort for Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto.

Now, even if you’re a big Disney-head, you may be wondering – what is Trader Sam’s? It isn’t a super well-known destination, but Trader Sam’s is a tiki themed bar present in resort hotels at both Disney World and Disneyland. Opening in the 2010s, these bars have built dedicated, returning fans.

What makes the bar so enticing to people? Pictures really don’t do it justice, because Trader Sam’s is an interactive experience complete with in character bartenders, moments for guests to engage with their surroundings, special lighting and effects – the list goes on. Different drinks patrons can order will elicit special effects. From cast members turning into zombies or being forced to dive from Captain Nemo’s orders (because of the Nautilus themed drink I got), there are a ton of wacky occurrences you may experience.

I am instantly hooked. I’d probably enjoy something like this regardless, but the fact that this connects to pieces of Disney history and lore like with the 20,000 leagues references everywhere AND has a simple octopus’ tentacle animatronic… well, I really couldn’t ask for more.

And of course I had to pick up the collectible mug for the Nautilus drink, which is a beautiful, ceramic, tiki representation of the famous submarine. It was somewhat problematic to get home, but certainly worth it.