Trader Sam's Tips? - Going on Monday 8/2

[evilmommie]

Howdy friendly DIS Fam!

I'm heading to the Parks on Monday and my hubby is going to come over for dinner after work. How's Trader Sam's these days? Is it a walk up or a wait in line?
Any tips or tricks? Haven't been there since pre C-19.

 

[DisneyCrazyMom22]

Howdy friendly DIS Fam!

I'm heading to the Parks on Monday and my hubby is going to come over for dinner after work. How's Trader Sam's these days? Is it a walk up or a wait in line?
Any tips or tricks? Haven't been there since pre C-19.

When we were there earlier this month Trader Sam's opened at 4pm and people started lining up at 3:30ish. We didn't line up until closer to 4 and had to wait 45 minutes for a table.

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

When we were there earlier this month Trader Sam's opened at 4pm and people started lining up at 3:30ish. We didn't line up until closer to 4 and had to wait 45 minutes for a table.

Did you have to wait 45 minutes in line or did they text you when your table was ready?

 

[Living42Day]

I'm curious about how this works as well. We've never been to Trader Sam's and want to visit in December.

 

[MikeRx]

Later in the evening it’s text when your table is ready. Not sure at 4pm. We were there a few weekends ago and decided to stay on the terrrace as we had our 13 yo son with us after 8pm. It was 30 min for the terrace and 1.5 hrs for TSs inside. it’s the same drink menu and we are frequent flyers/imbibers….if it is your first time I’d get on the list as soon as you know both of can make it in when called. The terrace is a great vibe too, but just not the TS experience.

 

[dreynolds1982]

I'm curious too. We'll be there around the 24-27 of Aug. We're doing the parks on the 25 and 26 and I'm thinking we'll be too bushed those days to do TS after hours, but we should be in town by 3 or so, staying at Grand Ca. Sounds like our best bet is chekc into the hotel room then go on over to TS and try to hit up an early HH? Be nice if they were doing virtual queue then too instead of actual wait.

 

[evilmommie]

Later in the evening it’s text when your table is ready. Not sure at 4pm. We were there a few weekends ago and decided to stay on the terrrace as we had our 13 yo son with us after 8pm. It was 30 min for the terrace and 1.5 hrs for TSs inside. it’s the same drink menu and we are frequent flyers/imbibers….if it is your first time I’d get on the list as soon as you know both of can make it in when called. The terrace is a great vibe too, but just not the TS experience.

Great info. I really like the text and return method for restaurants. We’ll just walk around until we are buzzed.

 

[Kenshin21]

We are planning a visit in a couple weeks. With the parks closing at 10, does trader sam's get really busy after 10?

 

[evilmommie]

New reviews on Yelp since Trader Sam's reopening. https://www.yelp.com/biz/trader-sams-enchanted-tiki-bar-anaheim?start=10&sort_by=date_desc

 

[AquaDame]

Later in the evening it’s text when your table is ready. Not sure at 4pm. We were there a few weekends ago and decided to stay on the terrrace as we had our 13 yo son with us after 8pm. It was 30 min for the terrace and 1.5 hrs for TSs inside. it’s the same drink menu and we are frequent flyers/imbibers….if it is your first time I’d get on the list as soon as you know both of can make it in when called. The terrace is a great vibe too, but just not the TS experience.

It was the same at opening when I was there the first week of July. I thought I was in the right line in front of Sam's but it turned out the real line was in front of Tangaroa terrace. D'oh! I was a party of 1 so they squeezed me in, but they were taking people's numbers to text them then as well - the patio was still available immediately for several more parties behind me.

I'm curious too. We'll be there around the 24-27 of Aug. We're doing the parks on the 25 and 26 and I'm thinking we'll be too bushed those days to do TS after hours, but we should be in town by 3 or so, staying at Grand Ca. Sounds like our best bet is chekc into the hotel room then go on over to TS and try to hit up an early HH? Be nice if they were doing virtual queue then too instead of actual wait.

