Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto (Soft) Opening Day
On March 28th, after what seemed to be a lifetime of waiting, Trader Sam's Grog Grotto at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort opened its doors to the public! I feel if you are reading this article you already have a pretty good idea what Sam's is, but a basic run down is it is a Tiki bar designed after the bars of the 50/60's with a HUGE helping of Disney magic!
Before our story can start we have to talk about the lead up to Trader Sam's Grog Grotto. In May of 2011 at the Disneyland Hotel, as part of the overall hotel renovation, a small area was built to fill the void left by the Neverland Bar that had been removed about a year earlier. Its name was Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar. Between the interactive drinks, sinking bar stools, and amazing skippers serving some of the most fun drinks to hit Disneyland since the Mint Julep, this place became more than just a bar. It was a place to have fun!
So we fast forward to 2014 and the Disney's Polynesian Resort is due for a big facelift, so what better place to put a Tiki type bar than in the new renamed Disney's Polynesian Village Resort. What better space to turn into a place for adults to spend their nights drinking away than where kids spent days playing video games?
So now we jump in our DeLorean and set the time circuits for March 28, 2015 (a little over a year from the date I took the arcade picture) to the soft opening of Trader Sam's Grog Grotto. Now you may be asking yourself how did we know about said soft opening, well two things really gave it away. The first being a sign that appeared next to the door to Sam's giving more of a statement of not open today, meaning to any die hard Disney fan it would be opening soon!
But the second one, the one that really gave it all away, was a post on the Disney Parks Blog saying "soft opening March 28" which was a dead give a way that is the day to be there!
At 8am 2 die hard fellows started the first line to enter the Grotto! 
But what started as 2 (I was officially the 3rd person in line) would steadily grow as the day went on with the 4pm opening time being what we were all waiting for! I have waited in lines for opening for DCA, Disneyland's 50th, and the reopening of DCA along with countless numbers of attraction openings and merchandise events and without a doubt the line for Trader Sam's Grog Grotto was the most relaxed fun times I have ever had! The day started with a Dole Whip delivery by a skipper from Sam himself for the first few of us die hards!
As the line started to grow and the sun started to break through the clouds it was time for us all to sit down (we asked if we could move the tables) and play a fun card game.
More Trader Sam's Tiki goodness on the next page...
As the 3 o'clock hour started to hit we got a visit from Erica our hostess, it was also her birthday shell-a-bration, to start taking names and party numbers to see how many of the long line of fans would be able to make it in to the 51 person bar.
After the head count, the first 48 guest were stamped while those behind them would be given pagers to alert them when space would be available inside, but they were more then welcome to enjoy the Trader Sam's Tiki Terrace that also served drinks and had live entertainment.
Now for the fun part...at about 3:30 Sam and all his amazing skippers invited in the first guests inside for all the bell ringing and "Aloha's" we could take!
Now as I am not a drinker, nor much of a food critic (if I like it I eat it, if not I don't) I will, as they say, let the pictures speak for themselves!
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Now moving onto the main reason to visit the Grotto, the drinks! What really makes Sam's unique both in Florida and in California is the mugs that many of the signature drinks come in and even more so, the event that happens when many of said drinks are purchased.
The first is the Polynesian Pearl, this drink comes in a plastic pearl for you to keep and is made with RumChata cream liqueur, Grand Marnier, and Cinnamon with Tropical Juices. While this is just a plastic pearl, it does hold a fun surprise because when you order the pearl it comes out of a giant clam shell with 1 in 100 being a black pearl
The second, and by far my favorite, is the Nautilus which serves at least 2 and is Barbancourt Pango Rhum. Appleton Estate Reserve Run, Combier Crème de Pêche de Vigne Liqueur, Tropical Juices and Falernum and served in Nautilus mug.
When the Nautilus is ordered a lot happens between the skippers and things behind the bar along with a great lighting effect and actual narration from the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea attraction from the Magic Kingdom.
Now there are a few other effects that happen when the Krakatoa Punch, HippopotoMai-Tai, and Shrunken Zombie Head's are ordered but I will leave those for you to find out on your own about.
The Uh-Oa has just about everything you could want in a drink...lots of RUM!
Now to wrap up our tiki time...One of the highlights of both Sam's here and in California are the nice hidden(in some cases not so hidden) tributes to the parks and attractions of the past. As you can tell 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea had a great influence here, but some of the other fun things include Mr. Toad not being able to drive after enjoying one to many at Sam's.
A left over picture or 2 from the Adventurers Club.
And for the not so hidden, a life ring from the much loved Maelstrom attraction.
Before I do wrap this up, I would be remise in not complimenting the hard working WDI staff who made this a real treasure and even more so the hard working skippers who help keep this place afloat!
Now remember tip them, they don't just act funny for the heck of it...well maybe Jen, but seriously remember tipping is a nice way to say "you didn't spit in my drink and thank you!"
Oh and if you don't happen to be able to make it into the Grotto, the Tiki Terrace ain't so bad! It has live entertainment and a great view!
Also don't worry, same drinks, food, and mugs are available outside also.
I am sure a lot of you are thinking it is the same as the one in Disneyland so why bother? Well to quote a friend Rain's comparison of each of the Sam's "Disneyland's is if the Tiki Room and Jungle Cruise had a baby. This one is like if the Tiki Room and 20,000 Leagues had a baby.
And they are beautiful, beautiful babies."
Now malaho and watch out for the hippos hiding in the trees!