Trader Sam's strategy

[eeyoresmom]

Dh and I will be visiting on Sunday April 30th. We want to have a drink inside the grotto so I need a strategy. First of all is it still crazy busy all the time? My preference would be to go after Wishes on Sunday night , so arriving around 10 pm. Probably not the best time but hoping it won't be too bad as that is one of the slower weeks. We can also go that same day but arrive around 6 pm. Any advice or recent experiences?

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I don't think "slow week" makes much difference due to the very low capacity of the bar and even of the Terrace. Plus, even in a slow week, all of a sudden a bachelor party shows up, and pow.

 

[Doug S]

10pm will not be very busy probably. They kick out kids after 8 so no one with kids will be going after the parks close. But, as previously mentioned, if a large party shows up it will throw waits into a dizzy. However, they will give you a buzzer and you can sit out on the terrace, which is much nicer than the Disneyland setup where you have to wait in line like a nightclub.

 

[eeyoresmom]

Thanks so much. What level is the entrance located? We were just at 'Obama and I didn't notice it. Is it down near Captain Cooks?

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Yes, it's down near Capt. Cooks. The entrance is in the hallway between Capt. Cook's and the GCH exit that leads out to the marina.

 

[JZCubed]

Dh and I will be visiting on Sunday April 30th. We want to have a drink inside the grotto so I need a strategy. First of all is it still crazy busy all the time? My preference would be to go after Wishes on Sunday night , so arriving around 10 pm. Probably not the best time but hoping it won't be too bad as that is one of the slower weeks. We can also go that same day but arrive around 6 pm. Any advice or recent experiences?

I grab a refill for my very large cocktail by the pool at 3pm and then go wait by their door.
s/

 

[Buckeye218]

I went with a party of five on Monday March 13th btw 6:00 and 7:00 expecting a long wait, but we were able to be seated immediately. With a maximum capacity of 50, honestly it's a crapshoot. I've been 4 times....had to wait twice, got seated right away twice. Haven't had a bad experience yet though!!

 

[katt789]

As pp's have said, it really just depends. To be honest, it doesn't seem to have the huge level of crowds it did when it first opened, we've been able to walk in with no wait, or grab a seat on the patio pre wishes to watch from there no problem. And you can always put your name down for a table inside, get a buzzer and wait on the patio, in the past they've done this and said it would be an hour or so and we've gotten in within 30 mins!

 

[thebs19]

I didn't realize the long wait thing still existed (at night after kids, anyway). Last 2 years, during our spring break week (in 2015 that was the week following Easter - last year it was the last week in April coinciding with Passover), very busy crowd times, my wife and I went over after Epcot closed on the monorail and were immediately seated both times inside (and it didn't seem near capacity, though I can't say for certain I was paying much attention to the occupancy vs. limits). Last year in particular we were seated in the bench area with no one near us.

So that would've probably been about 10 PM each time.

Is the Terrace open at night? Maybe more people elect to sit out there if so which opens up the inside a bit? Never even asked.

 

[eeyoresmom]

I didn't realize the long wait thing still existed (at night after kids, anyway). Last 2 years, during our spring break week (in 2015 that was the week following Easter - last year it was the last week in April coinciding with Passover), very busy crowd times, my wife and I went over after Epcot closed on the monorail and were immediately seated both times inside (and it didn't seem near capacity, though I can't say for certain I was paying much attention to the occupancy vs. limits). Last year in particular we were seated in the bench area with no one near us.

So that would've probably been about 10 PM each time.

Is the Terrace open at night? Maybe more people elect to sit out there if so which opens up the inside a bit? Never even asked.

Has it been open 2 years already?!

 

[samsteele]

If you absolutely must get inside, maybe go on a no park day or Hollywood Studios half day. Get there by 3:20pm and get in line at 3:30pm. When you get your pager, don't wander out of line because when the first pagers go off to get in the door at 4pm, you want to be ready to grab a good table or seat at the bar. If you go in the evening, it's a crap shoot whether you will get in without a long wait. If it's really important to you to get in, then try to find a way to get there at least a half hr before 4pm opening. ps my fav table is on the far left hand side from the door, approx half way from the back to the bar, facing into the room. You have a great perch from which to see all the drink effects.