Originally Posted By crapshoot Wow, and I hate to use sports cliches to describe anything, but they have certainly hit it out of the park on these facilities. Trader Sams is what I always dreamed Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room should have been turned into. The ambience is very cool, dark, friendly, fun, immersive and quality cocktails. Yep, they're pricey and there's too much crushed ice. I enjoyed the Mai Tai and then switched to Scotch. The Pupu Platter is very tasty and has a nice oriental / tropical flair. For my next visit, I will load up on a burger at Tangaroa's Terrace and then pop into Trader Sam's for "afters". But I will be there on the first stool to the left.
Originally Posted By tashajilek Thats great that you enjoyed Trader Sams! I plan on doing the eat at TT and then drinks at Trader Sams.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt Hey Crapshoot, I'm really enjoying your firsthand reports. Thanks!
Originally Posted By crapshoot <<Hey Crapshoot, I'm really enjoying your firsthand reports. Thanks!>> Let me say this, up until last night, I have always felt a negative emotional aura about the Paradise Pier area. That is no longer the case. It is very pleasent, vibrant and now has a wonderful atmosphere. The Mermaid show building architecural style absolutely reinforces the 30's era sea side theme. So Hans, it is my absolute pleasure to finally be able to give a glowing report on something that I have spent the last ten years railing on. And I know that at Trader Sams it should be "The second stool to the right." but for me, it will be the first stool to the left.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "So Hans, it is my absolute pleasure to finally be able to give a glowing report on something that I have spent the last ten years railing on." We've often butted heads on DCA and it's great to hear this. Coming from you I know that Disney has indeed made huge strides in this area of the park's design and atmosphere. I can't wait to experience it all in person.
Originally Posted By SafariRob Is Trader Sams or Tangaroa's Terrace family-friendly? Are they worth the trek out of the parks? Are they next to each other? Are they both new?
Originally Posted By crapshoot Is Trader Sams or Tangaroa's Terrace family-friendly? Yes. Kids are allowed in Trader Sam's up until 8pm. Are they worth the trek out of the parks? Definetly yes Are they next to each other? Yes Are they both new? Yes
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "Kids are allowed in Trader Sam's up until 8pm." Good to know. I'll be sure to schedule my visit after 8.
Originally Posted By crapshoot << I'll be sure to schedule my visit after 8.>> That has to be the perfect time, everyone else is scrambling for World of Color, Fantasmic, DL Parade and nightly fireworks.
Originally Posted By Yookeroo I liked the atmosphere there, but getting served was difficult. Took them a long time to get me my first drink (there were apologetic about it), but then I got totally ignored. And I was sitting at the bar. Even when I was trying to pay. I was waving around the billfold with my credit card sticking out as bartenders walked by. After a while, I figured they didn't want my money and left.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA <After a while, I figured they didn't want my money and left.> Really? You left without paying?
Originally Posted By TMICHAEL <After a while, I figured they didn't want my money and left.> Really? You left without paying?<<< Can't blame you in the least. We were there the Saturday before last and had two servers inside and one outside. Our first guy server inside was great, quick and knew how to serve a bar. Then he went on break and his female replacement was quite slow and it literally took 15 minutes to get my credit card back after paying. Then on the outside patio for round two, the female server was another one on the slow side and we ran into the same problem when we wanted to pay the tab. She was nowhere to be seen and if it weren't for the HOT, and very friendly Samoan guys setting up their instruments for the late afternoon entertainment, we too would have left. Loved the bar and hope they get these kinks out fast. Also, I kind of wish they wouldn't do the volcano thing with EVERY Krakatoa Punch they serve. ...AND, best drink of the day was the Uh-Oa but it had so much crushed ice in it, I could have drank the whole thing myself. But as it's a shared drink in a cool Tiki Bowl, with four straws in that puppy, it went waaayyyy too fast.
Originally Posted By TMICHAEL Oh, and if she isn't already in there, I really hope they bring that wonderful Uh-Oa Tiki Goddess AA from the late Tiki Room: Under New Management show here to the west coast as a cool 'living' prop. She was the best thing in that show and I'd miss her is she goes away forever.
Originally Posted By tashajilek "and if it weren't for the HOT, and very friendly Samoan guys setting up their instruments for the late afternoon entertainment, we too would have left." I think there should be a lady's lp meet lol.
Originally Posted By dizkid >>Yes. Kids are allowed in Trader Sam's up until 8pm. << Who told you that? I am a kid and I was in there well after 8 at night. The only rule that I found is that kids are not allowed to sit at the actual bar.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I also noticed that the service was a little slow when we were sitting outside. There were a ton of servers around, and they were all very helpful getting our order, but it just took a long time to get it filled. It was fairly empty outside, so I can only assume that we ordered right at the same time as a bunch of people inside. Our server was very attentive, and kept making rounds, so it was a little surprising that it took that long for the drink. When we were inside immediately after, the bartenders did a good job of keeping up with us, and were really entertaining too. And I agree that there's too much ice in the Uh-Oa. We split it 3 ways, and there just didn't seem to be anything actually in it. The fire effect was kind of cool, but it didn't work very well outside in the daylight (we saw other ones inside later). Overall, the drinks that I tried were all really good, especially the Krakatoa (my friend who ordered it doesn't like the tast of rum so much...lucky me!), and they certainly pack a lot of punch in them. We'll definitely stop by again. >>For my next visit, I will load up on a burger at Tangaroa's Terrace and then pop into Trader Sam's for "afters".<< For what it's worth, you can order your foot at Tangaroa Terrace, and then take your table marker over to one of the outside tables at Trader Sam's, and order a drink to go with your meal. It's not quite as fun as being inside, but apparently some subset of the 4-person musical group is supposed to be there every evening, so there's still nice atmosphere.
Originally Posted By DlandDug >>For what it's worth, you can order your foot at Tangaroa Terrace...<< Your FOOT? You channelling Emily Litella?
