Trader Sam's - timing

[TavieP]

My best friend, her 6-year-old niece, and I have reservations for the Spirit of Aloha dinner show at 5:15 next Friday. We arrive at MCO at 8:30 AM and have no plans for parks that day- just planning to hang out at our resort (WL DVC villas) have a swim, wait for our room to be ready, and then leisurely make our way over to Poly for the dinner show.

I was hoping to arrive early enough to get a drink at Trader Sam's-- I've never done more than poke my head in and would love to actually get a table and order a drink.

How should we time our arrival to best our chances of that? Try to get there right at 4? Or beforehand? How much earlier? Do people line up? I have no real sense of the popularity of the place... any advice would be welcome!


Eta: I also realize our room may not be ready until it's time to leave for Poly and we will definitely adjust our swim plans accordingly

 

[Hopefully]

Are you planning that it is possible/likely your Villa at VWL will not be ready until 4 or after? You may be stretching it to simply get into your Villa and make it to the 5:15 Luau. It doesn't matter that you are arriving at MCO early. DVC is designed to run at 95% or more capacity. You may get in earlier, you may get in later

Good Luck.

 

[TavieP]

Are you planning that it is possible/likely your Villa at VWL will not be ready until 4 or after? You may be stretching it to simply get into your Villa and make it to the 5:15 Luau. It doesn't matter that you are arriving at MCO early. DVC is designed to run at 95% or more capacity. You may get in earlier, you may get in later

Good Luck.

Well yes, of course- we're still planning to show up at the WL via Magical Express and drop our bags off at bell services and hang out. Like I said in my post, if the room isn't ready we'll probably not swim (because we'd want to shower and change before heading to dinner) but just hang out at the resort or go do something else beforehand. (I've done this 37 times, I know how it works.

The readiness of our room isn't an issue, I'm just wondering what time we should plan to be at Poly for the best chance of seats at Trader Sam's before dinner.

 

[samsteele]

I was there in Feb (so quite a few months ago) & some of the demand has dropped off during weekdays. But it looks like you are planning on a Fri so for a party of 3, I'd aim to be there by 3:30pm if possible. By 3:40pm, a CM should arrive & hand out pagers but at least 1 person should stay in the line to grab a table. Hopefully, someone who has been there recently (this summer) can chime in with updated info.

 

[wilkeliza]

I think you would be okay at 4 but I would only do drinks and not appetizers. I'm not sure what the scene is like that early though and if people are still lining up. Hard to know if any groups outside of the Dis have meet up or anything planned for that day as well that may mess up plans. It is a Friday though so probably won't be.

 

[TavieP]

This is great advice guys, thanks!

 

[Hopefully]

Well yes, of course- we're still planning to show up at the WL via Magical Express and drop our bags off at bell services and hang out. Like I said in my post, if the room isn't ready we'll probably not swim (because we'd want to shower and change before heading to dinner) but just hang out at the resort or go do something else beforehand. (I've done this 37 times, I know how it works.

The readiness of our room isn't an issue, I'm just wondering what time we should plan to be at Poly for the best chance of seats at Trader Sam's before dinner.

No. You said in your original post before editing, that you would go to the VWL, hang out and swim. You did not say you had been there 37 times and know how it works.
I was trying to help. Sorry for the effort.

 

[TavieP]

No. You said in your original post before editing, that you would go to the VWL, hang out and swim. You did not say you had been there 37 times and know how it works.
I was trying to help. Sorry for the effort.

No need to apologize but I should mention that that edit came long before your reply. I literally edited it seconds after posting in anticipation of that question arising.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

My experiences in the 4-5 hour at Trader Sam's have been varied. Sometimes only a handful of people in the place, sometimes you need to wait. I had both experiences on different days the last week of July, but even the day I had to wait wasn't crazy busy. I'd plan on being there around 4 and I'd be willing to bet you'll get right in. But, if it is crowded, just go to the outside Tiki Terrace instead. You can either wait there with a pager or just chill, the view is lovely and you can order all the same drinks.