Yes but only if you can walk quickly - I want to say they said I had 10 minutes after I got the text to show up.

 

[MickeyT]

Where exactly do you line up? I'm a little confused. (I thought I was in the right line in front of Sam's but it turned out the real line was in front of Tangaroa terrace.)

We have a non park day Friday after our east coast arrival Thursday night and Trader Sams is high on our must do list.

Want to get in early then on to Tortilla Jo's for dinner at 7pm.

 

[KTownRaider]

Where exactly do you line up?

You line up at the bottom of the stairs in front of Tangoroa Terrace (where the TT check in stand is- between TT and the pool) along the walkway, not in front of Trader Sams itself. A CM will start collecting names/numbers around 340PM (TS opens at 4PM) to send you a text when they're ready for you. After your text, then you proceed to TS entrance.

 

[heidica]

Ok, I'm confused now. In the Yelp reviews, people talk about TS actually opening at 11am. So which is it 11am or 4pm? Or do they open at 11am but only start the waiting list at 4pm?

 

[Kestryl]

[deleted- yo, message to me, read what Trader Sam’s this is about!]

 

[Skyegirl1999]

Ok, I'm confused now. In the Yelp reviews, people talk about TS actually opening at 11am. So which is it 11am or 4pm? Or do they open at 11am but only start the waiting list at 4pm?

So, it's confusing, and even the people working at the DLH lobby don't actually know what's going on.

Basically, the outdoor lobby opens at 11. It's the same food as Tangaroa Terrace, but you have a server and can get cocktails. (We went yesterday.) We walked up at 11 and said, "we'd like to have lunch," and he said "you can mobile order or walk up and order as a quick-service on this side, or you can sit on this other side and have a server and also access to the bar." We did the server side.

The indoor part opens at 4, but I'm not exactly clear on the details of getting in there. And then at 8, the indoor part becomes 21+ only.

 

[heidica]

So, it's confusing, and even the people working at the DLH lobby don't actually know what's going on.

Basically, the outdoor lobby opens at 11. It's the same food as Tangaroa Terrace, but you have a server and can get cocktails. (We went yesterday.) We walked up at 11 and said, "we'd like to have lunch," and he said "you can mobile order or walk up and order as a quick-service on this side, or you can sit on this other side and have a server and also access to the bar." We did the server side.

The indoor part opens at 4, but I'm not exactly clear on the details of getting in there. And then at 8, the indoor part becomes 21+ only.

Thanks! This is helpful and explains some of the postings on Yelp.

 

[evilmommie]

So, it's confusing, and even the people working at the DLH lobby don't actually know what's going on.

Basically, the outdoor lobby opens at 11. It's the same food as Tangaroa Terrace, but you have a server and can get cocktails. (We went yesterday.) We walked up at 11 and said, "we'd like to have lunch," and he said "you can mobile order or walk up and order as a quick-service on this side, or you can sit on this other side and have a server and also access to the bar." We did the server side.

The indoor part opens at 4, but I'm not exactly clear on the details of getting in there. And then at 8, the indoor part becomes 21+ only.

Great explanation! It’s always evolving at the DLR and the CM’s acknowledge that even they don’t know minute to minute changes.

 

[dreynolds1982]

Great explanation! It’s always evolving at the DLR and the CM’s acknowledge that even they don’t know minute to minute changes.

How did your visit yesterday go? Trying to plan our attempt at getting in when we go to DL later this month.

 

[Skyegirl1999]

Great explanation! It’s always evolving at the DLR and the CM’s acknowledge that even they don’t know minute to minute changes.

Oh for sure. I was just pointing out that it’s so confusing that even the people working there don’t know how it’s operating at this point.

It’s also confusing because the publisher Trader Sam’s operating hours don’t start until 4, but you can get a Trader Sam’s cocktail at 11!

 

[midnight star]

Ok so if I’m understanding it correctly, you can go to Tangaroa Terrace at 11am, and still have access to the Trader Sams drink menu? Tangaroa Terrace is the outdoor part right with the food?