Trader Sam's now open!

[CoasterMatt]

[BarTopDancer]

I think it's a great concept with poor execution. The bar area seating is tiny. There is comfy seating outside but we found it difficult to talk over the music.

We loved to sit outside at the bar at Lost Bar and having that option removed plus having a wait to sit inside at a very small bar makes me miss Lost Bar. There doesn't seem to be an option for a walk-up bar to get drinks to bring down to the fireplace or pool area either. Someone told us a server tends to that area but we sat there for 15 minutes before giving up. In line someone else told us there was no table service there.

The unique drink and different food menu is awesome.

I see it getting very, very crowded in the summer

[innerSpaceman]

I have to agree with that FAIL remark. It was a bit of a disappointment on a day where I was agog with everything wonderfully new (Little Mermaid, Star Tours 2, Soundsational Parade). Trader Sam's is cute, but woefully tiny. It cannot possibly serve the needs of Disneyland Hotel guests, much less guests of the Disneyland Resort. Not even when the hoopla dies down.

The outside patio is nice and, at least when I was there, I observed servers busily at work out there. But I'd hazard to say that everyone sitting outside was well aware they were settling for that because they were prevented from sitting inside, where all the fun and action is. Not a good bit of guest psychology to my mind.

I guess I should not pass judgment until I really get to hang out inside and enjoy some food and drink at leisure (though I suppose the knowledge that ten people are waiting for their turn at my seat might nag a bit on my sense of leisure).


Initial reaction: Failure. But that didn't much detract from what I felt was the most positive rush of new stuff at Disneyland since Fantasyland was entirely reworked in 1983.

[katiesue]

We went yesterday and had dinner at Tongaroa Terrace. It was good. I'm not sure why you can "only" have "healthier" fare with no options. Sweet Potato Fries are fine but can't you have regular ones as well? There was no one there about 6:30ish.

I agree that Trader Sams could have easily been twice the size and still kept the ambiance. It was only maybe half full, there seemed to be a few large family groups outside so it seemed fuller. It seems that during busier times they could easily pull out more tables/chairs into the fireplace area to create more seating.

I do like that at least there's some different food selections.

[Scrooge McSam]

Can you wave to the folks in Trader Sam's from that swanky new firepit whateverthatissupposedtobe? I'll be there..

[Gn2Dlnd]

Backstory, from one of the bartenders at Trader Sam's, is that a few of the Jungle Cruise Skippers got tired of hauling boatloads of tourists around the jungle so they opened a bar.

Went last night, to meet my friend Will and squire him around the new wonders of the DL Hotel and try one of them fried toe-foo salads at Tangaroa Terrace. They had the whole damn area blocked off for a press event! I got there at 9:30, after a phone call to Disney Dining to confirm that the place was open until 10:30, so I was not a happy camper when all the DTD restaurants started closing, 'cause, you know, it's 10 o'clock at night! I get stupid and loopy if I haven't eaten in several hours, and, while William was being very kind and suggesting every other restaurant in DTD, I had gotten focused on that salad and nothing else sounded good. Combine this with the hideous case of "Pine Mouth" I've been suffering through (look it up), and I was probably less than optimal company.

Once the party guests were done, we did make our way around the backside of security so I could show William all the cool new toys, including Trader Sam's, empty except for 3 bartenders who were happy to show off the effects and tell stories!

It'd be nice if various departments around Disneyland communicated with each other.

Still want that salad.

Maybe tonight.

It's coconut panko crusted!

[madmonkeygirl]

That's why i think that DTD is dumb for closing restaurants so early even on weekends. It's dumb. I mean if they really want happy guests they NEED to stay open much later to accompany guests who get hungry at like 11pm at night. Just my opinion. I guess our DTD stinks in comparison to Orlando's as well as Citywalk. Plus i am so used to Vegas and finding places open to eat all hours of the night. To me our DTD we got the shaft end of the stick. Ok enough venting there.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Each restaurant closes whenever it wants, and they are not owned by Disney. I'm sure that if it would make enough money they'd stay open later. Adding a whole other shift to the day would be pricey.

[madmonkeygirl]

True but normal restaurants anywhere else usually stay open later on weekends regardless. It is a shame the ones in DTD can't stay open later to accomodate late night diners. Regardless of money needed for extra shifts.

[BarTopDancer]

It is frustrating to have places like Tortilla Joe's close at 10pm on a Friday or Saturday. Lost Bar was fantastic because during summer weekends you could get nachos at midnight after everything else was long closed.