Trader Sam's - First Time

[cdnSpinalTap]

Hello,

After reading all the great threads about Trader Sam's we decided to have a visit on our next trip in Jan/Feb 2019. We are a party of 7 - 4 adults and 3 kids, ages 8 to 14.

On our first Wednesday at Disney World, we were thinking of going to Magic Kingdom for a bit and then heading over to Trader Sam's for some drinks and appetizers.

Given that it is a Wednesday in January, what time do you think we should get there in order to ensure inside seating?

Any advice is appreciated - thanks in advance.

 

[Moliphino]

Around 3:30/3:45.

 

[LoveToGoToDisneyWorld]

Be aware that when they call your name and you enter the bar, you seat yourself. This wasn't explained to us or obvious in any way, so we stood inside the door for 30 seconds waiting for someone to approach us for seating. Suddenly other patrons started flooding in, scooping up the tables. When they call your name, go in and go straight to a table. We get into a habit of waiting for everything, but not so at TS. Have fun!

 

[cdnSpinalTap]

Thanks for the replies! Go straight for the table is a great tip, I never would have known that.

 

[cdnSpinalTap]

Sorry - should have asked...but how does it work? You get there at 3:30 pm and give someone your name? Do you wait in a line somewhere?

 

[LoveToGoToDisneyWorld]

Sorry - should have asked...but how does it work? You get there at 3:30 pm and give someone your name? Do you wait in a line somewhere?

We knocked on the door at 3:30 and a hostess came out and took out name. She said to come back and be ready to enter at 4:00 when she called us. We were first on the list and she said she will move on to other names quickly if we’re not there. We sat in the lobby and had a dole whip until 3:55, then walked to the TS door and waited. She came out at 4:03 and started calling the names on her list. (I’m racking my brain to remember if we were given a buzzer, but I really can’t remember.) There was already a very long line that had formed in the 25 minutes we were in the lobby. We entered the bar first and, like I said previously, just kind of stood there because we didn’t know what to do. When people started coming in behind us we realized we needed to grab a table quickly. We got a great spot in the corner!

 

[Moliphino]

Sorry - should have asked...but how does it work? You get there at 3:30 pm and give someone your name? Do you wait in a line somewhere?

Wait by the door. If there's a line started already join it, if not just wait by the door and start the line. Usually a castmember will come out around that time to take names and either take phone numbers to text when ready or hand out pagers (it was pagers in December, but I've heard of texts more recently).

 

[nkereina]

We arrived around 3:45 for a 4pm opening. A line had already formed and a hostess with a clipboard came by and took our name and gave us a pager. We just continued to wait in the line and at 4pm, the line started moving in and our pager went off as we approached the door. We bolted in and got one of the last seats. Keep in mind that the place is small and a table for 7 might be hard to come by if you're not one of the first in.

 

[cdnSpinalTap]

Thanks everyone - much appreciated.

Given that we are 7, we will try to get there by 3:30 just to be safe. Looking forward to it.

 

[gharter]

Be there by 3:30 to get your name on the list, earlier doesn't hurt. Once your name is on the list, you can wonder around the resort. Just be back by 3:55. They call names in the order you signed in. If you are not there when they call your name, they wil send a text, and then call the next name.
When called, go directly in and find a seat/table. We were surprised that it was seat yourself, we followed the people aheaad of us and realized noting was assigned.
Go in with the expectation of having fun. The bartenders are awesome! You want to be seated closer to the bar if you want to see everything. They put on their own show at the bar.

 

[HakunaMoscato]

I've heard it fills up really fast in the evening... is it also busy closer to closing? For example, could we spend a day at the parks, have dinner, then go to Trader Sam's without a huge wait? Or is mid-afternoon really the way to do it? It's something we've wanted to try on the past couple trips but haven't really known enough about it to do it at a decent time...

 

[gharter]

It will be full and have a waiting list at 4 pm. When we went in April, it was full at 4pm with a waiting list. The first people started leaving at 5:30 (and that was only a few). If you are on the waiting list, it could be several hours to get in. I've wondered how many on the waiting list actually come back later vs leaving and not come back.
Have not been there toward closing or late in the evening, so no idea how busy it is.
For those with kids, nobody under 21 is allowed in after 8 pm, if that makes any difference.

 

[tzolkin]

Has this just gotten way more popular or does it depend on your visit?

When DH and I have gone at 8/8:30 we received a pager and had a long wait, but when we have gone in the afternoon 4:30/5 it was always empty. Maybe one or two tables with people.

 

[HakunaMoscato]

It will be full and have a waiting list at 4 pm. When we went in April, it was full at 4pm with a waiting list. The first people started leaving at 5:30 (and that was only a few). If you are on the waiting list, it could be several hours to get in. I've wondered how many on the waiting list actually come back later vs leaving and not come back.
Have not been there toward closing or late in the evening, so no idea how busy it is.
For those with kids, nobody under 21 is allowed in after 8 pm, if that makes any difference.

Thanks for your help! I'm gathering that late afternoon, pre-dinnertime, is the best time to do this on my next trip. Cheers, friends!

 

[goofygal531]

It will be our first visit to TS, I appreciate all the tips.

Any drink or food recommendations?

Do they have any special drinks for the kids?

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

Sorry to hijack a bit, but does trader Sam's really close at midnight?? That's insane. Wanted to go after mnsshp.

 

[hereforthechurros]

I've heard it fills up really fast in the evening... is it also busy closer to closing? For example, could we spend a day at the parks, have dinner, then go to Trader Sam's without a huge wait? Or is mid-afternoon really the way to do it? It's something we've wanted to try on the past couple trips but haven't really known enough about it to do it at a decent time...

We noticed that it died down right after 6:00 pm. There’s a rush to get in right at 4:00 pm but once 6:15 pm hit there were a few open tables and no one waiting. Could have been a fluke but I would say after being there twice that showing up at 5:00 pm seems to be the worst time. So go early or late would be my advice!

 

[hereforthechurros]

It will be our first visit to TS, I appreciate all the tips.

Any drink or food recommendations?

Do they have any special drinks for the kids?

They do have a few nonalcoholic drinks but know that they are served in normal glasses. The souvenir glasses are for alcohol only. I looooove the spikey pineapple with rum float the most. The shrunken zombie head one is good too. For food the dumplings and flatbread are great but I didn’t love the sausages.

 

[Jennasis]

My living room is bigger than the entire inside bar area. Sitting together as a party of 7 may be tricky.

 

[Moliphino]

They do have a few nonalcoholic drinks but know that they are served in normal glasses. The souvenir glasses are for alcohol only. I looooove the spikey pineapple with rum float the most. The shrunken zombie head one is good too. For food the dumplings and flatbread are great but I didn’t love the sausages.

One of the non-alcoholic drinks has a souvenir cup, but I think it's plastic. Not the nice ceramic mugs you can get with the alcoholic drinks.