How does waiting for a table at Trader Sam's "work?"

[klacey1]

So currently on the plan for Friday evening on October 28th is to grab some appetizers and drinks at Trader Sam's after a day at Disneyland. My boyfriend and I are under no illusion that we won't have a super long wait. My question is around what we do during that wait. Is it a text system, where they text you when you're allowed in? Or do you just wait in line? Or do you hang out and they call out your name? Just trying to figure out if it'll be the kind of situation where we can grab a drink at the Steakhouse 55 lounge while we wait, or grab beers and a snack from Tangaroa Terrace to have while we wait outside Trader Sam's. We don't mind a wait, we'd prefer just to plan in advance how we can pass that wait in a somewhat enjoyable fashion TIA!!!

 

[Heymy]

Trader Sam's is a first come first serve typical bar. If you want to sit inside, which is so much fun, you get to stand around in a very tight area and wait for a table or seats at the bar to become available. If you don't mind sitting outside (you don't get the full experience), you'll have a better chance finding a seat, but again it's only if one becomes available. What we've discovered that works for us is we make Trader Sam's our "lunch" option. We get there by 11:15 for a 11:30 opening and never have a problem grabbing a table (there's usually kids with us). Fun had by all! Enjoy!!!

 

[Niltiac]

It also depends how busy it is. I've seen it where you can freely walk into the bar and stand around until a table opens up, but I've also seen it where you have to wait in a line just to get in to the bar, and then wait off to the side until seats open up. When we waited in line, they weren't taking names or numbers, you just stood in the line and however many people walked out, that many people would be allowed to walk in (that is, they weren't seating people as parties, just monitoring how many people are inside at a time). Once inside you're responsible for scouting seats.

So that time we waited in line, the line was at least an hour, maybe more, but the outsides seats were freely available. If you're ok with sitting outside, you probably won't have to wait long if at all.

 

[klacey1]

Trader Sam's is a first come first serve typical bar. If you want to sit inside, which is so much fun, you get to stand around in a very tight area and wait for a table or seats at the bar to become available. If you don't mind sitting outside (you don't get the full experience), you'll have a better chance finding a seat, but again it's only if one becomes available. What we've discovered that works for us is we make Trader Sam's our "lunch" option. We get there by 11:15 for a 11:30 opening and never have a problem grabbing a table (there's usually kids with us). Fun had by all! Enjoy!!!

It also depends how busy it is. I've seen it where you can freely walk into the bar and stand around until a table opens up, but I've also seen it where you have to wait in a line just to get in to the bar, and then wait off to the side until seats open up. When we waited in line, they weren't taking names or numbers, you just stood in the line and however many people walked out, that many people would be allowed to walk in (that is, they weren't seating people as parties, just monitoring how many people are inside at a time). Once inside you're responsible for scouting seats.

So that time we waited in line, the line was at least an hour, maybe more, but the outsides seats were freely available. If you're ok with sitting outside, you probably won't have to wait long if at all.

Thank you both!! Seems like it works pretty differently from the one in WDW. I appreciate the explanations I would really really love to be able to have the inside experience, so I guess we'll just play it by ear. Thank you!!

 

[klacey1]

Anyone know how they'd be if we were waiting in line with drinks purchased elsewhere? Like as long as we finished beers purchased from Tangaroa Terrace before we went inside Trader Sam's, would they object to us drinking in line?

 

[Angrose]

Anyone know how they'd be if we were waiting in line with drinks purchased elsewhere? Like as long as we finished beers purchased from Tangaroa Terrace before we went inside Trader Sam's, would they object to us drinking in line?

You can get drinks at Trader Sam's while you wait for a table. One of you can stay in line while the other one gets drinks at the bar.

 

[ParksPixar&Pizza]

Going in May and had the same question

 

[Skyegirl1999]

We just went last night around 8:30 or 9. The parks and all restaurants were packed with large lines, and Napa Rose lounge quoted us over an hour to get a seat for drinks, so we walked over to Trader Sam's and expected a long wait... But we had seats at the bar in less than 10 minutes! There was no line outside at all; we just went in, spotted a couple wrapping up, and got right in! I have no idea what led to our good fortune, but we were surprised by the complete lack of a wait on a busy Saturday night.

I will say that I dislike the whole vulture culture that it takes to get a seat - I know that's how bars go, but it's awkward trying to stake a claim as soon as you see someone get their check. Luckily it wasn't too bad last night, but it can get competitive!

 

[alvernon90]

I must admit that Disney could increase the quality of the Trader Sam's experience by about 65% by putting a host outside and using a buzzer system.

