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Tag: Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto

News! Hitchhiking Ghosts Tiki Mug Has Arrived at Trader Sam’s in Disney World

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UPDATE: From our discussions with cast members and feedback from readers, it seems that the Tiki mugs are sold out and won’t be returning. But be sure to call the Polynesian directly to double check if you’re in dire need of a mug.

BEWARE OF HITCHHIKING GHOSTS!

Learn About:Trader Sam's Grog Grotto
Polynesian Resort
Disney World Restaurants

Why? Because they’ve materialized at Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto located in Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort in Walt Disney World!

Just a few days ago we discovered that the Hitchhiking Ghosts Tiki Mug that was a sell-out hit at Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar in Disneyland would be coming to the bar’s Grog Grotto counterpart on the east coast… only we (and the Skippers) didn’t know when.

Well, our reader Daniel S. let us know that the Tiki Mugs have just arrived at the Grog Grotto… and indeed, this picture on Instagram showed up on the @tradersams Instagram Account.

@tradersams on Instagram

@tradersams on Instagram

Details surrounding the purchasing of the mugs were also included in the post. [Read more…]

News: Haunted Mansion Hitchhiking Ghosts Tiki Mug in Disney World and Disneyland

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We had an absolute blast at the Behind the Scenes at Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto event at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort this week!

Learn About:Trader Sam's Grog Grotto
Polynesian Resort
Disney World Restaurants

And are looking forward to sharing all the details about this new Special Event for the 2016 Epcot Food and Wine Festival in a review here soon.

But there was one thing from the event we simply couldn’t wait to share. We got a glimpse of the Haunted Mansion Hitchhiking Ghosts Tiki Mug that’s on the way to Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto!

In case you missed the hype, the Haunted Mansion Hitchhiking Ghosts Tiki Mug has already come to — and gone from — Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar in Disneyland. The mug sold out completely on its very first day (to the tune of two-hour wait times for Disneyland guests). And you can see why… it’s Completely. Freakin’. Incredible.

Hitchhiking Ghosts Tiki Mug

Hitchhiking Ghosts Tiki Mug

According to sources, it will be restocked in Disneyland’s Trader Sam’s, but not until “closer to Halloween.” [Read more…]

Tips from the DFB Guide: Must-Eat Snacks at Disney World Resort Hotels

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Did you know, did you know? We love some Disney snacks around here. 🙂

And part of the reason that we love them so much is that we know that you do, too! In fact, I’m 100% confident that I could spend an entire vacation in the ‘World and sustain myself on snacks alone.

And that’s why I dedicate a lot of real estate in the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining to offering you pictures and details about snacks in all four corners of Walt Disney World.

And if that’s not enough for you, I’ve also written guides dedicated to the snacks in each Park as well as special events happening throughout the year — which, believe it or not, usher forth their own seasonally-themed treats. You can discover it all in our DFB Guide Everything Bundle.

But more about that in a minute. Right now, let’s look at one of my favorite lists: Must-Eat Snacks in Walt Disney World Resort Hotels. The list comes to you courtesy of the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining. And if you like what you see, check out our DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining 2018 Second Edition. With more than 650 pages of information, we leave no Disney Food topic uncovered!

But let’s get back to that list. 🙂 Time to check ’em out!

[Read more…]

Disney Food Post Round-Up: January 10, 2016

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We did it! We made it through the first week of 2016! It’s always a rough transition back into the post-holiday routine but so far this year is looking fantastic! We’ve been live streaming a TON in the parks through our @DisneyFoodBlog Periscope account, so come on over and join us!

Dressed Up Waffle!

Dressed Up Waffle!

If you were running in any of the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend events this weekend, we salute you!

And not that we’re counting down or anything but there are about 53 days until the 2016 Epcot Flower and Garden Festival. The fun starts March 2 and we can’t wait to visit the Outdoor Kitchens to check out the springtime eats this year!

We have a lot to share with you this week, so let’s jump right in…

Disney Food News

[Read more…]

Disney Food Post Round-Up: October 25, 2015

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There’s only a week left in October – how is that possible? That means you only have a few more weeks to get to the 2015 Epcot Food and Wine Festival! The Festival ends on November 16!

Carrot Cake Cupcake

Carrot Cake Cupcake

Halloween is almost over at Disney World and Disneyland, but there’s still time to get to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and enjoy all the sweet Halloween treats! But hurry because soon the gingerbread houses and holiday lights will be up!

