Trader Sam's Grog Grotto — Restaurant in Bay Lake

Extremely disappointed by something I thought would be an amazing experience.

Drinks were ok, but service was not what I would expect from Disney. Between the 4 of us we had 1 dark and stormy, 1 zombie, 1mai tai, followed by 1 uh-oa split amongst all of us. The server, Jenna, checked on us 3 times in the 2 hours we were there. We had to flag her down to get our checks. She asked if we’d like the Zombie souvenir mug or the Uh-Oa mug that we had ordered. Never once did she mention the Poinsettia Punch or the holiday mug that you could get any drink in. When we got inside to collect the mugs we purchased, I asked May, the hostess, how you got the holiday mug. She said by ordering the poinsettia punch or you could any other drink in it and choose it for purchase. I asked if we could swap out the Zombie mug for the holiday mug. She stated that we would need to see the server to upgrade the cup, so we went back outside to see the server. I didn’t identify our server right away so I asked another server to flag down Jenna and see if we could upgrade the cup. I watched this server walk up to Jenna who was at the service bar. Jenna popped her head around the corner and rolled her eyes at me. Pretty quickly a manager showed up and the 2 servers were easily seen explaining the situation to the manager with visible frustration. I ignored that and when the manger, Madeline, walked up I stated that I was trying to upgrade the Zombie cup to the holiday cup. Her response was “we can’t do that, there’s a difference in price”. I said I understood and that I was willing to pay the difference she said “ you would’ve had to ordered the holiday cup up front”. So I let her know that the server never let us know that there was the holiday punch or holiday cup. Her response was “ok” and then she walked away.

I guess the conversation was over. I left a $10 tip on a $50 tab (we split the price of the uh-oa on 2 checks and this included the price of the zombie, Zombie mug, the dark and stormy and taxes, and from what I understood they don’t get server minimum wage, they get regular minimum wage, so I thought 20% given all this was considered ok). I regret this now. While I know this is not in a Disney park, I thought they had Disney standards and would want to make more money...

I would not have minded if they needed to do a refund and recharge me, but I guess you can’t trade up at Trader Sam’s. No problem I won’t be back #tradersamsgrotto #disney #disneyfail...

Fun Atmosphere & Decent/Ok Drinks

TLDR: Worth a visit to experience the bar atmosphere, cast member antics, and special effects. If you’re a Tiki-head or rum lover, don’t expect too much in terms of drink quality. Regarding Disney cocktails, it’s actually some of the best you’ll be able to find on property.

Prefacing this review with the fact that this was my first visit to Trader Sam’s but I am a frequent visitor to Tiki bars across the country. I’ve visited bars such as Smuggler’s Cove, Three Dots, Tiki Tatsuya, Inside Passage, and more. If none of those names are familiar then you’ll love Trader Sam’s. If you have visited other Tiki Bars, your bar might be set too high.

Pros: Excellent theming in the bar, from the special effects when ordering certain drinks to the cast members really playing into the antics. You have to be willing to play along, chant, and get into the fun. Custom made mugs which are available for purchase with your drink order, and they are high quality and often made in limited release. Drinks are garnished well. Good selection of different cocktails, ranging in spirit bases and with a good ingredient list (but more on that in the cons) Great walk up reservation system, and kind staff.

Con: The cocktails weren’t great… which is dissatisfying for a Tiki Bar with such hype. But they were OK for most people. Nearly all of the cocktails were made too sweet, with an improper balance of juice to spirit to syrup ratio. The Mai Tai is my favorite cocktail, but this one was way too sweet, even adding in extra simple syrup to the mix which is completely unnecessary. I am not sure if they squeeze their own juice here, but I suspect not, which really does make a difference in terms of quality. The Uh-Oa was better than the Mai Tai but still not excellent. The Krakatoa punch was decent, and had the lightest alcohol taste. The Pearl was very milky and slightly heavy. I could keep going, but you get the general idea.

Overall, I believe that Trader Sam’s holds up from die hard Disney fans who have fond memories of this specific Tiki Bar but haven’t been to others. I don’t know that I’ll return, but it’s possible I just need to order straight up rum next time and skip...

Trader Sam’s is the kind of place that blurs the line between immersive theme park fun and a legitimate tropical speakeasy—and it always delivers on vibes. Tucked into the lower level of the Polynesian Resort, it’s more than just a tiki bar. It’s a full-on experience, complete with wild antics, interactive surprises, and a cast of servers who commit to the bit with contagious enthusiasm. Every drink comes with a show, and no two orders ever feel the same.

The drink menu is impressively creative, with everything from rum-fueled punches to smoky mezcal concoctions, all presented in whimsical mugs and tropical glassware. Favorites like the Krakatoa Punch and the Uh-Oa! are showstoppers—literally—with flashing lights, thunder effects, or erupting volcanoes happening right inside the bar. It’s Disney magic mixed with a strong pour.

That said… be prepared. With most drinks clocking in at $15–$20 (and some souvenir mugs sending that total soaring to $40+), a few rounds can sneak up on you fast. Especially considering how well these drinks are made—you won’t feel the sticker shock until the check hits the table. But for the atmosphere and the quality of the cocktails, it’s a worthy splurge for any Disney adult or themed experience lover.

This place gets packed quickly, and the indoor grotto has limited seating. The wait times are 2 to 3 hours at minimum and no kids under 21 after 8 pm. If you can’t snag a spot inside, the outdoor Tiki Terrace offers the same drinks without the theatrics—but you lose a lot of the quirky charm.

Bottom Line: Trader Sam’s is always a blast. Whether it’s your first time or your fiftieth, the mix of immersive storytelling, creative mixology, and cheeky cast antics makes this one of the most entertaining bars on property. Just bring your wallet… and maybe set a drink limit before the...