jdhilger
Trader Sam's
Trader Sam's
The Disneyland Hotel
Anaheim, CA
Trader Sam's is a fun establishment with a lot of charm. Essentially it's a Tiki bar with an Adventureland/Jungle Cruise background, part of the Disneyland Hotel's recent renovations, replacing the former Lost Bar. Since Tiki bars are sort of hokey by design this one actually comes across as having more authenticity than you'd think, with Adventureland's 1955 heritage adding just the right bit of backbone and nostalgia. There's details everywhere: the Jungle Cruise, the Tiki Room, the Adventurer's Club, and even DisneySea's Tower of Terror all get little nods here and there. The drinks are pretty good: whoever put the menu together definitely took it seriously and came up with some fun takes on Tiki staples. Taking things to the next level, some of the drinks trigger some "events" in the bar itself.
One thing to note is that Trader Sam's is pretty tiny. Aside from one table located behind me while I took this shot you're looking at the whole place right here. It's great in that it feels cozy and intimate, but not so great in that the place fills up quickly. I know a lot of people and online groups think they're going to stop by for a quick drink or a "meet-up" during D23 this year. Good luck with that. There is additional seating outside to help with overflow, but it obviously doesn't have the appeal and detail of the interior.
Since Disneyland itself forbids alcohol placing this by the Hotel pool was a great solution. The place is just fun, like any good Tiki Bar should be, easily taking the crown as the Disneyland Resort's best bar, but I'd easily frequent this place if it had nothing to do with Disneyland.
Trader Sam's
Trader Sam's
The Disneyland Hotel
Anaheim, CA
Trader Sam's is a fun establishment with a lot of charm. Essentially it's a Tiki bar with an Adventureland/Jungle Cruise background, part of the Disneyland Hotel's recent renovations, replacing the former Lost Bar. Since Tiki bars are sort of hokey by design this one actually comes across as having more authenticity than you'd think, with Adventureland's 1955 heritage adding just the right bit of backbone and nostalgia. There's details everywhere: the Jungle Cruise, the Tiki Room, the Adventurer's Club, and even DisneySea's Tower of Terror all get little nods here and there. The drinks are pretty good: whoever put the menu together definitely took it seriously and came up with some fun takes on Tiki staples. Taking things to the next level, some of the drinks trigger some "events" in the bar itself.
One thing to note is that Trader Sam's is pretty tiny. Aside from one table located behind me while I took this shot you're looking at the whole place right here. It's great in that it feels cozy and intimate, but not so great in that the place fills up quickly. I know a lot of people and online groups think they're going to stop by for a quick drink or a "meet-up" during D23 this year. Good luck with that. There is additional seating outside to help with overflow, but it obviously doesn't have the appeal and detail of the interior.
Since Disneyland itself forbids alcohol placing this by the Hotel pool was a great solution. The place is just fun, like any good Tiki Bar should be, easily taking the crown as the Disneyland Resort's best bar, but I'd easily frequent this place if it had nothing to do with Disneyland.