We have a lot to share, so let’s jump right in…

Disney Food News

Check out all the latest Disney Food News — even the stuff we don’t mention in posts on the blog! — on our Disney Food News Pin Board, including menu updates, restaurant closures, special events, and more!

We’ve got all the latest for you, so check it out before you go.

[Read more…]

#OnTheList: Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

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DisneyFoodBucketList 8-018
This post is part of the DFB #OnTheList series, where we feature eats you’ve GOT to have while you’re at Disney! Let us know what’s on YOUR Disney Food Bucket List @DisneyFoodBlog #OnTheList!

 

“Welcome to the mystery, romance, and adventure of Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto. Here on the shores of paradise, our seafaring friend established this happy hideaway for all to enjoy!” 

#OnTheList: Trader Sam's Grog Grotto

#OnTheList: Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto

Aside from proudly boasting his offer of TWO of his heads for one of yours, everyone’s favorite Head Salesman from the beloved Jungle Cruise attraction — Trader Sam — has one more bragging right to add to his list: Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto is #OnTheList this week! [Read more…]

What’s New Around Walt Disney World: May 20th, 2015

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Sure, we may have said “So long” to the Flower and Garden Festival for this year, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty to look forward to at Walt Disney World! Springs moves to summer as Disney World gears up for the busy vacation season, otherwise known as the “Coolest Summer Ever”!

©Disney

©Disney

And since it’s a very special time of year for Star Wars fans in particular, why don’t we start our ‘round the World tour at Hollywood Studios to see What’s New!

HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS

Star Wars Weekends

kicked off on May 15th!

Star Wars Weekends 2015

Star Wars Weekends 2015

The excitement! The pageantry!  The CUPCAKES! The Jabba the Hutt Cupcake has joined the Darth Vader and Yoda Cupcakes this year.

Jabba the Hutt Cupcake

Jabba the Hutt Cupcake

Jabba the Hutt Cupcake

Jabba the Hutt Cupcake

It can be found at counter service locations such as Starring Rolls, Backlot Express, The Trolley Car Cafe, and Tusken Fridge Raiders — the premiere Star Wars snack stop, located inside Darth’s Mall.

Tusken Fridge Raiders

Tusken Fridge Raiders

Tusken Fridge Raiders

Tusken Fridge Raiders

But cupcakes aren’t all that’s in store…

Star Wars snacks for Star Wars Weekends

Star Wars snacks for Star Wars Weekends

Like last year, several temporary pop-up bars can be found all over the park for the weekend events.

Star Wars Weekends Pop-up Bar

Star Wars Weekends Pop-up Bar

However, they feature all-new drinks this year. Each bar serves two out of of four drinks: The Mustafar and The Tatooine, or The Endor and The Alderaan.

Star Wars Weekends Specialty Drinks

Star Wars Weekends Specialty Drinks

Star Wars Weekends Specialty Drinks

Star Wars Weekends Specialty Drinks

We’ll be taking a closer look at those beverages soon, but once again this year, it’s ALL about the souvenir glow cubes: drinks come with either a Millennium Falcon glow cube or your very own mini Death Star.

Millennium Falcon Glow Cube

Millennium Falcon Glow Cube

The Jedi Mickey Character Dinner at Hollywood and Vine and Star Wars Galactic Dine-In Breakfast returned to Hollywood Studios earlier this month (on May the Fourth Be With You, naturally). But brand new to Star Wars Weekends this year is the Rebel Hangar — A Star Wars Lounge Experience, which has effectively converted half of Backlot Express into an abandoned spaceport in the Sullest system.

Entrance to Rebel Hangar

Entrance to Rebel Hangar

Chips and Sith at Rebel Hangar

Chips and Sith at Rebel Hangar

Blue Milk!

Blue Milk!

You can read all about this special month-long dining event featuring small plates and specialty cocktails in our full review of the Rebel Hangar!

Believe it or not, though, it’s not all Star Wars at Hollywood Studios… we’ve got some regular ol’ menu changes at some favorite Table Service restaurants to report as well. Sci-Fi Dine-In has added the Sci-Fi Popcorn Treat to the appetizer selection. It’s popcorn soup (for watching those old movies, of course!) with buffalo popcorn chicken and celery sticks, drizzled with blue cheese dressing.

