Trader Sam's?

[Skiton]

I've seen a lot of people mention Trader Sam's, and since we're staying at the DLH I would love to go there and check it out. However, I've read that it gets crazy. On a weeknight, would be be able to get a seat for an early dinner, say around 6:00, or would it be better to head there for an afternoon snack? Also, do you think they would do a plain cheese flatbread for a kid? My youngest can be picky adnd may or may not eat off the menu. Thank you!

 

[Casey's Mommie]

I think you mean Trader Sam's?

 

[Skiton]

LOL, yes, sorry. Trader Sam's. How embarrassing!

 

[Skiton]

Aaaaand, of course it won't let me edit the title.

 

[Casey's Mommie]

I've never tried Trader Sam's, but I've only heard good things. I hope someone who knows about Trader Sam's is also a Trader Joe's fan and can help!

 

[figment_jii]

Aaaaand, of course it won't let me edit the title.

As the OP of the thread, there should be a little tab on the top right side of the first post that says "Thread Tools" (next to "Unwatch Thread"). If you click on it, a little menu appears and one of the options is to "Edit Title".

Whenever I've gone to Trader Sam's, finding a table has been pretty tough, especially inside the bar area. I think your best bet is go during the afternoon, but even then, you might not find a table quickly. In terms of food, if you're looking for a meal (not necessarily interested in the drinks or the atmosphere inside the bar), Trader Sam's is adjacent to the Tangaroa Terrace, which also serves flatbreads. They don't share a menu, but they are near to each other.

 

[Skiton]

As the OP of the thread, there should be a little tab on the top right side of the first post that says "Thread Tools" (next to "Unwatch Thread"). If you click on it, a little menu appears and one of the options is to "Edit Title".

Whenever I've gone to Trader Sam's, finding a table has been pretty tough, especially inside the bar area. I think your best bet is go during the afternoon, but even then, you might not find a table quickly. In terms of food, if you're looking for a meal (not necessarily interested in the drinks or the atmosphere inside the bar), Trader Sam's is adjacent to the Tangaroa Terrace, which also serves flatbreads. They don't share a menu, but they are near to each other.

Thank you!

DH and I would definitely like to have a drink, they sound legendary. Maybe we'll stop in around 3:00 for a snack and a beverage, and hope for the best.

 

[purple figment]

Trader Sam's is extremely small so there's no way of knowing whether a table will be available or not. We've gone at various times of the day and it feels like the tables have always been occupied and we would have to wait. If you are going with kids and want to have dinner, rather than drinks and watch some of the accompanying actions, you can sit outside or go to the adjacent Tangaroa Terrace.

 

[gottalovepluto]

We went just after 1pm for a late lunch during a weekday and got a table that we managed to squeeze 5 people into. The drinks were good but very sweet and the bar itself was neat but the "entertainment" factor just didn't click. (The servers doing the gags for special drinks and the guests who ordered them just felt like they were going through the motions.) We think maybe it was the time of day- kinda hard to get that goofy/fun drunk feel going in a bar at 1pm LOL. So basically I loved my burger and loved my drink and was fascinated by the bar itself but think I missed out by going so early in the afternoon, less crowds might equal less fun there? You could try for 4:30-5pm instead of 6pm maybe if you're worried about not getting inside seats? (And that bar is ALL about the inside seats FYI.)

 

[texasgingerbread]

I ate at TS at WDW, I recommend the wings but definitely skip the pork sandwich and if you get it (against my advice) don't get slaw as your side since slaw is on the sandwich itself. Enjoy!

 

[Indiana Scott]

We've hit TS's a few times in the later afternoon, around 3:30~4:00 and it;s usually not busy.
They have some delicious drinks but they are smallish and either served in glasses that don't hold much or they fill the glass with ice and a small amount of liquid. Still it's a Disney original and fun to do. (get a Krakatoa punch and the bar "erupts"!)
For a bit better deal (more to drink) you should also check out the Cove Bar in DCA and don't forget the lobster nacho's!

 

[dotfurio]

I would go for a snack during non-meal times. It's very tiny and crowded, and our kids were bored pretty quickly. And I'm sure this opinion will be unpopular, but DH and I really didn't care for the flavor of the mixed drinks However, we're not really cocktail people -we mostly drink wine and sometimes beer.

 

[calilou]

We've never gotten a table inside, always too busy and we haven't been willing to wait (usually just my two daughters, 8 and 10, and me). We do like the menu though (fried green beans, yum!) so enjoy sitting outside and people watching. The drinks are just okay - very sweet and not a lot, but fun just the same. I agree that going in the afternoon rather than dinner time is more likely to get you a seat inside. They will do a plain cheese flatbread as well as a few children's menu items like a cheeseburger. One day we'll sit inside and experience the actual bar.

On a side note, I wonder if the ambiance of sitting outside will be affected by the current pool closure? Is it all fenced off?

 

[PatMcDuck]

I am a weirdo, and I have ordered plain cheese flatbreads at Tangaroa Terrace myself. It does take quite a bit longer, of course.

I was at Trader Sam's once and it was not that crowded, it was midweek in August, but it was a few years ago.

 

[Skiton]

On a side note, I wonder if the ambiance of sitting outside will be affected by the current pool closure? Is it all fenced off?

That's a really good question. Also reminds me I was going to post about the pool closure.

 

[Indiana Scott]

That's a really good question. Also reminds me I was going to post about the pool closure.

Much of the outside seating area for TS is in the extreme corner of the courtyard area and is pretty separate from the actual pool area. So as long as your anywhere near TS's entrance or the fire pit area, the pool shouldn't significantly detract from the experience.

 

[calilou]

Much of the outside seating area for TS is in the extreme corner of the courtyard area and is pretty separate from the actual pool area. So as long as your anywhere near TS's entrance or the fire pit area, the pool shouldn't significantly detract from the experience.

Yes but I can't help but picture fences and temporary walls detracting from the overall ambiance (which is usually quite lovely) of the DLH property. Would love to hear about recent visits.

 

[SMD]

But most of the seating doesn't face the pool.

 

[Canuck16]

I would recommend getting there earlier than 6 if you want to try and get a seat inside. We went around 4 pm and had to sit outside for awhile before we could get a table inside and you must get a table inside in order to get the full experience.

Once inside maybe get one of these

 

[cruisehopeful]

I've been there several times and never sat inside, but never wanted to sit inside. I've always had a table. It's not much of a meal place, so I think most people don't go there to eat. We order from the appetizer menu, but as mentioned by others, if you want more choices of food, go get it next door at Tangaroa Terrace and bring it back to the tables at Trader Sam's if you want to order drinks. It's probably our favorite place to eat on the entire property, but we love Hawaii and it reminds us of many bars in Hawaii.