Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort has officially reopened! And one of the most popular bars at Disney World, Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto, has reopened with it.
Let us in!!
But getting into Trader Sam’s can be a little difficult. When we first visited upon reopening, we had to sign up to get into a virtual line, and we’ve even seen the virtual queue fill up fast.
Here’s the thing: Trader Sam’s doesn’t accept reservations (unlike Disney World’s other super-popular bar Oga’s Cantina). The ONLY way to get into Trader Sam’s right now is to wait in line. And with the virtual line filling up quickly, how can you manage to get in? Well, we’ve put together some tips that will hopefully help you step through those coveted doors.
When to Go
Knowing WHEN to go to Trader Sam’s is half the battle. Currently, the location is open from 3PM to midnight. But the bar is only open to guests 21 and older after 8PM. So if you have young ‘uns in your party, keep that in mind. Also, keep in mind that operating hours can change, so you’ll want to check the current hours as you get closer to your trip.
During our most recent visit to Trader Sam’s, the virtual line opened around 2:30PM. So, if getting into this spot is a top priority for you, you’ll probably want to arrive at the Polynesian a little bit before that to make sure you can get on the list. More on that in a second.
With these awesome Cast Members, who could blame all those people for wanting to get in here?!
Even if you don’t want drinks until later in the day, you’ll probably want to get there pretty early. Also, keep in mind that the weekends will likely be when this spot will be at its busiest. If you can, try to visit Trader Sam’s on a weekday to avoid some of the crowds.
Click Here to See Photos From the Polynesian’s Official Reopening!
Keep Your Party Small
Yes, it’s fun to get a big group of people together for drinks, but when it comes to Trader Sam’s, you’ll probably want to do that. Keeping your party relatively small could potentially get you seated easier simply because of the size of this spot.
Don’t bring all your friends
There isn’t a lot of space inside Trader Sam’s — it can only seat so many guests. So if you have fewer guests in your party, you may be able to get a table a little bit easier.
Check Out the 3 SECRET Drinks at Trader Sam’s in Disney World!
Prepare to Stand in Line to get in Line
Okay, that might sound confusing, but here’s what we mean. In order to get into Trader Sam’s you’ll have to stand in physical line to sign up for the virtual queue. When you arrive, look for the physical line at the check-in desk for this spot. You’ll need to stand in that to ultimately speak with the Cast Member who will get your name on the virtual waiting list.
This is the line to get INTO the virtual line!
When we visited the Polynesian during Trader Sam’s opening week, the Cast Member told us that guests had started to line up just to join the virtual queue starting at 12:30-1PM. But, the Cast Member was not actually coming outside to place guests into the virtual queue until 2:30PM. Of course, some of this high demand for Trader Sam’s could be due to the fact that the spot just recently reopened.
We’re BACK at the Polynesian!
But, this is usually a pretty popular spot, and it doesn’t have a lot of seating, so arriving early is likely your best strategy. Again, if getting in is your #1 priority, consider arriving early and keeping an eye on the area near Trader Sam’s around 12:30-1PM to see if/when guests start to line up to eventually join the virtual queue. If you see other people starting to hop in line, you might want to join the physical line too.
Check Out ANOTHER Place to Grab a Snack at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort!
Getting on the Virtual Waitlist & Plan to Spend Some Time Waiting
When you reach the check-in desk, you will give the Cast Member there your name, email, and phone number. They will put you in the virtual queue and you’ll receive a confirmation text. You’ll later receive a text when your table is ready. But it could be a while before your table is ready. When we visited one day around 4:45PM, the virtual waitlist was at about a 2 hour wait.
A Cast Member will sign you up for the virtual queue
So, you’ll want to plan what to do to keep yourself entertained while you wait for your table to be ready. You could do some shopping at the Polynesian’s gift shops, explore some of the hotel and the beach area, grab a snack (maybe some chocolate-covered bacon?), or just take a seat somewhere, put up your feet, and relax! Just prepare yourself and your group for a bit of wait.
Click Here to See a Full Tour of the Moana Rooms at Disney’s Polynesian Resort!
Show Up When It’s Your Turn
When you get the text stating that your table is ready, proceed directly back to the check-in desk at Trader Sam’s and check in with the Cast Member there. They’ll then get you inside Trader Sam’s and lead you to a table.
And you’re in!
You don’t want to wait too long after receiving that text to make your way to Trader Sam’s. Since there will likely be a long list of other guests waiting in line for their spot, you’ll want to make sure you get a seat when it’s your turn.
Click Here to See More About Trader Sam’s Virtual Line!
Give Up and Go Somewhere Else 😂
If you don’t want to wait a (potentially) long time to get into Trader Sam’s or the virtual queue reaches capacity before you’re able to join it, don’t panic! You’re at the Poly and thankfully there are lots of other places to check out. If you want to go somewhere with the exact same food and drinks as Trader Sam’s, look no further than Trader Sam’s Tiki Terrace!
Plenty of outdoors seats with lots of shade!
Sure, Tiki Terrace is missing in the fun Cast Member antics and the intense theming of Trader Sam’s. But, there’s generally some live entertainment to enjoy (see if it’s available during your trip), the wait time here is usually minimal, and you can generally still grab the same tasty drinks and treats as the menu inside! And if all else fails you can potentially take a walk over to the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa or head to one of the many other fantastic bars/lounges around Disney World!
Click Here to See More Photos of Trader Sam’s Tiki Terrace!
So there you have it — those are some tips to hopefully help you get into one of the most popular bars at Disney World. So good luck, and CHEERS! 🥂
Does Trader Sam’s Still Live Up To The Hype in Disney World? Find Out Here!
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Is trader Sam’s impossible to get into after magic kingdom closes on a weekday?
Sam, evening/nighttime hours are definitely harder to get into Trader Sam’s. Our reporters have had better luck earlier in the afternoon (as I’m sure you can imagine). A weekday night may be a bit easier than a weekend night, though.
For international guests who may not have a phone number/service that works in the US, do you know if the Disney cast members would send an email rather than text? Or even a WhatsApp message?
I’m planning on going to Disney World this year and Trader Sam’s is on my to do’s list.
Hi DBF team! thanks for all you do!
I’m wondering if you make it off the virtual queue, how long you have to get back to Trader Sam’s? Could I go all the way to the Enchanted Rose lounge and be back before they gave my table away?
Thank you and best wishes!
– Adrianna
AJ,
if I want to go to trader sam’s at 8:00 pm or later
do i still have to sign up at 2:30 ?
is there a later sign up?
when do sign ups end?
thank you
Hi Chuck! Unfortunately, there is no way to sign up for a later time. Your best bet will be to get there at 2:30pm and join the virtual queue because spots will fill up quickly due to its small size. They’ll allow people to join the virtual sign-up until they’re fully booked so there’s no way to predict the time at which sign ups will end. I can tell you that weekends are the busiest so you may have better luck trying on a weekday.
You should throw in some parking tips. They MAY let you park at the Poly to visit Trader Sam’s. Just pull up to the gate and say you are visiting the bar. But there are times when they have a lot of guests that they will deny you parking unless you have a dinner or room reservation. When that happens, we end up parking over in MK parking lot as close as we can get to the Poly, and walk across the street. There’s even a crosswalk there.