Sci-Fi Dine-In

Sci-Fi Dine-In

New entrees include Grilled Marinated Salmon, while the Veggie Burger got a [Read more…]

Disney Food Post Round-Up: May 3, 2015

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Hey all! Well, the Disney Food news this week was expansive, diverse, and dramatic. We saw tons of comments and feedback on the just-announced 2015 Walt Disney World Free Dining offer.

free-dining

And readers were equally passionate about the news that Ghirardelli Soda Fountain at both Disney California Adventure and Disney World’s Downtown Disney would no longer be offering peanut products. While we will miss their delicious Gold Rush Sundae, many readers with allergy concerns are excited about this new development.

We also saw some much-anticipated news out of Disney’s Animal Kingdom about all the new stuff happening there! Let’s check it out.

Disney Food News

Check out all the latest Disney Food News — even the stuff we don’t mention in posts on the blog! — on our Disney Food News Pin Board, including the latest menu updates, restaurant closures, special events, and more!

We’ve got all the latest for you, so check it out before you go.

DFB Reader Finds

If you find a fun new food — or other edible awesomeness — in or about Disney, share a photo with us on facebook or twitter so we can add it to our DFB Reader Finds each Sunday!

Today, we’re featuring more irresistible sweet treats!

“It isn’t a trip to Disney without one!” according to reader Katherine Jennings Lewis. I totally agree! Mickey Bars are a must!

Mickey Bars For All!

Mickey Bars For All!

Reader Becky Ginther found one of our favorites — the King Cupcake at Disney’s Pop Century Resort — this past week! Mmmmm…bacon!

King Cupcake with Cute New White Chocolate Garnish!

King Cupcake with New White Chocolate Garnish!

Do you have a favorite Disney Food find? Share your photos with us!

Deal of the Week: 2015-2016 Disney World Vacation Must-Have E-Book Sale!

OK — so you have a Walt Disney World Trip on the books for this year — Woohoo!! There’s nothing more exciting than counting down the days to your next Walt Disney World Trip!

dfb2015_guide_3d

But, even the most spontaneous Disney fan knows that planning ahead is the key to a stress-less vacay. And that mantra is absolutely true when it comes to dining.

If you really want to dine in the hottest restaurants, you pretty much have to plan ahead. Be spontaneous, of course. But get a couple Advance Dining Reservations in place.

But which ones?

That’s where Disney Food Blog comes in! You already enjoy our reviews, news, and tips daily on our Blog. But did you know — that’s JUST the tip of the iceberg. Because we have lots more to share with you in our complete line of DFB Guides.

If you’re ready for a fun, easy way to personalize eating and drinking your way through Disney, then check out the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World® Dining 2015 e-Book.
Fully updated for your 2015-2016 adventures, the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World® Dining 2015 e-Book is an instantly downloadable PDF guide, featuring over 490 full-color pages of photographs, information, and advice about our favorite subject — Eating Your Way Through Disney! So you save time and money as you enjoy planning one of the most important parts of your trip. 😉

And to thank all of you for your support of DFB, we are offering extra savings on our most popular DFB Guide right now. Just enter promo code 2015 at checkout and you’ll save $4 off of our cover price of the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World® Dining 2015 e-Book!

But if you’d like to enjoy even more detail, check out another great offer.

DFB Everything Bundle SALE!

If you’d like even more great information, pictures, and tips, then the DFB Everything Bundle is the right fit for you.

Everything Bundle Collages

And to get you ready for that next big trip, we are offering the DFB Everything Bundle for $15 off the already low price! It’s like getting an entire book for free. Just enter promo code Everything15 at checkout to take advantage of this offer.

The Everything Bundle includes, well, Everything! When you purchase this special bundle of DFB Guides, you’ll get it all: [Read more…]

News! Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto Souvenir Glasses Now Available

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If you’ve been itching to get your hands on your very own Nautilus to take home, the time has arrived.

Learn About:Trader Sam's Grog Grotto
Polynesian Resort
Disney World Restaurants

That’s because Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto and Tiki Terrace at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort are now officially OPEN!

Now, for all intents and purposes, both the Grog Grotto and Tiki Terrace have pretty much been in operation since March 28th, when the soft opening began, complete with wacky antics by the bartenders and skippers, erupting indoor volcanos, and a fully angered goddess of disaster.

(And if you’re wondering what kind of code that is, be sure to check out our full review of these spots to learn all about the interactive experience that is an evening at Trader Sam’s!)

Trader Sam's Grog Grotto

Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto

Trader Sam's Tiki Terrace

Trader Sam’s Tiki Terrace

However, during the soft open stage, most of the souvenir glasses were not yet available to take home. While that may not sound like a big deal, their arrival is greatly welcome. Though not all the specialty cocktails are served in souvenir glasses, certain beverages correspond to their own specific take-home glass. And it was already anticipated that these very collectible souvenirs would be in high demand, based on the popularity of the souvenir glasses at Trader Sam’s original establishment, the Enchanted Tiki Bar in Disneyland.