We have also mainly gone right at opening, but having gone there once in the evening and grabbed a seat at the bar, the experience is entirely different. At lunch the bar is kitschy and fun. At night it is rowdy and super fun. It gets loud. People get pretty drunk on those knockout tiki drinks. If that is more your scene, you may find that going in the evening is worth the wait.

Also note that you can get food at the bar, so if it is just you and your boyfriend your wait will be easier -- you can sit at a table or at the bar, whichever opens up first. Larger groups have a harder time finding seats together at the bar, so they have to wait for tables.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Not good

MG

 

[hsmamato2]

I like the idea of an early lunch time there..... I want to visit but I don't want to wait in a long line....

 

[tzeitel]

Trader Sam's is a first come first serve typical bar. If you want to sit inside, which is so much fun, you get to stand around in a very tight area and wait for a table or seats at the bar to become available. If you don't mind sitting outside (you don't get the full experience), you'll have a better chance finding a seat, but again it's only if one becomes available. What we've discovered that works for us is we make Trader Sam's our "lunch" option. We get there by 11:15 for a 11:30 opening and never have a problem grabbing a table (there's usually kids with us). Fun had by all! Enjoy!!!

That is what we are planning - going for lunch. DH and I are not into bars and we will have DD with us anyway, but I do want to go and get a couple of drinks

 

[gottalovepluto]

I like the idea of an early lunch time there..... I want to visit but I don't want to wait in a long line....

We went for a late lunch (around 1pm I think) during the weekday during summer and it was great. We got a table for the 5 us (it was a squeeze admittedly) and had a great lunch & drinks & no wait! That trip we wanted Trader Sams in a more family atmosphere with minimal wait and were not disappointed.

 

[Niltiac]

You can get drinks at Trader Sam's while you wait for a table. One of you can stay in line while the other one gets drinks at the bar.

This will also depend on how crowded it is. The time we had an hour wait to get in, no one was allowed in even to order drinks until someone else left - I think it was due to fire code. There was a person guarding the door, and she may have been able to get drinks for those waiting, but I didn't ask. That said, I don't think there would be any problem with bringing drinks from elsewhere and drinking in line. They weren't really monitoring the line, only the door.

Also note that I've gone several times and only seen it so busy once (Friday night before Candlelight Processional weekend), so there's a good chance you won't have to wait in line to get in and will only have to wait for seats to open up.

 

[ImDMous]

We were there Monday Sept 12 and headed over to Trader Sam's when the park closed at 9. There was a line to get inside that was quite long and all the tables outside were full with another line waiting there. There are tables also outside of Tangaroa Terrace that you are free to sit at but there is no wait service there so you have to head to the bar to order your drink and then take it outside to the tables. We were there for about 1 1/2 and never saw anyone leave the outside tables so we were ok with our decision to go the self-serve route, but it did take DH about half an hour to get our drinks. Inside the bar is a very small area, maybe 10 tables, plus the bar seats and it gets very crowded.

We went back the next day around 3 and were able to get a table inside with just a short wait.

 

[cruisehopeful]

I will say that I dislike the whole vulture culture that it takes to get a seat - I know that's how bars go, but it's awkward trying to stake a claim as soon as you see someone get their check.

It is a bit strange. My daughter and I were sitting at the bar and as soon as I was paying our bill, a couple people came up and put their hands on our chairs. If we weren't in a hurry, I would have been tempted to just sit there for a long time.

We normally sit outside. If you can't get a seat inside, you can still look around in there and see everything that there is to see.

 

[DLRExpert]

As previously mentioned you can show up as they open or after the initial lunch rush.
If you want to have dinner there I would show up around 4pm.

If it is busy, I have no problem asking a table that looks to be almost done if you can have that table after them.
Does it sound awkward? Yes
However, they should understand how valuable their seats are and probably appreciate that you are not hovering over them like a hawk.

 

[klacey1]

Thanks for the info, everyone! Seems like it really could be a toss up what we'll find when we get there! I also HATE that "vulture culture" of stalking people for their tables or chairs, but I get why people do it. I made a reservation for Storytellers Cafe and am thinking we'll eat dinner there and then just get drinks at Trader Sam's, so even if we don't get seats, that's fine.

 

[tzeitel]

I will say that I dislike the whole vulture culture that it takes to get a seat - I know that's how bars go, but it's awkward trying to stake a claim as soon as you see someone get their check. Luckily it wasn't too bad last night, but it can get competitive!

I call it "sharking" I would hum the Jaws music when looking for a parking spot near the food court at the mall.

 

[longboard55]

I have given up on trader sams, service is terrible, the reason there is no tables is everyone is waiting for their order. We love Catal Uva Bar. Its not owned by Disney so the service is great. The other good place is the Bar at the Grand Californian in the back