Disneyland Hotel's Trader Sam's and Tangaroa Terrace


The new bar Trader Sam's and the casual-dining restaurant Tangaroa Terrace just opened at the Disneyland Hotel, and I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised by both.

Sure, both of these Polynesian-themed hangouts would be more appropriate located in Adventureland than where they are (kiddie poolside, just outside the hotel), but then they wouldn't be able to serve alcohol! (Note: Disneyland's exclusive dining spot, Club 33, is the only location in the park that sells alcohol.) I say keep it off-property, and let the booze flow freely!

I managed to grab a drink (or two) at Trader Sam's this past Saturday and shoot a few photos in the process. Look for them after the jump.
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The entire bar is decked out in Polynesian “artifacts”–trinkets and baubles collected over the years during numerous adventures and journeys. And by “collected over the years,” I mean, “made in China in 2010.” Still, there's a ton stored in every nook and cranny to keep the eye busy . . .



. . . including a few familiar faces (and moving eyes) from the Enchanted Tiki Room.



Like your drinks dressed-up? You're in luck. They've got everything from paper umbrellas to straws that are so tall you have to hold your drink near your waist to get a sip.



We got a Ginger's Pear-adise . . .


. . . and a Shrunken Zombie Head. And sure, we paid $20 for two drinks, but they were pretty strong. And we had just paid $5 for a bag of popcorn, so getting bent over kind of comes with the territory when buying anything at Disneyland.



Decorative lighting hung from the ceiling . . .



. . . and interesting novelties were bolted to the walls. But the best part was the volcano outside the window.


Most times, it was chill; totally serene.

Every once in awhile, it would get active and shoot lava high into the air! The bartenders would ring a bell and warn patrons of their impending doom. And by “impending doom,” I mean the sticker shock that awaited them once their bills came.


This decoration is my favorite. It's just an elephant mask resting atop a lantern, but it looks like the scariest demon creature ever. Can you imagine waking up in the middle of the night and having that thing staring down at you, like that chick in Paranormal Activity? Creepy!


We walked around outside and checked out the Tangaroa Terrace . . .

. . . and took in the pair of musicians who were strumming the sounds of island life. Funny, seeing as how we were about 500 feet away from a giant concrete parking lot.


Like most things Disney, Trader Sam's and Tangaroa Terrace are both thorough and complete. It's a great place to take a break from the madness that takes place every day inside the parks.

Now if they could just get some of those price points down, or if I could become really good friends with one of the bartenders, it would be perfect.

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