After all, who wouldn’t want their very own Shrunken Zombie Head, courtesy of everyone’s favorite Head Salesman?

Shrunken Zombie Head glass ©Disney

Shrunken Zombie Head glass ©Disney

The HippopotoMai-Tai glass (resembling the tiki statue in the Polynesian’s Great Ceremonial House) already has more [Read more…]

Great New Drinks to Enjoy at Disney World

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Top Five New Drinks to Try at Walt Disney World

Well, I guess it’s time… Florida sure had a beautiful “winter,” but as much as I’ve tried to deny it over the past few weeks, we’re back to the time of year when it’s not unusual to see the thermometer (otherwise known as my weather app) climb back up into the 90s.

One good thing about all that? It’s the perfect excuse to cool down with some cold beverages! And since we’re looking at hanging out in the heat until… oh, until the end of the 2015 Epcot Food & Wine Festival in, like, November, now is as good a time as any to check out some highly recommended sips!

So today we’re stopping at two Disney World Parks, one Resort, and Downtown Disney to check out some of the latest and greatest concoctions. We’re focusing primarily on some killer cocktails, but we’ll end with a little something for kids (and kids at heart!), too!

So grab a straw and a teeny-tiny umbrella, because we’re starting with a new vacation must-have…

Spikey Pineapple

We’ve just gotta dive in with this new gem at Trader Sam’s Tiki Terrace at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort: the Spikey Pineapple.

Spikey Pineapple

Spikey Pineapple

While most of the drink menu at the Tiki Terrace is the same as that inside Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto, you can ONLY enjoy the Spikey Pineapple outside on the Tiki Terrace… and it is well worth a special visit.

Why? Because this is Pineapple Soft-Serve (Dole Whip!) served in a sippable form and spiked with Barbancourt Pango Rhum.

Spikey Pineapple menu description

Spikey Pineapple menu description

If you’re a fan of Dole Whip (and especially the rum-spiked Pineapple Soft-serve at the Epcot Food & Wine and Flower and Garden Festivals and in Animal Kingdom), or just fantastic tropical vacation drinks in general, this one is a must-try!

Tamarind Margarita

What’s a post about drinks in Disney World without mentioning one of the greatest watering holes this side of the Mississippi (and, OK, the other side, too)? Over in Epcot’s Mexico Pavilion, La Cava del Tequila sets the standard for incredible and creative margaritas served alongside high-end tequilas.

La Cava del Tequila Sign

La Cava del Tequila Sign

And while the debut last fall of the Maelstrom Margarita (created in tribute to the now-extinct Maelstrom attraction formerly housed in Mexico’s neighboring Norway Pavilion) receives a lot of well-deserved buzz, it’s the Tamarind Margarita, which debuted last summer, that really knocked our socks off in a recent visit: Ambhar Blanco Tequila, tamarind pulp, orange liquor and agave nectar with a chili powder rim.

Tamarind Margarita

Tamarind Margarita

The tamarind and agave make this one incredibly sweet — without being too sweet (I hate too sweet), thanks to the tamarind tang, and the chili powder rim provides some kick. This one well earns its place beside the beloved Avocado Margarita. And Horchata Margarita. Oh, and the Wild Passion Fruit… 😉

Dark & Tropical Stormy

Inside at Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto, though, we’re loving the Dark & Tropical Stormy: Gosling’s Black Seal Rum, fresh lime juice, Ginger Beer, and Falernum.

Dark & Tropical Stormy on the Trader Sam's menu

Dark & Tropical Stormy on the Trader Sam’s menu

It’s the unique and bold taste of the ginger beer that makes this one stand out, giving it a sweet spice while the layered pour allows the rum to have its own moment as well.

Dark & Tropical Stormy

Dark & Tropical Stormy

Another fun feature with many drinks inside the Grotto are toppers themed to the beverage. The Dark & Tropical Stormy’s is understandably windblown 😉 …

Dark & Tropical Stormy umbrella

Dark & Tropical Stormy umbrella

Batten down the hatches and grab one!

Raspy Old Fashioned

We’re taking a trip over to Downtown Disney for our next one and stopping at Raglan Road.

Raglan Road

Raglan Road

Understandably, lots of folks stepping into Raglan Road fancy a pint, and the [Read more…]

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