Yesterday my buddy Jack and I headed over to Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar at the Disneyland Hotel so I could show him the fantastically themed dive for the first time. Little did I know that the bar pushes its theming even further during the… Read More »Sampling a few of Trader Sam’s holiday spirits at Disneyland
We were lucky enough to have a brief introduction to the Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto by the food and beverage team at Polynesian Village. We even had an appearance by the Tiki Goddess Uh-Oa! Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto is the latest addition to the newly… Read More »An Introduction to Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto at Disney’s Polynesian Village
File under: They must really need a drink. A couple Tiki Bar die-hards have actually been spotted waiting outside the future home of Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto and Tiki Terrace inside the Polynesian Village Resort. Disney World just announced they’ll be waiting a bit longer as the official opening date is still not set. However, it’s expected to be sometime late-April with soft openings coming a bit sooner (tomorrow). Apparently, they’re waiting for the themed Tiki souvenir glassware to arrive.
According to Disney,
Founded by Adventureland’s famous “head” salesman, Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto has some similarities to the Anaheim original. But at Walt Disney World Resort, the magical theming reflects its new resort location. This enchanted South Seas hideaway welcomes guests to explore a menu of “magical tropical drinks and food,” and while this new version shares a few cocktails and small plates, Beverage Manager Brad Ward, Chef Lenny DeGeorge, and the Concept Development team have created new menu items just for the Walt Disney World Resort Trader Sam’s
Sounds great. I can’t wait to get inside either. I guess I’ll have to line up with everyone else. The good news is Disney did release a photo from inside the tiki bar and some shots of very delicious looking drinks and small-bites.
Read More »Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto and Tiki Terrace Preview
Congratulations, you made it to Friday. If you’re like me, and over the age of 21, you can probably use some adult beverages to provide the perfect end to the week. Good news, Disney has decided to open up the secrets of their Mixologists and… Read More »Disney Mixology School: Krakatoa Punch
Disney mentioned changes coming to the Polynesian Resort at the What’s New What’s Next presentation earlier this month, now they’ve updated us with some additional information on what we can expect as the resort transitions.
As announced it will be getting a few DVC Suites as bungalows out over the water. To accommodate this change the name will revert back to its original 1971 opening-day name: Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort.
Disney also announced a brand new children’s activity center called Club Disney will be opening at the resort next month. Imagineers drew inspiration from classic Disney Little Golden Books, including “Alice In Wonderland,” “Pinocchio” and “Lady and The Tramp” to make the play areas. Club Disney replaces the Neverland Club. Read More »More changes announced for Disney’s Polynesian Resort
Friday, August 19 was opening day of the D23 Expo (I’m working under the assumption that you are familiar with D23) and it kicked off with a bang. Or a mouse, as the case may be. It always starts with a mouse.
While the expo was open to the general ticket-buying public, it did offer a number of perks specifically to official D23 members, such as discounted passes, special “members only” events and early admission. It pays to belong, people!
Friday’s itinerary started at 9:00 a.m. with two of the aforementioned members only events, namely the Disney Store Opening Ceremony and the Radio Disney Road Crew Dance Party.
Other events that morning included an art contest with Disney.com, vintage footage showcasing the history of the Disneyland Hotel (congrats, DH, on the new ranking!), meet and greets with artists Jim Salvati and Robert Olszewski of the Disney Store and Disney Dream, respectively, and characters from Disney Channel’s Jake and the Never Land Pirates.
Then it was time for the 2011 Disney Legends Ceremony, which was, as you might imagine, magical. However, not everyone was able to attend the ceremony, so they had to settle for other really cool things like The Wonderful Words of Disney… Behind the Page: Kingdom Keepers presentation with Ridley Pearson. I would have loved to have attended this event to discuss some of my issues with the continuity, or lack thereof, within the series, but alas, Mr. Pearson was spared my fanboy criticism, and is probably the better for it.Read More »D23 Expo Recap: Day 1